MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2019 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT P Smith – Vice Chairman; J Page; J Hobson; J Humber; and E Clanzy-Hodge.
IN ATTENDANCE Mr B Powell, Orleton Recreation Association and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were six (6) members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – B Gandy and M Morrison.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2019 were agreed and signed as a true record.
4. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15) – Members of the public asked for the parish council’s support to close Millbrook Way at times of heavy rainfall to prevent the wake from vehicles causing potential damage to nearby property, and to make sandbags available either side of the bridge.
The meeting noted that road closures are a matter for the highway authority. It was agreed to place the request on the next meeting agenda, and to ask Balfour Beatty’s locality steward what options are available to address the matter.
Reports of defective drains and silt under the bridge on Millbrook Way will be raised with the highway authority. An update will be requested from Severn Trent on the project “to refurbish the pumping station, including new pumps and replacement of a pipe at the point of entry to the pumping station to bring the diameter in line with the rest of the network”.
A member of the public was concerned at ambulance response times given a reported 45 minute wait recently for an ambulance to attend an emergency.
5. Request from Orleton Recreation Association to pay for the watercourse to be cleared, and consider proposal to fund tree planting – Mr Brian Powell, Orleton Recreation Association, said that the watercourse project had yet to be finalised. It was noted that the forestry management plan commissioned by the association is seeking to open up the woodland canopy to let in more light and encourage healthy growth, and that a decision on whether or where to plant new trees has yet to be made. The parish council agreed to be guided by the association on both matters and to take no further action.
6. Report on Herefordshire Council – There was no report.
7. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – A Safer Roads grant application for £6,000 has been made to West Mercia Police. Balfour Beatty has advised that people should dispose of leaves that fall on their property and not move them to the public highway. The school is able to host the defibrillator/ cabinet but is unable to consider a financial contribution beyond possibly arranging for the cabinet to be installed. Wigmore School has written to thank the parish council for supporting their celebration evening. The Pensions Regulator will require a re-enrolment declaration on workplace pensions in 2020. Balfour Beatty is holding a parish briefing in December 2019.
Cllr. Clanzy-Hodge reported on a neighbourhood plan review workshop by Herefordshire Council. Cllr. Hobson reported on community training by Herefordshire Council on river and rainfall monitoring.
8. Lengthsman/ Highways and Footpaths – It was agreed to keep sandbags at the village hall and The Farm, Millbrook Way with the kind permission of the respective landowners. 100 new sandbags have been purchased this autumn.
The lengthsman will charge an additional £50 per cut to remove the clippings after strimming the bank at Millbrook Way (assuming two cuts per year). The parish council agreed that removal is not required if the cuts are frequent but may be necessary if there are just a couple of cuts per year. A decision will be reviewed in light of the outcome of agenda item #17 in respect of planting wild flowers.
9. Plans
193334 Hopswood, Tunnel Lane, Orleton, SY8 4HY – Proposed addition of oak framed balcony. The planning application was supported.
193739, 1 Mortimer Drive, Orleton, SY8 4JW – There has recently been a house survey performed which showed up issues of Beech tree branches affecting the garage roofs of 2 neighbouring properties. Works required: Prune lower branches away from garage roofs by a slight crown raise to the Beech tree in No 1 Mortimer Drives garden. Branches going over Nos 1 and 2 Orleton Court garages. No main stems being cut just secondary side lateral branches to clear garages by approx. 2.5m. The proposed tree work was supported.
193789 Land on roadsides adjacent to the B4362 and opposite Orleton Primary School, Orleton, SY8 4HQ – Proposed works to various trees. Please see attached tree survey details and plan. The proposed tree work was supported.
Herefordshire Council has granted listed building consent for 193135 Boot Inn. Works to trees within a conservation area are allowed for 192957 Orleton House, 193300 The Cottage, and 193505 Eagle House.
10. Accounts
i) The latest balances of the parish council accounts were noted: Treasurer – £20,717.18; and Money Manager – £20,362.19.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman/ P3 footpaths (£120.00) and Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£91.20).
iii) Quotation for proposed highways work on the B4361 aimed at improving road safety. The £1,881.91 (+VAT) cost was agreed for the supply of a detailed design for the agreed traffic measures in the assessment. A schedule of payments for the overall project will be requested.
iv) Parish council accounts 2019-20 to date and precept 2020-21. Accounts to date in 2019-20 were reviewed and noted. The parish council agreed the 2020-21 budget and set the precept for the next financial year at £25,500. Funding will support work by the lengthsman, repayments on the loan to resurface the village hall car park, support for the recreation ground and village hall, a review of the neighbourhood development plan, and support for the bus service to Ludlow.
v) Effectiveness of financial internal controls – Deferred.
11. Proposal to request a ‘Not suitable for HGVs’ sign either end of Hunts Lane – Deferred.
12. Consider process to review the Neighbourhood Development Plan and agree next steps – The parish council agreed to review the neighbourhood development plan and to form a steering group for this purpose. The risk that the plan may require a further review to be in conformity with Herefordshire Council’s emerging core strategy review was noted. Richards Castle Parish Council is to consider the timing of the neighbourhood development plan review at their next meeting in December 2019.
13. Proposal to approach developer re: pending planning application 180517 Land to the north west of Kings Road to propose adopting land by the brook as public open space – Deferred.
14. Offer from Balfour Beatty to hold 1 tonne of salt locally and review grit boxes – The meeting agreed to ask for volunteers to store 1 tonne of salt/ grit locally, which is available free of charge from the highway authority’s agent. The missing grit box on the corner of Tunnel Lane and Overton Road will be raised with Balfour Beatty at the parish briefing in December 2019.
15. HALC’s Wise Owl Training Schedule – Cllr. Hobson’s request to attend Leading Lights training in March 2020 was agreed.
16. Request to purchase more poppies for Remembrance Sunday 2020 – Deferred.
17. Consider request to plant wild flowers in the village and agree next steps – Deferred.
18. Consider Herefordshire Council’s Corporate Plan consultation – Noted.
19. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – Options to manage traffic at times of surface water flooding, and organisation of meetings and role of working groups.
20. Information items – Noted.
21. Date of next meeting – 7.30pm, Thursday 16 January 2020.
The meeting closed at 10.10 pm.