Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Clehonger Parish Council held on 21st February 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, J Gardiner, K Langdon, W Watkins, C Protherough, N Rider, A Davies and C Forbes
In attendance: Mrs A Wright (Clerk), Ward Cllr David Hitchiner and four 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, Cllr Whittal, welcomed everyone to the February meeting. There were no items raised during the Open Session.
2. To receive Apologies for Absence
There were apologies for absence received from the Tree Warden Alan Morgan.
3. To note Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest made.
4. To approve Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 17th January 2024
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 17th January 2024 were approved.
5. Finance and Policies
(5.1) Resolved: The following list of payments were approved:
Clerk paid in accordance with contract (January)
Expenses £22.26
Tax £279.60
PM Jones Builders (Christmas tree – erection and disposal) £204.00
Information Commissioner (ICO) £40.00
TGS Contractors (dog bin emptying x 5 dates Dec 23 – Feb 24) £600.00
Clehonger Village Hall (Hall hire x 3 meetings) £42.00
Resolved: The bank balance was noted at £43415.94 as at the 10/02/24 bank statement date total, with £224.45 of this total ring-fenced to the playing field.
5.2) To discuss appointment of internal auditor for 2024 – 2024
The Chair believed that she may have a suitable contact for the position of Internal Auditor. This would be confirmed or otherwise.
6.0 Playing Field
(6.1) Update on matters relating to the playing field
There was no further update.
7. Planning.
7.1) To consider response to Planning Applications, as notified, and then determined by Herefordshire Council
There were no new planning consultations for consideration of comments.
7.2) To hear an update from members(s) in regard to 106 funding
Survey information had been sent to Tracking the News. The survey would be coming out in March and going live. There would be another meeting with Helen Sutherland early in the week following the meeting to discuss distribution etc. The completed surveys were to be back by 25 March 2024. There would be a “drop in” on Saturday 16th March 2024at the Village Hall from 10.30 am TO 12.30 pm for those who wished to complete a copy at the hall or obtain any information etc. The survey would be advertised on the Clehonger Parish Forum also.
8. Clehonger Welcome Packs – to update following pack content review meeting
Sample packs were being circulated. The parish council would have their name on the pack. Time was needed to look at the pack, proof read it and then another meeting to finalise the contents. The pack would come back to the parish council in March. There was a suggestion about circulating a Clehonger Parish Information Pack in addition to the Welcome Pack. This could be discussed.
9. Parish roads and footpaths, trees and land
9.1) To note any defects to be reported to Balfour Beatty
The serious and “dire” condition of Birch Hill Road was again mentioned. Someone had fallen over on the uneven surface and been injured. The Ward Cllr advised everyone to report all accidents and injuries sustained. A councillor advised that the roads had been swept by the road sweeper within the past year.
The Pleasant Row white lining markings were still outstanding.
9.2) To consider any issues in relation to footpaths
There were issues with the bridge on path CH2 at Cagebrook where the path joins Eaton Bishop. The paths were passable but with difficulty.
9.3) To put forward work for the Lengthsman and update re bins etc.
There were issues with the bins overflowing, particularly in Croft Road. Would a bigger bin help or a weekly empty or an additional bin? No conclusion was decided. The grit bin outside number 33 Birch Hill Road had the lid open and needed standing up. Cllr Whittal would advise the Lengthsman about this.
9.4) To receive any update regarding trees
The Tree Warden had sent his apologies for absence. No new information about the local trees.
9.5) To consider any matters relating to speeding in the village and any updates on Speed Indicator Device and recommendations etc.
There had been a Working Party Meeting held on the 8th February 2024. Pat Nelder had undertaken some market research and had obtained some positive feedback on type (Elan City) of Speed Indicator Device. Information had been circulated. There were questions about solar units keeping the SID charged during depth of winter but the battery should cope if there were less than 500 activations per day. A link to a demonstration of the unit was available. It was recommended that the parish council proceed with the purchase subject to consultation on site selection. The parish council resolved to agree to proceed and the positioning of the unit would be the next step. The units were confirmed to be user programmable. Working Party to reconvene.
10. Information Sheet, Correspondence plus Ward Councillor Report
10.1) To note Information and Correspondence sheet:
Herefordshire Council:
Talk Community bulletins
Local Area Plan Consultation
Hereford Times Letter
A letter from a resident had been sent to the Hereford Times concerning a pond at Cagebrook House. The pond was determined to be on private land and not under parish council jurisdiction.
10.2) To receive any update from the Ward Cllr
Ward Cllr David Hitchiner was in attendance at the meeting. The Ward Cllr advised that the Stonewater Development had been paused for “reasons beyond Stonewaters control.” The Ward Cllr would be having a meeting about the situation to try to find out more information.
The ward Cllr spoke about some 106 funding (£178,000.00) for use on highway safety measures in conjunction with the primary school. There was a budget of £97,000.00 for sustainable transport measures, bus shelters and a proposal for there to be an access point into the playing field off Gosmore Road and opposite the school. There were also plans to have additional line painting to slow people down, installation of two new bus shelters. AECON were going to be used as contractor where possible instead of Balfour Beatty. The Ward Cllr asked the parish council to look at possible pavement requirements as there was some funding for pavement installation.
The Ward Cllr updated about the Balfour Beatty Living Places Annual Plan with their capital works allocation. There would be a new dipped kerb in Ruckhall and surface dressing of Church Road.
The Herefordshire Council budget had been approved following an amendment. This had been the setting aside of £2.5 million to cushion against possible “fails in other budget elements.”
The Southern Link Road (SLR) and Eastern River Crossing (ERIC) report had been commissioned. It was commented that there was support for an eastern bridge.
11. Matters to be raised on the Agenda of the next Meeting
All the usual matters would be included, plus litter pick.
12. Confirmation of date of next Parish Council Meeting
The next Meeting of the Parish Council would be held on Wednesday 20th March 2024, from 7.30pm, at the Clehonger Village Hall.
The Meeting closed at 8.48 pm.