Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 12th October 2020
at 19:30
by Video Conference (Zoom Meeting ID 828 3935 9857) meeting
Present: Cllr C Crumpton (Chairman), Cllr A Reeves (Vice Chairman); Cllr B Clark; Cllr J Gough; Cllr A Newton; Cllr G Owen.
In attendance: 3 members of public; Parish Clerk Elizabeth Malcolm.
1. Apologies for absence: Ward Cllr Wilding, Cllr L Watkins.
2. Declarations of interest: None
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 10th August and 14th September 2020 as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
5. Clerk’s Report – The Clerk provided a verbal report which was noted.
6. Public Submissions
a. Ward Councillor – None
b. Public – A Parishioner from Burrups Lane expanded on earlier reports of problems from large vehicles using the lane via Steelworks Lane, for deliveries and damaging their house when attempting to manoeuvre through very narrow route. The Clerk reported that Herefordshire Council roads team had undertaken to visit the location and make recommendations.
Hartleton Farm planning applications: Please see 7.a.ii below.
7. Planning
a. New applications
i. 203172 – Land at Bayton Bungalow, Burton Road, Linton. – Proposed variation of condition 2 of planning permission 202081 (Replacement bungalow, new carport with workshop). To move bungalow back into plot for better and safer access and parking. Following discussion, it was RESOVLED unanimously to return no objection and no comments to this application.
ii. Hartleton Farm, Bromsash – Mr Arrowsmith reported that the Planning Officer had found a full set of documents relating to the applications at this location and had sent a comprehensive report to the applicant which questions if the original permission is still in place and questions the applicant’s proposals for materials to be used. The applicant has been invited to respond to this by 6th November.
Ward Councillor Wilding has declared a conflict of interest in this matter and is taking advice from the Planning Committee and others on how best to proceed.
Caravans at the site remain matter of concern.
Following discussion the Council did not feel it was appropriate or necessary to be taking legal advice but were concerned that the Parish Council was not properly represented due to the Ward Councillors’ conflict and were anxious to see an alternate in place.
8. Locality Steward & highways matters –
a. Reports were noted. No matters arising.
b. SIDs at Bromsash – it was noted that they had not been installed as expected at start of October and the Clerk to investigate this.
c. Gorsley Traffic Calming – Cllr Owen reported a meeting had been held with Ian Connolly of West Mercia Safer Roads unit. They had discussed the difficulties of establishing a lower speed limit.
Graham Hornby of Balfour Beatty to meet with Cllr Owen to discuss pricing of proposals provided.
There is a need to obtain benchmark data on current speeds. It was RESOLVED unanimously to support a spend of up to £300 to obtain this data.
Cllr Owen was asked to investigate what opportunities there may be for a weight restriction on the stretch of road.
It was RESOLVED unanimously to support further investigation into village gates solution, at an approximate cost of up to £3,000 to the Parish Council with matched funding from elsewhere. Cllr Owen was asked to continue his investigations on this basis and report back with final layout and costings.
The Chairman thanked Cllr Owen for his work on this project.
B4224 Multi Parish Strategy Group – Cllr Crumpton volunteered to attend the next meeting of this group.
d. Large vehicles in Steelworks / Burrups Lane– concerns of Parishioners were noted and Hereford Council roads department have bee asked to investigate.
e. Road damage and Closure at The Line, Linton – Cllr Reeves reported on the closure and volunteered to represent the residents and Council with Hereford Council. It was RESOLVED to gratefully accept Cllr Reeves’ offer.
9. Public Rights of Way – there are a number of rickety stiles that need attention. Cllrs and others are asked to report these to FPO (Cllr Newton) and/or the Clerk.
10. Lengthsman
a. Grass lengthsman – reports for August and September were noted.
b. Roads Lengthsman – The Clerk reported that Lengthsman had been attending the villages over the week and a report is awaited.
11. Trees
a. Three tree surgeons had been contacted. It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept Greenwood Timber’s proposal at £1,000.
b. Trees NW corner of allotments: it was agreed to ask Greenwood Timber to look at this area and provide a proposal incorporated with the work in a above.
c. Oak tree at Gorsley – it was noted that Parishioners have been extremely concerned at the deterioration of the tree since building works at land opposite Baptist Chapel, now completed. It was noted that this tree had been issued with a TPO and the Enforcement Officer would be advised. The Councillors asked the Clerk to also ask the Enforcement Office to investigate if hedge planting required under the Planning Permission had been undertaken satisfactorily
12. Allotments – the Clerk reported that two tenants had resigned, both being frontline health workers who had insufficient time. New tenants were in hand for both plots.
13. Financial
a. Current Receipts & Payments and budget progress were noted.
b. Receipt of 2nd half Percept £6,000 and Wayleave £76.25, was noted.
c. The following payments were approved: AGP Garden Services, Grass Lengthsman Aug 6 hrs & Sept 7 hrs, £344.50; Elizabeth Malcolm , Clerk salary & expenses , £730.34 (Salary Aug & Sept £660, Zoom 3 months £43.17, Mileage 2 months 1 trip each £18.90, Postage £8.27); Gorsley Village Hall, Hire in 201, £100.00; Greenwood Timber, Tree work at Quarry, £240.00; HALC, Web hosting fee, £60.00; Welsh Water, Water rates to Oct, £219.10
14. Risk Assessment and Assets Register
a. It was RESOLVED to adopt the Risk Assessment schedules subject to review of current risk level for item 8.
b. It was RESOLVED to adopt the Assets Register.
15. Neighbourhood Development Plan – Cllr Reeves reported that responses had been provide to Examiners questions. Final report is expected early in November. The Chairman thanked Cllr Reeves and his team for their enormous work on the project.
16. Climate Change Working Group – Cllr Newton reported that the next newsletter topic will be on recycling.
17. Linton Village Pound – The Hereford Council PROW Officer had undertaken to look at the path beside the Pound and consider it’s safety.
18. Chairman’s & Councillors’ submissions –
a. A representative of the Parish Council had been requested for the annual Remembrance Services and Cllr Newton kindly volunteered.
b. The Clerk was asked to seek to obtain Planning application results information for circulation.
19. Next meeting – will take place on Monday 9th November 2020 at 7.30pm. Venue if public health restrictions lifted will be Linton Village Hall and if not lifted by Video Conference – Zoom.
There being no further business the public meeting ended at 20:55.