CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)

Cllr A J Cairns

Cllr S J Danks

Cllr Mrs P V Hayward

Cllr Dr J M Parker

Cllr Mrs I A Scott

Cllr Mrs M Thomas

In attendance: PC Andy McGill

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

These were received and accepted from Cllr Dearden and Cllr Pitt.

Cllr Danks declared a personal interest in planning applications WF/0757/04 and WF/0758/04 (minute no. 163/04)

Cllr Whiston declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application CA.171 (minute no. 163/04)

The Clerk declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 22 (minute no. 179/04)

PC McGill was invited to address the meeting. He reported that there have been three recent instances of arson in the parish; a farm gate in Churchill, a 12 acre field in Belbroughton Road and the Parish Council’s bus shelter near Station Drive. Two people are in custody for the field fire and patrols are continuing in case of further cases. A horse was slashed in Crown Lane, Iverley, and there has been a spate of graffiti at the Sports Centre. In the locality there have been several household burglaries, particularly from garden sheds.

PC McGill informed the meeting that he hopes the post for a Beat Officer in this area will be filled by the end of September.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(No members of the public were in attendance)

There was no report from County Cllr Clee.

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

(1) Street Light no. 10 Brookside Way, Blakedown. The Clerk is still pursuing Aquila for the power to be reconnected.

(2) Invitation to Mr M Parker, Head of Planning, WFDC, to attend a meeting. The Clerk reported that an invitation would be sent for a meeting later in the year.

(3) Land opposite Bissell Wood, Deansford Lane. WFDC officers are pursuing the various complaints at this site.

(4) BT consultation for the removal of payphones. The latest acknowledgement from BT indicates that this matter will take some long time to resolve.

(5) Cheque signatories. This matter will be considered at the next meeting.

(6) Planning appeals at 1 Roxall Close and 58 Belbroughton Road. The Clerk confirmed that these were submitted to the Planning Inspectorate within the specified timescale.

(7) Disabled parking at Blakedown Parish Rooms. The Clerk has not received a reply.

(8) WCC assistance with street lighting. The Clerk reported that WCC will give details of the projected savings when all parish returns have been received.

(9) Police Community Consultative Group. Mr Key’s report of the meeting held on 5^th July 2004 was received.

(10) Parish Web site. There was no report as Malcolm Hall was unable to attend the meeting.

(11) Approval of the Accounts for 2003/2004. The Clerk reported that the External Auditor has given an unqualified audit. The required advertisement is currently displayed on the Blakedown notice board.

(1) Applications Received

WF/0693/04 (amended) Two storey and single storey extension to rear, car port and front porch, 62 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown

No objection

CA.171 Felling of 5 self seeded sycamore trees, Drybridge, Churchill

The Clerk reported that the consultation letter from WFDC is dated 20^th July 2004. It was not received until early August and the decision has been made. It was agreed that there was no point in responding to the consultation, but that the Clerk should write to the Development Control Manager, informing her of the saga.

WF/0745/04 TPO : Pruning to lift canopy to 6m above ground and reduction of branches protruding towards the property, 39 Lynwood Drive, Blakedown

No objection

WF/0757/04 Erection of 3 three bedroom houses and 4 four bedroom houses with associated garages, parking area and access off Swan Close, land at 21 Birmingham Road, Blakedown

The roadway from Swan Close will be serving 21 dwelling units; it is understood that this is too great a number of units to be served via a private drive and, therefore, it has to be an adopted highway. The submitted layout would not be of an adoptable standard; there is no footway, there are no street lights and no turning facility for large vehicles within the application site. The roadway between the two blocks of flats would be detrimental to the residents of those flats. It is also considered that the two pairs of houses are too close to the busy A.456 and the noise would be detrimental to the amenities of the residents. The treatment of the Birmingham Road frontage is unclear - is it to be fenced or are the existing trees to remain? Please let the PC know if you disagree with these views.

WF/0758/04 Modification of conditions nos. 2 and 25 of WF/0794/03 to allow alterations to car parking layout, Land at 23a Birmingham Road, Blakedown

This modification is less satisfactory than the approved scheme. The amendment involves an increase in the area of hard standing with a consequent and detrimental reduction in amenity space and landscaping. The informality of the private parking area serving 14 flats will be lost. The bin store is relocated to a location which is only accessible for refuse vehicles through parking spaces. The rear block of flats is moved some 2m towards the railway; this is not included in the application and it is noted that building work has already started on the revised siting. Will this breach be rectified?

(2) The following decision notices have been received and are noted.

WF/0586/04 Entrance porch, Ashfield House, Sugar Loaf Lane, Iverley - GRANTED

WF/0644/04 Conservatory, 8 Forge Lane, Blakedown - GRANTED

This has not yet been received and the item was deferred.

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account stands at £863.15p in credit and the Instant Access account stands at £10,092.03p, giving a total balance of £10,955.18p.

(2) It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Scott, seconded by Cllr Dr Parker, and resolved that the following accounts be approved for payment:

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, postage stamps - July

£47.33 + £6.08 VAT (4 invoices) £ 53.41

Mr H Smith, handyman duties - 3 weeks from 13^th July 2004 £116.25

Clement Keys £141.00

The Clerk was asked to write to the respective authorities regarding progress with matters raised during the past year, including A.456 in Blakedown village (Amey Mouchel), Mill Lane bridge (HPU), overhanging hedge from Roxall Close and the breaking up of the

road surface in Belbroughton Road (HPU), and Churchill crossroads speed check (Kidderminster Police).

The Clerk was asked to inform the insurance company regarding the damaged bus shelter, referred to earlier by PC McGill and to arrange with the handyman to remove the fire damaged shelter.

The Clerk has not received a reply regarding the high risk items referred to in this year’s RoSPA report, although some members felt that the dangerous items had been dealt with. The Clerk was asked to write to the Sports Centre Committee asking for an update and enquiring about the Sports Centre Committee’s long term view and/or future plans for the play area.

The Clerk reported that he has been informed that a planning application for Phase 1 has been submitted to South Staffordshire DC. It was agreed that an objection be lodged on the grounds of noise pollution from the flight paths passing over the parish and problems associated with the inadequate road structure in the area.

This has been circulated with a previous agenda. It was agreed that this be noted.

Enquiries reveal that there are no appropriate signs either for warning motorists or warning that riders are not to use the footway. The Clerk was asked to make enquiries of NALC regarding the legal position.

This matter has already been resolved.

As instructed under Minute 107/04 the Clerk has written to Pirelli and to adjoining residents. No reply has been received and it was agreed that the matter be deferred.

On a question from Cllr Danks the Clerk confirmed that all correspondence is reported to the Parish Council.

The Chairman confirmed that he wished to attend the meetings for Chairmanship on 9^th and 23^rd September 2004. This was agreed as, too, was the Clerk’s attendance at the Clerks Gathering on 10^th November 2004.

The Clerk referred to the Wyre Forest Area Committee to be held in Churchill on Wednesday, 8^th September 2004.

This was noted as per the attached list.

(1) Bus shelter (Clerk to make necessary arrangements for its removal)

(2) Litter at the Shoppers car park

This is confirmed for 22^nd September 2004, in the Blakedown Parish Room.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hayward, seconded by Cllr Whiston, and agreed that the press and public be excluded from the room during the discussion of the following item (Minute no. 178/04(1))), in view of the personal nature of the business. (The Clerk left the room and Cllr Whiston took notes of the proceedings).

(1) Clerk’s salary for 2004/2005

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hayward, seconded by Cllr Mrs Scott, and agreed that the Clerk be paid on Spinal Column Point 19 with effect from 1st April 2004.

Dated this 22^nd day of September 2004

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Chairman