Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (326th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 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, Mr D M Price, Mrs K C Shepherd, Mr B D Waller and Mrs G P Waller.
Also present Mrs J Collins, Ms M James Con’PC Stourbridge, PCSO’s R Di-Bernado and M Parker (West Midlands Police).

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Nothing was raised under this section.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from; Mrs E E Fellows, Miss A Green and Mr D I West.
Apologies were also received from; Mr D Harcourt, Police Sergeant T Osborne, Ms B Sykes and from Mrs Lynda Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS

Item A; Members were reminded of the PACT meetings arranged for 7pm Thursday 18th September Petershill School, also at
7pm Wednesday 24th September St Peter’s Community Centre, Pedmore and 11am Saturday 27th September at St Thomas Hall.

Item B; The Chairman welcomed PCSO Melissa Parker and PCSO Renato Di-Bernado of West Midlands Police thanking them for attending. The officers were informed of danger and obstruction caused by the parking of vehicles particularly in the old quarter of the town. Member’s spoke of the problems seen when vehicles are being parked close to the junctions of narrow streets in that area. West Street, where there is a need for kerbstone replacements, has vehicles mounting the narrow footpaths in addition to the junction parking obstruction difficulties described. The officers will ask that passing attention be given by patrols to these matters.
Mrs G Waller said that she had been pleased to see the issue of a fixed penalty ticket where a vehicle was obstructing the dropped kerb provision for the disabled., this being on a Sunday Mr B Craddock, referring to obstruction related offences, or parking infringements seen, asked how were these matters dealt with and by which enforcement officers. PCSO Parker explained the roles of the police and community support officers and the Council controlled ‘parking enforcement officers’. It was noted that there are differences in operational responsibilities and powers to deal with certain traffic offences. The issue of fixed penalty notices and the payment methods were also explained.

Item C; Mr J Shepherd said that it would not be proper at this time to invite comment from our PCSO’s on a matter of force policy. He told the meeting that our Council has once again written to the Chief Constable Sir Paul Scott-Lee asking that stab-vest protection be issued to West Midlands PCSO’s. Mr Shepherd said that we have also written to Councillor Diana Holl-Alan and Councillor Bob Jones the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Association of Police Authorities. It is hoped that our efforts will help to persuade the Chief Constable to change a policy, which in the eyes of so many, is wrong, outdated and fraught with danger.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

Our Chairman congratulated Mr David Harcourt and all involved with the Stourbridge in Bloom efforts that have won for the Town the Gold Award. She told members that a message from the Township Council had been sent to Mr Harcourt. Mrs Scott also congratulated Mr and Mrs Waller and Mr Miles on winning the Dudley Council Housing garden competition for their team efforts on behalf of Baylie and Kennedy Court, other results are to be announced.
The Chairman told the meeting that for the reasons debated, in accordance with the unanimous decision of our members, letters will be sent to Councillor I M Kettle and Mrs J Kettle who are no longer members of the Township Council. Mrs Scott explained that under our Constitution as an elected Ward Councillor, Councillor Kettle is welcome to attend meetings in that capacity.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the 325th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 10th July 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 (There were no items raised under this section).

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS

(a) An audit spread sheet is to be submitted. 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 9th October and Thursday 6th November 2008.(NB this is a revised date)

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES

Item A; There are reports increasing reports of potholes being ‘marked’ for attention, but finally being attended to after lengthy delays and then not to an acceptable standard. Mrs M Wakelam told members of a deep pothole in Maypole Drive which was not repaired to standard, the rubble displace from that hole was not cleared away, but was left in the road.
The Post Office closure proposals were debated, these are a matter for extreme concern and many petitions are being raised. Ms M James and her colleagues have been very active in the area(s) circulating all details for the information of residents.

Item B; Members continue to be concerned by the lack of information forthcoming where planned town developments are concerned.
There is no further news from the Modus/Tesco/DMBC Crown Centre and Bell St plus hotel plans. The operational future of the Yorkshire Bank building as a restaurant/wine bar is still to be announced. The former Metropolitan/Page Arms could according to Mr David Cox MD of Cox Homes continue as a restaurant. He has at our request removed the rotting canopy and instructed that the site be tidied. Concerns were voiced over the number of void premises, now neglected and unsightly, attracting vandals.
Mr B D Waller mentioned the vandalism of the vacated skate board premises. Mrs M Scott described the neglected premises at Birmingham St and Foster St and on the Angel Triangle area. Mr A C Dawes spoke of the evidence of fire damage at the boarded up snooker hall. The meeting discussed what was seen to be the very unsatisfactory planning situation in our area. It is unacceptable that planning decisions made by our locally elected Council are regularly overturned on appeal to Bristol. The meeting agreed that this extraordinary situation is a ridiculous and costly exercise which should be addressed and overturned without delay.
Mrs J Collins spoke of her experiences whilst in council office, local council planners are becoming increasingly annoyed she said.
Reports that a Bristol based Government planning Inspector visiting this area had to be afforded ‘security’ arrangements at the cost of £100,000 to be met by Dudley MBC called for further investigation members said. Ms M James agreed to make further enquiries.

Item C; Ms M James raised the question of existing ‘designated public no drinking areas’ in the area. She asked if there was a case for extending these zones. Members supported this proposal, for areas other than those already recognised and set aside. Mr J Shepherd used the example of Hagley Road; here the existing drinking restrictions could be extended from the present Cranbourne Road limit to perhaps the Foley Island. This would prevent problems seen on a known ‘pub cruise’ walk into the town centre he said.

REPORTS FROM THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL

Our Clerk Mr J Shepherd said that the circulation of the minutes together with the monthly bulletin enabled all members to be fully informed. Electronic communications to all with this facility continued between meetings. The Clerk said that in the event of any urgent requirements, all members would be contacted, be it by e-mail, telephone or by post.
With regard to The Grade II Listed Gates, Mr Shepherd said the detailed report of the bulletin illustrated how efforts of this Council had finally motivated some elected Councillors. The situation must now be watched very closely he said, Dudley must not be allowed to dither on its undertaking that ‘work on The Gates will take place within five years regardless of any grant’.
Ms M James said; “Mr Shepherd and all Township Council members are to be congratulated on their efforts and the pressures that they have brought with regard to The Gates”. Thanking Ms James her for her ongoing support and for her encouraging remarks, Mr Shepherd said “The Gates will remain our first priority until refurbishments are complete, we will then support all other aspects of the ‘master plan’ as proposed by The Friends of the park, they do a wonderful job, but The Gates must now come first”.

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 8.50pm

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324th meeting
323rd meeting
322nd meeting
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320th meeting
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