Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at Batchley Community Centre on Tuesday November 5th 2019
IN ATTENDANCE:
Committee: Sylvia Collinson, David Dallaway, Lynn Dallaway, Malcolm Gilks, Stephen Siddle and
Julie Vincent.
Members: Cherry Gilks, Tisha Greenway, Graham Haynes, Marion Haynes, Anil Jha, Shirley Jobson, Robert Merry, Susan Merry, Margaret Mole, Mike Vincent and Mark Whitworth.
Councillors: RBC Pattie Hill, RBC Gemma Monaco (also a Committee member), RBC Nyear Nazir, WCC Brandon Clayton and WCC Robin Lunn.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Apologies were received from Matt Collinson, John Dallaway, Claire Ivins, Peter Merricks, Lorayne Kimberley and Paul Kimberley.
ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS AGM HELD ON 15.10.18:
The minutes of last year’s AGM had been available on the Association’s website for the past twelve months. David Dallaway asked if anybody wished them to be read out before their proposed adoption. No request was made and they were duly approved nem. con.
TO RECEIVE AND, IF APPROVED, ADOPT THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING 28TH FEBRUARY 2019:
David Dallaway provided the members with a copy of the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet for the 12 months ended 28th February 2019. The profit for the year of £364 had increased the bank balance to £1,342. The profit arose from three sources of income:-
The only costs incurred in the 12 months’ period were the renewal of the website hosting at £58 and the hire of the hall for last year’s AGM at £18.
Since the last financial year end our bank balance had increased by a further £2,090. £2,000 of this was a grant from the Fortis Living Smile Fund obtained following the hard work of Claire Ivins. The grant, together with a pledged donation from Robin Lunn out of his discretionary fund, will be used to purchase and erect a notice board on Pointers Way.
The only other source of income since last February was a net profit of £253 from October’s Quiz Night. Expenditure incurred in this same period was £143 on the website hosting renewal and £20 for the hire of the room for this evening’s AGM. Despite considerable effort we had been unable to negotiate a better deal on the website hosting cost that had increased by £85 from the previous year.
The accounts were approved by all members present.
DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING ONGOING ISSUES:
The school in Britten Street, which is still waiting to relocate to a new building at the top of Cookridge Close on Pointers Way, has now been told to expect this to happen in March 2021. The delay in commencement of building has been due to land ownership issues. A new contractor had to be found and J. Tomlinson Building Contractors started work a few weeks ago.
Mike Vincent asked the Councillors what was going to be done about the nearby dilapidated barns which could create safety issues. Brandon Clayton replied that something would be done before the school opens to make the area safe.
A meeting was held on Friday October 25th by our local MP Rachel Maclean, with the Regional Managing Director of Persimmon Homes, Liam Scott, Leader of RBC Matt Dormer and the Head of Planning at the Council, Ruth Bamford. An agreement was made between Persimmon and RBC on the section 106 monies the housebuilder owes. An apology was secured also from Persimmon and an undertaking of immediate action to begin maintaining the open spaces and assets they still own until they have all been handed over to RBC. This now means that the Council will be working with Persimmon to pass on complaints from residents regarding maintenance of land and street lights. Persimmon will then be acting on these complaints and carrying out the maintenance required [see also iv) below].
We would like to thank Councillors Gemma Monaco and Nyear Nazir for all the work they have done to support residents and Rachel Maclean for resolving this long running saga. Thanks also to former Association Chairman Peter Merricks for his persistence in ensuring that the issue remained to the fore over the last few years.
The building of 250 houses by Persimmon on the next phase of Brockhill East has already been accepted by the Council. There will be a further meeting with both RBC and BDC to pass planning permission for a further 700 houses. We will let members know the date of the meeting as soon as it becomes available.
Although the roads on the parts of Brockhill which were built 17-20 years ago have been adopted, some of the public open spaces are only now being adopted by the Council. Our members have been extremely frustrated when reporting incidences like fallen debris from trees. They have been told by the Council that they are not responsible for the maintenance of these areas, as they are still owned by Persimmon Homes. Graham and Marion Haynes told us that they had a problem with the trees behind their property on public land that had not been maintained in the last twenty years. They had reported it to RBC and had a visit from the Environmental Department who told them that it was not Council responsibility but that of Persimmon.
Robert and Susan Merry told us that they have a similar problem with overgrown trees behind their property in Pennyford Close. In high wind, the branches are dangerous as they have fallen in the past and could cause serious damage.
Pattie Hill said that the Council do not have any tree surgeons and have to employ contractors.
By not handing over ownership of this land to the local authority, Persimmon has not had to pay the section 106 monies it owes to the Council. This money is to provide and enhance community and social infrastructure. As previously discussed in item ii) above, hopefully this issue will now be resolved in the very near future with complete adoption of all areas together with settlement of all monies owing..
Gemma Monaco spoke about the upkeep of public open spaces on the Pointers Way estate. She said that the overgrowth around the balancing ponds has now been cut right back and re-seeded and that the footpaths have been tarmacked. She told us that the ditch between Pointers Way and the Oaklands estate will be staying, but six to eight feet will be taken off on the Cookridge Lane side. This will be done next year when the weather improves.
Robin Lunn informed us that he is still awaiting information from the County Highways Department regarding the approval of the new speed bump installation in Carthorse Lane. There have been objections from residents and from the Police Authority about having new traffic calming measures installed. The costs were being met by Robin and Brandon Clayton out of their budgets and they are hoping that the matter will finally be resolved at the next Highways meeting.
As most of our members are aware, we were offered a bungalow by Persimmon for use as a community building. However their offer was declined as the building was totally inappropriate with regards to size and available parking facilities. Another building was offered, a two storey house, but again its structure proved totally unsuitable for our needs. In addition the costs of running and maintaining the building would fall on the Association and we do not possess anywhere near the funds that would be required. We are hoping that we will be given access to the new school hall for meetings, but it is likely there will be a hire charge as the school will not be run by the Council. We do not have enough Committee Members to take on the upkeep and responsibility of a separate community hall, even if Persimmon were to offer to build one. As all existing community halls around Redditch have been taken over by Rubicon Leisure Ltd., unfortunately we do not have the option of one being run by RBC.
The Committee submitted a Community Asset form to BDC in support of the non-closure of the Foxlydiate Arms, situated just over the border in Bromsgrove. In July two of our Committee Members, David Dallaway and Stephen Siddle, attended a meeting together with Robin Lunn at the BDC Chambers, to discuss making the building a Community Asset. Also present was a lady representing the Facebook Group which had formed called ‘Save the Foxlydiate Arms’. But just before the meeting was due to commence, one of the Bromsgrove Councillors informed Robin that the Foxlydiate agenda item would not now be discussed. This was because the pub’s owners, Whitbread, had changed the status of the Foxlydiate Arms to that of a hotel. This meant that it could not be made a Community Asset.
The plans to build 48 houses and a block of two storey flats, have not yet been passed. We are hoping that now that the housing needs in Bromsgrove have been met, the plans to build on the site of the Foxlydiate Arms may not be passed. We will let members know when the planning meeting is being held. Meanwhile, you can object to the plans by going on to the BDC website planning section. There is already concern regarding the road infrastructure, with 2,500 new homes being built in Webheath and Bentley, and also the lack of social facilities. Robin Lunn will let us know when the planning meeting is taking place and we will be attending.
MAIN EVENTS SINCE LAST AGM:
We held a Litter Pick in May which a few members attended and 18 bags of litter were collected. We were disappointed at the turnout, particularly as the date had been carefully chosen as a Saturday morning in May, away from the Bank Holidays.
As mentioned in the Treasurer’s Report above, Claire Ivins had obtained a grant from Fortis Living of £2,000 towards the purchase of a new Community Notice Board for Pointers Way, similar to the two existing boards in Brockhill Park and Carthorse Lane. Robin Lunn has contacted Matthew Mead, Senior Engineering Technician at RBC, regarding its installation.
We held our annual Quiz Night fundraiser in October which was a very enjoyable evening. As already mentioned we raised £253 which will help with our running costs and enable us to continue the offer of free Association membership.
Membership continues to increase thanks in particular to Sylvia Collinson who has delivered many joining leaflets to households on Pointers Way and Meadow View. Total membership now stands at in excess of 400. However it should be noted that support for the Association in terms of attendance at litter picks, quiz nights and AGMs remains disappointingly low.
We identified a need for ‘Give Way’ markings at the junction of Lowfield Lane and Appletree Lane. Robin Lunn and Brandon Clayton have since organised this with the consequent improvement of residents’ safety.
David Dallaway had made a further attempt to get Royal Mail to install a post-box on Pointers Way or Meadow View. Their subsequent response as to why it was not necessary was somewhat puzzling. They quoted that regulatory requirements deem that they must ensure there is a post-box within half a mile of at least 98% of all customer’s letter boxes. They claim that current posting facilities in the area already meet this requirement. Clearly they are aware of the existence of post-boxes that are unbeknown to the rest of us!!
ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
In compliance with our Constitution three Committee Members must stand down at this AGM but may offer themselves for re-election. Tisha Greenway and Claire Ivins had offered their resignations and did not wish to apply for re-election. David Dallaway, the third person to stand down said, if re-elected, he would serve for just one more year. His re-election was unopposed. We asked if anybody in the room would like to offer their services to serve on the committee but there were no volunteers. However Mark Whitworth contacted us after the meeting to volunteer his services as Facebook Administrator which had been Claire Ivins’ role.
Ben Moseley was thanked for his work over the last year regarding administration of the website and it was hoped he would be able to continue in this role.
A.O.B./ MEMBERS’ OPEN FORUM:
Shirley Jobson asked the Councillors if a tree which had been brought down by the wind on public open space in Appletree Lane could be replaced. Brandon Clayton said that as the land had not yet been passed over from Persimmon, it could not be done at present.
Mike Vincent asked Brandon if the grass bank in Appletree Lane could be replaced to stop access by travellers. The original grass bank had been flattened when the crossing was installed near to the traffic Island at the Brockhill Drive/Appletree Lane junction.
Mike also asked why the stile on public open space, leading into a right of way across the field, was allowed to have barbed wire on the top. His son had ripped his coat trying to get over it. He suggested it would be better to have a kissing gate in its place. Councillors said that, as it was land belonging to Bentley Parish Council which comes under Bromsgrove, he would need to contact them.
Margaret Mole said that there is a litter bin on Pointers Way which is in a position that cannot be reached as it was behind temporary fencing erected in preparation of the building work on the new school. The Councillors said that they will look into this when the land is handed over to them from Persimmon.
Gemma Monaco told us that there is a P.A.C.T. meeting arranged on Saturday 7th December at 10 a.m. outside the Shopping Parade on Batchley Road.
The meeting ended at 9.30 p.m.
Hello Members,
Please find below two links for the Association’s Accounts ending Feb 2019; one for the balance sheet and one for income and expenditure.
Best Regards
Your Committee
Hello Members,
The Brockhill Residents’ Association is holding the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday November 5th starting at 8 p.m at The Batchley Community Centre, Cherry Tree Walk, Batchley.
Please come along to meet the Committee and local Councillors, to voice any Community concerns you may have and learn about the new School and amenities in Brockhill East.
Refreshments will be provided.
We look forward to meeting you.
Best Regards
Julie Vincent, Secretary
One of my cats has been missing from Wheelers Lane, Brockhill since Sunday morning. She is a spayed female call Shadow. All black and sleeky and quite timid she has a collar and tag and is ID chipped. Any information please call James on 07764 846661.
BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Minutes of Meeting Thursday July 25th 2019 held at Alestones
Those Present:
Sylvia Collinson SC
David Dallaway DD
Lynn Dallaway LD
Tisha Greenway TG
Claire Ivins CI
Stephen Siddle SS
Julie Vincent JV
Councillors: RBC Pattie Hill and WCC Robin Lunn
Apologies were received from WCC Brandon Clayton (BC), Malcom Gilks (MG), RBC Gemma Monaco (GM), Ben Moseley (BM) and RBC Nyear Nazir (NN).
The Agenda:
GM had emailed Kate Tait of Persimmon Homes on 6th March regarding the Community House.
In GM’s absence we were unaware if she had contacted Claire Flanagan at RBC regarding Mainstay’s service charge increases. JV will email GM for a progress report.
RL informed us that some of the land sale at the rear of a small section of Carthorse Lane/Longmoor Close had now gone through. Solicitors of the remaining residents concerned are still working on this.
BC had confirmed in March that the land to the rear and side of Parklands Close/Dairy Lane was still owned by Persimmon Homes and had not been transferred over to the Council. However this was being pursued. In BC’s absence RL and PH confirmed that ownership of the field had still not changed. This was puzzling as BC had indicated at the February meeting that it was land that Persimmon no longer required and was to be given back to Bromsgrove District Council.
MG was waiting to know whom to address the quote for repair of the fence for the Appletree Lane side of the aforementioned field.
JV had organised the borrowing of equipment and bin bags for the Litter Pick which took place in May.
JV has booked the Batchley Community Hall for the Quiz Night and the AGM
Arrangements were discussed for organising the Quiz Night to be held at Batchley Community Centre on Saturday October 12th 2019 at 7.30 p.m. RL said that he could help with the Quiz questions if needed. DD said that he hoped to enlist the help of a friend who is a regular Quiz Host. We will ask members to form teams of 6 – non-members also most welcome. Committee Members will take on their usual tasks regarding food and refreshments, raffle, sponsorship, etc.
The A.G.M. will be held on Tuesday November 5th at 8pm. We are hoping that the later start will encourage a better attendance than in previous years.
CI was congratulated on her success in obtaining a £2,000 grant from Fortis Living towards the cost of manufacturing and erecting a new community notice board, similar to our existing two in Brockhill Park and Carthorse Lane. If possible, the Fortis Living logo should be shown on the board in recognition of their support. We will now research our best sourcing options and RL said that he could assist with arranging its installation. The most suitable siting was discussed together with the need to contact Persimmon regarding permission for its installation on their land. It was felt the best position would be on the edge of the grassland in front of Almondsbury Close just before the start of Burrington Close. We agreed that GM would be the best person to contact Persimmon in view of her contacts. JV agreed to email GM to ask for her help in this matter.
DD discussed the possibility of re-contacting Royal Mail regarding the installation of a post box on Pointers Way. When he enquired in 2016, he was told that there must be a post box within half a mile of at least 98% of all customers’ letter boxes. It’s a moot point whether the two nearest boxes in Hewell Road and Carthorse Lane fulfil this requirement. PH pointed out that unfortunately Royal Mail appear to be reducing rather than increasing their number of post boxes. However DD agreed to contact Royal Mail again, particularly as Pointers Way and Meadow View have developed considerably since 2016.
The school’s Head Teacher retired at the end of the summer term but she was asked to perform the traditional ceremony of digging out the first soil to mark the commencement of the new building. Originally it had been hoped she would oversee the whole relocation process, had the new building commenced a couple of years ago as originally planned. RL said that the intended completion date now, after having to re-tender, would be Christmas 2020.
RL told us that the planning permission includes parking restrictions, so that residents will not have their driveways blocked. There will be notices restricting parking at certain times, i.e. dropping off and picking up times.
We submitted a Community Asset Form to Bromsgrove District Borough Council in May in an attempt to prevent the demolition of the Foxlydiate Arms, owned by Whitbread. As reported recently in The Standard, Bromsgrove District Council has received a Planning Application from Whitbread for the Foxlydiate Hotel site. The Outline Application is to establish the principle for the demolition of the existing building on site and the erection of up to 46 houses, 24 apartments and a children’s play area. RL is calling on Whitbread to sell the pub and hotel on the open market to another pub or restaurant chain.
A Bromsgrove District Council Cabinet meeting was due to discuss the issue on Wednesday July 10th as the land in question is just over the border in Bromsgrove. RL, DD and SS attended to support the Community Asset Application. It was hoped that others in our Association together with members of the ‘Save The Foxlydiate Facebook Group’ would also turn up in support. Regretfully only one other person was present shortly before the meeting’s commencement. Fortuitously therefore in some ways , RL, DD, SS and The Facebook Group member were informed moments before the meeting’s start of the withdrawal of the issue from the agenda. Whitbread’s lawyers had declared that same day that the Foxlydiate had legally been given hotel status and was therefore exempt from being made a Community Asset. However, objections to the plans can be made on Bromsgrove District Council’s website by going into Planning Applications and putting in the postcode – B97 6PX.
JV felt that the roads around Webheath/Brockhill are chaotic enough without even more traffic. RL pointed out that Webheath does not need more houses, it needs infrastructure and places to socialise for the houses already there. Members are urged to submit their objections to the proposed demolition.
(i) Section 106 payments
Despite MP Rachel Maclean’s involvement the payment by Persimmon Homes of section 106 monies and transfers of certain pieces of land have still not taken place. RL told us that seven to eight hundred thousand pounds is owed to the Council by Persimmon Homes.
DD had been alerted by one our members that the BBC were considering covering, in a future programme, the issue of non-payment of section 106 monies by Persimmon and other property developers.
(ii) Completion of Pointers Way Phase 1
RL said that with the exception of Almondsbury Close, none of the roads on Pointers Way are anywhere near the standard to be adopted by RBC. We will ask GM to chase this, now that she is back from maternity leave.
(iii) New Application Brockhill East – Phase 3
A public consultation presentation was made at the Abbey Stadium on 14th May regarding Persimmon’s proposal to build 960 new dwellings. At the presentation DD had asked Kate Tait, Persimmon’s Director Strategic Planning, to confirm that the proposed building work would not affect the historically significant cold war nuclear bunker. She said that the farmer who leased the land had assured her it was only a disused water tank. DD and LD strongly refuted this and LD said she would send Kate information giving categorical proof of the bunker’s true origin. Kate has been informed that the bunker was manned by the Royal Observer Corps, its number is SPO3396897, it was opened on 1/5/1963 and was closed down on the 1/10/1968. To date neither response nor comment has been made by Kate.
Installation of the speed bumps has been delayed due to a few objections from local residents and the police. RL is insisting that they are done as he has personally witnessed drivers speeding through the chicane and treating it as a game to see how quickly they can get through! RL & BC will be attending a meeting this week and will insist that the speed bumps are installed.
Renewal of the website hosting is due early in September. SC has asked BM, our website administrator, to obtain a quote from the present provider. BM has agreed to obtain other competitive quotes to ensure we get the best deal for the next 12 months.
A copy of our GDPR statement had been included with the notice to members when alerting them to the posting of the previous meeting’s minutes. However there was no statement on our website and SC will contact BM to ask that this is added alongside the new members’ registration section on the Home page.
DD asked SC if she knew why he no longer received automatic notification when a new member joined via registration on our website. SC said this facility was no longer available with our current hosting company. CI said that the filters on Excel could be programmed to do this and that she would be able to show DD how to set this up. DD would contact BM to request details of new and unsubscribing members at the end of every calendar month. SC had delivered membership forms to new residents of Meadow View (Phase 2) resulting in several new additions.
We had been contacted recently by a couple of members reporting instances of drug selling in Brockhill Park and the Nature Reserve. PH told us that arrests had been made recently and those involved were not local people but drug dealers from outside the area. The Basketball Court in Brockhill Park is a prime meeting place for the sale of drugs. She said it is happening in several areas around Redditch. If you witness any suspect behaviour, ring 101 to report it.
A non-member had contacted us via the website warning that a man had been seen trying the door handles of cars parked in Cookridge Close during the early hours of the morning. The matter had been reported to the police.
A member had contacted us requesting details of the proposed sale of the woodland plot at the back of Dairy lane, Goscote Close and Carthorse Lane. Another member residing in Goscote Close kindly supplied DD with information that was duly forwarded to the enquirer. Dealings with the selling Consortium are currently being handled by those residents concerned.
A member had reported to DD that the trunk of a large oak tree, situated by the Red Ditch adjacent to Oversley Close, has been sprayed with red paint. In addition to this vandalism, two swings had been attached to the lower branches. Aluminium ladders had been propped against the tree’s trunk to enable it to be climbed. Considering the great height of the tree any scaling of it would constitute a considerable safety risk. DD had warned the group of children playing on the swings about the dangers of climbing the tree. LD asked PH if RBC has a Tree Warden. PH told us that they do not.
JV asked RL why the bund had been removed from Brockhill Drive’s grassy area, near the junction of Appletree Lane, where the new crossing was constructed last year. Before the crossing was installed the ridge of grass stopped vehicles from parking on the area. The large circle of grass is an ideal spot for travellers to camp on but now there is nothing to prevent access. RL said that he would put in a request to have the bund put back.
Actions from this meeting:
JV to contact GM to obtain an update on her discussions with Claire Flanagan re Mainstay’s service charges.
DD to arrange compilation of questions for the Quiz Night.
SC to apply for Alcohol Licence for theQuiz Night.
JV to ask GM to contact Persimmon to obtain permission for erection of new notice board on Pointers Way.
DD to contact Royal Mail again re the installation of a post box on Pointers Way.
GM to chase Persimmon regarding the standard of roads on Pointers Way Phase 1 pre-adoption.
RL and BC to progress installation of speed bumps in Carthorse Lane.
BM to obtain competitive quote for website hosting.
SC to liaise with BM re adding GDPR statement to website.
DD to request monthly updates of new and leaving members from BM.
RL to arrange for the bund to be replaced in Appletree Lane/Brockhill Drive junction.
Meeting ended at 9.15 pm.
Download your copy here:
**** UPDATE: THIS MEETING HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO: WEDNESDAY JULY 10TH AT 6PM. THE MEETING LOCATION HAS ALSO BEEN MOVED TO: “Parkside”, Market Street, Bromsgrove, Worcs. B61 8DA. 01527- 881288 ****
Dear Members
We have submitted a Community Asset form on behalf of Brockhill Residents’ Association, to try to save the Foxlydiate Arms Hotel and Restaurant from being bulldozed by the owners Whitbread, to sell the land to Developers who have submitted a plan to Bromsgrove District Council for the building of 48 houses and an Apartment block. This will obviously put a further strain on the roads and facilities in our area.
The Community Asset Application is being considered at a meeting with Ruth Bamford, the Council’s Head of The Planning Department, next Wednesday June 12th at 6pm. It’s being held at the Bromsgrove Council Chamber and Committee Room in Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove B60 1AA, the former Council House.
The meeting is open to the public, so it would be VERY worthwhile for as many Members as possible to attend the meeting, to show Ruth Bamford, how much this means to us all. WCC Robin Lunn, who had an interview on the front page of the Standard Newspaper last week concerning this, is hoping to attend. He told us that the decision lies solely with Ruth Bamford.
PLEASE attend if you are able.
Your Committee