17th March 2022 Minutes

VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Minutes of the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting held on
Thursday 17th March 2022 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall.

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), I Chadwick, A Picton and G Deas.
IN ATTENDANCE – Ward Councillor Peter Jinman & Mrs L Cowles (Clerk)

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillors T Williams, G Franklin, J Kernahan, D Cross, M Engel and E Williams along with PC Rouse.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – Councillor G Deas declared a non-disclosable interest in agenda item 14; the declarations book was signed accordingly. There were no written requests for dispensation.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING ON THE PARISH COUNCIL – 17th February 2022 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting and therefore no specific points were raised.
  5. REPORTS
    5.1 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Jinman’s report included:
    Support for Ukraine – Please direct any enquiries to the Herefordshire Council website or Talk Community, they are working with a number of national and local bodies and will be the main co-ordinator. Councillor May advised that there are a cluster of people locally who are trying to co-ordinate some help.
    Fastershire – Has seen concerns that Fastershire are struggling to find people to implement the proposed changes, but not sure if this is true. The next stage will be delivery of the individual household or business grants.
    Leaders Letter – The Clerk confirmed that the March edition has not been received.
    British Horse Society talk – The BHS had recently given a talk at an event in Longtown regarding recent changes to the Highway Code, this had been well attended. There have been at least two problems in the area with either delivery drivers or tractor drivers. If there are roads which are regularly used by horse’s and are potentially dangerous, Balfour Beatty will consider installing warning signs.
    Standards for Parish Councillors – Please remember to keep your Registrable Interests up to date.
    5.2 Local Police – The local police were unable to attend the meeting.
    5.3 Lengthsman report – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting. His monthly reports had been forwarded to Councillors prior to the meeting.
  6. CLERKS UPDATE
    The Enforcement Officer has advised the driveway at Castle Ibo Farm should be completed by May 2022.
    Councillor Deas has registered to attend the Talk Parish event on 22nd March, there is still another space available if any other Councillor would like to attend.
    The Golden Valley Finalised Draft Annual Plan has now been printed and available to view.
    The Locality Steward to still looking into the issue of the bollards at The Fold on C1206 and the collapsed culvert near Percival Place.
    A member of the public has made the Clerk aware that PROW defects in Vowchurch are not showing on the Herefordshire Council website, the Clerk has reported this the Balfour Beatty and has chased for an update.
  7. CONSIDER PLANNING
    7.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION – LISTED BUILDING CONSENT
    Site: Middle House Farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire. HR2 0PT
    Description: Remediation works to include partial underpinning to support stone walls of the
    Grand 2 listed barn following a leak from an oil transfer line.
    Application No: 220269 Grid Ref: 330061:235933
    NO OBJECTIONS
    7.2 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
    Site: Rockfield Barn, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire HR2 0JW
    Description: Proposed detached garage.
    Application No: 214150 Grid Ref: 331923:233624
    7.3 AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY BUILDINGS AND OPERATIONS – PRIOR APPROVAL GRANTED
    Site: Cae Groes Barn, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QG
    Description: Proposed agricultural building for storage of machinery and hay.
    Application No: 220645 Grid Ref: 333758:231504
  8. FINANCE
    8.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £8423.06 Statement Sheet No. 166 issued 17th February 2022.
    Receipts – None.
    8.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for March 2022 Clerk’s hours plus pay increased agreed October 2021 backdated to April 2021 – Payment agreed.
    8.3 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC1800, roads account February 2022 (1) of £392.00 plus VAT – Payment agreed.
    8.4 Payment to HALC, invoice no. H1486 for affiliation fee 1st April 2022 – 1st March 2023, HALC subscription fees 22/23 and NALC subscription fees 22/23 of £505.06 plus VAT – Payment agreed.
    8.5 Payment to Information Commissioners Office of £40.00 for Data Protection – Payment agreed.
    8.6 2021/22 INTERNAL AUDIT – It was agreed to appoint Mr Paul Russell from Microshade as Internal Auditor for 2021/22. The fee remains at £99 plus VAT or £125.00 plus VAT if travelling expenses are incurred.
    8.7 BANK MANDATE – It was agreed to include Councillors Elizabeth May and Iain Chadwick as new bank signatories on the bank mandate along with current signatories Councillors T Williams and R Lloyd.
  9. LENGTHSMAN CONTRACT 2022/23 – It was agreed to appoint Mr Terry Griffiths as the Lengthsman for 2022/23. Mr Griffiths has increased the day rate to £400.00 plus VAT.
  10. LENGTHSMAN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM 22/23 & PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN 22/23 – It was agreed to complete the Lengthsman expression of interest form and approve the annual maintenance plan for 2022/23 at 1 day per calendar month from April – September and 2 days per calendar month from October – March.
  11. DRAINAGE GRANT – It was agreed to apply for the drainage grant funding as per the suggested projects from the Lengthsman. The Clerk will contact the Lengthsman to ask if all projects could be completed for the £20,000.
  12. GOLDEN VALLEY LOCALLY STEWARD ENGAGEMENT – It was agreed that the Parish Council would like more engagement with the Locality Steward with him possibly attending meetings on an annual basis. The recent weekly briefings have very little information and could be cut-down to bi-monthly. Councillors would like to see reports as to when jobs were actually completed. It was agreed that the Clerk would respond accordingly.
  13. VERGE CUTTING PROGRAMME 2022 – It was agreed that the Parish Council would like the verges cut only once; preferably in late June/July. The Clerk advised that Balfour Beatty have suggested cutting at the end of May and towards the end of the growing season towards the end of August. It was agreed that this was slightly later than preferred and would request a cut in July if possible.
  14. VOWCHURCH COMMON RECYCLING & GENERAL RUBBISH COLLECTION – The last correspondence from the Waste & Recycling Officer was received on 2nd March suggesting that changes will commence after 24th March 2022 when they would advise ahead of time what the new collection arrangements would be. It was agreed that the Clerk would request an update. It was noted that two recycling bins were now at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall.
  15. HEREFORDSHIRE LOCAL PLAN 2021 -2041 strategic spatial options consultation – The response to the consultation was noted.
  16. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING STANDARDS SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT CONSULTATION – It was agreed that Councillor Deas would draft a response and forward to the Clerk to submit.
  17. FASTERSHIRE – Ward Councillor Jinman advised there were currently no further updates.
  18. RESILIENCE PLAN – Defer to April meeting.
  19. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 2022 – Bill Quan the Herefordshire NFU County Chairman has confirmed he would be happy to attend the Annual Parish Meeting on Wednesday 11th May 2022. It was agreed to hold this at Escleyside Hall, starting at 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Refreshments to be provided. The Clerk will organise posters for Councillors to display locally.
  20. NEWSLETTER – Annual Parish meeting.
  21. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – The correspondence sheet was noted.
  22. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 21st April 2022 at 7.30pm at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall – Resilience Plan, refuse collection update, note response to Environmental Building Standards Consultation.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 9.05pm

Signed…………………………………………………………………………
Dated………………………………………………………………………….

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