2007 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING, A PUBLIC OPEN MEETING FOR RESIDENTS OF CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN,
7.30pm Wednesday 18th April 2007

This Meeting will be held in the Village Hall at Churchill at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 18th April 2007. There will be two Speakers; Nigel Tolley, Chairman of the Stourbridge Line User Group (SLUG), who will be discussing the local railway line, and David Priestnall who will talk about the recently formed Norman Dawson (Charitable) Trust. The Meeting is also an opportunity for electors of the Parish to address a question to the speakers, give reports and to raise issues of local interest and/or concern.

REPORT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Web Site: This facility is looked after by Malcolm Hall. As well as keeping Parish Council minutes and details of local interest, there are many hits from all across the World. On behalf of the community the Parish Council thanks Malcolm for keeping this form of communication up-to-date for the parish.

Finance: The Parish Council had to raise the Parish Precept by 12.9% to £12,760 for the coming year, primarily to meet the cost of a contested Parish Council election in May. In 2006/7 grants totalling some £2,440 have been given; this includes churchyard maintenance at both churches (£307 each). Millennium Green Trust (£240), Churchill and Blakedown Sports Committee (£800), Smith Brothers Joinery (wood for new gates at St James the Great, Blakedown) (£684).

Environment: Mark Jones continues to work hard in the Parish as the Parish Lengthsman and Handyman. Evidence of his efforts as lengthsman can be seen along the minor roads where water runs offs and footways have been cleared back. As handyman the general improvement by the removal of litter and tidying up around seats and bus shelters can be seen. The Parish Council has also agreed to take over some litter picking duties from Wyre Forest DC, for which a very modest reimbursement is made. Vernon Rudge is contracted to cut the playground and highway verges.

Planning: 52 applications have been responded to and comments have reflected the views of local residents. Two planning appeals plus enforcement appeals at Park Hall have been considered. Applications are now received by CD and are displayed at the Meeting; all members can now see the plans, but there are still some practical difficulties.

Highways: Speed at Churchill crossroads continues to be an unresolved matter. The A.456 is to be detrunked in May 2007 and the Order for the Blakedown by-pass has been revoked. The Parish Council is pressing for some safety measures for pedestrians at the Shoppers car park exit.

Parish Council: Jim Long and Vicky Swindells were co-opted in August and December respectively in place of Jan Parker and Mollie Thomas. The following were Members during the Council year (with attendance at max. 11 meetings, April to February in brackets):
Ashley Cairns (10), Stuart Danks (7), Peter Dearden (9), Mrs Pauline Hayward (8), Jim Long (7/7), Dr Jan Parker (0/2), Brian Pitt (7), Mrs Iris Scott (10), Mrs Vicky Swindells (2/3), Mrs Mollie Thomas (3/5), and Bob Whiston (10).