CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 91
Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council held
on Wednesday, 14th July 2010, in Blakedown C E Primary School.
PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)
Cllr Mrs S Cartwright
Cllr P A Dearden
Cllr Mrs P L Coley
Cllr Mrs P V Hayward
Cllr J W Long
Cllr B A Pitt
In attendance: Paul McCann and colleague, Banner Homes Group Plc
Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
124/10 CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed Members of the Council and the public to the meeting.
125/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
These were received and accepted from Cllr Charman and Cllr Mrs Swindells.
126/10 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Item 12, minute no. 135/10; Item 13, minute no. 136/10; and Item 16, minute no. 139/10
127/10 COMMUNITY POLICING
CSO Kate Easthope and PC Jayne Willetts were not in attendance and there was no report.
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(Four members of the public were in attendance. Three were concerned at
the likely submission of a planning application at the rear of Castle
Ash, Birmingham Road. Mr Lorton mentioned that the missing signs
on A.456 have now been replaced).
128/10 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT CASTLE ASH
The Chairman invited Paul McCann to speak. He said he was aware of the
comments made by the Parish Council and residents on the original
application, which was withdrawn. An amended application should be
submitted within the next few months. The amendments are aimed to
overcome the objections made previously. It seems that the County
Council has accepted an increased, widened footway, which will enable
the necessary visibility splays to be provided. Other amendments are to
the position of the driveway, sensitive planting at the southern end of
the site and any flooding problems avoided. The Parish Plan
implications and the Government’s indications on “garden grabbing” have
yet to be assessed. Questions were put to Mr McCann, who confirmed that
the highway work would be covered by a S.278 Agreement.
129/10 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Cllr Stephen Williams had sent his apology and there was no report.
92 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 14.07.10
130/10 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
16th JUNE 2010
It was agreed that the following amendments be made:
Minute 107/10, line 3; delete “shelter near Hodge Hill Nurseries”, insert “stop near Perryford Lane”
Minute 115/10, line 6; after The Clerk add “or Cllr Long”
Subject to these amendments it was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hayward,
seconded by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and RESOLVED that the Minutes, being a
true and accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed
by the Chairman.
131/10 PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1)Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens was not in attendance and there was no report.
(2)Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones had given his apology.
(3) Retention of telephone kiosks. The Clerk reported that he had
received one reply to the letter circulated in April. The landlord at
the Waggon and Horses PH suggested that the kiosk would be suitably
located at the public house. Cllr Pitt agreed to visit him to discuss
the details of what he suggests. The PC would support the retention in
the locality and would support the licensee if he wishes to relocate
the kiosk.
(4) Allocation of S.106 monies. This was deferred.
(5) Repair of Parish Council notice boards. Cllr Pitt reported that the
notice boards at Stakenbridge and Blakedown are now finished and work
is still required on the board at Churchill. It was noted that the
“village” notice board in Blakedown is in a poor condition and Cllr
Pitt agreed to discuss a replacement notice board with similar sliding
doors. It was proposed by Cllr Dearden, seconded by Cllr Mrs Coley, and
agreed that this proceeds, at a price not exceeding
£200.
(6) Listing of the Signal Box. Martin Hobson has obtained useful
information from the Signalling Record Society. This will be collated
with the information and details obtained by Cllr Mrs Swindells before
passing it to the Clerk for submission.
(7) PACT Meeting. A meeting was held on the previous evening. 5 members
of the public attended and there were no matters which need attention
from the Parish Council. Cllr Long will speak to the owner of the Honey
Farm regarding overhanging hedges.
(8) Signage on A.456. Cllr Charman had spoken to the Clerk before the meeting. He has
discussed the Parish Council’s concerns with Maurice Carless at WCC, who agreed to
come to a meeting of the Parish Council. It was suggested that the Clerk arranges for him
to attend the September meeting.
(9) Former nursery site, Belbroughton Road. The Clerk reported that he
has spoken to Mark Kowalski, who works for a housing developer, who is
currently carrying out some survey work on the site. Mr Kowalski has
spoken to the planners at WFDC and is aware of the recent Housing Need
Survey for the Parish. He would like to meet the Parish Council and it
was suggested that the Clerk arranges for him to attend the October
meeting.
132/10 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(1) No applications were received.
(2) Planning Decisions - for information
WF/10/0180 New sports pavilion, Sports Field, Birmingham Road, Blakedown – GRANTED
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
14.07.10
93
WF/10/0226 Extension, 14 Churchill Lane, Churchill – GRANTED
WF/10/0235 Conservatory, Manderley, Churchill – GRANTED
WF/10/0264 Extension, 110 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown - GRANTED
133/10 GYPSY SITE, ROCKY LANE, CHURCHILL
The hearing scheduled for 13th July 2010 was postponed to a later date; the Clerk expected this not to be before mid September.
Cllr Long had attended the gypsy conference in Shropshire. He found it
interesting, but it was biased towards the gypsy/travelling community,
in spite of pronouncements of the current Government and the withdrawal
of funding for sites.
134/10 FINANCE
(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today
stands at £12,672.76p and the Instant Access account stands at
£12,610.43p, giving a total credit balance of £25,283.19p
(2) It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Coley, seconded by
Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and resolved that the following accounts be
approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stationery (June)
£17.42 + £3.05 VAT (2 invoices) £ 20.47
Roger Gurney
salary (June/July)
£629.88
expenses (March-June) £92.12 +
£1.28 VAT £ 93.40
reimbursement for domain name
renewal
£71.98 + £12.60 VAT
£ 84.58
Mark Jones
handyman
£360.00
lengthsman
£165.00
N Power
(April-June) £191.97 + £9.59 VAT
£201.56
£1,554.89
135/10 ACTION FOR THE SHOPPERS’ CAR PARK
The Working Group to discuss possible action has not yet been arranged.
Cllr Mrs Hayward has spoken with Cllr Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member at
WFDC, about car parking. It was agreed that he be invited to a Parish
Council meeting and the Clerk was asked to invite him to attend the
August or September meeting.
136/10 THE AVENUE, CAR PARK AND VILLAGE GREEN
The Clerk has not yet been able to submit the application to register
the Village Green, as the statutory declaration needs to be re-done. He
will arrange this.
A reply has still not been received from WFDC regarding the replacement
of the fruit trees on the Green and taking over the maintenance.
Cllr Long reported that the Blakedown WI has agreed to look after the
planting around the car park; any funding would come from the Parish
Improvement budget.
The Clerk reported that Prysmian would not be able to arrange for a
power supply for Christmas lighting on the Village Green. He will seek
an industrial electrican.
137/10 HOUSING NEED SURVEY
It would appear that the existence of the Survey is known to WFDC and
developers; it seems that, having agreed at the last meeting to its
publicity, there seems that no further action is needed at present.
94 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 14.07.10
138/10 HIGHWAY MATTERS
The Clerk confirmed that he had written to WCC regarding the recent
double fatality at on the A.451 at Five Ways; it is understood that the
matter is sub judice pending the court case.
Several comments were made in response to the County Council’s request
for views on the winter service season and these will be forwarded by
the Clerk.
139/10 BARRIER AT THE PARISH ROOMS
Cllr Long reported that the Parish Rooms Committee is investigating the suitability of a metal barrier.
140/10 ITEMS FROM CALC
The minutes of the Area Meeting on 9th June were circulated with the agenda and were noted.
141/10 CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) WCC – consultation on proposal for the opening of 16 bed term-time only weekly
boarding provision at Wyre Forest Community Special School
(2) Open Spaces Society leaflets: these were taken by Cllr Dearden for scanning and
circulating to Members
(3) Neighbouring Parish Council agendas, etc (Kinver, Bewdley and Chaddesley Corbett)
(4) Magazines, including Clerks and Councils Direct
142/10 ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
1. The Blakedown Fete will take place on Saturday 17th July.
2. The Blakedown Bolt raised some £3, 570, less some expenses.
143/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next Meeting will be on Wednesday, 18th August 2010 in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
The meeting closed at 9.48 pm.
Dated this 18th day of August 2010 ……………………………………Chairman14th July Minute