Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 14th January 2026 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), C Forbes, J Gardiner, W Watkins and C Protherough
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk) and five members of the public
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 January Meeting and wished everyone a happy new year. Elaine Horton MBE, Chair of Clehonger Action Network (CAN) gave a vote of thanks to the parish council for their donation towards the prescription dispensing machine for Kingstone Surgery. The target for funding had been achieved and the dispensing machine had been ordered.
Elaine also confirmed the agreed date for the CAN Summer Fete, on the playing field, on 28th June 2026. This date had been previously agreed by the parish council.
The 2026 Christmas Tree Lighting Event, on the playing field, would take place on Friday 4th December 2026. The parish council agreed that they would sponsor the purchase and erection of the tree, for 2026, if no other alternative sponsorship could be obtained (CAN indicated that they would be seeking sponsorship).
A resident highlighted the item 9 from the Agenda in regard to the parish roads. The state of Birch Hill Road was described as “appalling”. The road required work to the drainage and resurfacing. It was commented that other parishes had had work done on their roads. The B4348 road between Kingstone and Clehonger was breaking up and the B4349 was also deteriorating in other places, including the part coming towards the A465. Faults were being reported via Herefordshire Council and the “Fix my street” application. The Balfour Beatty Contract would be coming to an end in May 2026. Cllr Protherough had also logged the condition of Birch Hill, where potholes were rendering the surface of the road into a very bad condition. The case for Birch Hill had been logged with Balfour Beatty under Log Number 785734164. Information about the road issues would be communicated to the Ward Councillor, David Hitchiner, also.
The Chair of the Clehonger Village Hall Committee advised those present that the heating controls for the village hall heating system had been changed and invited feedback, as required. He also advised that a public meeting would be held to launch the new “Neighbourhood Hall” with a new model constitution. The Chair advised that the hall had obtained a grant of £300.00, for the Tots Group, from the Small Sparks Fund and UK shared prosperity fund.
Cllr Watkins asked if a copy of the Clehonger Parish Council Meeting Agenda could be supplied to the Seven Stars Public House for display, on the premises, to publicise the meetings. The Clerk would take a paper copy to the Seven Stars with effect from the next meeting.
1. Co-option of parish councillor
There were no candidates for co-option at the January Meeting.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were apologies for absence received from Cllrs J Whittal, K Langdon and N Rider
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest this time.
4. To approve Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 19th November 2025 and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting held on the 17th December 2025
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 19th November 2025 were approved and signed. The Minutes of the Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting held on the 17th December 2025 were approved and signed.
5ayley
. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (January)
Expenses £44.84
HMRC Tax and Ers National Insurance due £41.49
Zemmat Holdings Ltd (bins November) £537.05
Clehonger Village Hall (hall hire) £20.00
J & D Sanders (Lengthsman and fence repairs) £633.60
Mrs F White (playing field annual inspection 2025) £62.50
Country Park Supporters (Donation) £200.00
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £35482.61 total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field.
5.2) To consider the Herefordshire Charter for Councils 2025 (circulated)
The Charter was considered and the parish council resolved to adopt the principles contained in the Herefordshire Charter for Councils 2025. The Clerk would advise Herefordshire Council of this decision.
5.3) To consider request for support from the Country Park Supporters (with the upkeep of the Belmont Country Park)
The parish council agreed to support the Country Park, as in previous years, and awarded a donation of £200.00
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field and any actions
The annual playing field inspection had been carried out and the report circulated. Further vandal damage to the fencing had been repaired by the Lengthsman.
(6.2) To consider any further information concerning the 106 and the new fencing
The new playing field fencing project was progressing with the preferred contractor, Big Fish Landscapes.
(6.3) To consider possible suggestions for additional playing field “wish list” items to be put forward for progression
Some suggestions included marking up the football pitch, possible fencing around the junior equipment zone and outdoor table tennis table(s) plus more benches and tables. Also mentioned were larger tree specimens for planting and shade, and the possibility of water and electricity supplies. Activities for older youth 12 – 17 years were needed and possible groups to be considered. Training, DBS checking, accommodation and helpers were all considerations.
(6.4) To follow up on bench welding repairs and reinforcement
No update on the welding and repairs as at the meeting date. Cllr Davies would try to progress the repairs etc. and would let Cllr Rider know about this. The bulbs had been planted and the council were looking forward to seeing where they would “pop up”.
7. Planning
No new applications for consideration of comments.
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs
Welcome Packs were being updated by Cllr Watkins and a three more packs had been distributed by Cllr Whittal.
There was note made that the Tracking the News Publication may be going to digital copy? The question was asked regarding paper copies for those not on the internet and access issues?
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty/Lengthsman
Ongoing works for Lengthsman, as identified. Defects were being reported. Hedges were reported as being overgrown on Birch Hill Road, just past the corner, coming from Gosmore Road and also multiple hedges in Poplar Road. Parking opposite Harpacre was still causing blockages near the pedestrian crossing space. There were concerns for overflow parking once the 90 houses in the new development became occupied. It was agreed that the suggestion of traffic regulation of the parking (yellow lines) on the main road etc., near the new development, would be raised with the Ward Councillor.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths
Training was on the horizon for footpath officers and the information had been circulated.
9.3) To receive any update regarding trees
Cllr Watkins, the Tree Warden, noted that the Lousy Oak at Belmont was still as it had been. Was any action required? The Tree Warden noted that the apple trees on the playing field required trimming.
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 grant funding availability for 2026 – 2027 was to be advised.
11. Community Speed Watch
11.1) To hear any updates and determine actions
Mr Nelder circulated an up to date data report from the Speed Indicator Device. The parish council agreed that Mr Nelder would progress the purchase of the second Speed Indicator Device (SID) for the village. The parish council would fund the purchase of the second SID, posts and the installation cost and claim back the elements of the cost from Herefordshire Council that had been agreed with Greg Speller of the HC 106 Team and Mr Nelder.
12. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
12.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
CEO of Herefordshire Council
Reporting that the Childrens Social Care Department had received a “good” Ofsted rating, following a recent inspection
Balfour Beatty
Lara Edwards, the Locality Steward, has circulated her reports.
Members Monthly Update received
Street works updates
E mail: lara.edwards@balfourbeatty.com
A new contract provider replacing Balfour Beatty for Public Realm Services, from June 2026, would be published.
West Mercia Police
Newsletter circulated when received.
Church Road – fly tip
A quilt and an anorak had been fly-tipped by the notice board opposite the church in Church Road. The Clerk had asked for this to be cleared.
12.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was not in attendance at the meeting. There were clashes of meetings, with other councils, and getting to the meeting may prove difficult. The council to discuss a toggling arrangement between appointments (Agenda February)
12.3) To review and discuss e mail circulation and copying in of colleagues
The Clerk reminded colleagues to exercise care when replying to emails in regard to the “reply all” option as colleagues outside of the parish council, such as the police and the Locality Steward, may not need to see the responses. Also, if the whole parish council were being consulted on a matter, please copy in the other colleagues to your opinion and decision replies (unless personal and confidential circulation is required).
13. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included, and the Ward Councillor meeting availability, Litter Pick for spring, looking at regular expenses, precept and budget (set up a working party)
14. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 18th February 2026, from 7.00pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
Future Dates for 2026 Clehonger Parish Council Meetings:
7.00 pm in the Clehonger Village Hall on:
March 18th
April 15th
May 20th
June 17th
July 15th
No meeting in August
September 16th
October 21st
November 18th
No meeting in December
The Meeting closed at 8.01 pm.