Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 15th January 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 Gardiner, K Langdon, C Protherough, C Forbes, J Jones and W Watkins
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk), Ward Cllr David Hitchiner (for part) and five 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 Cllr Alison Davies (in the Chair) welcomed everyone to the January parish council meeting. A resident advised that they were waiting for a welcome pack. The request had been received and would be followed up. Details of changes had been made to the pack. It was commented that it would be good to have electricity supply on the playing field. There was also a comment about the wish for there to be an access point onto the field, from the hall car-park, at the lower end of the field. Access points would be reviewed as part of the playing field fencing project.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were apologies for absence received from Cllrs Whittal and Rider.
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were declarations of interest made for the Village Hall by Cllrs Gardiner and Langdon, on this occasion.
4. To approve Minutes the Parish Council Meeting held on 20th November 2024
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 20th November 2024 were approved and signed by the Chair.
5. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (January and pay award/increment arrears)
Expenses £41.52
HMRC Tax (YTD) £182.60
HMRC Ers NI (Due) £43.23
Zemmat Holdings Ltd (bin emptying) £443.52
Eyelid Productions Ltd (web services x 6 months) £180.00
Mr P Wright (emergency repairs to playing field fence) £119.50
A request for support with the running costs of Dore Community Transport was considered, and a donation of £800.00 towards their work was resolved to be made.
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £40387.30 total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field.
(5.2) To consider HALC training for the New Year
The training objectives and requirements would be reviewed in February 2025.
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field and any decisions
The playing field fence had been damaged. This had been reported to the police. The fence had been repaired promptly by Mr Wright. The Christmas tree lights had been interfered with and some of the battery packs had been removed. A resident had e mailed the Golden Valley Team about the issue. There were some ongoing issues with antisocial behaviour in the village. Cllr Davies advised that there may be an opportunity to have a person, Ben Lea of Close House, come and talk to the parish council about initiatives to arrange activities, help and ideas for young people in the community. This was noted as something for a future agenda to explore possibilities for improving social activity for the younger community members.
(6.2) To consider any further information concerning the playing field 106 proposals including any decisions and any matters in regard to the School Highways Safety 106
The details that the parish council had discussed and resolved, in terms of the new fencing, had been communicated to the 106 Team for them to further the quotation process. Electricity and water on the field would form part of a future discussion.
7. Planning.
To consider response to Planning Applications, as notified, and then determined by Herefordshire Council
There were no new applications for consideration of comments.
One interim application had been circulated, as below, but there were no further comments:
APPLICATION NO & SITE ADDRESS: Planning Consultation – 242854 – Wellfield, Poplar Road, Clehonger, Herefordshire, HR2 9SW
APPLICATION TYPE: Planning Permission
DESCRIPTION: Application for variation of condition 2 following grant of planning permission 213333 (Erection of five dwellings, with associated drainage) – to allow for a revised house type on plot 3 alone.
GRID REFERENCE: OS 344886, 237205
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs – to update as applicable
A request for a welcome pack would be followed up. Changes to the pack had been made.
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty
No further reports. Ongoing issues were in the system.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths
The Footpath Officer Cllr Forbes had been checking the paths. He advised that there was a fair amount of litter, including a lot of drinks cans around the paths. Three bridges were down and in need of repair in the area, one in Clehonger at path CH2, one in Eaton Bishop and one in Kingstone parish.
9.3) To receive any update regarding trees
Cllr Watkins, the Tree Warden, advised that a few branches had come down in the recent gales but that they had been dealt with promptly.
10. The Lengthsman Contract
10.1) To consider matters in regard to the Lengthsman Contract (including appointment and activities)
An e mail had been received from a prospective new Lengthsman and this would be followed up.
11. Community Speed Watch
11.1) To consider any update on the Speed Indicator Devices and confirm position regarding fitting.
The unit had arrived and the fitting was being co-ordinated. The contractor had to have a specified certification to undertake the fitting. Suitable contractors were being approached and some were in the “pipeline” to respond. Further quotes would be circulated for parish council review. Underground services had to be safeguarded.
The meeting heard that the speed camera van had been parking in a different location to usual and was “catching more people” speeding.
12. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
12.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
12.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr including any further update on the uncompleted housing development and drainage issues
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was in attendance at the meeting at this point (7.55 pm).
The Ward Cllr advised that:
• Mandatory housing targets were being implemented and suggested numbers of new houses were no longer advisory. 27000 new homes for Herefordshire. The 5 year land supply was no longer in place and a new local plan was being put together.
• The Government were pressing ahead with devolution with elected mayors in charge of the areas including responsibility for transport and strategic planning. The councils were hoping that local services would be retained within the local authority remit
• The Budget for 2025 – 2026 had seen a reduction in grant funding with the Rural Services Grant (worth £7 million) being taken away completely.
• The council tax increase would be 4.99% for the 2025 – 2026 year
• Planned savings were being made in Children’s Services, £3 million.
• Phase One of the Bypass was being pushed ahead with a strategic business case to reduce traffic in the city being proposed
• There had not been an analysis of hospital and surgery places in relation to increased housing capacity
• The Ward Cllr and Ward Cllr Price were pressing for a solution to the flooding issues on Bridge Sollars
• Progress was being made regarding the footbridge over the Cagebrook. Longer footbridges were hopefully going to be in the next delivery
• The Stonewater Contract was now moving forward towards completion of the house building. It was hoped that 20 units would be ready by April 2025. Question raised on occupation before site completion?
• The shortage of Locality Stewards was now resolved and the Public Rights of Way Team should be “getting up to speed”.
• Herefordshire had been congratulated for being one of the first authorities to sign off their audited accounts
13. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included, plus the Clerk’s Appraisal, and to review HALC Training Opportunities plus look at possible speaker regarding youth opportunities and the 106 deliverables
Defibrillator at Innesfield
The Clerk would place the green defibrillator location signs in the notice boards
14. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 19th February 2025, from 7.30pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
Due to the confidential nature of the business of this agenda item, under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (3) it is proposed to put forward a motion to exclude members of the public during discussion of the following agenda item (15 only)
15. To discuss arrangements for the Clerk’s appraisal
The Public left the meeting for the discussion of Agenda number 15. The parish council would be arranging the Clerk’s appraisal. This would be reviewed in February as some councillors were not present.
The Meeting closed at 8.22 pm.