Minutes – 19 March 2024

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 19th March 2024 at 19.00 at Peterchurch Village Hall

 

Present

Councillors: David Morgan (in the Chair), Robert Metcalfe, Anna Coda and Chris Richardson.

 

In attendance

Clerk Mark Hearne, PCSO Margaret Andrzejewska, Allan Gibbs and Greg Warwick (Footpath Officers) and 5 members of the public.

 

  1. Apologies for absence: Councillors Isabelle Watkins, Sandra Salter and Richard Gaze.

 

  1. Declarations of interest & written dispensation requests: None.

 

  1. Minutes:
    • Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 20th February 2024:

It was RESOLVED: to approve the minutes as a true and proper record of the meeting. The minutes were signed by the Chair.

 

  1. Resolution Log – The Clerk provided an overview on the progress against the resolutions passed at the previous meeting commenting specifically on the following issues:
    • Drain cover at Stockley Hill which has been reported to Balfour Beatty. The Locality Steward has answered suggesting the solution involves a ditch being cleared by the landowner. Councillors alluded to a blocked culvert under the road, and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk again writes to the Locality Steward copied to the Ward Councillor.
    • The Clerk referred to the response from the Golden Valley Practice to representations made by the Parish Council for an increased number of emergency appointments made available in the Peterchurch surgery.
    • The Clerk reported that the Herefordshire Council are close to issuing a licence to allow the memorial bench to be installed close to the noticeboard at the Nags Head end of the village. Councillor Metcalfe added that the dimensions of the bench omitted the width, and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk acquires this information.
    • A site inspection is due to be undertaken by the Enforcement Officer at Herefordshire Council in connection with the static caravan at Stockley Hill.
    • Balfour Beatty have advised that the request for replacing the missing village sign has been passed to Herefordshire Council. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk hastens action on this issue.
    • The defects identified following the recent works in the village have not been rectified. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk expresses the concerns of the Parish Council asking for remedial action to be taken as a matter of urgency.

 

  1. Public Participation Open Session:
    • West Mercia Police: PCSO Andrzejewska reported that there was no recorded crime in the parish during the last month. Action was taken to speak to motorists who had parked outside the school asking them to refrain from doing so especially at the beginning and end of the school day.
    • Ward Councillors Report:  The Ward Councillor was not present at the meeting and had not provided a written report.
    • Representations from Members of the Public: The following issue was raised:
      • A resident reported that they have been notified by BT that a pole is due to be placed in the pavement at the junction between Mowbage Lane and Palace Orchard. It was agreed that details provided to the resident by BT would be passed to the Clerk who will investigate further.
  1. Footpaths: – A Footpaths Officer (Greg Warwick) had submitted a report and there was discussion on the following issues:
    • A meeting took place on the 19th March 2024 during which the PROW Volunteer

Development Officer at Herefordshire Council (Stephen Organ) and local Footpath Officers discussed future arrangement for effecting repairs on the PROW network. Mr Organ had referenced the decision to make available an additional £250k in 2024/25 to cover work on PROWs across the county. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk submits an expression of interest for the additional money.

6.2             Councillor Metcalfe described the poor condition of the PROW from the Church to Hinton and asked if there was any scope for the Parish Council to utilise additional money from Herefordshire Council to repair the footpath. Councillors noted that this PROW was regularly used by local people including residents using pushchairs/wheelchairs/mobility scooters.  Mr Allan Gibbs stated that there may be funding available which is earmarked by Herefordshire Council for PROWs which provides disabled access and agreed to investigate further.

  1. Planning – There were no planning applications submitted for consideration at this meeting.
  2. Finance:
    • To note the current bank balance- £64,604.14
    • It was RESOLVED to approve the following payments:
      • Clerk’s salary (Feb 2024) in accordance with his employment contract.
      • Stationery – £13.75
      • Postage – £5.25
      • Hall Hire – £60.00
      • Food for Families – £500.00
      • Lengthsman – £560.00
      • Countrywide Grounds Maintenance (Invoice 560348) – £241.90 (inclusive of VAT)
    • Financial Monitoring and Bank Reconciliation 2023/24 – To note the current status of Parish Council finances and the projected level of reserves as at the 31st March 2024. Based on spend to date and extrapolated costs it is expected that the level of reserves at year end will be circa £62k.
    • Internal Audit 2023/24 – It was RESOLVED to use HALC services for the internal audit for 2023/24.

 

  1. Parish Council Objectives – To provide an overview of progress since the last meeting plus feedback from the following workstreams:
    • Traffic
      • To receive an update on the recent work in the village. This issue had been discussed and there was nothing further to add.
      • To consider the procurement of new speed cameras. Councillors noted that the existing cameras seem to be operating and questioned the need to replace them. Councillors did, however, agree that the camera moved during the recent works should be returned to its original location. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk contacts Balfour Beatty asking for a socket to be re- installed at the site of the speed camera before the recent works to allow the repositioning of the kit to take place.
    • Drainage:
      • Councillor Metcalfe reported that the drainage problems close to New Haven/Princes Orchard persist. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk again reports the problem to Balfour Beatty.
    • Facilities
      • To consider specifications for the Adult Gym Equipment/Recreation Field Project. Councillor Richardson referenced the specification he circulated prior to the meeting which was focused on the need to move the gates/fence to facilitate improved access, and this represented the first stage in the overall project. It was RESOLVED that the Lengthsman is invited to provide a quotation for this work which will be considered at the next meeting. It was noted that some consideration on the second stage of the project is required. It was RESOLVED to include this item on the agenda for the next meeting. The Clerk reported that the playground inspection is due in the autumn, but Councillors asked if there was any flexibility in the timetable given the work planned for the playground. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk contacts the inspectors.
      • Councillors considered the two tenders received for the grass cutting contract in the parish. Following discussion Councillors unanimously decided to award the contract to Marches Ground Maintenance and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk notifies both companies of the result of the tender exercise. The Chairman mentioned that there are large deposits of soil adjacent to the recent installed pavements at the Crossways end of the village and it was RESOLVED that this area should be grass seeded.

 

  • Environment – No issues were raised.

 

  1. Defibrillator at the Fire Station – The Clerk reported that the Parish Council have the opportunity of purchasing a defibrillator subsidised by the Department of Health and Social Care and it was RESOLVED to proceed with the procurement at a cost of £750. The Clerk also reported that he has spoken to the Fire Station Commander who is content for the installation to proceed and noted that the Parish Council will be responsible for all ongoing maintenance costs.

 

  1. Land close to the Doctors’ Surgery – To explore the availability of land close to the doctors’ surgery. Councillors considered the possible benefits of acquiring this piece of land especially as it has the potential of offering additional car parking capacity in the village. It was RESOLVED that the Chairman will make an informal approach with the landowner to establish if the land might be made available to the Parish Council.

 

  1. Clerk Correspondence – A resident has submitted several pieces of correspondence concerning the condition of roads in the village commenting that the available resources could be better spent on improving roads which are more widely used rather than focusing on tracks which are only used by a small minority of residents. Councillors carefully noted the comments submitted and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk responds accordingly.

 

  1. Date of the Next Meeting: Tuesday 16th April 2024, 19.00hrs, Peterchurch Village Hall.

 

  1. Items for the next Agenda: Members raised the following items for the next agenda:
    • To consider supporting the application to be submitted by a Heritage Steering Group for funding for the purpose of improving the church. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk invites Mr Johnny Scrimgeour to the next meeting to outline the aspirations of the Steering Group.
    • The disposal of dog waste in the village.

 

The meeting closed at 20.00hrs.

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