The meeting began with a prayer led by Nigel, followed by a webcasting statement from the chair. The main topics discussed included the election of the new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council, the approval of the Checkley Neighbourhood Plan, and various procedural matters such as the calendar of meetings and appointments to outside bodies.

1. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman:

   • Councillor Ian Plant was elected as the new Chairman of the Council for the upcoming year. The decision was unanimous.
   • Councillor Adam Parks was elected as the Vice Chairman, also receiving unanimous support.

2. Checkley Neighbourhood Plan:

   • The Council approved the Checkley Neighbourhood Plan following a successful referendum where 88% voted in favor. Councillor Stephen Bell and other local contributors were thanked for their efforts over the eight-year process.

3. Countryside Sites Management:

   • Councillor Joe Porter inquired about the transfer of countryside sites to the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Councillor Yates confirmed the successful transfer and ongoing positive relationship. He suggested that the Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel receive an annual update on the progress and plans for these sites.

4. Fly-Tipping Enforcement:

   • Councillor Joe Porter asked about the number of prosecutions for fly-tipping over the past year. Councillor Cooley provided detailed national and local context, revealing that Staffordshire Moorlands issued 7 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for 326 incidents, placing them roughly in the middle among local authorities.

5. Calendar of Meetings:

   • The Council approved the calendar of meetings for 2024-2025. The leader mentioned plans to produce a skeleton calendar for 2025-2026 to help Councillors plan their time better.

6. Appointments to Outside Bodies:

   • The Council approved appointments to various outside bodies for the upcoming year. There was a discussion about the disbanding of the sports councils and the need to reinvigorate them.

7. Parish Assembly Chairmanship:

   • A proposal was made to change the chairmanship of the Parish Assembly from the Chairman of the District Council to a separately elected position. Councillor Lin Swindlehurst was proposed for the role. An amendment to consult parish councils on this change was defeated, and the original proposal was approved.

8. Questions from Councillors:

   • Councillor Flunder asked for a breakdown of grant allocations under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Councillor Price provided the figures and encouraged Councillors to promote the grants in their communities.
   • Councillor Joe Porter asked about the consultation process for countryside sites and the role of grazing in habitat management. Councillor Yates confirmed ongoing consultations and support for grazing as part of habitat management.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and the closing of the session.