Withington Group Parish Council
Meeting Held on Wednesday 11th March 2026
At 7.30pm in Withington Village Hall
M I N U T E S
Present: In the Chair: Paul Andrews (PA); Jonathan Beech (JB); Vicki Brown (VB): Howard Mansell (HM); Barclay Rogers (BR); Tom Nellist (TN); Kevin Powders (KP); Bob Rudd (BR); Sue Rudd (SR); Judith Howe (JH);
Also: Sophie Glover (Clerk), Ivan Powell (Ward Cllr); attended from 7.40 to 8.10pm No members of the public were in attendance.
The Meeting opened at 7.30pm
- 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.
No public present.
- To accept Apologies for absence –Ingrid Heatly (IH); Ralph Barber (RB); Steve Scotcher (SS);
Absent with out apologies: Hillary Holden (HH); Simon Dent (SD);
- To receive Declaration of Interests. None were received.
- i.Acceptance of minutes of the:-
January 2026 WGPC meeting minutes.
Proposed: SR Seconded: TN
They were duly accepted as a true record of the meeting.
ii.Action Points from previous meetings.
- Co-option of new Councillor – Noted.
- Meeting with Highways team regarding speed reductions – nothing yet from the speed control devices on Withies Rd. Markings are there for the placing of a new SID in Crosskeys are on the roads.
- Discussion on Withington having a summer fete- steering group will be put together and we will move from there.
- Open discussion/public forum
5.1 Report from Ward Councillor – Cllr Ivan Powell including responses to his action points:- circulated by the Ward Cllr.
From JH, the Westhide Cllrs sought for the development to be redirected and they asked for IP to come back to them. IP is meeting with the planning agent tomorrow to talk through this.
Action: Clerk to ask IP to report back to Westhide cllrs.
Sonas House – update regarding development at this site following residents enquiry. IP has given a report on his findings here. Another site visit has happened and the neighbour was not informed that this was the case. As an elderly gentleman he had expected a little more care. Mentioned further in IP’s report. S106 agreement is still outstanding.
Parking at Springfields/ Greenfields / TRO
Findings on IP’s investigation as to if there is S106 money left over for traffic calming or the placement of another SID. There is no further money for the WGPC to be used towards either of these schemes. Clerk to send IP the email trail regarding the sIDs in this scheme.
HM asked IP to find out how much the current road calming measures are costing.
Action: IP to find out this information.
Regarding Withington school: IP said that there are S106 monies left over that could help toward the work at the rear access. He recalled that the funding gap was £30k and IP has asked for this to be earmarked from the S106 remainder funds for this work.
Weight limiting signs at Radway Rd and Lumbar Lane: it was concluded that there is too much heavy traffic using this as a rat run. Highways have reported that heavy traffic is breaking down the road surface. A formal TRO is being sought to limit weight of traffic, PA asked how Herefordshire Council (HC) was going to enforce it. IP replied that HC is looking in to a mobile ANPR camera system to enforce things like safer schools.
The height restriction on the bridge, the recollection of the highways staff is that this was looked at by BB. They are looking back to see where this got to. TN reminded the meeting that the WGPC had asked for the height sign to be put back in Metric.
Two parishoners came to November’s meeting with concerns regarding a planning application at The Stallenge. With consultation, the planning has been passed but there are now fairly stringent conditions in place.
Footpath at Preston Wynne with access to the church: the land owner has been given reassurance that the gate will be stock proof, the land owner is still not happy for us to get the lengthsman to do the work. This project has now been ongoing for more than 3 years.
Budget: the current government has removed £17.3 million from the Council’s budget.
PA asked about the bypass – who will be paying for it and how much will it cost the local taxpayer in laymans terms? IP gave the answer that the full details can be viewed in the minutes of the full council budget setting meeting.
IP’s full report is attached to the end of these minutes.
5.2 Report from local police – update regularly through Neighbourhood Matters emails
Action clerk to chase for the details on the speed monitoring at Crosskeys.
Community speedwatch – Will be asked to come and give a talk.
5.3 Balfour Beatty/Locality steward – Information sheets come out weekly from the Locality Steward and cllrs can comment on them.
6 Planning 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:-
6.1Applications:
243165: Update on land & farm buildings at Townsend Farm, Westhide. Discussed at Ward Cllrs element of minutes.
260482– EIA Screening at Land South of Thinghill Court, Withington. Request for a Screening opinion for construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a ground mounted solar farm, and the provision of access and operational access tracks.
No comment required at this time. There is currently no planning application for this new design.
260238– Buzzards View, Shucknall Hill – Single storey rear extension etc
No comment required
260629 – The Haven, Lock Lane, Withington. Erection of a detached timber carport providing two covered parking bays and an integrated enclosed storage space.
Comments by 1st April, but currently not on the planning portal so it could not be discussed at the meeting tonight. Cllrs will feed any comments back to the clerk by the closing date.
6.2 Planning decisions made
None at this time
- Financial:
a.Balances
Parish Account @ 01.03.26: £44,282.17
WF Acct @ 01.03.26: £ 1,315.97
CCLA savings account @ 01.03.25.26: £16,034.72 Total: £61,632.86
b.To approve payments
Cheques to be paid
Parish Acct:- To be paid Totals
Clerks Salary February £ 876.66
Clerks backdated salary as agreed
@ Nov meeting £ 133.50
Clerks Expenses February £ 61.38
Purchase of zero waste bags £ 98.00 £1,169.54
HMRC PAYE Feb £ 85.99
Bank Charges (Jan) S/O £ 4.25
Lengthsman invoices
Invoice TGC3693 Roads Acct Jan £ 587.16
Invoice TGC3694 Roads acct drainage £ 720.00
Invoice TGC 3701 Clear fallen tree
from coppice £ 112.66
Invoice TGC 3738 Roads acct Feb £ 587.16
Invoice TGC 3739 Roads Acct Feb £ 292.40 £ 2,299.38
HALC subs £ 1,667.14
SLCC subs £ 200.00
DM Payroll services £ 338.40
Arrow plant hire (cherry picker for cctv) £ 305.52
BE Secure – CCTV upgrade £ 2,028.00
WVH meeting room 11.03.26 £ 20.00
H’fd council bins April to June £ 205.14
£ 8,323.36
c.Receipts:
Interest on savings acct Jan £ 53.00
Wessington Juniors Jan & Feb £ 83.32
Accessible play donation £ 4,040.97
S106 monies from H’fd Coucil £20,778.00 £24,955.29
Internal Transfer: Discussion on transferring some of the £12,467 from our CCLA depreciation fund to Parish Account to pay for the remedial work necessary on Withington Field.
All Cllrs approved.
Withington Field Acct:- Paid To be paid Totals
J Smith litter picker expenses
Pd by standing order Jan £108
Feb £108.00
Bank fees (Pd by S/o) Jan £ 4.25
Terry Griffiths inv 3691 H& S check Jan £ 48.00
Terry Griffiths inv 3740 H&S check Feb £ 48.00 £ 96.00
RJ & JR Barrell – Withington field hedges £ 230.40
Wicksteed playground inspection £ 306.00
Bank fees (Pd by S/o) Feb £ 4.25
£ 640.90
Total payments: £ 8,964.26
It was moved that all invoices should be paid.
Proposed:HM Seconded: TN All cllrs were in favour of making the payments.
- Withington Fields – Including – update on the toilets, football pitch and the copse.
The annual inspection : the Zip wire has been found to have one rotten leg. We have removed the seat so that it cant be used. Price for getting it replace is being sought. Cllrs were in agreement that the work had to be done asap to reinstate the play equipment.
The copse: agreed to 2 days work as per the agreement with AAT.
Action: clerk to task AAT to do the work.
New play equipt: £28,500 is the expected price . We are waiting for one more funding bid to come in but the WF working group are on top of this work.
Wessington Juniors: SG had a briefing with the Chair who said: they had had a groundsman come and assess the pitch. They were advised not to dig up all of the drains but to work with what they had. Thay are working with Scott from the HFA to apply for a FA grant for the remedial work. Currently they can use the 5 a side pitches. In September they will be applying for a maintenance grant for the ongoing upkeep of the pitch. He asked if Wessington Juniors could have a 5 year contract with the Parish Council as this will help them in their funding bids.
Proposed: To allow WJ to have a 5 year contract PA Seconded: HM All were in favour.
Action: clerk draw up a 5 year contract for both sides to sign.
- Working Parties
- a) on A4103/A465
Previously covered.
b) School access working group
Previously covered
c) traffic calming in Withington – including update on additional SID & placements
Previously covered.
d) Withington Field working group – to include discussion on possible additional ‘accessible for all’ items .
Previously covered.
e) NDP: update on current status of the WGPC NDP
Action: ask IP when the council will have their housing numbers finalised.
- Lengthsman Scheme – reminder of jobs outstanding and future jobs for the lengthsman.
The Chair reminded cllrs not to task the lengthsman to do jobs – they need to come through the clerk. Our funds are tight and there might be other ways to get a job funded.
Lengthsman contract needs to go out to tender. Advertise on line, socials, website etc.
Action: Clerk to draw down the lengthsman grant and apply for next years lengthsman and drainage grants.
Clerk to draw up retendering paperwork.
- Foot paths officers reports and identification of work to be done
PW: BR has done his FO course.
Preston Marsh: needs a pipe under the path. BR to look at the problem.
WH: SS wasn’t at the meeting.
W’ton: KP has sent the clerk a problem at WT31 needs attention, its on the Pilgrims Way and will be heavily used coming up to Easter.
KP told the meeting that none of the outstanding jobs have been done from Terrys list.
Action: Clerk to task the lengthsman to do this in a hurry ie before Easter and to push for completion of the outstanding jobs..
- Discussion and resolution of WGPC adopting the Herefordshire Parish Charted: as circulated to all cllrs in January.
Chair proposed accepting it: Seconded: HM
9 Cllrs were in favour
- items raised from the last meeting:
Community Speedwatch, work on Withies Rd and finishing white lines etc. Recycling pill packaging. Flagpole. All addressed.
- Approval of the Data Protection Policy: as circulated
Proposed: Chair Seconded: KP
All were in favour
- Discussion on Acceptance of the new digital and data compliance element of external audit.
Cllrs were told again of the need to adopt .gov email addresses. Clerk to circulate the info on how to do this and their passwords.
Action: clerk to circulate information
- SID: update and feed back from the last couple of months.
Action: Clerk to ask lengthsman to turn the SID round and to tell us when it is going to happen. Suggest that it is the last weekend of the month.
Bases to be put in in Crosskeys for a moveable SID in the coming weeks.
- Feedback on training or meetings attended. Clerks lunch with HALC, Chair’s HALC mtg, Parish Summit.
Clerk. Parishes who apply can have up to a total of £25,000 to cover the lengthsman, PROW and drainage grant issues.
- Items for Face book site and/or social media for WGPC. Community speedwatch. Lengthsman retendering.
- Receive items for the next agenda – (no discussion)
- Agree time, date and venue of next meeting. 13th May 2026 at Withington Village Hall
The meeting closed at 9.25pm
Signed: _________________________ Date: _________________
Dates for 2026 meetings:
| Venue | Date | Time |
| WVH – Annual meetings | May 13th | 7pm |
| PWVH | July 8th | 7.30pm |
| WVH | Sept 9th | 7.30pm |
| WVH | Nov 11th | 7.30pm |
Hagley Ward (WGPC) report March 2026
Withington Group Parish Council matters
Withington School
The parish clerk has e mailed and received a response from John Maddy the officer dealing regarding the tendering issues and likely timescale for completion. I have chased today 10th March 2026.
Due to the very close proximity of the flashing lights to the carriageway it has been deemed necessary to secure a road closure which takes three months.
I note the minutes of last meeting state:
‘’Items raised for the ward councillors attention: Traffic calming at the school: Very slow progress and is there any S106 money left to go towards these works?’’
My understanding of the ask regarding any remaining section 106 money was to address the funding gap with regard to the improvements to the rear access to the school not the traffic calming as this was already budgeted for.
There has been some positive progress on this in that the head of educational development has been in touch with the school bursar to develop the detailed plans needed to pursue the project with discussions moving forward on how to secure additional funds, this includes an ‘in principle’ decision to allocate £30K from the section 106 funding stream.
Advisory weight limit signs Nunnington
Again I need to clarify the position here.
The minutes of previous meeting have recorded:
‘Traffic restrictions at Radway Bridge: this is still under consultation with Herefordshire Council. Putting the height restrictions on the bridge in both metric and imperial has been a request for over a year’.
My understanding of this ask was for advisory weight restrictions on Radway Road and Lumber Lane given the data gathered confirming the amount of heavy traffic using these lanes as cut throughs. I have had a recent update from the highways officer on this element, it is progressing but I have asked for a clear date.
I have asked if the height restriction was a pre-existing issue and if so what the current position is.
SIDS funding
There was a suggestion there may have been alternative funding options via the police and crime commissioner but this is not in fact the case.
Planning
Sonas House
I have previously reported to the parish on the detailed work which has taken place between the council and the planning agent to progress against raised concerns and representations.
During those discussions the planning officer and his manager had responded to my questions with regard to the size and proximity of the data building to the Granary next door.
They explained that in their view whilst there would be an impact it would not be to a degree which would warrant refusal of the application. It was for this specific purpose that I suggested the site visit may be helpful.
The planning officer needed to await the completion of the section 106 agreement before being able to visit.
I recognise concerns have been raised regarding pre-visit contact by the parish, but they are operational matters it is not for me to direct an officer how a visit is to be conducted. I have ensured the department have noted the concerns which have been raised.
The householder has copied me in to correspondence he has sent to the ‘chief planning officer’ and I have ensured they have considered the contents.
I am advised there has not been any material change in the application.
I have also confirmed that I have pursued the redirection process as far as I am able and there would be no basis for making a further request.
Westhide
I recently met on site with parish council colleagues and am in receipt of the most recent representations from the parish council. I am due to meet with the planning officer and planning agents this week.
I have requested redirection to the planning committee on the basis of significant public interest, however it needs to be acknowledged I have done so at a point in time when further discussions are taking place between the applicant and his agent and the planning department.
The Stallenge
I have personally visited the residents regarding the application at The Stallenge and pursued matters with the planning officer and her manager. They were of the view that the conditions agreed with the applicant were adequate to deal with the representations made.
I was permitted to share the conditions with the residents but they had remaining concerns as a consequence of which I requested redirection, which was considered but not allowed.
Public rights of way
Footpath at Preston Wynne to access the church.
My understanding was a member of the public rights of way team had visited and had dealt with the concerns of Mr Maund, I have chased for an update by e mail in time for the parish meeting, but it may be I have misunderstood the impact of that officer visit?
County level matters
Budget
The budget settlement has been very challenging and reported publicly. The council saw removal of the rural services grant of circa £7 million last year and the three-year settlement via the fair funding review process sees a reduction in funding over the next three years of a further £17.3 million.
Within the fair funding process government made a number of assumptions, including that all councils would set the council tax precept at the maximum permitted 4.99% (2,99% plus 2% for adult social care).
The capital programme and revenue budget for 2026/27 were agreed at full council on 13th February 2026.
For those who wish to see further detail the link to the meeting papers is here:
https://councillors.herefordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=291&MId=9731&Ver=4
It may be of interest to the parish to note further investment of £1 million in the public rights of way scheme for the forthcoming year. There are other notable investments namely in phase one of the western bypass, school provision including alternative provision and temporary and emergency accommodation.
Council tax precept was set at full council on 6th March 2026 at 4.99% but given the government assumptions as reported in the above in effect it could be contended that the precept was set centrally rather than locally.
Local government review
I have provided a short power point presentation recently used by the Chief Executive to brief parish council members at the recent parish summit.
Ivan Powell – Ward Councillor