Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council held on Wednesday, 8th December 2010, in Blakedown C of E Primary School.

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1 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL 115 Minutes of the Meeting of Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council held on Wednesday, 8th December 2010, in Blakedown C of E Primary School. PRESENT Cllr R J Whiston (in the Chair) Cllr Mrs S Cartwright Cllr P A Dearden Cllr J W Long In attendance: Roger Gurney, Clerk to the Parish Council 230/10 CHAIRMAN S REMARKS Cllr Whiston welcomed Councillors and members of the public to the meeting and reminded them of his decision at the last meeting to stand down as Chairman. 231/10 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN Cllr Dearden was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Long, and agreed. The Clerk reminded the Council that this is for the period to May /10 CHAIRMAN S DECLARATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE Cllr Dearden completed and signed the Declaration and Acceptance of Office. 233/10 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN Cllr Mrs Swindells was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Long, and agreed. 234/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE These were received and accepted from Cllr Charman, Cllr Mrs Coley, Cllr Mrs Hayward, Cllr Pitt and Cllr Mrs Swindells. 235/10 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Cllr Long declared personal interests in Item 13, minute no. 243/10 and Item 14, minute no. 244/ /10 COMMUNITY POLICING An apology was received from CSO Kate Easthope, who was attending the meeting of Broome PC and intended to come to Blakedown later in the evening. (Subsequently she was unable to attend). ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT (Two members of the public were in attendance Mr Shade commented that it would be useful if WFDC could arrange for the entrance to the car park off Birmingham Road to be gritted It was suggested that the Clerk contacts WCC for grit boxes to be provided at the Mill Lane/Churchill Lane junction and by the level crossing). 237/10 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Neither County Cllr Clee nor Cllr Williams were in attendance and there were no reports. 116 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes /10 CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 17th NOVEMBER 2010 It was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and RESOLVED that the Minutes, being a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting, be signed by the

2 Chairman. 239/10 PROGRESS REPORTS FOR INFORMATION (1) Parish Web site. Gordon Stevens was not in attendance and there was no report. (2) Lengthsman/Handyman. Mark Jones had sent his apology. There was no report. The Clerk reported that WCC has agreed that the letter regarding snow clearance by residents can be put on the web site. (3) Listing of the Signal Box. The Clerk still has this application in hand. (4) PACT Meeting. There is nothing further to report. (5) New notice board, Blakedown and sign at notice board at Churchill Church. Cllr Pitt has informed the Clerk that the new notice board in Blakedown has been installed and is already being used. The new sign for the church notice board at Churchill is currently being made. (6) Christmas tree on the Village Green. The 5m tree has been installed, although it is not known whether lights can be connected for this year: Cllr Dearden will liaise with Mr Albutt. The tree has received favourable comment from residents. It is felt that the position at the road junction can take a taller tree in the future. The Clerk was asked to write a letter of appreciation to Mr Cope. (7) Telephone kiosk, Stourbridge Road, Ismere. The Clerk reported that he has ed the information from BT, reported at the last meeting, to Mr Power at the Waggon and Horses. When a reply is received it will be reported to the Council. (8) Prioritising maintenance of public footpaths. Cllr Whiston has completed this survey and has returned it to WCC. (9) Blakedown Nurseries. The Clerk reported that he had received an from Mr Kowalski of Barrett West Midlands, stating that their traffic consultants have been monitoring traffic speeds in front of the site, traffic flows and accident data and will shortly be considering the implications. Instructions have been given for a secure fence with a trench and bund to be constructed within the next few weeks. 240/10 PLANNING APPLICATIONS (1) Applications received WF/10/0669/LIST Alterations and extensions to 3 existing dwellings into adjacent WF/10/0670 out buildings and the conversion of existing outbuildings to provide one additional dwelling, together with the provision of new drive access and new Bio-disc treatment plant, Harborough Court, Harborough Hall, Birmingham Road, Blakedown. to the Listed Building aspect of this scheme. Objection to the proposed new access, which is situated on a dangerous, derestricted, busy and fast stretch of the A.456. The access would involve the loss of many trees, which would be detrimental to the visual amenities of the area. The PC does not object to the proposal for the conversion of these buildings. Should this application for these 3/4 bed family homes be granted, the PC asks that it should be subject to a S.106 Agreement with a contribution towards facilities at Blakedown CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes Primary School. It was agreed that Cllr J W Long attends and speaks at the District Council s Planning Committee. WF/10/0673 Change of use and construction of a shed within part of polytunnel to be used as a tea room (existing tea room to be used to increase existing area for cheese sales, Hodge Hill Nurseries, Birmingham Road, Blakedown

3 WF/10/0700 Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension, 18 Forge Lane, Blakedown WF/10/0711 First floor side extension and single storey rear extension, 19 Brookside Way, Blakedown (2) Planning Decisions WF/10/ stables and change of use of land for the keeping of horses, car parking and driveway, off Stakenbridge Lane, Churchill GRANTED WF/10/0475 Building for the storage of marquees, etc, Park Hall, Birmingham Road, Blakedown - REFUSED 241/10 FINANCE (1) The Clerk reported that the current account today stands at 11, and the Instant Access account stands at 20,612.56p, giving a total credit balance of 31,945.56p. (2) It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, seconded by Cllr Whiston, and resolved that the following accounts be approved for payment: Staples UK Ltd, photocopying, stationery, stamps (November) VAT Prysmian Cables and Systems Ltd VAT Worcestershire CALC, Clerks meeting 7.50 Mark Jones handyman lengthsman V. Rudge /10 BUDGET AND PRECEPT FOR 2010/2011 A draft budget for 2010/2011 was circulated with the agenda. The Clerk explained that no information has been received from WFDC regarding S.136 grants for the coming year. The draft budget has made an assumption of a 5% grant, but if this fails to materialize, this sum would have to be found from reserves. The budget was agreed at 22,752. That the Precept be kept at 21,740 was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and agreed. 118 CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes /10 SHOPPERS CAR PARK There was no information to report, although it was noted that the ticket machine did run out of tickets on one day. 244/10 THE AVENUE Cllr Mrs Hayward had spoken to the Clerk following a discussion she has had with Charlotte Beswick, solicitor with WFDC. It appears that there is no known owner and it seems that The Avenue is now Crown land. One option is that the PC could purchase this from the Solicitor General, acting for Crown, for the benefit of the village. The Clerk will make enquiries of the necessary procedure, contacting CALC and WFDC. Cllr Mrs Hayward also commented that an area of amenity land behind the recent houses appears to belong to those residents, although it cannot be enclosed and the residents have to maintain it. The matter of the encroachment into The Avenue

4 is still being investigated by officers at the District Council. The Clerk reported that he has explained the situation with the Open Spaces Society and a case officer is due to get back to discuss details. It was reported that a meeting with the LEADER fund representatives is to be held to consider the work needed in The Avenue; the residents are encouraged to discuss this between themselves. It was proposed by Cllr Whiston, seconded by Cllr Mrs Cartwright, and agreed that the Parish Council facilitates a public meeting in the New Year. 245/10 VILLAGE GREEN There has been no further information from WFDC regarding the acquisition of The Village Green. 246/10 HIGHWAY MATTERS The Clerk has not yet received a written reply from WCC, but he has been informed that there have been discussions between WCC, Staffordshire CC and Dudley BC regarding the introduction of a speed limit on A /10 PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLLING STATIONS Details of the changes to polling stations proposed by WFDC were circulated with the agenda. This proposed that Churchill Village Hall ceases to be used, with electors having to use Blakedown Parish Rooms. The Parish Council agreed to object to the closure of Churchill Village Hall as a polling station, as Churchill is a ward on its own, it serves a wide rural area, there would appear to be sufficient electors to justify its own polling station and the public transport between Churchill and Blakedown is negligible. 248/10 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLANNING FORUM The Clerk reported that the Parish Council has received an invitation to attend the Emergency Planning Forum on 9th February 2011, at 6 pm, in the Earl Baldwin Suite. It was suggested that Cllr Mrs Swindells would be the appropriate officer to attend. 249/10 ITEMS FROM CALC There was nothing to report. CHURCHILL AND BLAKEDOWN PARISH COUNCIL Minutes /10 CORRESPONDENCE (for noting) (1) WCC Proposed temporary 30 mph speed limit, A.456, NE of Blakedown for 3 months from 4th January 2011 (2) WCC Proposed temporary 40 mph speed limit, A.451, NE of Five Ways junction for 8 days from 4th January 2011 (3) Magazines, including CPRE Fieldwork, S Staffs DC LDF newsletter 251/10 ITEMS OR PARISH INTEREST/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA None. 252/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next Meeting will be on Wednesday, 19th January 2011 in Blakedown Parish Rooms. The meeting closed at 9.13 pm.

5 Dated this 19th day of January 2011 Chairman