Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (316th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON
THURSDAY 11th OCTOBER 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, Miss A Green, Mr P J Miles, Mr D M Price, Mr B D Waller, and Mrs G P Waller.
Also present; Ch Supt N Croft (West Midlands Police), Mr R Eden, Mr C Hale, Ms M James and Mr M Rose.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
(Mrs E M D Scott welcomed our visitors and introduced Chief Superintendent Nick Croft of West Midlands Police.)

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from; Mr M D Fellows, Mrs P J Fellows, Mr K C Jones and Mr D I West.
Apologies were also received from; Inspector P Boardman, Mr M Caddick, PS S Dalton, Mr D Harcourt, Mr C MacDonald, Mrs Lynda Waltho MP and Mr L Watton.

POLICE MATTERS

Chief Superintendent Nick Croft, officer commanding Dudley South OCU, outlined the West Midlands Police policy with regard to the deployment of PCSO’s in the force area, this being in furtherance of communications received by the Township Council from the Chief Constable Sir Paul Scott-Lee. The issue of ‘stab-vest’ protection for PCSO’s was again raised. Mr Croft was only able to repeat the decision given by Sir Paul that at this time PCSO’s will not be issued with stab-vest protection. He went on to say “It is also true that the overwhelming majority of PCSO’s do not want them”. Theirs is a non confrontational role and this decision has been reached after careful risk assessments were carried out. The Vice-Chairman referred to our communications to and from Sir Paul with regard to the issue of stab-vests to PCSO’s, Mr Shepherd asked that Ch Supt Croft take note of the fact that we feel that this policy should be changed and that all available protection should be afforded to PCSO’s. Mr Croft said that other letters had been received on this subject and that the situation would be kept under review.

Ch Supt Croft was extremely helpful and very informative on operational police duties carried out by the force in general, on the Dudley South OCU and by officers in Stourbridge in particular. He gave comparison figures for Stourbridge/Halesowen as related to similar areas not only within the West Midlands but also to other forces. Those figures illustrated that Stourbridge, when grouped with Halesowen, is now one of the safest places in the country. Members heard that a high profile approach had been adopted by police in Stourbridge since January 2007 to address problems of drink related disorder and violence. Mr Croft described high profile visits to all licensed drink outlets in the town particularly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; these are having the desired effect he said. The aim being to ensure that behaviour both inside and outside these premises was under control. He pointed out that at closing time people remained in the town visiting the many food outlets causing further problems. The measures taken by the police had resulted in a fall of late night arrests from 15-20 down now to just 1 or 2.

Mr Croft spoke of the combined operations with other departments and forces which are being carried out in our area. Fixed penalty tickets were issued, vehicles have been seized, and the problems with trail and quad bikes are also being tackled. Members raised other traffic issues with Ch Supt Croft including points raised by Mrs G Waller on pedestrian safety on the Ring Road crossing. Supported by other members she called for cameras to be fixed to the gantry to identify vehicles and drivers who fail to obey the traffic signals. Mr Croft will speak with his traffic officer PS Androlia on this matter. Mr A Dawes spoke of the obstruction of driveways constantly caused in Gregory Road near to the school. Members were concerned that PACT meetings were not effective or productive in Stourbridge, the once police orientated meetings were increasingly taken over by general community matters better suited for area committee meetings.

There was general concern over the proposed development of the old Yorkshire Bank as a ‘lounge bar and restaurant’. Members and visitors alike spoke of the proposals as yet another threat to the Cumulative Impact Order which was introduced to the town last year to curb the amount of late night drinking outlets in Stourbridge town centre. Similarly the changes proposed at the Picture House night club venue. It was decided that all such proposals must be carefully considered.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

On behalf of all members Mrs E M D Scott thanked Chief Superintendent Nick Croft for attending and extended an open invitation to him and his colleagues to all future Stourbridge Township Council meetings.
The Chairman presented a Cup and Certificate on behalf of Mr D Harcourt awarded by Stourbridge in Bloom to Mrs G P Waller, Mr B D Waller and Mr P J Miles. The award was accepted by Mr & Mrs Waller and Mr Miles on behalf of Green Street Gardens TRA. Photographs were taken by Mr Mark Rose for a feature to appear on the ‘AboutMyArea’ web site.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the 315th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 13th September 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 detailed communications sent and actions taken by our Council since our last meeting. Mr J Shepherd said copies of all communications are available to members on request. Provisions had been made via electronic mail and with extra printing to combat the mail strike delays and these arrangements had been very successful.

ITEMS RAISED UNDER STANDING ORDER NO 13 (Nothing was raised under this Item)
MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES (Nothing was raised under this item)

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES

Item A; Our communications continue to be well received by Cllr Angus Adams and his DMBC team. The heavy vehicle warning signs are now in place in the Old Quarter. West Street has been resurfaced although there are still pooling difficulties which identify a need for kerbs to raised or replaced, this will be reported with a request for further attention.
The large pothole in Wheeler Street reported by Mrs E E Fellows continues to be a problem. Mr Shepherd will ask that this be given special attention before 2nd December; other potholes in the area will be identified and reported for repair.
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.
Mrs G P Waller said that the footpath is still obstructed near to the old army and navy stores development site; provision must be made for pedestrians. She reported that there were still street cleansing issues in the Green Street area.

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 to be held at Hob Green Primary School.
The Township Council will meet on Thursday 8th November and Thursday 13th December 2007 (‘Christmas Meeting’)

CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman had no other business to raise.
The Township Council rose at 9.00 p.m.

Last month's meeting (315th)
314th meeting
313th meeting
312th meeting
311th meeting
310th meeting

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