Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Bobbington Parish Council held on Wednesday 10 May 2017 at Bobbington Village Hall at 7.30pm

Present:          Councillor Mrs. J Humphries (Chairman)

Councillors: W Snelson, Mrs. L Jones, Mrs. I Rees, Mrs. J Stanton, M Snelson, R Lewis

Lesley Birch – Housing Plus

Simon Proctor and Mark MacKenzie-Charrington – landowner’s representatives

Member of the public as per the attached sign in sheet

Victoria Morris (Clerk to the Council)

1372. Apologies:

Apologies for non-attendance were submitted on behalf of District Councillor R McCardle.

1373. Declarations of interest:

None.

1374. 1374. Minutes:

The minutes of the last Annual Parish Meeting had previously been approved and signed.

1375. Chairmans’ Report

Report attached.

1376. Corbett School Report

Report attached.

1377. Village Hall Report

Report attached.

1378. Holy Cross Church

Report attached.

1379. Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport Report

Report attached

1380. Tree Warden Report

Report attached.

1381. Community Speed Watch Report

Report attached

1382. Affordable Housing Update and Discussion

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Lesley Birch (Housing Plus), Simon Proctor (Chartered Surveyor acting for the land owner) and Mark MacKenzie Charrington (Trustee of Trust owning site 6), she then passed over to Cllr. Mrs Jones who reminded those present how the project was initiated and the process followed so far. The current position was then summarised including the Council’s reasons for choosing site 6. Many of those present had already viewed the plans and sketches available at the meeting and were now aware of the 3 market value homes in addition to the 5 affordable houses. It was explained that these houses were included to make the project financially viable / to facilitate the project. Whilst this was not originally anticipated, it was currently the only way the landowner would release the land. The Councillors believed, after much deliberation, that the development looked better as part of scheme and the proposed design was sympathetic to the village.

Lesley Birch was then invited to explain the procedure, findings so far and an explanation as to whom the affordable houses would go to.

Following which, several discussions were entered into as a result of comments made by members of the public present, these centred around:-

• Is there a need for affordable housing, there is no development in the local plan for Bobbington
• Anger and annoyance that all along parishioners were told only these 5 affordable properties would be built – yet now there are 3 market value houses
• Accusations of bribery / being held ransom to enable the land owner to make a profit.
• Concerns the 3 market value properties were too high a price to pay for the land
• Issues with the other sites identified
• What would happen if there were insufficient “connected” people.
• Would there be any added benefit to the Parish from the developer e.g. a playground
• The school is already at full capacity, this will make it worse.
• Timescales

Simon Proctor was asked to explain their position and the plans in further detail. There was little opportunity to hear this out due to questions from the public, however, he did respond to some of the earlier questions and concerns as detailed above.

Further questions were raised and discussions held e.g. concerns over construction traffic, car parking available per property, planning application submission, similar schemes in other areas.

Finally, Mark MacKenzie Charrington spoke on his role as trustee of the landowner trust, his knowledge of the area.

Although the public were in favour of the affordable housing, the addition of the market value houses has not been well received initially.

All were thanked for attending and giving up their time.

1383. Any Other Business

There was no other business

Date of Next Annual Parish Meeting arranged for 16 May 2018.

The meeting was closed.