16th April 2026 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 16th April 2026 at 7.30pm in Newton Church Room.

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), I Chadwick, A Picton, E Williams, K Price, T Smith, J Kernahan, D Cross, S Craddock and R Lloyd.
IN ATTENDANCE – Two members of the public, J Probert (Lengthsman) and Mrs L Cowles (Clerk).

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillor A Mason and Ward Councillor M Engel.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – There were no declarations of interest or written requests for dispensation.

    The Chair proposed a resolution to debate agenda item 5 at the conclusion of agenda item 16 and that members of the public and press are excluded, to enable council to receive advice and discuss the way forward. Seconded by Councillor I Chadwick. The proposal was agreed by a majority vote.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 19th March 2026 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – The Chair advised that whilst residents may state their views on recent Lengthsman works, there will be no discussion with Councillors during this item, as Councillor debate will take place in closed session, following agenda item 16. Two residents in attendance addressed the Council regarding their concerns about recent Lengthsman’s works carried out opposite Brook Cottage and Gilfach in St Margarets.
    Two residents left the meeting.
  5. LENGTHSMAN WORK OPPOSITE BROOK COTTAGE & GILFACH – Defer to after agenda item 16.
  6. REPORTS
    6.1 Local Police – The local police were unable to attend the meeting.
    6.2 Lengthsman – The Chair welcomed Jamie Probert to the meeting. The Chair & Lengthsman signed the Lengthsman contract.
    The Lengthsman left the meeting.
    6.3 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engel was unable to attend the meeting. The Chair read his report, which included: –
    Councillor Engel has met with James Howells, the new Locality Steward.
    It is hoped that ‘caution deer’ road safety signs will be installed between Batcho Hill and Vowchurch.
    Concerns from environmentalists regarding Turnastone Court.
    In Hereford the cabinet are trying to recruit support from businesses for virtues of the road linking the A465 and A49.
    Death of Fred Spriggs.
    Rachael Sanders, head of finance at Herefordshire Council is no longer leaving position.
    Due to attend a lunch to meet candidates for the new chief executive role.
  7. CLERKS UPDATE – Verge cutting – The first cut will take place earlier this year as the contract is due to end with Balfour Beatty, the second cut will be undertaken by the new contractor. The Parish Council is scheduled for two cuts as in previous years other than the U74202 which will receive one cut.
    The Clerk reminded Councillors about HALC training courses.
    There has still not been a response from Tom Oliver regarding speaking at the Annual Parish meeting. It was agreed to contact Ellie Chowns and invite her to give a talk.
  8. CONSIDER PLANNING
    8.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION
    Site: Turnastone Court Farm Education Centre and Lodge, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0RA
    Description: Change of use of education centre and bunk house accommodation) use class F1/C1) to private dwellinghouse (use class C3)
    Application No: 260702 Grid Ref: 335866:236425
    OBJECT – There is a history of failure to comply with previous planning permissions associated with this site. The Parish Council is disappointed that the development has consistently been presented as a bunkhouse and education centre. In practice, however, it has been operating as a holiday let for some time. There are a number of inaccuracies within the submitted planning application form.
    8.2 PLANNING PERMISSION – GRANTED
    Site: Land at Old Farm Cottage, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QW
    Description: Agricultural storage building
    Application No: 260204 Grid Ref: 334756:234007
  9. FINANCE
    9.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £16,305.44 dated 31st March 2026.
    To include £7.00 bank charges.
    Receipts – £2237 drainage grant funding and £2456 PROW grant funding and £4728.99 VAT refund.
    9.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for April 2026 Clerk’s hours – Payment agreed.
    9.3 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3783 roads account March 2026 (1) of £587.04 gross (VAT £97.84) and invoice no. TGC3813 roads account March 2026 (2) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) – Payment agreed.
    9.4 Payment to Cobb’s Tree & Estate Services invoice no. 2117 of £1088.35 gross (no VAT) for PROW works – Payment agreed.
    9.5 Finance working group – The latest quarterly reports were distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting along with the end of year bank reconciliation. The finance working group confirmed spreadsheets, invoices and PAYE had been checked and all were in order.
  10. INTERNAL AUDIT 2025/26 – It was agreed to sign the letter of engagement. The Clerk advised that the accounts were now ready to be sent to the Internal Auditor.
    10.1 ASSERTION 10 – Councillors are already aware of the requirement to use .gov.uk email addresses. GDPR training can be completed for free via the ICO website, there are five modules taking approximately 10 minutes each to complete. It was agreed to forward the link to Councillors. If Councillors have received training via other sources that would be fine. The website needs to be upgraded from WCA 2.1AA to WCA 2.2AA. Wyehost would be able to complete this at a cost of between £90-£180 depending on how much needed to be changed – It was agreed to go ahead and instruct Wyehost to make necessary changes. The email provider does not offer an auto delete facility of emails after 6 months. Councillors were therefore reminded to clear down their emails on a regular basis.
  11. LENGTHSMAN, DRAINAGE AND PROW SCHEMES 2026/27 – Consider requirements for:
    11.1 Lengthsman Scheme 2026/27 – It was agreed to sign the lengthsman contract with Herefordshire Council.
    11.2 Drainage Grant Funding 2026/27 – It was agreed that Councillor Picton would meet with the Lengthsman to discuss areas for funding and bring to the May meeting.
    11.3 PROW Grant funding 2026/27 – This application needs to be completed by September, the footpath officers have been asked for suggested improvements.
  12. PUBLIC CONSULTATION – POLICE FORCE MERGERS – It was agreed to encourage residents to complete the questionnaire on an individual basis.
  13. WELSH WATER AT NEWTON ST MARGARETS – The response from Welsh Water was noted. Councillor Price thanked the Parish Council for helping to highlight these isues. The situation will be monitored moving forward.
  14. NEWSLETTER – Annual Parish Meeting date, Police Commissioner Questionnaire, Welsh Water update, Dog Fouling.
  15. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – The correspondence sheet was noted.
  16. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 7th May 2026 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall – C1206 road repairs.

The Chair reminded Councillors that a resolution has been passed to exclude members of the public and press to receive advice.

  1. LENGTHSMAN WORK OPPOSITE BROOK COTTAGE & GILFACH – Councillors noted previous correspondence with two local residents concerning work undertaken by the Lengthsman.
    As circumstances were not deemed to have changed since the initial exchange of emails with the residents, Councillors resolved to endorse the Clerks original response and consider the matter closed.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.45pm

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

Skip to content