Withington Group Parish Council
Meeting Held on Thursday 16th March 2023
At 7.30pm in Withington Village Hall
M I N U T E S
Present: In the Chair: Kevin Hewison (KH); Jonathan Beech (JB); Ingrid Heatly (IH); Howard Mansell (HM); John Bennett (JB); Bob Rudd (BR); Sue Rudd (SR); Judith Howe (JH); Simon Dent (SD); Barclay Rogers (BR);
Also: Sophie Glover (Clerk), 3 members of public – One of whom left after the public open session.
The Meeting opened at 7.30pm
1. Public open session: 10 minutes was allowed from 7.30pm for members of the public to raise any issues that they would like the Parish Council to consider.
Two members of the public came to talk about the planning application in Westhide. They are trying to be considerate with cladding and with being aware of ‘dark skies’.
A further issue was raised about the drainage on the field, mowing the dog walking area (which is down to be cut three time each year).
2. To accept Apologies for absence – Tom Nellist (TN); Julie Williams (JW); Bob Wood (BW); Alison Bainbridge (AB); Paul Andrews (Ward Cllr);
Absent without apologies: Paul Hudd (PH);
Thanks given to Anna Green and Judith Howe for their hard work towards the preparation of work for the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday. Anna Green had resigned from the Parish Council (16.03.23), the Chair passed on his thanks for her work on behalf of the Westhide Parish. JBe will take over her role on the posting of social media on the WGPC’s behalf .
3. To receive Declaration of Interests.
None received
4. Acceptance of minutes of the:- PC meeting (Jan 2023)
Proposed: BR Seconded:SD All were in favour.
They were duly accepted as a true record of the meetings.
5. Action Points from previous meetings.
From previous meetings completed or on agenda apart from : Wall at the Mintons – PC to contact the enforcement officer to express their concern that the wall is still standing. The PC and many local residents believe that the current wall is the wrong sort of stone for this area. The PC asked When is the meeting with the Historic Society? Could a parish councillor be present?
Action: clerk to contact the enforcement officer to put these questions to him.
6. Open discussion/public forum
6.1 Report from Ward Councillor – Cllr Paul Andrews was not present. He was thanked for presenting a strong case against the solar farm at the planning committee.
6.2 Local police – no one was able to attend at this time.
6.3 Balfour Beatty – Reports come out weekly and cllrs can comment on them. We have a new locality steward.
7. Planning –
7.1 Applications: To consider comments on applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council as listed below or on the Herefordshire Council Planning website prior to the meeting:-
230509: 14 Vine Tree Close: Withington, Proposed demolition of single garage and erection of single storey side extension and front bay window.
Parish council to submit a comment of ‘no comment’.
230678: land to the west of Up The Road, Preston Wynne. Proposed change of use of agricultural building to one smaller dwelling house. Q class application.
No comment required from the Parish Council although more information on the design would be appreciated.
230493: Land west of Townsend Farmhouse, Westhide: Proposed residential conversion of Dutch barn with associated lean toos. Retention of adjoining barn for garage and demolition of the remaining adjoining agricultural buildings.
JH: As an agricultural conversion, this is permissible even though it is outside the settlement boundary. This permission does not undermine the NDP settlement boundary.
Moved to support it in principal, but the more detailed plans are needed before the PC can make a final decision.
Action: clerk to submit all of the above the comments.
7.2 Planning decisions made:
214619: land to the North West of Westhide: Passed at planning committee 10 votes to 3. JH said that Westhide Cllrs had really wanted the original plan to be reduced in size, they did achieve this. They also pushed for a number of conditions to be put in place that will hopefully address the construction of the sight and the impact that this will have on the local community.
P230685 – Land at Stone House, Lock Lane, Withington. Approval of details reserved by conditions.
7.3 Herefordshire Local Plan : No further information.
8. Financial:
a. Balances
Public Sector Deposit Fund (31.01.23) £ 16,246.10
Lloyds Parish Acct (09.03.23) £ 21,566.73
Lloyds Withington Field Acct (09.03.23) £ 2,382.60 £40,859.34
b. Cheques to be paid
Parish Acct:-
Clerks Salary £ 722.63
Clerks Expenses £ 33.49 £ 756.12
HALC and NALC subs and affiliation £ 1,229.78
Repayment of NDP grant to Groundwork £ 2,004.26
Terry Griffiths – Inv 2167 £ 480.00
£ 4,540.16
Internal Transfer: Moving VAT reclaimed
From parish to field acct £ 951.61
Withington Field Acct:-
Terry Griffiths Inv 2168 Feb H&S £ 48.00
Herefordshire Council bins (April to June) £ 180.96
Joe Smith litter picker expenses £ 82.50
£ 311.46
Total cheques: £4,851.62
Approval sought for payment upon receipt of invoice:
CF Roberts (work to the Pavilion.) Agreed by all.
It was moved that all cheques should be paid.
Proposed: JB Seconded:SR All cllrs were in favour of making the payments.
c. Receipts:
VAT reclaimed Parish Acct £951.61 WF acct : £2,382.60 Total reclaimed £3,334.21
d. Application for Financial Aid: None.
9. Elections: May’s Herefordshire Council elections are on 4th May, Parish Councillors will need to complete their own Parish Councillor election form. Declaration of Interest forms will also need to be completed. Both to be submitted to the Town Hall or returned to the Clerk before 4th April.
Thurs 30th March 7 to 8pm clerk will be at Village Hall to go through forms and help cllrs to fill them in or offer any assistance.
10 Withington Fields – in response to the question from a parishioner at the January meeting, the PC confirmed that :- The PC being owners of the field , the containers were installed under permitted development – for use of footballers using the field.
Town & Country Planning Order 1995 – General Permitted Development Schedule 2 part 12 Class A
– any small ancillary building on land belonging to ….( in this instance the PC)
– not exceeding 4 metres. in height or 200 cubic metres in capacity.
Confirmation was also given that the dog walking area is contracted to be mowed twice over the summer – should it need an extra cut, the clerk needs to be informed and she will comission this.ion:
11. Working parties:-
a- A4103/A465: KH is talking with the new group who have taken over s106 budget. This group can not progress until this group addresses the PCs issues.
Action: Nothing at this time.
b- traffic calming in Withington and school access. Is being looked at as a priority by Herefordshire Council.
12. Lengthsman Scheme – identification of jobs for the lengthsman. Permission to be sought to get him to clean out grips and gullies in Westhide. His quote had been circulated prior to the meeting. Work was approved by all present.
Action: Clerk to task the lengthsman to do the grips and gullies in Westhide.
13. Foot paths officers reports
PW: No defects reported.
WH: No defects reported.
W’ton: No new defects.
14. Tree Warden report – Ingrid Heatly the Tree Warden, had nothing to report apart from the Ward Cllrs tree has been planted at the Village Hall. The tree surgeon has been asked to spend a day in the Coppice at Withington Field to do or identify any safety work needed there – particularly on the ash trees.
15. Feedback on any training or meetings attended: None attended.
16. Update on defibrillators in Westhide Lengthsman going to dig the ditch from the church to the gate (quoted £400) and the electrician will put in the cable for the defib to go in the Lynch Gate (quoted £1,000).
Moved to go ahead: KH Seconded: BR all were in favour for the job to go ahead.
Action: JH to contact the workers and task them to undertake the project.
17. Items for Facebook Site and / or social media for WGPC AG was the link person for Social media, JBe to continue in this role. The lights being broken again in the pavilion.
18. Receive items for the next agenda (no discussion)
19. Agreed time and date of next meeting: 30th March at the village hall 7 – 8pm for assistance in filling in Parish Councillor forms and on 18th May 2023 starting with the Annual meeting at 7.00pm
The meeting closed at 8.50pm
Signed: _________________________ Date: _________________
Dates for 2023 meetings:
2023 dates
18th May 7.00 pm start
13th July 7.30 pm start
14th September 7.30 pm start
16th November 7.30 pm start