Minutes – 17th September 2024

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 15th October 2024 at 19.00hrs at Peterchurch Village Hall

 

Present

Councillors: Isabelle Watkins (Chair), Chris Richardson, David Morgan, Sandra Salter, Richard Gaze, Robert Metcalfe and Anna Coda.

 

In attendance

Clerk Mark Hearne, Allan Gibbs Footpath Officer), PC Jeff Rouse and 5 members of the public.

 

  1. Apologies for absence: None.

 

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

 

  1. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16th July 2024 – It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes as a true and proper record of the meeting. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.
  2. Resolution Log – The Clerk provided an overview on the progress against the resolutions passed at previous meetings commenting specifically on the following issues:
    • Ward Councillor Price agreed to make enquiries with officers at Herefordshire Council to establish if any planings are available that could be used to fill in holes in single tracks in the parish. In the meantime, it was agreed to use the planings offered by Councillor Salter.
    • The Clerk reported that the Lengthsman has agreed to purchase and install the rubber mats under the swings in the recreation ground.
    • No quote has been received from Golden Valley Construction for relocating the toddler equipment in the recreation ground. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Metcalfe contacts the company for a quote.
    • Despite requests from the Clerk no quote for work on the ash trees located between Hinton Farm and the church has been received from OTM. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk continues to hasten OTM but also contacts Mr Steve Williams to ascertain if he is intending to quote for the work.
    • Councillor Richardson confirmed that graffiti at the recreation ground has been removed.

 

  1. Public Participation Open Session:
    • West Mercia Police – PC Rouse reported the theft of a quad bike from a farm on Long Lane. It was also noted that speed enforcement will soon resume in the parish. A resident raised concern over children acting irresponsibly on bicycles in the village.
    • Ward Councillors Report: The Ward Councillor covered the following issues in his report.
      • The new Peterchurch Primary School remains on course to open in September 2026, and it is hoped to retain a swimming pool, but this may require additional funding possibly from Section 106 monies.
      • Encouraged the Parish Councils to exploit any opportunities for Section 106 funding when it becomes available.
      • Reported that the bridge at Bredwardine has re-opened.
      • Highlighted the high number of cancellations on the West Midland Rail service between Hereford and Birmingham.
      • A new waste collection service started on the 1st September 2024.
      • £5m has been set aside by Herefordshire Council to purchase land and properties which can be used to provide extra housing for people without accommodation.
      • Wetlands are increasingly being used to extract phosphates from the watercourses in the county.
      • Alluded to the planned increase in housing required by the new Government which will have an impact on Herefordshire which will now be required to build 27,500 houses by 2041 which is a substantial increase to the previous 16,100 target. Councillors acknowledged that there is currently insufficient infrastructure in the county to support this number of new houses.

 

  • Representations from Members of the Public:
    • A member of the public raised concern over a resident living in Closure Place who is using the communal car park outside the doctors’ surgery as an open-air garage. Residents present advised that at least one vehicle is not road worthy. The Chairman asked PC Rouse to check on the status of the vehicles concerned and arrange for the removal of any which are deemed not to be road worthy. It was also RESOLVED that the Clerk reports the Parish Council’s concerns to Connexus that the resident concerned seems to be in breach of the various responsibilities set out for residents living in one of their properties.
    • A resident raised concerns that very young children are playing close to the road in the centre of the village and believed this to be a safeguarding issue. Ward Councillor Price added that, as this issue has been made aware to Councillors, it is the duty of the Parish Council to report the issue to Children’s Services at Herefordshire Council.
  1. Footpaths
    • Allan Gibbs highlighted that the Duchy of Cornwall has placed a notice on the entrance to a PROW (PR63 and PR59) at the top of Stockley Hill warning members of the public that high velocity rifles are in use in the area. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk writes to the Duchy of Cornwall seeking clarity on the issue.

 

The Chairman moved a motion which was accepted to advance agenda item 10.4.1 to be discussed next in the meeting.

 

  • Councillors considered the two quotes received for tarmacking part of the track leading from the church to Hinton Farm. Councillor Metcalfe added that the quote from GM Joyce omitted the preparatory work required and M H Powell has been asked for quote for the preparatory work which is expected to be circa £1200. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Metcalfe will acquire a written quotation. It was RESOLVED to accept the quote (Option 1) from GM Joyce at a cost of £4060 (excluding VAT). It was further RESOLVED that provided the quote from M H Powell is within the parameters discussed work can proceed with the repairs to the track.

 

  1. Planning – To comment on applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council.

7.1 – Planning Consultation 242072 – Land Adjoining Hawthorn Rise, Hawthorn Rise, Peterchurch. Application for approval of reserved matters following outline approval 201441 – Proposed erection of up to 89 dwellings (35% affordable housing). Construction of new vehicular access and associated works. Councillors commented that it is incumbent upon the LPA to explain how Welsh Water’s treatment plant will be able to accommodate the additional houses before the reserved matters are considered. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk, in responding to the planning application, seeks an explanation from the LPA on how Welsh Water will be able to support the housing development.

 

  1. Finance:
    • To note the current bank balance- £67,815.91
    • It was RESOLVED to approve the following payments:
      • Clerk’s salary (July and August 2024) in accordance with his employment contract.
      • Clerk’s travel costs – £5.40
      • Postage – £6.80
      • Hire of Village Hall (July 2024) – £20.00
      • Marches Ground Maintenance (July & August 2024) – £520.00
      • PKF Littlejohn (external audit) – £252.00 (including VAT).
      • Lengthsman – £126.00
    • Financial Monitoring and Bank Reconciliation 2023/24 – The Clerk reported that there are no uncashed cheques and the bank reconciliation proforma was signed by the Chairman. The Clerk reported that based on current spending assumptions the reserves at year end will be circa £67k but this will reduce by the cost of improving the track from Hinton Farm to the church.
  2. Housing Needs Survey—Following discussion, Councillors agreed to instigate a housing needs survey as outlined by the Community First Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Rural Housing Enabler project team at the last meeting. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk proceeds in conjunction with the Rural Housing Enabler project team representatives.

 

  1. Parish Council Objectives – To provide an overview of progress since the last meeting plus feedback from the following workstreams:
    • Traffic
      • Councillors noted that there is some outstanding remedial action required following the recent work on the road in the village. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk progresses this issue directly with Balfour Beatty.
      • Councillor Metcalfe reported that the tarmac is broken up on the road between the Dormers and Cheshire Turn. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk reports the matter to Herefordshire Council.
    • Drainage
      • The Clerk reported that he has received a suggested programme of work from Councillors Gaze and Metcalfe but there were no indicative costs attached. It was suggested that Councillor Metcalfe invites M H Powell to provide some initial costings. It was further RESOLVED that the Clerk forwards the details to Ward Councillor Price. It was suggested that ditching work required at Welbrookside is included in the proposed submission to Herefordshire Council but, if not, this will need to be added by the Clerk.
      • There was no progress on the situation at Pudding Lane which was first discussed at the July meeting. It was RESOLVED to include this issue on the agenda for the next meeting.
    • Facilities
      • It was noted that the quote from Golden Valley Construction to re-install the toddler play equipment kit in a new location remains outstanding.
      • Councillors expressed concern over the increasing amounts of littering in the recreation ground which was considered to be anti-social behaviour. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk asks the local police to monitor the situation on a regular basis.
      • Councillors noted the increasing prevalence of electric scooters in the recreation ground. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk includes this issue when writing to the local police concerning littering in the recreation ground paragraph 10.3.2 refers.
      • Councillors noted the poor condition of the telephone box in the village. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk asks the Lengthsman if he is able to clean and repaint the telephone box.
    • Environment
      • The issue concerning the track between Hinton Farm and the church was discussed earlier in the meeting.

 

  1. Declaration of Interests – It was noted that any declaration of interest forms should be forwarded to Herefordshire Council.

 

  1. Community Transport – After consideration, Councillors did not consider that the provision of community transport was currently a feasible option for the Parish Council.

 

  1. Clerk Correspondence – No correspondence was received.

 

  1. Date of the Next Meeting: Tuesday 15th October 2024, 19.00hrs, Peterchurch Village Hall.

 

  1. Items for the next Agenda
    • Pudding Lane

The meeting closed at 20.56hrs.

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