minutes for sept

august 2014

Minutes of Meeting Thursday July 24th  2014

Those present:-

David Dallaway   DD

Lynn Dallaway   LD

Sylvia Collinson   SC

Julie Vincent   JV

James Doble   JD

Ellie Doble   ED

Paul Kimberley   PK

Lorayne Kimberley  LK

Guest in attendance: – WCC Robin Lunn

Apologies: – Tisha Greenway, Pattie Hill

The Agenda:-

1. Progress on the adoption of roads

2. Dog fouling and litter signs for the Nature Reserve

3. Replacement gate for the Nature Reserve

4. Road works and signage

5. Membership leaflets and quiz posters

6. Quiz Night

7. Notice boards

8. Batchley Summer Celebration 26th July

9. A.O.B.  (To include Persimmon Meeting at Town Hall)

Actions from this meeting:

DD to contact Doug Wilks to discuss a new membership form and Quiz Night poster

SC to contact the local Community Halls to discuss booking for a Quiz Night

JV to e mail Karen Lumley with regard to the Feedback on the Funding Fair

Actions from this meeting:

JD to contact Sue Hanley to obtain a Schedule of Works

JD to find out whom to contact with regard to getting a new post box for the Wheelers Lane area

SC to make enquiries about an alcohol licence for the Quiz Night

RL to chase the new road sign for Brockhill at the Tardebigge end of Brockhill Drive

RL to find out about having a third Notice Board in the Wheelers Lane area from Section 106 monies

1. Progress on the adoption of roads:

Robin Lunn reported that there is only one road in Brockhill that is giving concern regarding its adoption and that is Rosedale Close.  The area concerned is a Taylor Wimpey development and RL said that he will be visiting residents in Rosedale Close at the beginning of August to let them know of any progress.

In West Brockhill, Turnpike Lane, Vowchurch Close and Wheatcroft Close are still waiting for work to be completed.  Carthorse Lane has been adopted but land to the rear of houses 147 – 159, which is owned by Persimmon, is being sold offered for sale to those houses for £500.  We are concerned that the right of way between two of these houses might be closed off.  This is a much used route for dog walkers and other local residents and the land was intended for this purpose in the proposed plans, so we will be striving to keep this open.  Robin Lunn said that he would look into this matter for us.

The Wheelers Lane area of Brockhill is awaiting a 28 days’ notice period to elapse.  Posters have been displayed on lampposts informing residents of the forthcoming adoption.  During this period residents will have the opportunity of registering their objections.  Subject to there being no objections, adoption should take place on 11th August.

2. Dog fouling and litter signs for the Nature Reserve:

Signs have been placed around the perimeter of the Nature Reserve area, accessed via Plumstead Close, following the request of several residents.  The signs request dog walkers to ensure they pick up their dog waste.  A dog fouling bin will be erected shortly near to the exit gate.

3. Replacement gate for the Nature Reserve:

Borough Councillor Pattie Hill and Gavin Boyes, Landscape and Arboriculture Officer, have made an inspection visit to the Nature Reserve to assess the requirements of replacing the padlocked gate on Brockhill Lane.  For safety reasons it was proposed to install a new gate further up Brockhill Lane opposite the walkway through to Carthorse Lane.  We all approved this new proposed siting and DD agreed to communicate this to Pattie.  He would also ask her to confirm whether a disability access assessment had been carried out.  Because of the new siting proposal, the replacement will not now take place on 28th July and we await a new date for the work to be carried out.  JD suggested that when the work has been completed it would present a good photograph opportunity for our website.

4. Road works and signage (white arrow in left hand lane at Sainsbury’s traffic Island):

We are pleased to report that a straight on arrow has been added to the left hand arrow on the inside lane of the Sainsbury’s Traffic Island.  However, we are still waiting for a new Brockhill sign to replace the Batchley sign on Brockhill Drive at the Tardebigge island end.  Several residents have reported that their visitors have been confused by the Batchley sign.

The majority of the road works have now been completed in Brockhill by the Borough Council following the adoption of most of the roads.

5. Membership leaflets and quiz posters:

We are in the process of designing new leaflets which will hopefully attract new members.  We plan to have these delivered with the local paper, although we have been informed that houses on the new Pointers Way estate do not currently receive deliveries. Consequently leaflets will have to be hand delivered to these residents.  A quiz poster will also be designed shortly and hopefully be delivered in the same way as the leaflets.

6. Quiz Night:

Following the great success of our first Quiz Night, the date and venue have now been booked for the next challenge.   Please make a note in your diaries for Saturday October 18th at The Tardebigge Community Hall at 7.30 p.m.  Please invite your friends and family to this fun, fund raising event, with a licensed bar and nibbles.  We will be holding a raffle at half time and there will be a prize for the winning team.

7. Notice Boards:

We hope that the two notice boards, which have already been ordered, will be erected before the Quiz Night so that we can display advertising posters.  We are in the process of requesting a third notice board so that we can cover all areas of Brockhill.  The first two boards, which were ordered about six weeks ago, should hopefully arrive by October.  One will be placed in Brockhill Park and the other near to the temporary polling station site in Carthorse Lane.  If we are successful in obtaining a third, it will be placed somewhere on the new Pointers Way development.  Residents will be able to display advertisements by contacting the committee – details to follow.

8. Batchley Summer Celebration:

We were contacted by Maureen Muckle of the Batchley Support Group asking if we would like to have a stall at their event on Saturday July 26th.  Unfortunately we did not have sufficient time to produce membership leaflets and Quiz Night posters and were therefore unable to take up this offer. However we were able to advertise the event on our website.

9.  A.O.B.

DD & JV attended a Persimmon presentation at the Town Hall on Monday June 30th.  The plans for the next phase of mixed use development at Brockhill were on display.  These plans can now be accessed on the RBC website.  We spoke to a Persimmon Planning Officer and expressed our concerns that there are currently no community facilities in Brockhill.  We told her that the Brockhill Residents’ Association has to hold its AGM and fund raising events outside the area because there is no community hall.  We asked if the new development would encompass such a building and were told that the new proposed school would have facilities for us to use.

DD also expressed his concerns about the hedgerow that was ripped out illegally by Persimmon or its sub-contractors at the start of the work on Pointers Way.  A large number of the shrubs planted to replace it have now withered and died.  Also the plans for Pointers Way, held by Redditch Borough Council, showed a fence bordering the road and the public open space along the replanted hedgerow.  This has still not been built.

We were given comment forms when we left the meeting and DD submitted his concerns by e-mail to Persimmon Homes on July 12th.  He is still awaiting a reply!

With the absence of a chairperson we decided to elect a spokesperson.  DD has kindly agreed to fulfil that role until such time that a new chairperson is elected.  If anybody would be able to fill the role of chairperson, please come forward.  We need YOU!  We could also use the help of an artistic member, to aid with the design of our leaflets and posters.

The meeting ended at 9.50p.m.

Minutes of Meeting Monday June 2nd 2014

Those present:-

David Dallaway   DD

Lynn Dallaway   LD

Sylvia Collinson   SC

Julie Vincent   JV

Tish Greenway   TG

In Attendance :-

WCC Robin Lunn and CC Pattie Hill

The Agenda:-

1. Progress on the adoption of roads

2. Brenda’s letter to RBC with regard to the 106 Agreement

3. Notice Boards

4. Printing of Membership Leaflets and Quiz Bulletin

5. Venue and date for Quiz Night

6. Update on Sainsbury’s Traffic Island Markings

7. Website maintenance and control

8. Feedback to Karen Lumley on her Funding Fair

9. A.O.B.  (To include Russell Baxter’s request re: Nature Reserve)

Actions from this meeting:

DD to contact Doug Wilks to discuss a new membership form and Quiz Night poster

SC to contact the local Community Halls to discuss booking for a Quiz Night

JV to e mail Karen Lumley with regard to the Feedback on the Funding Fair

1. Progress on the adoption of roads:

Robin Lunn attended a meeting recently with the Highways Officers and was told that adoption of all remaining roads in Brockhill West and Central will be completed by 1 July.  Notices will be displayed on several lampposts in the Wheelers Lane area informing residents of the intended adoption of the roads.  This will provide an opportunity for any residents to object if they so wish.  Robin said that it seems Persimmon have learnt from their mistakes with regard to the roads’ adoption having taken so long.  They have taken out a section 38 order on the new Pointers Way estate in Brockhill East, which will make the adoption of these roads a lot quicker.

2. Brenda Quinney’s letter to RBC with regard to the 106 Agreement:

Brenda Quinney recently sent a letter to Ruth Bamford, head of Planning and Regeneration at RBC, asking why the money set aside in the 106 agreement between Persimmon and RBC, had not been spent in Brockhill.  Ruth said that the money had been spent in Batchley and on the Abbey Stadium instead.  An article printed in The Standard dated Friday 23 May 2014, explained that money had been spent on improving existing facilities in Batchley for the benefit of everyone in the area.  We are concerned that, as Brockhill grows further to the east, the play area facilities in Batchley will be too far away for young children to walk to.   With ever more emphasis on exercise and leaving the car at home for the sake of the environment and for the health of future generations, it is to be hoped that Ruth Bamford will take this into consideration when planning the next phase of development.

One our members, Peter Joynes, had asked whether we should organise a petition objecting to the 106 agreement monies being spent in areas other than Brockhill.  Pattie Hill advised that any such petition would not achieve anything.  However, she said that it was important to ensure that 106 monies set aside following the Pointers Way and any future developments were used specifically for the benefit of Brockhill.

3. Notice Boards:

We have been granted the funding for a Community Notice Board by RBC so that we can display posters etc. of forthcoming events and hopefully advertise to increase our membership.  We told Robin Lunn that we had originally applied for three notice boards, so that we could have them erected in various areas of Brockhill.  As RBC had only granted us one board, Robin kindly agreed to fund a second.  We have decided to have one erected in Brockhill Park, near to the steps leading up to Kite Lane, and the other placed in Carthorse Lane where the Polling Station is situated.  The RBC funded board has been ordered from the supplier and we hope to have both installed by autumn.

4. Printing of Membership Leaflets and Quiz Bulletin:

In the hope of attracting more members, we are in the process of designing a new membership leaflet that will also incorporate a Quiz Night Bulletin.  We are planning to have them delivered within a local newspaper, all across Brockhill, including the Pointers Way new housing estate.

5. Venue and date for Quiz Night:

We decided at the meeting to hold the next Quiz Night in mid-October.  We hope by that time to have increased the membership and Committee.  We are looking at hiring one of the Batchley Social Clubs or Schools for the venue as we do not have anywhere in Brockhill.  This will at least be nearer for residents than our previous venue at Tardebigge.

6. Update on Sainsbury’s Traffic Island Markings:

We informed Robin that the markings have still not been amended in the left hand lane when approaching the island from Brockhill.  He said he would chase this up.  Robin also confirmed that Persimmon would finish the tarmacking of the Butlers Hill traffic island once the Pointers Way development had been completed.

7. Website maintenance and control:

Doug Wilks has kindly agreed to maintain the existing website until September by which time the son of our Treasurer, Sylvia Collinson, should have been able to design a new one.

8. Feedback to Karen Lumley on her Funding Fair:

Karen Lumley’s Funding Fair had been attended by Doug Wilks and Brenda Quinney some weeks ago, but as neither of them was at the meeting, we are unable to give any feedback to Karen.  An email has been sent to Karen informing her of this.

9. A.O.B:

SC received the remittance advice from RBC for the Stronger Communities Grant of £300.  We have a balance now in our account of £792.

Russ Baxter requested, by email, that we ask for some signs to be erected in the Nature Reserve situated between Wheelers Lane and Pointers Way Estate.  The signs should read “Take your rubbish home” and “Don’t allow your dog to foul”.  We also asked Robin and Pattie for some dog mess bins to be placed in the same area.  They agreed to put in a request.  Pattie said she would send a reply to Russ by email.

We informed Robin and Pattie that the gate in Brockhill Lane has still not been replaced.  Robin said that he will chase this for us.

The meeting ended at 9.50 p.m.

Minutes of Meeting Wednesday April 9th 2014

Those present:-

Sylvia Collinson   SC

Julie Vincent   JV

David Dallaway   DD

Lynn Dallaway   LD

Apologies from :-

Tisha Greenway, Brenda Quinney and Lisa Laurent

The Agenda:-

1. Recruitment of a new Chairperson and Membership Secretary

2. Membership Leaflets, Printing and Distribution

3. Sale of Waste Land by RBC

4. Forthcoming Events

5. Reduced Lighting

6. Bulletin for Prospective Candidate Nominees for the Local Election

7. A.O.B.

Actions from this meeting:

JV to send e-mail to Robin and Brenda to inform them of changes to the committee

1. Recruitment of new Chairperson and Membership Secretary:

Most members will now be aware, having read the AGM minutes, that three of our committee members resigned at that meeting.  Chairman, Peter Merricks, resigned due to pressure at work and family commitments.  He also felt that it would be beneficial to B.R.A. if people, with new ideas and a fresh approach, could join the committee.  Doug Wilks, our Membership Secretary, resigned due to ill health.  A third member, James Doble, also resigned due to long working hours and his studying for a Law Degree.  James will continue to advise us on legal matters.  Since the AGM a fourth member has resigned.  Lisa Laurent, Events Co-ordinator has resigned due to her work commitments and having two young children.

We are therefore hoping to recruit new committee members as soon as possible, so please come forward if you feel you have the time to give for the benefit of our local community.  We would like to welcome Tisha Greenway, who offered her services at the A.G.M.

2. Membership Leaflets – Printing and Distribution:

It is our intention to print and distribute leaflets to new residents living in Brockhill East, to make them aware of our Residents’ Association and the success that we have achieved in the year since we formed. The need to grow the membership is paramount to the Association, to give us more strength to stand up for our rights.  We found out recently that Batchley receives regular donations from both WCC and RBC and, as Brockhill is expanding daily in numbers of residents but not in facilities, this is essential to the well-being of our community.

3. Sale of Waste Land by RBC:

We have found out recently, by chance from a resident of Carthorse Lane, that RBC has offered to sell him land at the rear of his house for approximately £500.  The Council is offering to sell several plots to house owners who have waste land behind their gardens.  We understand that this land was for the leisure of Brockhill residents to use for dog walking etc. and we will be informing the Council that we are extremely upset that their intentions were not made public.  On a positive note, however, this may aid the road adoption process.

4. Forthcoming Events:

Unfortunately due to the Events Co-ordinator resigning, we have had to cancel the Quiz Nights and the Party in the Park.  However, we hope to be able to resume our social calendar when we gain more committee members.

5. Reduced Lighting:

If any members have concerns about the proposed reduced lighting system being introduced by RBC, please let us know.  If you think that a certain lamppost should be kept on or turned off, the Council have asked us to make them aware.

6. Bulletin for Prospective Candidate Nominees for the Local Election:

The committee has decided not to proceed with the bulletin, suggested by Peter Merricks at the AGM, concerning the nomination of an independent candidate for Brockhill at the forthcoming local elections.  It was felt strongly that such an action would be in direct conflict with Brenda Quinney, the Batchley and Brockhill Councillor and fellow BRA committee member.  Brenda is a regular attendee at our meetings and has been very helpful in local issues.

The meeting ended at 9.30

Post- meeting note:  Regretfully due to a communication breakdown, the bulletin referred to in agenda item 6 above was published on the website.  The committee apologises to all members for this administrative error.