Agenda

VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Parish Councillors are summoned to attend the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting to be held on Thursday 18th September at 7.30pm
in Newton Church Room
Correspondence can be seen from 7.15pm

AGENDA

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 17th July 2025.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – For residents to raise local matters.
  5. REPORTS
    5.1 Local Police
    5.2 Ward Councillor
    5.3 Lengthsman report and any new road defects.
  6. CLERKS UPDATE
  7. CONSIDER PLANNING
    7.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION
    Site: Land at Barn North of Marlborough Grange, Newton St Margaret, Herefordshire. HR2 0QN
    Description: Proposed continued occasional use of existing access (variation of planning permission ref. 213593)
    Application No: 252374 Grid Ref: 334316:233508
    7.2 PLANNING CONSULTATION – TO NOTE COMMENT ALREADY SUBMITTED TO HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL/PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
    Site: 2 Birch Cottages, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0RA
    Description: Proposed variation of condition 2 of planning permission 240781 (propose studio) – minor amendments to the design and proposed location.
    Application No: 252005 Grid Ref: 335869:236293
    SUPPORT – The Parish Council would like to reiterate its previous comment under planning consultation 240781, but note that you can see the building from a PROW and not as stated on the application form.
    7.3 PLANNING CONSULTATION – TO NOTE COMMENT ALREADY SUBMITTED TO HEREFORDSHIRE COUNCIL/PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
    Site: Crossways Farmhouse, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire HR2 0QH
    Description: Retrospective application for entrance to field with 15ft gate off road from Crossways Farm to Urishay (C1209). Proposed application for a drop kerb.
    Application No: 251155 Grid Ref: 332340:235093
    SUPPORT – The Parish Council would prefer that planning applications are submitted in advance, rather than on a retrospective basis. In this case, the applicant should have been aware that planning permission was required prior to removing the hedgerow and creating a new entrance onto the highway. The Council would like any gate installed to be of a standard agricultural type and should open into the field, not outwards onto the highway, to maintain safety and accessibility. We also seek assurance that the entrance will not be used for business purpose, as such use could lead to increased traffic and potential impacts on safety and capacity of the highway.
    7.4 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
    Site: Cwm Clyd, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QN
    Description: Proposed replacement single storey side and front extension and extensions of outbuilding to link the house.
    Application No: 251373 Grid Ref: 33431:233244
    Please view planning applications at http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/searchplanningapplications
  8. FINANCE
    8.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £13,804.73 issued 31st August 2025.
    To include £12.00 bank charges.
    Receipts – £4499.00 Drainage grant funding from 2024/25
    8.2 Consider payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for September 2025 Clerk’s hours TBC.
    8.3 Consider payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3423 roads account July 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) and invoice no. TGC3454 roads account September 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86).
    8.4 Consider payment to Wyehost Ltd invoice no. 37715 to rectify spam problems on website of £54.00 gross (VAT £9.00)
    8.5 Consider payment to Cloud Next invoice no. 252116 Home Hosting (vowchurchgroup-pc.gov.uk) renewal of £59.98 gross (VAT£9.99) and invoice no. 252761 .gov.uk domain of £60.00 gross (VAT£10.00).
    8.6 Consider payment to PKF Littlejohn LLP invoice no. SB20251498 for External Audit of £252.00 gross (VAT£42.00).
    8.7 Consider payment to HMRC of TBC PAYE July 2025 – Sept 2025.
  9. EXTERNAL AUDIT 2024/25 – Note section 3 of the External Auditor report and the Notice of Conclusion of Audit.
  10. DRAINAGE GRANT FUNDING AND PROW 2025/26 – Agree areas to be included in applications for both schemes.
  11. WELSH WATER – Consider any help the Parish Council can give after the issues with Welsh Water in St Margarets.
  12. GRIT BINS – Consider provisions for grit bins for winter 2025/26.
  13. IT POLICY – Consider adopting IT Policy.
  14. GRANTS – Consider applying for a Small Sparks Grant for works to the Telephone box at Newton
  15. PUBLIC PATH DIVERSION ORDER- HIGHWAYS ACT 1980, SECTION 119 – PUBLIC FOOTPATHS SM14 AND SM15 (PARTS) ST MARGARETS – Consider any comments or objections.
  16. TREE FELLING ABOVE SLOUGH COTTAGE
  17. NEWSLETTER AND COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS– Agree items for October Newsletter and updates for residents.
  18. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET
  19. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 16th October 2025 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall

A RESOLUTION WILL BE PASSED TO EXCLUDE THE PUBLIC & PRESS DUE TO EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

  1. PARISH CLERK ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND APPROVE NATIONALLY AGREED PAY SCALES

Linda Cowles – Parish Clerk 12/09/2025

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