Present

Councillor Revd L Rickards in the chair

Councillor P Jinman     

Councillor G Sprackling

Councillor J Middle

Councillor Mrs M Williams (Rowlstone)

Councillor R Weaver

Councillor W Preece (Dulas)

Councillor Mrs M Tovey

Councillor P Sheen (Rowlstone)

Councillor D Harries

The Clerk

In attendance:

1 member of the public

1

Apologies for Absence

Councillors Mrs E Overstall, Mrs J Addis, W Lloyd

2

Declaration of Interest

None declared

3

Minutes

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday 4th January 2005 were approved without amendment.

4

Matters for report (Not covered by separate agenda items)

4.1

Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan

Still waiting for a copy of the report given by Mr Mark Ponting at the Parish Meeting in January but it was agreed that the Council were happy to support him.

Resolved

That the Clerk should write to Mr Ponting confirming the Council’s support and offering that EHGPC would, if needed, be willing to assist him at the Inquiry in June 2005.

ACTION CLERK

The Clerk read out the alterations agreed with regards to the Inquiry in March 24th 2005

See Appendix 1

4.2

Access to Ewyas Harold Common

A meeting of the Common Society is still to be arranged. No further communications have been received.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.3

Trappe House Pitch – slow road marking

The warning signs have been installed.

Resolved

That this item be deleted.

4.4

Parish Plan

The questionnaire is now ready for printing and distribution.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.5

Hill Lane

Improvements to aid walkers’ access to this lane will be undertaken this winter under the Lengthsman Scheme.

Resolved

That this item is moved to the supplementary list.

4.6

Footpath to Spring Field Cottages

The steel reinforcing on the bridge over Dulas Brook is rusting and in need of repair. Mr Jonathan Roger, Public Rights of Way Warden HC, has confirmed that the bridge will be inspected and any necessary work undertaken. This work is still outstanding.

Resolved

That this item is moved to the supplementary list.                                                                                                                                                                                  

4. 7

Dog Fouling

4.8

Llancillo Signs

Despite being on order for almost a year, the outstanding signs were not delivered as promised in November. The Clerk has written to Mr Graham Dunhill, Director of Environment HC, to express the Council’s dismay over the level of service.

The Clerk has received conflicting information from Herefordshire Council. Firstly Mr Steven Charlton phoned to say that it had been decided that, owing to the scant population of Llancillo and the fact that part of it fell in Monmouthshire, it had been decided not to supply the signs. These reasons were requested to be confirmed in writing, but the only letter received was from Mr Stephen Oates, Head of Highways and Transportation, and this informed the Clerk that the matter was still being investigated and a response would be made before the middle of February.

Resolved

That this is noted.

4.9

Flooding at Dulas Brook

The Environment Agency has now supplied a copy the study undertaken by W Atkins in 2001 to look at possible improvements to the flow of the Brook. The paperwork was given to Councillor J Middle who will then pass it on to Mr Mark Ponting.

Resolved 

That this is noted.                                                    

4.10

Powercuts

Following the work undertaken by Central Networks it appears the supply is now more reliable.

Resolved

That this item is deleted.

4.11

Village Artmarkers

The initial application for funding towards the setup costs has been unsuccessful as the grant body is unsure of its own funding after March 2006. However, they have suggested a re-application early in 2006. The Clerk has also written to the Elmley Grants for Community Arts with regards to possible funding and is waiting their reply.

The contract for the project has been received for signing.

Resolved

That this paperwork should be given to Councillor Mrs E Overstall for her consideration.

ACTION EO + CLERK

4.12

Obstructions outside Dog Inn

A copy of the report requested by HC’s Legal Services, which identified that the obstructions were on the public highway, was seen by the Councillors.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.13

Rowlestone Village Centre

The road surface needing repair has been reported to HC, but this work is still outstanding. The Lengthsman has still to tidy up the verges, but it is hoped that this work will be completed in February. 

Resolved

That this is noted.

4.14

Ditch Cleaning Dulas Lane

This work has now been completed

Resolved

That this item is deleted.                       

4.15

Stile on Footpath EH19

The broken stile between Springfield cottages and the bridge needing repair over Dulas Brook has been reported and Mr Jonathan Roger, Public Rights of Way Warden HC, has confirmed that the stile will be inspected and any necessary work undertaken. This work is still outstanding.

Resolved

That this item is moved to the supplementary list.

4.16

Manhole Cover in road – U74428.

This work has now been completed.                                        

Resolved

That this item is deleted.

4.17

Churchyard upkeep

The Clerk is still waiting for a response from HALC re the funding responsibilities for redundant churchyards.

Councillor Mrs J Addis has been informed that Llancillo is not redundant and it was therefore agreed to make a payment of £50 towards its upkeep. It was also agreed that a payment of £50 should be made towards the upkeep of Rowlestone Churchyard.

Resolved

That the Clerk should arrange for these payments to be made

ACTION CLERK

5

Local Security Matters

Councillor G Sprackling reported that 8 panes of glass had been broken in the telephone box at the centre of Ewyas Harold village

6

Correspondence (Not covered by separate agenda items)

7

Lengthsman Scheme

7.1

Lengthsman work undertaken in December - January.

The gulley at Elmbridge remains blocked despite rodding and therefore will need to be reported to Herefordshire Council

Resolved

That this is noted

That the Clerk should report the blocked gulley.

ACTION CLERK

The Clerk reported that Jarvis Services had not undertaken the monthly road sweep in January despite two reminders.

Resolved

That this is noted

7.2

Other work identified for Lengthsman Scheme

• It was agreed that a footway sweep should be undertaken in Ewyas Harold, and Councillor J Middle agreed to have a site meeting with Jarvis Services to discuss the necessary work.

Resolved

That the Clerk should request a quote for this work with Jarvis Services.

ACTION CLERK

• It was also agreed that Councillors Mrs M Williams and P Sheen would identify if there was any other Lengthsman work required in Rowlestone

Resolved

That this is noted

ACTION MW + PS

8

Financial Report

8.1

Payments for approval

8.2

Balances as at 22nd January 2005

8.3

Lengthsman Scheme

8.4

Payments received

Resolved

That the financial statement is accepted and payments should be made.  

Carried unanimously

8.5

Financial Regulations

Resolved

That the Clerk would produce draft regulations for distribution to Councillors and this would then be an agenda item for the March Parish Meeting.

ACTION CLERK

9

Planning

9.1

Application number DCSW2005/0132/F

Resolved

That the Group Parish Council have no objections to this application

9.2

Application number DCSW2005/0230/F

Resolved

That the Group Parish Council have no objections to this application

10

Road Maintenance and Related Matters

There were no issues raised under this section

11

Footpaths

There were no issues raised under this section

12

Recreation Ground

12.1

Monthly Audit

Councillor P Jinman reported the following:

• Rubbish is building up around the back of the children’s play area and along
  the edge of the recreation ground behind the swings.
• Someone has used whiting to mark the edges of the football pitch and
  then trailed it into the road in the close and all along the veranda of
  the pavilion. It will then tread inside on to the floor.
• Moles are active across the cricket area of the ground.
• The gates in to the children’s play area have broken and loose fittings.
• The gate nearest the swings can now swing inwards as well as outwards with
  the risk of trapping a child's hand.
• The area around the base of the roundabout is now markedly lower than the
  rest of the surface leading to a step up onto the roundabout; the bark here
  needs replacing.
• The old oil drum over by the car park appears to have become a rubbish
  bin. Who will empty it?
• The area around the benches needs to be redefined so that the edge of the
  stoned area is clear. Someone has driven over the end of this area and the
  wooden edging has become ill-defined.
• Overall it would be nice to budget for a new coat of paint on everything
  this spring as it is all starting to look a bit shabby.
  

12.2

Slide

The Clerk reported that he had been contacted by Mrs Harriet Berringer, who was concerned over the removal of the slide. She was supportive of the Council’s decision to proceed with a bank slide replacement in 2006.

12.3

Sub-committee

It was agreed that some thought should be given as to whether the Recreation Ground Sub-committee should be more active, and that the Parish Meeting should be a forum to report on their actions rather than merely recording what needed doing.

In the meantime, so that any items of concern needing immediate attention could be actioned before the next Parish Meeting, Councillor G Sprackling agreed to be the point of contact.

13

Parish Newsletter

The draft for the February issue was approved. However, it was noted that the current printing system was unsuitable for the inclusion of any graphics and that consideration should be given for improvements in future issues.

13.1

Items for inclusion:

• Water Leaks Insurance. Councillor Mrs M Tovey agreed to get more information on this subject so that it could be considered for inclusion in a future issue.

ACTION MT

14

Parish Website

14.1

Draft Minutes

The Clerk reported that he was still waiting for a response from HALC on whether the minutes should appear on the website before being approved by EHGPC

Resolved

That the Clerk should approach HC’s Legal Services for advice.

ACTION CLERK

15

Matters for Further Discussion

There were no issues raised under this section

The Meeting closed at 8.55pm

Chairman

Date

Appendix 1

753

Main villages: housing land allocations

Comment Summary 03 Ewyas, Lr Ho Fm - sewage
The sewage disposal system serving Ewyas Harold needs fully investigating, as there are times when raw sewage is discharged into Pontrilas Road. A full investigation into the adequacy, together with an enlargement of the system's capacity, is needed before any further development is allowed.

Comment response 03 Ewyas, Lr Ho Fm - sewage
It is acknowledged that there is constrained capacity of the sewerage system and the need for developers to fund essential improvements. An additional sentence to para 5.5.50 is proposed to make this position clear. Change proposed

754

Main villages: settlement boundaries

Comment Summary 04 Ewyas Harold - add land north of Callowside
The area shown on the inset map does not include the site being considered by the Housing Association for development, north of Callowside. Would like assurance that the proposal to develop this site has been dropped.

Cooment response 04 Ewyas Harold - add land north of Callowside
Planning permission was granted in March 2003 for 12 local needs dwellings on land north of Elmdale. The construction of these houses has now commenced. It is proposed that the settlement boundary of Ewyas Harold is altered to include this new development. Change proposed.