Draft 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 10th April 2025 at 7.30pm in Newton Church Room.

PRESENT – Councillors E May (Chair), I Chadwick, E Williams, A Picton, S Craddock, Graeme Deas, and J Andrews.
IN ATTENDANCE – Ward Councillor M Engel, Mrs L Cowles (Clerk) and PC Jeff Rouse.

  1. ACCEPT APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Councillors R Lloyd, A Mason and J Kernahan.
  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 – 20th February 2025 – The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record.
  4. OPEN DISCUSSION – No members of the public attended the meeting therefore no specific points were raised.
  5. VERGES – Further correspondence received from residents were noted. It was reaffirmed that the Parish Council would request Balfour Beatty cut all verges twice other than the U74202 which would be left for the one cut later in August. Suzanne Noble from Verging on Wild had indicated that whilst they have some plant ID skills and some volunteer time available, they are not ecologists and do not have the skills to conduct a study or evaluation.
  6. REPORTS
    6.1 Local Police – PC Rouse reported that a quad and other items had been stolen from a property in Michaelchurch Escley around 16th – 18th February. There have also been some recent burglaries in Longtown & Eywas Harold. PC Rouse also highlighted the benefits of marking your property with Smartwater. This is a unique, invisible liquid that glows under UV light allowing stolen property to be traced. It is available to purchase online. Alternatively, the police will come and mark your property for free but this does leave a visible marking.
    PC Rouse left the meeting.
    6.2 Ward Councillor – Ward Councillor Engel’s report included: –
    The Council is quiet at the moment.
    From Monday 7 April 2025, batteries and small items of waste electrical and electronic equipment will be collected by bin collection crews as they do their usual rounds.
    The music event in Walterstone will not be going ahead.
    Concerns regarding planning for a large estate in Weston under Penyard.
    6.3 Lengthsman report and any new road defects – The Lengthsman was unable to attend the meeting. A local resident has complained about the grit, gravel and silt which runs down C1206 through Vowchurch after heavy rain which eventually leaves dust on the road. The Clerk advised that she had previously spoken to the Environment Agency about this and they had contacted the landowner. Cleaning the road surface is not in the Lengthsman remit.
    Ward Councillor M Engel joined the meeting.
  7. CLERKS UPDATE – The Lengthsman scheme will continue in 2025/26 with the same funding as 2024/25 (the contract will be available to sign at the May meeting). Funding for PROW and drainage grant funding will also continue with details to follow.
    It was agreed not to sign up to the Civility and Respect pledge as this is mainly covered in the Code of Conduct.
  8. PLANNING
    8.1 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
    Site: Sweeps Cottage, The Common Road, Lower Maescoed, Herefordshire. HR2 0HP
    Description: Proposed conversion of garage to holiday let.
    Application No: 233274 Grid Ref: 334521:230808
    8.2 PLANNING RE-CONSULTATION
    Site: Sweeps Cottage, The Common Road, Lower Maescoed, Herefordshire. HR2 0HP
    Description: Proposed conversion of outbuilding to holiday let.
    Application No: 233275 Grid Ref: 334521:230808
    OBJECT – It was agreed to object to both planning applications 233274 and 233275. The plans submitted are inadequate with not enough information and detail. There is insufficient space to develop in the area, if the development did go ahead the Parish Council would like a restriction included that the Common land close by should not be used for additional parking. There should be no additional outside lighting.
    8.3 Confirmation of bank balance – £14,349.02 dated 31st March 2025.
    To include £12.00 bank charges
    Receipts – £2796.00 Lengthsman claim and £2966.09 VAT claim
    8.4 Consider payment to Mrs Linda Cowles for April 2025 Clerk’s hours and £13.99 gross memory stick. Note payment of March 2025 Clerk’s hours – Payment agreed.
    8.5 Consider payment to Mr T Griffiths invoice no. TGC3100 drainage grant funding February 2025 (1) of £1440.00 gross (VAT £240.00), invoice no. TGC3101 drainage grant funding February 2025 (2) of £4200.00 gross (VAT £700.00), invoice no. TGC3102 roads account February 2025 (3) of £559.20 gross (VAT £93.20), invoice no. TGC3106 grit bin servicing February 2025 (4) of £559.20 gross (VAT £93.20) invoice no. TGC3122 roads account February 2025 (5) of £559.20 gross (VAT £93.20), invoice no. TGC3141 roads account March 2025 (1) of £559.20 gross (VAT £93.20) and invoice no. TGC3151 roads account March 2025 (2) of £559.20 gross (VAT £93.20) – Payment agreed.
    8.6 Consider payment to WyeHost Ltd invoice no. 37335 annual renewal of web hosting of £90.00 gross (VAT £15.00) – Payment agreed.
    8.7 Consider payment to HMRC £261.20 PAYE and £29.66 Employee NI contributions for January 2025 – March 2025 – Payment agreed.
    8.8 Note payment to Information Commissioner Office – Data Protection fee of £52.00 – Payment agreed.
  9. INTERNAL AUDITOR – It was agreed to appoint Parish & Towns Audit Services to complete the 2024/25 internal audit at a cost of £150.00.
  10. LENGTHSMAN CONTRACT 2025/26 – The Clerk had received three tenders for the 2025/26 Lengthsman contract. It was agreed to continue with Terry Griffiths for the main contract and instruct Matthew Cobb to initially complete any PROW works. It was agreed to invite Matthew Cobb to attend the May meeting.
  11. NOTICEBOARD – It was agreed to accept the quotation of £550.00 to remove the existing noticeboard at Michaelchurch Escley, re-furbish and re-erect at Newton St Margaret. Councillor Picton would also liaise with the Sports Federation at Michaelchurch Escley regarding the position of the new noticeboard at the Cricket Pavilion.
  12. MAY 2025 MEETING DATE – It was agreed to move the May meeting date back to Thursday May 15th.
  13. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Escleyside hall is booked for the Annual Parish meeting on 23rd April from 7pm. Mark Lynas to give talk for approximately 45mins with a question-and-answer session. Councillor May will organise wine. The Clerk to organise tea/coffee and biscuits.
  14. RESILIENCE PLAN – It was agreed to amend the Resilience Plan to include provisions for flooding and update contact details.
  15. NEWSLETTER – Annual Parish meeting and Smartwater
  16. NOTE THE CORRESPONDENCE SHEET – There was no additional correspondence.
  17. RAISE MATTERS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL – 15th May 2025 in Vowchurch & Turnastone memorial Hall – Invite Matthew Cobb to meeting, Neighbour Development Plan Working Group, PROW meeting updates.

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 9pm.

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

After the meeting closed Councillor Graeme Deas and Councillor John Andrews tendered their resignations. The Chair accepted their resignations and thanked both for all their work with the Parish Council.
Councillor Deas will carry on in his role as Parish Footpaths Officer


Skip to content