Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 11 May 2026
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chair); Cllr M Bertenshaw (Vice-Chair); Cllr J Gough; Cllr J Hoyle; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr R Williams
In attendance: Two members of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt (remotely)
1) Election of Chair for 2026/27: Cllr Newton was proposed by Cllr Bertenshaw and seconded by Cllr Williams. All in favour.
2) Election of Vice-Chair for 2026/2027: Cllr Bertenshaw was proposed by Cllr Hoyle and seconded by Cllr Jurkiewicz. All in favour.
3) Chair’s Allowance: Cllr Newton waived this allowance.
4) Apologies for absence: Cllrs E Clark, C Cresswell.
5) Declarations of Interest: None.
6) Co-option of members: None. There are two vacancies on the PC.
7) Appointments: Cllr Gough remains the Public Footpath Officer (PFO) for Gorsley. The PC leads on different topics are: Finance – Cllr Hoyle; Allotments – Cllr Williams; Gorsley/B4221 road safety – Cllr Clark; Speed Indicator Devices (SID) – Cllr Bertenshaw; Climate – Cllr Newton.
8) Minutes & Financial Reports of the PC meeting on 13 April 2026: It was RESOLVED that the Chair sign the minutes as a true and accurate record.
9) Clerk’s report: The Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) ground keeps shifting. Plan-makers must now have regard, as far as they consider it appropriate, to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to the local nature recovery strategy. Eventually there will be another requirement relating to a new environmental assessment framework, but this has not yet been established. The basic condition for NDPs – that they should be in general conformity with the development plan for the area – has been replaced by new wording requiring that the NDP must not result in less housing than if the NDP had not been made. The PC will consider its approach to NDP revision at the meeting in June. HMRC have paid the PC’s VAT refund claim of £4,901.17. No further updates on the provision of a bus stop at Linton on the Daffodil Line.
10) Public submissions:
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance.
b) Parish Matters: None.
11) Planning
a) Current Applications:
(i) 260096 – Land adjacent to Burton House, Linton: change of use of agricultural land to secure dog walking field. It was RESOLVED unanimously to return no objection and no comments to this application.
(ii) 260798 – The Oak Fold, Gorsley: demolition of carport and erection of a single detached garage. It was RESOLVED unanimously to return no objection and no comments to this application.
(iii) 261061 – Land adjacent to Orchard House, Bromsash: variation of condition of permission 231982 (erection of a 3-bedroom dwelling with integral garage) to facilitate a revised dwelling design. It was RESOLVED unanimously to object to this application because the scale of the proposed development has increased to such a degree that it presents an invasion of privacy on a neighbouring property.
b) Decided applications: The schedule of recently decided applications was noted.
12) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Weekly reports were noted. The Clerk will continue to report the need for pothole repairs on Linton Ridge and Line.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. The latest SID report shows satisfactory average speeds with northbound (outgoing) traffic just 3mph faster than southbound (incoming) traffic, which can see the display. Six percent of incoming traffic and 23% of outgoing traffic however exceeded 35mph and incredibly maximum speeds of 67mph (incoming) and 89mph (outgoing) were recorded. The device has now been relocated at the north end of the village facing north. Cllr Bertenshaw will check with Herefordshire Council (HCC) whether the B4224 resurfacing is complete, but the Clerk can now order the village gateways approved by the PC.
c) Curbing speed of traffic through Gorsley on B4221. The PC expressed its thanks to Cllr Bertenshaw for replacing the batteries and installing security locks on the SID. It was agreed not to take the supplier’s extended warranty on the device.
d) Shutton Crossroads: The PC awaits confirmation that the Daffodil bus route will include a stop at Linton before committing erecting a shin fence to deter parking on the grass triangle.
13) Public Rights of Way: There has been no interest in the Linton PFO vacancy.
14) Lengthsman:
a) Grass Lengthsman. A parish strimming round was conducted in April. In response to issues raised, the Clerk will inform the Locality Steward that a dead tree is leaning on a telephone wire on the lane from Linton towards the M50. Cllr Gough, as PFO, will examine the creation of a new track from regular use on Gorsley Common.
b) Roads Lengthsman. The Clerk will continue to request a quote for renovating road signs in the parish.
c) Lengthsman Funding Scheme 2026/27. HCC have approved the PC’s Lengthsman Agreement and Grant application., and PROW Grant application. The PC approved a Drainage Grant fund application for submission to HCC.
15) Allotments: The first grass cutting and maintenance round is complete. The Clerk will advertise a plot vacancy.
16) Insurance: It was RESOLVED unanimously to continue with Zurich Insurance as the PC’s insurance provider following a review of options.
17) Financial Matters:
a) Cllr Hoyle signed the Receipts & Payments report and reconciled bank statement for 30 April 2026. There was a bank balance of £32,892.77 with a cash balance after outstanding payments and unpresented receipts of £30,781.29.
b) It was RESOLVED to pay: Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £452.16; Terry Griffiths Contracts, routine maintenance £1,174.32; GP Property, allotments maintenance £185.00; Zurich Insurance, annual insurance £300.00, AGP Garden Services, strimming service £192.00; Ross-on-Wye Town Council, donation to Armed Forces Outreach Scheme £100.00. Cllrs Hoyle and Williams signed the invoices.
c) The 2025/26 Annual Governance and Accountability Return Governance and Accounting Statements will be reviewed at the June meeting to allow for completion of the internal audit process.
18) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions: The litter picking event in Aprill went well, but lessons have been learned. An article will be included in the Chimes magazine. The PC plan to repeat the event in the autumn. The Clerk will send a letter of thanks to Andy Ball for his invaluable expertise and advice. The PC is monitoring parishioner concern that the Penny Farthing Inn (in Aston Ingham parish) may be renting out rooms without planning permission.
19) Date of next meeting: Monday 8 June 2026 in Linton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8:22pm.