Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (323rd Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON
THURSDAY 8th May 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, Mr K C Jones, Mr P J Miles, Mr R S Owen, Mrs K C Shepherd, Mr B D Waller and Mrs G P Waller.
Also present; Councillor N Barlow, Ms B Sykes and Mr A Turton (Express & Star).

The Chairman rose and on behalf of all members of the Township Council, paid tribute to Mr Martin D Fellows a valued founder member of our Council. This was followed by a minute of silence in respect of Martin.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Nothing was raised under this section. The Chairman welcomed our visitors to this the 323rd meeting of the Township Council.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from; Mrs E E Fellows, Miss A Green and Mr D M Price.
Apologies were also received from; Mrs J Collins, Ms M James, Police Sergeant T Osborne and Mrs Lynda Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS
Item A; Details of all arranged PACT meetings had been forwarded by Police Sergeant Tony Osborne who is to move to the town centre liaison team. Our Vice-Chairman had been in attendance at the very well attended PACT meeting held at St Mary’s Church Hall on Wednesday 7th May, it was reported that eighty local residents were present. He told members that there had been a number of reports of anti sociable behaviour in the vicinity of Chawn Hill; the police had used their anti sociable behaviour powers to confiscate a considerable amount of alcoholic drink from the youths involved.
Mr Shepherd said residents in Castle Grove and nearby streets had reported vehicles being left by rail commuters throughout the working day; this was causing considerable obstruction throughout the area. It was noted that indiscriminate long term parking was a problem for residents in areas in the vicinity of our train and bus stations.
One of the several items raised by the Oldswinford residents was the traffic lights at Oldswinford Cross. In particular the lack of a ‘repeater’ light for traffic travelling from Stourbridge town centre toward Hagley or to assist turning right into Heath Lane. Members commented that efforts to have these traffic signals updated over the years had failed. It was noted that there was no available record of the many minor accidents occurring at this junction. Mr B S Craddock reminded members that only personal injury accidents need be reported. Mr Craddock explained control considerations relating to the traffic light control set up at this busy offset junction.

Item B; Mr R S Owen again told members of the problems existing at and around Ham Dingle Primary School. He drew the attention of members to dangers presented to children and the difficulties experienced by local residents in Old Ham Lane, White Close, Tall Trees Drive, Leys Close and Shaftsbury Avenue - all affected by dangerous parking and obstruction by vehicles. Mr Owen reported that there had been considerable police attention recently paid in the area and fixed penalties have been issued. Mr Owen said there was something of a conflict of information existing in Drew Road where parents had been urged to park, but parking warning signs were also displayed. He will continue to monitor the situation.
Mrs G P Waller told the meeting that despite some police attention, at Bell St car park, ‘boy racers’ still gathered in vehicles and on motor cycles, often until after 3am, causing annoyance to residents. Evidence of possible drugs misuse had also been seen.

Item C; Mrs E M D Scott spoke of the increase in anti sociable behaviour in our area, she told members of incidents in Wollaston High Street where parked cars had been scratched and damaged by a knife or sharp instrument.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
Our Chairman gave the full details of the arrangements for the funeral of Mr Martin Fellows. Mrs Scott proposed that in accordance with the wishes of Mrs Jane Fellows and Mrs Molly Fellows our Council would not send flowers, but would make a donation to the National Amyloidosis Society. The meeting agreed that this would be done.
Ms B Sykes added her own personal tribute to Mr M D Fellows; she had known Martin for a number of years and had been shocked to hear the news of his sudden death.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 322nd meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 10th April 2008 were received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman Mrs E M D Scott accordingly.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES (There were no matters arising from the minutes).
ITEMS RAISED UNDER STANDING ORDER NO 13 (There were no items raised under this section).

MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES
Members were concerned with several issues regarding the National Health Service, these referred to poor organisation and what was seen as a lack of departmental communication. It was agreed that the efforts of the medical and nursing staff could not be faulted. Mrs M Wakelam spoke of long delays in patients’ records being located at Russells Hall Hospital. There was agreement with Ms B Sykes who raised the issues of the promised deep cleaning at hospitals; here there was room for considerable improvement. Both Mrs G Waller and Mr B D Waller praised the treatments provided for them by doctors and nursing staff on recent hospital visits.
Ms B Sykes told members of the ‘Pathfinder’ scheme with consultations being held throughout the Borough and monies being made available for leisure provisions for children, some £2.5M pounds are to be allocated.
Residents of both Baylie and Kennedy Court are reporting problems of damage being caused by badgers. Mr P J Miles described these difficulties to the meeting. Mrs G P Waller told members of the additional problems from pigeons roosting on the buildings.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES
Item A; Street drains are now being cleaned in the old quarter area, it is hoped that this will improve reported pooling problems.
Ms B Sykes spoke on the proposed local canal side development where six storey high apartment blocks were planned. Members debated a number of issues where planning and locally elected Councillors had opposed projects only to see decisions overturned at Bristol based hearings.

Item B; Mr B S Craddock raised questions regarding the future use of the old Yorkshire bank building. To let signs are displayed, but proposals, particularly with regard to its use as a restaurant/wine bar are still to be decided. Licensing hour arrangements need to be closely monitored. It was also noted that we are losing Mc Donald’s and Rimski’s in High St. Morrelli’s in the Rye Market has closed.
The Bell in Market Street has now re-opened under new management.

Item C; No reports were received of any increase in drunken/disorderly behaviour in the town centre.
Litter; Efforts are being made to contact property owners to have the Market St alleyway near The Express & Star office cleaned, Environmental Health will be contacted. Mr A C Dawes spoke of the accumulation of litter near to The Chicago Rock premises.
Mrs G P Waller commented upon the very unsightly appearance of the now void High Street stationary shop premises.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS
(a) Room rental invoices have yet to be received. The current credit balance will be announced at our June Meeting.
(b) Stourbridge Area Committee Meetings; Mondays 16th June, 8th September, 17th November, (Times & Venues to follow)
(c) The Township Council will meet Thursday 12th June, Thursday 10th July and Thursday 11th September 2008.

REPORTS FROM THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL
The Clerk gave full details of communications forwarded and received on behalf of the Township Council since our April meeting. Much of this information had been prepared and distributed to members in the form of our monthly bulletin. He mentioned in particular developments regarding efforts toward the restoration of the Grade II Listed Gates at The Mary Stevens Park. Giving dates and full details Mr Shepherd told of the many delays and failures to respond to communications by DMBC over many months and years. He was concerned that, following what had been seen as a promising meeting with Stourbridge Area Committee, the matter had yet again been referred to the office headed by Ms Sally Orton. He hoped that a far better liaison can be obtained. Mr Shepherd told members that as requested, he will continue our Council’s efforts with regard to The Gates.
He also said that efforts to obtain stab-vest protection for our PCSO’s will continue as will our efforts to relocate the Coat of Arms mosaic to the Town Hall foyer. Our interests in; removal of our library artefacts, the licence proposals and arrangements at both the old Yorkshire bank and at Barbarella’s venue in the former Picture House Club will continue. The Crown Centre and Bell Street planned developments will be monitored and reported upon when details are known.

CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman had no other business to raise at this time. She thanked our visitors for attending and formally closed the meeting. The Township Council rose at 8.55pm.

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