Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 15th October 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 A Davies (in the Chair), J Jones, W Watkins, J Gardiner C Forbes, K Langdon, N Rider and C Protherough
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk), Ward Cllr David Hitchiner (from 8.16 pm), and two 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 October Meeting. No matters were raised in the Open Session by members of the public. PC Jeff Rouse updated the meeting and reported that there had not been anything reported in terms of thefts or burglaries in the parish and only minor incidents had been recorded. He advised that the PCSO’s were now on duty until 8.00 pm (previously 10.00 pm) and so could attend a 7.00 pm start meeting before going off shift.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were apologies for absence received from Cllr J Whittal
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were declarations of interest this time. Cllrs N Rider, J Gardiner and K Langdon in respect of the Village Hall and the declarations book was updated.
4. To approve Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 17th September 2025
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 17th September 2025 were approved.
5. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (October and arrears of pay award/increment)
Expenses £75.85
HMRC Tax refund £191.20
HMRC Employer’s National Insurance due £128.74
P Wright (playing field repairs /new dog bin) £135.00
Zemmat Holdings Ltd (bins September) £547.61
G N Rider (village daffodil bulbs x 3 sacks) £165.00
Clehonger Village Hall (hall hire) £64.00
Hereford Christmas Trees (Village Tree 2025) £140.00
HALC (Web Hosting and domain) £72.60
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £32383.61 total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field.
5.2) To consider budget and determine the Precept Request for 2026 – 2027
There was a discussion on the budget, spending and the precept request for the year 2026 to 2027. After hearing the views of those present, the motion to increase the precept from £22800.00 to £23940.00 for 2026 to 2027 was carried by a majority vote. The Clerk would advice the Finance Team at Herefordshire Council of this decision.
5.3) To consider and approve the purchase and fitting of further speed indicator device (SID) facilities for the village and determination of funding source
Mr Nelder, the Community Speedwatch Co-ordinator, outlined the details regarding the purchase of a further SID for the village. The aim was to site the new SID at the end of Poplar Road at the junction with the Kingstone Road, B4349. The Herefordshire Council had stated, via e mail, that they would only reimburse the cost of a pole and the fitting of the socket but not the new SID itself. A new SID would cost the parish council £2195.00 plus VAT. After discussion it was agreed that:
Mr Nelder would obtain a proforma invoice or actual invoice for the post and the fitting costs. These would be presented to the parish council for payment in November. These would then be fitted, Mr Nelder would apply for the relevant street works licence for the fitting and the Clerk would seek reimbursement of the initial costs from the Herefordshire Council. Then in January the parish council would proceed with the purchase of the SID to fit onto the pole and base. The parish council approved this course of action.
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field and any actions
There had been some further damage to the rails at the front of the playing field fence. Pieces of the timber had been pulled off.
(6.2) To consider any further information concerning the 106 and the new fencing
The Chair and the Clerk had met with the new 106 Team contact, Nigel Koch, at the playing field to discuss the fencing project. Nigel advised that the project was going back to the beginning. The Chair and Clerk, plus Mr Wright (present for technical support) toured the field and discussed the fencing. The parish council would now await his specification plan. The original choices regarding height, colour and gates etc., as previously chosen by the parish council, were communicated to Nigel.
PC Jeff Rouse left the meeting at this point 7.57 pm.
6.3) To consider possible suggestion regarding power supply with hall and field
Mr Nelder had put forward a paper about the possible collaboration between the hall and the parish council to arrange power on the field. This would be revisited in November when the Village Hall Committee had discussed the idea at their meeting. If the idea was to be progressed then whatever was decided would be put forward for standard charges impact and possible insurance conditions. Both the Village Hall and the Parish Council would need to agree on any possible collaboration.
A proposal was put forward for the siting of the village Christmas tree to the rear of the village hall, on the land fronting the B4349, as it was suggested that more people would be able to see it from there. This was discussed and it was resolved, by a majority decision, that the tree would remain mounted on the playing field for 2025.
6.4) To consider possible revision and resubmission of playing field “wish list” items to new department for 106
There had been a change to the administration of the 106 wish list team and a new person was dealing with the input. The revised wish list would be put forward to the new team member, after consideration of possible new elements (e.g. power supply).
6.4) To follow up on bench welding repairs and reinforcement
The contact that had been introduced by Cllr Rider had not been able to undertake the works due to previous commitments. A new contractor would be required to repair one bench, and to reinforce both benches, to protect them from future damage. Cllr Watkins advised that she may have a suitable contact who could undertake these tasks.
7. Planning
To consider response to Planning Applications, as notified, and then determined by Herefordshire Council
There were no further applications for consideration of comments.
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs
Welcome Packs were being updated by Cllr Watkins and distributed by Cllr Whittal.
There were some issues with finding out when new occupiers had moved in. Occasional packs were being distributed, when advised.
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty/Lengthsman
The Clerk had been to look at the hole in the triangle of grass at the end of Syers Croft, going towards The Hollies. A cone had been observed to be placed in the hole. The Clerk sought permission from the council to ask the lengthsman to fill in the hole, which appeared to have a rotten stump, or similar, in the cavity. Cllr Watkins said that she had some spare soil for the purpose of filling in the hole, if required. The Clerk would contact the lengthsman to ask him to carry out the work.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths including a pre-consultation on alteration to PROW Path KS31 (details circulated)
The Footpath Officer Cllr Forbes had walked the paths and said that they were improved. The pre-consolation information about path KS31 had been withdrawn, per the Herefordshire Council PROW Team Officer.
9.3) To receive any update regarding trees
Cllr Watkins, the Tree Warden noted that the “lousy oak” on the A465 at the Belmont Road junction with the B4349 was indeed dead and had been cut back to just short branches. The Tree Warden thought that it would be advisable to report the concern that the tree may topple, being dead. This would be reported to the appropriate department.
The Ward Cllr entered the meeting at this point – 8.16 pm.
10. The Lengthsman Contract
10.1) To consider matters in regard to the Lengthsman Contract and funding and determine actions
Routine works were ongoing. The hole in the grass at Syers Croft would be requested for remedial action.
The Ward Cllr advised that the drainage element of the grant scheme had received applications from parishes for around double the available funding. The Ward Cllr would forward the relevant information on this.
11. Community Speed Watch
11.1) To hear any updates and determine actions
The Speed Indicator Device would had been turned back round to face towards traffic entering the village from Hereford on the B4349. Mr Nelder advised regarding recent statistics obtained from the SID readings. There had been an impact on speed compliance due to turning the SID around, and it was noted that the numbers of vehicles passing through the village was down on the previous figures, possibly due to local road diversions?
12. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
12.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
Governors Services
Complaints procedure and the Monitoring Officer
HALC would be advising on this.
Parish summit slides from October 7th
Herefordshire Charter for Councils (to be discussed in November)
Herefordshire Council
Pre consultation on PROW KS31 (cancelled by the PROW Team)
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. PC Jeff Rouse attended the meeting.
12.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was in attendance at the meeting. He updated the meeting about:
• Hereford Transport Hub was underway
• Peterchurch School rebuild was underway
• John Hayder Building renovation was underway
• Temp Traffic Regulation Order for the A465, near to the garage, was being put forward
• Predicted budget shortfall for Herefordshire Council in 2026 – 2027 of £27.3 million.
• Devolution update – the county was described as being surrounded by “basket cases” where financial issues were rendering local authorities unviable as prospective devolution partners
• Herefordshire Council had submitted their annual accounts for sign off and were in a good position, currently with the accounts confirmed
• There had been a main council meeting held. A difference of opinion on impact to the revenue budget, by the proposed bypass, had been recorded
• The Stonewater Development had experienced some issues with Welsh Water. The site had been tidied and home occupation was looking imminent. The parish council noted that occupation was requested as being conditional upon water and drainage and sewerage being suitably connected to avoid temporary disposal and pumping issues at the development
12.3) To receive any update on the bulb planting initiative (date and time).
Cllr Rider had obtained the 3 x sacks of mixed daffodil bulbs. Bulb planting would take place on the 25th October. People would be invited to bring a bag to the playing field, on the 25th October, between 10.00 and 11.00 am, to receive a number of free bulbs and the condition would be that the bulbs were planted outside the person’s property in public view. The bulbs that were remaining, after the give away, would be planted in the designated areas. The school would be happy to plant any balance remaining after the local planting. Cllr Watkins was asked to put an advertisement on the Clehonger Forum with details. Cllrs Forbes, Rider, Langdon and Protherough all kindly agreed to participate in the planting and help would be sought to make up the number of people planting on the day.
12.4) To receive feedback on the event of 20th September 2025
The event had been poorly attended, by members of the public, but the event itself had proved to be a valuable networking and contact time for those who had attended, and those who had held stalls and interacted with those present. A “thank you” was recorded to Peter, the Village Hall Committee Chair, for instigating and co-ordinating the event.
13. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included, plus SID costs and tree lights invoice, the “Herefordshire Charter for Councils”, any HALC response to Governors Services and the Monitoring Officer, plus public transport issues, lack of availability, cancellations and reliability
14. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 19th November 2025, from 7.30pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
The Meeting closed at 8.48 pm.