Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council of Berkswell held in the Balsall & Berkswell Hornets Clubhouse, Lavender Hall Lane, on 11 January 2018 at 7.15 PM. Topic 1. Evacuation Procedure the Chairman instructed those in attendance of the evacuation procedure 2. Open Forum - Parishioners of Berkswell were invited to address the Council on any relevant matter for a maximum of three minutes. Nothing was raised. The Chairman marked the sad passing of Graham Davison and asked that the record condolences to Sue Davison. 3. Attendance: Cllrs Burrow, Howles, Cambage, Lloyd. Hitchcock, Edwards &, Cllr Bell (SMBC) and 7 members of the public. 4. Apologies for Absence: Cllr R Drake 5. Acceptance of Apologies: Accepted 6. Declarations of Interest a. The following declarations of interest were received from Councillors on items on the agenda. Cllrs Burrow and Cambage own lands adjacent to Allocation 1 and as such would leave the meeting if the topic was discussed Cllr Burrow re Item 12 reimbursement claim Cllr Burrow indicated that he would leave the room for this item. a. There were no written requests for disclosing pecuniary interests b. There were no requests for dispensations 7. Confirmation of Minutes The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 07 December 2017 were agreed and duly signed by the chairman 8. Matters arising from the previous meeting for attention: Cllr Lloyd reported that there had been no progress regarding the provision of a hardstanding at the bus stop on Waste Lane/Hodgett s Lane. 9. Borough Councillor s Report and Parish Councillor s Opinion Cllr Hitchcock reported that he had counted 61 cars parked in Hall Meadow Road during the day, some on the grass verge and commented that he couldn t see why the road should be a car park for the railway. A resident commented that he had written to Bruce Brant (SMBC) on the matter who had promised to talk to Highways to explore the possibility of getting yellow lines at the roundabout end of the road. Cllr Burrow had sent photographic evidence of poor parking to Bruce Brant. He also commented that the NDP committee will soon be facilitating a 2 week survey of parking on the road to gather data to argue the case for parking restrictions. It was also commented that the verges are being damaged and that the problem seemed to be spreading to Station Road by the Brickmakers Arms. Cllr Burrow asked for this to be considered at the next meeting once the car parking count data has been collected. Cllr Lloyd reported that he has a complaint with Virgin regarding the use of Birmingham International Station as there is a time restriction of 9:25 for using the waiting rooms on the platform which meant having to wait for the first off peak trains on the concourse. Cllr Edwards had a similar complaint regarding using the buses before 9:30. Cllr Edwards reported that Berkswell Village will organise a street party on the day of the Royal Wedding (May 19 th ). The clerk was Action by. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 478
asked to arrange for the road to be closed. Cllr Howles commented that it is very difficult to get a local blood test due to lack of phlebotomists at the Medical Centre. David Felthouse agreed to pick this issue up. David Felthouse reported that, at the AGM of the Berkswell and District History Group, a new member had offered to run bi-monthly meetings. 10. Committee Appointments nothing to report 11. Planning Applications a. The following list of planning applications received since the last meeting was considered. Council to noted that the response dates for the first 3 of these applications had passed at the time of this meeting. Ref Location Proposal Response Date 2017/03232 Truggist Hill Truggist Lane Berkswell Solihull Erect tree house to rear right of main house 03.01.18 2017/03225 Land Adjacent To 140 Meeting House Lane Balsall Common Solihull CV7 7GE Variation of condition No. 1 on planning approval PL/2016/00527/PPFL for 1 new dwelling and attached garage and access to amend position and size of window and door openings and re-position of garage 08.01.18 2017/03203 Reaves Green Barn Tanners Lane Berkswell Solihull Retention of new garage 10.01.18 2017/03348 Ashridge 106 Meeting House Lane Balsall Common Solihull New boundary treatment to front garden area. Erect new gates, wall and laurel bushes to rear of wall. 25.01.18 2017/03348 Council agreed they had no comments to make. 12. Financial Matters Cllr Burrow left the meeting and Cllr Howles took the chair. a. Council noted that the following invoice payments had been examined, verified and certified by the RFO to confirm that the work, goods or services to which each invoice relates had been received, carried out, examined and represents expenditure previously approved by the Council. Council approved all the following payments: b. Council noted that by agreeing the payment of the grants to Balsall & Berkswell Hornets and the Heart of England school, the Grants budget will be over spent by 4,750. Consequently, Council agreed the following motion: Council approves the reallocation of 4,750 from General Reserves into the Grants Budget for 2017/18. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 479
Invoices for Payment Approval Cheque No Gross Amount VAT R Wilson - s Salary January 2018 Admin 562.20 0 Balsall & Berkswell Hornets Football Grant 2,643.00 0 Club Heart of England School Grant 2,540.00 0 Caroline Joyner reimbursement of costs re Winter Planting Scheme Admin 7/12/17 Item 22c 128.00 21.33 WALC Cllr training Admin 30.00 0 A Burrow Reimbursement of costs re 113.95 7.70 Plum tree and Xmas tree accessories Admin 12/10/17 Item 17k; 12/10/17 Item 20c; & 07/12/17 Item 22c GR Dawson Churchyard contract Contract 752.40 125.40 Total 6,769.55 154.43 c. Payments received - none d. Grant Applications - none 13. s Salary Progression Scheme - Council approved the salary progression scheme for the designed to meet the commitment to provide a scheme to recognise exceptional performance. 14. Budget and Precept Setting 2018/19 - Council noted that an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council will be held on 18 January to discuss and agree the budget and precept for 2018/19. The was asked to circulate papers to Cllrs in advance of the meeting. Cllrs Lloyd and Hitchcock gave their apologies. 15. Risk Management a. There were no new finance and risk events for Council to discuss b. Risk Framework there was nothing new to report 16. Actions from Previous Meetings a. Council noted the status of agreed actions from previous meetings as circulated (a copy is available on the Council website). 17. Ongoing References a. Review of inventory of land and assets Council noted that enquiries have commenced into the current status of the Village Green and Well area. Council also noted that the has commenced discussions with HM Land Registry regarding the Registration of The Pound and that dialogue had started with SMBC regarding establishing the ownership Kelsey Lane Bus Stop. b. Neighbourhood Development Plan Council agreed the following motion: " Council gives its approval for the to spend 250 on a historical environment report from Warwickshire CC for the NDP". Cllr Burrow reported that he had a meeting with Ben Wallace of Warwick CC at which WCC recommended an Ecological & Natural Resources Report for the area, as well as the historical environment report. Council approved a further 250 to commission this second report.. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 480
Council noted the "All responses report" for the residents Issues and Options survey. Council noted the Business summary report for the Issues and Options survey. Council noted and approved the basis for the creation of a draft NDP recommended by the NDP Steering Committee as per attachments 1, 3 and 4 of the draft NDP Steering Committee minutes of its meeting of 18th December 2017. Council noted the NDP Steering Committee letter to Balsall PC dated 19th December 2017 regarding NDP matters including a request that Berkswell PC have representation on the Balsall Common Centre working party. Council also noted that no response had been received to this letter and agreed to send a follow up. Cllr Burrow reported that representatives of the NDP Committee will be meeting with SMBC next week Cllr Lloyd asked if we could get an opinion regarding surveying the land for historical features/artifacts. Cllr Burrow agreed to speak to Ben Wallace on this matter. Cllr Hitchcock mentioned that he has a copy of the 1802 Enclosure Map which may be of use. Cllr Lloyd expressed concern about buffer strips and how they would be managed. Council agreed to wait until buffer zones have been defined before considering this further. c. Solihull Draft Local Plan Cllr Bell (SMBC) reported that timescales for the publication of the next version of the Solihull Plan has slipped to summer/autumn 2018 to allow a West Midlands wide view to be taken. Cllr Burrow commented that the delay was caused by a requirement to review the need to take more overspill housing from Birmingham. Cllr Burrow also reported that he and Wendy Wilson are meeting on 12 January to try to finalise a list of questions on the content of the draft Plan requiring further investigation. d. Governance Review Council noted that the first phase of the Governance Review consultation has commenced with a closing date of 28th February 2018 and that the Council has been invited to respond. It was also noted that both the BCVRA Chairman and Berkswell Society Secretary have sought clarification as to the exact purpose of this first phase of the consultation because of an apparent conflict/disconnect between the written documents issued and the web site response mechanism. Council agreed the following motion: The Parish Council agreed to consider its response (if any) at its February meeting. Council noted that it has been confirmed that the consultation is only on the Terms of Reference, but residents can submit a view on options if they wish. e. Traffic Calming Council noted that feedback had been received on the traffic calming measures from SMBC Highways and the Conservation Officer and that the Steering Group needed to fine tune its proposals to take account of these and to rectify some confusions to ensure that everyone had a common understanding. Council noted that traffic calming is now formerly part of the NDP and that SMBC have agreed in principle to consider proposals but / NDP. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 481
they want to understand the proposal better first. The NDP Steering Group will meet next week to agree the proposal and then meet with Ashley Prior (SMBC) to move the matter forward. f. HS2 Council considered a proposal by Burton Green PC to contract a chartered surveyor to develop proposals for further. Cllr Burrow & Lloyd had attended a meeting at Burton Green earlier this evening. Presenter (Michael Byng) believes there is enormous potential to put common sense into the scheme by suggesting mitigation/engineering changes for consideration by HS2 Ltd. Cllr Burrow proposed that BPC agrees in principle to contribute 1k towards a review as the report may result in beneficial changes to the scheme. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Lloyd and approved unanimously. Council noted that HS2 have some upcoming drop in surgeries in the Parish. The next couple of dates are: January 16th at Berkswell Store and Tea room from 12:30 pm 2:00 pm and February 20 th at Berkswell Store and Tea room from 12:30 pm 2:00 pm g. Public Rights of Way Cllr Lloyd reported that there are just 8 years left to update PRWs records for the area. h. Ward Action Plan Council agreed to remove this item from the agenda. i. Handyperson Council noted that there had been no applications received in respect of the advertise role following the 24 December closing date, other than an offer of help to litter pick from a resident. Cllr Burrow reported that Graham Lock had put the advert out on the Berkswell Society distribution list. Council agreed to extend the closing date to 8 February 2018. j. Review of the Airport Night Flying Cllr Lloyd reported that there had been no change and that there was an ACC meeting scheduled for next month. 18. Removal and additions to Ongoing References Removals: None Additions: None 19. Training and Meetings Cllr Burrow reported that he had attended the meeting on Junction 6 of M42. The plan is to build a new access (bi-pass to M42) to Birmingham International station and the airport accessible from the south to take pressure off Junction 6. Consultation has now started. 20. Heritage and Community a. Berkswell Village Car Park Council discussed the impact of recent severe weather on the safety of the car park. Cllr Edwards introduced the issue. Previously the school caretaker had cleared/salted the car park but this year this did not happen. Council agreed that, in principle, the car park should be closed in severe weather and that 2 Cllrs (Cllr Edwards & Burrow) should visit Tracy Drew (Head Teacher) to discuss a sensible arrangement. b. Winter Planting Scheme Council noted the cost of the winter planting scheme to date is 128 (inc. VAT). AB/DE. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 482
c. General Maintenance there was nothing new to report d. Litter Picking - Council noted that the annual litter pick will take place on Saturday 3rd March 2018. Two teams will operate one from outside the library in Balsall Common and the second from Berkswell village. The Council thanked the BCVRA and Berkswell Society for organising this. 21. Council Administration Council noted that the review of the Council s cashbook and bank reconciliation for Q3 2017/18 was scheduled to take place on 12 January 2018 by Cllr Cambage. 22. Next Meeting Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, 18 January 2018 at 7:15pm in the Balsall & Berkswell Hornets Clubhouse, Lavender Hall Lane, Berkswell. Ordinary Meeting of the Council, 8 February 2018 at 7.15pm in the Jordan Room, St John Baptist Church, Berkswell. AC. A Burrow Berkswell Parish Council Minute Book 2017/18 Page No 483