Minutes

Present:

Councillors Richard Williams (Chairman), Ms Sandra Woodhouse, Ms Sally Watkins, David Nott, James Baker, Ms Sue Morris, Ms Emily Bourne

In attendance:

Mr S Clee Clerk, Mr & Mrs Clive Skidmore, County Councillor Dan Morehead.

Apologies:

Councillors Isobel Hedges Ward, Andrew Croot

2406 Confirmation of the Minutes:

The minutes of the last meeting held on 28th October 2024, as previously circulated, were approved and signed by the Chairman.

2407 Declaration of Interest for a) The Meeting and b) Any Changes to be notified to the Registers of Interests and Gifts & Hospitality.

Mr Douglas Godwin Agenda item 7c being a Land Trustee.

2408 Public Participation:

It was none.

2409 Planning Applications:

030 24/0644/HOU   Single storey front and rear extensions with raised ridge loft conversion and rear balcony@ Rosen Bungalow, Heightington Road, Bliss Gate.

It was RESOLVED to recommend REFUSAL for this application. The drawings available show a completely oversized dwelling and council believes it to be completely overdeveloped and out of keeping with the street scene. Council further recommended the application be withdrawn and the applicant submit a planning application for a new dwelling.

2410 Correspondence:

Councillor Richard Williams will write this month’s parish magazine report and Councillor Isobel Hedges Ward in November.

2411 County & District Reports:

County Councillor Dan Morehead informed the council Ms Tanya Crake has been appointed to the temporary Highways Manager for Wyre Forest. He said members of the public from Plough Lane had contacted him regarding scalping’s being provided by Worcestershire Highways so the local residents could use them to fill the numerous potholes along the Lane. The Clerk advised him when we tried to get support to help resurface the Lane about 10 years ago Worcestershire County Council would not consider helping because the Lane is not adopted highways and they would not assist with any help.

Dan stated he had also been approached by a resident in Clows Top asking if there was going to be an interactive VAS the Clerk informed him, we do not have any street furniture up there. The previous Highways Manager had put the VAS Pole along Tenbury Road within the Parish of Bayton in Malvern Hills District.

Finally, Dan referred to communications he had received from residents along Plough Lane and Lynalls Lane who found the same Lanes being used as a diversion when Highways had recently closed Sugars Lane to carry out work. Dan had requested County Highways put appropriate signage into place because Plough Lane is a private lane. Resident Councillors from Far Forest informed him no signs had been deployed and Dan agreed to investigate to raise this matter the Worcestershire Highways.

2412 Finances:

1. The Council approved invoices amounting to £8,725.54 for payment tonight.
2. The Council noted the Income & Expenditure Sheets to date.
3. The Parish Council received 11 applications for Community Grants were received this year. From Wyre Forest Night Stop, Far Forest Baptist Church, Far Forest School PTA, Heightington Village Hall, Little Acorns Group, Far Forest Village Hall, Clows Top Village Hall, We are Men United (CIC), Bliss Gate Village Fields, Rock & Far Forest Nursing Charity and Far Forest & Rock RBL. Following a discussion, it was RESOLVED to give community grants of £545.00 to each applicant. It was also suggested that a working group look at the criteria for the grants since its inception in 2011 in readiness for next year’s awards.

2413 Date of the next Meeting:

There being no other business the meeting ended at 20.15pm. The next meeting will be held on Monday 25^th November 2024.

Signed Chairman: 25^th November 2024