Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (320th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON
THURSDAY 14th February 2008 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 K C Jones, Mr P J Miles, Mr D M Price, Mrs K C Shepherd, Mr B D Waller, Mrs G P Waller and Mr D I West.
Also present; Councillor Mrs J Collins, Mr R Owen, Mr M Smith and Ms B Sykes.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Mr R Owen (Vice-Chair of the SISC) spoke to the meeting on the subject of proposed developments and planning in the area. He was told of the visit to our January meeting by Mrs J E Garrett representing the Stourbridge Pantomime Group, who had voiced similar concerns regarding the uncertainty and lack of information available. That meeting addressed by Cllr M Knowles had heard from him that only discussions between Modus/Tesco on Crown Centre issues remained. Mr Owen was informed of the concerns raised by our members over parking arrangements to be put in place when work began on Bell St car park, and improvements to be considered if Birmingham St was to be an alternative car park. Our proposals that increased signage should be put in place to assist visitors to the town were also explained to Mr Owen who was handed a copy of the minutes of our January meeting.
Mrs E M D Scott said that a time limit should be imposed for work to begin upon the Crown Centre development, members agreed.

Mr M Smith (Bowling Green Tenants & Residents Association) was introduced by Mr B D Waller. The Respect programme was outlined and explained by Mr Smith. Members were handed copies of the Respect handbook and also DFTRA Federation News. A meeting has been arranged with the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith where, at her request, she will hear local input from our area on law and order issues. Mr M Smith saw our Council members as a non political cross party representative group of our town; he invited members to submit topics for discussion with the Home Secretary and asked that these be collated by Mr Waller.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from; Mr M D Fellows, Mrs P J Fellows and Miss A Green.
Apologies were also received from; Ms L Blyth, Mr M Caddick, Ms M James, Mr M Rose and Mrs Lynda Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS
Details of PACT meetings had not been received from the police. PS T Osborne will be contacted.

Item A; Several members spoke on the subject of PACT meetings attended. Mr A C Dawes told of one parking issue taking over a meeting. Mr B D Waller said that there are signs that persons attend to raise a specific issue, when this has been resolved they are seldom seen at further meetings. Ms B Sykes had attended the Pedmore PACT meeting where yet again the crossing layout and signal controls at Oldswinford cross had been called to question. She said this meeting had been very well attended

Item B; A proposal that a gantry mounted camera could be used to obtain prosecution evidence against offending motorists at the Ring Road crossing was discussed. Approaches had been made to Police Sergeants Androlia and Edwards followed by consultation with Mr I Withey and Mr G Randle at DMBC. We were informed that technical difficulties would create operational problems at this time. Members said that the dangerous existing situation was far from satisfactory. Mrs G P Waller said that the statutory time allowed for pedestrians to cross was being taken up by the need to avoid vehicles illegally driving across against the signals. She referred to the petition raised some four years ago with regard to the Ring Road and to pedestrian matters. Mr B S Craddock has supplied traffic regulation details which relate to road markings and crossing for the future reference of members.

Item C; It was agreed that the presence of PCSO’s on our streets is welcome and reassuring. Recent successes illustrated by arrests and the recovery of stolen property were highlighted, including the recent recovery of bronze war memorial plaques. Several members said extreme difficulty is being experienced when attempting to contact police officers on the numbers supplied to them. There is still dissatisfaction with the issue of ‘crime numbers’ and a failure to respond when police assistance is required by the public. This matter has been raised with senior police officers however the situation has not improved.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
Mrs E M D Scott spoke of the exposure to damage from vandals at the now derelict snooker club near Parkfield Road. She said that premises in that vicinity, thought to have been purchased by Tesco, had been boarded up and seemingly abandoned. They were now eyesores. The Chairman said Dudley MBC should examine this situation with environmental considerations in mind. The water over flow problems and road marking problems near the Ring Road BP services still require attention, Mrs Scott said.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 319th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 10th January 2008 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 monthly bulletin gave details of communications sent and actions taken by the Council since our January meeting. Mr J Shepherd will provide full details of all communications on request.

ITEMS RAISED UNDER STANDING ORDER NO 13
The item raised here and at recent meetings with regard to our Constitution was moved for debate in ‘closed session’ by the Chairman.

MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES
Mr K C Jones recovering from a recent illness described his unfortunate experiences at Russells Hall hospital and following his discharge. These included poor transport arrangements by the hospital, dispensary problems and also the lack of home care provision. He agreed with Mr R Owen that there was no triage facility in place at the hospital to assist members at reception.

Cllr Mrs J Collins gave the contact number as 01384 821025 for The Bridge radio now broadcasting on 102.5 FM.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES
Item A; Despite recent assurances pothole and kerbstone problems remain in Wheeler Street and West Street. There are reports of potholes in the vicinity of the bus station in the town. These matters will be brought to the attention of DMBC.

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.

Litter; Mrs Lynda Waltho MP has requested recorded figures relating to litter and fly-tipping offences in the area.
A similar litter ticket query has been raised by Ms M James at the Central Ticket Office in Birmingham.

This Council is in contact with Mr Dave Wesson of DMBC regarding street cleansing matters in and around the town.

Our communications regarding the Grade 2 Listed Gates at Mary Stevens Park are continuing. Members agreed with Mrs M Wakelam that Dudley MBC, as the trustees, must act without further delay to prevent further deterioration.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS
(a) Several room rental invoices are awaited at this time.
(b) Stourbridge Area Committee Meetings; 7pm Monday 10th March at Hob Green Primary School.
(c) The Township Council will meet Thursday 13th March, Thursday 10th April and Thursday 8th May 2008.

319th meeting
318th meeting
317th meeting
316th meeting
315th meeting
314th meeting
313th meeting
312th meeting
311th meeting
310th meeting

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