MINUTES – 19th July 2022

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting PPC/MH/169 held in the village hall on

Tuesday 19th July 2022 at 19.00 hrs.

 

 

Present

Councillors Johnny Scrimgeour (acting Chairman), Robert Metcalfe, Samantha Metcalfe, Isabelle Watkins, Brendan Treanor, Anna Coda and Emma Thacker-Vuts.

 

In attendance…. Greg Warwick (Footpath Officer), Mark Hearne (Parish Clerk), PCSO Pete Knight, Matt Tompkins and eleven residents

 

  1. Apologies for absence – Councillor David Morgan.

 

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

 

  1. Minutes of the previous meetings held on 21st June 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 21st June 2022 – The Clerk provided a brief update on the resolutions from the previous meeting.
  • No formal response has been received from Herefordshire Council to the requested re-allocation of Section 106 monies in connection with the proposed development of 89 houses in the village.
  • The Clerk agreed to present the forms to move to electronic banking at the next meeting.
  • Councillor Scrimgeour reported that Ray Wallace (Highways) is content with the proposed location of village gates and the bench at Crossways.
  • The Clerk will circulate details of the preferred dog fouling signs prior to purchase.
  • The newsletter is nearing completion with only input from the Traffic and Environment Champions being outstanding, but this is expected to be available by Friday 22 July 2022.

 

  1. Presentation on Proposals for Developing Land adjoining Valley View– Mr Matt Tompkins presented his future plans for developing land adjoining Valley View which include the development of 28 houses with a mixture of 4 bed, 3 bed and 2 bed properties.

 

  1. Open session –
    • West Mercia Police – The representatives from West Mercia Police raised the following issues:
      • Little crime to report this month and thanked members of the public for their continued vigilance.
      • Speed checks were undertaken last week at both Hawthorn Rise and the Fire Station with no issues to report.
      • Make vulnerable people aware of increasing incidents of scam telephone calls where individuals purporting to be a police officer attempt to inveigle money out of the potential victims. Incidents of this type should be reported to the police.
      • Property marking is available free of charge.
      • Highlighted the Neighbourhood Matters scheme and encouraged residents to sign up.

 

  • To receive a report from the Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Hewitt was not present at the meeting but had circulated an email on the latest developments on the proposed development of 89 houses. In the email Ward Councillor Hewitt has intervened in the process and has paused the determination of the planning application. The response from the LPA to Ward Councillor Hewitt’s email suggests that the Parish Council’s proposed allocation of Section 106 monies fails to meet the required criteria. The Acting Chairman suggested that this offers the opportunity to revisit the allocation of Section 106 monies and it might be helpful to meet Ward Councillor Hewitt to discuss this issue further. Ward Councillor also alluded to the proposed work at the primary school.

 

  • To receive views from local residents on parish matters.
    • Referring to the incidents of telephone scamming a resident asked how to make residents aware who do not use the internet or social media. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk highlights this issue in the summer edition of the newsletter.
    • On behalf of a resident Councillor Robert Metcalfe raised a concern over a piece of land close to the doctor’s surgery which seems at risk of catching fire. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk asks the Chairman if he can identify the landowner.

 

  1. Footpaths – There were no substantive issues to report but there was a brief discussion on the broken stile at Stockley Hill. Given the extraordinary delay with the installation of the stile it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council will arrange for the required work to be undertaken.

 

  1. Planning – To comment on applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council No planning applications have been received for consideration.

 

  1. Finance
    • The current bank balances are:
      • Business Bank Instant account … £66,148.37
      • Treasurers Account … £6,372.40
      • The Clerk commented that there are uncashed cheques to the value of £285.80 which will reduce the total to £72,234.97
    • It was RESOLVED to make the following payments:
      • Clerk’s salary (June 2022) in accordance with his employment contract.
      • Clerk’s Travel Costs – £10.80
      • PAYE (June 2022) – £139.60
      • Electric Pointer – £11.67 (ex VAT)
      • Countrywide Grounds Maintenance (June 22) – £241.90
      • Village Hall Hire – £20.00
      • HDMI cable – £9.00
      • Cynthia Huckle (Donation for Jubilee) -£50.00
      • Kompan – £8,868.77 (ex VAT)
    • 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 £61k. The Clerk added that this total will reduce by the reserves set aside for the four workstreams. The Acting Chairman raised the issue of the planned work to remove ash trees in the recreation ground adding that he has seen three quotations for this work with Councillors having RESOLVED to accept the quote from Williams. Following further discussion Councillors acknowledged that a written independent assessment of the condition of the trees should be undertaken before any action is taken to remove them. It was RESOLVED that Councillor Robert Metcalfe will speak to his contact with the Forestry Commission about assessing the trees.
  2. Future Parish Council Objectives
    • Traffic – In her update Councillor Thacker-Vuts reported that she has recently spoken to Bruce Evans (Highways) who is arranging a group visit to the village which will include Ian Connolly (West Mercia Police (Traffic)) with the intention to consider the infrastructure in the village with a particular focus on the condition of the pavements. Information on the funding available through both the Village Safety Scheme and Safer Village Initiative should become clearer in the next couple of weeks. It was agreed that where practicable at least two Councillors should be present when meetings take place with external stakeholders. It was suggested that there would be value in drawing up a list of proposed initiatives for consideration at the next meeting.
    • Drainage – Councillor Scrimgeour asked Councillor Robert Metcalfe to liaise with the Lengthsman to agree the timetable for delivering the 5 drainage projects.
    • Facilities –
      • Councillor Samantha Metcalfe reported that some initial sketches have been produced to depict the distribution of the gym equipment in the recreation ground. It was RESOLVED that the different plans will be presented for consideration at the Parish Council meeting in September 2022. The gym equipment is due to be delivered on Thursday 21st July 2022.
      • The Clerk reported that a meeting with Roger Boden (Countrywide Maintenance) took place on the 7th July 2022. During the meeting, the Chairman expressed his dissatisfaction with Countrywide Maintenance and received a personal commitment that the standards will return to an acceptable level. The Clerk added that he has contacted the resident who complained about Countrywide Maintenance cutting plants/shrubs on land adjacent to her property asking for proof that she is the owner of this land. Once confirmation of ownership is received Countrywide Maintenance will be asked to compensate her for the loss of her plants. Councillor Thacker-Vuts highlighted an overgrown hedge at a property at Albion House and it was RESOLVED that contact will be made with the owner asking if some maintenance work can be undertaken.
      • The broken post at Hinton was discussed and it was RESOLVED that a replacement should be installed, and Councillor Robert Metcalfe agreed to take the necessary action. Councillor Samantha Metcalfe reported a broken bench at the same location, and it was suggested that this is pursued under the Facilities workstream.
    • Environment – Councillor Watkins reported that she is continuing to investigate spray paint to highlight dog excrement in the parish. Councillor Samantha Metcalfe commented that costed proposals for a bench at Crossways will be presented to the September meeting of the Parish Council. Councillor Metcalfe was thanked for her hard work in progressing this issue.

 

  1. Local Plan (2021-2041) Consultation – Councillor Coda explained that the rationale underpinning the consultation suggests that settlements with more facilities are better placed to accommodate further housing development. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk circulated the link to the latest consultation noting the 29th July 2022 closing date which prompted a comment that Councillors respond to the consultation on an individual basis.

 

  1. Summer Newsletter – It was RESOLVED that an informal opening sentence to introduce the newsletter would be beneficial. It was noted that input from the Traffic and Environment Champions would be forwarded to the Clerk by the 25th July 2022. It was RESOLVED that an edition of the newsletter will be published in the autumn which could be used to highlight the work of the various workstreams since the public consultation.

 

  1. Provision of a Skip in the Parish – Councillor Samantha Metcalfe referenced her report which had set out costed options for providing the means for residents to dispose of waste material. It was RESOLVED to enquire if the freight service is still available and, if so, at what cost. It was further RESOLVED to further consider this issue at the September 2022 meeting of the Parish Council. It was noted that if a waste disposal service is introduced in the future it will be important to publicise it effectively.

 

  1. Clerk Correspondence
    • The Parish Council has received an invitation from a project called Strong Young Minds to attend an exhibition at the Hub between the 2nd -4th August 2022. Councillor Emma Thacker-Vuts agreed to attend the event the 3rd August 2022.
    • A resident has written about the Parish Council’s response to the Covid 19 pandemic, and a suggested response was agreed, and it was RESOLVED that the Clerk reply accordingly.

 

  1. Matters for the Next Meeting.
    • Designs for the recreation ground.
    • A list of traffic initiatives.
    • Installation of a bench
    • Provision of a skip
    • Proposed future events in the recreation ground.

 

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 21.00

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