Withington Group Parish Council
Meeting Held on Wednesday 4th September 2024
At 7.30pm in Withington Village Hall
M I N U T E S
Present: In the Chair: Kevin Hewison (KH); Jonathan Beech (JB); Tom Nellist (TN); Paul Andrews (PA); Howard Mansell (HM); Barclay Rogers (BR); Kevin Powders (KP); Ingrid Heatly (IH); Bob Rudd (BR); Sue Rudd (SR); Ralph Barber (RB); Judith Howe (JH); Steve Scotcher (SS)
Also: Sophie Glover (Clerk), Ivan Powell (Ward Cllr); 1 member of public
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.
No comments raised.
2. To accept Apologies for absence – Simon Dent (SD); Hillary Holden (HH);
3. To receive Declaration of Interests.
RB declared an interest in the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust payment in item 11. He stated that he would not vote to accept the payment at the appropriate time.
4. Acceptance of minutes of the:-
Extra ordinary May meeting
They were duly accepted as a true record of the meeting.
Proposed: KH Seconded: TN
July meeting minutes
Proposed: KH Seconded: RB
They were duly accepted as a true record of the meeting.
Action Points from previous meetings.
From previous meetings completed or on agenda apart from :
Sandbags 3 x builders bags of sand to be purchased by end September and placed in each parish. Also clerk to purchase small sand bags – 100 for each parish and to distribute these across all 3 parishes.
Decision on purchasing recycling bags for medical tablets packaging Bartestree PC were being consulted at their meeting on 05.09.24 to see if they were interested in this service being located at the St Michaels shop in Whitestone. PA suggested, that should they say that they were not interested, the WGPC could place the bin in Withington Village Hall – which was acceptable to the cllrs present.
Discussion/resolution as to numbers of Councillors to be appointed for each parish. Possible recruitment of cllr for Withington depending on outcome of previous discussion.
The meeting discussed the current break down of how many councillors are attached to each parish – as set out in the Articles of Association for the WGPC. The benefit of dropping a councillor would be that meetings are quorate with 6 cllrs at the moment, with one less they would be quorate with only 5. It was felt that the current numbers seem to work, and as a result we would be looking to recruit a new cllr for Withington. The clerk informed the meeting that no one has come forward to stand following the Herefordshire Council notification, so the WGPC will now be able to co-opt. The vacancy will continue to be advertised on notice boards, the WGPC website and on our Facebook page and in the Withington News. Any one interested in finding out more is to be given the clerks contact details and will be encouraged to attend the November meeting.
5. Open discussion/public forum
5.1 Report from Ward Councillor – Cllr Ivan Powell had chased the drainage on Withies Rd. He has found that it is scheduled for completion by the end of this financial year.
Old post officer, Westhide: still to be resolved. IP will liaise with RB and the lengthsman to move this on.
Strategic level for the county; have been put as a target of 27,000 new homes to be built in the next 20 years.
Action: IP to liaise with parties above to help to resolve the problem at The Old Post Office
5.2 Local police – have said that they hope to attend the November meeting.
5.3 Balfour Beatty – Information sheets come out weekly and cllrs can comment on them.
6. 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:-
193392 – Plot 1, Land adjoining 1 Meadow Cresc, Preston Wynne: Reserve matters on one detached dwelling
Resolved that the WGPC comment to be submitted is : no comment
194332 – Land at Sonas House, Nunnington – Reinstatement of former office and workshop building
Resolved that WGPC would submit the following comment:
WGPC stands by their comments from 2019, drawing the planners attention to the ecology report with their concerns about drainage, and the concerns raised about noise. Should the application be successful, we would ask for it to be taken to committee for further deliberation.
All Pay – licencing extension request Fortis et Fides, Whitestone.
Resolved that the WGPC would submit: No comment from the PC
TPO – Whitestone
Resolved that WGPC would submit: WGPC supports this TPO
Action: clerk to submit all of the above the comments.
IP to confirm that 194332 is put to the Planning Committee.
Planning decisions made:
240568 – Field North of A4103, Dents big field – steel frame building to store manure – Approved.
241501 – 17 Vine Tree Close. Replacement of conservatory with single story extension – Approved.
7. Working Parties
a) on A4103/A465
The Chair confirmed that the placing of the SID is underway. It is expected that the base will be put in this weekend by the lengthsman. He wanted mentioned that Joseph Grice from Herefordshire Council has been incredibly helpful and informative in finally getting this project underway.
b) School access working group
IH asked IP what was happening from the Council? IP will continue to chase, PA suggested talking to Simon Hobbs as this concerns school safety. Cllrs voiced concerns that there are now no markings at all outside the school, and as a minimum, the ‘slow’ and dragons teeth should be replaced as a matter of urgency.
Action: IP to take these concerns to Herefordshire Council tomorrow.
c) traffic calming in Withington
IP will talk to the director to find out what the hold up is.
Action: IP to take these concerns to Herefordshire Council tomorrow.
d) Withington Field working group –. Including installation of play equipment
The work has been completed. A further grant has been applied for to do more work, specifically to install some play items for children with disablilities. The toddler area gate needs to have a spring put on it.
Action: Clerk to remind lengthsman that he was scheduled to do this last month.
e) NDP – including update from recent meeting – notes have been circulated.
RB and JH have attended a NDP meeting. Their notes have been circulated.
The changes being consulted on nationally re NPFF will have an impact locally and may result in the Local Plan being completed changed from its present draft.
This further suggests the best course of action is to do nothing!
JH and RB feel that eventually Withington councillors will need to become involved but at present are happy to maintain a watching brief
8. Withington Fields – including update on the use of the football pitches, the refurbishment of fencing and work in the copse.
The clerk has put out request to Herefordshire Football Association asking if any club is looking for more pitch space, all cllrs were asked to keep their ears open to any local clubs who might be interested in using our facility.
The ‘conservation area’ between Vine Tree and the copse – the meeting clarified that this land is managed by the Vine Tree management committee, and PA had met with a local parishioner who is putting together a plan to undertake some ‘greening’ of these rather unloved spaces.
For the safety of parishioners, a warning about Ash tree die back and the fact that every one needs to be aware that whilst we get the Copse checked twice a year for tree safety, people need to know that currently Ash trees are very vulnerable to this disease and it can quickly kill the tops of Ash trees, making them liable to break off. This information is to go on our website and Face book page.
Action: KP, PA and clerk to look at the wording for this information before circulation.
9. Financial:
• Balances
Public Sector Deposit Fund (01.06.24) £ 14,929.56
Lloyds Parish Acct (31.07.24) £ 15,928.79
Lloyds Withington Field Acct (20.08.24) £ 6,153.00 £ 37,011.35
• Cheques to be paid
Parish Acct:- Already paid To be paid Totals
Clerks Salary Aug £798.96
Sept £ 798.96
Clerks Expenses Aug £87.48
Sept £ 45.79 £ 844.75
Terry Griffiths –
Invoice TGC2743 £283.80
Invoice TGC2789 £559.20
Invoice TGC 2773 £ 33.60
Invoice TGC2790 £284.40
Invoice TGC2792 £ 33.60
Invoice TGC2810 £ 33.90
Kompan inv 2155138 £29,813.18
PKF Littlejohn – Audit £ 252.00
Terry Griffiths
Invoice TGC 2828 £559.20
Invoice TGC 2836 £ 33.60
Invoice TGC 2837 £559.20 £1,152.00
Notice boards online * £ 579.60
H&G Canal trust – annual subs * £ 40.00
(Online payment to be made to H&G) £ 2,868.35
Internal Transfer:
HMRC Vat repayment from PA to WF; £186.94
Withington Field Acct:- Already paid
J Smith litter picker expenses Aug £ 90.00
Sept £ 90.00 Pd by standing order
Terry Griffiths inv 2871 £ 51.00
Terry Griffiths inv 2809 £ 50.88
Terry Griffiths inv 2835 £ 50.88
Perfect grounds inv WF04 £198
Perfect grounds inv WF05 £ 730.00
Yellow Puffin – signs * £ 420.00
£ 1,200.88
Total cheques: £ 2,253.24
Starred expenditure was approved , and then it was moved that all cheques should be paid.
Proposed: SR Seconded:PA All cllrs were in favour of making the payments.
• Receipts:
Interest on Saving Acct July: £ 110.37
To parish Acct from HCC S106 payment £14,500
To Parish Acct from CCLA £11,000
Vat reclaimed from HMRC £ 9,259.19
WF acct from Bartestree FC £ 234
• Application for Financial Aid: None
• Questions arising from Finance Working group meeting in Aug.
None arising.
12. Lengthsman Scheme – reminder of jobs outstanding and future jobs for the lengthsman.
– 3 x issues on Withington paths, new gate for Preston Wynne’s path to the church, work to be completed at The Old Post Office.
Vine Tree Cottage: this hedge is still too high and it is still encroaching onto the public highway.
IP talked to the locality steward who has cut some of the hedge, it is the PC’s view that significantly more needs to be removed.
Action: IP to talk to the Council about doing this.
13. Foot paths officers reports and identification of work to be done
PW: BR to talk to lengthsman about work to be done under the drainage grant.
WH: all clear.Lengthsman to talk to RB about work to do under the drainage grant.
W’ton: 3 items already reported, no action taken on them in last 4 months.
14. Tree Warden report – nothing to report
15. Events for Remembrance Day – has been held in Withington one year and in Lugwardine the next year, always on the Sunday. This year, Lugwardine is holding their ceremony on the Sunday, so the PC were asked if they wanted an event in Withington on the previous Saturday. It was suggested instead, to hold it on the Monday (11th) instead to have a little more meaning.
Action: KH to discuss with Vicar about having the date on the 11th
16. Listing Parish Assets– PA explained to the meeting what Parish Online could do about mapping who owns what bin.
Resolved: not to take this further.
17. Any comments on correspondence received:
Email from parishioner about nature area behind Vine Tree – already mentioned, she is coming back to the next meeting with an outline of her plans.
18. Feedback on any training or meetings attended: PA to attend the HALC annual meeting along with the clerk and HM to confirm if he can also attend.
19. Items for Facebook Site and / or social media for WGPC
Ash die back in the Copse, new signage is coming to Withington field, please can people note that dogs are not allowed onto the playing fields or childrens play area – this is a health and safety matter, please don’t let your kids have to play amongst dog mess, there is a allocated dog walking area at the top of the field. A new notice board will shortly be put at the entrance to the field, showing where dogs are allowed as well as showing the footpaths in the parish.
20. Receive items for the next agenda (no discussion)
21. Agreed time and date of next meeting: 13th November 2024 starting at 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 8.50pm
Signed: _________________________ Date: _________________
Dates for 2024 / 2025 meetings:
2024 dates 13th November 7.30 pm start
2025 8th January 7.30 pm start
12th March 7.30 pm start
Annual meeting 14th May 7.00 pm start
9th July 7.30 pm start
10th September 7.30 pm start
12th November 7.30 pm start