Annual Report

Chairman's Annual Report 2008:

Dear Parishioners

Last May saw a major change in the composition of your Council as several members, many of
long standing, stood down. We are most grateful for the effort and time that they put in during
their term as councillors. Not least of these was of course Bill Bromley and his tragic death last
summer has left a gap in many aspects of our community life. Your Council now has a much
younger average age and has already shown itself to have many talents.

The year has been one of considerable progress. Congratulations go to Freda, our Clerk, who
passed her CiLCA qualifications. This involves scoring 100% in every single section and not
something normally faced to get qualifications. It was the last piece in the jigsaw that we needed
to apply for Quality Council status and our application is now being processed. It is a very
important status to achieve, particularly in view of the change to Unitary in the County and will
ensure that our voice is heard in the future at County Hall. We will be consulted on matters
involving parishes in the ward and we also hope to have control of some services, such as grass
cutting in the village WITH THE FUNDING passed down to us.

Another landmark achieved was the granting of planning permission for 6 'affordable houses' at
Chorley to be available for rent by local people similar to the Kinsleys, but with no requirement for
street lighting! The need for local affordable housing was identified in a housing survey some
years ago and backed up by our Parish Plan. Plans are for 2 X 2 bed and 4 X 3 bed houses.

During the year we have also completed a Village Design Statement (a document that will protect
and enhance the visual appearance of the area) which is now with Bridgnorth District Council for
acceptance. This will be fed up to County and should further ensure that our views are taken into
account by the unitary authority, particularly over planning matters.

We have a major project in hand to solve the problems of dangerous parking congestion at drop
off/pick up times, and also at all village functions, outside Stottesdon School. The scheme will
provide extra parking space down the West side of Glebe Drive. In addition there is the difficulty
of the Cleobury Mortimer school bus turning round at the top of Burnt Pit Bank which we can
alleviate by widening the mouth of Glebe Drive. The basic Plan is agreed but, as always, the
major hurdle to be overcome is finance.

Looking forward to unitary again, the parish boundaries will not alter but the Boundary
Commission is examining which parishes should be combined as wards for future County
Councillors. They have strict rules on the number of electors per councillor and the problem is a
mathematical nightmare. At the moment our preference is to look towards Cleobury Mortimer and
build on the advantages we have gained through Cleobury Country. Both Bridgnorth and South
Shropshire District Councils are in agreement with us at this stage.

I am most grateful to my fellow councillors for the talents they bring and the effort they put in and
we have one of the most experienced Clerks in the business. However we are there to represent
the views of all parishioners and please come forward to express them. Apart from approaching
individual Councillors, do please come along to our meetings to make your points. We have a
'Public Participation' slot at the beginning of every meeting so there is no need to sit for hours in
Chorley Village Hall waiting to speak.

Yours sincerely

Brian Hamilton-Russell

Chairman




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Chairman's Annual Report 2008: