Meeting of Brockhampton Group Parish Council at 7:30PM on Wednesday 17th July 2024 at Bromyard & Winslow Town Council Offices, HR7 4DU
Minutes 07/2024
Present: Clive Brazier (Chair), Pete Stoddart, Nigel Shaw, Gwen Dumpleton, George Johnson, Karen Rock, Peter Lane
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Clerk)
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Clive Brazier opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.
2. Apologies for absence: To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were noted from Viv Burdon.
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.
George Johnson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in item 8.1 and item 11.4.5.
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.
Nil received.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
4.1. Ward Councillor
Pete Stoddart provided a report as follows:
At the Annual General Meeting of Full Council on 24th May, the current leader of the Council, Councillor Jonathan Lester, was re-elected as the Leader for the next year. The Conservative led administration will therefore continue for another year. At this meeting the Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-28 was approved.
Our council plan sets out how we will work to increase prosperity, protect the environment and provide the services that people need. Our vision is:
• Delivering the best for Herefordshire in everything we do. This falls in to four interconnected themes:
• People feeling healthy, safe and supported in their communities.
• Place – our local environment being protected and enhanced, supporting the right housing in the right place; helping to fund council phosphate mitigation measures to improve the health of our rivers.
• Growth – attracting inward investment, creating more jobs, enabling housing development and providing the right infrastructure to keep Herefordshire moving forward.
• Transformation – a council embracing best practice, delivering innovation through technology and demonstrating best value for money in the services we provide.
• To deliver these outcomes we will focus on working with our residents, the voluntary, community and public sectors along with businesses; all of us have a vital role to play in Herefordshire’s success.
At Cabinet on 27th June, this year’s Delivery Plan, which details the activities in support of the Council Plan that will be delivered this year, was approved. This ambitious plan will see Herefordshire Council deliver 70 action points against the four areas of people, place, growth and transformation. An update on the status of these action points will be provided through the Performance Reports that are delivered quarterly to Cabinet.
The Herefordshire Council Parish Council Summit took place on 9th July in Plough Lane, Hereford from 5:30 – 8:30 and was well attended with approximately 100 individuals from the 137 Parish and Town Councils across the county. The leader, Jonathan Lester opened the event by emphasising the two way partnership and dialogue that must exist between Herefordshire Council and all of the Parish and Town Councils. The Chief Executive Paul Walker welcomed the attendees and I then spoke on the Council Plan. Cllr Dan Hurcomb provided an update on the Public Realm Contract and then I concluded with a short brief on budget consultation. There was plenty of dialogue and all present felt it was a useful summit and that it should be repeated every six months.
An update was provided to Cabinet on 27 June in respect to improvements for bus services across the county. This included the 420 bus service which will commence operations on 1 September, subject to Traffic Commissioner Registration) It will be a 2 hourly service which will align the Bromyard to Worcester (and reverse) section, to meet the Bromyard to Hereford buses.
Armed Forces week which took place during the week commencing 24 June was I believe a resounding success with the week’s events being well attended. The Parade on the Saturday was most impressive with approximately 120 cadets from the Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and Air Training Corps on parade ably led by the band of 151 (Leominster) Air Training Squadron. Even the weather was on side and a very pleasant afternoon listening to the Bromyard Wind band concluded a very full week. I firmly believe that Bromyard put on a great show and demonstrated our support for the Armed Forces family on behalf of Herefordshire.
I would like to remind all Ward residents that using the Herefordshire Council website they can report non-emergency pot holes, drainage issues and Public Rights of Way (PROW) issues via the following link
www.herefordshire.gov.uk/roads-1/report-problems-road
Once the entry is created you will receive a response with a BBLP reference number which will enable you to track this item through until it is resolved. Alternately you can add an app to your smart phone using the following link: www.herefordshire.gov.uk
For those residents who do not wish to use the web service or they wish to report an urgent issue, or any of the following, please call 01432 261800, this number is manned 24hrs per day.
It remains my pleasure to assist residents of the Bromyard Bringsty Ward 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
The Head of Brockhampton School has been in contact with the Service Director Environment and Highways at Herefordshire Council to address the traffic situation at the School during drop off and collection.
I am still working with the Police in relation to the incident of a vehicle driving on the Downs.
The cross Downs Road U65021 has had a large number of repairs conducted by the Jet patcher machine, which works by spray injection of liquid bitumen and stone, sealing and filling the defect.
4.2. Bromyard Downs Common Association
A short update was received. The Police were exploring recent joyriding incidents and barriers were under consideration to prevent vehicular access to the common. A talk had been received on longhorn cattle.
4.3. Bringsty Common Manorial Court
A short update was received.
4.4. Footpaths Officer
Gwen Dumpleton provided a report as follows:
• The majority of footways in the parish had been surveyed.
• 39 issues had been reported to Herefordshire Council, including impassable routes, broken stiles and overgrown vegetation.
• A footpath across a motocross track had been reviewed and a new permissive path had been agreed with the landowner.
• Waymarking discs had been obtained and would be fitted across the rights of way network.
• An application had been submitted for additional grant funding (item 8.2).
It was RESOLVED to purchase the following for use by the Footpaths Officer:
• High-visibility ‘Footpaths Officer’ vest
• Pair of high-quality secateurs
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 May 2024
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 the new sign post and socket had been delivered and would be installed by the Lengthsman and Clerk.
6.3. Memorial to Dr David Boddington
It was noted that the Bromyard Downs Common Association were making arrangements for a memorial tree.
7. Correspondence
7.1. Herefordshire Council: Seasonal grass cutting arrangements
The above correspondence was noted.
7.2. Police: Community Charter Contract (‘top 3’ policing priorities)
It was RESOLVED to resubmit the following priorities:
• Speeding (A44 and B4203)
• Rural theft Brockhampton area
• Anti-social behaviour on Bromyard Downs and Bringsty Common (aggressive dogs, joyriding)
7.3. Bromyard Community Transport: donation request
It was RESOLVED to request further information in line with the parish council’s Grants and Donations Awarding Policy, namely:
• How many people in the parish use the service currently
• Summary of applicant’s accounts
• Clarification on what the funding will be used for
• Clarification on the size of donation sought
8. Highways, Public Rights of Way and Lengthsman
8.1. To receive an update on the Lengthsman Scheme and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule
It was noted that Herefordshire Council were releasing additional grant funding for drainage work and the application paperwork would be made available shortly. The Lengthsman had arranged to meet with a local resident to survey local drainage infrastructure.
8.2. To note application made to Herefordshire Council for additional grant funding to support public rights of way maintenance
It was noted that a grant application totalling £1,192.85 had been submitted to Herefordshire Council.
8.3. To receive an update on the permanent closure of the A44 layby (junction The Downs Road)
It was noted that the A44 was due to be surface dressed this year and it was hoped that permanent closure of the layby could be undertaken at the same time.
9. Planning
9.1. To receive an update on the Brockhampton Group Neighbourhood Development Plan and to consider next steps
It was noted that available grant funding had been exhausted but an application had been made to the grant funding providers (Locality) for additional money due to extenuating circumstances. Thanks were extended to the Clerk for all of the preparatory work on the NDP funding bid.
It was RESOLVED to accept the fee proposal from DJN Nicholson subject to:
• Sufficient grant funding being released by Locality.
• Discussions with Herefordshire Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Team regarding timing of the Local Plan and its impact on NDPs.
9.2. To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Herefordshire Council:
9.2.1. P241402/FH and P241155/L: Home House Farm Bringsty Worcester Herefordshire WR6 5UH, Proposed rebuilding of two gables, structural repairs to the front timber outrigger and roof timbers, roof repairs and rebuilding of stone wall.
It was RESOLVED that the parish council were in support of the proposals.
10. Parish matters for discussion/decision
10.1. Update on the Herefordshire Parish Council Summit
Gwen Dumpleton and Pete Stoddart provided an update on the recent Herefordshire Parish Council Summit.
10.2. To consider and adopt the NALC New Model Financial Regulations
It was RESOLVED to adopt the latest New Model Financial Regulations.
10.3. To consider and adopt a Community Engagement Strategy
It was RESOLVED to adopt a Community Engagement Strategy.
10.4. To consider and adopt a Press and Media policy
It was RESOLVED to adopt a Press and Media Policy.
10.5. To review and update the Grant Awarding Policy
It was RESOLVED to adopt an updated Grant and Donations Awarding Policy.
11. Finance
11.1. Budget expenditure: To consider and approve
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
11.2. Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
11.3. Bank mandate: To receive an update on bank signatory amendments
It was noted that the bank mandate changes had been approved and Gwen Dumpleton was now a signatory.
11.4. Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
11.4.1. David Hunter-Miller (salary and expenses)
11.4.2. HMRC (PAYE)
11.4.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (pension)
11.4.4. Bringsty Common Manorial Court (donation): £100.00
11.4.5. George Johnson (Lengthsman): £81.50
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices.
11.5. Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
11.5.1. David Hunter-Miller (June salary and expenses)
11.5.2. HMRC (June PAYE)
11.5.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (June pension)
The above payments were noted.
12. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was noted that a parish council noticeboard at Bringsty did not feature on the asset register and it was RESOLVED to add to the register.
13. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 7:30PM on Wednesday 18th September 2024.
The meeting closed at 9:07PM.