CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)

Cllr P A Dearden

Cllr Mrs P V Hayward

Cllr B A Pitt

Cllr Mrs I A Scott

Cllr Mrs M Thomas

In attendance: R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

These were received and accepted from Cllr Cairns and Cllr Dr Parker. Apologies were also received from County Cllr S J M Clee and District Cllr S Williams.

Cllr Mrs Hayward declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application no. CA. 183.

Neither PC McGill nor PC Green were in attendance and no report was received.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(No member of the public was in attendance).

County Cllr Clee submitted his apology and there was no report.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hayward, seconded by Cllr Dearden, and resolved that the Minutes, being a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed by the Chairman.

(1) Parish Web site. Malcolm Hall was not in attendance. The Chairman reported that he had been approached by Sue Savidge for details of Neighbourhood Watch to be available on the web site; the Chairman agreed to distribute this report to Members prior to its inclusion. The Chairman also reported that the Definitive Map of Footpaths in the Parish can be accessed through the web site. The Clerk had received details of the ‘Local Channel’ and it was agreed that this should be sent to Malcolm Hall.

(2) Parish Council Fax machine. The Clerk informed the Meeting that Mr Roe at the Post Office is very pleased to be given the fax machine, so that this facility is now available again in the village. The Clerk will send a letter confirming the donation and it was suggested that this matter be included on the web site.

CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.02.05

(3) Problems at former Blakedown Nursery site (WF/0583/04). A letter has now been received from the Enforcement Officer stating that the position of the temporary fence has been adjusted the ensure greater security of the site. The footway is now considered wide enough for normal pedestrian use.

(4) Street Light no. 1, Churchill Lane. The Clerk has taken measurements and is awaiting the photograph from Cllr Dearden, prior to replying to the agent for Network Rail.

(5) Dog Fouling signs. No action has been taken and the Clerk will chase the matter with the Cultural, Leisure and Commercial Services department at WFDC.

(6) Traffic problems, Lynwood Drive/Station Drive. There has been no report from the police.

(7) Replacement bus shelter, Birmingham Road. This has now been erected and favourable comments have been received. Although the invoice is on this agenda for payment the Clerk has forwarded a copy to Allianz Cornhill for reimbursement (less the excess and VAT). Malcolm Hall is to be asked to include this on the web site.

(8) Grants to St. James the Great Churchill PCC. A letter of thanks has been received.

(9) Complaints at Crown Lane, Iverley. During the absence of the HPU Manager highway matters relating to the HPU are currently being passed to Cllr Clee. He responded to the Clerk by stating that the potholes have now been attended to. The Clerk has written to South Staffs DC regarding the wall in front of the Crown Inn, on A.451, which obscures visibility. The Enforcement Officer has stated this to be permitted development, but this has been questioned by the Clerk. A further reply is awaited.

The Chairman reported that he has been approached by the occupier of Common Farm regarding the problems, including litter, with the unofficial laybys along Crown Lane/Iverley Lane. The Clerk will report this matter to the HPU and the road name sign will be considered at the next meeting.

(10) Blakedown Playground. The Clerk reported that the request for the annual inspection has been sent. It was suggested that the Clerk keeps the Friends of Blakedown Playground informed of this and to ask whether they would wish for a risk assessment to be undertaken also.

(11) Police Community Consultative Group. A report of the meeting held on 12^th January 2005, prepared by Mr Keys, was accepted.

(12) Local Council Clerks Conference, 25^th January 2005. The Clerk’s report of the proceedings of the conference was accepted.

(1) Applications received

(Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in CA.183 Cllr Mrs Hayward left the room during the discussion of the application)

CA. 183 Removal of one cherry tree and one ash tree, land between Cosy Cottage and Patricia Cottage, Churchill (Conservation Area Consent)

No objection

WF/0066/05 TPO: Prune a Norway Maple and a Lime, adj. 2 Lynwood Drive, Blakedown

No objection

CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.02.05

WF/0090/05 Loft conversion with monopitch dormer window to rear and skylight to front, 9 Forge Lane, Blakedown

No objection

WF/0137/05 Single storey rear extension, Churchill Court, Churchill Lane, Churchill

No objection

(2) Decision notices

The following decision notices have been received and are noted.

WF/1274/04 First floor extension, 15 Mill Close, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/1295/04 Extensions, 32 Mill Lane, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/1298/04 Prune 2 Yew Trees, 4 Roxall Close, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/0141/04 Three four bedroom dwellings, site of 1 Roxall Close, Blakedown.

The Clerk reported that a Site Visit with the Planning Inspector will be held on 22^nd February 2005. Cllr Mrs Hayward agreed to attend.

WF/0286/04 Extensions, 58 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown.

The Clerk reported that this appeal was DISMISSED on 19^th January 2005.

Copies of these update Regulations were circulated with the agenda. The Clerk explained the differences between the original and updated Regulations. It was agreed that, in Section 11, references to contracts exceeding “£500” be replaced with “£2,000“. The Clerk will amend the Regulations and bring them back for approval at the next meeting.

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account stands at £1,299.94p in credit and the Instant Access account stands at £11,196.17p, giving a total balance of £12,496.11p.

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying - January, £9.09 + £1.59 VAT £ 10.68

(2 invoices)

A Trow, grass cutting at War Memorial, 2004 £100.00

Mrs L Hobson, bus shelter cleaning, 2004/5 £120.00

Worcestershire CALC, Clerk’s training meeting £ 15.00

Walkers of Worcestershire - bus shelter

£1,066.00 + £186.55 VAT £1,252.55

Blakedown Parish Rooms Committee (June/July/ Sept) £ 52.00

£1,550.23

CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.02.05

The Council agreed that Mr Rudge be asked to continue the grass cutting of the highway verges and the play area. The Clerk is to inform the Friends of Blakedown Playground that this will be done.

The Clerk reported receipt of the details of the speed survey carried out at Churchill crossroads in January. Cllr Pitt and Cllr Whiston agreed to look at the figures and to report back at the next Meeting.

Mr Parker, the Head of Planning at WFDC, had replied stating that he would not be able to respond to the Parish Council in time for this meeting. It was agreed that this matter be deferred to the next meeting.

Cllr Dearden has been unsuccessful in contacting Mr Legat, but he will continue to seek him. Whilst the Playground Committee will give an update on the play area, it was agreed that the Clerk contacts the Hurcott Wood Ranger for a progress talk. The Chairman and Clerk agreed to liaise in the content and production of the Newsletter and hoped that it might be ready for distribution to Members for circulation at the next meeting of the Parish Council.

The Chairman commented on the closeness with Staffordshire, and Kinver in particular, pointing out that there were matters in Iverley which impacted on residents in this parish. The recently approved compostable waste plant and its traffic implications is a case in point. There was no cross boundary consultation. It was agreed that Kinver PC be approached to see whether the Chairman could be invited to attend (and speak) at their meetings, with a reciprocal invitation being offered, in the hope that a procedure for consulting each other can be established.

This has recently come into force and has received considerable publicity. The Clerk confirmed that a scheme for implementation was approved by the Parish Council in November 2002.

CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.02.05

The Clerk reported that a new model contract of employment for Clerks has been agreed by NALC and SLCC, and Worcestershire CALC hopes that this will be adopted by all parish councils in the County. The Clerk has received many of the documents which relate to this new format, although some are still awaited. (The salary scales were approved as part of the 2004 agreement). It was agreed that a copy of the model contract be passed to the Chairman to compare with the Clerk’s current contract.

The Clerk reported that the March Quarterly meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9^th March 2005, at Wolverley. The Chairman hoped to attend when the matters raised by the Chairman of Kidderminster Foreign PC could be discussed.

1. WFDC Mobile skateboard facility - suggest that the school governors and Friends of Blakedown Playground be approached.

2. WCC Statement of Community Involvement questionnaire - Clerk to complete

3. Community First Newsline and Village of the year competition - no action

4. WFDC notice of Parish Forum, 21.04.05 - suggest lack of consultation by South Staffs DC on controversial issues

The following items were noted:

1. WCC - Formal notice of School Changes, Kidderminster area

2. DEFRA - Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill introduced to Parliament

This is confirmed for 16^th March 2005, in the Blakedown Parish Room.

The meeting closed at 9.45 pm.

Dated this 16th day of March 2005

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Chairman