Albrighton Civic Society

Minutes of the Committee Meeting of the

Albrighton & District Civic Society

held at Elwood House, Cross Road, Albrighton,

on Friday 3^rd September 2010 at 2pm

Present : Rod Smith – Secretary

John Bulmer

Ron Kidson

Peter Leigh

Hugh Hughes

David Beechey – ex-officio, representing Donington-with-Boscobel PC

Venue moved from Peel Cottage to Elwood House. Meeting chaired by Rod Smith.

1. Apologies received from Peter Woodman, David Hughes, Paul Joseland and Malcolm Pate

Members not attending: Michael Ward, David Murray

2. Minutes of Meeting on 2^nd July 2010 were approved.

3. Review Progress on the main projects:-

a) Village Entrance Scheme. Task Group: JB/HH/PW

Kingswood Rd/A41 - JB reported that he had spoken to Brian Bennett (SC) about his requirement for explanations to statutory undertakers and had said that the first task was ground clearing and not digging but he had to get MP involved to get agreement from B Bennett to allow work to start. The 16 member RAF team spent 2 days clearing brush. After the earlier cutting down of the trees and brush by Heartwood, better access was available and more trees were seen to be dead/dying, and in danger of falling across the footpath/road, and needed to be removed – PW had raised this with MP and asked that SC commission and pay for this work. JB said that re-planting would be carried out between November and March.

Patshull Rd/A464 – as planting was postponed due to the dry summer weather, re-spraying of weed killer was done again on 30 Aug.

General – PL has potted on 400 wild primroses and needs about 300 No. 3” pots – HH will provide some but more are needed – ACTION can anyone provide some?

PL is still pursuing the supply of a road sign advising an ADCS Project. ACTION PL

DB advised that the work to remove dead trees and smarten up the pool area at corner of Cross Rd/Patshull Rd was proceeding well. The cost was by APC with a contribution from SC. The meeting recorded that the Alb PC were to be congratulated on getting this work done.

b) Civic Award Scheme for Schools. Task Group: PW/JB

PW and JB will make the scheme more like that at Brewood and details will be issued to the schools in September. ACTION: PW/JB

c) Eyesores – in preparation for Brian Bennett’s attendance at the next committee meeting on 3^rd October 2010 PL and JB would make a list of the main items which we will show him. BB will come to the meeting and after a brief overview the whole committee will walk to view most of the items and then by car to two further items. (Post Meeting Note: PL/JB’s Survey Report with photos has been circulated to all for comment and any further suggestions).

PL suggested that we should discus with B Bennett the possibility that Alb PC could tackle some of the smaller maintenance tasks such as weed killing, painting litter bins etc. DB said that it may be possible for SC to provide annual funding of about £3000 to cover this and the work to be done by the Alb PC workman.

DB advised that SC Officers have regular walk-abouts to inspect items for repair/maintenance and that Alb PC are usually invited to accompany them and he suggested that the Society should also ask if we can send a representative. ACTION DB will ask SC. We can also discuss with B Bennett at next meeting.

DB reported that there are now 15 empty businesses in Albrighton; the greatest number anyone remembers.

i) The Old Smithy.

It had been reported that David Thompson had submitted Plans to SC Planning Dept but the Planning Application had not appeared on the SC website nor as a Notice on the property.

ii) Stables opposite The Horns, Boningale. PW had written to SC Planners to complain that the second un-authorised entrance directly on A464 was being used and asked for SC’s proposed action.

ACTION: PW to chase up a reply

d) Lack of Parking :Provision in Albrighton

PL had made a presentation on behalf of the Society SC at the LJC meeting on 19^th May. This identified several possible locations where additional public parking may be constructed – SC were to take a first look, check on ownership and practicalities and report back at next LJC meeting. RK had identified several more locations and would make an additional presentation at the LJC meeting on 12^th July.

ACTION: PL/RK to write to SC to remind them that their report was expected at the next LJC meeting on 28 October 2010.

e) LJC meeting on 28^th Sept is expected to have two main items – Parking and Planning Procedures.

Planning Procedures – MP has arranged for Nick Taylor, SC Head of Planning, and Cllr Stuart West, Chairman of SC Planning Committee, to attend the LJC meeting to answer questions raised by several people including three residents and ex-Cllr RK who recently attended a planning meeting. DB said that he would arrange for Alb PC to have a Cllr attend who would raise issues on behalf of the Alb PC (DB not able to attend). It was also felt that Cllr Dr Nigel Hester may also have points to raise. RS had received requests from two residents in Cross Rd that a short informal meeting be held a few days before the LJC meeting to allow all those who wanted to speak at the LJC to co-ordinate their contributions. ACTION RS to arrange a meeting at Elwood House and will liaise with DB, RK, NHester and the other residents to fix a date.

f) Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). The Secretary had received a letter from SC which had been circulated and would now request the SC Report. ACTION: RS

g) Core Strategy Development Plan. The Secretary had received a letter from SC which had been circulated. SC arranging a public meeting in Albrighton in Oct/Nov 2010

h) Grants from LJC18. The Society had submitted two applications for grants – first (£7500) from the “large LJC pot” for the Entrances Scheme. SC proposed matched funding but to exclude donations from corporate organisations and to exclude sums assigned to volunteers time. The Society considered that the conditions were not practical or acceptable and so the application was withdrawn pending discussion with SC.

The second (£250) application from the “small LJC pot” for a contribution to administration costs was not settled by the last LJC meeting.

RS and DH had therefore met Andrea McWilliams at Bridgnorth on 23^rd August. It was explained that the Society’s efforts were focussed on obtaining contributions in cash and kind from local organisations and individuals and we have been very successful so far. ADCS does not run fund raising functions which in any case would diminish the amount of potential “cash giving to charities” available locally thus taking from other clubs who do depend on such fund raising. We had received her help and advice for both applications. DH has re-submitted the small application which will be determined at the LJC meeting on 28^th Oct. RS has AMcW’s notes and will discuss the large application with PW and JB when both are back from holiday. The Grant Application for the Entrances Scheme will be re-submitted before the early December 2010 deadline for review at the January 2011 LJC meeting and we were told that the “large pot” funds will still be available then.

4. Fayre Day stall and recruitment. DH sent his Treasurer’s report: £134 of Subscriptions and £17 of raffle-ticket-only were collected. Stand fee £20. Thus Fayre Day net income = £131.

New Members: Individual 52, Family 17 = total 69

Renewals: Individual 10, Family 9, Life (converted from Ind) 2 = total 21

Total recruited on Fayre Day = 90 members

Total membership at 23 Aug 2010 = 216 members.

(Post Meeting Note. RS: Some of the 216 people were recruited at Fayre Day 2009 and were visitors from outside the area and will not renew. Thus it is likely that at the ADCS year end on 30^th November 2010 the membership will drop to 90 – we therefore need to recruit now to bring numbers up to last year’s approx 150 members)

5. Any other business

a) Exchange visit with Brewood Civic Society is 7pm on Wednesday 22^nd September 2010 and PW is fixing the details.

b) Signage. RS reported that there has been correspondence with Patrick & Gaynor Richards as the Traders Association wish to have SC place a sign at the end of Cross Rd on the A464 to encourage travellers to come to shop in Albrighton. JB suggested it say “Local Traffic to Shops & Services”. RS said that some residents of Cross Road also wanted the current sign directing traffic “to RAF Cosford” down Cross Rd to be changed to direct them along the A464 and to turn them at the Junction into A41 – it is thought that drivers coming from a distance and heading to the M54 Junction 3 are aware that J3 is at Cosford and seeing the current sign they then turn down Cross Rd. A new sign could also show that “to M54” is along A464 and then into A41. RS suggested that the directing of through traffic along A464/A41 should only to be done if the Traders Association confirms that through traffic to the M54 does not generally stop at shops in the village – we don’t want them to lose trade.

Date of next meeting: Friday 1^st October at 2pm at John Bulmer’s

(Following meeting to be on 1^st Friday in month ie Friday 5^th November 2010 at Peter Woodman’s)