ALVELEY AND ROMSLEY PARISH COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING 4th March 2025

MINUTES OF MEETING

Present: Councillor Isley Jakeman (Chair) and Councillors Richard Narburgh, Russ Dowson, James Taylor, Christine Brown, Colin Taylor, James Cumiskey

Attending: Steve Kerry, Parish Clerk and Margaret Shaw

2024/25.130	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were recived from Councillors Sam Potter and Ian Braithwaite.

2024/25.131	OPEN FORUM

Margaret Shaw advised the meeting that she would be willing to continue to look after the planters at the top of the village but could not manage the regular watering of those by Cook's Cross. The planting is not a problem as it is a one off job but the regular, at times daily, watering is too much. It was agreed that the Council would cover all the out of pocket expenses Margaret incurs ie plants, compost etc and Margaret will see if she can find someone in the Cook's Cross area to do regulalr watering. Members will also talk to anyone they know in that part of the village. 

It was noted that nomination forms for the forthcoming elections are available at this meeting, or from the Clerk's home. They can also be picked up at Shropshire Council's offices. They must be handed in, in person, either at Shropshire's main office or on specified dates at Bridgnorth LIbrary. There is a webinar for prospective county candidates on 10th March, the notices are up in the parish and there is an item in the parish magazine.

2024/25.132	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

2024/25.133	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

It was proposed by Councillor Dowson, seconded by Councillor Jakeman and unanimously -

RESOLVED That the minutes of the meeting of 4th February 2025 be agreed as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair. 

2024/25.134	FINANCIAL MATTERS

The Clerk presented a report of financial transactions during February. The schedule was noted but it was also noted that control totals were not right and the Clerk would email members with an update.

2024/25.135	PLANNING MATTERS

There were no new planning matters to report.

2024/25.136	SPEED CONTROL ISSUES

This issue has been raised by members and local residents several times, relating to speed and the high levels of acccidents on the A442 and also speeding in the village. There is particular concern about speed passing the school, which was raised in open forum by the School's health and safety governor at the last meeting. The Clerk of Quatt has been in touch about a proposal for jointly funding some speed measurement on the main road which will be useful in reinforcing the case for modifying speed limits or introducing permanent controls such as a camera. 

There was discussion about the A442, noting that the Council does not have any responsibility for it but there would be merit in getting either a single speed limit for the whole road or one level for out of built up areas and one wihtin them. At present the somewhat arbitrary 50/60 mph limits are confusing and the lower one is often ignored. If the Coucnil is to go into a jointly funded speed surevy with Quatt then clearly some parts of the A442 in Alveley must be included. It was noted that the area near the old toll house junction is a particular concern. 

It was proposed by Councillor Jakeman, seconded by Coucnillor James Taylor and unanimously -

RESOLVED That that Council agrees to support a jointly funded initiative to measures speeds on points along the A442 provided two points  within Alveley and Romsley are included.

Members then discussed extending the speed surevy at our own expense to known areas of cocnern in the village. These were, the advisory 20 mph limit near the school and the 30 mph limit along the top road past the Old Chapel. It was suggested that when the Clerk advises his colleague in Quatt of our decision on joint funding he asks for contact details to pursue these addtional areas directly with the contractor.

It was proposed by Councillor JAkeman, seconded by Councillor Brown and unanimously -

RESOLVED That two points in Alveley, the Old Chapel and the vicinity of the school, be agreed for speed measurement and that the Clerk pursues this as part of resolving the joint funding matter with Quatt.

2024/25.137	GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

Councillor Jakeman described the background to this contract for the benefit of newer members who had joined the Council since it was last discussed. The contract is for the closed churchyard, ie not the area where burials are taking place, and for other areas including the Pound and Jubilee Bank. It was noted that the upkeep of these areas had been satisfactory and that the contractor had done a good job at a very reasonable price for a long time. 

It was noted that with elections coming up for both parish and county councils, and with strong suggestions that whoever wins the county elections they will seek to move responsibility for non-statutory services to parishes in order to try and balance the budget, it was not the right time to enter into a new three year  contract. There was a serious possibility that more work would be added to the parish unless we were prepared to see areas such as footpaths being unmaintained and obstructed by growing vegetation. There was also likely to be worsening issues with weeds in gullies etc. With this in mind, members felt it was appropriate to award a shorter contract and review the situation in the Autumn when more information about the County Council's intentions was likely to be available.

It was noted that the price increase sought by the contractor was modest and that his proposal still represented good value for money.

It was proposed by Councillor Brown, seconded by Councillor Colin Taylor and unanimously -

RESOLVED That the Clerk offers Steve Burton a one year contract at the revised price of £3,440 and advise him that we will be interested to issue a longer contract, perhaps with additional works specified, when the likely future workload can be confirmed in the light of proposed service reductions from the County Coucnil.

2024/25.138	UPDATES

Hampton Loade bus shelter, the Clerk has two contacts the first one to respond will get the job.

National Cycle Route 45 - Councillor Colin Taylor is still working to get a clear plan of action from Shropshire Council. The Chief Executive has instructed that it be resolved through Active Travel. This will remain under rveiw.

Street bins - delivery is expected any day now.

Memorial plaque - the Clerk has a quote for a cheap aluminum plaque which will be sufficient and not likley to attact metal thieves. He was authorised to proceed.

VE/VJ Day Commemoration - with shortness of time and elections in May it is not going to be possible to do anything at the Council regarding VE Day. VJ Day commemoration in September looks more likely. The Clerk will see if the school have any plans and this will be an agenda item for the April meeting, there might be a beacon in Romsley. 

2024/25.139	SHROPSHIRE COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

Chapel Lane has been listed for proper repairs in April, not just more patching work. This follows Councillor Taylor's meeting with the Chief Executive, and sustained pressure from the parish council.  Cooks Cross car park is scheduled for work in April, we will repeat our offer to fund footway works using the same contractor to minimise cost and disruption. 

The County Council met this week, and the business case for the North West Relief Road was published just after the start of the meeting, making it impossible to discuss it. There is a funding gap of around £100m which threatens the viability of the whole council and several members have requested a  formal inquiry into how this has been managed. 

The controversial arrangement for people to book visits to the civic amenity site in advance has been scrapped, it served no purpose and lead to an increase in fly tipping.

2024/25.140	ROMSLEY MATTERS

The drain at then end of Morfe Lane near the A442 junction has been cleared as Severn Trent tidy up their sites on completion of works.

2024/25.141	FUTURE MEETINGS AND ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Next Meeting 1st April 2025 at 7.30 pm

Bus shelter top road
Date for parish meeting and plans for items
Churchyard flag pole (if we receive any proposal from the Historic Society)

Signed ........................................................

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