MINUTES OF ORLETON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 2022 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: B Gandy – Chairman; P Burnham – Vice Chairman; S Perry; L Mackay; E Clanzy-Hodge; P Hardwick and M Simmons.
IN ATTENDANCE: Ward Cllr. S Bowen and R Hewitt (Clerk). There were forty seven members of the public present, including two representatives of the shop and Post Office.
1. Apologies for absence – None.
2. Declarations of interest and written dispensations on agenda items – None.
3. Co-opt one new member to the parish council – Mr Philip Hardwick was co-opted to the parish council. Cllr. Hardwick signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and joined the meeting.
4. The minutes of the meetings held on 18 November and 9 December 2021 were agreed to be a true record.
5. Invitation to members of the public to address the council (limited to 15 minutes) – There were no matters raised.
6. Receive report on Herefordshire Council – Ward Cllr. Bowen reported on children’s services, finances of the county council, resignation of the council’s chief legal officer, The Queen’s Green Canopy and planning services.
7. Proposed community purchase of the shop and post office building – The meeting noted the options paper. The parish council has the power to purchase the shop and post office as a community building. There is currently no community interest group or independent operator that has come forward to operate the business in the event of a community purchase of the building. The parish council agreed to form a working group comprising Cllrs. Mackay and Burnham and the Clerk, to explore options and valuation with the vendors. The Clerk was asked to put the valuation survey commissioned by the parish council on hold.
The Chairman invited members of the public to address the parish council. A member of the public asked what the difference might be between the value of the building and value of the business including stock.
8. Orleton Flood Wardens – The Clerk reported that there have been six expressions of interest in the voluntary role of flood warden. The parish council thanked the volunteers and suggested that more flood wardens would be helpful given that they are likely to operate in pairs.
9. Public open space in the development opposite the school – The developer’s offer of a £15,000 maintenance grant for adoption of the public open space, subject to taking on responsibility for the maintenance of the surface water attenuation area was noted. The parish council agreed to accept £15,000 subject to contract, for adopting the public open space provided the water attenuation feature and car park area is not included.
10. Planning
214356, 27 Mortimer Drive, Orleton, SY8 4JW – Proposed single storey side extension. The planning application was supported.
220007 Field opposite The Grange, Overton Road, Orleton, SY8 4HZ – Ash – 10 Saplings / trees are diseased with Ash Dieback. If not removed they may fall. In so doing they will fall onto the Overton Lane Carriageway. The proposed tree work was supported.
220006 Mi Jan, Millbrook Way, Orleton, SY8 4HW – Native Willow – Pollard due to excessive growth now extending over public footpath. This was done some five years previously with application approved at that time. The proposed tree work was supported.
214485 Orleton House, Kitchen Hill Road, Orleton, SY8 4HN – Proposed works to cherry tree (T1) – Fell due to excessive shading and proximity to house. The parish council resolved to delegate a response to the Clerk in consultation with the parish tree officer.
214458 Birchbeck, Millbrook Way, Orleton, SY8 4HW – Proposed works to T1 Oak – Reduce crown by 2.5 metres all round. The proposed tree work was supported.
214443 Eagle House, Kitchen Hill Road, Orleton, SY8 4HN – T1 – Red Oak Tree. Previously been Pruned, but Customer now wishes to Pollard at 7 Metres from Ground Level as it effects their immediate neighbour as the tree crown grows mostly over their side of the fence blocking sunlight into the neighbours property. The proposed tree work was supported.
11. Finance
i) The following payments were agreed: Leo Pest Control, dog waste removal (£57.60), Mr Mackay, battery operated fairy lights x 2 (£60.00); A Turtle, bulbs (£21.94); Glasdon UK Ltd, 35 litre dog waste bin and fixings (£292.93); Clerk, expenses to January 2022 (£421.22); Clerk, wages January 2022 and Orleton Village Hall, meetings (£90.00). The following payment was ratified: D C Gardening Services, lengthsman (£422.40).
ii) Complete application form for new bank account: Information required by the application from was provided by the signatories. The application form will be completed online.
iii) Mid year accounts for 2021-22 were reviewed and noted. The parish council agreed a budget and precept for 2022-23. The precept for 2022-23 was set at £25,500.00.
iv) Systems of internal control were reviewed, and it was agreed they are effective in safeguarding public money and resources.
12. Lengthsman/ Highways/ Footpaths – A loose kerbstone by Orleton Court was reported.
13. Consultation on proposed extension of 30mph speed limit on Kings Road – The extension of the speed limit as set out in the consultation was supported.
14. Sandbags and storage of sandbags – The availability of sandbags at the village hall and Boot Inn was noted.
15. Orleton pumping station – The parish council resolved to request that the pumping station is upgraded by the water authority in
preparation for the completion of the new housing development opposite the school.
16. Proposal to establish a working group to support village sustainability plan – Deferred.
17. Consider NALC briefing on financial assistance to the church and request from the PCC for a grant to support churchyard maintenance – A proposed donation to Orleton PCC for mowing of the churchyard was considered. The meeting reviewed NALC L01-18 Financial Assistance to the Church and noted the question of whether the 1894 Act might override provisions in later Acts of Parliament. A donation of £2,000.00 was agreed for maintenance of the churchyard, which is crossed by two public rights of way, to keep the public area tidy and support the community.
18. Consider response from highway authority to proposal for streetlights to be turned off at night – The estimated cost of £240 plus labour per light to provide this capability was noted.
19. Herefordshire Local Plan update – The responses to the pre-consultation engagement questionnaire on the Local Plan recommended by the working group were supported.
20. Matters raised for next meeting (no discussion) – 20mph speed limit by the school, streetlight at entrance to Little Furlongs and development opposite the school.
21. Employment matters – Interviews will take place week beginning 17 January 2022. The clerk’s notice period ends on 3 February 2022.
22. Date of next meeting – 7.30pm on Thursday 17 February 2022 at the village hall.
The meeting closed at 9.40pm.