CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL
150Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council held on Wednesday, 16th January 2008, in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
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: R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
1/08 CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
The Chairman wished all Members a Happy New Year and welcomed members of the public to the meeting.
2/08 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None.
3/08 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Item 7(6) (minute no. 7/08(6)) and Item 9 (minute no. 9/08).
4/08 COMMUNITY POLICING
No officer was in attendance and there was no report. Members mentioned that there had been road rage/parking problems in Station Drive earlier this week, of which the police were aware and a road traffic accident this morning near the railway bridge in Stakenbridge Lane.
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(Five members of the public were in attendance. Several residents of Lynwood Drive expressed their concerns with Planning application WF/07/1260, following up their correspondence with WFDC.
Concern was expressed with vehicles parking on pavements in Birmingham Road and Station Drive, blocking the path for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and there was surprise that there has been no positive police action. Residents were reminded that PACT forms should be filled in and sent to the Police. It was suggested that the PC might consider sending letters to residents where cars are unlawfully parked.
Mr Lorton reported flooding under the railway bridge in Stakenbridge Lane (already reported by Cllr Mrs Hayward) and the road works in Sculthorpe Road not yet completed. (Cllr Mrs Hayward agreed to follow this up)
5/08 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
County Cllr Clee was not in attendance and there was no report.
151
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.01.08Cllr Williams distributed a sheet of facts about Wyre Forest DC to Members and reported that Chaddesley Corbett PC has set up a Group to monitor and respond to possible post office closures and he suggested that there may be some benefit with this Council’s Working Group.
6/08 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
12th DECEMBER 2007
It was proposed by Cllr Dearden, seconded by Cllr Gardiner, and RESOLVED that the Minutes, being a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed by the Chairman.
7/08 PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1) Parish Web site. Malcolm Hall was invited to speak. He reported that in the last month there had been 2306 page loads, with some 830 new visitors (from Australia, Philippines and USA. The consultation questionnaire for the Parish Plan is on the web site and several replies have been received online. The Chairman thanked Malcolm Hall for his continued work.
(2) Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones was not in attendance. The Clerk has spoken to him and it is agreed that, in order to benefit from County Cllr Clee’s funding, Mark Jones will work wholly on lengthsman’s duties until the end of March.
(3) Land to the rear of 5 Mill Lane, Blakedown. The Clerk has still to arrange to visit the Diocesan solicitors.
(4) Parish Newsletter. This is being distributed with the Parish Plan consultation. It was agreed that Members could, in the future, help with the preparation of the three interim newsletters with details of the Parish matters and this be will be looked into by Cllrs Dearden and Gardiner. The Clerk reminded the Council that the Annual Newsletter is the only newsletter that should be distributed to each household.
(5) Street light no 35, outside 20 Belbroughton Road. This is now working.
(6) Post Office Working Group. Cllr Long had nothing to report, but the Group will need to consider the comment made by Cllr Williams regarding the post office at Chaddesley Corbett.
(7) Blakedown Station maintenance. Network Rail has stated that this areas of fencing is not owned by them, but by a third party.
(8) Annual Parish Meeting arrangements. It was confirmed that there will be a progress report on the Playground and that two Year 6 pupils will speak about their projects. The Clerk was asked to follow up a speaker from the Library service and to ask David Priestnall if he would be available to give an update on the Norman Dawson Trust.
(9) Improvements to public rights of way. Cllr Dearden has passed comments to the WCC Countryside Section.
(10) Improvements to the access to the Shoppers car park. The Clerk reported that he has spoken to officers at WCC and the details have now been sent for the scheme to be discussed.
(11) Parish Games co-ordinator. Mr Elwell has informed the Clerk that he is content to carry on as the co-ordinator.
8/08 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(1) It was resolved that the comments on the following applications, as detailed, be sent to Wyre Forest DC.
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.01.08
152Applications Received.
WF/07/1257 Ground floor and first floor extensions, 49 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown
No objection
WF/07/1260 Erection of 2 five bedroom houses with access and demolition of Little Champson, 1 Roxall Close, Blakedown
The PC considers that: first, the scale of the proposed houses is out of keeping with
adjoining properties and would be detrimental to the street scene; second, the design
of the proposed houses is not in keeping with nearby properties, also affecting
detrimentally the street scene; third, the private amenity and parking space is less
than the standard to be expected for these 5 bedroom houses; fourth, it is undesirable
for these large houses to have their rear gardens fronting the A.456, this being the
main, visual thoroughfare through the village.
The PC regrets that this proposal involves the demolition of one of the oldest houses in Blakedown. (Why has it not been listed?) It is felt that a scheme should be devised which refurbishes the original building and, either is more appropriately extended and then converted into flats, or a small separate dwelling akin to a coach house is built in the grounds, with the original building refurbished. This would create smaller units of accommodation, which are needed in the village, and which could contribute to the affordable housing need of the area, controlled by a Section 106 Agreement.
After some discussion it was resolved that the Parish Council should make an application
to English Heritage for the listing of Little Champson, the Clerk to liaise with Cllr Long
and Cllr Mrs Swindells.
WF/07/1307 Rebuild garage after fire and pitched roof to replace flat roof, New Wood Farm Bungalow, New Wood Lane, Blakedown
No objection
WF/07/1311 Demolition of 2 bay garage and erection of 3 bay garage and tool store, Churchill Old Farm, Churchill
No objection
WF/07/1319 Single storey extension to form orangery, 93 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown
No objection
WF/08/0005 CERTE Use of land as garden in association with Glebe House, Glebe House, Churchill
Having viewed the submitted documents the PC does not feel that it has any further or
definite evidence to support or reject the application
153 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.01.08
Planning Decisions - for information
WF/07/1033 Dormer window, 3 Waterworks Cottages, Stourbridge Rd, Ismere - GRANTED
WF/07/1038 Replacement roof and 2 velux windows, Attlee House, Churchill – LBC GRANTED
WF/07/1044 Refurbishment of playground, Birmingham Road, Blakedown - GRANTED
WF/07/1073 One replacement dwelling, 4 Churchill Lane, Blakedown - GRANTED
WF/07/1103 Extensions, 53 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown – GRANTED
WF/07/1120 Extension, 108 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown – GRANTED
WF/07/1126 Change of use from shop to A2 office, 39B Birmingham Road, Blakedown – GRANTED
WF/07/1135 Extensions, 69 Belbroughton Road, Blakedown - GRANTED
9/08 CHANGE OF USE TO A2 OFFICE, 39B BIRMINGHAM ROAD, BLAKEDOWN
Members expressed their concern with the decision of this application, WF/07/1126, by WFDC. The PC’s objection included the non compliance with WFDC Policy RT.6, which had been considered relevant for the Indian restaurant proposal and which had been quoted to Members of the PC when previously discussing this property. It is contended that WFDC officers failed to give proper consideration to the material considerations and the officer obviously had not been aware of the planning history of nearby shop units. Furthermore, additional information had been requested from the applicant, which was not available to the PC, and which may have had a significant bearing on the consideration. The Clerk was asked to write to Mr Parker drawing his attention to the flaws in arriving at the decision and questioning whether the signage requires consent.
10/08 FINANCE
(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at £792.25p and the Instant Access account stands at £7,246.99p, giving a total credit balance of £8,039.24p.
(2) The Receipts and Payment account for 06.11.07 - 04.01.08 was received.
(3) It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Swindells, seconded by Cllr Mrs Hayward, and resolved that the following accounts be approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stamps - December
£15.27 + £2.40 VAT (3 invoices) £ 17.67
R D Gurney, salary (£589.62 for 2 months) + back pay (£114.96)£704.58
CRPE subscription for 2008 £ 27.00
SLCC subscription for 2008 £ 91.00
N Power (Oct - Dec) £165.62 + £8.28 VAT £173.90
Mark Jones handyman £350.00
lengthsman £170.00
£1,534.15
11/08 HIGHWAY MATTERS/CHURCHILL CROSSROADS
Members felt that WCC should be aware of the recent problems regarding car parking in Station Drive involving the police and of the recent accidents in Stakenbridge Lane. The
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 16.01.08
154Clerk reported that Dave Clee, WCC Accident Studies Team, had told him that he was still seeking funding to undertake the “modification” work at the Churchill crossroads. Members were also concerned that the speed humps on the Parish Rooms driveway were a tripping hazard and made no provision for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
12/08 MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR THE SHOPPERS CAR PARK
The Clerk has spoken to one of the supervisors about the various matters of concern and these will be passed to the Manager on her return to work.
13/08 PARISH PLAN WORKING GROUP
The questionnaires are being distributed and will be assessed at the next meeting at the end of February.
14/08 ITEMS FROM CALC
An Information Bulletin and details of a training session at Upper Arley were enclosed with the agenda.
15/08 CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) WCC – Budget Information meeting, 17th January, 7pm at County Hall
(2) WCC – Evening Bus Services campaign
(3) West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy – consultation on Preferred Option until 28.03.08
(4) West Mercia Police Authority – consultation evenings
(5) Wyre Forest Police/Community Consultative Group – agenda for meeting on 16th January
(6) Kinver PC minutes
(7) Magazines, including Wyre Forest Schools Review newsletter; Speaking Out (WMRA); Clerk & Councils; CPRE Newsletter
(8) WFDC Budget meeting, 24th January 2008 at 6 pm
(9) WCC - Children and Young Persons Plan Annual Conference, 30th January at 9.30 am
(10) WFDC - Churchill Conservation Area Character Appraisal consultation - agreed to accept the offer of an invitation of an officer to the next PC meeting
16/08 ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
1. Possible suppliers of power for street lighting
2. Swan Inn, Blakedown
17/08 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This is scheduled for Wednesday, 20th February 2008, in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
The meeting closed at 10.21 pm.
Dated this 20th day of February 2008 ………………………………............
Chairman