CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 7
Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown
Parish Council held on Wednesday, 18th February 2009, in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
PRESENT
Cllr P A Dearden (in the Chair)
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:
County Cllr Stephen Clee
CSO Kate Easthope
Gordon Stevens, web site keeper
Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
23/09
CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
In the absence of the Chairman Cllr Dearden
welcomed all to the meeting.
24/09
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
These were received and accepted from Cllr
Whiston.
25/09
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared a personal interest in
Item 5, Minute no. 27/09.
Cllr Mrs Hayward declared a personal and
prejudicial interest Item 9, planning application
no. WF/09/0058, Minute no. 31/09.
26/09
COMMUNITY POLICING
CSO Kate Easthope was invited to speak; PC
Sally Sliwinska was unable to attend. She
reported that there has been an increase
in the number of house burglaries during
the last month, as well as theft from garden
sheds. There have been problems at the station
and at the sports pavilion. The “school bus”
walk had encountered several parked cars,
which will be the subject of visits. Having
received email addresses of Members details
of problems have been circulated quickly
and it is hoped that this will lead to offenders
being caught.
27/09
SHOPPERS CAR PARK
Susan Winmill, the Parking Services Manager
for WFDC, and Glyn Edwards were invited to
speak. It was pointed out that, originally,
the Shoppers’ Car Park had limited hours,
but now times are not restricted. Members
commented that there are problems with long
term parking, such as by travellers and the
lengthy storage of unlicensed vehicles. It
seems that it is also being used by some
rail commuters, a problem that is likely
to increase. Cllr Long commented that the
residents of some 3/4 properties fronting
Birmingham Road had rights to park.
The Clerk reported that Hagley PC had reconsidered
possible changes to the car parking arrangements
in Hagley; these will remain non-paying.
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CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
18.02.09
Ms Winmill said that a sign showing that
parking was restricted for a limited time,
eg 4
hours, and for no overnight parking could
be displayed very quickly and that WFDC had
a system for issuing permits, if needed.
It was proposed by Cllr Gardiner, seconded
by Cllr Mrs Swindells, and agreed that WFDC
be asked to proceed with the display of a
sign showing the limited parking and restricting
overnight and long stay parking. Ms Winmill
said that she would also take back to WFDC
the implications of the Parish Council acquiring
the car park and to inform the PC of other
options.
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(2 members of the public were in attendance.
Judy Doust referred to the parking problems
in Roxall Close and Lynwood Drive. A consensus
of the residents (24) of 13 properties had
produced a plan showing what they would wish
for: this would avoid the hazard in Roxall
Close. County Cllr Clee agreed to take the
plan and pass it to officers at WCC. Mr Lorton commented on; (1) the use of the
Village green for dumping spoil from the
work being done at the Pelican crossing;
(2) there were missing street nameplates
at Sculthorpe Road (by the telephone kiosk)
and Birmingham Road (by the bus shelter);
(3) the blocked highway drain at Station
Drive/The Avenue has not been cleared).
28/09
REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
County Cllr Clee was invited to speak. He
commented that WCC now has to assess the
repair to the large number of potholes in
the roads, following the recent bad weather.
He commented that the PC had made a good
case for the Duckpen Cottages redevelopment
application to be refused, but suggested
that the PC should now make a case to English
Heritage for listing and to WFDC for local
listing. Cllr Gardiner commented that the
School Governors had made a request for a
20 mph speed limit to be imposed outside
the school and this needs to be included
in the WCC strategy. County Cllr Clee reported
that mobile phone companies have been told
that they need to share masts. In reply to
a question about the weight restriction request
through Churchill the Clerk reported that
WCC say that the percentage of heavy lorries
does not reach the minimum requirement for
action to be taken
29/09
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
HELD ON
21st JANUARY 2009
It was proposed by Cllr Pitt, seconded by Cllr Mrs
Swindells, and RESOLVED that
the Minutes, being a true and accurate record
of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed
be the Chairman.
30/09
PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1) Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens was invited to speak. He presented
the latest web
site review and a list of useful telephone
numbers for putting on the website. The Clerk
reported that WCC is adopting a standard
parish web site link from their website and
it was agreed that this be linked to the
Parish web site.
(2) Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones was not in attendance. The Clerk
reported that Mark Jones has reported two
areas of flooding (Stakenbridge Lane and
Stoney Lane) which have been passed to WCC.
Members asked if litter clearing can be done
in Waggon Lane and Rocky Lane. The Clerk
had attended the Lengthsman’s Steering Group
at County Hall; some 120 parish/town councils
are now in the scheme, funding will remain
the same for 2009/10 and he had reported
problems with gritting.
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
18.02.09 9
(3) Speakers for Annual Parish Meeting. The Clerk reported that David Priestnall
will attend the Annual Meeting in April,
to give an update on the current position
of the Norman Dawson Trust.
(4) Registration of the Village Green and
The Avenue. Cllr Dearden has started to complete the
registration form.
(5) Trees in The Avenue. The Clerk reported that he has discussed
the concern about the safety of the trees
in The Avenue with Richard Kingston, the
Tree Officer at WFDC. He will inspect and
report back to the Clerk.
(6) Offer of Items of Needlework. This item was deferred.
(7) Hodge Hill Farm Barn conversions. The Clerk has received information from
WFDC that the planning permission for this
development included a S.106 Agreement, with
£30,344.00 secured towards education facilities
and £3,703.40 for public open space. It is
up to the individual bodies to make claim
on this money.
(8) Police/Community Engagement Group. The minutes of the meeting of 10.12.08 have
been supplied by Mr Keys and are noted.
31/09
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
(1) It was resolved that the comments on
the following applications, as detailed,
be sent to Wyre Forest DC.
Applications Received
WF/09/0042
Remove leylandii conifers, 8 Churchill Lane,
Blakedown
No objection
WF/09/0058
Top out leylandii hedgerow, remove self-set
oak and ash, cut down clump of willow, remove
diseased alders, Churchill Forge House, Churchill
No objection
WF/09/0071
Two storey side extension with porch, removal
of existing garage and canopy, alterations
to existing property, 6 Forge Lane, Blakedown
No objection, providing any comments from
the neighbour are taken into account
WF/08/0839(revised)
Erection of 3 dwellings, access and turning
area, rear of 5 Mill Lane (off Mill Close),
Blakedown
It was considered that the additional and
revised plans were still relatively minor
matters
and did not relate to the major aspects of
the proposal. It was agreed that the previously
made objections be confirmed, including the
wish for the Parish Council to speak at the
WFDC Planning Committee.
WF/09/0076
Demolition of 2 bay garage and erection of
3 bay garage (resubmission of 07/1311), Churchill
Old Farm, Churchill
No objection
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CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
18.02.09
Planning Decisions - for information
None received
Updates
WF/08/1099 Replacement dwelling, Duckpen Cottages, Birmingham
Road Blakedown
Cllr Long reported that this was presented
to the WFDC Committee and he had spoken against
the recommendation to approve. This was overturned
and permission was refused. It was agreed
that the Clerk submits an application to
English Heritage for Duckpen Cottages to
be listed and to ask WFDC to locally list
the property.
WF/07/1260 and WF/08/0451
Redevelopment of Little Champson, 1 Roxall
Close, Blakedown
The Clerk is awaiting a reply from Mr Parker
at WFDC to the letter drawing attention to
the inconsistencies in the appeal decision
letter.
32/09
STATION DRIVE
The Clerk reported that Mr Hunter, WCC, and
County Cllr Clee had stated that the work
to kerb Station Drive will commence on Monday
23rd February and will last for some 3/4 weeks.
It was agreed that the Parish Council’s contribution
be paid.
33/09
FINANCE
(1)
The Clerk reported that the current account
today stands at £766.61p and the
Instant Access account stands at £11,502.05p,
giving a total credit balance of
£12,268.66p.
(2)
It was proposed by Cllr Gardiner, seconded
by Cllr Mrs Swindells, and resolved that
the following accounts be approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stamps, stationery
(January)
£43.01 + £4.18 VAT
£ 47.19
Worcestershire CC
£1,150.00
Mark Jones
handyman
£300.00
lengthsman
£190.00
Dave Bridgewater (for Parish Plan)
£ 50.00
£1,737.19
34/09
HIGHWAY MATTERS
1. Footway, A.456, near Harborough Hall. Having reported this matter again to WCC
the Clerk was told that it had been inspected
on 19.12.08 and would be attended to within
7 days. No work has been done and a further
enquiry is to be sent to WCC.
2. Gritting. The Clerk had received confirmation that
Mill Lane, being a bus route, is a top priority
for gritting in bad weather. Mill Lane was
not gritted during the second cold spell
and the Clerk was asked to write to Mr Fraser
on this matter.
3. 20 mph speed limit, outside Blakedown School. This has been taken up by the School Governors.
4. Roxall Close parking restrictions. The plan produced by residents has been
taken by County Cllr Clee for officers at
WCC to assess.
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
18.02.09 11
5. Churchill crossroads. It was noted that the new road marking scheme
has not been completed and the Clerk was
asked to find the current position.
6. Weight limit through Churchill. The Clerk reported that WCC has carried
out a traffic count on Stakenbridge Lane
and Churchill Lane. The number of heavy goods
vehicles, as a percentage of traffic flow,
did not reach the 5% level required in WCC
policy. Members asked the Clerk to find out
the cost of the WCC exercise, through FOI
Act.
35/09
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN
Cllr Gardiner reported that Version 3 has
been completed and needs to be agreed with
the response team. An update will be given
at the next Meeting.
36/09
PARISH PLAN WORKING GROUP
Public meetings are to be held on 13th March in Blakedown and 14th March in Churchill. It was confirmed that
all data had been collated and six chapters
completed.
37/09 BIG TIDY UP
Saturday 21st March was confirmed as the date for the
Churchill Tidy up. There will be a walkabout
in Blakedown before deciding the date and
location.
38/09 FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
Cllr Gardiner reported that a Steering Group
meeting has been held. It is hoped that an
open meeting for fundraisers can be arranged.
39/09
PROVISION OF DOG WASTE BINS AND LITTER BINS
This matter had arisen from Parish Plan replies.
It was noted that there is need for co-ordination
of emptying and the Clerk was asked to obtain
some costs of bins prior to the next meeting.
40/09 WAR MEMORIAL
The Clerk has been informed that Mr Trow
has decided to retire from maintaining the
grass around the War Memorial. In recognition
of his work at the Memorial for some 77 years
it was proposed by Cllr Long, seconded by
Cllr Mrs Hayward, and agreed, that Mr Trow
be presented with a silver salver. The Clerk
will obtain details. The Clerk will inform
the RBL of Mr Trow’s retirement and will
ask Mark Jones if he will undertake the grass
cutting as necessary as part of his Handyman’s
duties.
41/09
ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
The Clerk will discuss the necessary details
with the Chairman and pass the agreed annual
report to Cllr Gardiner, who is preparing
the next newsletter. It was agreed that Gordon
Stevens’ offer to print be accepted.
42/09 WYRE FOREST LDF CONSULTATION
Owing to the bad weather few residents had
attended the exhibition in the Parish Rooms
on 4th February. It was agreed that no response
be sent from the Parish Council.
43/09
ITEMS FROM CALC
The Clerk reported that the Area Meeting
will be held in Bewdley on 5th March.
12 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 18.02.09
44/09
CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) WFDC – Parish Forum meeting, 21st April 2009
(2) South Staffs DC – LDF consultation
(3) CPRE, Bromsgrove Branch – minutes of
meeting 06.01.09
(4) Kinver PC – agendas and minutes
(5) Community First Newsline (Feb 09)
45/09
ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
1. Ownership of The Avenue, car park and Village
Green
46/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This is scheduled for Wednesday, 18th March 2009, Blakedown Parish Rooms.
The meeting closed at 10.12 pm.
Dated this 18th day of March 2009
………………………………............
Chairman