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Present |
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Councillor Revd L Rickards in the chair
Councillor W Preece (Dulas)
Councillor Mrs E Overstall (Dulas)
Councillor P Jinman
Councillor D Harries
Councillor R Weaver
Councillor G Sprackling
Councillor J Middle
Councillor Mrs M Williams(Rowlstone)
Councillor Mrs J Addis
The Clerk
In attendance:
1 member of the public
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1 |
Apologies for Absence
Councillors Mrs M Tovey, P Sheen
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2 |
Declaration of Interest
Councillor P Jinman declared a personal interest in item 7.7 |
3 |
Minutes
The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday 2nd January 2007 were approved without amendments.
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4.1 |
Rowlstone Hall Lease
This has now been signed by both parties and the first annual rental charge of £1 is to be collected.
Resolved
That this is noted
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4.2 |
Village Warden Scheme (Red Cross managed)
Mrs Margaret Woodward has taken up this post.
Resolved
That this is noted |
4.3 |
Artmarkers The sculpture was installed on 30th January. The access path and seat will be completed by 9th February 2007.
Resolved
That this is noted
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4.4 |
Sustainable Communities Bill Paul Keetch MP attended the successful second reading on January 19th 2007. The Bill will now proceed to a Public Bill Committee
Resolved
That this is noted
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4.5 |
Community Access Points
A presentation was given by Mike Truelove of Herefordshire Council and the main points were:
- Equipment provided is fairly comprehensive and includes laptops, scanner, webcam, music keyboard etc.
- Total sum available is £20,000 of which £9,600 is ring-fenced to provide set-up, computers, software and technical support.
- Extra insurance and any rents can be covered from £20,000.
- Facility has to be self-funding after 2 years.
- Technical support will have to be paid for after 2 year set up period.
- Broadband connection will be on single site but possible to radio link other sites within 1 mile if line of sight is clear.
- Facility should be free to individuals but groups can be charged hiring fee.
- Funding for set-ups may continue until September 2007
- Initial opening hours need to be for a minimum of 5 hours per week
- Steering group would be responsible for running the facility but could delegate to user groups
- Initial step would be hold public meeting to access need
- Leaflets to advertise meeting will be provided by Herefordshire Council
- Steering group needs to be formed to build a bid proposal
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4.6 |
Proposed Memorial Hall Development
- Management committee are still to agree on development proposal.
- Open days were held on January 12th/13th with 100 people attending
- Questionnaires – Over 1000 have been distributed and so far approximately 30% returned
- Charity Trustees – Handouts have been given to Memorial Hall Committee and EHGPC to clarify role of various types of trustees
Resolved
That this is noted
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4.7 |
Flooding Problems in Ewyas Harold
Cause of serious flooding near to Rosllyn has been identified to a collapsed pipe in the grounds of Mr + Mrs Scrivens, and work has been taking place to resolve this problem.
Resolved
That this is noted
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5 |
Recreation Ground
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5.1 |
Monthly Audit
- Extra bark is required in play area (still to source)
- Holes in fine wire on boundary fence (Clerk to speak to EHCC)
- Side panel missing from log platform
- Two bars loose on horizontal ladder
- Slide access very muddy (improvement planned with new development)
- Wobble log still has “chewed” end
- Rubbish behind pavilion
- Graffiti on picnic tables (will be cleaned later in year)
- Mole damage to field
ACTION CLERK
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5.2 |
Play Area |
|
5.2.1 |
Sub-committee report
5.2.1.1 |
People’s Millions
Four play equipment companies have been approached to provide costed plans. The work has been identified as 4 sections:
- Path to play area
- Safety surface
- Shelter for parents
- Play equipment.
Next meeting of the sub-committee has been scheduled at the school at 3pm on the 21st February so that a presentation could be made to the children for their views.
Councillors are asked to attend a follow-on meeting at 4pm so that the proposals can be discussed at length before reaching a final decision at the Parish Council meeting in March.
Resolved
That this is noted. |
5.2.1.2 |
Teenagers Group
The original suggestion of the creation of a multi-goal wall with Astroturf has been put on hold. Meanwhile two other applications have been made by the teenagers group:
Youth shelter: Application for funding has been made to HC Youth Capital Fund. Installation would be subject to police advice and discussion with EHGPC.
Longtown Outdoor Activity Centre: Application for funding to enable a group of teenagers to attend this centre has been made to HC Youth Activities Fund.
Resolved
That this is noted.
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5.2.1.3 |
Extra Community Space
Any proposed alternative use for the Rectory field would not be possible without either the co-operation of the current tenant, or the request for him to surrender his tenancy. Earliest opportunity to reconsider use of land would be March 2008
Resolved
That this is noted.
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5.2.2 |
Grants
People’s Millions: Project start date set for 21/2/07 and £10,000 will be released to ease cash flow problems associated with VAT.
Network Fund: Have agreed that money can be spent through PC therefore VAT element becomes available giving a total of £6550.63
Total monies available including VAT:
People’s Millions: £58,750 (completion date 19/3/08)
Network Fund: £6,550.63 (completion date 30/6/07)
Awards For All: £5,875 (completion date 30/6/07)
This totals £71,175.63
SPF: £1028.13 (completion date 16/3/07) This would bring the sum to £72,203.76.
This expenditure needs to be identified within the original costed spend on safety surface else this grant will be lost and EHGPC will have to find the extra £875.
Resolved
That this is noted
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|
5.3 |
Dog Fouling
Clarification of actions and possible signage under Clean Neighbourhood Act
Responsibility remains with HC and signs have been obtained from them for the Recreation Ground. The Dog Warden (01432 261761) is prepared to make regular visits if he can be given information on dates and times of problem dog walkers.
Resolved
That signs should be placed at the two entrances to the Recreation Ground.
ACTION CLERK |
6 |
Local Security Matters
A bicycle has been dumped in the brook by the surgery.
Resolved
That the Clerk should arrange for this to be removed.
ACTION CLERK
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7 |
Correspondence
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Sender |
Content |
7.1 |
HC Environment |
Lengthsman Scheme terms and contacts |
7.2 |
HC Corporate and Customer |
Parish Council Election Costs May 2007
Full Term Elections
Uncontested: £50
Contested: £575
Casual Vacancies
Uncontested: £100
Contested : £1150
Resolved
That the Clerk, through HALC, should query how the charges for uncontested elections are justified.
ACTION CLERK
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7.3 |
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Clerks + Councils Direct – Issue 49 January 2007
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7.4 |
Hereford Museum |
Christopher Dresser Exhibition - 20 January to 3 March 2007
Paperwork given to Councillor G Sprackling
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7.5 |
HC Children + Young People |
Youth Council Elections 2007 – Update
Paperwork given to Councillor G Sprackling
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7.6 |
Paul Keetch MP |
Sustainable Communities Bill
Resolved
That this was noted in item 4.4
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7.7 |
defra |
Decision to refuse planning permission for a parking area on Ewyas Harold Common. This means that any future plans for a car park would have to be sited off the Common.
Resolved
That this is noted
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7.8 |
HC Adult + Community |
Copy of letter complaining over Post Office closures and the rural subsidy
Resolved
That this noted
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7.9 |
Herefordshire Voluntary Action |
HVA News January 2007 |
7.10 |
SLCC |
The Clerk – Vol37 No1 January 2007 |
7.11 |
West Midlands Ambulance |
Community First Responder Scheme
Resolved
That the local fire service should be approached
ACTION LR
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7.12 |
Andrew Lee-Jones |
Ewyas Harold Traffic Calming
Resolved
That this was noted in item 11.8
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7.13 |
HC Adult + Community |
18th Funding Directory |
7.14 |
HC Adult + Community |
Hydropower in Herefordshire |
7.15 |
HC Adult + Community |
HC Committee Meetings
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7.16 |
HALC |
Parish Talk Grant applications will be reviewed in late February and March.
Resolved
That a notice board (preferably two) could be installed on the Recreation Ground and that costings should be obtained to enable EHGPC to make an application.
ACTION EO
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7.17 |
HC |
Bus and Train Timetable Area1 - Update No 1 |
7.18 |
Herefordshire Nature Trust |
Community Commons Project
Paperwork given to Councillors
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7.19 |
Councillor E Overstall |
Copy of Youth Opportunities Fund application
Resolved
That this was noted in item 5.2.1.2
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7.20 |
Peterchurch PC |
Identifying Golden Valley
Resolved
That EHGPC did want to support the erection of more signs.
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7.21 |
HC Corporate + Customer |
Community Forums in February 2007
Paperwork given to Councillor G Sprackling
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7.22 |
Museum on the Move |
Unfair Trade: Slavery
Paperwork given to Councillor G Sprackling
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7.23 |
HC Directorate of Resources |
Precept 2007/8 payment dates
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7.24 |
SLCC |
“Conference for Practitioners” 2nd March 2007 |
7.25 |
Community First |
Blue Sky Thinking (celebration of parish/town planning) 21st March 2007 |
7.26 |
Worcestershire CC |
Home Composting |
7.27 |
Stephen Challenger |
Ewyas Harold Glebe
Resolved
That this was noted in item 5.2.1.3
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7.28 |
Childscape |
Tender for playground improvements
Resolved
That this was noted in item 5.2.1.1
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7.29 |
Childscape |
Posters for playground improvements
Resolved
That this was noted in item 5.2.1.1
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7.30 |
Community First |
NewsLine Issue 68, February 2007 |
7.31 |
West Mercia Constabulary |
Golden Valley News Beat – January 2007
Paperwork given to Councillors
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7.32 |
HC Adult + Community |
Parish Paths Scheme - end of year returns |
7.33 |
Paul Keetch MP |
Sustainable Communities Bill
Resolved
That this was noted in item 4.4
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7.34 |
West Midlands Regional Assembly |
West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy – Phase 2 Revision
Resolved
That this is noted
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7.35 |
HC Environment |
Draft Policy Statement for use of Rivers Wye and Lugg
Respond by 30/3/07
Paperwork given to Councillor Revd L Rickards
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7.36 |
EHFC |
Councillor Revd L Rickards read out a letter from the Football Club in which they requested permission to erect a barrier system down the two sides of the pitch, in line with Football Association guidelines
Resolved
That further details were obtained and that EHFC brought their proposals to the Parish Meeting in March.
ACTION LR
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8 |
Lengthsman Scheme |
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8.1 |
Lengthsman work undertaken in December/January
Date |
Work |
Time |
29/12/06 |
Checking drains, gullies and clear as necessary. Cleaning road signs within Ewyas Harold |
390/60 |
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|
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2/1/07 |
Check drains, ditches etc. and clear as necessary |
330/60 |
11/1/07 |
Check drains and clear storm damage |
150/60 |
18/1/07 |
Check drains and clear storm damage |
180/60 |
19/1/07 |
Check for missing signs. Remove straighten and refit Dark Lane sign
Clean graffiti from school sign post |
180/60 |
22/1/07 |
Clear storm debris |
150/60 |
Resolved
That this is noted and approved
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9 |
Financial Report |
9.1 |
Payments for approval
Clerk salary |
£ |
456.43 |
Clerk stationery/office supplies |
£ |
nil |
Clerk postage |
£ |
9.36 |
Clerk travel |
£ |
25.30 |
HM Inland Revenue (PAYE £4.60, NI £5.07 employee £5.90 employer) |
£ |
15.57 |
Martin Roper – Waste collection December |
£ |
20.00 |
Martin Roper – Lengthsman work December |
£ |
103.11 |
Footsteps training course – Councillor D Harries |
£ |
20.00 |
Mansell Powell Supplies – Cable ties for events committee [s137] |
£ |
15.28 |
Martin Roper – Waste collection January |
£ |
20.00 |
Martin Roper – Lengthsman work January |
£ |
261.73 |
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9.2 |
Balances as at 29/1/07 |
|
NatWest Current account |
£ |
230.68 |
Unpresented cheques |
£ |
621.50 |
Cheques/cash to be credited |
£ |
nil |
NatWest Business Reserve |
£ |
1,231.38 |
Alliance + Leicester Current account |
£ |
1,038.01 |
Alliance + Leicester Deposit account |
£ |
16,758.99 |
Total cash assets
Consisting of: |
£ |
18,637.99 |
Precept funds |
£ |
6,009.42 |
Lengthsman Scheme
Balance available but not yet claimed |
£ |
557.49 |
Administration charge outstanding |
£ |
37.19 |
Available funds for remainder of financial year
(annual allocation £2,229.95) |
£ |
690.69 |
|
£ |
170.39 |
Parish Path Funds |
£ |
1,111.00 |
Parish Plan Funds |
£ |
771.75 |
Awards for All Grant |
£ |
5,000.00 |
Network Fund |
£ |
5,575.00 |
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|
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9.3 |
Payments received
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|
Resolved
That the financial statement is accepted and that payments should be made.
ACTION CLERK
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10 |
Planning
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10.1 |
Application number DCSW2006/3289/F
Notification of Planning Permission |
|
Site: |
St John Kemble Chapel, OS Grid Ref: 3881/2858, Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire. |
Description: |
Proposed public art: carved stone, four sided structure
|
|
|
Resolved
That this is noted
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10.2 |
Application number DCSW2006/1709/N
Withdrawn Application |
|
Site: |
Pontrilas Timber and Builders Merchants Ltd., Pontrilas, Herefordshire. HR2 0BE |
Description: |
Clean renewable energy, biomass power generation plant
|
|
|
Resolved
That this is noted
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10.3 |
Application number DCSW2006/3531/F
Notification of Planning Permission |
|
Site: |
Kingstreet Farm, Ewyas Harold,Herefordshire. HR2 0HB
|
Description: |
Garage and store
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|
|
Resolved
That this is noted
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10.4 |
Application number DCSW2007/0272/F
|
|
Site: |
Penna Park, Pontrilas,Herefordshire. HR2 0DL |
Description: |
Change of use of agricultural land to domestic use as orchard |
Application Type: |
Full |
Applicant |
John Brooks, Penna Park, Pontrilas,Herefordshire. HR2 0DL |
|
|
Resolved
That EHGPC have no objections to this application
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11 |
Road Maintenance and Related Matters
11.1 |
Hay Sign at Elm Green Junction
The direction sign has been retrieved and will be refitted by the Lengthsman once suitable clamps are received from HC.
Resolved
That this is noted.
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11.2 |
Dark Lane Sign
This has been repaired and refitted.
Resolved
That this is noted
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11.3 |
Seat opposite Elm Green Junction
One of the wooden slats is missing and the remaining ones are showing signs of rot. The Lengthsman has removed the protruding bolts that were originally holding the missing slat.
Resolved
That this seat is the responsibility of the Highways department and therefore the Clerk should report these faults to them.
ACTION CLERK
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11.4 |
Fedw Cottage - Rowlstone
Garden is suffering severe flooding and this may be due to the installation of undersize road drains. This has been reported to HC and the request has been passed on to the highways maintenance team.
Resolved
That this is noted.
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11.5 |
Cwm Dulas Hill
Drain now totally blocked and the road surface is being washed away.
This has been reported to HC but despite a site visit the work is still outstanding.
Resolved
That Clerk report this again to HC
ACTION CLERK
|
11.6 |
Speed Sign on B4347
The 40 mph sign on the B4347 entering Ewyas Harold from Abbey Dore has been broken off. The damage has been reported to HC but the work is still outstanding.
Resolved
That the Clerk should re-report this to HC
ACTION CLERK |
11.7 |
Hill Lane (UC74419)
The soil slippage onto the surfaced track at the Ewyas Harold end has still to be cleared despite being reported to HC in November.
Resolved
That the Clerk should re-report this to HC.
ACTION CLERK |
11.8 |
Traffic Calming
Mr Andrew Lee-Jones of HC has identified the status of the proposed actions relating to traffic calming within the village:
- Speed survey is to be undertaken shortly.
- Road lining has been ordered and will be undertaken as soon as possible, subject to weather conditions.
- Pedestrian warning has been erected. This was not confirmed by Councillors
- Temporary speed indicator will be available after validation trials have been completed.
Resolved
That this is noted. |
11.9 |
Dulas-Belpha Road
Small wall and railings appear to have been pushed over by a vehicle.
Resolved
That the Clerk should report this to HC.
ACTION CLERK |
11.10 |
Dark Lane B4347 Junction
This junction has a very steep section leading to the pavement going down the hill and this is treacherous in wet/icy conditions.
Resolved
That the Clerk request that HC consider improving the safety aspects of this slope.
ACTION CLERK
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|
12 |
Footpaths
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|
12.1 |
Parish Footpaths Officer’s Report
- The footpath map proof has been approved and returned to the printer. The maps should be ready in 7-10 days. Does the GPC want a larger version of this map for display on the notice board next to the telephone kiosk? This will be at extra cost. Or would it be sufficient to display the A4 map and say where it can be obtained?
Resolved
That the Clerk should instruct the FPO to order the larger version
ACTION CLERK
- It is now Hereford council’s policy to improve footpath access by replacing stiles, especially if they are broken and need repairing, with galvanised, heavy duty, self-closing gates (the Marlow gate). The changeover requires the landowner’s permission. Gates are provided by Hereford and we install them. Gates are already being installed along the Monnow Way route which enters our parish by Llangua bridge and follows footpaths to the Vroe, Sunnybank farm, Llancillo Court and then on to Walterstone.
Resolved
That the Clerk query why galvanised gates are being used when more attractive wooden ones are available.
ACTION CLERK
- EH 18 The footpath crosses the Dulas road heading south west. At the top of the first field from the road the stile is broken and will be replaced by a gate. The landowner has also agreed that the stile on the roadside may be replaced with a gate.
- EH17 There is a stile where this leaves the Dulas road climbing up towards the castle. The landowner has agreed that this may be replaced by a gate but permission is needed from English Heritage since the land is part of a Scheduled Monument. I have made the application.
- These three gates will mean that it is possible to walk a short circular route from the village along EH17 and EH18 without having to climb any stiles.
- EH16 Where this exits the playing field there is a kissing gate which is awkward for wheelchairs or people pushing a pram/buggy. I would suggest replacing this with an Ascot gate which is an attractive self closing wooden gate. The GPC as landowner is asked to give consent for this improvement.
Resolved
That EHGPC gives consent for this improvement and the Clerk should inform the FPO of their decision.
ACTION CLERK
- The gates have been ordered by Hereford with delivery estimated at two months.
- EH4 The fingerpost on the road is broken and needs replacing.
- EH32 the fingerpost on the Rowlstone road opposite Pen y lan is missing.
The two posts have been ordered from Hereford and we will install them.
|
12.2 |
Work Identified
Replacement gates may be required at:
- End of footpath from Abbey Dore that comes onto EH Common by Springbank
- Kissing Gate at end of Recreation Ground by Church
Resolved
That the Clerk should ask the FPO to look into these requests.
ACTION CLERK |
12.3 |
Herefordshire Trail
Footpaths Officer is to obtain a copy of this map
Resolved
That this is noted
|
12.4 |
Footsteps Course
Councillor D Harries gave a brief talk on the training course he recently attended in Hereford
|
|
13 |
Parish Website
No items were raised under this section
|
14 |
Newsletter
14.1 |
Timetable
Councillors were reminded that Isabelle required articles at least 2 weeks before the next meeting i.e. by 20th February.
Resolved
That this is noted
|
|
|
|
15 |
Items for Future Discussion
15.1 |
Councillor recruitment and Chair replacement for 2007/2008.
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NB Sticks in Flicks at the Memorial Hall
Friday 9th February 7.30pm “Keeping Mum”
Thursday 8th March 7.30pm “Wind That Shakes the Barley”
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The Meeting closed at 9.30pm |
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Chairman
Date
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