Linton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting
On Tuesday 9 May 2023
At Gorsley Village Hall
Present: Cllr A Newton (Chairman); Cllr A Bates; Cllr M Bertenshaw; Cllr J Gough; Cllr S Jurkiewicz; Cllr A Price
In attendance: 7 members of public; Parish Clerk Elizabeth Malcolm and Parish Clerk (Des) Richard Hunt
1. Election of Chairman for 2023/2024: It was RESOLVED unanimously to defer this until the next meeting in June.
2. Election of Vice Chairman for 2023/2024: Cllr Newton was proposed by Cllr Bertenshaw and seconded by Cllr Gough. All in favour.
3. Chairman’s Allowance: It was RESOLVED unanimously to defer this to the June meeting.
4. Apologies for absence: Cllr B Clark and Cllr A Reeves.
5. Declarations of Interest: None.
6. Co-option of members: Sander Jurkiewicz was proposed by Cllr Bertenshaw and seconded by Cllr Price. All in favour.
7. Acceptance of Office following Elections: All Councillors present completed the requisite forms for Clerk retention.
8. Appointments: It was RESOLVED unanimously that Cllr Newton and Mrs Charlotte Newton would remain as Footpath Officers for the Linton area and Cllr Gough would remain as Footpath Officer for the Gorsley area. Cllr Newton would continue to lead the Climate Change Working Group.
9. Minutes and Financial Reports of the meeting of 11 April 2023: It was RESOLVED to agree and sign the minutes as a true and accurate record, together with the financial reports.
10. Code of Conduct:
a) It was RESOLVED unanimously to adopt the Local Government Association Model 2020 that has been adopted by Herefordshire Council. The Clerk will link this Code to the Linton PC Website.
b) All Councillors present completed Register of Interests forms for the Clerk to forward to the Monitoring Officer at Herefordshire Council in accordance with Election procedures.
11. Clerk’s Report: The local Police Commissioners have asked to share their monthly communications updates via parish news media. It was RESOLVED unanimously that Chimes represented the best option.
12. Public Submissions:
a) Ward Councillor and PCSO not in attendance. Linton PC will invite the newly elected Ward Councillor Harry Bramer to future Council meetings where the agenda warrants his attendance.
b) Parish Matters: The Crossroads Slow Down sign at Sargent’s End Road is insufficiently visible to oncoming traffic and will be reported to the Locality Steward.
13. Planning:
a) No applications received since the last meeting.
b) The company planning the phone mast upgrade at Cornerstone near the M50 has addressed safety concerns and is progressing pre-planning consultation with Herefordshire Council.
c) No decided applications to consider.
14. Climate Change Working Group: Cllr Newton provided an update. The Recycling Cafe continues to draw good attendances. It was RESOLVED unanimously to extend these events until the end of the year. The thermal imaging camera has proven popular but hiring will decline in the summer. A Working Party will be needed to strim the Quarry soon. Cllr Newton has agreed to lead liaison with Weston under Penyard PC on carbon efficiency initiatives.
15. Locality Steward and highways matters:
a) Weekly reports were noted. Cllr Gough has provided photographic evidence of the linear drainage problems outside the Gorsley Shop and Coffee Shop. Clerk will report this and the safety issue in paragraph 12b) to the Locality Steward.
b) Pinford Lane. It was agreed that Herefordshire Council Highways Authority repair of the road is the preferred option and private adoption will not be pursued. Cllr Bertenshaw will raise this as a priority with the Locality Steward while residents and councillors continue to report the problems via the Herefordshire Council website.
c) Road drainage at B4224/Bromsash House. Cllrs Bertenshaw and Jurkiewicz will explore with the Locality Steward options for enabling the drains on the road near the phone mast at Sandford to receive the flood waters.
d) Bromsash speeding issues. The SID at Bromsash has provided valuable information and has now been moved to the south end of the village. Cllr Bertenshaw has shared the data with Community Police and Herefordshire Council Traffic Management.
e) Roads Projects. Cllr Bertenshaw will raise the issue of removing the white lines on the middle of specific roads in the parish with the Locality Steward. Linton PC will assess the costs associated with installing an SID on the B4221 in Gorsley.
16. Public Rights of Way:
a) The electric fences blocking LTR28 have been removed, but obstructions remain on other footpaths in the parish. Including a fence on LTR27. Cllr Gough also reported an obstruction to LTR21 in Oxlodge Wood.
17. Lengthsman:
a) Contract for 2023/24 with BBLP and HCC. Clerk awaits clarification from Herefordshire Council on how the new funding scheme will be administered.
b) Grass Lengthsman. Linton PC Contract with Lengthsman for 2023/24 has been agreed and work is underway.
c) Roads Lengthsman. Drainage work has been undertaken, payment for services is pending.
d) Linton PC will establish Roads Lengthsman priorities for 2023/24 in addition to annual maintenance tasks.
18. Allotments: There is one empty plot (number 17) which continues to be advertised.
19. Insurance: It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept a renewal quote from Community Action Suffolk which is competitive and provides the cover required.
20. Year End Annual Audit of Accounts: This was deferred until the June meeting when the governance process will have been completed.
21. Budget: It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the budget for 2023/24.
22. Financial Matters:
a) Current Receipts & Payments were noted.
b) It was RESOLVED to pay: HALC, Annual Sub o/s £86.21; AGP Services, Grass Lengthsman April £175.50; Terry Griffiths, Drainage work 2 of 3 £2,520.00; Chris Hyett, Allotments maintenance £400.00; Richard Hunt, Clerk fee & expenses 2 months £563.63; Elizabeth Malcolm, Clerk fee & expenses 2 months £699.45.
23. Defibrillator in Aston Crews Community: It was RESOLVED unanimously to contribute £200 towards the capital costs of the equipment.
24. Chairman’s & Councillors’ Submissions: NONE.
25. Date of next meeting: Monday 12 June 2023 in Linton Village Hall.