Stourbridge Township Council meetings
MINUTES OF THE MEETING (310th Meeting)
OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL
HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON THURSDAY 8th MARCH 2007 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 & A/Clerk to the Council), Mrs
M Wakelam (Deputy Clerk to the Council), Mr D C Baker, Mr B S Craddock, Mrs
E E Fellows, Mr K C Jones, Mr P J Miles, Mr D M Price, Mrs G P Waller and
Mr B D Waller. Also present Mrs H Guy (Stourbridge Chronicle),
Mr C Hale and Miss R Jones (Express & Star)
T.C. 2006/661 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION (Nothing was raised under this
item)
T.C. 2006/662 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Mr M D Fellows,
Mrs P J Fellows, Miss A Green, Councillor I M Kettle, Mrs J G Kettle and Mr
D I West. Apologies were also received from Police Inspector P Boardman, Mr
M Caddick (Stourbridge Town Centre Manager) and Mrs L Waltho MP for Stourbridge.
T.C.2006/663 TO ELECT AND TO APPOINT OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR
2007/2008
(a) The Chairman of the Council; Mrs E Margaret D
Scott was re elected unopposed.
(b) The Vice-Chairman of the Council; Mr John B Shepherd was re elected unopposed.
* The Acting Clerk to the Council, Mr John B Shepherd
was appointed as the Clerk to the Township Council.
* Mrs Mavis Wakelam was appointed as the Deputy Clerk to the Township Council.
* Mrs E Margaret D Scott was appointed as the Financial Officer to the Council.
* Mr Kenneth C Jones and Mr David I West were appointed as the Auditors of
the Council’s Accounts.
T.C. 2007/664 POLICE MATTERS
Item A; There had been no PACT meetings to report upon and no communications had been received to be brought to the attention of the meeting. Our Chairman together with Mrs Wakelam and Mr & Mrs Waller had attended a town centre PACT meeting which had taken up considerable time with a complaint about the operation of a bottle bank. We will continue to attend PACT meetings.
Item B; On the Ring Road the synchronisation of traffic lights to facilitate pedestrian use was still of concern, as was the failure of some drivers to obey the lights. Mrs E M D Scott again identified a need for cameras at these lights to identify offending vehicles and to bring prosecutions. Mr B S Craddock said that the traffic lights were not correctly synchronised and that the pelican crossing signal should change with the Enville Street lights. Mr Craddock has agreed to prepare a report for the Council.
Mr J B Shepherd reminded members of the efforts of our Council to have DMBC address the problems for both pedestrians and motorists on the A491 Hagley Road at Oldswinford. The lack of a repeater signal or a pedestrian facility at the traffic lights despite recent refurbishments was deplorable. Mr Shepherd said that there was no pedestrian crossing between Field Lane and the Foley Island; this ignored the needs of the elderly, the infirm, the blind and other vulnerable people housed at or attending the old Mary Stevens maternity hospital. Schoolchildren and parents are unable to safely cross this very busy road. A detailed report will be prepared for members in readiness for a new approach to be made to DMBC suggesting urgent considerations.
T.C. 2007/665 CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman gave details of the Royal British Legion
parade to be held at 2.30pm on Sunday 8th July 2007 at St Thomas Church Stourbridge.
A Mayoral and Civic salute will be taken. Members of the Stourbridge Township
Council are invited.
The Chairman spoke of her concerns that local decisions were being overturned
elsewhere as was the case with the decision in Bristol to proceed with the
demolition and building of flats on the Parkfield Road snooker club site.
Mrs Scott again spoke of the danger of losing the local green area. She told
members that parking in that area was a problem, local residents had reported
cars parked all day by commuters, one vehicle had been left by its owner outside
a resident’s house whilst its owner had gone away on holiday.
T.C. 2007/666 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 309th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 8th February 2007 were received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman Mrs E M D Scott accordingly.
T.C. 2007/667 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
The Vice-Chairman had prepared a summary of all communications
sent and actions taken on behalf of the Council since our last meeting. This
was distributed to members (Further copies of that bulletin are available
to members should they be required).
Our web site is now in operation, we hope to welcome Mr Colin MacDonald of
Stourbridge.com to our next meeting.
It is hoped that Mr David Harcourt together with Mr Matt Caddick (Stourbridge
in Bloom) will be attending in the near future.
T.C. 2007/668 ITEMS RAISED UNDER STANDING ORDER NO
13.
(Nothing was raised under this item).
T.C. 2007/669 MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES
(Nothing was raised under this item).
T.C. 2006/670 MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES
Item A; We continue to press DMBC on the questions of speed and weight restrictions to ease the traffic situation in the old quarter of Stourbridge. For our part, the Sat-Nav related problems are being addressed; the Vice-Chairman will keep members fully informed.
Item B; Building developments in the Parkfield Road and Market Street areas will continue to be monitored and reported upon.
Item C; Chief Supt Nick Croft is in overall command
of control of the Dudley South area which includes Stourbridge. Although there
has been an overall reduction in crime, Mr Croft has identified drink related
violence as an increasing problem to which priority will be given. The area
licensing officer PC Scott Turley has said “a 3% area of Stourbridge
now produces 25% of the violence”.
Mrs G P Waller had seen bicycles chained to the railings of the Town Clock.
Members asked that Mr Matt Caddick, the Town Manager, should be contacted
with a request for a bike rack to be provided in that area. Mrs Waller also
reported that the Beauty Bank primary school building was to be brought into
use possibly for craft classes and as a community drop in centre.
Mr K C Jones commented on poor road patching work, where as was recently seen
in Wheeler St, tarmac is quickly washed away.
T.C. 2007/671 FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS
(a) The Council’s audited financial accounts
were received and adopted by members the credit balance being £460.47.
Mrs M Wakelam spoke of the importance of payment of our subscriptions and
of the regular monthly input to our funds.
(b) Town Hall room hire charges rule. This matter
will again be raised with the cabinet member responsible.
(c) Stourbridge Area Committee Meeting; Due to elections, the next meeting
will not be until June date yet to be announced.
(d) The Township Council will meet on Thursday 10th May, Thursday 14th June and *Thursday 19th July* 2007.
T.C. 2007/672 CASUAL VACANCIES
One vacancy remains in the Norton Ward. In addition we are able to increase
membership if required. Members are requested to submit the names of prospective
applicants and to invite them to attend at future meetings.
T.C. 2007/673 CHAIRMAN’S OTHER BUSINESS
On behalf of the Vice-Chairman and herself the Chairman
thanked all members for their continued confidence and support.
The Township Council rose at 8.55 p.m.
Chairman
12th April 2007
