Minutes – 17th January 2023

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting PPC/MH/173 held in the village hall on

Tuesday 17th January 2023 at 19.00 hrs.

 

Present

Councillors David Morgan (Chairman), Johnny Scrimgeour, Robert Metcalfe, Samantha Metcalfe, Isabelle Watkins, Brendan Treanor and Anna Coda.

 

In attendance…. Allan Gibbs and Greg Warwick (Footpath Officers), Mark Hearne (Parish Clerk), and 1 resident.

 

  1. Apologies for absence – Councillor Emma Thacker-Vuts.

 

  1. Declarations of interest & written dispensation requests – Councillor Scrimgeour declared a DPI against Agenda item 8.1 (Planning Consultations 24036 & 224037) and Councillor Treanor declared a non-DPI against Agenda item 13.

 

  1. Minutes of the previous meetings held on 12th December 2022. It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and these were signed by the Chairman.

 

  1. To Review Resolutions reached at the meeting of the 12th December 2022 – The Clerk provided a brief update on the resolutions from the previous meeting.
    • Balfour Beatty have provide an estimate (£200) for replacing the missing village sign. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk proceeds with the procurement action.
    • Councillor Thacker-Vuts has invited local residents to offer evidence of instances where deer have caused a hazard to motorists. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk seeks the support of Dorstone and Kingstone Parish Councils in building a case for deer signs in the local area.
    • Councillor Samantha Metcalfe has been in contact with one of the contractors who quoted for felling trees on the recreation ground. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk approaches the other two contractors.
    • Action remains outstanding on the resolution to replace the broken bench at Hinton.

 

  1. Open session –
    • West Mercia Police – PC Rouse covered the following issues in his briefing.
      • Numerous thefts have occurred in neighbouring parishes but nothing to report in Peterchurch.
      • Confirmed the appointment of Simon Hall in place of Pete Knight. The team has also been boosted by the appointment of another officer.
      • As part of a Community Engagement Plan the police will be in attendance at the village shop on Monday 23rd January 2023 between 10.00-10.45hrs.
      • There have been issues involving residents in Closure Place.
    • To receive a report from the Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Hewitt is currently on compassionate leave.
    • To receive views from local residents on parish matters – Details of six large potholes in the Hinton area have been reported to Herefordshire Council.

 

  1. Footpaths –
    • Mr Gibbs sought the views of the Parish Council on the size and scope of a booklet promoting footpaths in the parish. It was agreed that costings for the various options should be presented to the Parish Council in due course.
    • Mr Gibbs also referred to issues concerning the footpath outside the “Old Cop Shop” where a resident reliant on a mobility scooter struggles to navigate past parked vehicles. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Samantha Metcalfe would ask the residents concerned if they would consider parking in a more considerate manner.
    • The Footpath Officers are aware of a problem with a footpath close to Snodhill Castle and are working to remedy the issue.

 

  1. Planning – To comment on applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council
    • Planning Consultations 224036 & 224037 – Wellbrook Manor, Peterchurch. Alterations to outbuilding and new garden office[1]. Following discussion, Councillors raised no objections to the proposal set out in the planning consultations and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk notifies the LPA accordingly.
  2. Finance
    • The current bank balances are:
      • Business Bank Instant account … £47,001.77
      • Treasurers Account … £16,018.42
    • It was RESOLVED to make the following payments:
      • Clerk’s Salary (December 2022) -£558.07
      • Clerk’s Travel Costs -£5.40
      • PAYE (December 2022) – £139.60
      • Countrywide Maintenance (Jan 2023) -£241.90
      • Village Hall Hire – £20.00
      • Printing and Stationery (Cllr Scrimgeour) – £29.06
      • Footpath Printing (Mr A Gibbs) – £4.00
    • Financial Monitoring 2022/23 – The Clerk reported that based on the spend to date plus the predicted income and expenditure to year end it is expected that the final reserves will be in the region of £56k.
    • For audit purposes, the Clerk provided information to compare the BACs payments authorised at the December 2022 meeting with the latest bank statement.
    • Councillors considered a request for a donation from Dore Community Transport (DCT) and agreed a sum of £250. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk notifies DCT that the Parish Council may be receptive to a further request for funding towards the cost of replacement vehicles.

 

  1. Peterchurch Primary School – Councillor Samantha Metcalfe advised that she has spoken to the Deputy Head of the Primary School, and it was agreed that details of the governors leading the work on the swimming pool will be passed to the Parish Council. It was suggested that the Parish Council collaborates with the governors to develop a business case for the swimming pool.

 

  1. Future Parish Council Objectives
    • Traffic – Reference was made to the proposed meeting with Herefordshire Council next month to discuss the Parish Council’s priorities in terms of road and pedestrian safety. It was noted that Councillor Thacker-Vuts has a plan of the traffic hotspots which will be useful aid for the meeting.
    • Drainage – Councillor Scrimgeour reported that the drainage work undertaken at Hinton has made a significant difference. The drainage work at Stockley Hill remains the final outstanding project. Councillor Robert Metcalfe added that the Locality Steward is due to visit the site to review the issue. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk seeks an update from the Locality Steward.
    • Councillor Robert Metcalfe highlighted a drainage issue close to Wellbrook Manor and it was RESOLVED that Councillors Morgan, Scrimgeour and Robert Metcalfe visit the site before any conversations with the landowner take place.
    • Facilities
      • Councillor Scrimgeour reported that he is planning to meet representatives from Herefordshire Council to discuss the planned bus shelter at Crossways.
      • Following discussion, it was RESOLVED that the defibrillator outside the doctors surgery should not be re-sited. Councillor Robert Metcalfe commented that the defibrillator needs to be recalibrated before it becomes operational.
    • Environment – Councillor Watkins reported no substantive developments since the last meeting.

 

  1. Public Consultation – Councillor Scrimgeour reported that work continues on the “master plan” which will encompass the key outputs from the recent public consultation.

 

  1. Almshouses – Councillors discussed the request from John Smith’s Charity to grant permission to access the Almshouses via the recreation ground. Councillors were content to accede to the request in principle but commented that access would not be permitted in times of wet weather. It was agreed, therefore, that specific permission should be sought from the Parish Council on a case-by-case basis. Councillors also queried the rationale for 5-foot-high gates which will be significantly higher than the adjacent wall.

 

  1. Clerk Correspondence
    • Correspondence has been received asking if the Parish Council would grant permission for a bench to commemorate family members to be sited in the village. Councillors were receptive to the proposal but struggled to identify a suitable location. Further consideration will be given to possible locations, and this will be considered further at the next meeting.
    • The Parish Council has received a copy of correspondence forwarded to Herefordshire Council regarding changes to the T14 bus service. Councillors noted that information provided at the village bus stops has not been updated to reflect the changes to the bus timetable. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk writes to Stagecoach asking for bus timetable information to be updated to reflect the recent changes to the frequency of the bus service.
    • A resident has raised concerns over parking outside Peterchurch Primary School.
    • Concerns over the poor condition of the U75405 was discussed and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk reports the issue to Herefordshire Council.

 

  1. Matters for the Next Meeting – A noticeboard at the Nags Head.

 

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 20.40

[1] Councillor Scrimgeour vacated the room during consideration of planning consultations 224036 & 224037.

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