Wednesday’s Acocks Green Ward Committee meeting saw the following items discussed:

• The Proposed Conservation Area for Acocks Green: Joe Holyoak gave a presentation on developments in the proposed Acocks Green Conservation Area. This will cover (more or less) Arden Road, Greswolde Park Road, Flint Green Road, Sherbourne Road, Yardley Road (from Sherbourne Road to just past Elmdon Road), Elmdon Road, Malvern Road, Colwall Walk, The Avenue (to Roberts Road), Roberts Road, the top half of Station Road and Dudley Park Road. In other words the core of the early development post the opening of Acocks Green Station (in 1852). Having an Conservation Area would mean that tighter planning rules for buildings in the area – to protect its current architecture. Demolishment would need planning approval, new planning applications would be assessed more tightly and some permitted development rights would be withdrawn (applications for items which would be permitted development outside conservation areas would not require a fee). Birmingham currently has 30 Conservation Areas (including one in Hall Green that covers the southern edge of Acocks Green Ward) and many have led to an increase in the desirability of the area, as current and potential residents gain greater confidence that the character of the area will be protected. Next steps include putting together a character appraisal of the proposed area and the development of a management plan. There would then be a public consultation for residents affected in early 2014.  If feedback from residents is positive, a formal submission to the Council could be made in the spring or summer of next year.
• Kate Stanley, Acocks Green’s Environmental Health Officer gave an update. This attracted a number of comments about local problems and issues, which will no doubt keep her busy for a while. These included fly tipping on the Warwick Road, the ongoing problem of litter in the Yardley Road. I reported a large pile of dumped green waste at the junction of Sunningdale Road and Ferndene Road while Cllr Iain Bowen reported continuing problems with commercial waste by the shops in Olton Boulevard East (between Fox Hollies Road and Shaftmoor Lane).
• Jenny Millward, Ward Champion, gave an update on the Council’s Service Reviews.
• We had a look at the lastest planning applications – including the controversial plan to demolish and rebuild the Glynn Edwards Hall – discussed in more detail at the previous Ward Committee meeting. Julia Larden from Acocks Green Focus Group told me that the plans are likely to go to the Planning Committee on the 14th or 28th November.
• Confirmation of the annual grant from the Ward Committee to Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum (£919 from Acocks Green Ward, with £281 also coming from South Yardley Ward – so £1,200 in total from both wards).

The next meeting of the Ward Committee will be at 7pm on Wednesday 4th December 2013 at The Oaklands Primary School, Dolphin Lane.