Linton(South) Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 11 November 2024
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr M Bertenshaw (Chair); Cllr E Clark; Cllr C Cresswell; Cllr J Gough; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr R Williams.
In attendance: three members of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt.
1) Apologies for absence: Cllrs J Hoyle, A Newton, A Price.
2) Declarations of Interest: None declared.
3) Co-option of members: One vacancy remains on the PC, which the Clerk will continue to advertise.
4) It was RESOLVED to agree and sign the Minutes of the meeting on 14 October 2024 as a true and accurate record, with the amendment of Cllr “Creswell” to “Cresswell”. Cllr Bertenshaw as Chair signed the Minutes.
5) Clerk’s Report: The PCSO was unable to act against the Ford Ranger in Bromsash as it was not parked illegally, but it has subsequently been moved. Information on flooding support from Herefordshire Council (HCC) has been posted on the Parish Council (PC) website.
6) Public Submissions:
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance.
b) Parish Matters: The Clerk will explore potential purchasers of the disposable hard wood resulting from the PC-approved cutting down of ash trees near Quarry Lane.
7) Planning:
a) (i) 241664 – Land at Upton Bishop Fishing Lakes – siting of 40 holiday lodges (caravans) with associated development. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise an objection to this proposal on several points. The PC endorsed the objection already raised by Upton Bishop PC. Cllr Bertenshaw will co-ordinate a PC response which the Clerk will forward to HCC and the Ward Councillor and include as an appendix to these minutes.
(ii) 242446 – Great Woodend Farm, Woodend Lane, Linton – optimise buildings to achieve energy efficient and airtight design. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objection and no comment to this application.
(iii) 242534 – Badgers Holt, Bromsash – garage extension. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objection and no comment to this application.
It was also RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objection to the proposed base installation upgrade at the Cornerstone Station at Fidlers Cross, Bromsash, which is an essential part of the enhancement of 5G telecommunications infrastructure in the area. The proposal is compliant with non-ionising radiation protection guidelines.
b) Decided applications: The schedule of recently decided applications was noted.
8) Climate Change Working Group: The last Recycling Cafe took place on 9 November. The Clerk will ensure that payment of hire charges to Gorsley and Linton village halls matches the number of events held.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Highways General. The signage lines at Shutton Crossroads have been partially repainted. The PC will consider the requirement for road signs there at the meeting in December. The Locality Steward has reported that HCC’s grit bin refill programme has now been completed. The Roads Lengthsman is checking to see if any have been missed in the parish. He will purchase bags of road salt and replenish grit bins as required. Gloucestershire County Council road closure signs on the B4224 north of Bromsash appear to have been placed there in error, with no closure scheduled. The abysmal state of the B4221 from the M50 Junction 3 Eastbound turning to Linton road junction has been reported to HCC. The collision-damaged grit bin at the Hartleton Farm junction on Fording Lane has been replaced.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. The latest Speed Indicator Device (SID) report reiterates the effectiveness of the north facing device with less than 3% of incoming traffic exceeding 35mph but more than 20% of outgoing traffic exceeding 35mph. The SID is now facing south towards the crossroads.
c) Curbing speed on B4221 in Gorsley. PC and community representatives met HCC and Balfour Beatty (BBLP) officers on 29 October to present the case for a reduction in speed limits and other actions, including clearer road markings; better signage; safety barriers. HCC are facing serious financial constraints, but the recruitment of additional traffic management officers has improved the processing of traffic regulation orders (TRO) which address speed limits for traffic on specific roads. The backlog is diminishing and at the current of processing it is estimated that the request for a TRO on the B4221 in Gorsley will be processed in six months. This does not guarantee a reduction in speed, but the case for Gorsley is strong. The PC and Geardown For Gorsley will produce a plan with objectives and options that can inform PC funding decisions and efforts to enlist external financial support from organisations with community response budgets. White gates are a proven speed deterrent, and the Roads Lengthsman will provide an installation quote for PC consideration. The PC has installed a SID at the east end of Gorsley to monitor and record speeds. The Clerk will seek HCC approval to move the device to the Vehicle Activated Speed sign (VAS) location, as the latter is not serving a useful purpose and should be replaced. West Mercia Police’s Operational Policing Unit will conduct periodic speed enforcement. Two traffic monitoring cables have been inserted on the B4221, but one is broken. The Clerk will ask HCC if this action is connected to the recent engagement with the PC or not.
d) Flooding at Bromsash House/Fordings Lane. The Roads Lengthsman will insert several drainage baskets into the pipe leading to a soakaway pit to aid the release of water coming off the field.
e) Signs. The Roads Lengthsman has installed “Unsuitable for HGV” signs at Manse Lane and Burrups Lane West and East. The PC will consider how to use the signs that have been replaced.
10) Public Rights of Way: The Clerk is clarifying with HCC if the replacement of four stiles along footpath LTR28 (from the road just west of Burton Court towards Bromsash near Eccleswall) with gates can proceed now that the cost of materials for grant support has been approved.
11) Lengthsman:
a) Grass Lengthsman. Nothing to report.
b) Roads Lengthsman. The scheduled parish maintenance rounds will begin shortly. HCC have approved the PC’s application for financial support in all categories of the Roads Drainage Funding Scheme.
12) Allotments: It was RESOLVED unanimously to employ DB Landscaping to clear the overgrown plot 20 at a cost of £280, with pruning and debris burnt on site. There is someone waiting to take the plot once it has been cleared.
13) Assets Register: It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the updated Register, which includes purchase costs as requested by the annual audit process.
14) Financial Matters:
a) Cllr Jurkiewicz and Cllr Williams signed the Receipts & Payments reports and reconciled bank statements for 31 October 2024. There was a bank balance of £28,455.79, with a cash balance after outstanding payments of £27, 518.36.
b) It was RESOLVED to pay: Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £652.43; Linton Village Hall, meeting and recycling cafe hire £285.00. Cllr Jurkiewicz and Cllr Williams signed the invoices.
c) The PC noted the latest budget monitoring report, which forecasts 2024-2025 income of £27,302.33 against expenditure of £33,055.96.
d) Lloyds Bank have approved Cllr Hoyle’s request for bank mandate authorisation and online access, but he still awaits confirmation of this. The bank is changing the PC account from a Treasurers to Community category from 14 January 2025, which will incur a monthly account maintenance fee of £4.25, plus charges for cheques and other transactions. The Clerk is exploring other options for PC banking and will consult Upton Bishop PC who are pursuing similar action.
15) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions: Cllr Gough suggested the need for an “Unsuitable For HGV” sign on Chapel Lane.
16) Date of next meeting: Monday 9 December 2024 at 7:30 pm in Linton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9:43pm.