Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 18th September 2024 from 7.30 pm at the Clehonger Village Hall
NB- The minutes are “draft” until ratified at the following parish council meeting.
Present: Cllrs J Whittal (in the Chair), J Jones, A Davies, J Gardiner, K Langdon, W Watkins, N Rider, C Protherough and C Forbes
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk), Ward Cllr David Hitchiner and nine members of the public plus PC Jeff Rouse for the Open Session.
1. Open Session with any parishioners who have joined the Meeting (to include any update from West Mercia Police – if in attendance
The Chair welcomed everyone to the September parish council meeting. PC Jeff Rouse advised that there had been only one recorded local crime since the previous meeting. This was at the end of July and involved theft of tools, saws etc. from a property in Kingstone.
PC Jeff Rouse then left the meeting.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence received.
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion. It was agreed that Clehonger Action Network (CAN) members, who were also councillors, would declare an interest if there were to be a relevant agenda topic involving the group’s interests.
4. To approve Minutes the Parish Council Meeting held on 17th July 2024
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 17th July 2024 were approved with amendments as follows:
1) Agenda Item 1) Open Session; the sentence saying “The parish council congratulated those who had organised the fete and worked to make it a success” was struck out and replaced with “Cllr Protherough proposed a thank you and Cllr Whittal reiterated this.”
2) Agenda Item 6) Playing Field (6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field; the final line saying “He then asked for the box to be removed” was deleted. This action was undertaken following a vote of 4 persons voting for the deletion and the remaining 5 council members either abstaining or declining to show a preference.
The following items were noted during discussion:
The box containing the badminton nets had been removed from outside the shop. This was advised, at the meeting, to be CAN property.
It was recorded that all of the playing field equipment, as fitted, on the playing field is Clehonger Parish Council property.
The Chair asked all councillors that when they come to the meeting would they please leave any personal issues, which they may have with other individuals on the council, at the door and put their “parish council hat on.”
It was emphasised that Clehonger Action Network (CAN) were a private group for fundraising etc. and are not obliged to provide accounts. They could do so voluntarily for transparency, if so wished by the group. The group were working on their internal constitution and policies.
Minutes of Parish Council Meetings
Following specific advice from HALC (to take immediate effect):
1) Minutes to be brief and record actions and decisions
2) Minutes to go up as draft on website as soon as possible after meeting
3) Minutes sent to the parish council members to accompany Agenda before the next meeting (no comments between meetings)
4) Minutes to be discussed and any changes hand written onto draft copy at the next meeting
5) Revised minutes (if changes made) to replace those uploaded previously, once agreed
5. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (September)
Expenses £47.82
HMRC Tax Refund to A Wright £139.00
Zemmat Holdings Ltd (bin emptying) £1022.40
HALC (website hosting and domain name) £72.60
Clehonger Village Hall (Hall hire x 2 hours – July) £14.00
Imperative Training Ltd. (defibrillator pads) £92.94
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £38999.03 total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field. A new statement had come in with balance of £38592.85. Notification of the precept money coming in had been received, £11400.00 on 20 September.
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field
Cllr Davies advised that there had been an incident, on the playing field, concerning some “racial problems” which the police had dealt with.
It was reported that there were some issues with grass cutting to the edge of the playing field due to dog waste deposits and resultant contamination of contractors while strimming. Notes had also been seen on the parish forum about dog waste in the play area.
Actions:
• Look at policy re dogs on leads – possibly more signage/reminders?
• Possibly install a dog waste bag dispenser?
(6.2) To consider any further information concerning the playing field survey, the 106 and any matters in regard to the School Highways Safety 106 suggestions
The Chair advised that she had spoken with Jenn Hilton Trout from the 106 Team and that there had been little progress over the summer. Designs would be drawn up for border fencing and possible exclusion for play area for protection from dogs going round the play equipment.
7. Planning and Survey.
To consider response to Planning Applications, as notified, and then determined by Herefordshire Council
No new applications for consideration of comments.
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs
The Clerk’s contact e mail had been advertised to advise re packs required. Some new packs had been distributed. There had been some editorial changes to the pack.
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty
The Birch Hill Road hedge at the property at the end of the road was overgrown and encroaching over the pavement.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths
The Footpath Officer Cllr Forbes was present. Footpath CH20 the landowner had cleared the path all the way out to the road. The path CH2 at Ruckhall required clearing as the footpath was not defined. There was a report of there being a bull in the field by the Bines. It was commented that there should be a “Bull” notice sign.
9.3) To receive any update regarding trees
Cllr Watkins, the Tree Warden was present. She advised that there was no further update on trees.
9.4) To consider possible proposal for a pedestrian crossing on the B4349
The Clerk had chased up the enquiry, as sent to the Cabinet Member, Cllr Philip Price, but unfortunately there was still no response. Clerk would ask the Cllr next time she saw him in person.
9.5) To discuss possible bulb planting, tree planting and hedge cutting
Trees for Playing Field
Cllr Rider advised that he had made some enquiries about suitable trees for the Playing Field to provide shade. The supplier would be sending prices and specifications for consideration.
Bulb Planting
Cllr Rider was looking at bulb planting and prices. Another organisation was purchasing for Hereford in Bloom and some sacks of bulbs should be available from the same source. Thought would be given as to where to plant the bulbs.
Playing Field Hedge
This had been cut, in the main, but the inside edge of the hedge still required cutting. The Chair would look into this.
10. The Lengthsman Contract
10.1) To consider matters in regard to the Lengthsman Contract and funding
There was still no lengthsman in post. The councillors would consider the jobs which required completion such as clearing the edge of the pathway beneath the “weed land” at the corner of Birch Hill Road. The Chair advised that she had spoken to a couple of candidates but no-one had taken up the role. The Chair would pursue other avenues, possibly gardener or similar? Anyone with suggestions of suitable candidates was requested to please put the names forward.
11. Community Speed Watch
11.1) To consider any matters relating to speeding in the village, and any updates on Speed Indicator Devices etc.
The Clerk had heard back from Joe Grice at Herefordshire Council. There were some challenges to one of the preferred sites for a SID. This would be revisited. Cllr Rider asked what was happening and the Clerk would send details to him. There were a couple of contractors who could fit the posts. The Working Party would meet after the 30th September to look at options and send response to Joe Grice.
12. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
12.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
Kingstone & Thruxton Educational Trust
Request received from the Trust to reaffirm the appointment of Rev. Ann Hitchiner, as a Trustee for Clehonger on the Trust until 2028. This was confirmed unanimously by the parish council and the Clerk would ask the Trust to see if they would advertise the opportunity of funds more widely and see if they would like to perhaps put an advertisement for the Trust in the Welcome Packs.
12.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr including any further updates on the paused housing development
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was in attendance at the meeting.
The Ward Cllr advised:
• Stonewater development was still on hold
• Road ruts outside Stonewater development required another repair
• Ward Cllr had toured parish with Lara Edwards, new Locality Steward
• Issues from tour noted including Vallets Farm hedges and flooding, missing signs on B4352, dead hedges on Kingstone Road and dropped kerb at Ruckhall Lane
• Stoney Street static caravan site served with eviction notice. Appeal lodged.
• New houses for County – numbers up from 16500 to 27500 over plan period.
• Devolution proposals under review. Complicated. Possibly nothing will happen.
• Bypass – Department of Transport want business cases for Southern Link and Western Bypass.
• Herefordshire Council ahead with accounts completion
• Ward Cllr attended opening of Luston Wetlands
• County wide festival 10 to 18 May 2025 opportunities for events
There was one question about a possible new tenant for the Stonewater Estate. Nothing was progressing with the building of the houses. It was noted that a contractor had assessed the site and had declined to become involved.
13. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included plus litter pick, bulbs and possible tree planting (Cllr Rider to liaise regarding bulbs and playing field trees)
14. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 16th October 2024, from 7.30pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
The Meeting closed at 8.54 pm.