MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 20 JUNE 2019 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT B Gandy – Chairman; P Smith – Vice Chairman; J Hobson; J Humber; J Page; and E Clanzy-Hodge.
IN ATTENDANCE Ward Cllr. S Bowen (Bircher Ward); and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were two members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – M Morrison.
2. Co-opt a new member – Ms J Page was co-opted to the parish council. Ms Page signed the declaration of acceptance of office and joined the meeting.
3. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – Cllrs. J Hobson and J Humber declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in planning application 192061 Glebe House.
4. Election of Vice Chairman – Cllr. P Smith was elected Vice Chairman.
5. Parish council representative to village hall – The Chairman kindly agreed to represent the parish council.
6. The minutes of the annual meeting held on 16 May 2019 were agreed and signed as a true record.
7. Report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen said he attended the Three Counties Show as chairman of Herefordshire Council. An inspiring day was spent judging the 691 entries to the county flag competition. There is now a shortlist of five, and members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite.
Recent news stories on the future of the Hereford bypass are causing concern to businesses and the university. Cllr. Gandy asked what is to happen to the housing allocation planned for land opened up by the bypass, were it not to go ahead. Hereford is the only town of its size in the country without a bypass, and significant funding has been obtained from government for it to be built. Herefordshire Council committees are expected to be in place soon. There is a full council meeting on 12 July 2019.
Ward Cllr. Bowen has been round the parish roads with the locality steward, and is working with the neighbouring Ward Cllr. to ask for Highways England to look at improvements to the Salwey Arms junction on the A49.
8. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – The Rt Hon. Philip Dunne MP has written to Highways England about the Salwey Arms junction on the A49. At present no roundabout is planned on grounds of cost. A notice about garden bonfires has been placed on the parish website and noticeboard. Mud on Overton Lane was reported to Balfour Beatty. The new SID base installation is expected to be completed by Balfour Beatty week commencing 8 July 2019 “if all goes well”. A VAT reclaim has been completed for the period 2017-19 (£3,785.65).
9. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – There were no matters raised.
10. Plans
191536 Temple House Farm, Ashley Moor, Orleton, SY8 4JJ – Installation of a 20M diameter circular pen for exercising the owner’s horse. The planning application was supported.
192026 The Cottage, Millbrook Way, Orleton SY8 4HW – Proposed works to Yew tree approximately 20% reduction in height and width. The proposed tree work was supported.
(Cllrs. Hobson and Humber left the meeting.)
192061 The Glebe House, Church Lane, Orleton, SY8 4HU – Proposed replacement front porch and side extension. The planning application was supported.
(Cllrs. Hobson and Humber rejoined the meeting.)
191907 Claremont House, Kitchen Hill Road, Orleton, SY8 4HN – Proposed single storey side extension. The planning application was supported.
Herefordshire Council has granted listed building consent for 191028 Boot Inn. Works to trees within a conservation area have been allowed for 191040 The Bower.
11. Accounts
i) The latest balances of the parish council accounts were noted: Treasurer – £14,300.11; and Money Manager – £20,345.12.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£426.00); D C Gardening Services, footpaths (£24.00); Clerk, renewal of NDP domain names (£14.38); Clerk, minute book and 3C Crown paper (£110.33) and Good neighbour scheme, donation (£500.00).
iii) Lengthsman and P3 footpaths contractor(s), and contracts for 2019-20 – D C Gardening Services was appointed lengthsman and P3 footpaths contractor for 2019-20. A lengthsman and P3 footpaths contract from Balfour Beatty was agreed and signed.
iv) SIDs at Orleton: buy own SID(s) – A number of options were considered, including: share the purchase cost with Richards Castle Parish Council; rent from Balfour Beatty; and/ or enter into a long term rental agreement with a parish council. The cost of a long term rental agreement with a parish council or joint purchase with a neighbouring parish was found to be comparable. It was decided to look at SIDs to purchase jointly at the next meeting, and to see if a third parish council might consider sharing the capital cost of purchase and ongoing maintenance charges.
v) Parish council account(s) – The parish council agreed to add three new signatories, and to require at least two signatories to sign for each transaction.
12. Lengthsman/ Highways and Footpaths – Options provided by Balfour Beatty to improve the B4361 through Orleton were reviewed. A working group was formed (Cllrs. Clanzy-Hodge, Gandy, Humber and Smith) to meet the highways engineer to discuss these and report back at the next meeting.
The lengthsman has strimmed the Kitchen Hill/ B4361 junction to improve visibility, and will check road signs are clear for road users to view. Potholes by the school and on Church Lane will be reported to Balfour Beatty.
13. Financial support for churchyard maintenance – The Clerk said HALC has confirmed the guidance from NALC on financial assistance to the church remains the most current and up to date advice. The meeting reviewed the NALC guidance (and SLCC advice reported in minutes of Monkland and Stretford Parish Council) and decided to donate £2,000.00 for maintenance of the churchyard in 2019-20 on the grounds that it is in effect a community space. The majority decision was made with four members in support and two against.
14. Orleton and Richards Castle NDP – A briefing from the neighbourhood planning team at Herefordshire Council was noted. It was agreed to plan for a review of the Orleton and Richards Castle NDP in 2020/21.
15. Proposal to increase frequency of visits by contractor to empty dog bins – The dog bins on Millbrook Way and St George’s Crescent will be emptied every three weeks over the summer period.
16. Participation in scheme to recycle crisp packets – Deferred.
17. Purchase of second defibrillator and cabinet to on external wall at the school – Deferred.
18. ‘We don’t buy Crime’ offer from the Police and Crime Commissioner – Deferred.
19. Consider whether to have an allowances scheme (enquiry from Herefordshire Council) – Deferred.
20. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – Recreation ground and request from Orleton Post Office.
21. Information items – Noted.
22. Date of next meeting – 7.30pm, Thursday 18 July 2019.
The meeting closed at 9.38 pm.