CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 1
Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown
Parish Council held on Wednesday, 21st January 2009, in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
PRESENT
Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)
Cllr S D Charman
Cllr P A Dearden
Cllr Mrs P V Hayward
Cllr J W Long
Cllr B A Pitt
Cllr Mrs V J Swindells
In attendance:
CSO Kate Easthope
Gordon Stevens, web site keeper
Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
1/09
CHAIRMANS REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed all to the first meeting
of 2009.
2/09
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
These were received and accepted from Cllr
Mrs Cartwright and Cllr Gardiner.
3/09
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared personal interests in
Item 8(5), Minute no. 8/09(5) (as the freeholder
of the Post Office premises) and in Item
8(7), Minute no.8/09(7).
4/09
COMMUNITY POLICING
CSO Kate Easthope was introduced by the Chairman.
She and PC Sally Sliwinska, who was unable
to attend, took over the rural eastern part
of Wyre Forest district on 5th January. Previously they had covered only
Wolverley and Cookley parish and were finding
their way round the extended area. The Clerk
agreed to send email and telephone contact
details.
On the crime scene there have been several
burglaries in the area, mainly during afternoons;
two vehicles have been seen in the vicinity
of the burglaries; details were given to
Members.
It is hoped that Neighbourhood Watch can
be re-established to its previous level in
the Parish and that PACT meetings can be
held.
CSO Kate Easthope introduced Rob Kautzner,
warden for Wyre Forest Community Housing,
whose job is to support the housing tenants
and the community in general. He has a good
working relationship with the Police.
5/09
SHOPPERS CAR PARK
The Parking Services Manager for WFDC, Susan
Winmill, was unable to attend and had sent
an apology, but will be at the next meeting.
Cllr Long commented that a new parking scheme
has been introduced in Hagley and the Clerk
was asked to find details.
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CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.01.09
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(3 members of the public were in attendance.
One resident referred to increasing parking
problems in Roxall Close a knock-on from
the problems in Station Drive and the concern
about the safety of the trees in The Avenue.
Mr Lorton commented on; (1) the Pelican crossing
has not been repaired (the Clerk had reported
this and received a reply that the work had
been done!);(2) the stile on the public footpath
off Sandy Lane is not repaired (Cllr Dearden
to follow up); (3) the roof is being removed
from Little Champson; (4) the 8 public seats
in the Parish need to be cleaned (Mark Jones
to be asked to do this); (5) there is a blocked
highway drain at Station Drive/The Avenue).
6/09
REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Neither County Cllr Clee nor Cllr Williams
were in attendance and there were no reports.
7/09
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
HELD ON
10th DECEMBER 2008
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
be the Chairman.
8/09
PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1) Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens was invited to speak. He presented
a report
showing the number of hits over the last
year, which peaked in June with 4,736 page
loads. He is updating the items on the web
site and dealing with the advertisements
currently on the site. The Clerk confirmed
that Broome Village Hall Committee had paid
for their advert.
(2) Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones was not in attendance. The Clerk
reported that Mark Jones had done some gritting,
particularly at Churchill crossroads. Members
commented that Mill Lane had not been gritted,
yet this should have been done by WCC as
this is a bus route; the Clerk was asked
to report this.
(3) Blakedown Signal box listing. This has not progressed.
(4) Revised Budget for 2009/2010. This was circulated with the agenda and
noted. It took account of the amendments
made by members at the previous meeting.
(5) Blakedown Post Office. Cllr Long reported that a new post mistress
has been appointed, but the PO will now only
open for 23 hours each week. It is hoped
that increased usage will persuade the Post
Office to reconsider the hours of opening.
(6) Speakers for Annual Parish Meeting. The Clerk reported that Richard Fowler,
the Operations Manager for the Safer Roads
Partnership, will attend this Meeting. The
Clerk has not yet contacted David Priestnall.
(7) Registration of the Village Green and
The Avenue. Cllr Dearden has started to complete the
registration form.
(8) Kidderminster Driving Test Centre. The Clerk reported the letter he has received
from Driving Standards Agency, which stated
that the proposal to close the centre at
Kidderminster will go ahead and driving tests
will now take place at Lower Gornal.
(9) Churchill PCC. A letter of thanks for the recent grant
has been received.
9/09
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
21.01.09 3
Applications Received
WF/08/1081
Replace front walling and gates, and frontage
ground works, Woodland House, 2 New Wood
Lane, Blakedown
No objection to the positioning of the proposal.
However, the design of the proposed wall
and gates is not sympathetic to, nor in keeping
with, the distinctive design of the existing
house.
WF/08/1098
Extensions and alterations to dwelling, 13
New Wood Lane, Blakedown
No objection, but there is a need to ensure
that quality materials are used, which are
sympathetic to the surrounding area.
WF/08/1099
Demolition of existing property & double
garage, erection of one detached replacement
house and twin replacement garage, Duckpen
Cottages, 211A&B, 212A&B, Birmingham
Road, Blakedown
Objection to the proposal, which is little different
from the earlier application, WF/08/0784.
This proposal is to demolish yet another
substantial landmark building, which is part
if the character and history of the Parish,
being part of the original estate of the
Earls of Dudley, and to replace it with a
modern building in the Green Belt. Duckpen
Cottages are of characteristic local design,
to which no acceptance has been acknowledged.
No evidence has been submitted to indicate
that the building is structurally unsound
and, indeed, the applicant has already received
planning permission to convert to existing
building into a single dwelling, a proposal
supported by the Parish Council.
Because of their intrinsic local design the
Parish Council consider that Duckpen Cottages
should be listed; why does WFDC not support
the protection of important buildings of
local historic interest?
The applicant still claims that this proposal
would comply with Policy GB1(iv) still
only quoted in part in the Statement. The
first part of Policy H9(iii) is also relevant,
as the building is of local and historic
interest, but this is conveniently ignored
by the applicant. Duckpen Cottages are referred
to in the Pictorial History of Churchill
and Blakedown (Mr Roper-Pressdee has accepted
a copy for your office). The Press report
which accompanied the previous application
expressed the local concerns about the proposed
demolition.
The Parish Council has received many comments
back from residents following the consultation
on the Parish Plan. Concern indicates that
the retention of period properties in the
Parish is an important issue and, therefore,
such buildings should be locally listed before
there are lost (Little Champson, in Roxall
Close, is now being demolished).
It was agreed that the Parish Council is
represented at WFDC Planning Committee and
Cllr Long agreed to speak.
Planning Decisions - for information
WF/08/0659 Change of use of outbuildings to 5 residential
units with garaging and
parking, Hodge Hill Farm Barns, Birmingham
Road, Kidderminster
GRANTED
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CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.01.09
WF/08/0943
Extension to provide two additional bedrooms,
Park Hall Lodge, Birmingham Road, Blakedown
- REFUSED
WF/08/0974 Change of use from 4 flats to one house,
extensions and replacement
double garage, Duckpen Cottages, 211A &
B and 212A & B,
Birmingham Road, Blakedown GRANTED
Update
WF/08/0839 Proposed residential development, r/o 5 Mill
Lane, Blakedown
The Clerk reported that this application
has not yet been presented to Committee at
WFDC. He reported on the legal advice received
from NALC and copies were circulated. If
there are any concerns the Clerk can contact
NALC again.
Appeal decisions
WF/07/1260
Redevelopment of Little Champson to form
two 5 bedroom houses,
1 Roxall Close, Blakedown ALLOWED
WF/08/0451
Redevelopment of Little Champson to form
two 4 bedroom houses,
1 Roxall Close, Blakedown ALLOWED (enclosed)
The decision letter from the Planning Inspectorate
was circulated with the agenda.
Members and residents were disappointed with
the decisions. Members were concerned
with some comments made by the Inspector,
including factual errors. Accepting that
the
Planning Inspectorate would not respond to
comment, the Clerk was asked to write to
WFDC with the concerns.
WF/08/0698
Removal of occupancy condition, Sunset Nursery,
Waggon Lane, Ismere
The Clerk reported that this appeal will
be dealt with at a Hearing on 3rd March 2009.
10/09
PARKING IN ROXALL CLOSE
The concerns about all day parking by non
residents, especially at the narrow entrance, were raised during the adjournment. Members
consider this problem to be part of the general
problem of parking in the vicinity of the
station; this should be looked at when the
work in Station Drive is completed and the
implementation of the car park scheme at
Station yard is known.
11/09
FINANCE
(1)
The Clerk reported that the current account
today stands at £391.64p and the
Instant Access account stands at £13,101.01p,
giving a total credit balance of
£13,492.65p.
(2)
The Receipts and Payments account for 06.11.08-06.01.09
was received.
(3)
It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Swindells, seconded
by Cllr Charman, and resolved that the following
accounts be approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stamps, (December)
£14.49 + £1.53 VAT
£ 16.02
R D Gurney salary (Dec/Jan)
£621.84
back pay April-Nov; 8 @ £16.11 £128.88
V Rudge, mowing, Oct/Nov
£ 95.00
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.01.09 5
CPRE subscription for 2009
£ 29.00
Npower Ltd (Oct/Dec)
£193.64 + £9.68 VAT
£203.32
Mark Jones
handyman
£325.00
lengthsman
£165.00
Cllr T A Gardiner (for Parish Plan)
£ 34.97
£1,619.03
12/09
HIGHWAY MATTERS
1. The Clerk reported that he has spoken
to Mr Hunter (WCC) who said that a request
for the money towards the Station Drive work
will be sent shortly. Members expressed
the need to know the start date before the
money is sent and hoped this would be to
hand by the next meeting. The Council was
reminded that in 2007 WCC had stated that
it would carry out the work in the 2008/9
year.
2. Members noted that the footway on A.456
near Harborough Hall had not been attended
to. The Clerk had reported this to the Highways
Agency, when it was a trunk road, and subsequently
to WCC. A letter with photographs will be
sent to WCC.
3. The roadway and footway outside Drybridge,
Churchill, is collapsing; this is to be reported.
4. Members noted that a traffic counter is
across the lane in Churchill village.
5. The Clerk was asked to report that no
gritting took place in Mill Lane during the
recent cold weather.
13/09
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN
Cllr Gardiner is to arrange a meeting of
the Committee shortly.
14/09
PARISH PLAN WORKING GROUP
Meetings with residents groups are planned
for 6th/7th March.
15/09 BIG TIDY UP
In Cllr Gardiners absence there was no report.
The Chairman suggested Saturday morning,
21st March for the Tidy Up in Churchill.
16/09 FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
Cllr Gardiner is arranging a meeting to co-ordinate
events.
17/09
OFFER OF ITEMS OF NEEDLEWORK
This item was deferred. It was suggested
that in the meantime this could be put on
the web site.
18/09 WYRE FOREST LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
Details of the exhibition in Blakedown on
3rd February 2009 were received.
19/09
ITEMS FROM CALC
There were none.
20/09
CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) WCC Temporary closure order, New Wood
Lane (6 weeks from 23rd February 09)
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CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.01.09
(2) WCC Temporary 10 mph speed limit, east
from junction of Hurcott Lane/Kidderminster
Road (8 weeks from 23rd February 2009)
(3) WCC Temporary 10 mph speed limit, Kidderminster
Road South, Hagley (8 weeks from 23rd February 2009)
(4) WCC Budget information meeting, 27th January 2009 at 6.30 pm, County Hall
(5) WFDC training on breaches of the Code
of Conduct (now 26th January 2009)
(6) WFDC Parish Forum meeting, 21st April 2009
(7) WFDC Register of Electors 2009
(8) Play Safety annual playground inspection
(9) Dept of Communities and LG Code of
Conduct consultation
(10) Kinver PC agendas and minutes
(11) Bromsgrove DC Core Strategy and Clerks
and Councils Direct
21/09
ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
1. Litter bins/Dog waste bins
2. A.456, traffic through Blakedown village
3. Annual Newsletter
4. The Clerk to ask Mark Jones if he will attend
to the Parish Notice Boards.
22/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This is scheduled for Wednesday, 18th February 2009, Blakedown Parish Rooms.
The meeting closed at 10.08 pm.
Dated this 18th day of February 2009
............
Chairman