BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
Held at Batchley Community Centre on Monday November 27th 2023
In Attendance:
Committee: Julie Vincent (JV), Sylvia Collinson (SC), Stephen Siddle (SS), Mark Whitworth (MW) and Mike Vincent (MV).
Members: David Dallaway, Lynn Dallaway, Maureen Mole, Steve Mole, Claire Ivins, Sue Merry, Bob Merry and Lynda Browne.
Councillors: WCC Brandon Clayton (BC) & RBC Lucy Harrison (LH)
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from WCC Salman Akbar, RBC Joe Baker, RBC Kerrie Miles, Peter Merricks, Anil Jha, Mike Long and Mrs Koser (Head Teacher HFFS).
ADOPT MINUTES OF PREVIOUS AGM:
The minutes of the last A.G.M. held on 21st November 2022 have been available on the Brockhill Residents’ Association Website for Members to read and were adopted forthwith.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
This report includes the presentation and, if approved, adoption of the accounts for the 12 months ending 28th February 2023.
SS provided the Members with a copy of the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the 12 months ending 28th February 2023, which showed an excess of expenditure over income for the year of £132.00, leaving us with total funds of £1,630.69 at the end of the financial year.
He reported that he had presented the figures in a slightly different way this year in order to separate the income and expenditure of the Wildlife Project (WLP) from our General Funds. This is because it is necessary to recognise that income that is received specifically for the WLP is not available for general spending.
He also provided a copy of the interim accounts for the current year, showing the financial position as at 24 November 2023, being a surplus of income over expenditure of £899.71 and total funds of £2,530.32 (consisting of General Funds of £1,392.52 and WLP Funds of £1,137.80).
Both sets of accounts can be viewed via these links: 2022-23 accounts and 2023-24 interim accounts
Commenting on the results for both years, he explained that there had been no general fundraising in 2022/23, because of the lack of support for the proposed Skittles Evening, which had been aborted after incurring expenses of £29.95. In contrast to this, last month’s Quiz Night had raised £363.20, which is needed to cover this year’s administrative costs of (to date) £220.86.
Turning to the WLP, he explained that Grants had come from our Councillors and were supplemented by plant sales and by donations, for the purchase of cherry trees, from Residents and from Persimmon. MW then gave an update on the progress that has been made by the WLP and what was hoped to be achieved by the planting of the cherry trees.
We thanked WCC BC, who had contributed to our funds earlier this year from his discretionary fund.
The 2022-23 accounts were then approved and adopted by members.
UPDATE ON ISSUES AND EVENTS SINCE LAST AGM
JV reported that we were invited to hold our committee meeting at Holyoake Field First School by the Head Teacher Mrs Koser in the early evening time. Mrs Koser also attended the meeting on May 9th, as there were matters concerning the school, listed on the agenda. After the meeting, Mrs Koser invited us to a tour of the school, which we arranged for June 16th. Mrs Koser led us around the school, showing us the classrooms, the library and other communal areas and also the playground. She showed us a war memorial which has been brought from the old school and placed outside in a prominent position. Mrs Koser is a keen Historian, which will be of great benefit to the children.
On Saturday May 13th, we held a Plant sale on the Public Open Space in Appletree Lane in aid of the Wildlife Project. It was very well attended by Residents and our local Councillors.
We held a Litter Pick on June 10th this year. It was not very well attended by members, but the Committee and Councillors, along with a few members and their dogs, enjoyed the sunny weather and exercise. Fourteen bags of rubbish were collected from Brockhill Park and Burrington Close. LH and JV met up afterwards to walk around Brockhill East to see if the litter bins placed around the area had been emptied, as there had been a few reports from Residents that some of them were over filled. The bins had been emptied at that time, but we have now concluded that although there are several small bins near to the playground area, what we really need, to prevent constant overspill, are the larger black type. Lucy said that she will contact RBC Environmental department, to order these
On August Bank Holiday weekend, the Committee took part in the Summer Fete organised by RBC Joe Baker. It was held on the Public Open Space in Burrington Close, East Brockhill. We met several new residents who had moved to East Brockhill in the last year and we promoted the membership. We joined in with the fun and games, which were the usual sports day type of games: MV had made a ‘Splat the Rat’ game, which raised a small amount of money for our funds – ‘Every little helps!’
It was after this event, that we decided that it would be good to have a banner for B.R.A. to display when we hold events, which we have now purchased.
On Saturday October 16th, we held a Quiz Night, our first fundraising event in three years, as the Skittles Night that we arranged for last Autumn was cancelled due to lack of interest. The Quiz Night, however, was extremely well attended, and the money raised from it should cover our running costs for the next year.
We continue to reply to members who contact us via the committee’s admin e mail address with any problems in the neighbourhood and, if necessary, report matters to our local Councillors for advice.
SC runs our Facebook Administration and posts items of interest to the community, mainly items such as car and house theft, which will then act as a warning for Residents to be more vigilant. She also displays posters of lost pets.
Lately, some of the bushes in our area, have been missed off the maintenance programme and have been growing over pathways, to such a degree that two thirds of a path had been covered by brambles. We brought it to the attention of our local Councillors, who have been able to arrange for them to be cut back and put on the list to be included on the maintenance list for next year, hopefully!
DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING ONGOING ISSUES:
- Persimmon Homes and section 106 monies
- Traffic calming measures in Burrington Close/Hawling Street
- School Traffic/Parking
- Right of way across the Red Ditch
- More Dog Litter bins for Meadow View Estate
- Barrier/Crossing for Salters Lane entrance to Brockhill Park
- Anti-social behaviour issues in Brockhill Park
- Persimmon Homes and Section 106 monies:
Lucy Harrison has spoken to a Persimmon Surveyor who has told her that the land boundaries around Brockhill need to be surveyed and agreed again. Some land at the back of a few houses in Carthorse Lane was sold off to house owners by Persimmon but it has now been established that the land was not owned by Persimmon, so was not theirs to sell! When the land boundaries have been agreed, the 106 monies should be paid to RBC.
2.Traffic calming measures in Burrington Close/Hawling Street:
Residents of East Brockhill have been complaining about speeding traffic on several roads and closes in the area, but particularly on the main spine road and on the school route.
This is naturally of great concern, with school children travelling on foot and by car every weekday. Redditch Skip company had also been reported for speeding in Burrington/Hawling Street, since the speed bumps have been taken out. Our local Councillors have been in touch with the Skip company and Residents are advised to take photographs of the registration numbers on the vehicles if it continues to happen. Persimmon have erected a 20mph sign as it is a private road until it is adopted, when it will become 30mph, as are all residential roads. When Weights Lane is reopened, there will be another way out of the estate, which we are hoping will relieve the situation.
3. School Traffic/Parking:
When the new School first opened in September 2022, the School traffic was made worse by the bad timing of Severn Trent Water who decided this would be a good time to repair the water meter in Burrington Close, near to the junction of Cookridge Lane, which is the main route up to the School. Temporary traffic lights were installed, which caused more havoc as the lane isn’t very wide and vehicles which had taken children to school were trying to turn around.
The situation was eased somewhat, when Severn Trent’s work was completed, but there is still a problem on the school route at the drop off and pick up times, as with many schools, but as there is only one way in and out of the housing estate at present, this has made matters worse. We are hoping that the opening of Weights Lane will ease the situation.
The Head Teacher, Mrs Koser, said that the school is still receiving the odd complaints from Residents regarding the parking but she feels that the barrier, which is used at the end of the school day, is certainly helping with the safety of the children leaving the school site.
4. Right of way across the Red Ditch:
You may have read in previous committee meeting minutes on display on our website, about us trying to have a pathway and crossing made across the wasteland, which had been possible to cross in years gone by. We had a copy of an old map dating back to at least the 1940’s, which showed it as a right of way and we believe the farm workers used to use it.
If a properly constructed crossing and pathway could be made, this would enable some school children and their parents to walk to school, taking a short cut, thus relieving the school traffic. We have been waiting to find out who owns this land and it has now been established that it belongs to Persimmon. WCC BC said that we will have to wait for the land to be adopted, before the work can go ahead, and that RBC will be happy to do this.
5. More Dog Litter Bins for Meadow View Estate:
The current litter bins near to the Playground on the Meadow View Estate are the smaller variety and even though there are several in that area, there are some used more than others. As they are so small, they soon fill up and as they are not emptied often, the poo bags end up being left at the base. This is an environmental hazard, with the children’s playground being so near, so we have asked for the larger black metal bins to replace them.
RBC LH said that she would order the replacements straightaway. There have also been complaints by residents about the lack of maintenance from First Port generally and in particular to the wooden steps leading up to the playground which have cheap wood supports and exposed nails.
6. Barrier/Crossing for Salters Lane entrance to Brockhill Park:
We have been trying to get a safer barrier or crossing in this area for several years now, as we feel there needs to be something to slow children on Bicycles and Scooters down when approaching the busy Salters Lane, which is on a bus route. Many residents walk with children through the park to the playground or the local shops and when crossing over to Oaktree Lane, the traffic comes quickly around a bend in the road, making it hard to judge whether it is safe to cross. SC said that she has witnessed several near misses, not only from children but also disabled older residents and those in wheelchairs. WCC BC said that he will find out from previous WCC’s Robin Lunn and Graham Vickery about how far they had got with a solution when they were working on this several years ago, as for some reason nothing has been resolved, other than a speed monitor and a ‘Slow Down’ sign being installed.
7. ASB Issues at Brockhill Park:
The two areas of concern in this area are the Underpass and the Basketball Court, where Teenagers tend to meet up. CCTV had been set up by the Basketball Court for a while but is only temporary. It is moved on to other troublesome areas when things settle down. There are always more reports of ASB in the warmer weather so there haven’t been many instances reported of late. The walls of the Underpass haven’t been defaced as much lately. The Police have advised Residents to ring 101 to report any anti- social behaviour in this area. We have been told that the local Police team regularly patrol the area at night time.
ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
In compliance with our Constitution, which states that two/three Committee Members must resign each year in order to recruit new Committee Members, Sylvia Collinson and Julie Vincent both resigned from the Committee, but agreed to continue when no-one else came forward to replace them.
We are still seeking a new Chairman, as the person whose name was put forward at last year’s AGM has been unable to help us at all this year, due to work commitments. JV also said that she wished to stand down as Secretary, so we are still seeking a new Chair Person and a Secretary. No volunteers came forward, so Julie agreed to stay on until a replacement is found.
The Committee thanked Ben Moseley for his great management of the Website this year and hope he will be able to continue to do so.
A.O.B./ MEMBERS’ OPEN FORUM:
MW said that he had witnessed drug dealing in Appletree Lane on the Car Park area near to the Public Open Space and Dairy Lane. He asked if CCTV could be installed there and signage to make everyone aware. LH said that she will speak to the Community Safety Officer and asked Mark to e mail her all of the details to strengthen the case.
Stephen Mole asked what would happen to the old Barn when the 17 new houses were built near to the school. The Barn, which is derelict, was originally going to be converted into a bungalow. It has become a meeting place for young people, but is unsafe. The owners we believe, live abroad and have not claimed responsibility for it. We will try to find out more in the new year.
BC told us that when Persimmon submitted the plans for the building of houses at East Brockhill in the 1990’s, the development was split into phases and the plans seemed fine. Unfortunately, the plans weren’t followed in the right order, which is why we have the problems we are faced with today.
The meeting ended at 9.30 p.m.