VOWCHURCH & DISTRICT GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Michaelchurch Escley, Newton, St Margarets, Turnastone, Vowchurch.
Minutes of the Vowchurch & District Group Parish Council meeting held on
Thursday 29th September 2022 at 7.30pm in Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall.
PRESENT – Councillors T Williams, E Williams, I Chadwick, A Picton, G Deas, D Cross, R Lloyd and M Engel.
IN ATTENDANCE – Mrs L Cowles (Clerk) and Mr T Griffiths (Lengthsman).
In the absence of the Chair; Vice-Chair, Councillor T Williams chaired the meeting.
- ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillors E May and G Franklin, Ward Councillor Peter Jinman and the local police.
- RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & CONSIDER ANY WRITTEN APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATION – Councillor G Deas declared a non-disclosable interest in agenda item 10; the declaration book was signed accordingly. There were no written requests for dispensation.
- ADOPT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 21st July 2022 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
- OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting therefore no specific points were raised.
- REPORTS
5.1 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Peter Jinman was unable to attend the meeting.
5.2 Local Police – The local police were unable to attend the meeting.
5.3 Lengthsman report – The Lengthsman currently visits the area one day per month during the summer and will be visiting two days per month from October. The four specific routes have been inspected with at risk areas being targeted. There have been some verges/grips crushed in recent weeks in the Newton area. Mr Griffiths reported problems of work not being carried out by Balfour Beatty as requested and he has had no recent contact with the Locality Steward or Balfour Beatty. All future defects will be reported directly to the Parish Council. Works on the grant funded drainage projects will begin with job number VGPC 001 followed by VGPC007 and then VGPC006. For VGPC006 works to be effective the landowner at Turnastone will need to be contacted to clear the ditch on their land. It was agreed that Councillor Lloyd would contact the relevant landowner.
5.4 Footpath Officers – Councillor G Deas had attended at Footpath Officer’s meeting on 28th September and reported that the meeting was rather disappointing. The general opinion amongst attendees was that there is a lack of support from the Public Rights of Way team. This has been taken ‘inhouse’ to Herefordshire Council for 6 months now and plans have still not been finalised. An information pack will be sent from the PROW team although this has not arrived as yet.
Councillor Deas has now walked all the footpaths in the Vowchurch/Turnastone area and there is currently only one footpath which is impassable. - CLERKS UPDATE – The Clerk advised that there has been no request for an election, so the Parish Council can now go ahead and co-opt to fill the Councillor vacancy in Vowchurch.
The response to the village safety initiative in May has been overwhelming and Herefordshire Council are still trying to process all the information. Early indications suggest that they are not able to consider most of the suggestions, but due to the volume, will go back to the Board and seek further funding to see, if possible, to address the concerns.
The new sign has now been installed at Crow Wood and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust thanked the Parish Council for their donation.
The driveway at Castle Ibo Farm has been completed and the Enforcement Officer has now closed the case.
Section 106 portfolio of Works presentation on 12th October & 18th October.
Correspondence has been received regarding the track near Vowchurch, the Clerk has advised that this has been looked at by the Planning Enforcement Officer already. Further correspondence has been received from new residents in the area who are keen to contribute and offered any support to the Parish Council, the Clerk has welcomed them to the area and thanked them for their kind offer.
The new bank signatories have now been approved.
A reminder that the budget and precept will need to be agreed at the November meeting at the latest. - CONSIDER PLANNING
7.1 PLANNING CONSULTATION
Site: Muddyplox, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QN
Description: Proposed discharge of Section 106 Agreement attached to planning permission SH95/1079PF
Application No: 222594 Grid Ref: 334863:233244
NO COMMENTS
7.2 PLANNING CONSULTATION
Site: Little Edwards Barn, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QG
Description: Proposed construction of new sun room.
Application No: 222845 Grid Ref: 333011:234729
NO OBJECTIONS
7.3 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS PER EMAIL SENT TO COUNCILLORS
Site: Turnastone Court Farm, Education Centre & Lodge, Vowchurch. HR2 0RA.
Description: Retrospective application for variations from approved plans on applications P160151/F and P160152/L and for an Air Source Heat Pump.
Application No: 221768 Grid Ref: 335866:236425
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS SENT TO PLANNING OFFICER
7.4 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
Site: Turnastone Court, Vowchurch, Herefordshire. HR2 0RA
Description: Removal of a condition 10 following of planning permission102245/F (Conversion of traditional farm buildings to educational facilities with retails space & administrative office, short-term letting accommodation, replacement farm dwelling, part change of use to B1, farm storage and new access drive) Remove so The Granary (Building A) has unencumbered C3 use.
Application No: 222172 Grid Ref: 335846:236462
7.5 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
Site: Land at Cothill, Cothill Farm Road, Vowchurch. HR2 0RE
Description: Proposed change of use of land from agricultural use to seasonal glamping site comprising one bell tent and one vintage caravan with associated works.
Application No: 220693 Grid Ref: 334480:236120
7.6 PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED
Site: Upper Llanrosser, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire. HR2 0PU
Description: Proposed change of use of two traditional barns to holiday accommodation and associated works including removal of modern lean-to extension, new access and foul drainage.
Application No: 221741 Grid Ref: 328656:238085
7.7 LISTED BUILDING CONSENT
Site: Middle House Farm, Michaelchurch Escley, Hereford HR2 0PT
Description: Remediation works to include partial underpinning to support stone walls of the Grade 2 listed barn following a leak from an oil transfer line.
Application No: 220269 Grid Ref: 330061:235933
7.8 PLANNING PERMISSION REFUSED
Site: Park Haven, Rock Road, Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. HR2 0QW
Description: First floor extension on the west facing elevation to accommodate 1 bedroom and raised decking area.
Application No: 220254 Grid Ref: 335528:233820 - FINANCE
8.1 Confirmation of updated bank balance – £16,114.55 Statement Sheet No. 174 issued 17th September 2022.
Receipts – 2nd Precept payment £7124.32
To include £5.00 bank charges 17th June 2022 to 16th July 2022 and £5.00 bank charges 17th July 2022 to 16th August 2022.
8.2 Payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for September Clerk’s hours and £1.45 postage – Payment agreed.
8.3 Payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC1969 roads account May 2022 (1) additional payment of £100.00 plus VAT, invoice no. TGC 1967 roads account July 2022 (1) of £400.00 plus VAT, invoice no. TGC2013 roads account August 2022 (1) of £400.00 plus VAT and invoice no. TGC2014 roads account September 2022 (1) of £400.00 plus VAT – Payment agreed. - CENTRAL EXTERNAL AUDITOR APPOINTMENT ARRANGEMENTS – It was agreed to continue as part of the SAAA sector led auditor appointment regime and to remain part of the central scheme.
- VOWCHURCH COMMON RECYCLING & GENERAL RUBBISH COLLECTION – Balfour Beatty have provided an initial estimated cost of £8000 to install a turning head on Vowchurch Common for the refuse truck. After further correspondence with the Senior Engineer at Herefordshire Council it was agreed that a smaller turning area was adequate for the size of vehicles currently used. The Clerk therefore requested a quote from Golden Valley Construction who have estimated a cost of £3970 plus VAT. It was noted that the precept would need to be increased by up to 50% to fund this project. The Senior Engineer had also raised the question as to why the Parish Council and not Highways and Waste Management were funding this? It was agreed that whilst cost is an issue, the Parish Council would be setting a precedent for any future funding requests. It was agreed to ask Ward Councillor Peter Jinman to take this up with the Service Director for Transport and Highways and the Clerk would write to the Waste & Recycling Officer to advise that the Parish Council would not be funding this project and suggest looking at an alternative location which had been previously discussed.
- GLENDORE LISTED SIGNS AND PETROL PUMPS – The Historic Environment Records Officer has advised that Herefordshire Council have spoken with the estate agents and made them fully aware that the signs form part of the listed building and must be reinstated. They have spoken with the vendors who have confirmed the signs have been removed and placed in storage whilst the property is empty and for sale and will be rehung on completion of the sale. The estate agent must also ensure any prospective buyer is aware of this fact. They have also been advised that the glass domes on the petrol pumps have been smashed in an act of vandalism. The owner and estate agent have been reminded that these will need to be repaired like for like as they also form part of the listed building.
- COUNTRYSIDE RESTORATION TRUST – The letter from the Countryside Restoration Trust regarding their formal education programme was noted. It was agreed to monitor the situation and see if any of the events take place.
- THE RIVER DORE CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT – Correspondence from The River Dore Citizen Science Project was noted. It was agreed that river pollution is a problem and was also monitored by the Environment Agency. It was agreed that the Clerk will contact the project to ask which water courses in the area are seriously affected and to request a copy of their latest report.
- NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – The correspondence sheet was noted.
- RAISE MATTERS FOR THE NEXT ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – Thursday 20th October 2022 at 7.30pm at Vowchurch & Turnastone Memorial Hall – Speed limit on B4348 and Co-Option.
The Vice Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.20pm.
Signed……………………………………………………………………..
Dated………………………………………………………………………