CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT Cllr Mrs I A Scott (in the Chair)

Cllr A J Cairns

Cllr S J Danks

Cllr P A Dearden (from Item 7, minute 186/04)

Cllr Mrs P V Hayward (from Item 7, minute 186/04)

Cllr B A Pitt

Cllr Mrs M Thomas

In attendance: Malcolm Hall, Web site keeper

County Cllr S J M Clee

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

These were received and accepted from Cllr Dr Parker and Cllr Whiston.

None.

There was no report as neither PC McGill nor PC Dury was able to attend.

There was no report from County Cllr Clee.

Subject to the inclusion of reference to the Clerk to take appropriate action in Minute 176(1) and the Clerk’s declaration of interest to minute 178/04 in Minute 158/04, it was proposed by Cllr Cairns, seconded by Cllr Danks, and resolved that the Minutes, being a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed by the Chairman.

(1) Street Light no. 10 Brookside Way, Blakedown. The Clerk is has been informed that the power is scheduled to be reconnected on Wednesday, 29^th September.

(2) Cheque signatories. The bank for was handed to Cllr Mrs Scott to complete and for this to be forwarded to other members.

(3) Disabled parking at Blakedown Parish Rooms. The Clerk reported that the

Parish Rooms Committee is currently working on a range of measures to make the Parish Rooms more accessible for the disabled. There should be progress over the next 12 months. The Clerk was asked to contact the Parish Rooms Committee to ask that the disabled car park provision be done as soon as possible.

(4) Parish Web site. Malcolm Hall informed the Parish Council that the web site is receiving some 350 - 400 hits each month, of which 16% were from USA and 6% from France. He reminded Members that he would like to receive their details for the web site.

(5) Warning signs for horses. There was nothing to report and this matter was deferred.

(1) Applications Received

WF/0914/04 Erection of two detached houses (following demolition of existing house), new access arrangements, Millfield, 17 Mill Lane, Blakedown

No objection, but would urge that an adopted footway is constructed across the frontage of the site.

WF/0927/04 Erection of a 3 bedroom detached house with parking facilities of Belbroughton Road, off street parking to 44 and 46 Birmingham Road with access off A.456, and conversion of nos. 44 and 46 Birmingham Road to one property, land between 7 and 9 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown

No objection, as the previous objections have been overcome

WF/0992/04 Erection of two storey side and rear extensions and single storey rear extension, 52 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown

No objection

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

WF/0583/04 Two 4 bedroom houses with garages/access/parking arrangements, 32 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/0667/04 Single storey extension, 10 The Croft, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/0684/04 Two storey extension, Little Meadows, 33 Birmingham Road Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/0698/04 Alterations to create a dwelling, The Stables, Park Hall, Blakedown (listed building consent) - GRANTED

WF/0739/04 Change of use to dwelling, The Stables, Park Hall, Blakedown - GRANTED

WF/0745/04 Pruning to lift canopy to 6m above ground, 39 Lynwood Drive, Blakedown - GRANTED

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(12 members of the public were in attendance. Concern was expressed at the suggested closure of the Play Area by the Sports Centre Committee. Stated that an updated report from RoSPA has been asked for. Hoped that a public meeting can be held.)

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account stands at £393.10p in credit and the Instant Access account stands at £10,107.47p, giving a total balance of £10,500.57p.

(2) The Receipts and Payments Account for 06.07.04 - 06.09.04 was received

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

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, postage stamps - July

£6.16 + £1.088 VAT £ 7.24

Mr V Rudge, grass cutting, July £135.00

R D Gurney, salary, August/September 2004 £492.54

Back pay, April - July 2004 4 months @ £15.24 £60.96 £553.50

Worcestershire CALC, training £55.00 + £9.63 VAT £ 64.63

The Clerk informed Members that he had not received replies from either Amey Mouchel (for Highways Agency) regarding matters on A.456 or the HPU regarding the overhanging hedges and the breaking up of the Belbroughton Road surface. PC Turner from Kidderminster Police has responded by stating that, because of the low level of collisions at Churchill crossroads no speed enforcement would be carried out. County Cllr Clee offered to press for replies from the HA and HPU. The Clerk was asked to write to the residents of Mill House, Mill Lane to ask for action to be taken to cut back the overhanging hedges from the highway.

A letter from the Sports Committee Chairman, setting out the current position regarding the play area, was circulated to Members prior to the meeting. As was made clear during the Open Forum residents were concerned that, unless the repairs to certain items of play equipment were carried out in the very near future, the facility would have to be closed. It was pointed out that, while the PC does not own the play area, it does contribute to its upkeep by arranging and paying for the grass to be cut, the boundary fence to be properly maintained and the commissioning of the annual RoSPA report. It was evident that all parties were agreed that the play area facility should not be lost. Several figures of the cost of the current repairs were referred to, as, too, were the costs of bringing the facility up to current standards.

Following lengthy discussion the following action was proposed:

1. It was proposed by Cllr Danks and seconded by Cllr Cairns that the Parish Council take over the responsibility and maintenance of the Play Area facility. There were 2 votes FOR and 5 AGAINST; therefore this motion was LOST.

2. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hayward and seconded by Cllr Pitt hat the Parish Council pays for the immediate repair to the swing and slide, up to £1,000. This was CARRIED unanimously.

3. The suggestion by the Chairman that a public meeting be held in the village as soon as possible was agreed. Cllr Dearden agreed to make arrangements for the meeting to be held at the School and would liaise with local volunteer residents to circulate details in the village. The offer by Cllr Whiston, Chairman of the PC, to chair the meeting was accepted.

The Clerk has reported the damaged shelter to the insurers, who have stated that they require two estimates of the cost of replacing the shelter, and for the PC to consider

whether a non combustible structure would be appropriate. The Clerk was asked to obtain quotes for both wooden and non combustible shelters and for the matter to be discussed at subsequent meeting. (Having viewed the damaged shelter the Clerk had asked the handyman to remove it, but this had already been done by Cllr Danks with residents).

The Clerk has still not received any replies and it was agreed that the matter be deferred.

It was not felt that there is currently a problem with litter in this area, but the mater will be monitored to ascertain the extent of any problem.

The September issue of the MAIL has been circulated to Members prior to the meeting.

Cllr Mrs Scott reported of some problems which had arisen locally with unlicensed vehicles and was concerned with the possible extent across Wyre Forest District. If there is a problem this needs to be given some publicity. County Cllr Clee agreed to take the matter up with WFDC.

The receipt of the following documents was noted and it was agreed that no comment be made thereon:

1. Air Quality Action Plan (WFDC)

2. Review of the framework governing political activities of local government employees (ODPM)

3. Model code of conduct for local government employees (ODPM)

The following items were noted:

1. WCC Worcestershire Freight Quality Partnership newsletter

2. Kidderminster College Computacoach courses

3. WF Community Housing Eastings Area Committee agenda

4. CPRE Fieldwork magazine

(1) Invitation to a speaker from the Wolverhampton Airport Action Group (WAAG)

This is confirmed for 20^th October 2004, in the Blakedown Parish Room.

Dated this 20th day of October 2004

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Chairman