Stourbridge Township Council meetings

EXTRACTS FROM MINUTES OF THE MEETING (317th Meeting) OF STOURBRIDGE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL HELD IN THE TOWN HALL STOURBRIDGE ON
THURSDAY 8th NOVEMBER 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 & Clerk to the Council), Mrs M Wakelam (Deputy Clerk to the Council), Mr B S Craddock, Mr A C Dawes, Mrs E E Fellows, Mr D M Price, Mr B D Waller, Mrs G P Waller and Mr D I West.
Also present; Ms L Blyth (Stourbridge Chronicle), PCSO R Dibernado and PCSO Wood (West Midlands Police).
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from; Mr M D Fellows, Mrs P J Fellows, Miss A Green, Mr K C Jones and Mr P J Miles.
Apologies were also received from; Councillor Mrs J Collins, Mr C Hale, Ms M James, Mr M Rose and Mrs Lynda Waltho MP.

POLICE MATTERS
There were no PACT meetings currently arranged at this time, liaison continues with Police Sergeant Osborne.

Item A; Mrs E M D Scott introduced and welcomed PCSO’s Dibernado and Wood to the meeting.

A letter had been sent to Chief Superintendent Nick Croft, officer commanding Dudley South OCU, thanking him for attending the October meeting of Stourbridge Township Council. A letter of reply from Ch Supt Croft dated 25th October was read to members by Mr J B Shepherd. The letter from Mr Croft ‘noted and respected the views of the Council’. He referred to the several matters raised with regard to local policing and in particular the matter of stab-vests for West Midlands Police PCSO’s. The present policy of the Chief Constable being against provision of this protection, this policy is strongly opposed by our Council. We have received communications from UNISON (National and local offices) confirming a preference that stab vests are issued to all PCSO members.

Chief Superintendent Croft’s letter informed members that his secondment to West Midlands Police will terminate in January 2008. Chief Superintendent Peter Monroe currently OCU Commander at H2 (Bloxwich) will take over as officer commanding Dudley South. Mr Croft stated that he will be advising Ch Supt Monroe that “he would find it beneficial to attend a Stourbridge Township Council meeting soon after he takes up command of Dudley South”.

Item B; Members again called for cameras to be fixed to the Ring Road pedestrian crossing gantry to identify vehicles and drivers failing to obey the signals. Ch Supt Croft has agreed speak with his traffic officer, PS Androlia, on this matter. Mr B S Craddock was able to confirm that a camera could cover all lanes of traffic as required. Mr B D Waller said that Ring Road changes will again be made if new Tesco’s proposals are accepted. Mr A C Dawes queried the effect upon the current Tesco/Modus discussions if the latest submitted proposals from Tesco are approved.

Item C; Concerns remain over the proposed development of the old Yorkshire Bank as a ‘lounge bar and restaurant’. Members spoke of the proposals as yet another threat to the Cumulative Impact Order if the late night serving of drinks, other than with a substantial meal, was to be allowed until 2am as proposed. Similar concerns were voiced regarding changes proposed at the Picture House night club venue. It was decided that such applications must be carefully considered; here a 4am license is being proposed.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

Mrs E M D Scott thanked our PCSO’s for attending; she extended an ongoing open invitation to all police personnel to attend.

On behalf of all members the Chairman presented Mrs E E Fellows with a framed photograph taken at our September meeting. The meeting rose and warmly applauded “Molly” who is soon to celebrate a ‘milestone birthday’.

Mrs Scott reminded members that although Stourbridge had so many licensed premises, the town had only one representative Councillor on the Dudley MBC licensing committee.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the 316th meeting of the Township Council held on Thursday 13th October 2007 were received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman Mrs E M D Scott accordingly.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

The Vice-Chairman’s bulletin gave details of communications sent and actions taken by the Council since our last meeting. Mr J Shepherd will provide copies of all relevant communications to members on request.

ITEMS RAISED UNDER STANDING ORDER NO 13

The Vice-Chairman together with Mr D M Price will represent our Council at the Mary Stevens Park Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday 11th November. Our wreath, this year, has been kindly donated to the Council by Mr M D Fellows.

MATTERS RELATING TO PERSONAL SERVICES (Nothing was raised under this item)

MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL SERVICES

Item A; Members heard that Councillor Angus Adams and his DMBC team have continued to respond to communications forwarded by our Council. West Street, recently resurfaced, is experiencing pooling problems. There is now a need for kerbs to raised or replaced. Cllr Adams in a personal response gave an assurance that this problem will be given attention. He also outlined existing structural difficulties found at the Enville St site of the old army and navy stores preventing the usual pedestrian provisions from being put into place. The large pothole reported in Wheeler Street will be attended to.

Item B; There was nothing further to report on building or redevelopment plans from the town centre areas.
The safety/relocation of The Coat of Arms mosaic is still in question. A lack of any proposals by Modus/DMBC/Tesco to provide for our existing market stall holders is of concern. There have been no further replies to our communications on either issue.

Item C; No reports were received of any increase in drunken/disorderly behaviour in the town centre.

Litter; Enquiries are being made at the Birmingham central tickets agency by Ms M James to ascertain how many fixed penalty litter tickets have been issued in our area. A comparison will be made by Ms James with other local authority areas to identify any need for further action(s) to be taken to urge DMBC and the police to enforce the powers that they have. Although members identified several areas where litter was still a problem Mrs G P Waller commented upon the improvement seen in the Crown Centre.

A photograph was handed to members by Mrs G P Waller; this showed the Commemorative Stone put in place at the time of The Ring Road developments obliterated by fly posters. Members asked that our Vice-Chairman make further enquiries, to speak to those in control of the poster teams and to make arrangements for the stone to be cleaned.

Mr B S Craddock asked if details were now known of the safety and accident remedial work to be carried out in Racecourse Lane following the double fatality. Mr J Shepherd will speak to Mrs Lynda Waltho MP who has been in contact with the Coroner.

FINANCIAL, CIVIC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT MATTERS

(a) The Chairman informed members that annual subscriptions are being collected and will be added to our existing credit balance.

(b) Stourbridge Area Committee Meetings;7pm Monday 21st January and 7pm Monday 10th March 2008 both to be held at Hob Green Primary School.

(c) The Township Council will meet on Thursday 13th December 2007, Thursday 10th January and Thursday 14th February 2008.

Last meeting (316th)
315th meeting
314th meeting
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311th meeting
310th meeting

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