PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)

Cllr Mrs S Cartwright

Cllr P A Dearden

Cllr T A Gardiner

Cllr J W Long

Cllr B A Pitt

Cllr Mrs V J Swindells

In attendance: Malcolm Hall, Web site keeper

Mark Jones, Lengthsman and Handyman

R D Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council

The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and informed members that he had attended the RBL Service of Remembrance.

These were received and accepted from Cllr Charman and Cllr Mrs Hayward.

Cllr Mrs Swindells declared a personal interest in Item 9, planning application no. 07/1126 (minute no. 216/07)

Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Item 8(7) (minute no. 215(7)) and Item 9, planning application no. 07/1126 (minute no. 216/07).

The Chairman invited PC Sarah Brooks and CSO Gemma Green to speak. PC Brooks has taken over from PC Fincher as Beat Manager for the area. PC Brooks reported that they are following several leads after the arson attacks on 4 private vehicles in the New Wood Lane area. Speed cameras are to be used in Belbroughton Road, as this is now in north Worcestershire’s top 10 speeding hot spots. Members expressed concern about vehicles being parked on the pavements on Birmingham Road and this will be looked at. Details of the PACT meetings were circulated.

The Chairman welcomed Geoff Elwell and David Priestnall, both trustees of the Millennium Green, to answer questions from councillors. It was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Pitt, and agreed, that Standing Orders be suspended for this Item.

After the discussion, which included matters of accessibility, publicity, and re-designation as “Open Access Land”, the Chairman thanked the trustees for explaining some of their difficulties and for answering questions.

ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

(One member of the public was in attendance. Mr Lorton reported the lamp outside 20 Belbroughton Road is still not working (the Clerk will pursue the problem); and the re- surfaced pavements in Sculthorpe Road do not have any dropped kerbs. Malcolm Hall reported that a gypsy family had moved on to the Shoppers car park, but had been moved on by the Police. There is concern that this site has now been ‘found‘. Members asked for this to be put on the next agenda, regarding possible devolving the ownership to the PC).

213/07 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

County Cllr Clee was not in attendance. The Clerk reported receipt of a letter from County Cllr Clee, advising the PC that he has allocated £1,000 from his locally determined county council budget for improvements and works to be carried out by the lengthsman scheme. The Clerk will clarify details and it was agreed that this be included on the next agenda.

It was agreed that amendments be made as follows:

Minute 199/07, line 9, delete “raised” and replace with “sunken”.

Minute 203/07, line 2, delete “West Midlands” and replace with “Wyre Forest”.

Minute 203/07, add additional sentence, “Cllr Long said he had no knowledge of this, but he would find out and report back”.

Subject to these amendments it was proposed by Cllr Long, 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.

(1) Parish Web site. Malcolm Hall was invited to speak. He reported that there were over 2,000 page loads in the last month and the Blakedown Bolt 2008 has already attracted interest from the USA, France, Norway and Sweden. The Chairman thanked Malc Hall for the regular updates and for the revamp. Cllr Dearden asked if the Parish Plan could have its own web site and whether there could be on-line consultation on the Plan. It is agreed that the PC agenda will be on the web site, as part of the QPS criteria.

(2) Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones was invited to speak. He commented that litter continues to be a problem, especially at the bus stops on the Kidderminster approach and in Crown Lane. The effects of hedge cutting is also a nuisance. He reported that 3 drains on the A.456 approach to Blakedown are blocked; the Clerk will report these to the Highways Agency.

The Clerk reported that he had attended a meeting at County Hall to review the lengthsman scheme; safety had been discussed and it was proposed by Cllr Dearden, seconded by Cllr Pitt, and agreed that the Clerk purchases an orange strobe light.

(3) Land to the rear of 5 Mill Lane, Blakedown. The Clerk reported that the Diocesan Surveyor had passed the letter to March and Edwards, solicitors for the diocese, for them to reply as they have the recent documents. The Clerk will pursue.

(5) Wyre Forest Bus Stop Audit. Cllr Gardiner reported that this has been completed and the Clerk will forward to WFDC.

(6) Street light no 35, outside 20 Belbroughton Road. This was raised in the public forum and will be pursued by the Clerk.

(7) Post Office Working Group. Cllr Long commented that recent reports about specific closures seem to be “politically” motivated, and it may be difficult to influence the views of the Post Office once the proper consultation period starts.

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

(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at £426.68p and the Instant Access account stands at £8,414.59p, giving a total credit balance of £8,841.27p.

(2) The Receipts and Payments account for 06.09.07 - 06.11.07 was received.

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

R D Gurney salary, October/November £560.88

expenses, July – October £ 53.07

Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stationery - October

Bewdley Town Council (Code of Conduct advert) £ 21.85

Mark Jones, handyman £410.00

lengthsman £160.00

£1,238.32

No work has yet taken place to reduce the width of the carriageway at the crossroads. An update on the current position at Station Drive was requested for the next meeting and the Clerk was asked to find out the cost of kerbing.

The amended Standing Orders were circulated with the agenda. It was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Dearden and agreed that the revised Standing Orders be adopted.

It was agreed that this item be deferred.

school projects. It was suggested that this Annual Meeting now be held at Blakedown School, instead of Churchill Village Hall; the Clerk to write to the Chairman of the Governors to confirm. The date remains 16^th April 2008, at 7.30 pm.

Members expressed concern that the mobile library visits are becoming more irregular. The Clerk was asked to find out the current day and times that the facility is available in the Parish, and to invite a representative to speak at a subsequent Parish Council meeting.

The Clerk reminded members of the next Area Meeting at the Swan Inn, Chaddesley Corbett, on 5^th December.

(1) WCC – Notice of temporary closure, Sculthorpe Road, 1 week from 17^th December

(2) WFDC – notification that Geoff Elwell has offered to be Parish Games co-ordinator (Clerk to speak to Mr Elwell regarding publicity - magazine, web site, and to ask if he needs a “no. 2”)

(3) WCC – invitation to attend workshop for Regional Spatial Strategy, 23^rd January 2008

1. Management of Shoppers car park

2. WCC Countryside Section for details of work on public footpaths/bridleways

3. Draft budget

4. Car Parking at Parish Room

5. Updates on Station Drive and painting at Blakedown station

6. Work at Swan Inn, Birmingham Road.

This is scheduled for Wednesday, 12^th December 2007, in Churchill Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 10.24 pm.

Dated this 12^th day of December 2007 ………………………………............

Chairman