Withington Group Parish Council
Meeting Held on Wednesday 13th March 2024
At 7.30pm in Withington Village Hall
DRAFT M I N U T E S
Present: In the Chair: Kevin Hewison (KH); Jonathan Beech (JB); Paul Andrews (PA); Hilary Holden (HH); Kevin Powder (KP); Howard Mansell (HM);Bob Rudd (BR); Sue Rudd (SR); Judith Howe (JH); Ralph Barber (RB) ; Ingrid Heatly (IH) from 7.40pm;
Also: Sophie Glover (Clerk), Simon Dent – prospective councillor. 5 members of public and Russel Pryce, planning agent, who was present to speak about one of the planning items (240272).
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.
Parishoner mentioned the flooding problem at Withies Road. Clerk updated the room about a meeting that happened today with a representative from Herefordshire Council, where this was discussed. It is hoped that Hereford Council and Balfour Beatty will be actioning some work here as soon as possible to address these drainage problems. Another parishioner was interested in whether or not there might be a ramp access made to the side of the school – he was told that this would not be possible as there are no street lights there, the necessary speed calming measures needed to put a proper crossing in there would not be authorised with out additional lighting. The Chair outlined some of the speed reduction ideas that are being considered. He told the meeting that S106 monies are available, but they can not be used ‘off’ the road, and the ramp up to the side entrance of the school is considered to be ‘off the road’.
2. To accept Apologies for absence –Tom Nellist (TN); Barclay Rogers (BR); Julie Williams (JW); JW noted that this took her over the 6month rule for non attendance, and thus resigned from the WGPC.
Absent without apologies: Ivan Powell (Ward Cllr);
3. To receive Declaration of Interests.
JH: planning application at Old Vicarage and up keep of churches: KH up keep of churches; SR up keep of churches; RB; upkeep of churches
4. Co-option of Councillor
Following a properly advertised vacancy for the position of Parish Councillor in Preston Wynne, there had been no applicants. The WGPC were therefore advised that they could Co-opt a Councillor for the parish. Simon Dent was asked if he would become a Councillor for Preston Wynne.
Proposed: Susan Rudd Seconded: Bob Rudd All present were in favour.
Action: Simon to complete all paperwork and the clerk to submit it.
5. Discussion and resolution of proposed traffic calming measures outside Withington Primary School
The Chair explained that the S106 team were being very pro active in spending the monies allocated to projects. To this end we are working with them to look at installing flashing lights outside the school, which will operate for 30 minutes morning and evening. Also putting dragons teeth and roundels showing the speed limit of 30 mph on the roads around the school. This is the ‘historic’ area of Withington and the meeting was asked for approval to go forward with these plans.
It was questioned if the school had been asked what they thought, they have not, and this will be done in the very near future.
Proposed approval: KH Seconded: HM All present were in support of this plan.
Action: Clerk to inform HC of their agreement and ask HC to ask the school for their thoughts on the project.
6. Acceptance of minutes of the:-
January 2024 PC meeting minutes
Proposed: KH Seconded: PA All were in favour.
They were duly accepted as a true record of the meetings.
Action Points from previous meetings.
From previous meetings completed or on agenda apart from :
– Sandbags: Balfour Beatty are not giving sandbags any more. PA proposed that we might keep some in a shed here at the Village Hall for people to access in an emergency. SD offered to keep some for Preston Wynne. Westhide cllrs will identify a venue in Westside. PA will explore how much might cost the PC to provide this.
Action – Add to the next agenda.
7. Open discussion/public forum
7.1 Report from Ward Councillor – Cllr Ivan Powell was not present.
7.2 Local police – will be attending at a future meeting. Clerk to ask when they are next coming to Withington Village Hall.
7.3 Balfour Beatty – Information sheets come out weekly and cllrs can comment on them.
8. Planning –
8.1 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:-
230553 – 1 Old School Cottages, Withington – Erection of garden shed, pedestrian gate & fence (retrospective)
It was proposed to object on the same grounds as before. Moved by JH Seconded by KH agreed unanimously.
233390 – Old Vicarage, Westhide – reconsultation
Owner was present and spoke to the meeting, giving context to the length of time that they have lived in the village etc. They have taken on board earlier comments and feel that they have been sympathetic to all concerns that people have raised.
Our previous comment is not listed – clerk to chase up.
Comment: Support the application Proposed PA Seconded : KH all were in favour.
240103 – Eau Withington Court, Eau Withington – works comprising comprehensive reinstatement of house. WGPC gave their continued support.
240104 – Eau Withington Court, Eau Withington – Listed buildings approval – as above.
240272 – Land north of Whitestone Business Park – Outline application for multi-unit employment development with parking and drainage. SD expressed an interest and did not participate in the discussion.
Russell Pryce: outlined the application. It had been an application for ‘supported’ living accommodation, but there was found to be no demand for accommodation in that location. Current application is focussed on what the need currently is in Herefordshire. There is a TPO on all of the trees around the site. There should be 90 to 100 jobs available on the site once it is completed.
Ridge lines will be below the current height of the tree canopy.
Comments were made about the danger of the C1130 and the speeds of vehicles travelling along it. Concerns for pedestrians who might be accessing the potential work spaces.
Proposed comment: JB proposed being against the application JH Seconded.
Response to this outline planning: Due to the number of questions still raised. Connectivity between Withington and the estate and the PC wanted more information before it becomes a true planning application.
Action: clerk to submit all of the above the comments.
Enforcement have been asked about the Westhide development, it is thought that they have attended the site, but we do not know their findings despite numerous requests. Clerk to chase up what they are doing about the site.
8.2 Planning decisions made: None
8.3 Update on S106 monies (deferred to agenda item C below)
9. Working Parties
a) on A4103/A465 KH applied for a £9,500 grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner for SID’s and road calming. WGPC have been awarded £3,500 towards installing a Speed Indicator Device (SID).
SID cost is £2,340 but also needs a post to mount it on. The Chair thanked the Ward Cllr for assisting with getting this grant. KH continues to drive this forward as the final deadline for agreements is the end of March in order to access this funding.
b) traffic calming in Withington and school access
This was dealt with earlier. PA raised that Balfour Beatty had charged £8,000 for plans that they had designed incorrectly.
Action: Clerk to ask Andrew Houston’s team if we can get this money put back in our S106 pot.
c) Withington Field working group – KP told the meeting that following the playground inspection last autumn, two items of equipment were judged as dangerous, the slide and the maypole – these have now been taken out of service. The embankment is seriously dangerous and needs to be addressed. It was confirmed that we can not fund additional playing equipment from the S106 money. The working group had been working to a budget of £40k, this is now more realistically going to be approximately £20k which brings the whole project into a much smaller scope.
The clerk had applied for some ‘free’ trees under the Golden Orchard scheme through the Tree Warden network. WGPC were successful in getting 10 trees which the working group hopes to plant on one of the mounds in Withington Field – offering summer shade and shelter once the trees grow.
10. Withington Fields –Grass cutting contractor – following an open ‘tendering’ process, three companies submitted quotes to cut the grass on the Field. The working group proposed that the contract be awarded to Laurence Lloyd of Perfect Grounds, Marden.for the next three years.
Proposed HM Seconded: PA all were in favour.
Action: Clerk to notify Laurence and to get a contract signed with him. He will start in April 2024.
Bartestree Football club will be invoiced for the first 6 months of their use of the pitches.
£6,416.38 received from Withington Football Club, to be put in our savings account and to be used towards football over the next 10 years or to be spent on ‘sport’ after that. Thanks were given to the now closed Club for passing on their savings for future use in the village.
Action: Clerk to invoice Bartestree.
11. Financial:
a. Balances
Public Sector Deposit Fund (29.02.24) £ 20,161.94
Lloyds Parish Acct (06.03.24) £ 28,995.21
Lloyds Withington Field Acct (06.03.24) £ 3,043.26 £
b. Cheques to be paid
Parish Acct:- Already paid
Clerks Salary Feb £1,490.73* *This includes back dated pay increase
March £ 798.96
Clerks Expenses Feb £87.20
March £ 28.99 £ 827.95
Yellow Puffin (brown church sign) £ 108.00
Halc Subs £ 1,427.63
Hereford Council elections expenses £ 1,169.40
Terry Griffiths – Invoice TGC2483 £ 960.00
Invoice TGC2484 £ 720.00
Withington Village Hall Jan £ 40.00 £ 4,083.58
Internal Transfer: Withington Football club payment – electoral expenses
Equals payment from PA to CCLA acct: £ 5,246.98
Withington Field Acct:- Already paid
J Smith litter picker expenses Feb £ 82.50
March £ 67.50
Hereford Council – Bins April to July £ 190.06
Terry Griffiths inv 2377 £ 48.00
RJ and JR Barrell – hedge cutting £ 324.00
£ 629.56
Total cheques: £4,713.14
It was moved that all cheques should be paid.
Proposed:KH Seconded:JB All cllrs were in favour of making the payments.
c. Receipts:
Payment from Hereford Council for Lengthsman work £3,865
Interest on Saving Acct Jan £89.41 and Feb £89.80
Payment from Withington Football Club – to be moved to savings acct; £6,416.38
d. Application for Financial Aid: Holy Trinity Church, Preston Wynne £300
St Peters Church, Withington: £2,000
St Bartholomews, Westhide: £200
After a robust debate the WGPC raised the following question: In principal does the WGPC want to support the maintenance of Churchyards? 5 were in favour. 3 were against and 4 abstained.
Each request was then looked at Per parish: Councillors who had expressed an interest did not vote for their own parishes.
Preston Wynne: all were in favour of making a £300 payment.
Westhide: all were in favour of making a £200 payment.
Withington: 1 abstained, the rest were against the size of the grant. It was proposed that an alternative of £1,000 to be offered to St Peters. 6 were in favour of this with 5 against and one abstaining. Clerk to offer this amount to the Church.
All payment to be held until after the 1st of April, with the payment coming from the 24/25 budget.
12. Lengthsman Scheme – identification of jobs completed and future jobs for the lengthsman.
Work still to be done in Westhide to address the flooding issue and TG needs to give a date for when he will do the work.
Action: Clerk to ask the lengthsman when he will do the work.
13. Foot paths officers reports and identification of work to be done
PW: PA will chase up the lack of progress in getting the style changed to a gate on the footpath to the church.
WH: all clear,but a new footpaths officer needs to be identified.
W’ton:WT8 has a problem with overgrown path and collapsed style. Clerk to send on to lengthsman for him to look at.
WT9 fallen over fingerpost – again clerk to notify lengthsman.
14. Tree Warden report – Golden Orchards project have supplied trees for the WGPC to plant as mentioned earlier.
15. Any comments on correspondence received:
Anonymous letter was received by the Ward Cllr, Chair and Clerk, but as it is anonymous WGPC will take no further action.
16. Flooding on Bromyard Rd A465
Floods outside Freshfields, it is thought that the ditching is not adequate for what is happening.
Action: Clerk to report it to Balfour Beatty and copy in the Ward Cllr.
17. Feedback on any training or meetings attended:
None attended or fed back in the meeting.
18. Items for Facebook Site and / or social media for WGPC: Paul Andrews to take responsibility for this whilst Cllr Bennetts is on sabbatical.
From questions raised on social media: lots of comments about the number and severity of potholes.
Action: Clerk to ask HC if there is a road resurfacing plan for C1130 or Duke St.
19. Receive items for the next agenda (no discussion)
– Decision on purchasing recycling bags for medical tablets packaging
– Buses
– Power of Competence
20. Agreed time and date of next meeting: 8th May 2024 starting at 7.00pm as it is the Annual Meeting
The meeting closed at 9.30pm
Signed: _________________________ Date: _________________
Dates for 2024 meetings:
2024 dates
Annual Meeting 8th May 7.00 pm start
Amend date 10th July 7.30 pm start
11th September 7.30 pm start
13th November 7.30 pm start