MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ONLINE AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2021
PRESENT: B Gandy – Chairman; L Mackay; S Perry; and M Simmons.
IN ATTENDANCE: PCSO Steph Harper, West Mercia Police; Ward Cllr. Bowen; and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were eight (8) members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – P Smith – Vice Chairman; P Burnham; and E Clanzy-Hodge.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2021 were agreed to be a true record.
4. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15 minutes) – A member of the public asked why the lengthsman cleaned the drains when Balfour Beatty is contracted to do this? It was reported that Severn Trent subsequently cleared debris from their pipe on Mortimer Drive.
It was noted that the drainage work was funded by a grant from Herefordshire Council/ Balfour Beatty. Parish funds were used to pay for removal of silt from the drains (approx. £500.00).
A member of the public felt that a bund above the village was never going to happen and suggested the problems with flooding date from when the highway authority put in a restriction pipe by the culvert under the B4361. Support was expressed for CCTV at the village hall/ recreation ground to address anti-social behaviour.
A member of the public said surface water flooding on Green Lane is caused by a dog leg in a drainage pipe installed when the brook by the caravan park was piped. Ward Cllr. Bowen kindly offered to look at this.
A member of the public asked if the parish council received a notice from Severn Trent following sewer improvement works in Millbrook Close and Mortimer Drive in 2017 to say that the pipeline running through private gardens has been taken out of service. It was agreed to check the status of this pipeline with Severn Trent.
5. Receive report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen reported on recent meetings of Herefordshire Council. The 2021-22 budget has been set. Council Tax will increase by 4.99 percent with 3 percent earmarked for social services. An eastern bypass is to be looked at. Adult well being and mental health is a potential concern. The easing of lock down should help. The Soap Box Derby at Richards Castle has been cancelled for 2021 by the organisers.
The locality steward has been asked to clear the brook. The poor condition of Kings Road has been raised with Balfour Beatty and a recommendation made for it to be resurfaced. The velocity patcher should be operating again soon once the weather is warmer and drier. Potholes are prioritised on a risk basis.
Ward Cllr. Bowen asked the village to consider supporting a proposal to make the shop and post office a community concern and said government match funding may be available. The Chairman said a notice has been placed in the shop to ask for expressions of interest in exploring options.
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The expression of interest and annual maintenance plan for P3 footpaths and lengthsman work in 2021-22 has been submitted to Balfour Beatty. Support for the recommendation in the draft definitive map modification order for the addition of a bridleway at Patrick’s Hill has been submitted to Balfour Beatty.
7. Options to address dog fouling in the village, including request to support CCTV at the village hall car park, and additional and/ or larger dog waste bins – The parish council supported the posting of additional dog fouling notices at the village hall and recreation ground. Putting gates at the entrance to the village hall car park off Millbrook Way was not considered to be a practical option because the car park is used by visitors to the surgery and recreation ground.
Information from West Mercia Police on CCTV obtained by the Chairman was noted. Anti-social behaviour should be reported to the police. According to West Mercia Police there have been no reports of anti-social behaviour recorded since November 2020. The proposed use of CCTV may present significant safeguarding and data compliance issues given the line of sight across a children’s playground adjacent to the village hall and across the playing fields. It was agreed to encourage the reporting of anti-social behaviour to the police using 101 and postpone a decision on CCTV until the extent and frequency of anti-social behaviour is better understood.
Consideration of the proposal to have an additional dog waste bin on Green Lane was deferred in order to obtain a quotation for the additional cost of emptying a fourth dog waste bin.
8. Plans
210398 and 210399 Orleton Manor, Orleton, SY8 4HR – New outbuildings to Orleton Manor to supersede previously approved underground car park and pool house (DCN011743/L). The planning application and application for listed building consent were supported.
210296 Townsend Farm, Orleton, SY8 4JA – Proposed manure store. The parish council asks that a planning application for the underground storage tanks be incorporated into a re-application and that it is conditioned that the said storage facility is deemed adequate to prevent run-off and is in place prior to the construction of the shed.
210232 Townsend Farm, Orleton, SY8 4JA – Proposed erection of an agricultural livestock building. The parish council asks that a planning application for the underground storage tanks be incorporated into a re-application and that it is conditioned that the said storage facility is deemed adequate to prevent run-off and is in place prior to the construction of the shed.
Herefordshire Council has granted planning permission for 204188 Amiss Orchard; 203964 Land at The Farm; 204250 Orleton Manor; 203419 Bluebell Cottage; 204319 Bank House; 204313 Garden Cottage; 210024 Bower Orchard; 204413 1-6 St George’s Crescent. Listed building consent has been granted for 204251 Orleton Manor and works to trees allowed in a conservation area for 210204 Kitchen Hill.
9. Accounts
i) Financial Statement to date: The balances of the parish council accounts on 1 March 2021 were noted: Treasurer – £14,448.88; and Money Manager – £7,887.42. Herefordshire Council has paid the first part of the drainage grant, £4,306.50.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£786.00); Eyelid Productions, annual website support (£100.00); Herefordshire Council, signs and lining on B4361/2 (£18,376.33); Clerk, office/ administration Jan.-March 2020 (£135.22); Clerk, office/ administration April 2020-March 2021 (£493.09); and Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£45.60).
It was agreed to transfer £7,800.00 from the reserve account in order to make the agreed payments.
(Cllr. M Simmons joined the meeting.)
10. Lengthsman/ Highways/ Footpaths – It was agreed to request a late cut of the verges in the parish by the highway authority to support biodiversity. The strimming of the bank on Millbrook Way will be delayed as well. The Clerk reported that the new footpath officer should receive some training from Balfour Beatty.
11. Report on Brimfield Brook Flood Action Group – A short report on work carried out under the first phase of the Natural Flood Management initiative was noted. The parish council agreed to respond to the questions asked by the Head of Land Management as follows: The parish council felt there had been no noticeable reduction in flooding in Orleton since 2018. Flooding still occurred in the usual places over the last two winters, and to the same extent. Similarly, no changes to where flood flows come from or no longer come have been noticed.
Two members of the public and landowners highlighted natural flood management measures taken as a result of the natural flood management initiative.
12. Talk Community hub – A short presentation by Cllrs Mackay and Simmons on Talk Community Hubs and Diocesan pilots such as the ‘The Great Collaboration’ project was noted. It was agreed to consider a plan and outcome of a mapping exercise at a subsequent meeting. The mapping is intended to assess shared priorities and identify gaps to consider addressing.
13. Diocesan Environmental Sustainability pilot – The parish council agreed that ‘The Great Collaboration’ project, set up for parish council members to share resources, experiences and ideas to support carbon reduction, should be looked at as part of the plan for a Talk Community hub (see #12).
14. Herefordshire Council and planning enforcement – The parish council agreed to send a letter of concern to planning services and to raise the matter with HALC.
15. Memorial bench – A memorial bench obtained by the parish council some years ago is currently in storage. The parish council agreed to approach the recreation association to propose that it is placed in or by the enclosed play area at the recreation ground.
16. Community Resilience plan – The Chairman reported that the police have yet to comment on the draft plan.
17. Parish council environmental policy – The Environmental Policy was agreed subject to including amendments proposed by Cllr. Burnham by email.
18. Registration of shop and post office as an asset of community value – It was agreed to submit an application to Herefordshire Council to register the shop and post office as an asset of community value.
19. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – None.
20. Information items – Noted.
21. Date of next meeting –15 April 2021. The meeting will be held online.
The meeting closed at 9.38pm.