Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Tuesday 11 April 2023
At Linton Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Reeves (Chairman); Cllr A Bates; Cllr M Bertenshaw; Cllr J Gough; Cllr A Price
In attendance: 2 members of public; Ward Cllr Wilding; Parish Clerk Elizabeth Malcolm and Parish Clerk (Des) Richard Hunt
1) Apologies for absence: Cllr B Clark and Cllr A Newton.
2) Declarations of Interest: None.
3) Co-option of members: None.
4) Minutes and Financial Reports of the meeting of 13 March 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: Elections – nominations have been ratified and posted within the parish, and information leaflets on ID requirements for voting have been circulated. Election costs for the parish will be between £120 and £200 as the election is uncontested; Chimes magazine – Clerk will submit agreed input to the editor; the new DAFFODIL bus service between Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye began on 2 April; the council’s shears were found in the Gorsley Village Hall storeroom and are included on the list of registered assets.
6) Public submissions:
a) Ward Cllr Wilding is not standing for re-election. He has enjoyed his four years in office but is frustrated that greater progress wasn’t made on environmental issues such as energy efficient housing, river cleaning, and on 20 mph speed limits on roads near schools. PCSO not in attendance.
b) Parish Matters: None.
7) Planning:
a) Current Applications
i) 230595 – Conifers, Bromsash: Outline application for access and layout with some matters reserved for erection of Bungalow with Garage. In Weston under Penyard Parish, but of relevance to Linton(S) parishioners in that area. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED unanimously to provide comments that the Council were concerned that the applicant hasn’t demonstrated how they will obtain access bearing in mind objections from the owner of the drive to the property.
b) Permitted Development Rights: The Council supported the proposed NALC response which captures the need to involve local councils in planning matters and the Clerk will write to NALC to provide this feedback.
c) Cornerstone 12147202- phone mast at Steelworks: Greater detail is required on issues such as purpose, technical parameters, and radiation risk to inform a Council position. Clerk will contact the proposers, WHP Telecoms Ltd.
d) Section 106 briefing: Herefordshire Council have provided an update on their revamped Section 106 Portfolio of Works website, which enables parishes to check on developments of interest to them. There are no considerations for Linton(S) at this point.
e) Decided Applications: Schedule of recently decided applications was noted. Herefordshire Council have confirmed receipt of comments on Application 230426 (Land at Hillside Cottage) but have not yet published. The developers have confirmed that the pavement by Gorsley Bungalows will be completed in June.
8) Climate Change working group: Activities continue as before.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Highways general: Weekly reports were noted. Clerk has reported the broken parapet to the brook on Cut Throat Lane to BBL again. The lane leading to Pinford Farm from Bromsash is in extremely poor condition and difficult to traverse. Herefordshire Council are aware but have not rectified. The owner of the farm is prepared to improve and maintain the lane if Herefordshire Council will provide requisite funding and enable him to assume responsibility. Cllr Reeves will provide Cllr Wilding with the information to approach Herefordshire Council. Cllr Gough is concerned at the periodic roadside flooding adjoining the Gorsley Baptist Church carpark, caused by an apparent lack of drainage. She will provide the information required to approach the Church. There is also a drainage issue on the B4221 by Gorsley School which the Clerk will report to the Highways Department.
b) Roads Projects: The SID at Bromsash will remain in operation and be moved to the south of the village. A SID is felt to be the right approach to curbing the speed of traffic on B4221 in Gorsley, in preference to a more expensive options of the original idea of village gates or painting lines on the outside of the roads. There is a lack of double white lines on the Herefordshire portion of the B4221 compared to its Gloucestershire counterpart. This is a Highways Department issue, and Linton PC needs to use all means to represent its case on this and other related matters with Herefordshire Council. Their bi-monthly online meetings and twice yearly BBLP update events offer opportunities for local councillors and clerks. The flooding on B4224 at Bromsash House was discussed under item 15.
10) Public Rights of Way: Clerk has alerted Herefordshire Council to the presence of electric fences blocking LTR27 and LTR28. Cllr Gough has reported that LTR21 is impassable near Oxlodge Wood.
11) Lengthsman:
a) Grass Lengthsman – Clerk will ask the Lengthsman to attend to specific areas.
b) Roads Lengthsman –
i) Drainage grant progress: Clerk has submitted invoices to Herefordshire Council for approval.
ii) Lengthsmans grant funding scheme: Linton PC is engaged but will require further detail on inclusions/exclusions and vigilance on the final contract. The parish will benefit to the sum of around £2,500.
iii) Lengthsmans’ contracts 23/24: There are two stages. First, a contract between Linton PC and Herefordshire Council and then a contract between Linton PC and the Lengthsman. Clerk will ensure there is due diligence on all contracts.
12) Allotments:
a) Contract for Chris Hyett Services: It was RESOLVED unanimously to renew the contract at a cost of £1200 per annum (an increase of £50), payable in three instalments.
b) Empty plots: There is one empty plot (number 17), which has been advertised.
c) Annual renewal progress: Clerk to action.
13) Financial Matters:
a) Current Receipts & Payments were noted. A budget comparison is outstanding.
b) It was RESOLVED to pay: RJP Hunt, Clerk expenses £146.10; Dwr Cymru, Allotments Water £136.38
14) Budget 2023/24: Revised budget will be circulated to all Councillors at least a week before the next meeting.
15) Chairman’s & Councillors’ submissions:
a) Flooding on B4224 at Bromsash House remains an issue. Various proposals for drainage have not met with landowner’s approval. Cllr Bertenshaw continues to work with the Roads Lengthsman to find a workable solution to the problem.
16) Date of next meeting: Tuesday 9 May, 7.30pm at Gorsley Village Hall. This is the Annual Parish Council meeting. Clerk will check on availability of Councillors in advance as this follows a Bank Holiday period.