MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ONLINE AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 21 JANUARY 2021
PRESENT: B Gandy – Chairman; P Smith – Vice Chairman; P Burnham; E Clanzy-Hodge; L Mackay; S Perry; and M Simmons.
IN ATTENDANCE: R Hewitt (Clerk). No members of the public were present.
1. Apologies for absence – None.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – Cllrs. L Mackay and M Simmons declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in 8 ii) donation for mowing of churchyard. Cllr. P Smith declared a disclosable interest in planning application 204319 Bank House.
3. The minutes of the meetings held on 19 November and 22 December 2020 were agreed to be a true record.
4. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15 minutes) – There were no matters raised.
5. Receive report on Herefordshire Council – There was no report.
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The 2021-22 precept request has been submitted to Herefordshire Council. The drainage grant contract has been returned to Balfour Beatty. The Balfour Beatty quotation for sign and lining work has been formally accepted and the work is likely to take place when the weather is warmer and drier.
A member of the public has requested that the parish council consider support for CCTV at the village hall car park. It was agreed to look at this matter at the next meeting.
The Chairman provided a report on the virtual budget consultation held by Herefordshire Council.
7. Plans
(Cllr. P Smith left the meeting.)
204319 Bank House, Orleton, SY8 4HR – Application to vary the footprint of the agreed permitted development extension and to construct a single carport, instead of the previously approved double car port. In addition the application includes the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof. As part of the installation it will be necessary to remove the redundant brick chimney on the west edge. The planning application was supported.
(Cllr. P Smith re-joined the meeting.)
204313 Garden Cottage, Orleton, SY8 4JJ – Proposed installation of an EN12566-3 Certified sewage treatment plant with connection to existing foul drainage discharge. The planning application was supported.
Herefordshire Council has granted planning permission for 202939 Taliesin, 202744 Waterloo Farm, and 204044 29 Mortimer Drive. Works to trees within a conservation area are allowed for 204224 The Mill, 203740 Tilemakers Cottage, 203614 Well Cottage and 203533 Stillwater Cottage.
8. Accounts
i) Financial Statement to date: The balances of the parish council accounts on 30 December 2020 were noted: Treasurer – £12,277.80; and Money Manager – £20,387.16.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman/ P3 footpaths (£306.00); Hitrees, mowing/ strimming play area (£420.00); Glasdon UK Ltd, dog waste bin and post (£159.62); L Mackay, seasonal decorations for community tree (£85.31); and Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£91.20). The following payment was ratified: PKF Littlejohn, external audit 2019-20 (£240.00).
(Cllrs. L Mackay and M Simmons left the meeting.)
A proposed donation to Orleton PCC for mowing of the churchyard was considered. The meeting reviewed NALC L01-18 Financial Assistance to the Church and noted the question of whether the 1894 Act might override provisions in later Acts of Parliament. A donation of £2,000.00 was agreed for maintenance of the churchyard, which is crossed by two public rights of way, to keep the public area tidy and support the community.
(Cllrs. L Mackay and M Simmons re-joined the meeting.)
iii) Drainage budget: The parish council agreed to increase the drainage budget by up to £800-1,200.00 to pay for the removal of silt extracted from the jetting of drains in Orleton village. The cost is dependent on the quantity of silt that is removed.
9. Lengthsman/ Highways/ Footpaths – The parish council agreed to submit an expression of interest to participate in the lengthsman and P3 footpath schemes in 2021-22. The incumbent footpath officer has stepped down. Mr W Sanders was thanked for his commitment and support in helping to maintain the footpaths in the parish. A new footpath officer will be appointed in due course and expressions of interest are welcomed. Balfour Beatty is to have a dedicated locality steward for footpaths in the county.
10. Provision of dog waste bins – The meeting agreed to replace the dog waste bin on Millbrook Way with the new, larger capacity bin purchased under 8 ii). The replaced dog waste bin will then be installed in a suitable location by the entrance to the OL28 bridleway in the village, subject to the agreement of the landowner, believed to be the Parochial Church Council.
11. Future of Rubbish and Recycling in Herefordshire – The consultation was noted.
12. Community Resilience plan – The Clerk reported that the Community Resilience Plan, once drafted and agreed by the parish council, should be submitted to the Emergency Planning Office, Herefordshire Council. According to the county’s Emergency Planning Officer they will review the plan once completed, and it can be tested via an exercise. The advice is to produce a plan using the template provided, and that volunteers should only do what they are asked to by Herefordshire Council. The resilience plan is triggered by Emergency Planning at Herefordshire Council, who will contact one or several of the Resilience Coordinators in the plan. Written consent will be required from each volunteer named in the resilience plan before submitting it to the county’s emergency planning office.
The parish council noted the advice and recommendations and agreed to support the working group in developing a ‘bottom up’ community resilience plan, rather than the ‘top down’ approach set out in the template from Herefordshire Council. The guidance of the emergency authorities on advice and procedures in the draft plan has been sought by the working group.
13. Future of mobility: Rural Strategy – The Clerk was delegated to submit a response to the consultation. The response will be informed by Cllrs. L Mackay and M Simmons who kindly agreed to look at this.
14. HALC training programme – The Clerk was delegated to book training courses on behalf of councillors. Councillors will contact the Clerk to request the course they wish to attend.
15. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – Dog fouling.
16. Information items – Noted.
17. Date of next meeting –18 February 2021. The meeting will be held online.
The meeting closed at 9.20pm.