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 Mrs V J Swindells

In attendance: Malcolm Hall, Web site keeper

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting.

These were received and accepted from Cllr Pitt.

Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Item 7(3) (Minute no. 194/07(3)) and Item 16 (Minute no. 203/07).

Apologies had been received from PC Kevin Fincher and PC Gemma Green. Members reported that 2 large cars had been set on fire; there had been a threat to the post office; several bicycles had been stolen but some recovered; and there has been a spate of graffiti on street signs and bollards at The Avenue. The Clerk has reported the graffiti on the signs and will report the additional complaint.

Members hoped that the police would be present at the next meeting, to report on the matters raised at the September meeting.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(One member of the public was in attendance. Mr Lorton reported the lamp outside 20 Belbroughton Road has been out for several weeks (the Clerk updated the meeting on this); the tree by Pool Dam Cottages has not been removed (the Clerk will write to Mr Cooper); the bridle path near Broome Mill is obstructed with branches (the Clerk will write to the owner); and the damaged road signs in Mill Lane (already referred to)).

192/07 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

County Cllr Clee was not in attendance and there was no report.

It was agreed that amendments be made as follows:

Minute 180/07, line 3, delete “obtain some costings” and replace with “draft a low cost proposal”

Minute 175/07, line 2, delete “sports groups” and replace with “Kids Club”

Subject to these amendments 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 invited to speak. He commented that the web site is ticking over and another advert has been placed. There is currently an average of 70 page loads daily. There will shortly be a page for the Parish Plan.

The Clerk took the opportunity to explain that he has been having difficulties with his emails since he switched to broadband, but hoped that would soon be sorted.

(2) Lengthsman report. Mark Jones had apologised for his absence. Members noted the litter problem in Waggon Lane, Rocky Lane and gateways in Churchill. Mark Jones still requires additional traffic cones for his safety.

(3) Trees in The Avenue, Blakedown. No information is forthcoming and there is no Tree Officer in post at WFDC; this matter be dropped for the time being.

(4) Land to the rear of 5 Mill Lane, Blakedown. The Clerk is awaiting a reply to his latest letter. Members would like a response before the next meeting.

(5) Reinstatement of kerbs, Station Drive. It was hoped that County Cllr Clee would have some information on this, but none has been sent to the Clerk.

(8) Distribution of Parish Games prize. Cllr Mrs Swindells suggested that this be given to the Kids Club, recently set up at Blakedown Church for children up to the age of 14. The Clerk confirmed that he had received a letter from a churchwarden requesting a grant from the PC for this Club. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Swindells, seconded by Cllr Charman, and agreed that the £100 prize be given to the Kids Club.

(9) Quality Parish Status. The Chairman reminded the Meeting that, before QPS can be given, certain criteria need to be met. Of the mandatory criteria a Quarterly newsletter needs to be established and made available for all - not delivered to each household, but making use of the web site and parish magazine. Of the discretionary criteria 9 out of 17 need to be met, of which we can now meet 6. The Chairman discussed the options and will discuss with the Clerk, when he has more details from the Clerk at Chaddesley Corbett, and representatives of the Parish Plan Group.

(10) Wyre Forest Bus Stop Audit. The survey document has been sent to the Clerk and Cllr Gardiner agreed to undertake this audit.

(11) Street light no 35, outside 20 Belbroughton Road. The power supply has still not been connected

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

A letter, together with part year accounts, were circulated with the agenda. The Sports centre request £1,000 to ensure the continued maintenance of the field, as the bad weather in the summer meant that income was not as great as was expected. Reference was made to the roof of the pavilion which was damaged in the heavy rain during the summer. Members expressed their support for the Sports Centre, but was aware that over £1,340 was granted to the Friends of Blakedown Playground and there was insufficient money remaining in the Grants budget. The Clerk reported that, in recognition of the support provided by local communities during the recent flooding, WFDC is offering parish councils a grant of £750 towards the clear up operations or restoration operations. It was proposed by Cllr Charman, seconded by Cllr Gardiner, and agreed that a grant of £594.67 be paid to the Sports Centre. It was agreed that the Clerk applies for the grant of £750 from WFDC.

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at £105.29p and the Instant Access account stands at £9,894.55p, giving a total credit balance of £9,999.84p.

(2) The mid year financial summary was circulated with the agenda. The Clerk reported that many of the estimates are as predicted, the biggest changes being the extra £350 election cost, the Blakedown Playground grant, and the lack of a street lighting maintenance bill for 2006/7 from Prysmian. The summary was received.

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

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stamps - September

£28.78 + £3.11 VAT £ 31.89

Mark Jones, handyman £245.00

lengthsman £125.00

Blakedown Church (for the Kids Club) £100.00

Churchill and Blakedown Sports and Recreation Centre £594.67

£1,375.37

WCC informed the PC that the CC intend to apply to the Magistrates Court for an Order to authorise the stopping up of highway land. A copy of the plan was enclosed with the agenda. The Clerk explained that the application has been made on behalf of the residents of Fiveways Cottages and the land would be annexed as garden land. The Parish Council resolved that it has No Objection to this Order.

The report from Dave Clee, Accident Studies Team at WCC, was enclosed with the agenda. The main aspect of this report was the narrowing of the main road carriageway by moving and repainting the white lines at the junction, to give the impression of a reduction in width. It was suggested that additional white lines be painted adjacent to the War Memorial. With this additional comment it was agreed to accept the suggestions in the letter, although the installation of vehicle activated signs is still considered the ultimate solution. Photographs of a recent accident to be sent with the reply to WCC.

Members noted that highway work is imminent in Crown Lane and the Clerk was asked to report the sunken drain cover outside Drybridge House in Churchill.

The following amendments to the Parish Council’s Standing Orders were suggested by the Chairman:

3. Add “unless the Council decides otherwise at a previous meeting.”

7. Amended to read “Three members shall form a quorum.”

17. Replace with “ Any notice of motion or recommendation received by the Clerk shall be included in the agenda of the following meeting of the Council.

18. Replace first 4 words with: “Any notice of motion or recommendation received by the Clerk shall be inserted in”..the summons

56. Replace with: “Members are required to declare if they have any personal and/or

prejudicial interest in any contract, proposed contract or other matter before the meeting. If any member has declared a prejudicial interest, as defined in Parts 2 and 3 of the Schedule to the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007, he shall, while it is under consideration by the Council, withdraw from the meeting, in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 10(2).”

Second no. 58 This is renumbered 59

59 deleted

62 add “and the general public”

68(a) Replace with: “The Clerk shall keep a record of every planning application notified to the Council indicating:-

(i) the date when it was received

(ii) the name of the applicant

(iii) the location

(iv) a summary of the nature of the application

70. Add “ A motion to suspend standing orders shall be moved by a verbal recommendation and carried by a simple majority.”

75. Add at the beginning: “The Council has adopted the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 and” (a)…..

78. To read: “ These Standing Orders shall be reviewed following the election of a new Council.”

It was agreed that these revised Standing Orders be accepted and presented for approval at the next meeting of the Council.

It was agreed that this item be deferred. Some concern was expressed that the car park is being used by staff employed at local businesses. It was agreed that the use be monitored and reported back at the next meeting.

Four meetings have now been held and Karen Humphries of Community First had attended. Acknowledging that there is a need to inform the village of the Parish Plan and to carry out consultations, the Group is now assessing how best to make contact with the community in order to receive feedback and information. A grant of £1,000 is available via Community First, but there is a strict time limit for it to be spent, such as when the final document is printed. It was agreed that the Parish Council allocates up to £150 for expenditure by the Working Group.

There was nothing to report and there was some discussion about the timing of a possible announcement regarding the closure of post offices in Wyre Forest. It was agreed that this matter be reported to the next meeting only if there has been or is likely to be an announcement. Cllr Long said that he had no knowledge of this, but he would find out and report back.

The Mail has been circulated with the agenda. The Clerk drew attention to possible training for Members after Christmas.

(2) WFDC – Parish Forum, 8^th November at 7pm, request for agenda items

(4) Standards Board – newsletter

1. Speaker for Annual Meeting in April.

2. Library/mobile library facility

3. Cllr Long reported that he had been approached to become a Trustee of the Emily Lyttelton Trust and he had attended one meeting. The Council was pleased for Cllr Long to be the formal representative from the Council.

This is scheduled for Wednesday, 21^st November 2007, in Blakedown Parish Room.

The meeting closed at 10.26 pm.

Dated this 21st day of November 2007 ………………………………............

Chairman