Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING (315th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 7.15 P.M

PRESENT:
Stourbridge Township Council: Mrs E M D Scott (Chairman of the Council) in the Chair, Mr J B Shepherd (Vice-Chairman & Clerk to the Council), Mrs M Wakelam (Deputy Clerk to the Council), Mr B S Craddock, Mr A C Dawes, Mrs E E Fellows, Mr P J Miles, Mr D M Price, Mr B D Waller, and Mrs G P Waller.
Also present; Councillor J Collins, Mr R Eden, Mr C Hale, Ms M James, Mr M Rose, Ms B Sykes and Mrs L Waltho MP.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
(Mrs E M D Scott introduced and welcomed Mrs Lynda Waltho MP and our visitors to this our 315th meeting)
Mr Russell Eden of the Stourbridge Bicycle User Group representing his sixty five members told the meeting of their efforts to promote leisure cycling in and around the town and further afield. His is a social group for all ages; he described the members not as cyclists, but as “people on bikes”. Mr Eden highlighted the difficulties presented by our town to cyclists; these included our one way streets and subways. Available maps of the town are very poor; they lack detail some streets are not even recognised he said.
Our members welcomed his efforts on behalf of his group. It was suggested that financial assistance may be available from the Area Committee for provision of cycling maps similar to those designed by John Franklin in the Cheltenham area. Mr Eden was advised of the practical difficulties of obtaining any 20mph restrictions suggested for suitable cycling routes and areas.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from; Miss A Green, Mr M D Fellows, Mrs P J Fellows, Mr K C Jones, Councillor I M Kettle Mrs J G Kettle and Mr D I West.
Apologies were also received from; Inspector P Boardman, Mr M Caddick, PS S Dalton, Mr C MacDonald and Mr L Watton.

POLICE MATTERS

Item A; Communications had been received from Inspector P Boardman regarding operational commitments and from Police Sergeant Dalton giving details of PACT meetings. It was noted that Kingswinford had replaced Lye in the Stourbridge arrangements.

Item B; Mr B S Craddock continues to liaise with DMBC and to monitor the synchronisation of traffic lights which control the flow of traffic and pedestrian crossing provisions. Mr Craddock explained the ‘controller’ mechanical device which governs the timing and is critical to any synchronisation in the Enville St arrangements. He pointed to the Bell St factor where a two way traffic flow should be considered to ease the situation. Members commented upon the difficulties presented to some pedestrians when it was expected that persons should ‘walk sprightly’ across a crossing with an allowed time of ‘four feet per second’.
Mrs G P Waller asked that attention be given to young persons gathering in large groups obstructing footpaths in the town, people were forced to walk in the roadway. She asked that the police and PCSO’s be made aware of the problem(s).

Item C; On the question of stab jackets for PCSO’s a letter received from Sir Paul Scott-Lee stated that the current policy would not be changed. Mr J B Shepherd detailed the communications with the Chief Constable which have resulted in an arranged visit to our October meeting by Chief Superintendent Nick Croft. Mr Shepherd said that he hoped that not only the stab jacket question but also members’ concerns on police matters in general will be addressed by Mr Croft.

Lynda Waltho MP told members of her meeting with the Chief Constable, he had refused at this time to reconsider the question of stab protection for PCSO’s she said. Mrs Waltho had worked fact finding shifts around the clock with police and PCSO’s she described the pressures and constant demand for response praising their efforts. She is a member of the Police Parliamentary Scheme and an early day motion is under consideration, it is hoped that the Home Office will review the role and deployment situation regarding PCSO’s. Mrs Waltho was in agreement with our Council that our PCSO’s must be given stab protection against any unfortunate eventuality.
Mr Shepherd drew attention to the Home Office specifications relating to the ‘KR1’ stab vest available for general police duties with stab protection from knives, spikes, syringes and also body blows. This vest weighing just 2.5kilos provides for the display of PCSO epaulettes and markings to clearly identify its wearer. Mrs Waltho thanked members for their support on this important issue she will continue to campaign for the provision of stab vests to PCSO’s deployed in the Stourbridge area.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

Mrs E M D Scott welcomed our visitors to the meeting; she thanked Lynda Waltho MP for attending.
The Chairman voiced her concerns on several local issues; she again mentioned the weeds growing on our Town Hall and its tower, we have approached DMBC for attention to be given she said. Similar problems and fears exist at the Old Library, uncertainty over its future ownership and the preservation of the Listed Windows. The Chairman was concerned that bicycles were being chained to the railings around the recently restored Clock. She again raised the question of water problems near the BP services, Cllr J Collins and DMBC are aware of the ongoing problems, there is some uncertainty as to the future use of these premises.
The preservation of the Stourbridge Coat of Arms which was saved from the old cinema and placed in the Crown Centre must be considered the Chairman said. With redevelopments planned for the Crown Centre the situation should be monitored.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the 314th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 19th July 2007 were received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman Mrs E M D Scott accordingly.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

The Vice-Chairman’s bulletin of all communications sent and actions taken on behalf of the Council since our last meeting was circulated. Mr J Shepherd said copies of all communications are available to members on request.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES

Item A; After favourable communications from Cllr A Adams ‘the old quarter’ problems will continue to be monitored.
Item B; There was nothing further to report on building or redevelopment plans from the town centre areas.
Item C; No reports were received of any increase in drunken/disorderly behaviour in the town centre. Mr A C Dawes said that Centro and DMBC were addressing the problems of litter and rubbish reported in the Bus Station area.
Cllr J Collins spoke of the footpath being obstructed in West St and near to the old army and navy stores development site.
Mrs G P Waller told the meeting that the standard of street cleansing on the Green Street side of the Ring Road was very poor.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS

Stourbridge Area Committee Meetings; 7pm Monday 19th November at Hob Green Primary School, 7pm Monday 21st January and 7pm Monday 10th March 2008 both at Hob Green Primary School.
The Township Council will meet on Thursday 11th October, Thursday 8th November and Thursday 13th December 2007.

CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman informed the meeting of the details of the Stourbridge Harvest Festival reading from a communication from Mr Matt Caddick the Town Centre Manager. The Festival will take place on Saturday 29th September. Sections of High St and Market St will be closed 8am-4pm on the day to allow for an extended farmer and crafts market with entertainment attractions.

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