Stourbridge Township Council meetings

MINUTES OF THE MEETING (325th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 10th JULY 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, Miss A Green, Mr K C Jones, Mr P J Miles, Mr R S Owen, Mr D M Price, Mrs K C Shepherd, Mr B D Waller and
Mrs G P Waller. Also present Mrs J Collins, Councillor M Cowell, Councillor M Knowles, PCSO M Parker (WM Police), and
Ms B Sykes (Representing Lynda Waltho MP).

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Nothing was raised under this section.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from; Mr D I West.
Apologies were also received from; Councillor N Barlow, Ms K Gardener, Mr D Harcourt, Con PC Ms M James, Police Sergeant T Osborne and from Mrs L Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS

Item A; Members were reminded of the PACT meeting arranged for 11am Saturday 2nd August at St Thomas Church Hall.

Item B; The Chairman introduced PCSO Melissa Parker of West Midlands Police thanking her for attending. PCSO Parker was informed of recent difficulties experienced by several members when attempting to contact officers. We have members residing in all of the Stourbridge wards and need local contacts. The officer agreed to speak to her colleagues with a view to putting better arrangements in place. In addition PCSO Parker said that she would remind officers of our need to have early notification of PACT meetings in all areas, she noted that these dates and venues were circulated by us and were attended by our members.

Item C; Mr B D Waller said the dangerous practice of vehicles stopping on The Ring Road to visit the ‘caravan café’ continues, Mrs K C Shepherd had also witnessed this happening not only on weekdays but also on a Sunday. Passing attention has been promised by police, PCSO Parker will again report on this matter. Members again spoke of the difficulties experienced when attempting to contact officers about local issues, there also seems to be problems with the circulation and notification of PACT meeting details for areas other than in the town centre. PCSO Parker said that she will speak to her colleagues with a view to arranging more efficient e-mail liaisons. To a query from Mr B Waller the officer confirmed that the police meet the costs for PACT meetings.
A report had been noted of a PCSO being attacked and stabbed, the incident was not in our force area, but further enquiries were made to ascertain the full details in view of our stab-vest provision concerns for our own PCSO’s. Details of two incidents were circulated in the Clerk’s current bulletin under police matters for the information of members.
Mrs G P Waller said that yet again the subway to the bus station had become flooded during recent heavy rain. The situation had forced people to use the pedestrian crossing in the rain or to find shelter until it stopped. When the water finally drained away the subway was a sea of mud Mrs Waller said. Members agreed that there was a problem with drain cleansing in our area.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

Our Chairman spoke of the shortage of disabled parking bays. Mrs Scott said that the disabled parking bay near Nicholls and Perks was currently obstructed by a builders skip. She understood that permits for skips were issued by DMBC, but queried the misuse of a permit in this way. The Clerk was asked take up this matter with DMBC.
The Chairman had noted that the colour green had been chosen by The Ryemarket at the time of its recent refurbishment. Bollards adjoining the High St now clashed with the existing blue and gold Town colours. Mrs Scott had asked our Clerk to make enquiries. It was ascertained that green was the ‘corporate colour’ of the Ryemarket group. Full details were outlined in our current bulletin. Members agreed with the Chairman that this oversight was a result of poor liaison.
With regard to our ongoing efforts regarding The Grade ll Listed Gates at the Mary Stevens Park. Mrs Scott told the meeting of our efforts at Area Committee to get definitive answers. Together with the Vice-Chairman and Mrs K Shepherd she had attended the area meeting on Monday 16th June, we were all very disappointed by that meeting, there were no answers she said.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the 324th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 12th June 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
Ms B Sykes told members that applicants for the Town Centre Manager position were currently being interviewed.
Mr A C Dawes had noted that plaques had been removed from Mary Stevens Park he asked if these had been stolen. Councillor M Knowles, who had joined the meeting, informed members that these had been removed for cleaning and would be replaced.
Cllr Knowles told the meeting that Cllr Cowell and he had been unable to attend earlier; he had hoped to speak on the subject of the Mary Stevens listed park gates.
The Chairman said that although this matter had already been raised, Cllr Knowles should be invited to comment upon any matters raised earlier. The Vice-Chairman suggested that with the Chair’s permission and if members agreed, Item 11 (reports from the Clerk) could be used to provide time to include Cllr Knowles in further debate regarding The Gates or any other matters. This was agreed.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS

(a) An audit spread sheet has been prepared. The Council has a current credit balance.
(b) Stourbridge Area Committee Meetings; Full details of all meetings have been circulated on our current bulletin.
(c) The Township Council will meet Thursday 11th September and Thursday 9th October 2008.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES

Item A; Mr R S Owen stated that potholes, reported to DMBC for attention, were examined and marked with yellow paint without delay. But, the potholes were often not attended to, even the yellow markings had worn away before the work was actually done. He asked if there was any set time by DMBC from the identification and marking of potholes and commencement of repairs.

Item B; We are happy that we have been able to maintain direct contact with Mr Peter Macfarlane of Modus on a number of matters.
Item C; No reports were received of any increase in drunken/disorderly behaviour in the town centre.

Cllr Malcolm Knowles apologised for arriving late, he went on to outline his views of the situation regarding the Grade II Listed Gates. He was challenged on his assertions that technical reports and work on the gates could not be undertaken locally.
Cllr Knowles said that as a qualified metallurgist he knew this to be a fact. Statements made by Cllr Knowles at the recent Area Committee were also challenged by members. Mrs E M D Scott told Cllr Knowles that she had been involved with the steel industry throughout her working life, you are not the only person present with expert knowledge Mrs Scott said.
Mrs M Wakelam reminded the meeting that our Council had voiced concerns about the neglect of the gates over many years. She said that despite photographic evidence and letters submitted over the years DMBC had failed to act.
Responding to Mr Shepherd, Cllr Knowles firmly disagreed that any consideration could be given to a participation project by Dudley College tutors and advanced students. He did not comment on the failure to publish the long awaited technical report relating to refurbishment requirements, or on the matters of continued failure to obtain, or to provide funding for maintenance work on the gates. He rejected Mr Shepherd’s claim that the record proved that since 1998 efforts to have attention given to The Gates had failed and that these failures have resulted in the serious damaging neglect of them
In summary, it was clearly seen that Cllr Knowles was not in agreement with the Township Council on any of the above matters.
Cllr Knowles informed the meeting of optimistic plans under consideration to save the now derelict Grade II listed foundry off Lowndes Road. Members agreed that they welcomed any proposals to save and preserve this important historic site.

REPORTS FROM THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL

Our Clerk Mr J Shepherd said that full details of communications forwarded and received on behalf of the Township Council since our June meeting had been presented to all members in the monthly bulletin. This had enabled the meeting to accommodate the request by Cllr Knowles that the matters raised earlier in the evening be revisited.

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 9.10pm.

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323rd meeting
322nd meeting
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311th meeting
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