Draft 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 July 2026 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), E Williams, I Chadwick, S Craddock, K Price, T Smith, A Picton, R Lloyd and D Cross.
IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs L Cowles (Clerk).

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillor A Mason, J Probert (Lengthsman) and the police.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – There were no declarations of interest or written requests for dispensation.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 18th June 2026 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting therefore no specific points were raised.
  5. REPORTS
    5.1 Local Police – The police were unable to attend the meeting but reported via the clerk that on 5th July, unknown suspect(s) have entered a building in Michaelchurch Escley and stolen three antique wooden beams and between 50-100 building bricks. At approximately 0200 hours on 5th July a red Honda 500 quad bike has been stolen from a farm in the Vowchurch area.
    5.2 Lengthsman – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting.
    5.3 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engel was unable to attend the meeting.
  6. CLERKS UPDATE – The Countryside Restoration Trust have advised that they are taking Turnastone Court Farm off the market. Planning application 260702 at Turnastone Court has been granted to enable the lodge to become a private dwelling. The police have been to visit the recently reported dangerous driver. The public rights of way team at Herefordshire Council have asked the local PFO’s to compile a list of footpath assets within the parish. Planning re-consultation no. 253625 at Gigran Farm, Micaelchurch Escley has been received since the agenda was issued. The parish councils’ original comments remain unchanged. With regard to the re-consultation, it was agreed that there were no concerns regarding the updated drainage system. The parish council have been asked to comment on the woodland creation consultation for a proposal to extend woodland at Whitehouse Estate, with approximately 10 hectares of new planting in fields south of the current woodland. Councillors agreed to make the following comments. The Council notes that the planting plan appears to include a significant proportion of conifer trees. We would like to understand the reasoning behind this choice and would encourage consideration of a greater proportion of native deciduous trees. What are the long-term management objectives for the woodland. If the conifers are intended as a commercial crop for future harvesting, has an assessment been undertaken of the potential impact that harvesting operations would have on the local highway network? The surrounding roads are narrow rural lanes, and additional heavy vehicle movements could have implications for highway safety, road condition, and disruption to residents. The Parish Council would appreciate information on how local residents will be made aware of the proposals and the opportunities available for them to comment. We would be happy to share information about the scheme via the parish council website and social media if that would help keep local residents informed.
  7. CONSIDER PLANNING
    7.1 LISTED BUILDING CONSENT – GRANTED
    Site: Glendore, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0RA
    Description: Removal of fuel pumps to facilitate renovation works, including removal of flaking paint and the repair and repainting of external cases. Cleaning/repair of internal parts and reinstatement of pumps on site.
    Application No: 261233 Grid Ref: 335743:236392
  8. FINANCE
    8.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £21,964.21 dated 30th June 2026
    To include £7.00 bank charges.
    8.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for July and August 2026 Clerk’s hours, £312.00 allowance for home office use 2026-27 and Ink cartridges £40.04 gross (VAT 6.68) – Payment agreed.
    8.3 Payment to Mr J Probert invoice no. 1129 roads account June 2026 (1) of £300.00 gross (VAT £50.00) – Payment agreed.
    8.4 Payment to HMRC of £440.52 (£339.60 PAYE and £100.92 NI contributions) April 2026 – June 2026 – Payment agreed.
    8.5 Payment to WyeHost Ltd invoice no. 38630 UK domain name renewal of £11.99 gross (VAT £2.00) – Payment agreed.
    8.6 Finance Working Group- Receive report from 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. The quarterly budget was also reviewed.
  9. NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW – NDP review members would be Councillors E May, I Chadwick and D Cross. It was agreed that the NDP review would be an on-going process. Councillor May agreed to contact Longtown parish council to enquire about their review, it was generally agreed that any changes needed to include very specific wording to avoid any generalisation.
  10. DEALING WITH UNREASONABLE COMPLAINANT BEHAVIOUR – It was agreed to adopt the policy for dealing with unreasonable complainant behaviour distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting.
  11. DRAINAGE GRANT FUNDING 2026/27 – The Clerk advised that Herefordshire Council have awarded £2365.00 of the £7125.00 requested so far for drainage grant funding 2026/27. However, they have advised that they are due to approve a second round of funding, including maintenance works, which may include works on the current application. This funding MUST be used for the schemes approved on the application form. The Clerk advised that there is additional funding available in the parish council budget if the council wished to self-fund some works. As previously noted, Herefordshire Association of Local Councils have some concerns regarding insurance liabilities and have recommended that members do not undertake works at this time until this is clarified. It was therefore agreed to defer any decision regarding works until the September meeting when further information will hopefully be available.
    Councillor Cross raised concerns regarding the hedge along the C1206 in Michaelchurch as this is now encroaching onto the road. The land either side is currently on the market, therefore this has not been cut. It was agreed that the clerk would contact the Locality Steward to enquire whether Herefordshire Council would cut this on safety grounds. It was also agreed to invite the Locality Steward to a parish council meeting.
  12. NEWSLETTER – Talk Community summer activities and support. Summer safety regarding swimming in cold water and fire safety.
  13. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – The correspondence sheet was noted.
  14. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 3rd September 2026 at 7.30pm in Newton Church Room – Welsh Water.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.10pm.

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