MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ONLINE AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 22 APRIL 2021
PRESENT: B Gandy – Chairman; L Mackay; S Perry; P Burnham; and M Simmons.
IN ATTENDANCE: Ward Cllr. Bowen; and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were four (4) members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence – P Smith – Vice Chairman; and E Clanzy-Hodge.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
3. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 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 said the youth club has been vandalised, proposed CCTV to address such anti-social behaviour and asked whether there was a new neighbourhood watch coordinator. It is understood that there will be more police patrols. The Chairman said the police had been in contact and informed the parish council. Cllr. Burnham said CCTV was a matter for the village hall committee.
5. Receive report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen said the recent High Court judgment highlighting the failings of Children’s Social Care Services was very distressing. The council will respond and do what needs to be done to put things right. The structural problems at Shire Hall are likely to take up to two years to fix. In the meantime, the sports centre on Holmer Road is likely to be the venue for county council meetings. The government grant to Herefordshire Council has gone from £61 million to £0.6 million in just a few years. Roads don’t get the necessary attention and are acknowledged to be a deteriorating asset. More government support is needed.
6. Clerk’s report and reports on meetings attended by parish councillors – Herefordshire Council have processed the part 1 payment of the 2021-22 precept (£12,750.00). An application has been submitted to list the shop and post office as an asset of community value. HALC is to address planning enforcement. The recreation ground association will take the memorial bench that is currently in storage. The request for a late cut of verges has been acknowledged. The lengthsman will postpone the cut on Millbrook Way. The contract for lengthsman and P3 footpaths work in 2021-22 has been submitted to the highway authority. SIDs have been deployed. The parish council comments on the natural flood management report for the Brimfield Brook catchment area has been acknowledged. There may be funding to deliver more natural flood management projects in the future. Severn Trent Water have said the parish council would not receive a certificate following works to move a pipeline.
A report from Cllr. Mackay on the recent online Herefordshire Council PC Summit was noted.
7. Plans
211405 Overton House, Overton Road, Orleton, SY8 4HZ – Cherry (T1) – fell as pushing a wall out of place and making it crack Silver birch (T2) – fell as it is growing too close to the house and is in striking distance if it falls down. Willow (T3) – repollard as part of ongoing management. The proposed tree work was supported. The parish council requested that a suitable native species is replanted in an appropriate location.
210840 Manor Barn, Overton Road, Orleton, SY8 4HR – Holly Holm (T1) & (T2)- Causing shadowing and overhanging on roof. Proposed felling as the tree is too close to the dwelling. Poplar (T3) tree is heavily leaning and over growing into the neighbouring property. Another Poplar in this condition along the same border blew over into the neighbouring property about 15 months ago causing damage. The tree roots are also encroaching onto our septic a tank and if left will cause damage. Poplar (T4) – as above but about 6 metres further along. Proposed felling for same reason. Elm (T5) – this tree is partially dead on one side due to fire damage caused by previous owner and needs to be felled. Not considered, already decided by planning authority.
211136 10 Millbrook Close, Orleton, SY8 4JR – Tree 1 is an old trunk of a Damson which is covered in ivy and on the edge of the rear garden. Tree 2 is a Silver Birch which has died over the preceding year again is to the rear of the garden. We would like to remove both trees. The proposed tree work was supported. The parish council requested that suitable native species are replanted in an appropriate location to replace the felled trees.
210827 Orleton Manor, Orleton, SY8 4HR – Application for variation of conditions 2, 3 and 4 following grant of planning permission 203875 (Proposed west range sun-room and repairs to the southern gable of the west range (Retrospective)). To allow the length on these conditions to 18 months, to ensure that all other works are complete before the scaffolding comes down. The planning application was supported.
Herefordshire Council has allowed works to trees in a conservation area for 210840 Manor Barn and 210204 Kitchen Hill.
8. Accounts
i) Financial Statement to date: The balances of the parish council accounts on 1 March 2021 were noted: Treasurer – £5,437.26; and Money Manager – £87.48. Herefordshire Council have paid the second part of the drainage grant, £3,523.50.
ii) The following payments were agreed: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£36.00); and Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£45.60).
9. Lengthsman/ Highways/ Footpaths – A grit bin will be requested for Deakins Lane. The locality steward has committed to “chase up” to resolve the problem of water on a section of the lane. The lengthsman has jetted this section of path.
The Chairman and Clerk reported on a briefing from Balfour Beatty on programmed work in 2021-22, which also was attended by Ward Cllr. Bowen. The draft programme did not include drainage matters raised in the lengthsman’s jetting report which has been provided to the highway authority. Funding has increased for programmed drainage projects, but the budget for resurfacing has been cut.
A member of the public said they are taking action to require the highway authority to respond and assume responsibility for drainage defects on Millbrook Way. The parish council thanked the member of the public and agreed to take up the request for the highway authority to resolve the drainage defects.
10. New dog waste bin on Green Lane – A quotation for emptying the additional dog waste bin by the church was accepted (£120.00 per year +VAT). An additional dog waste bin will be purchased to replace the existing bin on Millbrook Way. The dog waste bin on Millbrook Way will be re-sited on Green Lane, using an existing post if possible. A new green 35 litre dog waste bin and attachments will be purchased from Glasdon UK (£240.00 +VAT). Once installed the bin on Green Lane will be added to the monthly schedule (£120.00 per year +VAT).
11. Community Resilience plan – The Chairman reported that all three emergency services have approved the plan. Contacts are to be included as an appendix, and consent obtained by the working group. It was noted that the Clerk was unable to download the plan. The parish council approved the Community Resilience Plan.
(Cllr. M Simmons joined the meeting.)
12. War memorial – It was agreed to write to the adjacent landowner in respect of the new boundary wall.
13. Parish council meetings – In person parish council meetings may be necessary from May 2021 depending on the outcome of a high court judgement. The main hall will provide more scope for socially distanced public meetings to be held. A NALC checklist and risk schedule for in person meetings was noted. The village hall has kindly offered to clean the hall for parish council meetings, and funding was agreed so that this can take place. In person meetings will be subject to government regulations and guidance in place at the time. It was agreed to hold online meetings if legal until 21 June 2021.
14. Minerals and Waste Local Plan Pre-Submission Consultation – Noted.
15. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – None.
16. Information items – Noted.
17. Date of next meeting – 20 May 2021 (annual meeting). The format and venue of the meeting is to be confirmed.
18. Community purchase of Orleton shop and post office – Cllrs. Mackay and Simmons reported that there were 134 responses to a survey to gauge interest in a community purchase of the shop and post office. Of these 124 supported the purchase and indicated they would be willing to provide financial support. Three responses were opposed to a community purchase. A community group has been set up and advice received from the Plunkett Foundation and community owned Boot Inn.
(The meeting was closed to members of the public and held in closed session to protect confidential commercial information.)
The parish council was asked to consider an approach to the public works loan body (PWLB) to obtain funding to support the community purchase. It was agreed to donate £1,000.00 to the community group to provide funding for a second valuation of the shop and post office and for membership of the Plunkett Foundation.
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.