PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)

Cllr Mrs S Cartwright

Cllr S D Charman

Cllr P A Dearden

Cllr T A Gardiner

Cllr Mrs P V Hayward

Cllr J W Long

Cllr B A Pitt

Cllr Mrs V J Swindells

In attendance: PC Don Hemingway and PC Gemma Green

Dave Clee, Senior Engineer, Accident Studies Team, WCC

Mark Jones, Parish Lengthsman

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Charman to his first meeting and to the police officers.

There were none.

Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Items 7(3), 7(5), 9 (in respect of Plan no. WF/07/0603) and 15.

The Chairman invited PC Hemingway and PC Gemma Green to speak. PC Hemingway, who is the Beat Manager East and Rural, commented that the police are promoting PACT, although there has not been a meeting in this area. PACT forms will be left at the Post office and The Old House at Home. Within the Parish all types of crime seems to be falling, but a motor cycle was stolen (and recovered) and the problem of graffiti at the sports pavilion remains a problem. He reminded Members that this is the time of year for shed crimes. He commented that there is a property scanning service available - currently in Chaddesley Corbett.

Regarding the parking concern in Station Drive there is a problem with defining the boundary between the footway and the roadway; this is a matter for WCC to resolve, but when this is done the police could take some action and this could have a knock-on effect on adjoining roads.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(One member of the public was in attendance. Comments included the illogicality of house numbering in some roads in the parish; a fallen tree across the footpath by Ladies Pool; the lack of disabled drop kerbs between Mill Lane and Brookside; and that 2 trees at the front and 4 at the rear of Blakedown Church have recently been cut down. This latter concern has been reported to Cllr Mrs Hayward, who is making enquiries).

There was no report from either County Cllr Clee or District Cllr Williams.

The Chairman agreed for this Item to be brought forward and he introduced Dave Clee from the Accident Studies Team at WCC to speak about the Parish Council’s concerns at Churchill crossroads, including the request for a vehicle activated sign (VAS). Mr Clee confirmed that, if the PC wanted a VAS, it would be asked to pay the full cost of some £5,000. He confirmed that VAS is a good tool for accident prevention, but there is now a view that the more signs displayed the less effective they become. WCC is formulating a policy for the installation of a VAS, including number of accidents, speed of approach and vehicle flow. A VAS would not be supported by WCC at Churchill, but Mr Clee agreed to inspect to see if extra signing and carriageway marking would be appropriate. Cllr Mrs Swindells commented that she had discussed the possibility of installing a mirror at the crossroads with David Hunter at WCC, but this could only be a last resort.

Mr Clee agreed to speak to David Hunter and Maurice Carless and promised to send a recommendation of a course of action in time for the next meeting.

The Chairman thanked Mr Clee for attending and he then left the meeting. The Clerk was then asked to write to WCC, under the Freedom of Information Act, asking how the recently erected VAS in Powick Parish was funded.

It was proposed by Cllr Gardiner, 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 in contact with Malcolm Hall and who informed him that, through the web site, Councillors are able to have their own personal email address.

(2) Lengthsman report. Mark Jones was invited to speak. He had attended a training session, arranged by WCC, and he has received his certificate, necessary for him to continue as the lengthsman. He has continued to clear back around Churchill crossroads.

(3) Trees in The Avenue, Blakedown. The Clerk has not received any further information.

(4) Land to the rear of 5 Mill Lane, Blakedown. The Clerk is waiting for a response from the Diocesan Parsonages Board.

(5) Parish Council Notice Boards. Mark Jones has not yet been able to do any work on the boards, but the Clerk showed the new signs which will be affixed to each notice board.

(6) School Bus Route via Mill Lane. The Clerk is awaiting a reply from the County Council.

(7) Meeting Dates and Venues. The agreed list was circulated with the agenda and was noted.

(9) Electronic Planning Consultation. The Clerk reported on a meeting he had attended at WFDC regarding the progress of the electronic consultation process. Consequently the CDs will be sent out weekly, electronic replies will be introduced and CDs will shortly be able to include colour. Paper copies will be available for large applications.

Following discussion with him Mr John Lawton was nominated as an additional Parish Paths Warden for Churchill and Blakedown. Cllr Dearden agreed to inform the Countryside Section at WCC of the nomination.

(1) It was resolved that the comments on the following applications, as detailed, be sent to Wyre Forest DC.

Applications Received.

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at £338.65p in credit and the Instant Access account stands at £9,798.67p, giving a total balance of £10,137.32p.

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

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stationery - May

Allsigns group £66.00 + £11.55 VAT £ 77.55

Blakedown PCC churchyard maintenance £317.50

Churchill PCC churchyard maintenance £317.50

Biffa Waste Services Ltd (donation to Friends of Blakedown £1,341.20

Playground)

Diane Malley, Internal Auditor £100.00

V Rudge £160.00

Mark Jones, handyman £325.00

lengthsman £150.00

£2,825.59

(1) Report of the Internal Auditor. This was deferred to the next meeting.

(2) Annual Return. The Clerk informed the Council that the Annual Return has to be submitted to the External Auditor by 25^th June 2007, and the timetable for the period of inspection has been advertised. The Statement of Assurance on the Annual Return was discussed, completed and signed at the meeting.

Following the comments made earlier in the meeting by PC Hemingway it was agreed that the Clerk writes to WCC asking them to reinstate to define the kerb and verge.

Cllr Dearden expressed his concern that the speed of vehicles continues to exceed the

30 mph speed limit and, with vehicles being parked on both sides of the road, some drivers are using the pavements. It was suggested that there is a need for reports to be made to the Police, using the PACT forms which were left earlier at the meeting. Cllr Dearden agreed to prepare an item for the web site.

Cllr Long read out a letter he had received from the Postmistress. In it she explains that a decision on the future is not expected until November this year and until then she is in limbo. Cllr Long has written on his behalf and has been told that the period of consultation will be for a 6 week period. It was suggested, and agreed, that a Working Group be set up to respond during the consultation period: Cllrs Long, Mrs Hayward and Mrs Swindells agreed to form the Working Group.

This was deferred to a subsequent meeting.

The Chairman explained that a Parish Plan could include matters which have been raised by Members at recent meetings, as well as matters which could be raised by residents during public consultation. It was agreed that a Parish Plan be prepared. The Clerk reminded the Council that membership of the Parish Plan Working Group needs to include non-parish councillors, and the following agreed to form the Working Group; Cllrs Dearden, Mrs Cartwright, Charman, Long and Mrs Swindells. Mr Lawton agreed also to be a member.

The Chairman explained that, following the contested election, the Parish Council was in a position to apply for QPS. It was felt that guidance from CALC would be helpful and

the Clerk was asked to make arrangements for Jenny Maturi, the Development Support Officer, to attend a subsequent meeting.

The Clerk reported that the Area Meeting was held on 6^th June 2007, at Rock Village Hall. Chief Inspector Jim Baker was the speaker. The report from the CALC Officer gave a breakdown of the local election results and details of the arrangements in the CALC office now that Pat Edwards has (semi) retired.

(1) WCC - Consultation on Draft Integrated Passenger Transport Strategy 2007 -

comments by 30th June 2007

(3) WFDC – Parish Forum meeting, 20^th June 2007 at 7.00 pm

(4) CPRE – AGM, 24^th June 2007 at Spetchley Park, Worcester

(5) Bromsgrove DC – notice of meeting on Local Strategic Partnership, 11^th July 2007

(6) Police/Community Consultative Group – meeting, 11^th July 2007

The Clerk was asked to chase up the complaint re the potholes in Crown Lane.

BT kiosk outside Post Office

Enhancement at Blakedown Station

This is scheduled for Wednesday, 25^th July 2007, in Churchill Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 10.23 pm.

Dated this 25th day of July 2007 ………………………………............

Chairman