BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Committee Meeting Monday March 11^th 2024

Those Present:

Councillors:- Lucy Harrison RBC, Joe Baker RBC, Brandon Clayton WCC, Kerrie Miles RBC

Committee:  

Stephen Siddle SS

Julie Vincent JV

Mike Vincent MV

Sylvia Collinson SC

Mark Whitworth MW

The Agenda:

1. Apologies
2. Actions arising from previous meeting on May 9^th 2023
3. First Port Maintenance Services
4. Right of Way across the Red Ditch
5. Flooding (Sink hole) by Subway to Brockhill Park
6. Wildlife Project
7. Barrier for Brockhill Park (Pathway leading into Salters Lane)
8. A.O.B.

1. Apologies:

Apologies were received from WCC Salman Akbar.

2. Actions arising from previous meeting on May 9^th 2023:

BC confirmed that the Nature Reserve/Red Ditch is still owned by Persimmon Homes.

LH has put in a request to First Port Maintenance Services for a larger Dog Litter Bin to be installed to replace the smaller, well used and overflowing existing bin.

JV arranged to borrow the Litter Pickers and bin bags from RBC Richard Adlington for the Litter Pick held on Saturday June 10^th 2023.

3. First Port Maintenance Services:

The meeting arranged by our local Councillors LH & JB at Holyoakes Field First School on Monday February 19^th was well attended.  Committee members JV, MV & MW also attended, to meet with First Port’s Property Manager Jean Brown and a Maintenance worker.  Residents’ were able to voice their concerns regarding the uncapped service charges which they have to pay annually and which had risen by a significant amount.  Some Residents’ had refused to pay it and had been charged a late payment fee.  Jean Brown said that the service charges had risen due to the increase in the price of maintenance materials after the COVID Pandemic.  Residents’ complained about the lack of litter bin emptying, with dog excrement bags lying around on the ground near to the Childrens’ playground.  Jean Brown said that she was going to arrange to use a more reliable company to empty the bins.  We are still waiting to be told who she will be employing.  LH said that she will let the Committee know which company will be responsible for this as soon as she knows.

A second meeting has now been arranged by RBC’s LH & JB on Tuesday April 2^nd at the School again, the time has yet to be confirmed but is likely to be early evening.  Jean Brown will be attending again to answer further questions.  The Councillors will be sending out flyers to the Residents’ of East Brockhill with the details.

4. Right of Way across the Red Ditch:

Our efforts to create a pathway and stile across the Red Ditch to enable School Children and their Parents to walk to school by a safer and quicker route, thus relieving the traffic congestion at the school, have been thwarted.  The land still belongs to Persimmon so until the area is adopted by RBC, nothing can be done.  

5. Flooding (Sink Hole) by Subway to Brockhill Park:

This area of Public Open Space, which floods several times a year, is again, still not adopted by RBC after more than twenty years.  RBC KM and her partner, attempted to divert the flood water into the nearby Brook, but it needs professional maintenance to be carried out. The flooding in this area increased after the Farmer who uses the field for his Sheep to graze, dug a trench in the field for rainwater to drain away, but this created a sink hole on the other side of the fence.  LH told us that the talks that RBC have had recently with Persimmon Homes, have been more positive towards adoption of the Public Open Spaces around this part of Brockhill.

6. Wildlife Project:

MW will be applying for a grant from RBC this year, mainly to purchase a Notice Board to explain what has been planted on the Public Open Space in Appletree Lane, together with the Bat and Bird Boxes and the Bug House which he made to encourage Brockhill’s Wildlife. 

With the help of a few volunteers to the Wildlife Project, a Winter flowering Cherry Tree has recently been planted behind the Rockery.

7. Barrier for Brockhill Park (Pathway leading into Salters Lane:

We have been trying to get a safer barrier at the end of the pathway leading into Salters Lane for several years now.  We had hoped to have a crossing installed also, to make it safer for children crossing over to reach the playground in Oak Tree Avenue.  We have again, come to a standstill, as the paths have not been adopted by RBC. 

8. A.O.B.:

SC told us that the Grit Bin on the corner of Butlers Hill Lane/Brockhill Lane had slipped forward and was blocking the pathway.  BC said he would have it looked at.

JV informed the Committee that we’ve had 12 new members register in the last month.  She has taken over the monitoring of the Membership list and sending out the ‘Welcome’ e mails to the new members.

Actions from this meeting:

LH to send us the new Police team contact details.

BC to arrange for the Grit Bin in Butlers Hill Lane to be put back in place.

MW to apply for a Grant rom RBC for the Wildlife Project.

The meeting ended at 8.30 p.m. 

BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Committee Meeting Tuesday May 9th 2023

Those Present:

Councillors:- Lucy Harrison RBC, Joe Baker RBC, Brandon Clayton WCC, Salman Akbar WCC

Headteacher of Holyoakes Field First School – Mrs Koser

Mrs Koser has kindly given permission for us to hold our Committee Meeting in the School Hall.  The meeting started at 5.30 pm.

Committee:  

Mike Long                                 ML

Stephen Siddell                         SS

Julie Vincent                             JV

Mike Vincent                            MV

The Agenda:

1. Apologies
2. Actions arising from previous meeting on September 26th 2022
3. Traffic Calming Measures in Burrington Close/Hawling Street
4. School Traffic/Car Parking
5. Right of Way across the Red Ditch
6. More Dog Litter Bins for Meadow View Estate
7. Barrier/Crossing for Salters Lane entrance to Brockhill Park
8. Anti-Social Behaviour by Basketball Court in Brockhill Park
9. Litter Pick
10. Quiz Night
11. A.O.B.

1. Apologies:

Apologies were received from Sylvia Collinson and Mark Whitworth.

2. Actions arising from previous meeting on September 26^th 2022:

SA informed us that he has ordered a staggered barrier to be installed at the end of the pathway from Brockhill Park into Salters Lane, but is still waiting for a date for the work to be undertaken.

BC told us that Safety Speed checks were carried out in Salters Lane and it was found that the average speed was 25/26 mph, so a crossing is not found to be necessary at present.

BC said that the Slow Down sign had now been re-erected. MV asked if it had been concreted in this time as it is down more often than up.  BC said that he believed that the Bus is the cause of it being knocked down when it comes around the bend.  JB said that his opinion was that YOBS had damaged it. BC said that he will have it re-erected in concrete and Tarmacked over.

JV had written to Mainstay to ask how often the Litter Bins were emptied at East Brockhill. She did not receive a reply as they were in the process of changing over to a new maintenance controller called First Port.  LH has been in touch with First Port to complain about the lack of service and will continue to monitor the situation.

BC said that the inspection had not been carried out by WCC Engineers with regard to the flooding at the gate to the field as it is still owned by Persimmon.  The land that floods is at the gate which is on RBC land, so we have asked if it can still be inspected by WCC Engineers.

3. Traffic Calming Measures in Burrington/Hawling Street:

Since the Speed Bumps have been taken out in this area, the problem of speeding has become worse, so JB has spoken to the Site Manager, Nathan Cox and requested that they be put back in.  Because the roads have not been adopted, speed checks cannot be done, but several residents’ have complained about the traffic speed and are concerned for the safety of their children.  We discussed having a crossing installed on the corner of Cookridge Close/Burrington Close junction, for the use of the school children who walk this way.4.

4. School Traffic/Car Parking

Residents in Pointers Way have complained about the double parking caused by the parents of school children who are being dropped off.  Mrs Koser told us that she has a system in place, where the Teachers’ meet children from their parents cars and walk them up to the School, to help relieve the situation.  We discussed having a one-way route in place to avoid congestion of vehicles turning around.  Mrs Koser said that the main problem is that there are no pavements for the Children to walk on, there had been at the old School. JB said that the Police would not get involved until an accident happened, as they, understandably haven’t got the man power.  The Councillors said that they are attending a meeting at the School on Monday May 15^th and will be discussing this with WCC Officers and Persimmon Site Managers’. 

5. Right of Way across the Red Ditch:-

JV produced a copy of a map showing a right of way footpath, dating back to 1940, extending across the Red Ditch which runs parallel to where the new estates were built and therefore, near to the school.

She asked if the area could be cultivated and a pathway installed across the ditch, to provide a safe walking route for school children to use who live on the west side of Brockhill, which would then ease some of the car traffic.  BC said that he would bring this up at the meeting with WCC Highways Officers and Persimmon on Monday afternoon.

6. More Dog Litter Bins for Meadow View Estate:

Residents’ and parents of children using the playground on Meadow View Estate, have complained to us about the lack of Dog Poo bins being emptied regularly, even though they have to pay extra maintenance fees to First Port, the agency that is supposed to provide the service.  Residents’ have to pay uncapped fees on top of the Council Tax as is the case on all new housing estates, no matter who the builder is.  The maintenance company changed hands about a year ago, taking over from Mainstay and we had hoped that, with the increase in charges, a better service would be provided, but so far, this does not seem to be the case. LH has however, managed to get one new bin installed and will assess the situation regularly.

7. Barrier/Crossing for Salters Lane entrance to Brockhill Park:

SA informed us that he has ordered a staggered barrier to be installed in this area and he will chase its installation.  BC said that it is unlikely that we will get a crossing installed, as the results of speed checks that were carried out last year, were of no concern, even though there have been many witnesses to traffic not slowing down for the bend in Salters Lane.  We hope that when the ‘Slow Down’ sign is erected in concrete and tarmacked over, therefore spending more time up than down, motorists will take heed. BC said that he will order the work to be done.

8. Anti-Social Behaviour by Basketball Court in Brockhill Park:

There have been reports from Residents’ of anti-social behaviour and some have witnessed drug dealing taking place outside the Basketball Court in the Park.  At one time, a camera had been in place, but after a few weeks, it was moved on to another troublesome area.  JV suggested a light being installed there, to highlight any illegal activities and therefore deter this activity.  JB said that he didn’t think that would stop it and that the YOBS would just move into the bushes or the underpass to carry out their drug dealing, which they also do at present anyway.  There is a PACT meeting taking place at the end of May at Redditch Rugby Club, we are waiting to hear the date it’s being held and plan for the committee members to attend and we will also let members know the date as soon as possible.

9. Litter Pick:

We are approaching the time of year when we usually hold our Litter Pick.  We discussed a suitable date in June and JV said that she would contact Richard Adlington of RBC, to arrange to borrow the Litter Picks and Rubbish Bags.  We have set the date for Saturday June 10^th. Members will receive an e- mailed invitation shortly.

10. Quiz Night:

We discussed whether to hold a Quiz Night in October and asked Mrs Koser, if it would be possible to hold it in the school hall.  We explained that we apply for a drinks licence and would need to set up a bar as this helps us to raise the money we need for our annual expenses, i.e.website hosting and domain name registration, alcohol licence, photocopying and stationery.  She said that this would be possible on a suitable date for the school.

11. A.O.B:

MV asked BC if there was an update on when the Bannister for the steps leading from Kite Lane into Brockhill Park, would be installed.  BC said that he had not been able to put in an order for this to be done, as the paths and steps have not been adopted yet by RBC. 

Actions from this meeting:

SA to find out a date for the Barrier to be installed in Brockhill Park/Salters Lane end.

BC to contact RBC Landscaping Department to request the Banister for the staircase.

BC to order the concreting and tarmacking of the ‘Slow Down’ sign in Salters Lane.

LH to request another Dog Poo/Litter Bin for Meadow View and find out how often the bins are emptied.

JV to contact Richard Adlington of RBC to arrange to borrow the Litter picks and bags for June 10^th and for the removal of litter bags collected.

JV to contact Mrs Koser to arrange a suitable date for the Quiz Night.

JV to arrange a date with Mrs Koser for the committee to have a tour of the new school.

The meeting ended at 7 p.m.

BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the Committee Meeting Monday held on Monday September 26th 2022 at Batchley Community Centre

Those Present:

David Dallaway                         DD

Lynn Dallaway                           LD

Gemma Monaco                       GM

Stephen Siddle                          SS

Julie Vincent                             JV

Mike Vincent                            MV

Mark Whitworth                       MW

Redditch Borough Councillors: Joe Baker (JB) & Lucy Harrison (LH)

The Agenda:

1. Apologies
2. Actions arising from previous meeting on March 21^st 2022
3. Skittles Evening
4. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View
5. Holyoakes Field First School
6. Persimmon Homes section 106 monies
7. Lowans Hill Farm Development
8. Wildlife project
9. Finances
10. Membership List
11. AGM
12. A.O.B.

1. Apologies:

Apologies were received from Sylvia Collinson (SC), RBC Nyear Nazir (NN), WCC Salman Akbar (SA) & WCC Brandon Clayton (BC)

2. Actions arising from previous meeting on March 2st 2022:

Philip Roberts was contacted by JV via Huw Moseley, for his advice on the Subway Art Project.  He was due to attend our next meeting, but we have since found out that the subway has not been adopted by RBC.  It is unlikely that the area will be adopted by RBC because the structure has not been built to the required standards.  We have therefore abandoned the project for the foreseeable future.

Salman Akbar was contacted for an update on the possibility of installing a stronger barrier at the end of the pathway leading from Brockhill Park on to Salters Lane.  He is still waiting for a decision to be made as to what would replace it in order to prevent children racing out on to the road on their bicycles or scooters.

BC was to check with the police as to whether they had conducted their safety checks on Salters Lane and the Pointers Way and Meadow View estates, ahead of the introduction of speed restrictions.  LH told us that she has since found out that roads that haven’t been adopted by the Council, i.e those on Pointers Way and Meadow View, cannot be considered.  In the absence of BC, we are still waiting to hear if the Salters Lane speed checks have been carried out.

BC was to arrange for the re-erection of the ‘Slow Down’ sign in Salters Lane, near to the Wetlands/Brockhill Park.  We have assumed this was done as the sign in question has been put back up.  We will keep monitoring this in case the fault lies with the foundations.

JV wrote to Mainstay to complain about the lack of dog poo bins being emptied around the Pointers Way and Meadow view estates.  Mainstay replied to say that they would increase their efforts to empty them more often.  The problem seems to be under control at present.

BC met with MV to inspect the sink hole and flooding near to the field gate on the public open space, close to the subway into Brockhill Park.  He agreed that it needs to be inspected properly by WCC engineers and has now arranged for an inspection to be carried out.  We are still, however, waiting for a date to be confirmed.

JV contacted Richard Aldington at RBC to arrange the borrowing of litter picking equipment.  Unfortunately,it did not arrive as arranged and a last minute rally round for equipment was undertaken by BC with it arriving in the nick of time from Bromsgrove District Council.  DD thanked JV for her efforts in organising the Litter Pick.  He expressed his disappointment at the lack of support from Association members for what is a most enjoyable and rewarding couple of hours.  We have over 500 registered members and, excluding committee members and councillors, only four other members attended on 14^th May.

MW wrote to Mainstay to inform them of an area in Appletree Lane which had been a pathway until the bund was replaced on the public open space near to the Appletree/Brockhill Drive traffic Island.  It had been left as grassland and had not been maintained.  He has requested that it be reinstated as a pathway.

3. Skittles Evening:

The Beer and Skittles evening was planned for Saturday October 8^th.  Tickets went on sale two weeks ago, but as yet, only a few tickets have been sold.  The venue is the Batchley Community Centre and the skittles and balls are being borrowed from the HDA Sports & Social Club next door.  We are hoping to raise much needed funds towards our running costs.  Membership of the Association remains free even though we incur sizeable annual costs such as the hosting of our website and domain name registration fee.  We have been unable to hold any fund raising events since the Quiz Night of almost three years ago due to the COViD pandemic.

JV has contacted local businesses to see if they would kindly donate prizes for the raffle.  LD had also sent a request letter to Sainsbury’s.

(Post meeting update: very regretfully the event has had to be cancelled because of exceedingly low ticket sales and lack of interest from members)

4. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View:

The new notice board was finally erected on 12^th May at the corner of Cookridge Close/Burrington Close.  Persimmon Homes had to approve where it could be erected by RBC maintenance employees, to ensure that vision splay was avoided.  DD said that regretfully it is named just “Brockhill” rather than the full title of the Association that our other two boards bear.  Also  it differs from the other two pinboards in that it is magnetic.  Consequently we had to buy magnets to attach all the leaflets and this does not appear to  be as effective an attachment method as the good old pin.  However we are grateful that at long last a board has been installed.  SC emailed Fortis Living to thank them again for their kind donation of £2,000 towards the costs. 

We still receive occasional requests from members, and even residents who are not members, to display leaflets advertising their businesses. However all such requests are declined as our ethos is not to support commercial activities of whatever kind.

5. Holyoakes Field First School:

The new school finally opened its doors to pupils at the start of the academic year in September.  There have already been complaints about school traffic from residents living in Cookridge Close, Fairweather Close and Dovecote Close.  Concerns have been raised about parents parking on the junction of Cookridge and Fairweather, with cars being parked on either side of the junction.  This makes it almost impossible to see what is coming either up or down Fairweather Close.

A problem was always likely as the planning committee at RBC did not insist on a better drop off area at the school.  GM said that double yellow lines were definitely needed and should be sought once the roads were eventually adopted by RBC.  Problems have been exacerbated by the work currently being undertaken by Severn Trent Water, and these have overrun for reasons of which we are unaware.  Temporary traffic lights have been introduced whilst stronger underground water pipes are installed.  The lights keep failing which encourages drivers to ‘chance it and jump them.’

Problems are further compounded by construction and other traffic tending to use Cookridge, Fairweather and Dovecote Closes rather than Burrington Close in order to avoid its speed bumps.  GM pointed out that the situation will not improve until the secondary exit on Weights Lane is opened up.  This would obviate the need for construction traffic to use Burrington Close thus enabling the removal of the speed bumps.  Regretfully however this is extremely unlikely to happen soon as yet again we are in the hands of Persimmon.  LH had informed us that Persimmon have recently put up some signs directing construction traffic to go along Burrington Close and claim they are doing what they can to stop it travelling up the aforementioned Closes. 

There has also been a complaint about litter being dropped along the route to the school, due to a lack of litter and dog poo bins.  LH said that she would put in a request for some to be installed.

6. Persimmon Homes section 106 monies:

The Association’s previous chairman has been vigorously pursuing this matter for some time.  The amount due to be paid over by Persimmon is several hundred thousands of pounds.  He has been in regular email contact with both LH and JB and also Redditch and Bromsgrove’s Principal Solicitor.  LH said the matter was currently sitting with Land Registry. 

7. Lowans Hill Farm Development:

Lowans Hill Farm is an area near to the school which was sold to Persimmon several years ago.  The derelict barn had a preservation order put on it, but this only lasted for five years and now that it has expired, Persimmon Homes have sold the land to Claremont Property Group.  It is planned to build 17 two storey houses of various sizes there.  Persimmon have allowed the derelict buildings to become dilapidated and RBC planning department have not enforced the original conditions.

Several of our members have expressed concern about the proposed development’s adverse effect on the surrounding landscape.  LH had advised that people should write to the Case Officer at Redditch Borough Council Planning Department with their objections.  This advice had been posted on our Facebook page.

8. Wildlife Project:-

DD reported that the Plant Sale in early May, organised by MW and Association member Shirley Jobson, raised £300.75.  He thanked both for their efforts.  The proceeds will help fund the purchase of bulbs, to plant ready for next spring, and a new birch tree from Burcott Nursery.  The tree will cost in the region of £190.  MW has made contact with Anthony Lovell, a tree surgeon and also an RBC Councillor.  He has been very helpful with his advice on what trees are best for the area concerned.  MW said that he is still planning to have an oak tree planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy and will invite MP Rachel Maclean to the planting ceremony.  Shirley Jobson has acquired wildflower seeds which she will be scattering this autumn.

MW also told us that there was evidence that the bat boxes and bird houses had been lived in this year.

Council Leader Matt Dormer has agreed to lend MW a rotovator and turf digger from his Dormer Tool Hire business.

The bench donated by Richard Aldington and owned by his late mother Margaret, has been renovated by MW.  It is has now been positioned at the side of the path that runs around the Dairy Lane/Appletree Lane Wildlife Project area.  IIt has been installed on to a hard core standing by RBC’s environmental maintenance department.  Shirley Jobson purchased a small plaque with the name Margaret engraved in her memory.

9. Finances:

DD advised that since our last meeting in March, we had received income of £300.75, being the profits from the Plant Sale previously discussed.  Expenditure in that same period was £264.82, of which £169.93 was for the annual web hosting and domain name fees. The net profit of £35.93 has increased our current funds balance to £1,798.

As previously mentioned, the Beer and Skittles Evening was to be our first fund raising event for almost three years due to the COVID pandemic.  The cost of hiring Batchley Community Centre for our meeting or events is currently £24 for each occasion.  SA and BC have kindly agreed to reimbiurse such costs from their discretionary funds.  They have advised that rather than submitting a separate claim for each hiring, we should await until several have been incurred and then apply for the total amount.  JB advised that we contact the new Holyoakes First School about using their meeting room facilities in future.  He believed that other schools in the Redditch area normally did not charge for such services.

The details of the Association’s finances will be laid out in detail at this year’s AGM.

10. Membership List:

DD reported that currently we had 518 registered members.  He expressed his ongoing disappointment that we continue to receive several email requests and postings on Facebook from residents who are not members of the Association.  SC has now posted a message on Facebook encouraging such people to join and outlining the benefits of so doing.

11. AGM

This year our AGM will be held on Monday November 21^st at Batchley Community Centre, in Cherry Tree Walk, Batchley at 7.30 p.m.  This is a chance to meet the committee and our local councillors, who will be pleased to assist our members with any local concerns.  This is the first AGM since the COVID pandemic, so members are encouraged to come along and show their support.

Under the terms of our constitution, one third (or the number nearest one third) of the elected Executive Committee Members are required to retire at each AGM – those longest in office retiring first.  DD announced that after 10 years’ service he and LD would be standing down and not offering themselves for re-election.

12. A.O.B.

JV asked JB if the bench that faced the bushes in Brockhill Park before its removal, would be returning to a more suitable position.

LD said that her son had been told by the Severn Trent Water workmen that they would not be completing their work in Burrington Close/Cookridge Close until Xmas.

LD wondered how long it will take to get one or more new post boxes installed on Pointers Way/Meadow View now that both are essentially completed.  The houses on these two estates are more than one mile away from the nearest box, a distance that Royal Mail has previously informed us is their qualifying requirement.

JB told us about the latest water drainage scam going around, mainly to mobile phones.

MV asked the Councillors if they could get a copy of which areas in Brockhill were still unadopted.  This would help to prevent a repeat of the recent problems encountered when trying to arrange repairs and improvements to the subway leading into Brockhill Park.

MW requested that replacement of the three non-working lights in the aforementioned subway was chased again by the Councillors.

MW requested that white lines be painted at the Appletree/Dairy Lane junction.  LH will ask SA to progress this.

DD mentioned the continuing vandalism around the basketball court in Brockhill Park and also the damage done to the Association’s notice board.

Actions from this meeting:

SA to provide an update on the need for a better barrier at the Brockhill Park crossing on Salters Lane.

LH to contact Persimmon to request additional litter bins for Cookridge Close.

LH to find out when Severn Trent Water plan to complete the laying of new pipelines.

LH to obtain a plan of unadopted roads and public open spaces in Brockhill.

LH to contact Persimmon about the faulty lighting in the subway.

JB to find out when the bench is being returned to Brockhill Park/Wetlands.

JV to obtain raffle prizes from local shops for the Skittles Evening raffle.

NN to chase up the the repair of the damaged notice board in Brockhill Park.

SA to provide update on painting white lines on the Appletree/Dairy Lane junction.

The meeting ended at 9.15 p.m.

BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on Monday March 21^st 2022 at Batchley Community Centre

Those Present

David Dallaway                              DD

Lynn Dallaway                                LD

Stephen Siddle                               SS

Mike Vincent                                  MV

Julie Vincent                                   JV

Mark Whitworth                           MW

Redditch North Worcestershire County Councillor: Brandon Clayton (BC)

Guest: Huw Moseley – Arts Advisor RBC & BDC (left after agenda item 2.)

The Agenda

1. Apologies
2. Subway Art Project
3. Actions arising from previous meeting on June 30^th 2021
4. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View
5. Wildlife Project
6. Finances
7. Holyoakes Field First School
8. Speeding on Pointers Way/Meadow View/Salters Lane
9. Salters Lane ‘Slow Down’ sign
10. Membership List
11. Dog Poo Bins
12. Litter Pick, AGM & Quiz Night
13. A.O.B.

1. Apologies

Apologies were received from Sylvia Collinson and Councillors Gemma Monaco (GM), Lucy Harrison (LH), Nyear Nazir (NN) and Salman Akbar (SA).

Nyear’s and Salman’s absence was due their attending a Licensing meeting.

Gemma and Phil Moore have tendered their resignations due to work commitments.  However, Mike Vincent has now been co-opted on to the Committee. 

2. Subway Art: Project

The idea of having a mural painted on the subway wall adjacent to Brockhill Park/Wetlands was first conceived by MW several years ago, when he discussed it with Pattie Hill.  Recently a member suggested the same idea, so it was decided to hold a competition for the best design and thus gain ideas from the community as to what they would like to see painted on the subway wall.

We invited Huw Moseley, Arts Development Officer for Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Council, to the meeting for advice on how to go about organising the project.  He said he would email us with details of artists he could recommend.  Huw had already had a tentative conversation with Peter Rose, a director of the Redditch based company Tiller Research Ltd., who would be able to advise us.  SS asked if there would be funding available for the project and Huw replied that grants could be made available if local communities were involved.  There is a charity, Arts in Redditch, who we could contact via their Secretary Philip Roberts.  JV said she would make contact with him shortly for his advice also.

Before departing Huw was thanked for his attendance, advice and contribution to date.

3. Actions arising from previous meeting on 30^th June 2021

The invoice for the Pointers Way notice board had now been sent to DD.  This would be discussed further in agenda item 4.

NN had emailed committee members to confirm that unfortunately a gentleman called Bill, the Community Champion, was unable to make us a bench.

SA had agreed to investigate the installation of a more effective barrier at the end of pathway in Brockhill Park, where it meets Salters Lane.  In the absence of SA we were unaware if this has been carried out.  We will be contacting SA for an update.

BC had added the repair of the wooden posts around Brockhill Park to Persimmon’s pre-adoption ‘snag list’.

JV had contacted Richard Aldington of RBC regarding the spraying of gutters on Brockhill Drive with weed killer. This was carried out a few weeks later.

NN had emailed committee members with contact details of the Police’s new Safer Neighbourhood Teams including those for Batchley and Central.

4. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View

GM has been in touch with Matthew Mead at RBC, to ask what was causing the delay in the installation of the new notice board.  Following receipt of an invoice from RBC, the balancing payment of £2,000 had been paid by DD on 1^st September last year.  The funds had originally been obtained from Fortis Housing by former committee member Claire Ivins.  On 9^th March Matthew emailed DD to confirm they were preparing to install the notice board and sought confirmation of the location.  Matthew advised that the minor works team would carry out installation, but they might have to alter the location if underground services were found to be present.  However it was suggested that a David Shipley could meet DD on site to confirm the location.  DD provided Matthew with his ‘phone number in order that David Shipley could arrange a meet up.  DD still awaits contact.

On 21^st March GM emailed Peter Liddington and Richard Aldington of Bromsgrove & Redditch District Council confirming the location of the board.  She copied in an email from Persimmon Homes indicating where it should be sited so that it did not impede the s38 works or affect the visibility splays.

 (Post-meeting update – on 29^th March DD received a message on his answerphone from Neil Hunt of Bromsgrove & Redditch District Council wishing to discuss installation.  He said he would ring back shortly but despite DD having tried to return his call, no further contact has been made.)

5. Wildlife Project

MW gave an update of his work on the public open space at the end of Appletree Lane, where he and his team of volunteers have been planting fruit and birch trees together with native flowers.  He has put his wood working skills to good use by making bird boxes, a bat house and a bug hotel.  These were installed in surrounding trees a few weeks ago and another fruit tree has also been planted.  He is holding a plants sale on Monday May 2^nd to raise funds for an oak tree in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  Our local MP Rachel Maclean will be invited to attend the planting.

MW has also been given a bench to renovate by Richard Aldington that was previously owned by Richard’s late mother Margaret.  MW asked if RBC would be able to help with its installation.  BC suggested we should ask if this could possibly be done on the same day that the new notice board is concreted in.  MW added that he would like to obtain a plaque for the bench to commemorate Margaret.

MW expressed his concern regarding public liability if there were, for example, an accident following somebody falling off the bench.   BC said the installers would in effect be liable and doubted whether the Council would take on this responsibility.

6. Finances

DD produced the accounts for the year ended February 28^th 2022 which will be available on our website shortly.  There were only three items of expenditure, being the annual webhosting and domain name charges of £148, the Wildlife Project of £690 and the notice board contribution of £2,000.  Covid restrictions had prevented our normal fund raising Quiz Night and the only income in the year was the second Wildlife Project donation of £1,000.  Consequently expenditure exceeded income by £1,838 thus reducing our funds to £1,763.

The Wildlife Project, granted a total of £2,000 by WCC Councillors BC and SA, has a balance remaining of £668.  MW is hoping to boost the funds at the plants sale on May 2^nd.

7. Holyoakes Field First School

The opening of the new school has been delayed yet again, the latest forecast now being September 2022.  BC told us that the school’s interior is complete but a problem had been found with the exterior footings.  It is hoped that this will be put right in time for the teaching staff to get the school ready for opening in the summer holidays and that it will finally open for the new school year in September.

8. Speeding on Pointers Way/Meadow View/Salters Lane

LH had recently emailed the committee to say she was waiting for the police to carry out an assessment and share the results as to whether this could be added to the Community Speedwatch scheme.  LH added she was chasing this regularly.  However it does take a little while as each time a new road is added to the scheme, the police need to risk assess it and put insurance in place on the site etc.  BC said he would investigate whether this has now been completed.

9. Salters Lane ‘Slow Down’ sign:

The ‘Slow Down’ sign on a bend in Salters Lane on the left hand side when driving from the Lily Green Lane end, has been knocked down on several occasions.  We are not sure of the cause but asked BC if he could check how it was erected originally and if it could be concreted in with more strength to avoid a reoccurrence.

10. Membership List:            

DD informed us that there has been a small rise in membership since the last meeting.  SC continues to deliver leaflets to Meadow View whenever she notices that residents have moved in to a newly completed house.  Not surprisingly the number of new members each month now tends to be small as the development reaches its final stages.  We currently have 510 members.

11. Dog Poo Bins

Members who live on the new Pointers Way and Meadow View estates are still complaining that the dog poo bins in the area are not emptied often enough.  This results in dog poo bags being left on the floor next to the bins because there is no room for them inside.  This is becoming an environmental issue, particularly as one of the bins is situated close to the newly opened children’s playground.  Mainstay, the property management agents for the area, are responsible for the emptying of the bins.  They receive an annual fee from the majority of householders on the two new estates to cover maintenance costs.  JV will contact Mainstay and seek details of the frequency with which the bins are emptied.  It will be made clear that that unless a satisfactory response is obtained, the matter will be referred to the environmental health department.

12. Litter Pick, AGM & Quiz Night

We decided to hold this year’s Litter Pick in May, when hopefully the weather is warmer.  A date of Saturday May 14^ty was agreed upon.  JV will organise borrowing the necessary equipment from Richard Aldington at RBC.  Advertising posters will be placed on our notice boards, together with postings on our website and Facebook page.

Now that Covid restrictions are considerably eased, the possibility of holding an AGM and Quiz Night in the latter half of the year was discussed.  MW suggested another way to get the community together was to maybe hold a ‘Beer and Skittles’ night.  The Committee will look into whether members would be keen to support this idea.

13. A.O.B

MV told us that a sink hole had appeared on grassland on the public open space near the entrance to the sheep field by Parklands Close/Appletree Lane.   BC agreed to meet with MV the following Friday to inspect it.  MV also raised the issue of the flooding around the gate into the field.  He asked whether a drainage ditch could be dug to divert the rain water into the nearby brook.  BC said that he would look at this at the same time.

DD read out a letter that our past chairman, Peter Merricks, had emailed to the Redditch Standard.   It concerned the recent news that RBC might be facing financial difficulties.   Peter’s letter highlighted the long running saga concerning Persimmon Homes’ continuing failure to pay over a considerable amount of money under the Section 106 agreement.  He pointed out that payment of the sum owing, some £411k, might help fill a few holes in one of RBC’s department’s budgets.  BC said he thought the overall sum due was actually closer to £800k.

MW said a neighbour of his had told him of an area near to her house that had originally been a pathway.  It had been grassed over when the bund was put back in a couple of years ago.  She wondered who was responsible for mowing it.   BC said that she should contact Mainstay, the aforementioned contractors mentioned in item 11 above.  They do all the grounds work in Redditch, not only on the new estates.  It was most likely that they were unaware of the alteration to the pathway.

Actions arising from this meeting:

JV to contact Philip Roberts, of Arts in Redditch, for his advice on the Subway Art Project.

SA to be contacted for an update on the possibility of installing a stronger barrier at the end of the pathway leading from Brockhill Park onto Salters Lane.

BC to check whether the police have conducted their safety checks on Salters Lane, Pointers Way and Meadow View ahead of the introduction of speed restrictions.

BC to arrange the re-erection and strengthening of the ‘Slow Down’ sign in Salters Way.

JV to write to Mainstay to complain about their lack of dog litter bins’ emptying on the Pointers Way and Meadow View estates.

BC to meet with MV to inspect the sink hole and flooding near the field gate on the public open space close to the Brockhill Park subway.

JV to book the Litter Pick with Richard Aldington and arrange the borrowing of equipment.

MW to write to Mainstay to tell them about the area of grass in Appletree Lane which needs to be returned to its original state of a pathway.

BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the Committee Meeting 2021 held in the back garden of 5 Parklands Close

Wednesday June 30^th 

Those Present:

Sylvia Collinson          SC
David Dallaway            DD
Lynn Dallaway            LD
Gemma Moore            GM2

Julie Vincent            JV           

Mark Whitworth        MW

Redditch North Worcestershire County Councillors: Salman Akbar (SA) & Brandon Clayton (BC)

Brockhill & Batchley Borough Councillor: Nyear Nazir (NN)

The Agenda:

1. Apologies
2. Actions arising from previous meeting on March 2^nd 2020
3. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View
4. Gardening Project
5. Finances
6. Holyoakes Field First School
7. SmartWater kits
8. Persimmon Homes:-
   • Section 106 payments and maintenance of open spaces
   • Brockhill East – Phase 3

9. Speeding on Pointers Way/Meadow View 
10. Membership List
11. Facebook
12. Wooden posts in Wetlands/Brockhill Park
13. Banister on Staircase from Brockhill Park to Kite Lane
14. Dog poo bins
15. Sewage pumping station
16. A.O.B.

1. Apologies:

Apologies were received from Stephen Siddle, Gemma Monaco RBC (GM1), Lucy Harrison RBC (LH) and Phil Moore.

Gemma Monaco and Lucy Harrison were attending an RBC Planning Committee meeting.  Gemma had submitted a written report on several agenda topics for use at the meeting.

Lucy had been elected as a Brockhill & Batchley Councillor in May and had met most of the Committee Members at the Litter Pick in June.

Brandon introduced us to the recently elected WCC Salman Akbar.

DD expressed our deep sorrow that since the last meeting Councillor Pattie Hill had passed away on 26^th December and Committee Member Malcolm Gilks on 18^th January.

2. Actions arising from previous meeting on March 2^nd 2020:

BC told us that he had been in touch with traffic police regarding the traffic calming measures in Carthorse Lane that had been requested at previous Committee meetings.  They informed him that the road was unsuitable because it was a straight and that speed bumps often encourage cars to go faster!

DD had emailed Gemma Monaco on March 3^rd 2020 with a map detailing all the repairs and maintenance work required to be carried out in the Nature Reserve by Persimmon Homes.  To date none of the work has been done but this may be due to the impact of COVID 19 on normal working practices.

A message had been posted on our Facebook page encouraging followers to register as Association members via the official website.  DD commented that despite this we continue to receive a considerable number of Facebook postings from non-members. 

Following the easing of Coronavirus restrictions, JV had arranged a Litter Pick for the morning of Saturday June 5^th 2021.  Approximately fourteen bags of litter were collected together with an abandoned supermarket trolley.  It was a nice opportunity for committee members to meet some new residents who have since joined the Association.  Also it was our first chance to meet new RBC Lucy Harrison who, together with our other Councillors, helped with the litter picking.

No report back on any changes to the operating times of the Gun Club had been received.  However all agreed that there did not appear to be any noise issues these days.

BC had expedited repairs to the pot holes in Hewell Lane immediately after our last meeting.  BC had also arranged for the lights along Brockhill Drive to be repaired by Western Power. 

3. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View

Robin Lunn had been in contact with Matthew Mead of RBC last year and again at the beginning of this year, to find out why the new notice board had still not been installed. Robin had confirmed to DD that the total cost was £2,528, towards which the Association would contribute £2,000.  Robin had submitted a form to the County Council on 19^th March 2021 authorising the payment of the difference from his Divisional Fund.  Following Robin’s failure to be re-elected, BC was asked to follow up the situation.  He has since been informed by RBC that they are still awaiting the Association’s payment.  However, our Treasurer DD pointed out that no payment could be made unless an invoice or BACS payment details were sent to him.  BC will now request that an invoice is sent to DD to avoid further delay. 

4. Gardening Project:

MW, along with Shirley Jobson who is a member from Dairy Lane, is in charge of this project concerning the public open space abutting Appletree Lane.  BC had kindly donated money from his discretionary fund enabling the purchase of fruit trees, daffodils and bluebells that were planted in this area last November.  Native bulbs and seeds have also been planted along the bund and in the small rockery area.  Some members have volunteered to help with the maintenance of the area.  MW said that several residents have asked him if a bench could be placed near to the new fruit trees, which would be a welcome resting place for some of our elderly dog walking members.  NN informed us of a man in Batchley called Bill, who had previously made a bench for the Batchley area.  The wood for it had been provided by RBC and NN said she would find out more details.

MW said that he would like to purchase three red hawthorn trees.  DD said there was £374 remaining in the Gardening Fund out of the £1,000 donated by BC.  It is also planned to plant native daffodils at the end of August.

(Post meeting note: After the end of the meeting BC and SA invited DD and MW to submit an official request for further funding – this was duly done on 9^th July)

5. Finances:

The accounts for the years ended 29.2.20 and 28.2.21 were posted on our website in March this year.  Other than the Gardening Project funding, no other income had been received due to the inability to hold our annual Quiz Night because of the pandemic.  Web hosting and domain name registration costs were around £140 p.a.  We are hoping to hold an AGM and Quiz Night towards the end of this year.

6. Holyoakes Field First School:

The opening date provided ahead of our last meeting was March 2021.  The most up-to-date estimate we now have is October this year.  BC and GM1 are scheduled to visit residents of Elrington, Fairweather and Gretton Closes in the very near future, as they have requested that Persimmon replace the grass verges with footpaths as originally planned.  Persimmon Homes are prepared to do this provided residents are in agreement.  This is critical work that needs to be done, before the school opens, as currently there is no safe route up Fairweather Close without ending up on the carriageway.

SC said that the field at the old school is being dug up already!  (Post meeting note:  BC has ascertained that this work is being carried out to make room for a temporary class room)

7. SmartWater kits:

BC told us that WCC had provided funds for SmartWater kits to be bought and given out, free of charge, to residents of Worcestershire.  The kits, which residents then register on the appropriate SmartWater website, contain a security pen for marking valuables.  Posters are also provided for display by one’s front door as a deterrent to burglars.  They have been approved for use by the Police Authority.  BC enlisted the help of DD, LD and SC in delivering the kits to houses on Pointers Way/Meadow View, in the Wheelers Lane area and also Butlers Hill Lane and a few houses in Carthorse Lane.  BC will be getting some more shortly for delivery to other roads in Brockhill.   Residents are free to accept or decline the offer.

Following a query by DD, BC confirmed that once a sufficient number of households had registered, the police would provide notices to indicate that the area was SmartWater protected. 

8. Persimmon Homes:-

• Section 106 payments and maintenance of open spaces

GM1 had sent us a report on this as she was unable able to attend the meeting.  Over the last three weeks, she and Rachel Maclean MP had been confronting Persimmon over the lack of progress on the issue.  Persimmon North Midlands have now said that due to a change of personnel (standard excuse!) things had slowed.  The new Technical Director is now dealing with matters and RBC’s solicitor has said that there has been some movement over the last couple of weeks.  No date has been set for completion, although the Council’s solicitor says that the next step should be relatively straightforward.  GM1 said that she is anticipating the matter should be resolved within the next three months.

• Brockhill East – Phase 3

The play area being erected in Owlham Close is due for completion at the end of July.  GM1 said that she expected this to creep into August/September, as she knows that they have been unable to secure some of the materials needed to complete it.  There have also been some reports of children breaking into the area.  Persimmon has ordered new fencing for the time being, but it is likely that the issue of it being broken into will be something that may continue until it is fully opened.

GM1 reported that the secondary balancing pond along the spine path in Burrington Close needs to be fenced off, like the primary one was.  This is mainly to prevent people from getting into the ponds.  Persimmon did carry out a clean- up of the ponds not long ago, but there are still some items that need to be removed.

9. Speeding on Pointers Way/Meadow View:

There have been a few reports recently from residents about cars being damaged near to the speed bumps in Burrington Close.  There is no evidence of the speed bumps being out of specification.  GM1 said in her report that she firmly believes this is likely to be caused by people driving over the speed bumps too quickly.  DD said he was aware of speeding along several other roads on the new estate.

NN told us that LH is running a Speed Watch Project and will hopefully be able to help us with speeding issues in the future.

SA mentioned that the traffic calming measures, installed in Salters Lane near to the entrance into Brockhill Park, were not very efficient.  He said that he would look into getting a stronger barrier at the end of the pathway, to make it safer for children crossing to go to the playground in Oaktree Lane.

10. Membership list:

DD said we now have 481 registered members.  BC asked us how we promote membership and was informed that we continue to leaflet drop to new homes on Meadow View and also to any houses in the older parts of Brockhill where we notice new residents moving in.  DD keeps the membership list up to date following monthly updates communicated by our website administrator, Ben Moseley.  JV sends a welcoming email to all new members.

As mentioned earlier, we are encouraging all those who post messages on our Facebook page to join the Association by registering via our website.

11. Facebook:

In May a member posted a comment on Facebook decrying the display of a poster on our notice boards promoting the Covid 19 vaccination programme.  He and his partner subsequently accused SC of removing the post – a factually incorrect statement as the post still remains on our Facebook page (see posting on 3.5.21 at 10.03am under More/Community).  He subsequently insulted SC by referring to her as a hypocrite and fascist.  We are looking into ways of making our Facebook page more protected as advised by MW, to avoid unnecessary confrontation.  Clearly the two people involved are not welcome as members of our Association.     

12. Wooden posts in the Wetlands/Brockhill Park:

The metal barrier around the pools in this area is joined by wooden posts. They are in a very poor state of repair having rotted down and hardly doing the job for which they were made.  This repair was not on the list compiled by GM1 and BC, for submission to Persimmon, of work required prior to the area being adopted.  BC told us that the pathways are the Council’s responsibility but everything else is still Persimmon’s.  BC said that he will get this added to the list of repairs.  

13. Banister on staircase from Brockhill Park/Wetlands to Kite Lane:

This staircase is on the dog walking route of many of our resident members, some of whom have asked if it would be possible to erect a central banister.  This would assist both ascending and descending, a particular help to our ever increasing ageing population!  BC said that he will put in a request to the Public Open Spaces Management team at RBC.

14. Dog poo bins:

There have been several complaints from residents living on Pointers Way/Meadow View about the dog poo bins not being emptied regularly.  DD believed that the bins were currently not the Council’s responsibility but those of Persimmon or Mainstay.  He had noted that the Council’s bins were green but those on the new estates were red.   DD also found it strange that there were two bins within 100 yards of one another on the path below the derelict farmhouse but none along the popular dog walking path around the Jacob Close lake.  BC said that Persimmon are buying fifteen new bins to place around the dog walking routes and hopefully the Council will empty these more regularly.  BC said GM1 has already contacted those concerned and we should have the new bins in place before too long.

15. Sewage pumping station:

The pumping station, situated at the end of the path running parallel to Mettis Aerospace and Burrington Close, experienced a major seepage of sewage water in February 2021.  This had recently re-occurred and subsequently reported to GM1 by DD.   Persimmon has blamed the issue (no pun intended!) on wet wipes being flushed down toilets but GM1 said in her report, that she blames the lack of maintenance to the pumping station.  The issue has been reported to the Environment Agency as the seepage also leaked into the balancing ponds.  GM said that she has told Persimmon that this is wholly unacceptable and has made it very clear to them that she will be closely monitoring the clean- up of this area.  She has also asked them to conduct engineering reports as to whether this station is going to be able to cope with the extra sewage from all the new houses still to be built on the estate.

16. A.O.B.

MW said that he had recently noticed a lot of weeds in the gutters around Appletree Lane and Brockhill Drive and wondered if they are sprayed with a weed killer by the landscapers when they cut the grass.  JV will contact Richard Adlington to find this out.

GM2 asked if anybody had the contact details for the farmer whose sheep are in the field at the back of Lily Green Lane.  Her house backs on to the field and she has noticed a few sheep in distress.  MW said that he would provide her with the farmer’s ‘phone number.

JV wondered if it would be possible to have a police officer attend our meetings as there haven’t been any PACT meetings in the area for some time, most likely due to the pandemic.  With Brockhill still growing, it would make sense she thought, to build up a relationship with the local police, in order to be able to voice any of our members’ concerns.

NN said that there is a new police team for Brockhill and that she will send us their details shortly.

JV asked if the Councillors thought it would be possible to have the bench in Brockhill Park turned around as it currently faces bushes.  Better still, could it be moved to the area in Appletree Lane’s Public Open Space where MW has requested a bench (see section 4. above)?  We will await the decision as to whether a wooden bench will be made for that area, and if so, just have the park bench turned around.

Actions from this meeting:

BC to request the sending of an invoice by RBC to DD for the Association’s contribution to the Pointers Way notice board.

NN to find out from Bill, the ‘Community Champion’, if he could make us a bench.

SA to investigate whether a stronger barrier can be installed at the end of the pathway leading from Brockhill Park onto Salters Lane.

BC to add the repair of wooden posts around the pools in Brockhill Park to Persimmon’s pre-adoption ‘snags list’.

BC to request the addition of a banister for the staircase leading from Kite Lane to Brockhill Park.

JV to contact Richard Adlington about the spraying of gutters with weed killer.

NN to provide the new police team’s contact details.

The meeting ended at 9.30 p.m. 

BROCKHILL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Minutes of Committee Meeting Monday March 2^nd 2020 held at the Foxlydiate Arms

Those Present:

Sylvia Collinson                              SC

David Dallaway                              DD

Lynn Dallaway                                LD

Gemma Moore                              GM2

Phil Moore                                      PM

Stephen Siddle                               SS

Julie Vincent                                   JV

Mark Whitworth                           MW

 

Redditch North Worcestershire County Councillors: Brandon Clayton (BC) & Robin Lunn (RL)

 

Brockhill & Batchley Redditch Borough Councillors: Pattie Hill (PH), Gemma Monaco (GM1)
& Nyear Nazir (NN)

 

The Agenda:

 

1. Apologies
2. Co-option of members on to the Executive Committee
3. Actions arising from previous meeting on 25^th July 2019
4. Notice board for Pointers Way/Meadow View
5. Holyoakes Field First School – completion update & parking facilities
6. Foxlydiate Arms
7. Mainstay’s maintenance charges
8. Persimmon Homes:-

• Section 106 payments and maintenance of open spaces
• Leasehold payments
• Brockhill East – Phase 3

9. Membership list
10. Night time criminal behaviour
11. Litter Pick
12. O.B.

 

1. Apologies:

 

Apologies were received from Malcolm Gilks.

2. Co-option of members on to Executive Committee:

Gemma and Phil Moore were welcomed back to Brockhill; Gemma having previously served as a Committee Member before moving away from the area.  They have both expressed their willingness to assist as Committee Members and were co-opted forthwith.  This takes our numbers up to nine, being the maximum permitted by our Constitution.

3. Actions arising from previous meeting on 25^th July 2019:

Actions relating to Mainstay, the new notice board, standards of roads on Pointers Way, Association membership and the Appletree Lane/Brockhill Drive junction would all be discussed as part of this evening’s agenda.

The Quiz Night had been held successfully last October.

As reported at November’s AGM, DD had received an unsatisfactory response from Royal Mail about the installation of a post box on Pointers Way/Meadow View.

Regretfully no progress had been possible on the installation of speed bumps by the post box in Carthorse Lane.  RL said that the Police Authority were against improving traffic calming measures and the new owners of the house, nearest to the area concerned, were also opposed.  RL and BC said they would send out letters to nearby residents to seek their opinions.

4. Notice Board for Pointers Way/Meadow View

GM1 had obtained Persimmon’s permission for the new notice board to be erected on the grassland opposite the junction of Burrington Close and Cookridge Close.  RL was awaiting a quote from Matthew Meade, RBC’s Senior Engineering Technician, for supply and installation.  RL agreed to chase him up on this.  RL had generously agreed to meet any costs in excess of Fortis’ grant from his WCC discretionary fund.

RL asked if we wanted the design to be the same as the existing two.  We had originally requested it bore a Fortis Housing Logo, in recognition of their 2k donation.  However it was decided that this would probably delay the installation.  It was suggested, therefore, that a notice in recognition of Fortis’ kind funding be displayed permanently inside the board.

5. Holyoakes Field First School – completion update & parking facilities:

The expected completion date for the school is still March 2021.  The councillors said that there would be a hardcore parking area as well as a car park for the staff.  BC commented that parking issues around schools in Redditch were commonplace.  Afternoons, when cars awaited pick ups, tended to be more problematical than early morning drop offs.

6. Foxlydiate Arms:

RL informed us of a planning meeting to be held at Bromsgrove District Council’s Chamber Offices on Monday March 16^th at 7 p.m.  At this will be discussed Whitbread’s intention to sell the land, on which the Foxlydiate Arms stands, to developers for the building of 48 houses and an apartment block.  RL and Committee Members will be attending to object to the bulldozing of a much needed Community Asset.  We are hoping that as many members as possible will attend to support this and we will be contacting the Webheath Forum members and also the ‘Save the Foxlydiate’ Facebook Group.  Our application to declare the building a Community Asset was turned down by Ruth Bamford, Head of Planning and Regeneration for Redditch and Bromsgrove, following the Foxlydiate Arms’ change of status from a pub to a hotel.  However, the pub only has a couple of rooms and these are used only occasionally.  Bromsgrove has recently had plans for 2.500 new houses to be built around Webheath and Bentley; more than that required by the Government’s Strategic Plan.  The consensus of opinion is that we do not need any more houses to be built on the Foxlydiate site.  The road infrastructure, as usual, appears to be the last consideration.

(Post meeting note update: The above meeting has now been cancelled. The next scheduled planning meeting is due to take place on Monday 6th April but it is not anticipated that the application for the Foxlydiate Public House will be on that agenda.  We will post details on our website and Facebook page as soon as we are aware of any future meetings to discuss the Foxlydiate’s demolition.  In this event we would encourage as many Association members as possible to attend to voice their disapproval.  RL will register to speak at any such meeting as the issue will have a major impact on his electoral division.)

7. Mainstay’s Maintenance Charges:

JV had asked her friends living on Pointers Way whether the charges had been raised again following receipt of their invoice in January.  They confirmed that the charges had remained the same this year.  However they still consider that insufficient maintenance is carried out during the year to warrant every household on Pointers Way, and now also Meadow View, having to pay £120 annually.  What they were not told when they bought their property, which their solicitor should have made them aware of, was that they also pay the share for the residents in the Affordable Houses, who are exempt from paying.

Members had reported damage to the grass verges in Gretton Close which like several roads on the estate has no pavements.  The verges are currently waterlogged from the constant heavy rain experienced throughout February.   Heavy vehicles driving over them when so sodden has created a boggy sunken area.  The situation is exacerbated by some residents choosing to park on the verges rather than in the designated off road parking areas.  GM1 has asked Persimmon to lay down ground base grids before any proposed re-seeding.

8. Persimmon Homes:

• Section 106 payments and maintenance of open spaces

RBC has met with Persimmon Homes South executives, to discuss payment of the Section 106 monies and prior to this, the maintenance work required to the Public Open Spaces around Brockhill, to bring them up to a good standard of repair for RBC to agree adoption.  BC and GM1 walked around the Public Open Spaces with Persimmon’s representatives, pointing out the work required.  Committee Members had identified many areas where work was needed to be carried out.  BC informed us that contractors, employed by Persimmon, are firstly undertaking work to pathways. This will be followed by work on fencing and construction of a wooden bridge over boggy grassland between Edenfield Close and Brockhill Drive.  The bund, which was removed when the new crossing was made near to the traffic island at the Appletree Lane/Brockhill Lane junction, will also be replaced.  Full size barriers will be erected on the staircase to the Nature Reserve.  Trees have been cut down by the Carthorse Lane pond as they were infected with algae.  In addition three trees near to the subway leading into Brockhill Park have been cut down due to ash dieback disease.  The 106 payments will be made when all work has been completed.

GM1 asked DD if he would provide her with details of repair work that he had identified as being required in the Nature Reserve and adjoining Orchard.  She would then bring this to Persimmon’s attention.

• Leasehold payments

A resident on Meadow View had emailed us to ask whether the council were going to adopt the site and thus stop the so called ‘fleecehold’ payments.  DD had forwarded a response by BC to the inquirer stating that the council were in the process of coming to an agreement with Persimmon regarding section 106 and the money they have to pay over.

• Brockhill East – Phase 3

The plans for Phase 3 had been on display at the Abbey Stadium last year and were passed at a planning meeting a few months later.  There will be built up to a further 960 houses and also a few shops with a centralised parking area.  We have been told by BC that a Community Centre will also be built close by.  Members can arrange to view the plans for phase 3 at the Town Hall.

9. Membership List:

DD now receives from Ben Moseley monthly notifications of new members registering online via the website.  He is thus able to update the Membership List detailing everybody’s email and postal address.  We are pleased to report that membership has been increasing as new residents move into their houses on Meadow View.  SC has been delivering Membership Forms to newly occupied houses on a regular basis..

DD had become aware of our being contacted by several individuals who were not on his Members List.  MW had subsequently confirmed that a number of our followers on Facebook were not registered members of the Association.  MW was therefore asked if he could post a message on Facebook encouraging all followers to register as members via the website.  MW also pointed out that quite a few people who access and post comments on our Facebook page live outside the Brockhill area.  This is fine and their comments are welcome but clearly they cannot be classed as proper Association members.

10. Night time criminal behaviour:

Several members have sent us emails and Facebook messages regarding suspicious night time behaviour.  We have received reports of individual(s) trying door handles of parked cars in the early hours (2am – 4.30am) of the morning.  Incidents have been reported in Cookridge Close, Clarendon Close and Wheelers Lane.  A video shot by one resident of two hooded persons operating in Wheelers Lane was sent to the police.  PH stressed that all incidents should be reported to the police by ‘phoning 101.  Residents are strongly advised to ensure they always lock their parked cars and under no circumstances whatsoever leave any valuables in them.

11. Litter Pick:

We discussed the best time to hold our annual Litter Pick and it was decided to wait until the better weather, possibly during or just after the School Summer holidays, when there is always more litter around.  JV will make the arrangements and details will be posted on the website and notice boards.

12. O.B.

SC asked the councillors if they knew of any changes to the opening times at the Gun Club. She had heard noise from the shooting more often and at different times than usual.  The councillors said that they would make enquiries and let us know.

MW asked the councillors about Persimmon selling land at the rear of 157 Carthorse Lane as this is a Public Open Space with a footpath leading to it, maintained by the Council.  BC said that the path is being resurfaced as tree roots had lifted it considerably.  The land is still being sold, but the public footpath with lamp post will remain and a space will be left for members of the public to access the Public Open Space.  It is a very popular route for dog walkers.

SC asked RL & BC if they knew about the deep pot holes in Hewell Lane near to Petersen Springs.  She told us that she and her husband had driven over one which resulted in their having to purchase a new suspension spring for their car. The councillors said that they would contact the road maintenance department to get the pot holes filled in.

MW asked if the councillors knew why the lights down Brockhill Drive were not working.  They have been off for a couple of weeks, from the junction of Blackwell Lane to Lily Green Lane.  They said that they will see that they are turned back on.

The sewage pumping station, situated at the end of the path running parallel to Mettis Aerospace and Burrington Close, had recently experienced problems.  DD had spoken to workmen who said that raw sewage was spilling out on to the surrounding ground.  One workman had been to see the Meadow View site manager but Persimmon were denying that their ongoing building work had caused the problem.

Actions from this meeting:

• RL and BC to send out letters to residents in the vicinity of the proposed Carthorse Lane speed bumps seeking their opinions.
• RL to chase up Matthew Meade for the notice board quote.
• DD to provide GM1 with details of repair work required in the Nature Reserve and adjoining Orchard.
• MW to post a message on Facebook encouraging all followers to register as members of the Association via the website.
• JV to arrange the next Litter Pick sometime in the second half of the year.
• Councillors to report back on any changes to the Gun Club’s operating times.
• Councillors to contact the road maintenance department regarding repair of the pot holes in Hewell Lane.
• Councillors to request that the lights along Brockhill drive are switched back on.

 

The meeting ended at 9.10 p.m.