PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)

Cllr Mrs S Cartwright

Cllr S D Charman

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 Gemma Green and colleague

Jenny Maturi, CALC Development Support Officer

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

The Chairman welcomed Members of the Parish Council, the police officers and Jenny Maturi to the meeting.

These were received and accepted from Cllr Dearden.

Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Items 8(3) (Minute no. 151/07(3)) and 16 (Minute no. 159/07).

The Chairman invited PC Gemma Green to speak. She commented that there had been no serious crimes recently in the Parish, but this is a time when house burglaries occur and there has been increased publicity to make residents aware of the problem. She also commented that youths are coming into the Parish by train (now that there is a drinking ban in Hagley) and there have been disturbances around the school and sports field. Cllr Long reported that he and his neighbour, Paul Cook, had recently been the target of vandals during the night and they were unhappy with the police response, who said they were not able to move the group on. Similarly, there has been rowdy behaviour near the car park. Members hoped that these comments would be taken back and wondered whether Dispersal Orders or ASBOs could be considered.

Concern was also expressed with the continued speeding along Belbroughton Road, which is intended to be a safer route to school. Cllr Gardiner agreed to co-ordinate the concerns prior to emailing them to the Police station. There was also concern with the parking in Station Drive.

The Chairman invited Jenny Maturi, CALC Development Support Officer, to speak. The booklet, a guide to becoming a Quality Council, was distributed to Members. She explained that QPS is akin to charter mark status and Quality Councils may receive benefits in terms of funding, etc, in the future. Mrs Maturi concentrated on the mandatory

and discriminatory requirements for applying. Currently the Parish Council meets the mandatory tests of a 100% elected Council, a qualified Clerk, holding more than 6 meetings per year, producing an annual report, having accurate and transparent financial arrangements, and signing up to the Code of Conduct. It was accepted more items listed in the discretionary section, relating to communication with the Parish, need to be addressed.

The consensus of the Meeting was that the PC should proceed towards QPS and this should be discussed at the next Meeting.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(One member of the public (John Norton) was in attendance. His comments related to traffic speeds in Belbroughton Road. Members commented that this is to be included in the Parish Plan consultation).

149/07 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

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

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Swindells, seconded by Cllr Charman, 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, but the Chairman confirmed that the web site is regularly updated.

(2) Lengthsman report. Mark Jones was not in attendance. Members restated their concern with the Wannerton Road bridge and that the road surface of Brookside Way is becoming distorted.

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

(4) Land to the rear of 5 Mill Lane, Blakedown. The Clerk reported a telephone conversation he has had with has with the Diocesan Surveyor, Stuart Wild. Mr Wild has said that, whatever the terms of Mr Young’s gift of the land had been, this was now overtaken by subsequent legislation. This meant that all land used for parsonages are part of the assets of the Parsonages Board and, therefore, the benefits of the sale of such land or buildings have to be used for the benefit of the diocese and not the particular parish. He said that the Board is required to get the best return from the land and 4 detached houses will achieve this, subject to planning permission being granted. He commented that a new application for this is soon to be submitted. The Clerk was asked to write to the Diocesan Board to find details of Mr Young’s gift to the church.

(5) Reinstatement of kerbs, Station Drive. The Clerk reported a letter he had received from David Hunter, District Liaison Officer, WCC. He states that he will arrange for the Maintenance Team to repaint some of the carriageway lining to delineate the off street parking area and he will speak to Network Rail to encourage them to do likewise. He hopes to secure funding for a footway improvement scheme, including kerbing, but this will be in a future year. The Clerk was asked to ascertain what this cost might be.

(6) Enhancement at Blakedown Station. The Clerk has reported to and discussed with Network Rail the damaged fencing on both platforms. This is now in hand.

(7) Removal of Telephone Kiosk, Blakedown. The Clerk has reported to and discussed with BT the work needed to make good the wall and pavement, following the removal of the kiosk.

Planning Appeal notification

Details of the accounts were circulated with the agenda. Following the information given by Mr Elwell at the previous meeting it was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and agreed that a grant of £264.00 be paid towards the cost of the Trust’s annual insurance. Members asked that the accompanying letter should request information of the current day to day purpose of the Millenium Green and whether it is intended for use for informal activities by children.

It was agreed that the Parish Council re-joins Community First, and that the annual subscription of £38.00 be paid.

It was agreed to defer this item to a subsequent meeting and, meanwhile, to give publicity to sporting organisations that this prize is available.

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at £174.43p and the Instant Access account stands at £4,026.51p, giving a total credit balance of £4,200.94p. The Clerk commented that the total is low because, first, two large payments have been made and, second, no payment of the lengthsman invoices has been made during this financial year: the Clerk was asked to chase.

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

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stamps - July

Mark Jones, handyman £245.00

lengthsman £120.00

Churchill and Blakedown Millennium Green Trust £264.00

Community First £ 38.00

£696.61

Having discussed this new Code of Conduct at the previous meeting it was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Charman, and agreed that the Model Code of Conduct be adopted.

The report on various options at the crossroads, promised by Mr Dave Clee (of WCC) for consideration at the last meeting has still not been received, although it was subsequently promised for this meeting.

The Clerk reported that he had received a letter from County Cllr Clee who intimates that WCC may have some funding available for this particular sign and that he is pursuing this on our behalf. The Clerk also reported a letter from that WCC stated, under the Freedom of Information Act, that the recently erected vehicle activated signs at Callow End had been funded mainly by Central Networks.

The Clerk was asked to report to WCC that the bank by the roadway in Churchill has slipped into the stream and that several trees in Crown Lane are overhanging and are in need of pruning.

Cllr Long reported that the Group has not needed to hold a meeting.

Cllr Mrs Swindells circulated two possible options for the improvement of this access to A.456. There was some discussion of the plans and it was agreed to consider these

further at the next meeting. The Chairman thanked Cllr Mrs Swindells for the work she has done in preparing the options.

A first meeting had been held, when it was agreed that a Steering Group is needed to be formed. A letter is to be sent to key people in several organisations in the Parish. The next meeting is arranged for 12^th September 2007 in the Old House at Home PH. The Clerk reminded the Working Group that they would be able to claim for out of pocket expenses and that, in due course, the grant facilities at Community First should be investigated.

The Clerk reported that the next Area Meeting will be on 5^th September 2007 in Churchill Village Hall and that courses on Risk Assessment are arranged for 11^th and 18^th September in Worcester.

(1) WFDC – Off Street Parking Variation Order 2007

(2) WFDC – Parish Council Guide 2007

(3) WFDC – Local Development Framework Core Strategy consultation

(4) WFDC – News release re grants and Council Tax relief after flooding

(5) WFDC - Bus stop audit, meeting 25.09.07 (Cllr Charman agreed to attend)

(6) WFDC - Open Spaces questionnaire (passed to Parish Plan Group)

1. The Clerk was asked to report a number of potholes on the west side of Crown Lane and in Sculthorpe Road.

This is scheduled for Wednesday, 19^th September 2007, in Blakedown Parish Room.

The meeting closed at 10.22 pm.

Dated this 19th day of September 2007 ………………………………............

Chairman