Meeting of Brockhampton Group Parish Council at 7:30PM on Wednesday 16th November 2022 at Bromyard & Winslow Town Council Offices, HR7 4DU
Minutes 11/2022
Present: Clive Brazier (Chair), Pete Stoddart, David Boddington, Marianne Boddington, Karen Rock, Helen Allan
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Clerk), Nigel Shaw (Ward Councillor)
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Clive Brazier opened the meeting.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were noted from Viv Burdon.
3. Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest
3.1. Register of Interests
Noted.
3.2. Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Nil declared.
3.3. Other Disclosable Interests
Nil declared.
3.4. Dispensations
Nil received.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
4.1. Ward Councillor
Nigel Shaw provided a written report as follows:
I’ve not got a lot of news specific to Brockhampton parish so I’m writing to give you a little flavour of what is going on at Council. Out of necessity it is a little slanted to what I am familiar with.
I contributed to the discussion of how the second tranch (£1.3m) of the government’s Household Support Fund should be distributed in Herefordshire over the next five months. Meals during the school holidays for children on free school meals, funding for food banks, funding for emergency heating repairs and fuel for those who are struggling to meet unexpected bills and funding through third party organisations who have the local resources to identify and meet the need of such people. I’m please to say that the administrative cost of distributing this grant has been kept at around 4%. All enquiries via Nina Bridges, Talk Community Development Manager.
I attended the meeting of “Common Bond” in Hereford, one of the seventeen Herefordshire councillors that did so, to hear directly from parents how they had been affected by their interaction with the authority’s Children’s services department, now rated Inadequate by Ofsted. Their comments were raw, emotional and shocking. I spoke to Eleanor Brazil, the SoS appointed Children’s Commissioner and will be considering any action that I can take in my role as Chair of Audit and Governance to help ensure transparency. Eleanor is working in Herefordshire two days a week will report back to the SoS in December to make recommendations as to whether Herefordshire Council will keep control of its Children and Young people’s department. I have since met with our internal audit team and asked them to consider what additional assurance can be given on our whistleblowing and complaints procedures. The problems facing children’s services will not be easily solved and are exacerbated by the nationwide shortage of social workers. There is concern that its fiscal pressure on the current year’s budget will be repeated in future years. The draft Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), as reported in the press, presents a challenging position; with early forecasts identifying a gap between resources and pressures of £21.6m in 2023/24, rising in subsequent years to around £57m by 2026/27 if no mitigating actions are implemented. This will be exacerbated by any real terms reduction in the settlement grant.
The mood music coming from government in respect of the settlement grant is not good. The CNN announcement (attached) reflects the real pressure on Council budgets and the administration will be forced to make some unwelcome choices to deliver a balanced budget. Unless social care received adequate government funding then there will be problems in funding much outside the statutory responsibilities. It is to be anticipated that the current administration will be somewhat conflicted over the differing priorities of the Independents and the Greens.
The spending of reserves (capital reserves on the Maylord centre and the Museum, accruing from the farm sales), especially revenue reserves (£1.2m) from public health on the imposition of the 20mph limits and reserves of £1m to bring forward a business case for the eastern crossing are all in the power of the administration. In addition there is spending of £0.66m on reducing the backlog of Traffic Regulation Orders. We are conscious that a big expenditure of the £20m public housing budget to provide homes owned by the Council (rather than by housing associations) is unlikely to be contracted for before the election.
In terms of the Ukrainian refugee response, there are, as at 3rd October 2022; 222 unique sponsors from Herefordshire on the Governments Foundry (Case management) System;678 unique guests seeking to come to Herefordshire and 499 guests have arrived to-date, coming to 185 sponsors located across the county.
I have chaired two Audit and Governance meetings in October and asked questions during the Leader’s report at the full Council meeting last Friday week, and also contributed to the meeting by challenging the legality of the second motion (which I lost) but winning a subsequent deferral motion. It is frustrating to have the whole Council, and senior officers having to be present whilst such Motions (to request that HM government reconsider the system of voting) are considered. I think that only motions that specifically affect Herefordshire should be the subject of our consideration. The cost to the council ratepayers for other pontification is significant, and unnecessary.
The Hereford Transport Hub came before cabinet last Thursday week with a recommendation that the Council earmark a further £6.3m of capital to deliver the remainder of the project. Cost overruns due to poor estimates in CPOs and subsequent compensation payments; delays in the construction and poor reporting of cost pressures by officers (during the last administration tenure) have resulted in a lamentable situation. I raised the issue of the DIRO (drive in reverse out) option being preferred in spite of the safety case not being considered. I was attending Cabinet on behalf of our group leader.
I have expressed concern to the Licensing and Travellers Support Manager, and the Police in respect of renewed anti-social and criminal activity affecting occupants at the Linton trading estate in Bromyard. I regret that it may be necessary to renew the MATAG (Multi-Agency Task And finish Group) work which was stood down three years ago. I wrote to John Campion, the PCC and he has agreed to come and talk to the Bromyard Town Council about the current lack of a warranted officer in the town, and the increase in low level crime. I have also held conversations with the Rural Crime Officer, PC John Meek.
Talk Community is collating and listing “Warm Spaces” in the county that will provide a warm haven for those wanting to go and warm up, see a friendly face and get support. It will help everyone to be aware if such spaces can be registered through the form available at www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/warmspace
4.2. Bromyard Downs Common Association
A written report was received as follows:
The Chair completed a drive around the Common and stated that it is looking great. Whilst Herefordshire County Council do not pay for the work he stated that they use the BDCA as an example of how a voluntary run asset should work.
Since the last update the Volunteers have continued with three sessions per month however one had to be cancelled due to bad weather. They have carried out work across the Downs, from the Stourport road area through the area near to Warren Wood and across to the A44 area. They have cleared brash, and processed trunks of ash and hornbeam. With the arrival of the replacement flail on 26 October they will recommence their work on clearing bracken and keeping the tacks open.
They are also arranging some training for the volunteers, the exact details will be announced once they have been confirmed.
The BDCA remain hopeful that the Parish Council will agree to fund their request for a load of hard core to fill the car park pot holes. A quote for this was submitted to the Parish Council Chair. The kind offer from Viv Burdon was unable to be taken up as it was deemed that it would not be suitable for the work in the Car Park.
4.3. Bringsty Common Manorial Court
A short update was received covering the recent activities of the BCMC.
4.4. Hereford Green Network
A short update was received.
4.5. Public participation
No comments received.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
5. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 28th September 2022
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
6. Progress reports
6.1. Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there were three vacancies on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.
It was RESOLVED to post an advert for the vacancies on Bromyard.info.
6.2. Open Space Resident Survey and Open Space Assessment Audit
It was noted that a response to the survey had been submitted under delegated authority.
7. Correspondence
7.1. Bromyard Downs Common Association: Request for funding to support car park pot hole repairs
It was RESOLVED to donate £74.40 to cover the cost of materials to enable car park repairs to be undertaken by BDCA volunteers.
7.2. Herefordshire Council: Update on the role of Neighbourhood Planning with the emerging Local Plan
The above update was noted.
7.3. The Boundary Commission: Consultation on revised proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries
The above consultation was noted.
7.4. Herefordshire Council: Revised Rural Settlement Hierarchy Audit Report (fact check)
It was noted that no amendments were required.
8. Planning
8.1. Neighbourhood Development Plan: To receive an update
It was RESOLVED to review the position of the BGPC NDP in 2023 when revisions to Herefordshire’s Core Strategy had been finalised.
8.2. Planning consultations: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council:
8.2.1. P220706/F: New Bydawells, The Gains Road, Whitbourne, Worcester, Herefordshire, WR6 5RF. Proposed erection of a field shelter and change of use of land from agricultural to equestrian use.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would comment that the planning authority should carefully consider the potential impact of the proposals on the amenity of adjacent properties.
9. Parish matters for discussion/decision
9.1. Bus stop bench (Linton): To note damage of the bench by contractors and Balfour Beatty’s offer of a replacement.
It was RESOLVED to accept Balfour Beatty’s offer of a replacement bench.
10. Finance
10.1. Budget and Precept: To consider and approve the 2023/24 budget and precept.
It was RESOLVED to approve the 2023/24 budget and to request a precept of £10,500.00.
10.2. Bank account: To receive an update on online banking arrangements.
It was noted that the necessary forms would be prepared early 2023.
10.3. Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
10.4. Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
10.5. Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
10.5.1. David Hunter-Miller (salary and expenses): £556.81
10.5.2. HMRC (PAYE): £109.80
10.5.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund: £208.33
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices and cheques were duly signed.
10.6. Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
10.6.1. 19/10/22 David Hunter-Miller (salary and expenses): £373.31
10.6.2. 19/10/22 HMRC (PAYE): £64.00
10.6.3. 19/10/22 Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund: £133.60
The above payments, made under delegated authority, were noted.
11. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was noted that the Parish Council’s noticeboards had been vandalised and it was RESOLVED to report this to the Police.
It was noted that a missing services cover on the A44 had been reported. A number of hedge cutting issues were identified and these would be reported to Balfour Beatty.
It was RESOLVED to add the following items to the next agenda:
• Hedge cutting/obstruction issues
• Lengthsman Scheme 2023/24
12. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 7:30PM on Wednesday 18th January 2023.
A resolution was passed to exclude members of the public due to the confidential nature of the following item.
13. Clerk’s employment: To note the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC) National Salary Award 2022-23.
It is noted that the 2022/23 salary award would be applied and backdated to 1st April 2022 and that from 1st April 2023 there is an increase of one day to the annual leave entitlement.
The meeting closed at 8:50PM.