Linton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 12 June 2023
At Linton Village Hall
Present: Cllr B Clark (Chairman), Cllr A Newton (Vice Chairman); Cllr A Bates; Cllr M Bertenshaw; Cllr J Gough; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr A Price
In attendance: four members of the public; Parish Clerk Richard Hunt
1) Election of Chairman: Cllr Clark was proposed by Cllr Newton and seconded by Cllr Gough and the appointment was unanimously agreed.
2) Chairman’s Allowance: Cllr Clark waived this allowance.
3) Apologies for absence: Cllr Reeves.
4) Declarations of Interest: None.
5) Co-option of members: None.
6) Acceptance of Office from Councillors following Elections: Cllr Clark (absent at the May meeting) signed both the Chairman and Councillor forms for retention by the Clerk.
7) Minutes and Financial Reports of the meeting of 9 May 2023: It was RESOLVED to agree and sign the minutes as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
8) Clerk’s Report: The Clerk has asked the owner of a white van permanently parked on the verge in Revells Lane, Linton, to remove the vehicle, following complaints from residents that it represents a potential safety hazard; Herefordshire County Council (HCC) have mandated that all Councillors Declarations of Interests must now be posted on local parish council websites; all Councillors have now completed Election Expenses forms for HCC retention; the Clerk will provide the latest Council input to the Chimes magazine.
9) Public submissions:
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO not in attendance. Clerk will copy the Council’s objections to Planning Application 231157 (see paragraph 10a) to the Ward Councillor and invite him to the next Council meeting to discuss this topic.
b) Parish Matters: Newent Estate Agents Steve Gooch and Naylor Powell CC have placed For Sale signs on the “island” by the Roadmaker Inn in Gorsley. This is Council-owned land and the Clerk will write to the estate agents asking them to remove the signs; the seat on this land is a Council asset and in need of upkeep – Cllr Gough will examine an report back to the Council; the Public Right of Way footpath from Frowens Lane to Violets Patch (LTR 18) is overgrown (see paragraph 13); some of the drains in the parish need cleaning – Cllr Bertenshaw will raise this issue with the Locality Steward (see also paragraph 19).
10) Planning:
a) Current Applications
i) 231157 – Homestead, Cothars Pitch, Gorsley: it was RESOLVED unanimously to object to this application with comments as set out in Appendix A.
b) Decided Applications: Schedule of recently decided applications was noted. HCC are still deliberating on Application 230426 (Land at Hillside Cottage); comments have now been published.
11) Climate Change working group: The Recycling Cafe on 8 July will take place in Gorsley Village Hall as Linton Village Hall is pre-booked. A group of volunteers will tidy up the Quarry on 15 June as it is becoming overgrown.
12) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Highways general: Weekly reports were noted.
Cllr Bertenshaw will continue to pursue a meeting with the Locality Steward to discuss:
b) Pinford Lane: the poor state of parts of the lane, which is hampering access.
c) Road flooding at Bromsash House: a proposal to insert pipes and drains to run water to the brook by Sandford Bridge.
d) Parish speeding issues: options for controlling speed in specific parts of the parish (see also paragraph 19). The Speed Indicator Device at the south end of Bromsash will be repointed northwards to provide additional data.
e) Roads Projects: The removal of white lines in the middle of specific roads.
13) Public Rights of Way: Cllr Gough will report the overgrowth obstructions on LTR18 (see paragraph 9b) to HCC.
14) Lengthsman:
a) HCC are yet to publish details of the new Lengthsman Grant Funding scheme and how to apply.
b) Grass Lengthsman – has strimmed all designated areas except for Quarry Lane Compound to allow wildflowers to enjoy their season. HCC have agreed to one verge cut later in the year in accordance with parish wishes.
c) Roads Lengthsman – has completed regular parish maintenance rounds. Ditch on Woodend Lane not yet drained.
d) No other requirements apart from Woodend Lane drainage.
15) Allotments: All invoices and contracts have been issued and most fees have been paid. Concerns over possible effects of weed spraying have been noted. Cllr Bates will examine and report back on the condition of the wire fence and timber posts, which have been reported to the Clerk as being in poor condition. There remains one empty plot (number 17), which has been advertised.
16) Gorsley Village Hall: It was RESOLVED unanimously to donate £2,000 to the Roof Fund. The Clerk will examine how recoverable VAT on community projects might be applied.
17) Year End Annual Audit of Accounts:
a) It was RESOLVED to confirm the accounts met the criteria for exemption from external auditor limited assurance review and the Certificate of Exemption was signed.
b) It was RESOLVED to approve the Annual Governance Statement. The Clerk will rectify issues raised by the Internal Audit and produce a Risk Assessment and Reserves Policy for consideration at the next Council meeting.
c) It was RESOLVED to approve the Accounting Statements.
The Clerk will complete the Annual Governance and Accountability Return process.
18) Financial Matters:
a) Current Receipts & Payments were noted.
b) It was RESOLVED to pay: Terry Griffiths, Roads work for April and May £1,056.00; Eyelid Productions, Annual website support £100.00; Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses, plus printer purchase £521.04; Elizabeth Malcolm, Annual Microsoft Subscription £79.99.
19) Chairman’s & Councillors’ submissions: Cllr Bertenshaw will include the issues below in his discussion with the Locality Steward –
• attempts to repair potholes on Woodend Lane which have left raised and potentially dangerous areas.
• the high volume of unsuitable traffic on Fording Lane, which is liable to cause an accident soon.
• how best to gain traction with HCC on the Quiet Lanes initiative.
The Clerk will ask Cllr Reeves to provide an update on his pursuit of options to manage the speed of traffic passing through Gorsley on B4221.
A Tree Survey in the parish is overdue. The Clerk will initiate.
20) Date of next meeting: Monday 10 July 7.30pm at Gorsley Village Hall.
Appendix A to Minutes
The Council’s objection to Planning Application 231157 – Homestead, Cothars Pitch, Gorsley, was based on road safety concerns.
The road leading to the land where planning permission is sought is already a safety hazard. It is in very poor condition, not least because of the heavy goods vehicles using it to access Cothars Pitch. Another building on the site for commercial purposes will only exacerbate this issue and increase the risk of a serious accident. The Linton Parish Council urges Herefordshire Council Planning to consult the Highways Department on the likely consequences of approving this application. The Council appreciates this is not a Planning issue per se but feels this application has a wider dimension for the local area.
The meeting closed at 8:40 pm.