MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHADDESLEY CORBETT PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Monday 4 April 2005
at the Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall

Present: Councillors: Chairman, Mr C Dodge, Mrs S Holding, Mr D Spencer, Mr H Grove, Mrs P Pardoe, Mr J Swift, Mr M Gibbs, Mr J Millington, 
Mrs Y L Scriven (clerk).

Members of the public also attended the meeting.

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Mr R Higgins, Mrs V Adams (ill)
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on 7 March were approved.
FORMAL APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Approved.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. REPORT BY WEST MERCIA POLICE
A representative of the Police did not attend the meeting.
5. CLERK'S REPORT ON ITEMS RAISED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 Calor Gas Village of the Year Competition: The Friends of the Village Association had made an offer to co-ordinate the competition, which the Parish Council was pleased to accept. The entry form was quite complicated and it was agreed that the Clerk and Cllrs would need to complete some of this with assistance from the Association as required.
6. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION/DECISION
6.1 Parish Plan: A draft of the plan had been circulated to Parish Councillors for their consideration. Some slight changes to style etc were necessary, but it was agreed that no major changes were required prior to the Public Consultation on 27 April 2005. It was noted that the Steering Group had made no attempt to prioritise any of the actions, which left the Parish Council in a position to change these in line with future requirements. The Parish Council congratulated the Steering Group on its excellent presentation.
6.2 Affordable Housing: Cllrs had been circulated with costs of legal representation if required. It was agreed that an approach should be made to Worcestershire Association of Local Councils for their advice before proceeding further. The Chairman agreed arrange a meeting with representatives of the Friends of the Village Association in an effort to resolve the current dispute.
6.3 Consultation Paper on change of Code of Conduct: This had been circulated to all Cllrs for consideration and it was agreed that comments would be forwarded to the Clerk who would formulate a response.
6.4 Clean Neighbourhoods and Environmental Bill: It was agreed that Cllrs would study the document and forward comments to the clerk who would formulate a response.
6.5 Vibrant Local Leadership: This document had been issued by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and had been published alongside a 5 year plan, ‘People, Places and Prosperity’ and formed part of the Local Government Strategy. It was felt that it was politically orientated and more applicable to Local Government rather than Parish Councils. It was agreed that this should be filed for future reference.
6.6 Community Involvement – Local Development Framework – Consultation Paper: Deferred to next meeting.
7. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/CONSULTATION
7.1 Response from District Council to resident’s complaint about fortnightly refuse collections; this letter should be sent to Cllr Mr S Clee for his comments.
7.2 Modernisation of Housing Association Properties, Harvington: This complaint was being investigated.
7.3 South Staffordshire Local Plan: Notification that due to the reform of the Development Planning System the Local Plan would not be completed in its present form.
7.4 Quality Status: Letter from DEFRA encouraging applications for Quality Status. The Parish Council had achieved most of the requirements and would be able to apply after the next Parish Council elections in 2006.
8. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: None
9. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS REPRESENTING OUTSIDE BODIES: None
10. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR: None
11. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR: None
12. WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS:
Information leaflet had been circulated to Cllrs prior to the meeting.
13. FINANCIAL REPORT
13.1 WRVS – The Council decided it would not make a donation in response to letter dated February 2005 because a donation had been made recently.
13.2 CPRE – It was decided not to join this organisation.
13.3 Macmillan Cancer Relief – a donation had been made recently.
13.4 The Clerk presented a statement of receipts and payments which was unanimously approved.
13.5 Draft accounts had been prepared and were approved by the Parish Council.
13.6 It was agreed to appoint Mr D Hale to carry out an internal audit of the accounts.
14. ALLOTMENTS:
14.1 Allotment 17a and 17b had been let.
14.2 It was agreed that the rest of the allotment land would need to be let or alternative uses found. It was agreed to discuss this fully at the next meeting. It was also agreed to raise this matter at the Public Consultation on 27 April.
15. BURIAL GROUND:
15.1 3 quotations had been obtained for work on a new path and concrete refuse area. It was agreed to appoint the lowest tender – Willmar Plant Hire.
15.2 One memorial bench was in place and the second would be installed shortly. The commemorative plaques would be fitted shortly.
15.3 Burial Fees
These had last been reviewed in 1999. New rates charged by Wyre Forest District Council had been obtained which were considerably more than the Parish Council fees. It was agreed that as the existing fees were very low a 50% increase in all charges would be made with immediate effect. The Clerk would notify the Vicar and the Sexton of the revised rates and circ ulate some of the local funeral directors and stone masons. It was noted that residents now had a choice of burial options.
16. PARISH PATHS SCHEME: Report from the Footpaths Warden for March:-
16.1 Reports Received:
    Extremely muddy section – explained nothing could be done about this.
    Ploughed field – landowner contacted, made aware and was actioning.
    Electric fence across path – landowner contacted and fence insulated.
    Bottom steps vandalised or damaged on two stiles – although landowners responsibility emergency work was undertaken.
   Fence across footpath – Enforcement advised.
   WM Post removed – Enforcement advised.
    Request from a landowner for gate installation.
   Report by Countryside Agency – barbed wire on fence – Enforcement visited; not considered a problem.
    Damaged bridge – Enforcement visited; potential danger, new bridge to be installed by County Council at a cost of approximately £3,000. Landowner informed.
16.2 Paths walked. Highway access checked: 17.
16.3 Work (Emergency) Actioned and Completed:
   Footpath 51 – well ‘opened’ adjacent to footpath as reported at last meeting. Surface clearance of path/opening up of entrance and upgrade of access; install new kissing gate and re-siting of signpost. Well area remains ‘taped’ off.
   Footpaths 85/86 vandalised stile steps replaced.
   Footpath 47 – WM Post and path diversion notices/walking ‘old’ route.
16.4 Volunteer Hours: 10
16.5 General:
    Certificate Received for Definitive Map course. Next course 12 April – Promoting Parish Paths.
   Site visits with landowners re access upgrades.
   Preparation of end of year report and work completed, and schedule for 2005/2006 in anticipation of full grant, which is likely to be one payment.
16.6 The Parish Footpaths Warden extended her thanks and appreciation to the Council for their continuing support in all aspects, to landowners for listening and actioning her requests, to the Countryside Agency for being there and providing training and is ultimately of benefit to our 80 footpaths, over 50 + miles, to parishioners and visitors. If the work plans for the coming year go as planned, there will be easier access through some of our most used paths. The Parish Council also thanked the Footpaths Warden for her dedication and hard work during the last 12 months.
16.7 Account: An invoice for £295 plus VAT for emergency work was approved for payment. The accounts for the year showed that £116.72 had been spent over and above the funding received from the County Council and the Parish Council thanked the Footpaths Warden for controlling the expenditure so well.
17. LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
   Instructions 2, 3 and 4 had been completed at a cost of £710.30, which was approved for payment.
    Assuming the scheme would be financed for the next financial year, work would continue throughout the year on a regular basis.
    the Clerk would be pleased to receive information on maintenance requirements throughout the Parish.
18. HIGHWAYS ISSUES:
    Patching on the A448 – it was noted that this work was to repair foundation layers of the road, which was now complete and a surface dressing would be carried out this summer.

19. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING - Monday 4 April at 7.00 p.m Annual General Meeting,
Parish Council meeting at 7.30 p.m.,
Planning Committee to follow.

Public Consultation on Parish Plan Wednesday 27 April 2005.

Gypsy’s and Travellers – new legislation – if literature available