Minutes 15 February 2018

Minutes of Orleton Parish Council Meeting Held at 7.30pm on Thursday 15 February 2018 at the Village Hall

PRESENT R Jack – Chairman; B Gandy – Vice Chairman; R Tibbles; E Clanzy-Hodge; J Harrison; P Gallagher; and P Smith.

IN ATTENDANCE Mr J Alderman, Community Benefit Society; Ward Cllr. S Bowen (Bircher Ward); and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were five members of the public present.

1. Apologies for absence –
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – Tibbles declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in #6 The Boot Inn.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2018 were amended by deleting ‘and further’ from #5. With this amendment, the minutes were agreed and signed as a true
4. Report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Bowen said Council Tax in 2018-19 will increase by 4.9 percent. Approximately 76 percent of revenues are needed to care for around 3,500 people in the county. By 2020 there is likely to be no support grant from government, and the county will need to rely on council tax and business rates. There needs to be some equalisation in respect of business rates. Farms and small businesses are not liable for business rates.

The Better Care Fund has contributed around £4 million to local NHS services.  However, it is not known if the fund will continue in future years.  The ‘hospital at home’ initiative will require careful organising. Ward Cllr. Bowen spoke about the waste to energy plant at Hartlebury, and invited interested members of the parish council to visit the facilities.  Scrutiny is to look at pothole repairs which need a longer term approach.

The police precept will increase by 4 percent. Questions about the sale of the AB1 plate by the Police and Crime Commissioner were asked by the police and crime panel. The bypass in Hereford has opened up new land for development. A new shared police and fire station will have better access to the main roads.

Cllr. Bowen will be looking at the roads with the locality steward shortly. The roads maintenance budget has been reduced to less than £6 million, and there are more than 2,000 miles of roads in the county.  The £8 million from the recent highways legal case is expected to be available from the new financial year in April 2018.

1. Sewerage work by Severn Trent Water – Members of the public raised significant concerns regarding the pipe replacement project at Millbrook Close which should have been completed by the end of 2017, and a recent incident when Severn Trent Water needed to attend to address leaks from manholes by the school and pipe scheduled for The minutes of the parish council meeting of 16 February 2017 attended by Severn Trent Water were noted, including:

“Separately, work is being planned to refurbish the pumping station, including new pumps and replacement of a 6” pipe at the point of entry to the pumping station to bring the diameter in line with the rest of the network. A valve will be installed so that more volume can be pumped forward, and additional storage provided at Woofferton if necessary. The feasibility study for the pumping station project is estimated at 12 months….”

The parish council agreed to raise the significant concerns with the Consumer Council for Water, including that Severn Trent Water tell local residents about their compensation process, and advise when the work to refurbish the pumping station will be undertaken.

It was agreed to provide local residents with a named councillor to notify in the event of future concerns, and Cllr. Gandy kindly agreed to take on this role.

[Cllr. Tibbles left the meeting.]

1. Community bid for the Boot Inn – Mr J Alderman, Community Benefit Society, said an application is underway to form a legal society which is able to raise finance/ funding and make a bid for the Boot Shares are likely to be issued. The plan is for the business to operate on a commercial basis.

The parish council asked that the single cell dwelling at the rear of the pub is restored. It might be a museum or meeting room and should be retained as a community asset.  The Clerk said the grants officer at Herefordshire Council has offered to meet with the community benefit society to explore options for funding.

[Cllr. Tibbles rejoined the meeting.]

1. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The parish defibrillator was removed from the cabinet for an It was not needed and after a check by West Midlands Ambulance Service is back in the cabinet. Balfour Beatty has advised moving the requested SID socket on the B4362 at Comberton away from the pond to the next verge towards Kings Road, and this was supported.
2. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – A member ofthe public asked whether the dog bin by the old oak tree at the Recreation Ground wasput up by the Recreation Association. A request was made to update the Community
3. Plans

174778 Cullis Lodge, Green Lane, Orleton, SY8 4JG – Proposed erection of two stables, tack room and store room. There was no objection to the planning application. 180184 Church Croft, Kitchen Hill Road, Orleton, SY8 4HN – Fell Hornbeam (T1). The proposed tree work was supported.

180219 Tunnel Lane Cottage, Tunnel Lane, Orleton, SY8 4HY – To clear the 30 metre boundary of trees/trunks to facilitate the planting of a new native hedge. The upright Oak, Holly, mature Early Rivers Plum and semi mature Early Rivers Plum to be retained. The drainage ditch to be maintained. The proposed tree work was supported.

180130 Land at Walls Place, Hunts Lane, Orleton, SY8 4JQ – Proposed replacement of existing outbuilding and shed with single storey one bedroom holiday let.  The planning application was supported.

180257 Temple House Farm, Ashley Moor, Orleton, SY8 4JJ – Proposed change of use of land from agricultural to equestrian together with the erection of a stable block and installation of a muck heap. The planning application was supported.

The following planning decisions by Herefordshire Council were noted: 174085 Land at the Old Orchards (refused); 174265 Timbercroft (planning permission); and 174641 Unit 3, Manor Barn (planning permission).

1. Accounts
   1. The latest balances of the parish council accounts were noted: Treasurer – £7,926.25; and Money Manager – £20,305.32. The grant from the War Memorials Trust has been paid (£3,640.00).

1. Payments – There were no payments

• Annual Maintenance Plan, 2018-19 – The lengthsman and footpaths annual maintenance plan for 2018-19 was agreed. The lengthsman budget will be £2,500.00. The budget for footpaths will be £1,183.00 of which £273.00 is provided by the parish It was agreed to allocate £250.00 in the footpaths plan for the printing of maps showing local walks. There is no lengthsman grant in 2018-19. Ward Cllr. Bowen said Herefordshire Council has been asked to provide financial support for the lengthsman scheme in 2018-19.

1. Repairs to the wall at the Memorial Garden – Three quotations were A request will be made to view work undertaken by one contractor. A member of the public said local builders should provide a quote as well, and it was agreed to approach local builders.
2. Lengthsman and footpath maintenance tender for 2018-19 – Postponed to next
3. Village gateway costs provided by Balfour Beatty – Postponed to next meeting.

• Annual Return process for 2017-18 – Postponed to next meeting.

1. Lengthsman/ Highways and Footpaths – Postponed to next meeting.
2. Parking on pavements – Mobility scooters and push chairs are blocked by drivers who park on the It was agreed to draft a notice asking drivers not to park on pavements in the village. The notice will be made available to place on vehicle windscreens.
3. Domain name for parish council website – The meeting agreed to use the domain name Orleton gov.uk for the new website. The purchase cost was agreed.
4. Appointment of tree officer – The request was
5. River Lugg Internal Drainage Board : consultation on revised byelaws –
6. Parish council projects in 2018 – No action
7. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – Parish walks maps, litter
8. Information items –
9. Date for next meeting – 30pm, Thursday 15 March 2018. The meeting closed at 9.58pm.