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 October 2025 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone memorial Hall

PRESENT – Councillor E May (Chair), I Chadwick, A Picton, T Smith, K Price, S Craddock, D Cross, E Williams, and J Kernahan.

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillor A Mason, Ward Councillor M Engel, and the police.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – Councillor D Cross declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in agenda item 8.1; the declarations book was signed accordingly. There were no written requests for dispensation.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 18th September 2025 – 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. TREE FELLING AT WHITEHOUSE WOODS – Councillors have been forwarded the response from the Forestry Commission regarding their queries. The Chair confirmed that the land is registered on the Local Wildlife Sites register and can be viewed on Herefordshire Councils website at: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/1797/appendix-8-sites-with-environmental-designations
    The neighbouring residents are waiting for a meeting with the foresters to enable them to show him the line of the water pipe and to voice any concerns at that point.
  6. REPORTS
    6.1 Local Police – The Police were unable to attend the meeting but reported via the clerk that there have been no reports of thefts/burglaries in the parish since the last meeting on 18th September.
    6.2 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engel was unable to attend the meeting but reported via the Chair that there has been little activity since the last meeting. The Chair requested that Councillors watch the YouTube video of the last parish summit as it included some relative information.
    6.3 Lengthsman report – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting.
  7. CLERKS UPDATE – The Public Rights of Way grant funding has been approved for £5370 with funding of £47.00 required from the Parish Council to install new gates or stiles in 7 sites with 4 kissing gates being supplied to landowners for installation by themselves.
    No response has been received from Welsh Water but have chased.
    The second verge cut was due to start at the beginning of October, Councillors confirmed this had not taken place, the Clerk will chase with the Locality Steward.
    A notice has been removed from the Newton noticeboard as it had not followed the open noticeboard policy. The audit information has also been removed from the Vowchurch noticeboard. It was agreed to include a reminder of the open noticeboard policy in the November newsletter and to remind people not to remove parish council notices as some are required by law to be displayed for a specific period.
  8. CONSIDER PLANNING
    Councillor D Cross left the room.
    8.1 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
    Site: Land at Upper House Farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire. HR2 0JZ
    Description: Proposed log cabin for use as a temporary agricultural worker dwelling.
    Application No: 251807 Grid Ref: 330846:236503
    COMMENT – The Parish Council have no additional comments to add beyond their original statement.

Councillor D Cross returned to the meeting.
8.2 PLANNING CONSULTATION
Site: Poston Mill Caravan Park, Peterchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0SF
Description: Proposed new reception building and alterations to internal site layout.
Application No: 252474 Grid Ref: 335653:237069
SUPPORT – The Parish Council supports this application but wishes to make the following comments: –
The application states that no tress will be affected; however, the Parish Council has concerns that a large silver birch tree may be impacted. The Council requests that this tree be replaced if it is removed or damaged. The site is visible from local Public Rights of Way. The Council requests that a condition be included to prevent the installation of external lighting, in accordance with Policy 10 of the adopted Neighbourhood Plan
8.3 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
Site: Sweeps Cottage, The Common Road, Lowere Meascoed, Herefordshire. HR2 0HP
Description: Proposed conversion of the garage to holiday let.
Application No: 233274 Grid Ref: 334521:230808
COMMENT – The Council wishes to confirm that its objections to the original proposals remain unchanged, and it has no additional comments to add.
8.4 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
Site: Sweeps Cottage, The Common Road, Lower Maescoed, Herefordshire. HR2 0HP
Description: Proposed conversion of outbuilding to holiday let.
Application No: 233275 Grid Ref: 334521:230808
COMMENT – The Council wishes to confirm that its objections to the original proposals remain unchanged, and it has no additional comments to add.
Councillor J Kernahan joined the meeting.
8.5 PLANNING APPLICATION WITHDRAWN
Site: St Mary’s Church, Turnastone, Herefordshire. HR2 0RA
Description: Provision of free-standing & self-contained 1.2 x 1.2 wooden potting shed style portaloo in churchyard. 25mm mains water supply pipe to west end of church, free standing sink unit at west end of church and soakaway for sink waste water.
Application No: 242800/242801 Grid Ref: 335744:236478

  1. FINANCE
    9.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £21,733.50 issued 30th September 2025
    To include £6.00 bank charges.
    Receipts – £1467.90 Lengthsman match funding and £9051.46 precept.
    9.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for October 2025 Clerk’s hours and £36.17 gross (VAT £6.03) ink cartridges – Payment agreed.
    9.3 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3516 roads account September 2025 (1) of £587.16 gross (VAT £97.86) – Payment agreed.
    9.4 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 along with the budget forecast.
  2. GRIT BINS – Councillors confirmed that the grit bins have been filled ready for winter 2025/26. There is also a supply stored locally for residents to collect if needed. It was agreed that the Clerk will ask the Locality Steward for a map of where the grit bins are located and Councillors would note any grit bins that need replacing. The Clerk confirmed that any new grit bins would need to be purchased by the parish council. Councillor Kernahan agreed to obtain some costings.
  3. VOWCHURCH NOTICEBOARD – Two quotes have been received to repair the back of the notice board in Vowchurch, it was agreed to instruct The Village Carpenter to remove the noticeboard and replace the exterior plywood, fit sheet of 9mm pinboard and apply two coats of bituminous paint at a cost of £240.00 to include all materials, labour and refitting on site.
  4. PROPOSAL FOR CHANGES TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR PARISH & TOWN COUNCILS – LOCAL RESOLUTION PROTOCOL – The Parish Council considered the proposals for a local resolution process. At this time, it was agreed that the Council would prefer the Monitoring Officer to continue to handle complaints about Councillors, rather than these being dealt with at a local level before a formal referral to Herefordshire Council under the Code of Conduct.
  5. NEWSLETTER – Landowner responsibility re ditches, salt supplies, noticeboard policy reminder.
  6. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – No further correspondence received.
  7. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 20th November 2025 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall – Lengthsman tenders 2026/27, Grit Bins, Herefordshire Council Charter, and Budget

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.20pm

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


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