MINUTES OF A MEETING OF CHADDESLEY CORBETT PARISH COUNCIL
Held on Monday 6 March 2006 at the Chaddesley Corbett Village Hall at 7.30pm

Present: Councillors: Chairman, Mr C Dodge, Mrs S Holding, Mr D Spencer, Mrs P Pardoe Mr R Higgins, Mrs V Adams, Mr C Rowberry, Mr M Gibbs,
Mrs Y L Scriven (clerk).
District Cllrs Mr S Williams, Mrs P Hayward,

Members of the public also attended the meeting.

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr Mr J Swift, Mr H Grove, County Cllr Mr S Clee.

2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on 6 February 2006 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
FORMAL APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Approved, except for additional items 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 below.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None

4. REPORT BY WEST MERCIA POLICE: Did not attend.

5. CLERK’S REPORT ON ITEMS RAISED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS
5.1 Lyon’s Report on Local Government Reform: Cllr Mr J Swift’s response to the consultation was read and endorsed by the Parish Council and they thanked him for reviewing this document on their behalf.
5.2 Speeding Checks – Worcester Road, Harvington: Letter received from Worcestershire County Council, Environmental Services and Accident Studies Dept, which indicated that the number of accidents was below the minimum required for speed enforcement to be introduced, and was not therefore a high enough priority to justify funding from the Accident Studies budget. Parish Councillors disputed this statement and referred to recent fatalities on the road, and a long record of accidents. The Clerk was asked to refer the matter back to the Accident Studies Department with a request for their advice to be taken seriously.
5.3 Park Lane, Harvington – Footway: A response had been received from the Senior Project Engineer of Environmental Services at Worcestershire County Council, which indicated that whilst the Community Housing Group were supportive of the scheme, they were unable to commit any resources to the project in the current financial year. The proposal would be reviewed next month when the budget availability had been determined. The Parish Council were disappointed that yet again despite assurances on several occasions that funding was available. The clerk was asked to reply to the County Council expressing their concern and asking for the matter to be dealt with as a matter of urgency and in the interests of safety.
5.4 Parish Forum: Requests for items for Agenda;
· amount spent by District Council per elector in urban areas compared with rural areas;
· forum to be used where there was a common interest and where collective opinions would add more weight to a particular issue;
· under-funding and the state of roads and maintenance.
5.5 Village of the Year Competition: Friends of the Village had volunteers to complete the entry form and if selected, co-ordinate the event. The Parish Council accepted their offer with thanks.
5.6 Wychavon District Council – Development Framework: The District Council had omitted to consult with adjacent parishes and asked if the Parish Council had been compromised as a result.
The Parish Council confirmed that was not the case as they had been kept informed by other Councils during the consultations.
5.7 Gypsies and Travellers: Publications were now available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Clerk was requested to obtain copies for consideration at a future meeting. Cllr Mr J Swift’s comments were also noted.

7. ITEMS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION:
7.1 Workshop – Involving your Community: Passed to Parish Plan Steering Group.
7.2 Environment Agency – Prepared for Flooding?: There were no particular problems with flooding in the Parish but the matter would be tabled for consideration at future meetings.
7.3 PACT Panels – Meeting 23 March 2006: Noted.

8. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
8.1 Local Elections 4 May 2006: The Chairman tabled a leaflet issued by CALC on the duties and responsibilities of a Parish Council, and a notice encouraging electors to vote at the forthcoming local elections. These items would be placed on notice boards and in the Parish Magazine.

9. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS REPRESENTING OUTSIDE BODIES:
9.1 Village Hall: Nothing to report.
9.2 Chaddesley Corbett First Endowed School: Cllr Mr C Rowberry reported that he had attended many meetings but had nothing definite to report at this time. He thanked Cllr Mr S Clee for arranging for Highways to attend meetings and Mr David Mills for his assistance. Discussions were taking place about funding and highway issues and last week he had attended 23 hours of meetings. Parish Councillors thanked Cllr Mr Rowberry for his time which he and others were giving voluntarily, to try to overcome a barrage of obstacles created by the District and County Councils.
9.3 Charity Trusts: Margaret Delabare Almshouse Charity: A meeting of tenants would be called shortly.
9.4 Wyre Forest Area Calc: A meeting would take place at Chaddesley Village Hall on Wednesday 8 March and the Chairman and Clerk would attend.

10. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR:
Cll0r. Mr. S. Williams did not give a report as it was the policy not to do so prior to an election.

11. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR:
Annual report: noted.

12. WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS:
New web-page introduced; many publications now available.

13.3 VAT Recovery: The clerk had received an e-mail from the VAT Office referring to Public Notice 749, and advice from Worcestershire CALC, legal department. Although a very grey area, the advice was that VAT could be recovered where the Parish Council order and pay for goods and services on behalf of a third party, but did not receive any financial contribution towards it from any other party.

14. ALLOTMENTS:
14.1 4 new plots had been marked out and two had already been let. Rent £20.00 starting April. Allotment Agreements had been issued.
14.2 Reference was made to a previous agreement to install gates and posts at the entrance to the allotment site. The clerk was asked to seek advice from the landlord and to check the terms of the Lease before obtaining quotations for this work.
14.3 It was agreed that rents for allotment plots would be reviewed at the June meeting.

15. BURIAL GROUND: Nothing to report at this time.

16. PARISH PATHS SCHEME: Report from the Footpaths Warden for February 2006
16.1 Reports Received/Actioned – 3 from Landowners and 3 from the County Council:
16.2 Paths walked: 8
16.3 Highway access checked 10
16.3 Volunteer Hours: 4
16.4 Work actioned and completed:
.. Installation 2 metal ‘kissing’ gates ..  4 highway sign posts ..  6 waymark posts ..  1 set wooden steps - various
16.5 General:
· Received Questions and Answers list. Information/advice/clarification of the Parish Path’s scheme. Attending meeting 8.03.06 for PPW and Clerks.
· Annual report to be submitted.
· Will shortly prepare proposed work schedule 2006/7.
· New Definitive Map laminated and paid for by County Council – cost £20.
· Still no information on ‘old path’ near bridge.
16.6 Account: Account submitted and approved for £420 plus VAT.

18. HIGHWAYS ISSUES:
18.1 Potholes – Herrons Pool – Harvington Hall Lane.

19. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING - Annual Parish Meeting