THE DUDLEY BOROUGH LOCAL ACCESS FORUM (DBLAF) ______________________________________________________________ If you (or anyone you know) is attending Contact: Karen Griffiths the meeting and requires assistance to Tel: 01384 818219 access the venue and/or its facilities, Email: [email protected] could you please contact Democratic Services for any queries relating to this in advance and we will do our best to help. Agenda or if you wish to submit an apology. DUDLEY BOROUGH LOCAL ACCESS FORUM AGENDA The next meeting of the Dudley Borough Local Access Forum will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday 20th February, 2019 in Meeting Room 1 at 3 – 5 St James’s Road, Dudley to consider the business set out below:- 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Declarations of Interest 3. To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 12th December, 2018 4. Rights of Way Improvement Plan – Future Maintenance Programmes 5. Planning Applications P18/1373 – Demolition of Saltwells House and associated buildings and erection of 9 no. dwellings, land at Saltwells Wood, Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank, DY5 1AX 6. Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates (a) Footpath and Steps Off Coombes Road, Gorsty Hill, Halesowen – R Burgess (b) Monarch’s Way Signs (c) Illey and Lapal Footpath Maintenance Funded by Section 106 Receipts from P08/1373 and potential future CIL Funding (d) Lower Illey between path 107 in Dudley and path 6 in Worcestershire – T Pritchard (e) Leasowes Canal Footpath H250 Hedgerow Maintenance and other issues The DBLAF is an advisory body established under Section 94 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, to provide advice as to the improvement of public access to land in the Dudley Borough for the purpose of open-air recreation and enjoyment of the area. Its views do not necessarily represent those of the Council. (f) Footpath H115 Site of Hawne Colliery and Footpath 116 rear of Oil Refinery Shelah Road, Halesowen (g) PROW – H129 and H130 Furnace Coppice, Hawne, Halesowen (h) PROW – H119 Stour Valley, Hawne, Halesowen (i) PROW – H124 and H125 Hawne Bank/Park, Belle Vale to Hawne Lane, Halesowen 7. Any Other Business It is requested that Members e-mail Karen Griffiths at the address shown on the Agenda cover at least seven clear working days before the Meeting, details of any issues that they would wish to raise under this Agenda Item. 8. Dates of Future Meetings:- (All Meetings to commence at 2pm in Meeting Room 1, 3 – 5 St James’s Road, Dudley) Wednesday 17th April, 2019 Wednesday 10th July, 2019 TO: All Members of the Dudley Borough Local Access Forum namely:- Mrs T Boothroyd R J Brooks R Burgess Cllr C Elcock P Greenaway Ms A Nicholls Cllr G Partridge T Pritchard N J Williams Ms S Yeadon Minutes of the Dudley Borough Local Access Forum Wednesday 12th December, 2018 at 2.00pm in Conference Room 1 at 3-5 St James’s Road, Dudley Present: T Boothroyd, R Brooks, R Burgess, T Pritchard and S Yeadon Officers: D Jacobs – Project Engineer, D Keeley – Countryside Manager (Place Directorate) and K Griffiths – Democratic Services Officer (Chief Executive’s Directorate). Also in attendance: Councillor K Ahmed – Cabinet Member for Environmental Services J Pilkington – Senior Conservation Officer (Place Directorate) 20. Apologies for Absence Apologies for absence from the meeting were submitted on behalf of Councillor G Partridge, P Greenaway, A Nicholls and N Williams. 21. Declarations of Interest T Pritchard declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item No. 6 – Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates as he is a path user and volunteer and is a Member of the Halesowen Abbey Trust. R Burgess declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item No. 6 – Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates as he is a Member of the Halesowen Abbey Trust. S Yeadon declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item No. 6 – Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates as she is the Chair of the Friends of Coombeswood Wedge. 22. Minutes Resolved That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26th September, 2018, be approved as a correct record, subject to the following:- (1) In relation to Minute Number 17(c) – Illey and Lapal Footpath Maintenance Funded by Section 106 Receipts from P08/1373 and potential future Community Infrastructure Levy Funding – DBLAF/15 R Burgess be replaced with T Pritchard in the third paragraph. (2) In relation to Minute Number 17(j) – Footpath H115 Site of Hawne Colliery and Footpath 116 rear of Oil Refinery, Shelah Road, Halesowen - T Pritchard be replaced with R Burgess. 23. Change in Order of Business Resolved That the order of business be varied and the agenda items be considered in the order set out in the minutes below. 24. Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates (g) Halesowen Abbey Barn Conversions J Pilkington, Senior Conservation Officer gave a presentation detailing the latest proposals and future access arrangements for the Halesowen Abbey. In referring to the background of the original planning application and concerns which had been highlighted within the scheme, it was considered essential that an improved scheme was delivered to ensure the amended proposals incorporated the concerns of the public. The Forum were assured that the amended proposals would improve the management of and connectivity to the site. Reference was made to proposals for disabled parking/access. J Pilkington confirmed that proposals had not been considered as part of the original planning application and that access to the Halesowen Abbey would be via the access road. Conditions would be included in particular, the requirement for a detailed landscaping scheme to be carried out to ensure the access road was fit for purpose as it was recognised that not all disabled people required the use of a wheelchair. It was recognised that a public right of way was essential in ensuring that the public could access the Halesowen Abbey. Timescales of when the path would be available for the public to access could not be provided, however, conditions had been included in the plan to ensure that the work was carried out in an efficient and timely manner. It was noted that enforcement action could be taken should the requirements of the planning application not be adhered to. The legal procedures for authorising a public right of way were referred to and the potential to include a condition that prevented dwellings being occupied prior to the footpath link being provided. Members of the Forum thanked J Pilkington for the presentation and welcomed the improved scheme. DBLAF/16 Action Officer/Member That the item be marked as completed. Democratic Services Officer (f) Pottery Farm – Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act Order It was reported that the new gates had now been provided and appreciation was given to all parties involved in the work carried out to improve the site. Action Officer/Member That the item be marked as completed. Democratic Services Officer 25. Rights of Way Improvement Plan – Future Maintenance Programmes. The Chair expressed her disappointment at the lack of officer attendance from the Street and Green Care section of the Place Directorate. Members of the Forum considered it essential that officers attended the Forum to update Members on various aspects of maintenance and improvement plans. The Countryside Manager acknowledged the concerns raised and indicated that a meeting with management would be arranged to discuss the issue and the importance of officer support at the Forum. Action Officer/Member (1) That the Countryside Manager be requested to Dave Keeley arrange a meeting with officers in the Place Directorate and the Chair to discuss the matter further. (2) That the Democratic Services Officer, on behalf of the Democratic Chair, write to officers in the Place Directorate Services Officer expressing disappointment at the lack of officer support and attendance at the Forum and request the attendance of an officer from Street and Green Care at future meetings of the Forum. (3) That the item remain on the agenda for the next Democratic meeting of the Forum. Services Officer DBLAF/17 26. Access/Rights of Way Issues and Updates (Contined) (a) Footpath and Steps Off Coombes Road, Gorsty Hill, Halesowen The Project Engineer provided members with a verbal update and referred to the historic issues associated with the steps. A photograph of the footpath was circulated to Members highlighting the maintenance work required. The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services referred to the funding restrictions associated with maintenance projects, however, accepted that the footpath and steps were an area that should be supported by the Local Authority. He reported that a decision sheet to adopt and maintain the footpath had been submitted and would be signed off in the near future. Members of the Forum would be updated at the next meeting. The Chair, on behalf of the Forum, expressed her appreciation for the support of the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services. Action Officer/Member That the item remain on the agenda for the next Democratic meeting of the Forum. Services Officer 27. Planning Applications P18/1373 – Demolition of Saltwells House and associated buildings and erection of 9 no. dwellings, land at Saltwells Wood, Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank, DY5 1AX In referring to the above application, the Project Manager reported that following a detailed consultation, the application had been refused. Members were circulated with a document containing the reasons for the refused decision. Main concerns were referred to with particular reference to the requirement for the provision of a warden’s base and the advantages associated with an onsite base. The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services referred to the importance of the area and that priority should be given to the land being returned to council ownership.