Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (327th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER 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), Mrs J Collins, Mr B S Craddock, Mr A C Dawes, 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, Mrs G P Waller and Mr D I West.
Also present; PCSO R Di-Bernado, Police Sergeant D Rennison of West Midlands Police and Ms B Sykes.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
Nothing was raised under this section.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from; Mrs E E Fellows.
Apologies were also received from; Councillor N Barlow, Mr D Harcourt, Ms M James, A/Insp T Osborne, Miss H Rogers and from Mrs Lynda Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS
Item A; Members were reminded by our visitors from West Midlands Police of the PACT meeting arranged for 7pm Thursday 23rd October (Area 23/24) at Ridgewood High School, Park Road West, Wollaston and also the Town centre PACT meeting at 11am Saturday 17th January 2009 at St Thomas Church Hall, Market Street.

Item B; The Chairman welcomed Police Sergeant David Rennison and PCSO Renato Di-Bernado of West Midlands Police thanking them for attending. The officers heard from members of local concerns on a number of police related topics. Mrs K Shepherd raised the issues of vehicle obstruction in the High Street; she also referred to recent reports relating to the abuse of blue badge disabled permits. Mrs M Scott reminded the meeting that the provision of disabled parking bays was raised some two years ago. More bays had been promised, but these had never materialised due to assorted High St proposal plans she said.

Sergeant Rennison explained the roles of PCSO’s and of the recently introduced ‘CEO’s’ (Civil Parking Enforcement Officers). He said that certain enforcement responsibilities had now been assumed by the CEO’s though the PCSO’s continued to deal with certain offences, the “fixed penalty” system now known as a ‘PNE’ (Penalty Charge Notice) had also changed in some respects. Sergeant Rennison told the meeting that it was anticipated that representative CEO’s would also be attending future PACT meetings. Operation Serene III will again be held October/November with the police and partners targeting anti sociable behaviour and local crime.
Mr R Owen told the meeting of the topics raised when he had attended at the 24th September PACT meeting for police area Ward 25. These included the new bollards in Drew Road, traffic sign concerns in Bromwich Lane and excess speed in Worcester Lane.

Item C; Members discussed parking difficulties seen in and around the town where indiscriminate parking was causing serious obstruction. Mrs G Waller said increased problems will be seen as and when redevelopment work begins in the town centre.
Recent proposals by DMBC for running a pedestrianised pilot scheme in High St were discussed. Although there was a call from shoppers and farmers market traders to close the High St to traffic on Saturdays, the resident High St traders opposed the scheme. It was claimed that their trade would be affected. Ms B Sykes, who had attended a meeting of the Stourbridge and District Chamber of Trade, told the meeting that there had been considerable opposition from local traders to the proposed scheme.
Matters relating to the existing and proposed lap dancing clubs were discussed. It was agreed that the recent actions by Lynda Waltho MP to change the legislation regarding such clubs would be an improvement. There have been complaints that even existing licensing conditions have been broken. Mrs J Collins, who has served on DMBC licensing committees, explained the procedures. Ms B Sykes commented that it was unfortunate that the Lower High St club had been located in close proximity to King Edward College.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
Our Chairman spoke of her recent broadcasting experience when she was interviewed by Dr Paul Collins on Bridge Radio. She had been able to promote the work of our Council and to give our views on a number of topics of local interest. It is hoped that Mrs Scott will appear again on Bridge Radio 102.5 in the near future.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 326th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 11th September 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 again discussed the housing development situation in and around the Town. Mrs J Collins said that the Enville St Churchill site seemed to be at a standstill. Mr A Dawes commented that the credit crunch could be seen to be affecting building and sales of properties in the area. Mrs M Scott pointed to the need for affordable housing and not the trend to more and more flats. The Bristol based appeals system was yet again roundly condemned by members, local decisions should not so easily be overturned.

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES
Item A; Mrs M Scott told members that pot holes near the bus station had been yet again highlighted with yellow paint. Mrs G Waller wondered if prompt repairs would in the long run prevent compensation payments which could soon outstrip repair costs.

Item B; Mr J Shepherd said although a recent letter from Whitbread had stated, that should the Bell St Hotel plan be accepted, work would begin there in ‘early summer’, no such indication had been given with regard to the Crown Centre.

Item C; Several members spoke of litter and rubbish problems; the recreation ground behind St James Church Wollaston with litter and broken glass, litter in Redhill from Junction Road toward the town centre and also in Church St. It was reported that a parking cone had appeared on the top of the Park Gates.
It was requested that the Clerk contact Miss Hannah Rogers with regard to the continued practice of cyclists chaining their bikes to the protective railings around the Town Clock. Ample provision has been made for the security of cycles in that area, perhaps signs should indicate these cycle racks and steps should be taken to protect the newly refurbished Clock and railings.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS
* Mrs June Collins, a former member of The Township Council, had expressed her wish to return to the Council. This was agreed. Mrs Collins made her Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was accepted by our Chairman Mrs M E D Scott.

(a) An audit spread sheet is to be submitted for approval. Our Auditors Mr K C Jones and Mr D I West will meet with the Chairman in her capacity of Finance Officer. The Township 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 6th November 2008. (NB this is a revised date) and Thursday 11th December (this meeting will be our annual Christmas meeting).

REPORTS FROM THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL
Our Clerk Mr J Shepherd invited any questions or comment relating to the content of the bulletin.
He referred to the reported proposal by Dudley MBC to fill the cave and tunnel network beneath Stourbridge with concrete and spoke of the concerns of a number of local residents at what was seen as a lack of local consultation. After debating what was known on the safety aspects under consideration by DMBC, the proposal by some residents that the tunnels be preserved as a tourist feature for the Town was discussed. Mr Shepherd told members that he would make enquiries in order to obtain all of the facts; he will report his findings to the Council at our next meeting.

CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
The Chairman had no other business to raise at this time, she reminded members that our November meeting would fall on the first Thursday of the month, and also that the December meeting would be our ‘Christmas meeting’. Mrs Scott thanked our visitors for attending and formally closed the meeting.

The Township Council rose at 9.10pm.

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325th meeting
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