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 July 2025 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone memorial Hall.
PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), I Chadwick, A Picton, E Williams, A Mason, R Lloyd, D Cross, S Craddock, and J Kernahan.
IN ATTENDANCE – Ward Councillor M Engel, PCSO Pete Knight, Mrs L Cowles (Clerk) and three members of the public.
- ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – None.
- RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – Councillor D Cross declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in agenda item 8.2; the declarations book was signed accordingly. There were no written requests for dispensation.
- CO-OPTION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS TO REPRESENT ST MARGARETS AND VOWCHURCH – Mrs Kelly Price and Mrs Tania Smith were in attendance and had expressed an interest in joining the Parish Council. Two other interested parties had withdrawn their previous interest prior to the meeting. After a brief talk from both candidates, it was agreed to co-opt Mrs Kelly Price for the vacancy to represent Vowchurch and Mrs Tania Smith for the vacancy to represent St Margarets. Both signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and were welcomed to the meeting.
- ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 19th June 2025 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
- OPEN DISCUSSION – No specific points were raised.
- REPORTS
6.1 Local Police – PCSO Pete Knight reported that there have been no reported crimes in the parish area although there have been farm thefts in neighbouring parishes. Please continue to report suspicious vehicles, ideally with the vehicle registration number. As from September PCSO’s will only be on duty until 8pm rather than the current 10pm but they will continue to be patrol as much as possible to keep a police presence. Following a successful security marking event in Longtown PSCO Knight is keen to extend the idea and welcomes any requests from the Parish Council to hold any further local event.
PCSO Knight left the meeting.
6.2 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engel’s report included: –
Ward Councillor Engel welcomed the two new Councillors to the parish council.
Ofsted have recently published their latest report regarding Herefordshire Child Services and have found that care quality has improved at pace.
Councillor Engel has recently held a meeting with MP Jesse Norman and Peter Lewis regarding broadband in the local area. This has been an on-going issue for approximately 15 years. It does appear that there is currently little hope of improvement although MP Jesse Norman did agree to talk to the department of culture.
There has been another fatality near to Locks Garage on A465, this junction is quite hazardous, Councillor Engel would like to push for a 40mph speed limited.
One member of the public joined the meeting.
6.3 Lengthsman report – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting. The Clerk reported that works agreed at the June meeting on the C1206 would now need to be included in 2025/26 funding and therefore would not be taking place in the coming weeks. Councillor Smith requested that the lengthsman be contacted to remove the soil from land in Newton which had been left on a temporary basis. - CLERKS UPDATE – The Clerk reminded Councillors of the call for sites email from Herefordshire Council. HALC training courses have also been forwarded to Councillors.
The Clerk will be on annual leave W/C 18th August. - CONSIDER PLANNING
8.1 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
Site: Land at Chanstone Court Farm, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0QE
Description: Proposed change of use of workshop/store to holiday let.
Application No: 233308 Grid Ref: 336729:235732
SUPPORT – The Parish Council would like to reiterate its previous comments and draw attention to the concerns raised by the Department of Environment. Additionally, the Council queries whether the car parking area could be raised to a higher level.
Councillor D Cross left the room.
8.2 PLANNING CONSULTATION
Site: Land at Upper House farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire. HR2 0JZ
Description: Proposed log cabin for use as a temporary agricultural worker’s dwelling.
Application No: 251807 Grid Ref: 330843:236517
SUPPORT – This is a modest proposal, and the Parish Council is supportive of families engaged in farming. Care should be taken when approving any external lighting, in accordance with Policy 10 of the adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan.
Councillor D Cross returned to the meeting.
8.3 Confirmation of bank balance – £13,774.35 issued 30th June 2025.
To include £6.00 bank charges
Receipts – None
8.4 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for July and August 2025 Clerk’s hours, £312.00 allowance for home office use 2025-26 and expenses of £2.61 postage and £36.40 gross (VAT£6.07) ink cartridges – Payment agreed.
8.5 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3356 roads account June 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) – Payment agreed.
8.6 Payment to Wyehost Ltd invoice no. 37653 Uk Domain name renewal of £11.99 gross (VAT £2.00) – Payment agreed.
8.7 Payment to The Village Carpenter of £2080.00 for village noticeboards at Michaelchurch Escley and Newton – Payment agreed.
8.8 Payment to SLCC of £150.00 for Clerk’s membership 2025/26 – Payment agreed.
8.9 Payment to HMRC of £268.56 (£226.20 PAYE and £42.36 NI contributions) April 2025 – June 2025 – Payment agreed.
8.10 Finance Working Group – The latest quarterly reports were distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting. The finance working group confirmed spreadsheets, invoices and PAYE had been checked and all were in order. - NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW – The Parish Council are disappointed to learn that there will be no further funding for the update of Neighbourhood Development Plans. The latest information was noted from Herefordshire Council and HALC. It was agreed that the Clerk would draft a letter to MP Jesse Norman highlighting the parish council’s disappointment.
- TELEPHONE BOX AT NEWTON ST MARGARETS – Councillor Kernahan gave an update on funding requirement for the refurbishment of the telephone box at Newton which would be approximately £574.00 with the hope of possibly halving that figure. This budget was approved.
- DRAINAGE GRANT FUNDING 2025/26 – It was agreed to join the scheme again for 2025/26 and to apply for funding to complete works from the previous year along with works near Brook Cottage, HR2 0QY.
- WOODLAND MANAGEMENT PLAN – It was agreed that this was a well thought out plan and the parish council have no objections.
- NEWSLETTER – New Councillors, noticeboard at Newton, refurbishment of telephone box.
- NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – The correspondence sheet was noted.
- RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 18th September 2025 at 7.30pm in Newton Church Room – Drainage grant, grit bins, Welsh water.
The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.45pm.
Signed………………………………………………………………………….
Dated………………………………………………………………………….