Linton(South) Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
On Monday 14 July 2025
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chair); Cllr M Bertenshaw (Vice-Chair); Cllr E Clark; Cllr C Cresswell; Cllr J Gough; Cllr J Hoyle; Cllr H Sheridan; Cllr R Williams
In attendance: one member of the public; Parish Clerk Rich Hunt (remotely)
1) Apologies for absence: Cllr Jurkiewicz.
2) Declarations of Interest: None.
3) Co-option of members: It was RESOLVED unanimously to co-opt Cllr Helena Sheridan on to the council following a nomination by Cllr Bertenshaw.
4) It was RESOLVED to agree the Minutes of the Parish Council (PC) meeting on 9 June 2025 as a true and accurate record, with Cllr Newton signing as Chair.
5) Clerk’s report: Herefordshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) will inform when Central Government plans to allow parish/town councils to hold remote and hybrid meetings become law. Following a review, the Chair has decided that the PC is best advised to continue the Eyelid Productions website support service. The Clerk will ascertain the outcome of the Quarterly Stakeholder Engagement Session hosted by Balfour Beatty Living Places on 25 June. The PC agreed to donate £100 to Ross-on-Wye Town Council’s running costs for the continuing Veterans Outreach scheme. Herefordshire Council (HCC) have placed a Section 78 dangerous structure notice of future demolition on the Pound in Linton.
6) Public Submissions –
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO were not in attendance. The Ward Councillor’s recent mid-term report has been posted on the PC’s website.
b) Parish Matters: None.
7) Planning
a) Current Applications:
(i) 250882 – Stone Masons Cottage, Linton: replacement of retaining structure. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objections and no comments to this application.
(ii) 251402 – Land at Lovers Walk, Gorsley: amendment to drawings approved, including a detached garage/carport/workshop. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objections and no comments to this application.
(iii) 251638 – Rose Cottage, Ivy House Lane, Gorsley: demolition of rear of property and erection of two storey side and rear extensions. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objections and no comments to this application.
(iv) 251762 – Land at Great Woodend Farm, Woodend Lane: energy efficiency and airtight design. It was RESOLVED unanimously to raise no objections and no comments to this application.
b) Decided applications: The schedule of recently decided applications was noted. The appeal of the decision to refuse 241297 – Land at Cherrydale, Gorsley has been dismissed, but the associated application 250414 – Land adjacent Gorsley Common Road, Gorsley is still current.
8) Climate Change Working Group: The eco festival on 18 October in Gorsley Baptist Church Hall is marketed as the Greener Living Show. Seventeen exhibitions are confirmed, and the PC will provide a stand.
9) Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Weekly reports were noted. Cllr Bertenshaw will ask the Locality Steward to cut verges in the parish that constitute a safety hazard to road users and pedestrians. These include lower Fording Lane and Chapel Lane.
b) Bromsash speeding issues. A central white line has been painted on the B4224 through the southern part of Bromsash as part of patching in preparation for surface dressing in 2026. HCC advise this is the best option as a third of the carriageway needs reinforcing. A new lining scheme will be implemented after the surface dressing is complete. The latest Speed Indicator Device (SID) report for Bromsash Middle (north facing) shows only 5% of incoming vehicles exceeding 36mph but over 20% of outgoing vehicles doing so. The SID has been moved to the northern location (facing north) to monitor a noticeable increase in traffic speed since the recent resurfacing. The crossroads remains a safety concern, particularly for traffic approaching from Lea towards the blind summit.
c) Curbing speed of traffic through Gorsley on B4221. Cllr Bertenshaw is repairing the SID, which has not been operational since May. He will endeavour to re-install it before the West Mercia Police traffic measurement exercise on 17 July, which is designed to assess the accuracy of SID data. Cllr Clark is meeting HCC Traffic Management on 15 July to discuss 30mph speed restrictions, the positioning of village gates, visibility, Linton road safety and other issues. The PC will determine whether the presence of large white stones on the pavement opposite Lovers Walk represents a hazard.
d) Bromsash House/Fording Lane flooding. The Roads Lengthsman is waiting for the crop in the field to be harvested before repairing the collapsed drain, at no cost to the PC. He will contact the Locality Steward about using debris generated by HCC drain clearing.
e) Shutton Crossroads: Cllr Bertenshaw will inform the Roads Lengthsman where the HCC-approved signs are to be installed.
10) Public Rights of Way: Councillor Cresswell as Linton Public Footpath Officer reported a broken stile on LTR27. LTR38 at the Pound has been shut by a Temporary Order, which will be replaced by a closure of up to six months from 15 July, to allow time for HCC to make safe or remove the Pound. Diversion of the footpath may be possible. The Roads Lengthsman has all the material in stock to replace the stiles with gates on footpath LTR28, which HCC have approved for grant funds; the PC will claim against the HCC 2025-26 grant. The PC will consider other candidate footpaths for the scheme.
11) Lengthsman:
a) The Grass Lengthsman conducted a parish strimming and hedge cutting round on 24 June. This included the annual hedge cut along footpath LTR20. Everything was fine, with no issues reported.
b) The Roads Lengthsman has completed and invoiced all the drainage works for 2024-25 that were approved under the HCC Drainage Grant Scheme. A claim for reimbursement has been submitted to HCC. The Clerk will obtain the Lengthsman’s list of tasks for this year’s scheme, to which the PC can add or delete. PCs can apply for up to £25k for PROW and drainage works minus funds they have been granted in 2024-25.
12) Allotments: Latest maintenance comprised grass mowing and weedkiller treatment of the external path. The entrance sign has been replaced, the CCTV sign returned, and a defibrillator location identified. Plot 26 has been filled, leaving just plot 5b vacant. All fees have been paid.
13) Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP): A Government Spending Review has decided that grant funding will no longer be provided to support the production of NDPs. HCC were not aware of funding cuts when they gave advice recently to delay the production of new plans, and there are no other forms of funding available. The Clerk will provide an estimated cost of producing an NDP. It was RESOLVED unanimously to send a letter of protest to the local MP. Separately, HCC are beginning work on a new Local Plan for 2025 to 2045, which will guide how land is used across the county. They are undertaking a “call for sites” exercise to provide evidence that the Local Plan can meet the increased mandatory housing target set by the Government. Landowners, developers, and councils are invited to suggest sites that may be suitable for a range of future uses. The PC has no suggestions at this time, but will keep under consideration,
14) It was RESOLVED unanimously to adopt revised Standing Orders that conform with the current template approved by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC).
15) An updated set of Financial Regulations was approved unanimously.
16) The Annual Governance & Accountability Return has been submitted to the external auditors and posted on the PC’s website together with public notice requirements. There were no issues or recommendations arising from the internal audit conducted by HALC.
17) It was RESOLVED unanimously to purchase Microsoft Teams Business to facilitate the Clerk’s remote participation in meetings.
18) Financial Matters:
a) Cllr Hoyle signed the PC-approved Receipts & payments report and reconciled bank statement for 30 June 2025. There was a bank balance of £30,374.74 with a cash balance after outstanding payments and unpresented receipts of £18,421.37. The outstanding payment to the Roads Lengthsman of £10,080 will be reimbursed by HCC under the Drainage Grant fund. A claim has already been submitted.
b) The latest 2025-26 Budget report was approved unanimously. Allotments maintenance may come in higher than forecast as vacant plots have required additional attention, and there is uncertainty at this stage of the FY about the cost of road safety projects.
c) It was RESOLVED to pay: Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses £437.68; GP Property, mowing and weedkiller application £185.00; Terry Griffiths Contracts, minor drainage schemes £10,080.00; Road Signs UK, Shutton Crossroads signs £1,007.69; AGP Garden Services, strimming and hedge cutting £203.00.
19) Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions & Comments: None.
20) Date of next meeting: Monday 11 August 2025 in Linton Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 8:40pm.