Meeting of Brockhampton Group Parish Council at 7:30PM on Wednesday 20th September 2023 at Bromyard & Winslow Town Council Offices, HR7 4DU
Minutes 09/2023
Present: Clive Brazier (Chair), Peter Lane, Viv Burdon, Karen Rock, Gwen Dumpleton, Pete Stoddart (Parish and Ward Councillor)
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Clerk)
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Clive Brazier opened the meeting and welcomed residents.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were noted from Nigel Shaw.
3. Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest
3.1. Register of Interests: Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare interests and to update their register of interests as required.
Noted.
3.2. Disclosable Pecuniary Interests: To declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in items on the agenda and their nature.
Nil declared.
3.3. Other Disclosable Interests: To declare any Other Disclosable Interests in items on the agenda and their nature.
Nil declared.
3.4. Dispensations: To consider any written dispensations from members who have declared an interest but wish to stay in the meeting during that time to aid discussion / speak / vote.
Nil received.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
4.1. Ward Councillor
Pete Stoddart provided a report as follows:
With the return of the school run, I trust that everyone has enjoyed a Summer break. The forecast for September looks promising and we can hopefully make the most of the late summer sun.
Update from Herefordshire Council
Work continues in regard to the location of the library into the Shirehall. A full Business Case which has included engagement with a wide stakeholder base has been produced and will be debated by the Cabinet on 28th September with a motion to Full Council on 13 October.
The £2.5M pothole funds will be used by Balfour Beatty to prepare a number of rural U and C roads read for surface dressing early next year.
The Cabinet has reviewed the Capital Programme which will be formally approved by Cabinet on 28th September and then put forward for approval by Full Council on 13 October.
The decision by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities regarding building 100,000 new homes on 29 August and its impact on the River Wye Phosphate issue is currently being assessed by Herefordshire Council Officers.
Following a decision by the Home Office 70 asylum seekers are currently housed in the Talbot Hotel in Leominster.
The Herefordshire Council Transport Officer following a meeting with Bus operating companies has informed me that pending final financial approval a new 420 route from Bromyard to Worcester, via Whitbourne will operate on Monday to Saturday. This will provide an hourly service and will be implemented before Christmas. At the same time a Department for Transport National Bus Fare Cap will be in force from 1 November capping all fares at £2.50 one way and £5.00 return.
The most important task that I have as the Ward Member is to assist the residents of Bromyard Bringsty Ward with their Herefordshire Council issues and concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have a Herefordshire Council related issue.
Specifically in regards to the four Parish Councils across the ward I have the following updates:
Bromyard and Winslow Town Council
Herefordshire’s Council Transportation Officer has provided me with a positive response to our suggestion for the provision of a regular daily local service from Bromyard to the Hope Centre. This will provide an hourly service between 9 and 3 Monday to Saturday together with links to the wider bus network via the bus stops at Pump Street and the A44 Bypass. Confirmation of this service is expected in early October.
Bromyard will be the host of the Herefordshire Armed Forces Day 2024. I attended the initial planning meeting on Monday 11th September which included a number of exciting and impressive events to enable us to show our appreciation of the Armed Forces.
I have submitted a request to Balfour Beatty requesting that the double yellow lines which were part of the Rowberry Street/B4203 junction alteration be implemented. This will address the visibility issue caused by the parking of vehicles on the pavement.
Whitbourne Parish Council
Following the decision to reinstate the 420 service from Bromyard to Worcester via Whitbourne no further work with Worcestershire Council in regards to extending the 423 bus to Whitbourne will be carried out.
North Bromyard Group of Parishes. The long-awaited installation of the three vehicle activated safety signs at the High Cross junction has been completed. The commissioning of the three signs, however, had to be cancelled as the engineer was sick. Balfour Beatty expect to have these signs operational by the end of September.
Brockhampton Group of Parish Councils
I will be meeting with Herefordshire Council’s Head of Planning this month to seek his assistance in resolving a number of planning issues that local residents have brought to my attention.
Welsh Water have not yet removed the old tarmac which was discarded on the grass verge by the resurfacing of the footpath next to Brockhampton School, I have reminded them that this is outstanding.
4.2. Bromyard Downs Common Association
A brief update was received.
4.3. Bringsty Common Manorial Court
A brief update was received.
4.4. Footpaths Officer
Gwen Dumpleton provided an update as follows:
• Definitive Rights of Way plans had been provided by Herefordshire Council.
• A ‘Bromyard Walkers are Welcome’ group was being developed to encourage walking in the area.
• Literature detailing local walks was being updated and is available in local bookshops.
• A page on the Parish Council’s website would be dedicated to Public Rights of Ways.
4.5. Hereford Green Network
It was RESOLVED to query the lack of recent updates with the HGN.
4.6. Public participation
No questions were received.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
5. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 19th July 2023
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
6. Progress reports
6.1. Election paperwork
Members were reminded to complete any outstanding election paperwork.
6.2. Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there was one vacancy on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.
6.3. Speed Indicating Device
It was noted that the Speed Indicating Device had been delivered, the Clerk had added it to the asset register and informed the Parish Council’s insurers accordingly.
6.4. Smart Water additional kits
It was noted that the additional SmartWater kits had been delivered and the group parish was now at 100% coverage. Thanks were extended to Pete Stoddart for his hard work delivering the kits.
It was RESOLVED to sell the remaining 9 kits at cost on a first come, first served basis.
It was RESOLVED to accept the Police’s offer of updated signs.
6.5. Bringsty Common additional sign
It was noted that Balfour Beatty were looking to provide an additional sign to identify Bringsty Common.
6.6. Community bus services
An update had been received under item 4.1.
6.7. Memorial to Dr David Boddington
It was noted that further enquiries were being made.
7. Correspondence
7.1. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service: Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2030.
The above consultation was noted.
8. Planning
8.1. To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council:
8.1.1. P231935/CD3: Travellers Site at Openfields Burley Lane Bringsty Herefordshire WR6 5TF. Proposed installation of 8m purpose made CCTV column, cage and camera in the grass verge by the hammer head turning area.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council were in support of the proposals.
8.2. To note responses made under delegated authority for the following applications:
8.2.1. P232117/F: New Barns, Norton, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4PA. Conversion of agricultural stone barn into a dwelling house.
It was noted that the Parish Council had written in support of the proposals.
8.2.2. P231974/F: Land at Holly Cottage, Bringsty Common, Bringsty, WR6 5UW. Change of use of land and construction of a lodge to be used as holiday accommodation, including access route and parking.
It was noted that the Parish Council had written in support of the proposals.
9. Highways, Public Rights of Way and Lengthsman
9.1. Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider applications to fill the Lengthsman contract vacancy.
It was noted that there had been no responses to the Lengthsman contract vacancy advert. It was RESOLVED to make enquiries with adjacent parish councils to see if they had a Lengthsman that might be interested in applying.
10. Finance
10.1. Online banking: To approve and sign forms to provide online access to all current bank signatories.
It was RESOLVED to approve forms to provide online access to all current bank signatories.
10.2. Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
10.3. Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
10.4. Invoices
10.4.1. David Hunter-Miller (September salary and expenses)
10.4.2. HMRC (September PAYE)
10.4.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (September pension)
10.4.4. Bringsty Common Manorial Court (donation to football pitch): £100.00
10.4.5. DeterTech UK Ltd (Smart Water kits): £524.64
10.4.6. Elan City (Speed Indicating Device): £2,962.85
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices and cheques were duly signed.
10.5. Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
10.5.1. David Hunter-Miller (August salary and expenses)
10.5.2. HMRC (August PAYE)
10.5.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (August pension)
The above payments were noted.
11. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was RESOLVED to add the following items to the next agenda:
• Waste bins for Bromyard Downs (to be supplied by Herefordshire Council)
• A44 layby closure, replacement of unsightly barriers
12. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 7:30PM on Wednesday 15th November 2023.
A resolution was passed to exclude members of the public due to the confidential nature of the following item.
13. Employment matters: To receive an update on the Clerk’s annual review and to consider the Clerk’s terms and conditions.
An update was received on the Clerk’s annual review.
It was RESOLVED to increase the Clerk’s salary scale point to SCP26 within the 24-28 range in scale LC2 as set out in the National Agreement on Salaries and Conditions of Service of Local Council Clerks in England and Wales. The Clerk’s contract was updated accordingly.
The meeting closed at 9:05PM.