Meeting of Brockhampton Group Parish Council at 7:30PM on Wednesday 17th January 2024 at Bromyard & Winslow Town Council Offices, HR7 4DU
Minutes 01/2024
Present: Clive Brazier (Chair), George Johnson, Karen Rock, Peter Lane, Gwen Dumpleton, Viv Burdon, 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: To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.
It was RESOLVED to approve apologies from Nigel Shaw and to approve his reason for absence.
3. Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest
3.1. Register of Interests: With reference to items on the agenda councillors 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.
Viv Burdon declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in item 7.1.
George Johnson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in item 10.1.
3.3. Other Interests: To declare any Other Registerable Interests or Non-Registerable Interests in items on the agenda and their nature.
Nil declared.
3.4. Dispensations: To consider any written dispensations from councillors who have declared an interest but wish to stay in the meeting during that time to aid discussion / speak / vote.
It was RESOLVED to grant a dispensation to George Johnson to allow participation, but not voting, on item 10.1.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
4.1. Ward Councillor
Pete Stoddart provided a report as follows:
Update from Herefordshire Council
The amendments to the Capital Programme for 2023/24 were passed at full Council on 8th December. The Conservative led administration will now start to deliver on the Southern Link Road, improvements to roads across the county, employment land at Model Farm Ross-on-Wye and the four other market towns a care leaver facility in Union Street and a Capital Grant programme in support of Talk Communities.
Following a Herculean effort by Council officers and cabinet members we have produced a draft revenue budget for 2024/25 of £205.2M which is balanced and will be presented to Cabinet for their approval on 14 December. This will require Council Tax to be increased by 4.99% and will also include the implementation of the previous administration’s deferred savings measures through a small increase in parking charges. Public consultation regarding the revenue budget have already commenced and I attended a session at the Sunday Market in Bromyard on 3 December where I was fortunate to meet a number of local residents. Further consultation will take place with Council members and Scrutiny panels with the finalised revenue budget being presented to Full Council on 9 February 2024 for a vote.
The Capital Programme for 2024/25 was agreed by Cabinet on 14th December and sees seven new proposals at a total cost of £7.33M. These are Schools accessibility, Children’s residential homes for 11 – 18 year olds, new software for the Planning and Regulatory services, estates building improvement programme, buildings works from the 2022 condition surveys and property improvements in care homes. Once again public consultation is ongoing and will be incorporated into the planned programme which will be presented to Full Council on 8th February 2024.
The Herefordshire Council Transportation Officer has informed me that the 420 bus route from Bromyard to Worcester is progressing but due to a requirement to go out to tender it is not proceeding as quickly as he would like. It now looks likely to start in February/March.
As the Ward member for Bromyard Bringsty Ward it is my pleasure to assist residents with their Herefordshire Council issues and concerns.
Please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or email if you have any Herefordshire Council related issues.
Brockhampton Group of Parish Councils
I am waiting to hear the results of the visit by the Traffic Management team to clarify if the proposed locations to position the recently purchased speed indicating device are acceptable
Following discussion with Balfour Beatty Living Places I have informed the Headmaster of Brockhampton School that we cannot support the provision of some litter bins in the vicinity of the School.
4.2. Bromyard Downs Common Association
No matters were reported.
4.3. Bringsty Common Manorial Court
No matters were reported.
4.4. Footpaths Officer
Gwen Dumpleton provided an update; it was hoped that work on the rights of way network could recommence when the weather improved.
4.5. Hereford Green Network
No matters were reported.
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 15th November 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. Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there were two vacancies on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.
6.2. Speed Indicating Device
It was noted that three sites had been identified for the SID deployment but formal site approvals were awaited from Herefordshire Council. It was noted that Herefordshire Council would not allow existing street furniture to be used and specified that each site would need a new socketed sign post installed.
It was RESOLVED to pursue quotes for the installation of three sign posts sockets and it was RESOLVED to approve a budget of up to £1,000.00 for this purpose.
6.3. Memorial to Dr David Boddington
It was noted that the BDCA were continuing to make enquiries.
6.4. Waste bins for Bromyard Downs
It was noted that Balfour Beatty were unable to provide/service any new waste bins.
6.5. School signing/noticeboards
It was RESOLVED to send a follow up letter/email to the school, with a copy to the Ward Councillor, as no response had been received to previous correspondence.
7. Correspondence
7.1. Worcester Bromyard Leominster Greenway CIC: Asset of Community Value application
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council were in support of an Asset of Community Value application being submitted by the Worcester Bromyard Leominster Greenway CIC.
7.2. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service: Resource Review public consultation
The above consultation was noted.
7.3. Herefordshire Women’s Equality Group: Parish Council vacancies and gender ratio in Herefordshire
It was noted that Brockhampton Group Parish Council had maintained a fair gender ratio of councillors over many years.
8. Parish matters for discussion/decision
8.1. To note the Clerk’s delegated response to Herefordshire Council’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) renewal survey
It was noted that the Clerk had responded to the survey with no amendments requested.
8.2. To consider and adopt a biodiversity policy
It was RESOLVED to adopt a biodiversity policy.
8.3. To consider and adopt a grant awarding policy
It was RESOLVED to adopt a grants and donations awarding policy.
9. Planning
9.1. To receive an update on the Brockhampton Group Neighbourhood Development Plan and consider next steps
It was RESOLVED to contact DJN Planning to enquire about restarting work on a policy only NDP (i.e. not identifying settlement boundaries) and to obtain a quote for the necessary planning consultancy services. Enquiries would be made as to whether grant funding was still available.
It was RESOLVED that future work on the NDP would be managed by the Parish Council directly and there would be no separate steering group.
9.2. To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council:
9.2.1. P233601/FH: Marley Cottage, Bringsty, Worcester, Herefordshire WR6 5UW. Proposed two storey side extension.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council had no objections to the proposals.
9.2.2. P233590/U: Unit A Linton Trading Estate, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4QT. Certificate of lawfulness is sought in respect with the non-compliance with condition 7 of MH97/1533. Condition 7 sought to restrict the timing of deliveries to and dispatches from the site and has not been complied with for a period in excess of 10 years.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would comment that the timings for deliveries should be reviewed, so that condition 7 of MH97/1533 continues to be relevant and serves both the needs of the businesses on the trading estate whilst maintaining the amenity of nearby residents at Linton Court.
9.2.3. P233754/PA7: Land at Bromyard Town Football Club, Delahay Meadow Sports Ground, Bromyard, Herefordshire, HR7 4NT. Application for prior notification for a proposed 25m lattice tower supporting up to 12 no antennas and up to 4 no dishes together with up to 6 no ground based cabinets, 1 no meter cabinet and ancillary development thereto including compound fencing.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would comment that no additional lights should be fitted and that every effort should be made to reduce the visual impact of the mast.
9.2.4. P233755/F: Oak Cottage, Bromyard, Norton, Herefordshire, HR7 4PA. Change of use of residential annex to single unit of holiday accommodation (Retrospective).
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would comment that provision should be made so that the property cannot be sold separately to the main house in future and to request that biodiversity measures are considered and included (such as bat/bird boxes).
9.3. To note responses made under delegated authority for the following applications:
9.3.1. P233398/FH: Midway, Norton, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4PB. Proposed 2 storey house extension.
It was noted that the Parish Council had written in support of the proposals.
10. Highways, Public Rights of Way and Lengthsman
10.1. To receive an update on the Lengthsman Scheme and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule
It was noted that George Johnson had started work on the Lengthsman Scheme and the first invoice was due to be received shortly. Councillors were encouraged to send any requests for work via the Clerk who would coordinate the work with the Lengthsman.
It was RESOLVED to purchase a high vis jacket with ‘Brockhampton Group Lengthsman’ and write a letter for the Lengthsman to carry as identification.
10.2. To consider issues with parking enforcement Rowberry Street/Church Street (Bromyard)
It was noted that the double yellow lines were due to be installed shortly.
11. Finance
11.1. Internal Auditor: To consider the appointment of an Internal Auditor to review the 2023/24 accounts
It was RESOLVED to appoint Iain Selkirk to undertake an Internal Audit of the Parish Council’s accounts 2023/24.
11.2. Bank signatories: To review bank signatories and online access.
It was RESOLVED to add Gwen Dumpleton as a signatory to the bank account.
It was RESOLVED to remove Helen Allen as a signatory to the bank account.
11.3. Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
11.4. Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
11.5. Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
11.5.1. David Hunter-Miller (salary and expenses)
11.5.2. HMRC (PAYE)
11.5.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (pension)
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices.
11.6. Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
11.6.1. 20/12/23 David Hunter-Miller (December salary and expenses)
11.6.2. 20/12/23 HMRC (December PAYE)
11.6.3. 20/12/23 Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (December pension)
11.6.4. 20/12/23 Herefordshire Council (election expenses): £390.32
The above payments were noted.
12. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was RESOLVED to add the following items to the next agenda:
• NDP update
13. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at Wednesday 20th March 2024.
The meeting closed at 9:49PM.