MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ONLINE AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 16 JULY 2020
PRESENT B Gandy – Chairman; P Smith – Vice Chairman; J Page; and E Clanzy-Hodge.
IN ATTENDANCE Ward Cllr. Bowen; and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were five (5) members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – None.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – Cllr. B Gandy declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item #8 ii) payments to the village hall. Cllr. P Smith declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in planning application 200575 Timbers.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2020 were agreed to be a true record.
4. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – Two members of the public provided an overview of the online activities they are kindly organising for families during the school holidays.
5. Receive report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen provided an overview of the mortality rate in the county attributed to Covid 19. There will be a full council meeting via Zoom tomorrow. The need to resurface Kings Road has been raised with the locality steward. A date for clearing the sludge under the bridge at Millbrook Way is due soon from Balfour Beatty. The velocity patcher is currently in the south of the county. Government has been asked to make up the shortfall required to repair roads damaged by the floods earlier in the year. Ward Cllr. Bowen has proposed the council borrow up to £20 million to improve the roads. Ditches, gullies and culverts need to be kept clear to keep surface water off the roads.
(Cllr. J Page joined the meeting.)
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The Clerk reported that the application to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Coronavirus Response Fund for £75.00 has been successful. The application for a Drainage grant has been submitted to Balfour Beatty, and includes an additional cost for the lengthsman to undertake traffic management during jetting. Herefordshire Council is holding a virtual Parish Council Summit on 23 July 2020. Balfour Beatty have advised that their litter pick kits are not available at the moment due to Covid 19. A member of the public has requested a litter pick to help with volunteer litter picks.
7. Plans
201395 Land at Perseverance Cottage, Orleton – Outline application for the erection of a 4 bed dwelling and access egress vehicular turning and parking. Re-consultation – Consider amended/ additional plans/ documents. The parish council considered the amended and additional plans and documents and agreed to support the application due to the increased parking capacity and ability to exit frontwards on to the B4361.
201039 Overton Lane, Orleton, SY8 4HZ – Enforcement appeal. The parish council agreed to comment in support of the enforcement action of the planning authority, Herefordshire Council.
(Cllr. P Smith left the meeting.)
200575 Timbers, Orleton, SY8 4HN – Norway Spruce. We would like to remove and replace with a native species that will not pose such a risk to neighbouring property. The proposed tree work was supported.
(Cllr. P Smith re-joined the meeting.)
201495 and 201496 The Cottage, Comberton, Orleton, SY8 4HE – Placing of solar panels on south facing roof of garage. The planning application was supported.
Herefordshire Council has granted planning permission for 200921 Pear Tree House, 201003 Tunnel Lane Cottage, and 200355 St George’s Crescent. Works to trees are allowed for 201553 1 Mortimer Close. 201291. Land off Ashley Moor Lane has been refused.
8. Accounts
i) Financial Statement to date: The balances of the parish council accounts on 30 May 2020 were noted: Treasurer – £6,783.45; and Money Manager – £20,386.14.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman/ P3 footpaths (£260.40); Clerk, parish council laptop and case (£786.97); and Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£45.60).
(Cllr. B Gandy left the meeting. The Vice Chairman chaired the meeting.)
The payment of £680.00 to Orleton Village Hall for redecoration of the hall exterior was agreed. The payment of £13,500.00 for renovation of the toilets was ratified. [The parish council previously agreed to donate the funds for the renovation of the toilets on 18 June 2020.]
(Cllr. B Gandy re-joined the meeting and resumed chairing the meeting.)
The Chairman provided an update on the refurbishment of the toilets at the village hall. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by September 2020.
The Clerk reported that the bank is unable to provide electronic banking in line with the financial regulations of the parish council.
9. Lengthsman/ Highways/ Footpaths – A new railway sleeper is to be sourced to repair the footpath bridge between the recreation ground and Mortimer Way. A brick pillar left in a ditch on Tunnel Lane has been reported as fly tipping to Herefordshire Council. The lengthsman has installed a new cross step for the stile on OL2 at the recreation field. The lengthsman will be asked to look at a report of a wobbly stile off Green Lane.
10. Neighbourhood Development Plan review – The parish council resolved to await the outcome of Herefordhire Council’s review of the core strategy.
11. Community resilience plan – It was agreed to consider setting up a working group at the next meeting.
12. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – None.
13. Information items – Noted.
14. Date of next meeting – 20 August 2020. The meeting will be held online.
The meeting closed at 8.52pm.