Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 18th June 2025 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 A Davies (in the Chair), J Jones, J Gardiner, K Langdon, W Watkins, N Rider and C Protherough
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk), Ward Cllr David Hitchiner (from 7.59 pm), John Taylor from Crime Stoppers, Grace Sage the head teacher from Clehonger Primary School and three members of the public
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 June Meeting. The Chair introduced John Taylor who was representing “CrimeStoppers.” John was living in the village and had come along to the meeting to highlight the service, CrimeStoppers, and to publicise the contact details. John explained that he was working alongside the past High Sheriff. Crimes could be reported or indeed what may happen or what had happened in the past. A murder crime from a decade previously was being reinvestigated. The contact number for CrimeStoppers was advised as 0800 555111. The website contact details are: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Stickers would be available for display and the word could be spread to advise people of the service. You were not actually ringing the police but rather the support group known as Crime Stoppers and calls are always kept anonymous.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were apologies for absence received from Cllr Forbes and the West Mercia Police.
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were declarations of interest made regarding matters relating to the Clehonger Village Hall by Cllrs Rider, Gardner and Langdon. These were entered into the notebook provided for the purpose.
4. To approve Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 21st May 2025
The Minutes of the Annual Statutory Parish Council Meeting held on the 21st May 2025 were approved. The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting, held on the 21st May 2025, would be approved at the Annual Parish Meeting to be held in May 2026
5. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (June)
Expenses £29.21
HMRC Tax due £95.60
Ers National Insurance due £224.34
Zemmat Holdings Ltd (bin emptying) £485.04
Clehonger Village Hall (Hall hire x 2 meetings May and June) £40.00
Eyelid Productions Ltd (web services) £120.00
Glasdon UK Ltd (50L Fido dog waste bin) £321.85
J & D Sanders (Lengthsman) £231.60
Clehonger C E Primary School – Minibus fundraising donation £3000.00
Clehonger CE Primary School Minibus Funding request
The parish council considered the request for support for the Clehonger CE Primary School minibus fundraising from the head teacher, Grace Sage, and resolved to make a donation towards the fund of £3000.00. The donation was proposed by Cllr Protherough and seconded by Cllr Whittal and carried unanimously.
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £40848.64 total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field.
5.2) To sign and approve the Exemption Certificate for 2024 – 2025
There was no Exemption Certificate 2024 – 2025 as the threshold of £25,000.00 transactions was exceeded in the financial year 2024 – 2025 and the exemption certificate did not apply.
5.3) To sign and approve the Annual Governance Statement 2024 – 2025
The Annual Governance Statement 2024 – 2025 was approved by the council and signed by the chair
5.4) To sign and approve the Accounting Statement 2024 – 2025
The Accounting Statement 2024 – 2025 was approved by the council and signed by the chair
5.5) To review “General Power of Competence” (GEPOC) and determine adoption
The GEPOC would be considered at the July meeting of the parish council.
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field and any actions
Damage had occurred to one of the black benches and it had been bent back out of shape. Cllr Rider advised that he had a welding contact and he would look at the benches and speak with the contact about repairs and obtain a quote for this, plus for reinforcement of the benches to help to prevent a repeat of the damage.
(6.2) To consider any further information concerning the 106 and the new fencing
There had been no progress made on the fence installation. The JCT contract required by Herefordshire Council had not been forthcoming at the last time of asking. The parish council had been in contact with Jenn Hilton Trout in the 106 department and she believed that the fence should be fitted in the summer. It was agreed that the Ward Cllr would investigate what was going on with the JCT and also establish what internal costs may be being levied against the 106 funding for the playing field facilities provision.
(6.3) To consider event advertising poster display at the field
The Clehonger Action Network (CAN) made a request to display an advertising poster, for the forthcoming event, on the playing field fence. This display was agreed by the parish council.
7. Planning
To consider response to Planning Applications, as notified, and then determined by Herefordshire Council
There was no further update on planning.
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs
Welcome Packs were being kept updated by Cllr Watkins and distributed by Cllr Whittal.
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty/Lengthsman
There were overgrown hedges at the top of Birch Hill Road going into Birch Hill. The overgrown condition of the Birch Hill Road hedges meant that people were walking out into the road at the end of the road nearest to the B4349 to avoid them, pavement nearly blocked. Also the footpath entrance from the playing field required clearing.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths
The Footpath Officer Cllr Forbes had sent his apologies.
9.3) To receive any update regarding trees
Cllr Watkins, the Tree Warden advised that the playing field trees required a bit of pruning and that she would carry this out.
10. The Lengthsman Contract
10.1) To consider matters in regard to the Lengthsman Contract and funding
Works were ongoing and areas were being kept mown and tidy. The Clerk was asked to refer the “weed-land” at the end of Birch Hill Road for enforcement action as it was overgrown.
11. Community Speed Watch
11.1) To hear any updates and determine actions
The Speed Indicator Device was recording more vehicles going out of the village than were coming in. The Speed Watch Co-ordinator (CSW) gave some figures of people speeding. It was commented that future 106 monies should be focussed on SID provision as well as other items.
It was agreed that the current SID would be turned around on the 19th June to face the opposite way, for a period. It was agreed, by the parish council, that a second SID placement site, for the village, should be pursued and the CSW would start progressing this.
12. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
12.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
Balfour Beatty
Lara Edwards, the Locality Steward, has circulated her reports.
Members Monthly Update received
Street works updates
E mail: lara.edwards@balfourbeatty.com
West Mercia Police
Newsletter circulated when received.
A further letter, from the Police and Crime Commissioner, in response to the information about the proposed PCSO hours being reduced to terminate at 8.00 pm as opposed to 10.00 pm has been received and circulated, following the parish council’s letter.
Letter from the Chair of the Village Hall
The parish council had received a letter from the Chair of the Village Hall, Mr Peter Smellie. He had included some suggestions about the possible joint venture for the “meet your parish councillor” event. This letter was discussed at agenda item 12.5).
12.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was in attendance at the meeting. He updated the meeting in regard to queries from residents about people driving around the “roundabout” in Innesfield and it had been clarified that drivers may go either way round this due to it not being classified as a roundabout that was subject to highway roundabout jurisdictions.
In addition, he advised:
• The Stoney Street site was trying to obtain a licence for the static vans sighted there.
• Road resurfacing was taking place around the parish
• The Local Transport Plan Consultation was ongoing to the end of June – no mention of extending the timetable had been made and the early morning and late evening times were not “covered properly”.
• The proposal for thousands of new houses to be built had made no specific mention of reducing congestion or of access for the additional occupants.
• The Local Plan was underway and the authority was calling for sites for the thousands of homes that were to be built under the government directive
• The Herefordshire Council finances were indication a surplus of £500,000.00
• The Hereford Histories Festival was described as having been a success with 104 events being held and circa 3000 visitors attending.
• It was again commented that “road closed” signs need to specify where the road is closed to avoid confusion and wasted journeys.
12.3) To receive any update on the bulb planting initiative.
Cllr Rider updated the meeting regarding the bulbs. Sites had been identified, permission to plant bulbs was being sought, and prices for the bulbs were going to be obtained. Help would be required for the bulk planting of the bulbs. The Rotarians were suggested as a possible source of help and the head teacher indicated that, possibly, also the school may be able to assist.
12.4) To discuss missing Clehonger place name signage
Village name signs were missing or damaged on the approach from Madley, at the Cage Brook and also at the Dunan bend. Enquiries would be made regarding their replacement.
12.5) To discuss possible “Meet your Councillor” Event
The parish council discussed the suggestions made in the Village Hall Chair’s letter. After discussion, it was agreed that a future date of 20th September 2025 would be desirable for the event so that preparations could be made, and it was agreed that the cost of the hall hire for the event would be met 50/50 between the parish council and the village hall. Further details and ideas would be discussed at the July parish council meeting.
13. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included plus “GEPOC” and the meet your parish councillor event on 20th September 2025 and future Litter Pick
14. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 16th July 2025, from 7.30pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
The Meeting closed at 8.44 pm.