Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 6 December 2005

PRESENT
Mr K Barnett (Chairman), Mr T Hughes (Vice Chairman), Mr C Savery, Mrs K Law,
Mrs B Sharpe, Mrs F Hughes, District & County Councillor N Hartin.

OPEN DISCUSSION
Railway Crossing. The Chairman reported that he had been unable to attend the meeting at the Baron of Beef, but at a subsequent meeting with Network Rail had been informed that a new sign was to be installed on the Sitwell Arms side, and possibly the angle of the lights would be adjusted. It was also proposed to tarmac the area where the bus stopped, and repaint all the white lines. Health and safety was always a continuing process of assessment and improvement. Legal prosecutions indicated that it was generally local people who were taking risks. It must not be forgotten that train drivers suffered psychologically in cases of near misses with cars. The damage to the verge would be repaired.

Mr Wil de Gose asked whether the hedge could be replanted. The Chairman replied that this was doubtful, but that a regrowth of about two feet would be acceptable.

Meeting at the School re: Traffic Calming. Mr Hartin reported that the main problem was a lack of funding. Mr Glyn Shaw would attend a future Parish Council meeting and discuss the findings of the traffic check.
Mr Wil de Gose thought that the Bedstone Road was more of a problem with traffic speeds. The Chairman said a gateway scheme was a possibility, perhaps on the bridge.

Litter Bins. Mr Chambers said the litter bins had not been emptied. The new wheelie bins were only emptied once a fortnight, and this was not sufficient for the litter bins. The Chairman said ideally all litter bins would be replaced by ones twice the size and that there was confusion as to what should be put in which bin. Mrs Evans said there was bound to be teething problems with a new system. Mr Hartin was asked to follow this up.

The Chairman then closed the Open Meeting.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr I Owen, Mr P Davies, Mr W Davies.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD 1 NOVEMBER 2005
Agreed unanimously and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record. The Chairman also signed the Minutes of the meeting held 4 October.

MATTERS ARISING
Street Lights. The Chairman had attended a very useful site meeting with the Contractor and it was hoped the quotation would be received before Christmas. To be discussed at the next meeting.

Central Networks funding of Christmas lights. The Parish Council’s bid had not been successful.

PLANNING
There were no applications for discussion.

Applications Nos. 1/05/17533/F & 1/05/17534/LB Porch at Bytack had been granted.  

DAFFODIL LANE DEVELOPMENT
Mr Hogg reported that more trees were to be planted, also more bulbs. The waste bins were in place and it was hoped the seats would be in position soon.
The request for funding from the Lotteries Commission had been rejected, but an application was being made to Defra.

Mr Hogg announced that he would be resigning from the Steering Group as he felt he had achieved what he had set out to do.
 
The Chairman replied that the new tranche of lottery money was about to come on stream, and proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Hogg for his work over many years.

FINANCE
It was agreed unanimously to pay the following:

Mr Ray Davies (grasscutting, etc)	£50.50
Central Networks East plc (street lighting)	£53.00
Bridgnorth & District Crime Prevention (donation towards Crucial Crew)	£24.00

Mr Hughes asked if the Parish Council could have some feedback from the school since it no longer had a representative on the Board of Governors. Clerk to contact the Head Teacher.

CORRESPONDENCE
South Shropshire District Council letter + enclosure re: Affordable Housing – Settlement Hierarchy.

SSDC letter + enclosure re: News Item

Shropshire County Council letter + enclosed Resource Register for emergency planning purposes. Chairman to complete.

Citizens Advice Bureau letter + enclosed Annual Activity Report

Local Health Board letter + enclosure re: meeting of East Radnorshire Review Project Group on 18.1.06

Shropshire County Council publication: “Statement of Community Involvement”. Mr Hartin explained that this was to establish how the public wanted to be consulted on planning matters.

Revised: 17 December 2005