Linton Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 8 January 2024
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chair); Cllr A Bates; Cllr E Clark; Cllr J Gough; Cllr J Hoyle; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr A Price; Cllr R Williams
In attendance: Ten members of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt
1) Apologies for absence: Cllr M Bertenshaw.
2) Declarations of Interest: None.
3) Co-option of members: It was RESOLVED unanimously to co-opt Richard Williams on to the Parish Council (PC). Noone responded to the Election Notice Of Councillor Vacancy for Linton(S) that expired on 5 January, enabling co-option to fill vacancies. There is one remaining vacancy on the PC.
4) Minutes and Financial Reports of the meeting of 11 December 2023: it was RESOLVED to agree and sign the minutes as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
5) Clerk’s Report: All actions from the last meeting have been completed. HALC subscription is increasing from £598.26 this year to £677.64 in 2024-25. An amendment to Local Government legislation means that PCs are now able to support church property again. Molly Walters, Balfour Beatty Locality Liaison Coordinator, has resigned and a successor has not yet been appointed.
6) Public Submissions:
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance.
b) Parish Matters: HCC have confirmed that the Gorsley Shop is not liable to pay Business Rates. The PC has received complaints about the parking of vehicles in Linton but as the police have determined that none of this is illegal, the matter is concluded. The triangle island in the village, where vehicles have been parked, is maintained but not owned by the PC.
7) Planning:
a) There were no Current Applications to consider.
b) Decided applications: The schedule of recently decided applications was noted.
8) Climate Change Working Group: Cllr Newton provided an update on activities. The next Recycling Cafe takes place in Linton Village Hall on 13 January.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) The Locality Steward. The weekly reports have resumed following the return of the Locality Steward from paternity leave.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. The latest Speed Indication Device (SID) report for Bromsash South (south facing) shows that average speeds appear satisfactory but approximately 14% of incoming and 18% of outgoing vehicles exceeded the speed limit. The SID has now been relocated to Bromsash North.
c) Curbing speed on B4221 in Gorsley. The Geardown For Gorsley group are pursuing several initiatives. It is unclear whether a Traffic Regulation Order is already in the Herefordshire Council (HCC) system, and the advice now given is to submit a new single TRO request covering all speed reduction requirements. Noone from the Highways Department has yet visited the area as requested. West Mercia Police have opened a Safer Roads Grant scheme that closes on 2 February. Cllr Clark has compiled an application with supporting documents for the other councillor’s perusal and input before 19 January. She will factor in the state of the road, including dangerous potholes around drains. All agreed that it was important to focus attention on the highest priority issues, such as school safety. Cllr Clark has promoted the road safety campaign on media, including BBC Hereford & Worcester, and will follow this up soon via a broadcast from Gorsley School. It was RESOLVED unanimously to submit a SID location assessment for Gorsley to HCC Traffic Management which will cost the PC £490 plus VAT.
d) Bromsash Flooding. Cllr Bertenshaw is meeting with an HCC representative on 19 January to discuss a possible drainage solution for the B4224 outside Bromsash House. He has also submitted a further request for “Flood” signs to be reinstated here.
e) Highway Signs. HCC have still not confirmed that the verge width and design of the signs are acceptable, following which the Clerk will place the order with the chosen supplier, Signs and Labels Hereford Ltd, and ask the Roads Lengthsman to install the signs.
10) Public Rights of Way: Following the creation of an HCC Public Footpath Officer (PFO) register, HALC have emphasised that PFOs are volunteers and not accountable to HCC.
11) Lengthsman:
a) Grass Lengthsman. No updates. A Land Registry search has confirmed that the PC does not own land near Linton Quarry where Japanese Knotweed is growing.
b) Roads Lengthsman. This year’s Grant from HCC was based on a figure of £140 per km of C and U road network in the Parish which has 25.4 kms of such roads. For 2024-25 the grant will be assessed against £60 per km, with matched funding up to the maximum grant level. This means that for 2024-25 Linton(S) can apply for a grant of £1524, with another £1524 in matched funding. The Clerk will inquire whether there is any prospect of obtaining an increase in the amount awarded. Salt bins in the parish are being filled now that drier weather has arrived.
c) Priority requirements. None. HCC have reimbursed the PC £2,623 under the Lengthsman’s Grant Scheme for invoices paid to date in 2023-24. The Clerk will produce a list of work remaining this year and a draft 2024-25 schedule for PC approval.
12) Allotments: New fence posts have been installed, and the gate at the rear of the allotments has been repaired. Cllr Bates will review the work. The Clerk will reiterate to allotment holders the need to remove rubbish next to the fence before any further repairs can be considered.
13) Tree Survey: Following consideration of several quotes, it was RESOLVED with six in favour, one against and one abstention, to commission Ecotech Tree Care to conduct the work at Gorsley Common and Gorsley Quarry recommended by the survey.
14) Incorporation of Linton Village Hall: Herefordshire Archives do not have a copy of deeds that would enable the transfer of the legal interest in Linton Village Hall from the PC to the Hall as a charitable incorporated organisation. A former Clerk to the PC does not believe there are any deeds as such, and that the Conveyance is the legal document to be used if it can be found. This gave the Parish Council control for one year which allowed a Management Committee to be set up, the control then passed to that committee and the Parish Council became the Custodian Trustee. The Clerk will inform the Trustees solicitors of the situation.
15) D-Day 80 6 June 2024: Cllr Clark will inquire whether Gorsley School is commemorating the event, but the PC’s inclination is not to participate in the lighting of a beacon to celebrate the anniversary.
16) Financial Matters:
a) Current Receipts & Payments were noted. The latest Budget Report for 2023-24 indicates that income and expenditure remain close to that forecast.
b) Precept 2024-25: The PC noted the application of £14,400 for 2024-25, which has been acknowledged by HCC.
c) It was RESOLVED to pay: Chris Hyett, Allotments maintenance and repair £1,010.00; Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £446.58.
d) Cllr Price and Cllr Bertenshaw have both applied for online access to the PC’s bank accounts.
17) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions: The Clerk will request that the heating is switched on in Gorsley Village Hall in advance of each PC meeting at the venue.
18) Date of next meeting: Monday 12 February 2024 at 7:30 pm in Linton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8:55 pm.