MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY19 JULY 2018 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT B Gandy – Chairman; E Clanzy-Hodge; J Harrison; R Jack; and R Tibbles.
IN ATTENDANCE Ward Cllr. S Bowen (Bircher Ward); and R Hewitt (Clerk). There was one representative of the recreation association and one (1) member of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – P Smith.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – Cllr. Gandy declared a non-disclosable pecuniary interest in #8 ii) village hall loan.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2018 were amended to reflect the absence of Cllr. Harrison. With this amendment the minutes were agreed and signed as a true record.
4. Request from Orleton Recreation Association to help with the pavilion project – Mr Batchelor, recreation association, initially asked the parish council to note that an oak tree on the boundary of the playing fields is considered worthy of a tree preservation order by Herefordshire Council. The parish council’s tree officer proposed work to the lower limbs to allow more light into the neighbouring garden.
In respect of the request for help, the parish council noted advice from HALC and that no quotations have yet been obtained for the construction of the pavilion. It was agreed to hold a meeting with the recreation ground and HALC to explore the options that may be available. Cllrs. Clanzy-Hodge and Jack kindly agreed to represent the parish council at the meeting which will be held at Orleton if possible. In the meantime, requests for tender will be undertaken in the name of the parish council. The matter will be considered at the next meeting.
5. Report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen said the Bell Inn, Yarpole is set to be auctioned. The community bid offer for the Boot Inn remains on the table. OFSTED is looking at children’s services in the county. General scrutiny has looked at the proposed red route for the Hereford bypass and recommended it to cabinet as the option with the most limited impact. The brook by the bridge on Millbrook Way will be cleared in the near future. The velocity patcher is working well in the warm, dry weather and has fixed a lot of potholes. Herefordshire Council is considering purchasing a velocity patcher. A task and finish group is to look at how to take a longer term view of pothole repairs.
The Chairman suggested Herefordshire Council look at the experience of Worcestershire, which took out a loan to improve the condition of the roads, making repayments out of the funds which previously were being used to fix and repair potholes and other defects. Ward Cllr. Bowen thanked the Chairman and requested further details.
Signs on the B4361, like many in the county, are being obscured by the surrounding hedges. The road is too busy for the lengthsman so needs to be tackled by Balfour Beatty and landowners.
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The NDP consultants intend to dispose of the completed questionnaires in line with best practice. There is a HALC Northern Area Meeting (NAM) on 24 July 2018. Following a budget consultation meeting, Herefordshire Council has launched a public consultation. The period for the notice of casual vacancy has ended, and it is likely that the parish council will be asked shortly to co-opt to the vacancy.
7. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – There were no matters raised.
8. Plans
182388 and 182389/L The Cottage, Comberton, Orleton, SY8 4HE – Proposed internal and external alterations to The Cottage, Comberton, to include the erection of a timber framed link structure and insertion of an external door. The planning applications were supported.
The following planning decision by Herefordshire Council was noted: 181530 The Granary. Works to trees have been allowed for 181718, 1 Chapel Terrace.
9. Accounts
i) The latest balances of the parish council accounts were noted: Treasurer – £3,480.68; and Money Manager – £20,312.42. The fourth payment on the PWLB loan was made mid-June 2018.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£384.00); D C Gardening Services, P3 footpaths (£24.00); Royal British Legion, large poppies (£90.00); and Luston Group Parish Council, hire of SID (£200.00).
iii) Repairs to the wall at the Memorial Garden – The contractor has been appointed and is likely to begin work in the early autumn, subject to reviewing insurance cover.
iv) Request to support the 490 bus service in 2018-19 – It was agreed to provide £2,000.00 to support the service in 2018-19.
10. Lengthsman/ Highways and Footpaths – Balfour Beatty is likely to carry out the SID assessment at Comberton in the autumn. The quotation for the new highway signs is with Herefordshire Council, and once approved will be made available to consider. There is a new Traffic Regulation Order process, which requires an on-site meeting with the locality steward and Ward Cllr. Bowen. The Chairman and Cllrs. Harrison and Clanzy-Hodge kindly agreed to represent the parish council at the meeting which will look at the TROs proposed by the school (20mph), Copper Corner (30mph), and Policeman’s Corner (40mph).
11. Review request made for disabled parking bays by George’s Crescent – No action required.
12. Proposal to display historic parish council records and maps at village hall – Postponed to the next meeting.
13. New code of conduct adopted by Herefordshire Council – Herefordshire Council has asked that the same code of conduct is adopted by the parish council. The meeting agreed to follow advice from HALC, which is for the matter to be considered after the parish council election in May 2019.
14. Consultation on Aymestrey Neighbourhood Development Plan (Regulation 16) – Noted.
15. Parish council projects in 2018 – No action required.
16. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – Parking on the pavement.
17. Information items – Noted.
18. Date of next meeting – 7.30pm, Thursday 20 August 2018.
The meeting closed at 9.22 pm.