Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 10th February 2020
At Gorsley Village Hall at 19:30
Present: Cllr C Crumpton (Chairman); Cllr B Clark; Cllr J Gough; Cllr A Newton; Cllr G Owen; Cllr A Reeves.
In attendance:7 members of public; Parish Clerk Elizabeth Malcolm.
1. Apologies for absence Cllr L Watkins, Ward Cllr Wilding.
2. Declarations of interest: Cllr Reeves declared an interest in item 7.a.i, and signed the declaration book.
3. Co-option of Councillors: None
4. Minutes of the Parish Council it was RESOLVED to agree and sign the minutes of the meeting of 13th January 2020 as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
a. Discussion took place on a form of wording to be applied to item 7.c of minutes of the meeting of 9th December 2019, and it was RESOLVED by majority to adopt the wording as follows:
The Parish Council noted and discussed recent correspondence from a parishioner who expressed the opinion that the poor quality and ongoing deterioration of Woodend Lane is due in large part to heavy vehicles transporting spoil from development works on The Line as well as ongoing excavation work on Linton Ridge increasing the amount of water running down from the ridge into Woodend Lane. The Parish Council agreed that the Parish Clerk should forward this correspondence to both the Planning and Highways divisions of Herefordshire Council for their consideration.
b. Cllr Clark confirmed he had received, read and understood guidance received on dispensation procedure supplied by the Monitoring Officer.
c. The Council noted with regret the resignation of Jeannie Rudman and thanked her for her support to the Council.
5. Clerk’s Report – Noted
6. Public Submissions
a. Ward Councillor – Ward Cllr Wilding sent his apologies to the meeting.
b. Public –
• The culvert at the bottom of Culthars Pitch near where it meets Woodend Lane / Linton Lane is blocked. Clerk also asked to investigate ownership of the land
• A Parishioner stated that he felt the building works on Linton Hill were being inaccurately blamed for damage to roads
• It was agreed to review responses to road/ asset issues raised as well as reporting to Ward Cllr, Cabinet Member for roads & Head of relevant department BBL.
c. The Pound – discussion of ownership and responsibility of it’s care took place. The Clerk was asked to investigate old minutes and various contacts in the Parish were offered for the Clerk to contact.
7. Planning
a. New applications
i. 20005 – Homestead, Gorsley – erection of storage building. Following discussion it was RESOLVED unanimously to return no objection and no comments.
Cllr Reeves left the room
ii. 194438 – Lilly Hall, Darnells Lane, – Erection of three bedroom cottage and garage. Construction of associated works. Following discussion it was RESOLVED by majority (1 abstain, 4 objections) to object to this application with the following comments:
Overdevelopment of the village: Under CS Policy RA2 – The number of homes that have been built and approved for building in Gorsley and the Parish of Linton already greatly exceeds the proportionate growth deemed suitable for the villages in the Ross on Wye area. By continuing to build well beyond this level it is having a harmful impact on the village of Gorlsey in terms of village and landscape character, and road safety. This village which has already seen over 20% growth in its housing numbers (2011-2019) compared to the 14% proportionate growth level (until 2031!) This proposed development is outside the village settlement boundary and simply extends the density of urban style development.
Damage to landscape impact: CS Policy LD1 requires demonstration of conservation of landscape, and CS Policy RA2 4 requires “a positive contribution to the surrounding environment and it’s landscape setting” The plot upon which it is intended to build this house has been maintained as a nature area, cut minimally to allow a rare and large group of wild cowslips to colonise.
Whilst the new building would be well concealed form Lilly Hall, it is set on a rise in the ground which will make it highly visible from the main village side.
Unsustainable development: Also required under this policy SD1 is a duty of care to prevent contamination of ground water. Set on a hill, the water run-off will from the new building will be considerable and must inevitably flow into a series of carefully maintained wildlife ponds, with a danger of contamination. The quantity of run-off must inevitably increase and running through a neighbour’s land.
Environmental survey: The survey was taken in November which being the dormant period of Autumn into Winter does not offer a full understanding of the biodiversity of this rural site.
The Parish Council was alerted by the neighbouring property that they dispute the ownership of some of the trees on boundary areas. A matter which also has impact on the environmental survey.
Cllr Reeves returned to the room.
8. Locality Steward & Highways matters
a. Weekly reports – were noted
b. Verges for annual cut only – Cllr Watkins not present so matter brought forward to next meeting
c. Other issues – It was agreed to seek to encourage quick action on improved drainage to Woodend Lane.
9. Road safety working group. Cllr Owen circulated illustrations of ‘village gates’ with some cost estimates provided by suppliers. It was agreed to try and make the installation take place as quickly as possible subject to appropriate permissions.
10. Lengthsman
a. Grass Maintenance – A schedule of work undertaken in January was circulated. It was also noted that urgent work had been undertaken removing a fallen Scots Pine from the Linton ridge lane during storms.
b. Roads Maintenance – No work undertaken in January. Clerk to ask Mr Griffiths’ view of proposed road improvements to Woodend Lane.
11. Footpaths – It was RESOLVED agree Enviroability’s quote of £366 to rebuild the steps on LTR22. Other footpaths in the Parish were discussed.
12. Climate Emergency Working Group – Cllr Newton reported that 9 Parishioners had attended 2 meetings. It was RESOLVED that the group should have a page on the website and separate entry in Chimes, if available.
13. Allotments – the Clerk reported that 2 interested people had been contacted with regard to vacant plots. The pedestrian gates on west side near car park need repair to gate posts.
14. Centennial Yew Tree – No suitable sites were thought to be suitable.
15. Neighbourhood Development Plan – Cllr Reeves advised that the report and review of Regulation 14 comments would be discussed at the Steering Group meeting on 27th February 2020 to which all Parishioners were welcome.
16. Financial Matters
a. Current Receipts and Payments together with Budget progress report – were noted
b. It was RESOLVED to pay Terry Griffiths Contracts, Lengthsman, Roads Jan ’20, £436.80; Terry Griffiths Contracts, Lengthsman, Roads Jan ’20 (salt), £420.00; AGP Garden Services, Lengthsman Grass work January, £162.50; NALC, Annual subscription fees, £725.34; Elizabrth Malcolm, Clerk Salary & Expense (£9.45 mileage) total £332.12.
17. Councillor’s submissions – Cllr Crumpton advised that he would be standing down from the Council with effect from May 2020.
18. Next Meeting – will take place on Monday 9th March 2020 in Linton Village Hall.
There being no further business the meeting ended at 21:35