PARISH OF CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN

Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on Wednesday, 21st April 2010 in Blakedown C of E Primary School

PRESENT     8 Parish Councillors
        37 parish residents
        CSO Kate Easthope and PC Jayne Willetts
        R D Gurney, Clerk to Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council

WELCOME
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Bob Whiston, chaired the meeting. He welcomed those present and thanked the Head Teacher, for making the school available for the meeting. He explained that this is an opportunity to hear the views of residents and report of the meeting will be made to the Parish Council for any action to be taken on matters raised.

APOLOGIES
These were received from Cllr Mrs Pauline Hayward, Martin Hobson and Mark Jones (Parish Lengthsman and Handyman).

POLICING
PC Jayne Willetts and CSO Kate Easthope confirmed that “Alerts” are being sent out regularly. There is a need for increased Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Recently there have been thefts from a farm in Churchill and from the Golf Club, anti social behavior at the Sports field and children trespassing on the railway track. The Police are visiting the School, arranging a Junior PACT meeting and holding the next PACT meeting on 25th May.  
 
PRESENTATIONS
Churchill and Blakedown Parish Plan. The Chairman said that the Parish Council is very pleased with the progress made by the Parish Plan Group. Freda Griffiths explained that the Group started in 2007, since when all households in the Parish have been consulted. The Parish Plan has now been completed and copies should be available within the next 2 weeks, for distribution to every household. The topics are based on those advised by Defra/Community First and include traffic, heritage, needs of children and young people, social well-being, business and services, communication in the Parish, housing needs. A distribution network has already been set up and a housing need survey was undertaken through Community First/County Council in February 2010. Grants have been received from the Housing Trust and Community First.
During the following discussion the current state and possible development of the nursery site in Belbroughton Road was raised and there was a feeling that the development of this site would help the housing needs of the Parish.
The Chairman thanked Freda and the Group for their time and effort in producing the Parish Plan.
Sports Centre Committee. Vicky Swindells explained that planning permission was granted in 2009, but this proved to be too costly, hence the modified scheme and new planning application. An extra grant has been agreed with the Norman Dawson Trust and an application has been made for LEADER funding. It is confidently hoped that a start will be made during the summer and completed within 6/9 months. The Blakedown Bolt will be held as usual in June.  

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON 15th APRIL 2009
Copies of the minutes of the 2009 Annual Parish Meeting were circulated at the start of the meeting. That these be approved was proposed by Peter Dearden, seconded by Sue Fowler, and agreed. There were no matters arising.

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
The Chairman referred to the news sheet which had been delivered to all residences in the Parish via the distribution network set up through the Parish Plan Group. This contained a resume of the work of the Parish Council during the previous year and is available on the web site.

EMILY LYTTELTON AND UNITED CHARITIES
Cllr Jim Long, the Parish Council representative on these Trusts, explained that these were set up in the 19th C to help those people who may need medical attention and/or have some financial difficulties. Income to June 2009 was £311 and grants of £425 were given. With the NHS covering medical matters the role of the Trusts needs to be redefined. A coffee morning was held in Hagley and raised £130. Contact details are available at the Post Office.

OPEN FORUM
Tenants Group. Dave Bridgewater, the Chairman said that the Association wished to donate a bench to the Parish, to be positioned on the piece of land at Birmingham Road/Station Drive. Although this land is occasionally used for the speed cameras it is not owned by the Police. The Chairman thanked him for the offer, stating that it had also been raised in Parish Council meetings.
Street lights. Mary MacDiarmid asked whether the light from two street lights in Brookside Way (nos. 9 and 10) could be shielded from residents. The Parish Council will be asked to pursue.
Mill Lane. Concern was expressed that large lorries are using Mill Lane as a cut through to Birmingham Road. The lane is dangerous, the bridge was severely damaged in the bad weather, there is no pedestrian footway and no signage indicating this. There is a need for a grit bin at this lower end of the lane.
Golf Club. At times there is a noise nuisance in the late evening from functions at the Club.
The Avenue. Concern was expressed about the poor state of The Avenue. There is a considerable amount of garden rubbish dumped, even after the Big Litter Pick in March. Several branches have been cut off trees. Could bollards be installed to deter misuse and could the Parish Council write to those residents who have unlawfully deposited rubbish. The Chairman said that any resident can report illegal tipping the WFDC.
Duckpen Cottages, Birmingham Road. It was explained that this property in now being restored and extended in accordance with the planning permission.
Castle Ash planning application. Several residents expressed their concern with this application and the implications on local residents, highways and countryside.
Unauthorised Gypsy site, Churchill. The Clerk was able to report that representations on the appeal had to be submitted before the end of March and that a Hearing is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 13th July 2010.

The Chairman thanked those who attended and the Meeting closed at 8.45 pm.


Dated this    day of              2011        ……………………….Chairman