MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2018 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT B Gandy – Chairman; E Clanzy-Hodge; J Harrison; P Smith – Vice Chairman; and R Tibbles.
IN ATTENDANCE Ward Cllr. S Bowen (Bircher Ward); and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were no members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – None. It was noted that Mr R Jack has resigned, and was thanked for his many years of service to the community.
2. Co-opt a new member of the parish council – Postponed to the next meeting.
3. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
4. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2018 were agreed and signed as a true record.
5. Report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen said there has been a legal case brought against the council’s children’s services. There is a new solicitor to help with this. The A465 section of the planned Hereford bypass is under judicial review. The red route for the remaining section of the bypass is the preferred route. Hopefully, work on the bypass will begin in 2019.
The pothole task and finish group has made good progress. A velocity patcher, which can repair 60-100 potholes per day, will be purchased in spring 2019 for about £100,000. Balfour Beatty has a good asset management plan. The Road Research Institute has suggested some ways to improve the life span of roads. The county lanes, the key arteries for local communities, need a lot of work. It is important to try and keep water off the roads.
The budget of Herefordshire Council in 2018-19 is likely to be balanced, though children’s services may have an overspend. An additional £5.4 million has been provided for pothole repairs by central government.
The new university launched earlier in October and will be a great asset. Student accommodation for the university and art college is planned by Hereford Station.
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – West Mercia Police plan to attend the January 2019 meeting. A Royal British Legion wreath has been obtained and will be presented by the Chairman at the forthcoming Remembrance Sunday ceremony. The campaign to discourage pavement parking has ended for the time being. Enquiries received include a report of overgrown hedges and a problem with the brook which is the responsibility of the riparian owners. A letter of support for the redevelopment of the pavilion has been provided to the recreation association. Councillors are invited to attend the launch of the Brimfield Brook Natural Flood Management Project on 28 November 2018. A meeting was held with the web designer to review the website and resolve outstanding issues.
7. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – There were no members of the public present.
8. Plans
183809 Manor Ground Farm, Orleton – Proposed farm track. The planning application was supported.
Works to trees have been allowed by Herefordshire Council for 183658 Little Overton and 183312, 1 Millbrook Close. Planning enforcement has undertaken a site visit in respect of 183010 Orleton House to confirm the planning conditions.
9. Accounts
i) The latest balances of the parish council accounts were noted: Treasurer – £18,930.28; and Money Manager – £20,321.52. The loan of 5,689.00 has been repaid by the village hall committee.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£396.00); Herefordshire Council, village roads assessment scheme (£729.05); S Price, boundary wall, Memorial Garden (£3,295.00); and Clerk, expenses April-October 2018 (£331.13).
iii) Surplus bricks left after rebuilding the boundary wall at the memorial ground – Due to the lower height of the rebuilt wall there are approximately 80 bricks left over. It was agreed to move these to a more secure location and to make them available to forthcoming community restoration projects. Cllr. Harrison kindly agreed to store the bricks for safekeeping.
iv) Consider NALC Legal Topic Note re: Financial assistance to the church – Noted.
v) Parish council accounts 2018-19 to date, and precept for 2019-20 – The finances of the parish council for 2018-19 to date were reviewed. The budget for 2019-20 was agreed and the precept set at £25,000. There is no grant for footpaths in 2019-20, so the parish council has allocated £1,000 for PROW maintenance. The lengthsman budget has been increased to £4,000 to allow for more maintenance of footpaths within the village. The Clerk’s salary will be in accordance with SCP27.
vi) Internal financial controls – Systems of internal control were reviewed, and it was agreed they are effective in safeguarding public money and resources.
10. Lengthsman/ Highways and Footpaths – It was agreed to ask the locality steward to request the sweeper to clear fallen leaves, particularly on Millbrook Way. Balfour Beatty will also be asked to clear drains on Mortimer Avenue and Millbrook Close. A request has been made for a missing grit bin at Ashley Moor to be replaced. The lengthsman will be asked to check and clear drains, grippers and ditches as required.
11. Proposal to display historic parish council records and maps at village hall – It was agreed to make a copy of the vellum documents and then hold a one day display of some of the originals before entrusting the archive to the care of Herefordshire Archives. Herefordshire Archives will be asked for advice on the best way to obtain copies as the vellum documents fold out to a large size.
12. Proposal to hold a ‘Community Conference’ in 2019 to try and identify ways and means to help local people in need – The Chairman kindly offered to bring local groups together next year to discuss ways to provide more support for people locally.
13. Consultation on Travellers Sites Development Plan: Additional sites – Noted.
14. Schedule of meetings for 2019 – Agreed.
15. Parish council projects in 2018 – No action required.
16. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – None.
17. Information items – Noted.
18. Date of next meeting – 7.30pm, Thursday 17 January 2019.
The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.