20th October 2022 Minutes

VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Minutes of the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting held on
Thursday 20th October 2022 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall.

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), T Williams, E Williams, I Chadwick, G Deas and M Engel.
IN ATTENDANCE – PC Jeff Rouse, Ward Councillor Peter Jinman and Mrs L Cowles (Clerk).

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillors A Picton and G Franklin.
  2. RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – There were no declarations of interest or written requests for dispensation.
  3. ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 29th September 2022 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting and therefore no specific points were raised.
  5. REPORTS
    5.1 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Peter Jinman’s report included: –
    Councillor Jinman confirmed he has chased for information on both the turning circle at Vowchurch Common and the latest update on the speed review on the B4348 along with the Clerk.
    Budget – the budget is currently in draft form but cuts will need to be made. There is a £60 billion short fall nationally.
    Social Services/Child Care – You will have all seen the latest report. There needs to be a smarter way of working generally as social workers, doctors, dentists etc are hard to recruit.
    Warm Places – Herefordshire Council has launched an online directory of warm places ready for winter. If the Parish Council are aware of any local people needing help this winter, please let Councillor Jinman know, there is some help available.
    Fastershire’s Digital Household Grant – please encourage people to apply. It does not look like there will be roll out in hard form for some very rural properties. The grant would be the current best option.
    5.2 Local Police – PC Rouse reported that 19 sheep have been stolen from Newton St Margaret’s. Tools have been stolen in the Vowchurch and a parked vehicle was broken into overnight.
    The Police newsletter will now be issued bi-monthly.
    PCSO Peter Knight will be leaving the Golden Valley on secondment for at least six months. There will be a replacement in due course, after training.
    5.3 The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting. Councillor Deas reported that some road signs on the B4348 in Vowchurch were not visible because of overhanging branches. Clerk to report via Herefordshire Council website.
  6. CLERKS UPDATE – The Clerk currently has no update or information regarding the turning head for the refuse lorry at Vowchurch Common.
    No report has been received from the River Dore Citizen Science.
    There is a Local Plan workshop on 10th or 15th November, please let the Clerk know if you would like to attend.
    The Clerk advised that the Parish Council printer keeps showing an error code, if unable to fix it was agreed that a new printer can be purchased.
  7. CONSIDER PLANNING
    7.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION
    Site: Land Off B4247 south of New Dwelling, Stall House, Vowchurch. HR2 0QD
    Description: Proposed building to cover existing livestock gathering and sorting area to minimise/diffuse pollution.
    Application No: 222849 Grid Ref: 336925:235890
    NO OBJECTION
  8. FINANCE
    8.1 Confirmation of bank balance – £16,114.55 Statement Sheet No. 174 issued 17th September 2022.
    Receipts – None
    To include £5.00 bank charges 17th August 2022 – 16th September 2022.
    8.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for October Clerk’s hours and £2.59 thank you card – Payment agreed.
    8.3 Payment to HMRC of £83.00 for PAYE July – Sept 22 – Payment agreed.
    8.4 Finance Working Group – The latest finance reports were distributed to Councillors prior to the meeting. The Finance Working Group confirmed spreadsheets, invoices and PAYE had been checked and all were in order.
    8.5 2023/24 BUDGET – The Clerk and Councillor T Williams produced a draft budget for 2023/24 along with a projected budget for 2024/25 and 2025/26. This included a proposed 10% increase in the precept for 2023/24 and 5% in the following years. The 2023/24 budget was approved with no amendments.
  9. VOWCHURCH PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCY – The Clerk confirmed that there has been no request for an election and the Parish Council were now free to Co-opt a member to represent Vowchurch.
  10. B4348 SPEED REVIEW – The Clerk has been unable to contact the Senior Engineer at Herefordshire Council. Defer to November meeting.
  11. RURAL SETTLEMENT HIERARCHY – It was agreed to add a garage (Mechanical) in Vowchurch and Michealchurch Escley.
  12. NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER – Councillor vacancy and Fastershire grants.
  13. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – There was no additional correspondence other than already received by Councillors via email.
  14. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 17th November 2022 at 7.30pm at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall – Co-Option, B4348 speed review and Precept 2023/24.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.30pm.

Signed……………………………………………………………………
Dated…………………………………………………………………….

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