CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 45
Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown
Parish Council held on Wednesday, 21st October 2009, in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
PRESENT
Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)
Cllr Mrs S Cartwright
Cllr S D Charman
Cllr Mrs P L Coley
Cllr P A Dearden
Cllr J W Long
Cllr B A Pitt
Cllr Mrs V J Swindells
In attendance:
CSO Kate Easthope
Gordon Stevens, web site keeper
Mark Jones, lengthsman and handyman
Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
191/09
CHAIRMANS REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed councillors and members
of the public to the meeting. Members were
circulated with details of planning training
during November.
192/09
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
These were received and accepted from Cllr
Mrs Hayward.
193/09
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared a personal interest in
Item 14, Minute no. 204/09.
194/09
COMMUNITY POLICING
CSO Kate Easthope was invited to speak. She
commented that there has been some horse
related crimes in the area, and metal feeding
troughs and lead from church roofs has been
stolen, reflecting the current price of metals.
There have been some shed break-ins.
The preliminary PACT meeting for Churchill
and Blakedown was held the previous evening,
Cllr Long had attended. There will be 4 annually,
the first being on 23rd February 2010.
Mr Keys was invited to speak, as his concerns
related to police issues. First, he expressed
concern at the lack of action by the authorities
to curb speeding in Stakenbridge Lane; the
Chairman responded by saying that WCC is
regularly being pressed by the PC. Second,
he commented about cars parking on pavements,
producing a photograph of one such vehicle
in Stakenbridge Lane. CSO Kate Easthope said
she had put a warning ticket on this vehicle,
and, if this recurred, the police would be
taking action.
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(3 members of the public were in attendance.
Mr Lorton drew attention to faulty street
lights, to the tree coverage around no. 15
in Lynwood Drive and that WFDC is now enforcing
the traffic regulations on the car park).
46
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.10.09
195/09
REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
County Cllr Clee was not in attendance and
there was no report.
196/09
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
HELD ON
23rd SEPTEMBER 2009
It was proposed by Cllr Pitt, 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.
197/09
PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1) Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens was invited to speak. He commented
that the
number of hits continues to increase and
the website is being widely viewed. He said
that details of the 2010 Blakedown Bolt are
about to be put on.
(2) Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones was invited to speak. He reported
that
restrictions have recently been introduced
at the Stourbridge recycling centre and this
could lead to an increase in fly tipping.
There is a problem with the overgrowing hedge
at Stoney Lane; he will try to contact the
householder to obtain permission to cut it
back. He has cut back the overhanging hedge
at Grazings. He commented that there is a
lack of dog bins around the sports field;
PC will ask WFDC to provide additional bins.
(3) Barrier at the Parish Rooms. Cllr Long had nothing to report.
(4) Street lighting faults. The Clerk said that he had reported these
to Prysmian; the power has been reconnected
to no. 31 in Mill Lane, but those alight
all day (no. 20, by the level crossing and
34, in the car park) had not been attended
to. The Clerk reported that our insurers
were requesting any payments for the damage
caused in April 2009 to no. 1, under the
viaduct.
(5) Rail safety measures. The Clerk had nothing to report.
(6) Retention of telephone kiosks. The Clerk had had no response form WFDC.
(7) Blakedown Fete. It was agreed that Tim Gardiner be invited
to the next meeting to give a report on the
fete.
(8) Parish Forum. This was held the previous evening and Cllr
Long and the Clerk attended. Three main topics
were discussed: the WF District Local Development
Framework, which should be available for
comment early in 2010: Flood issues, including
highway problems: the Warmer Worcestershire
Project.
198/09
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
It was resolved that the comments on the
following applications, as detailed, be sent
to Wyre Forest DC.
(1) Applications received
WF/09/0667
Two storey side extension and boundary wall
incorporating gates and access alterations,
Bissell Lodge, Deansford Lane, Stone
No objection, but some concern with highway
safety issues with the restriction of the
access from the existing narrow road.
WF/09/0698
Fell silver birch, Churchill Court, Churchill
No objection
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.10.09 47
WF/09/0702
Erection of building to provide shelter,
storage, fodder and bedding, rearing and
serving pens for rare breeds, access alterations
(retrospective), Jubilee Field, Birmingham
Road, Blakedown
No objection
(2) Planning Decisions - for information
WF/09/0522
Extension, Woodlands, Waggon Lane, Churchill
WITHDRAWN
WF/09/0531
Extension, 28 Sculthorpe Road, Blakedown
GRANTED
WF/09/0538
Extension, 21 Lynwood Drive, Blakedown
GRANTED
WF/09/0539
Extension, 19 Lynwood Drive, Blakedown
GRANTED
WF/09/0554
Extension, 4 Sculthorpe Road, Blakedown
GRANTED
WF/09/0590
Extension, The Coach House, 20 Birmingham
Road, Blakedown - GRANTED
WCC/09/0041
Installation of roof mounted solar photovoltaic
system on flat roof, Blakedown CE Primary
School, Blakedown - GRANTED
199/09
UNAUTHORISED USE OF LAND, ROCKY LANE, CHURCHILL
The Clerk reported that, as of today, there
is no planning application to regularize
this unauthorized development. It was reported
that residents of Churchill are very concerned
with the flouting of planning regulations,
and would have hoped that, in the absence
of an application, an enforcement notice
would be served. It was agreed that this
continues to be monitored.
200/09
GRANT REQUEST MILLENNIUM GREEN TRUST
An email and the Trusts accounts were circulated
with the agenda. Although this request had
been considered at the August meeting members
felt that further details about the account
should be sought. This matter can be considered
again at the next meeting.
201/09
FINANCE
(1)
The Clerk reported that the current account
today stands at £12,027.45p and the Instant
Access account stands at £12,605.70p, giving
a total credit balance of £24,633.15p.
(2)
The Receipts and payments account for 05.06.09-04.09.09
was received
(3)
The mid year financial summary was circulated
with the agenda. The Clerk highlighted where
income still has to be received and spent.
The summary was received.
(4)
It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, seconded
by Cllr Pitt, and resolved that the following
accounts be approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, (Sept) £20.71
+ £2.37 VAT
£ 23.08
V Rudge grass and verge cutting (September)
£160.00
Blakedown Parish Room Committee (for July/Aug/Sept)
£ 45.00
Mark Jones
handyman
£320.00
lengthsman
£160.00
£708.08
202/09
HIGHWAY MATTERS
The Clerk reported that he had heard from
County Cllr Clee regarding a meeting to discuss
various highway issues. He reported that
the dropped pavements would be
48 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 21.10.09
installed and that the speed restriction
through Blakedown village would be considered
during November. WCC were not able to support
a weight restriction through Churchill, nor
to arrange for Stakenbridge Lane to be resurfaced.
Members were concerned that a contractor
has displayed direction signs through Churchill,
from Stoney Lane to Waggon Lane: the Clerk
will try to find out the purpose of these
signs.
It was noted that the water leak in Churchill
Lane has not been attended to.
203/09
PARISH PLAN WORKING GROUP AND HOUSING NEED
SURVEY
It is hoped that the Plan will be available
for circulation in January.
The Clerk reported that the information for
distribution to all properties in the Parish
will need to be with the Rural Housing Enabler
by the end of October, so that it can be
printed and be available for distribution
during November. The Clerk and Cllr Mrs Swindells
will continue to liaise.
204/09 THE AVENUE, CAR PARK AND VILLAGE GREEN
A letter addressed to Cllr Mrs Hayward from
the Legal & Corporate Services department
at WFDC was circulated with the agenda. The
letter explained the legal aspects of The
Avenue as an unadopted road and explained
some possible implications of adjoining landowners.
Whatever action is taken The Avenue has to
remain as a right of way for the general
public.
The Clerk referred to the sign at the car
park, which has been re instated, incorporating
changes to the regulations for the use of
the car park.
Cllr Long had been looking through the deeds
to his property and produced a copy of the
Tree Preservation Order, reference to the
rights of residents to park on the car park
and the history of the car park itself.
Following a discussion on the latest information
it was agreed that Cllr Long, Cllr Dearden
and Cllr Charman, and others, discuss the
details and report to the next meeting.
205/09
PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE BOARDS
Cllr Pitt had carried out an inspection of
the notice boards with a carpenter and had
also obtained the price of new notice boards.
Before a decision is made to repair or replace
it was suggested that Members inspect the
existing boards, and that the matter be discussed
at the next meeting.
206/09
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN
Cllr Mrs Swindells reported that she has
taken over as the co-ordinator from Tim Gardiner.
It was agreed that this item be deferred
to a subsequent meeting.
207/09
GRASS CUTTING AT THE WAR MEMORIAL
It was agreed to defer this item to the next
meeting.
208/09
PROVISION OF CHRISTMAS LIGHTING
It was agreed that the provision of Christmas
lighting in a public place would require
a source of power and it was agreed to defer
discussion of the item to the next meeting.
209/09
COMMUNITY LITTER PICK
It was agreed that this item be deferred
to a subsequent meeting.
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
21.10.09 49
210/09
SECTION 106 MONIES
A letter from WFDC regarding the claim for
money paid by the developer of the Hodge
Hill barn conversion scheme was circulated
to Members. The letter stated that this money
could not be used for the Blakedown Sports
Centre, but for the maintenance of public
open space in Kidderminster. It is unclear
how the education money is intended to be
distributed. The Clerk was asked to respond
and to keep Cllr Mrs Hayward updated on the
matter
211/09
ITEMS FROM CALC
There were no items to report, but no member
wished to attend the Parish Conference.
212/09
CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) Community First AGM, 25th October
(2) CPRE - minutes of Bromsgrove and Wyre
Forest meeting, 15.09.09
(3) Kinver PC agenda and minutes
(4) Letter of complaint regarding dog fouling,
etc, on the Millennium Green Clerk to acknowledge
and enquire if the writer wishes this to
be put (anonymously) on the parish web site.
213/09
ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
(1) Location for Police premises in Blakedown
(2) LEADER Funding
(3) 2 for 1 tree planting
214/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This will be held on Wednesday, 18th November 2009 in Blakedown Parish Rooms.
The meeting closed at 10.40 pm
Dated this 18th day of November 2009
............
Chairman