MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHADDESLEY CORBETT PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Monday 10 January 2005
at the Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall

Present: Councillors: Chairman, Mr C Dodge, Mrs S Holding, Mr R Higgins, Mr C Rowberry, Mr M Gibbs, Mrs V Adams, Mr D Spencer, Mr J Millington, Mr H Grove, Mrs P Pardoe, 
Mrs Y L Scriven (clerk).
County Cllr Mr S Clee and District Cllr Mr S Williams
Approximately 20 members of the public also attended the meeting.

An apology was extended to those who arrived early due to the incorrect time of the meeting being stated on the Agenda.

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Mr J Swift (engaged at other meetings)
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on 6 December were approved with slight amendment.
FORMAL APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - It was agreed to add the following to the published Agenda
Item 5.4 Letter from Mr K Bartlett re affordable housing
Item 5.5 Report on Worcestershire County Council Waste Management Plans
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr Mr C Rowberry (allotments)
4. REPORT BY WEST MERCIA POLICE
This item was taken prior to the start of the meeting.
Senior Officer L Norgrove attended to report that unfortunately further changes had taken place and a New Beat Officer had now been appointed, and would come to the
next meeting. It was reported that the number of criminal offences committed locally, such as burglary, wounding, etc had reduced in the last year by 16, and many of these had been from motor vehicles near Chaddesley Woods. Steps taken in this area had worked and no new offences had been reported.
Cllrs reported incidents of cars/mini scooters which were creating a nuisance after dark around the Chaddesley Corbett/Belbroughton area.
5. CLERK'S REPORT ON ITEMS RAISED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 Wolverhampton Airport Action Group: - Newsletter received together with letter from Chairman thanking the Council for its support. The clerk was instructed to write to the Action Group reiterating their support.
5.2 Highways Issues: Three letters had been received from Stuart Reynolds, Highways Partnership Manager following recently reported issues. Cllrs had received copies and stated their dissatisfaction with the general tone of these letters. Copies were handed to Cllr Mr S Clee with a request to take up these matters with Mr Reynolds and report back to the Parish Council.
5.3 Affordable Housing: Letter from Mr M Parker, Head of Planning, Health & Environment, the contents of which were noted.
5.4 Affordable Housing: Letter from resident Mr K D Bartlett requested information on how Parish Councillors had voted at the last meeting, and the names of people who were registered on the housing list for properties in Chaddesley Corbett. The Clerk was instructed to reply stating that information about the Council housing list was protected by the Data Protection Act, and a record of the vote had not been requested or kept and therefore the information was not now available. The Chairman asked the Clerk to supply to Mr Bartlett a copy of the District Enabler’s letter dated 20 May 2003 which reported on the results of the Housing Survey undertaken earlier that year.
5.5 Worcestershire Core Policy of Waste Management: Cllr Mr H Grove had attended a meeting on 10 December 2004 and submitted a comprehensive report, the contents of which were noted, and he was thanked by the Parish Council for attending the meeting on their behalf. It was agreed that Cllr Mr Grove would complete the questionnaire on behalf of the Parish Council.
5.6 Councillors raised the matter of re-cycling and waste collection and Cllr Mr S Clee reported that existing machinery, which was believed to have a life of four years, would not be replaced and the waste collection policy would revert to weekly collections.
6. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION/DECISION
6.1 Clean Neighbourhoods: Noted
6.2 Precept 2005/6: The clerk had submitted a forecast of expenditure and income and the Parish Council agreed a Precept of 2% over last year, a total of £10,771, plus 15% of that figure as a Section 136 Contribution. The Cllrs asked Cllr Mr S Clee if the District Council could exercise an economy campaign, which was noted.
6.3 Proposed Purchase of part of the Allotment Site for a new Burial Ground: A note had been received from Mr M B Shaw stating that St Cassians Churchyard had never been officially closed and that it is quite common for graves to be reused after 50 years. Mr Shaw was asked to address the meeting and he confirmed that anyone who dies in the Parish, Christian or non Christian, could be buried in the churchyard, but all the ground was consecrated.
Under these circumstances the Parish Council resolved to defer a decision on the purchase of part of the allotment site for this purpose. A contribution towards maintenance of Parish burial grounds could be sought from the District Council, and a renewed application should be made.
7. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION/CONSULTATION
7.1 Parish Games: Noted. If any organisation in the Parish wished to organise an event, the Parish Council would pay the entrance fee.
7.2 Asian Disaster: Notification from NALC that the Parish Could did not have a mandate to contribute to a charity operating overseas.
7.3 Wyre Forest Area CALC Committee: Letter received from Kidderminster Foreign Parish Council asking for support at the next meeting of the Area Committee. Agreed the Clerk and Chairman would attend the next meeting.
8. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT: A Cllr reported that we had not won the prize of £200 after completing a recent Citizens Panel Survey and circulated a copy of the results .
9. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS REPRESENTING OUTSIDE BODIES:
8.1 Village Hall Committee: It was reported that the Stair lift would be completed shortly.
8.2 Chaddesley Corbett Village School: Nothing to report.
8.3 Charity Trusts: Nothing to report.
8.4 Worcestershire Policy Authority: No meetings had been notified.
10. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR:
District Cllr Mr S Williams reported that the Bus Service X33 from Kidderminster to Bromsgrove via Redditch would be rerouted from Mustow Green to operate via Harvington, Bluntington and Chaddesley Corbett Village. Timings generally on the service would be adjusted by up to 10/15 minutes to accommodate traffic conditions and the re-routing. The service would commence on 27 February 2005. Residents were reported to be delighted with this reinstated service. The Parish Council thanked Cllr Mr Williams for his efforts on behalf of the Parish.
11. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR:
County Cllr Mr S Clee reported that the Government’s settlement for Worcestershire County Council would be 4½% = 1% above inflation. The CPA had adjusted its rating to Excellent.
The ‘sewage’ problem at Harvington Hall Lane had been resolved.
12. WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS:
Forthcoming events were discussed and noted. The Clerk was asked to attend the Clerk’s Gathering on 10 February 2004 at a cost of £15.
13. FINANCIAL REPORT
13.1 The Clerk presented a statement of receipts and payments which was unanimously approved.
13.2 The Clerk presented a statement of Receipts and Payments for the period up to 31 December 2004 which was approved.
14. ALLOTMENTS:
13.1 Remainder of allotment land to be allocated.
15. BURIAL GROUND
The clerk had obtained a quotation from Charles R Davis & Sons to re-fix the remaining dangerous headstones at a cost of £20 each. This would not include ground anchoring, which would increase the cost to £80 each. The clerk was instructed to ask the stonemason to proceed at a cost of £20 each.
16. PARISH PATHS SCHEME: Report from the Footpaths Warden for December:-
16.1 Reports Received: 2 from Stone Parish, fallen trees in footpaths 12 and 13. ‘Unofficial’ diversion impossible due to mud and implements.
16.2 Request from a member of the Historical Society for information re update of ‘Steps into History’.
16.3 Paths Walked: 100% - 61,62,63, 13 and 15. Part – 60, 14.
16.4 Work Actioned/Completed: 3 paths cleared, under and over growth and around stiles/gates. 1 path cleared of fallen tree, corded and stacked. 1 temporary repair to sign post due to vehicle damage.
16.5 Volunteer hours worked: 3 hours.
16.5 Funding: Second part of funding received of £700.
16.6 No further official update regarding new procedures/working/funding. Unofficially could be basic sum plus ‘bid’ for funding required. Need for more positive information identified to Countryside Agency due to dates for Parish Precept, etc.
16.7 The Parish Footpaths Warden identified forthcoming training events she would be attending and other interesting information which would be retained for future reference.
16.8 Account: An account for £85 plus VAT was submitted and approved for payment.
17. LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
The Clerk reported that Instruction No. 1 had been completed at a cost of just over £1,000. A further Instruction had been issued (No. 2) in respect of Deansford Lane where gulleys would be exposed, signs cleans, verges cleared, etc. It was noted that the bus shelter at Harvington had not been cleared.
17. HIGHWAYS ISSUES
- Potholes were reported in Tandy’s Lane, and near Tanwood Cross.
- It was noted that a satellite dish had been installed on Harkaway House. The Clerk would investigate.

19. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING - Monday 7 February 2005 at 7.30 p.m.