CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 56
Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council held
on Wednesday, 9th December 2009, in Blakedown C of E Primary School.
PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (Chairman)
Cllr Mrs S Cartwright
Cllr S D Charman
Cllr Mrs P L Coley
Cllr P A Dearden
Cllr Mrs P V Hayward
Cllr J W Long
Cllr B A Pitt
Cllr Mrs V J Swindells
In attendance: Steve Singleton, Economic Development & Tourism Officer, WFDC
CSO Kate Easthope
Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council
241/09 CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed councillors and Steve Singleton to the meeting.
242/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None.
243/09 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Long declared a personal interest in Item 8(3), Minute no.
249/09(3) and a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 15, Minute
no. 255/09.
244/09 LEADER FUNDING
The Chairman invited Steve Singleton to speak. He circulated a briefing
paper and explained that funding is from the EU and totals £1.5 million
for the rural areas of Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Wyre Forest, from
October 2009 until December 2013. Maximum project funding is £75,000
and 25% needs to come from other sources. He explained the measures
that projects need to meet and their objectives. Examples of suitable
projects were given, together with application details. Top up grants
for schemes are accepted. Steve Singleton was thanked for the
interesting information.
ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
(1 member of the public was in attendance. Mr Lorton raised the following matters:
1. Street light column 24 in Sculthorpe Road is not working. 2. He
witnessed a car jumping the gates at the level crossing – it was going
too fast for the number to be taken. 3. The green light on the shop
side facing Birmingham of the pedestrian crossing is out. 4. Drains in
Birmingham Road are still blocked – there was standing water after
recent rain. 5. The offer of a Christmas tree for the village has been
made, but it is considered too late for 2009).
245/09 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
County Cllr Clee was not in attendance and there was no report.
57 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 09.12.09
246/09 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON
18th NOVEMBER 2009
It was agreed that amendments be made as follows:
Minute 236/09, line 2, add after ….this be “adopted by the Parish Council for significant developments and”
Minute 219/09, line 13, delete “Lane”, insert “drive, Churchill”.
Subject to these amendments it was proposed by Cllr Charman, 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.
247/09 COMMUNITY POLICING
CSO Kate Easthope was invited to speak. She hoped that the Alerts sent
out are helpful to Members. The recent burglary at a property in
Lynwood Drive highlighted the need for some form of security or timed
lighting to be operative at this time of year. She reported that the
rear window of a car in Sculthorpe Road had been broken and that
several houses and a public house had pellet shots through windows.
The thief of the tree netter at Broome has been caught; he was tying to sell it on Ebay.
248/09 PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION
(1)Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens had given his apology and there was no report.
(2)Lengthsman/Handyman report. Mark Jones had given his apology. The Clerk
reported that he had attended the Lengthsman’s Steering Group meeting
at County Hall. There are still 125 P&TCs employing a lengthsman.
WCC is planning to hold an informal meeting for lengthsmen and clerks
in late summer. Parish councils are also able to claim for
administrative work in connection with the scheme, if the yearly
allocation has not been claimed.
(3) Barrier at the Parish Rooms. Cllr Long reported that this matter has not progressed since the last meeting.
(4) Rail safety measures. The Clerk has still been unable to make contact with London Midland.
(5) Retention of telephone kiosks. The Clerk has still had no response form WFDC.
(6) Allocation of S.106 monies. The Clerk has not received a reply from WFDC. Cllr Mrs Hayward is also following up this matter.
(7) Power supply for Christmas tree. The Clerk reported that WCC have
given details of how this can be achieved, a process which is much
simpler if the power source can be taken from one of our own street
lights. As there is a lighting column between the Green and the car
park, this seems to be the way forward for 2010.
(8) Police premises in Blakedown. Cllr Long reported that he has
received a response from the Police, to the effect that there is no
budget for renting premises, but they are looking for assistance with
funding for a dedicated vehicle in the area.
249/09 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
It was resolved that the comments on the following applications, as detailed, be sent to Wyre Forest DC.
(1) Application received
WF/09/0807 (amendment to 09/0638) Removal of 2 rear
dormers, creation of rear balcony and porch extension, Woodlands,
Waggon Lane, Churchill
No objection
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
09.12.09
58
(2) Planning Decisions - for information
WF/09/0677 Extension, boundary wall and access alterations, Bissell Lodge,
Deansford Lane, Blakedown – REFUSED
WF/09/0746 Two storey extension, Willow Bank, Churchill – GRANTED
250/09 UPDATE ON PLAN NO. WF/09/0744 , UNAUTHORISED GYPSY SITE, ROCKY LANE, CHURCHILL
This application was considered by WFDC at its Planning Committee on
the previous evening and several Members and residents had attended.
Permission was refused for the application and enforcement action was
also agreed. Cllr Long spoke for the PC, but WCC did not enter a
highway reason for refusal. An appeal is to be expected.
251/09 FINANCE
(1) The Clerk reported that the current account today
stands at £10,751.96p and the Instant Access account stands at
£12,606.24p, giving a total credit balance of £23,358.20p.
(2) The Receipts and Payments account for 04.09.09 – 05.11.09 was received.
(3) It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Coley, seconded by
Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and resolved that the following accounts be
approved for payment:
Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stationery (November)
£23.41 + £3.51 VAT £ 26.92
V Rudge (October/November), cuts
to Play area and bushes £
95.00
N power (July/Sept)
£194.12 + £9.70 VAT
£203.82
Mark Jones
handyman
£280.00
lengthsman
£125.00
Prysmian Cables and Systems
Ltd £1,088.75p + £163.31
VAT
£1,252.06
£1,982.80
252/09 BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2010/2011
A draft budget for 2010/2011 was circulated with the agenda. The Clerk
explained that he had not yet heard from the Treasurer of WFDC
regarding the final date for the precept and he reported that, at the
Area Meeting of CALC held on 1st December, the Leader of WFDC stated
that the future of the Section 136 contribution had not been decided.
As this figure could be reduced it was agreed that consideration of the
budget and, therefore, the precept, be deferred to the next meeting.
253/09 HIGHWAY MATTERS
The Clerk had confirmed to him that the water leak in Churchill Lane,
Blakedown was from the Golf Club; it was confirmed that this has been
attended to. The Clerk also reported that WCC will attend to the
dropped kerb outside the shop/post office, if it is not needed for
disabled persons. In replying the Clerk was asked to draw attention to
the lack if clearance of the drains in Birmingham Road; this latter
matter seems to be a general problem around the parish.
Cllr Long reported that he had received an email from Dave Hunter at
WCC stating that, contrary to information given at the previous
meeting, there would be insufficient budget to warrant a pedestrian
crossing on Birmingham Road, nearer the school.
59 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes 09.12.09
254/09 PARISH PLAN WORKING GROUP
Cllr Dearden reported that this is now being written and edited. It was
agreed that the contact named in the document would be “The Clerk”, as
he/she would be the focal point for the Parish Council; any request for
information would be disseminated as necessary.
As an offshoot of the consultation it was suggested that young people
be invited to attend a parish council meeting(s). It was agreed that
this invitation be publicised in the next newsletter and on the
website.
The housing need survey will be circulated during the last week of
January, for return by 26th February. It was agreed that the letter
should come from the “Parish Council” and the Clerk will arrange for
the letters to be delivered to Blakedown and Churchill.
255/09 THE AVENUE, CAR PARK AND VILLAGE GREEN
Councillors Long, Charman, Dearden and Mrs Swindells, together with the
Chairman for the last meeting, had met and discussed the problems and
implications of the letter received from Mr Parker at WFDC. The
proposed response from the Parish Council was presented at the meeting.
It was considered that the request in the letter was unclear and WFDC
are already enforcing the district-wide car park policy in Blakedown.
Members agreed that the current action is not addressing the present
and long term problems of parking in Blakedown.
(Cllr Long left the meeting for the remainder of this Item).
Subject to the reference to “free” 23 hour parking and the deletion of
reference to the issue of permits, it was proposed by Cllr Charman,
seconded by Cllr Mrs Coley, and agreed that the flowing response be
sent to WFDC:
1. The Parish Council rejects the proposal by Wyre
Forest District Council to introduce pay and display on Blakedown
Village and Shoppers Car Park. This is on economic grounds and
sensitivity to local needs. The likely revenues
from it are most unlikely to justify the cost of implementation,
and the proposal does not meet the needs of the village.
2. The Parish Council understands that the current 23
hour parking signage is designed to deter long-stay parking, and this
needs to be amended to exclude weekends and Bank Holidays from the 23
hour free parking rule so as not to disadvantage residents who
traditionally park there. The remainder of the wording is
acceptable. A separate Order to cover this car park may therefore
be required.
3. Non-transferable 24 hour parking permits for a
single vehicle each should be issued initially to 3 properties which
back on to or front The Avenue and which have no
other parking, namely 35/37 Birmingham Road, 39 Birmingham Road, and 1
The Avenue.
4. The Parish Council points out to Wyre Forest
District Council that it does not own The Avenue, which starts at
Birmingham Road and is the only access to the Car Park. It is
legally unenforceable to restrict car parking in The Avenue, and
introduction of Pay and Display on the Car park will not
prevent long stay parkers parking along The Avenue. Pay and
Display is therefore not a practical measure for this location.
CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes
09.12.09
60
It was agreed to defer discussion regarding the Village Green to a subsequent meeting.
260/09 PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE BOARDS
Cllr Pitt reported that the cost of repairing each notice board would
be £85 and, including the church notice board at Churchill, this would
cost £340. It was proposed by Cllr Pitt, seconded by Cllr Dearden, and
agreed that the necessary arrangements for the repairs to be
undertaken.
261/09 CLERK’S SALARY AWARD
The Chairman gave details of the increase in the rate of the Clerk’s
pay, which have been agreed by NALC and is payable from 1st April 2009.
It was proposed by Cllr Dearden, seconded by Cllr Mrs Hayward and
agreed.
262/09 SEAT AT BIRMINGHAM ROAD/STATION DRIVE
It was agreed that this suggestion should proceed and the Clerk would
obtain costs for the next meeting and to discuss the provision of a
seat with the Housing Association.
263/09 ITEMS FROM CALC
The Clerk reported that at the recent Area Meeting, John Campion,
leader of WFDC, had warned of difficulties of fixing the budget and
possible problems with the S.136 contribution. It was also agreed that
it would be useful to parish councils if the agenda of meetings of
adjoining parish councils would be circulated and the Clerk will
arrange this.
264/09 CONSULTATION CORRESPONDENCE
The following documents were received for consultation. It was agreed that no reply be made.
(1) Bromsgrove DC, draft Affordable Housing SPD
(2) Dudley MBC, Brierley Hill Action Area Plan
(3) WCC, proposed Educational Trust formed from Baxter College, Chantry High
School, Barnardos and the University of Birmingham
(4) WCC, proposed weekly boarding provision at the new special school in
Kidderminster
265/09 CORRESPONDENCE (for noting)
(1) Worcestershire Warden
(2) South Staffordshire LDF newsletter
(3) Kinver PC agenda and minutes
266/09 ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
(1) Apple trees on the Green
267/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This will be held on Wednesday, 20th January 2010 in Blakedown Parish Room.
The meeting closed at 10.16 pm.
Dated this 20th day of January 2010 ……………………………………Chairman