Orleton Parish Councillors
Barry Rogers, Veronica Bishop, David Lane, Ron Gittings, Brian Powell,
Michael Jones & Mark Simmons
are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of the Parish Council
to be held on
Thursday 20 February 2025
at 6:00pm
at the Village Hall, Millbrook Way, Orleton
The Agenda for which is set out below
AGENDA
1. To appoint a qualified temporary Clerk for the meeting.
2. To receive apologies of absence.
3. To consider any declarations of interest and written requests for dispensation on agenda items.
4. To approve Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2025 – APPENDIX 1
5. Open session (limited to 10 minutes)
To receive views of local residents on items set out in the agenda and other parish matters proposed for
inclusion in future agendas.
6. Clerk’s report.
7. Finance
7.1 To receive an oral report from Cllr Gittings on PROW expenditure and Q4 update.
7.2 To note the bank balance as at 31st January 2025
7.3 To note the following payments made:
7.3.1 M Bradford PROW December expenses £267.75
7.3.2 One Stop Promotions Inv No 288537 (flags) £284.64
7.3.3 Yatton Farm Services Limited Inv No 1022 £504.00
7.3.4 Yatton Farm Services Limited Inv No 1023 £804.00
7.3.5 HMRC SDDS £293.54 (Direct Debit)
7.3.6 Unity Bank January Service Charge £6.00 (Direct Debit)
7.3.7 TRANSFER of £15,000.00 to Parish Council Savings Account carried out on 6th December 2024
7.3.8 Public Works Loan (Direct Debit) £1,096.07
7.3.9 Unity Bank December Service Charge £6.00 (Direct Debit)
7.3.10 NEST pension (November) (Direct Debit) £60.95
7.3.11 NEST pension (October) (Direct Debit) £62.46
7.3.12 NEST pension (September) (Direct Debit) £62.46
7.3.13 NEST pension (August) (Direct Debit) £124.93
7.3.14 ICO August (Direct Debit) £35.00
7.3.15 D Lane reimbursement for Parish Council printer ink £57.49
7.3.16 A Littleworth reimbursement for Microsoft 365 council laptop subscription £84.99
7.4 To note the following payments received: NONE RECEIVED
7.5 To approve the following payments:
7.5.1 HALC H2308 Hosting and domain name £270.00
7.5.2 Clerk February Salary as per Contract of Employment
7.5.3 M Bradford PROW January expenses (TBC)
7.5.4 HALC H5067 subscription fee 25/26 £966.38
7.5.5 HALC Clerk Cover for February (TBC)
8. Planning – to comment/note the following applications
8.1 P250204/K The Bell House, Church Lane, Orleton, Herefordshire, SY8 4HU
Works to Trees in a Conservation Area : Proposed reduction in the height of the Fir Tree (T20) to a
reasonable height.
Orleton Parish Council commented as follows: “Orleton Parish Council has instructed our Tree Officer to
inspect the area in question: The tree in question appears to be a form of the Lawson Cypress (
Chamacyparis lawsoniana ) and is probably 40 to 50 years old. There are a number of these trees in various
gardens along the length of Church Lane and their distinct shape contributes to the overall appearance of
the neighbourhood. The application seeks to reduce the height to a reasonable level to mitigate the risk of
damage to property should the tree suffer storm damage. In the absence of a firm proposal and in the
light that trees of this type are unlikely to respond to a significant reduction we would recommend the
following course of action: Reduce the height by no more than 6ft and carry out a limited reshaping of the
lower branches. Work should be carried out by an experienced arborist. This will ensure that the overall
shape of the tree is retained but will limit the future height. A more severe reduction would result in an
unsightly, lopped appearance that would detract from the attractive appearance of the neighbourhood.
The Parish Council believe it would be better to remove the tree completely rather than attempting a more
severe reduction than suggested.”
8.2 P250253/K Bank House, Orleton, Ludlow, Herefordshire, SY8 4HR
Works to Trees in a Conservation Area : Removal of 1no. Silver birch tree in medium sized garden. It is in
excess of 40 feet in height with a spread of 33 feet.
Orleton Parish Council commented as follows: “Orleton Parish Council has instructed our Tree Officer to
review the planning application and makes the following comment: The tree in question appears to be a
tall, rather etiolated specimen of the common Silver Birch ( Betula pendula ). It is an isolated specimen and
whilst the top of the tree has the normal graceful appearance of the species the overall appearance is a bit
scruffy. Birches are generally relatively short lived and can be quite shallow rooted. In an ideal world, a
judicious crown reduction and tidy up could be recommended. However, the tree is pretty spindly and would
be difficult to climb to try and limit the height and spread and could not be reached by a ‘ cherry picker ‘.
Whilst it is always a shame to cut down a healthy tree, in my opinion this tree is storing up trouble for the
future and, as the scope for remedial works is limited, I can see no viable alternative to complete removal.
It would be ideal if the applicant would consider replacing the tree with a smaller tree better suited to the
site.”
9. Road safety and Speed Indicator Devices (SIDS)
Update from Cllrs Bishop and Gittings
10. Neighbourhood Development Plans and planning
To note updated notes from Herefordshire Council on the adequacy of housing provision and the status of
NDPs and agree next steps.
11. Parish Meeting 2025
Update on proposals for the organisation of the meeting and to note the acceptance of an invitation to speak
by the Chairman of Orleton Recreation Association Graham Shaw.
12. Review of Community Resilience Plan
To receive a report and recommendations from Cllr Jones.
13. Appointment and nomination of trustee for Village Hall Committee
14. Appointment and nomination of trustee for Orleton Recreation Ground
15. Flagpole – to note recent communications with the Village Hall Committee in connection with a proposed
grant application and agree protocols for the flying of occasional flags.
16. To receive a report from Cllr Lane on the Grapevine AGM held at Wyson Chapel on 10 February 2025
17. VE Day Celebrations
17.1To receive a briefing on current proposals.
17.2To appoint a Cllr to coordinate any requests for support.
18. To consider grant applications each in the sum of £500 from the following:
18.1Orleton Primary School – extra-curricular tuition
18.2Parochial Church Council – sound system for church services
19. Severn Trent Sewer Flooding
To receive an update from Cllr Lane on correspondence from Severn Trent.
20. To receive updates and agree next steps, where appropriate:
20.1Village Hall – to receive an update from Cllr Rogers.
20.2Orleton Recreation Association – to receive an update from Cllr Powell.
20.3Highways – to receive an update from Cllr Bishop.
20.4Land Drainage Group and Flood Wardens – to receive an update from Cllr Lane on recent meeting with
Brimfield and Little Hereford Parish Council (to update on various flood measures) and Flood Groups
meeting on 30th January 2025.
20.5Footpaths – to receive an update from Cllr Gittings.
21. Highway Flood Relief Scheme
To receive an update from from Ward Cllr Hurcomb and agree next steps.
22. Road name signage for Mortimer Drive
To consider proposals to improve signage.
23. To receive an update form HC Bircher Ward Member, Councillor D. Hurcomb to include but not limited to:
a) Progress on foul odours from agricultural unit
b) Highway drainage scheme – briefing on outcome of further survey work and confirmation of
design delivery (stated in October 2024 to be late February)
c) S28 Notice and recent road accident – measures to be taken
d) NFM scheme roll-out
e) Portway junction – assistance with traffic control and permit
f)Comberton planning application
24. Matters for discussion at the next meeting. (No discussion)
25. Date of next meeting: 20th March 2025 at 6:00pm
Amber Littleworth
Notice dated 14 February 2025 – Clerk, Orleton Parish Council