Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Ewyas Harold Group Parish Council

held on Tuesday 8th January 2008

In the Memorial Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Present

Councillor P Sheen (Rowlstone) in the chair

Councillor Mrs J Addis

Councillor J Middle

Councillor Mrs M Bradley

Councillor Mrs M Williams (Rowlstone)

Councillor R Weaver

Councillor R Mailes

Councillor D Harries

Councillor P Jinman

Councillor Mrs E Overstall (Dulas)

Councillor W Preece (Dulas)

In attendance:

The Clerk

1 member of the public

Apologies for Absence

None received

Declaration of Interest

None declared

Minutes

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday 4th December 2007 were approved without amendment

Carried unanimously

4.1

Village Warden Scheme

Communications have been received through HALC and Esther Grisenthwaite. These have identified feedback from users, breakdown of activities for the past year and contact details.

Majority of users throughout Herefordshire stated that the scheme had made a lot of difference to their quality of life and individuals were now more confident of remaining independent in their own home.

Important that scheme remains viable after initial funding and organisations such as parish councils are requested to give both moral and financial support.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.2

Bus Shelter

The request for this facility has been logged by Herefordshire Council and a further site meeting requested.

Resolved

That the Clerk would arrange for a meeting between Councillor J Middle and HC later in January.

ACTION CLERK

4.3

First Responders

Following HALC’s advice that it is not appropriate for EHGPC to act as trustees/bankers, Councillor Mrs E Overstall has arranged for the Ambulance Brigade Charity to hold future funds.

Training is expected to start later in January following the appointment of a new organiser.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.4

Flooding Problems in Ewyas Harold

The report prepared by Mark Ponting has been referred to Herefordshire Council for constructive comments, but as yet no reply has been received.

Resolved

That the Clerk should pursue this with HC.

ACTION CLERK

4.5

Flicks in the Sticks

Next film night 11th January – “Unfinished Life”

4.6

Community Access Point

Facility is opening from 15th January 2008
Open Day 5th February 2008

Resolved

That this is noted

Recreation Ground

5.1

Monthly Audit

Toilets need cleaning
Gazebo roof still awaiting repair (see 5.2.4)
New gate has been erected on footpath to Priorsfield
Tree and bank collapsed into brook (see 5.7)

5.2

Play Area

5.2.1

Leaves

Parts of the safety surface have a considerable covering of fallen leaves.

Resolved

That the Clerk should ask Martin Roper to clear this area.

ACTION CLERK

5.2.2

Play Area Sign

This has been repaired and re-installed

Resolved

That this is noted

5.2.3

Gate

Single gate to play area has now been re-hung and is closing properly

Resolved

That this is noted

5.2.4

Gazebo

The replacement roofing slat is now available for re-fitting. The timber for this was provided free of charge by Advanced Joinery.

Resolved

That this is noted

5.3

Moles

These continue to be a problem within the Recreation Ground and mounds of earth are now appearing alongside the new path and embankment slide, and some of this has been transferred to the slide itself.

Resolved

That the Clerk should ask Martin Roper to brush out the mounds and clean the slide.

ACTION CLERK

It was acknowledged that private contractors would only consider the use of poison to remove the mole problem and this was unacceptable given the public access to this area.

The Cricket Club have requested that they use traps to protect their playing ground.

Resolved

That the Clerk writes to EHCC and gives them permission to use traps.

ACTION CLERK

5.4

Dog Fouling

The Dog Warden has confirmed that he is aware of the problem and has added the Recreation Ground to his round.

Resolved

That this is noted

5.5

Football Coaching

EH Primary School held a football coaching session on the 13th December 2007

Resolved

That this is noted

5.6

Pavilion

Loose railing on pavilion has been repaired but the wood is rotting and some more permanent repair will be necessary later in the year.

Resolved

That this is noted.

5.7

Dulas Brook

Part of the bank has collapsed resulting in a tree falling into the brook. This has been reported to Environment Agency Incident Team.

Resolved

That this is noted

Post Meeting Note

The EA have visited the site and have confirmed that the necessary work will be undertaken within the next few weeks subject to weather conditions.

5.8

Main Gate

This is being locked at night by the Football Club from approximately 5pm to 9am approximately. The chain has recently been cut with bolt croppers and so has now been replaced with a more robust system. The Football Club will be providing the Clerk with spare keys so that key holders can be identified within the village.

Resolved

That this is noted

5.9

Surveillance

The Football Club is hoping to have a discussion with Charles Naylor (Crime Prevention Officer for West Mercia Police) and they will report back to EHGPC following this meeting.

Resolved

That this is noted

5.10

Pavilion Charges

EHFC is to approach EHCC(Saturday Team) and the Bonfire Committee to request a donation towards the extra costs associated with the use of showers and floodlights respectively. The Football Club would also like to request that EHGPC consider a donation from the fees paid by the Sunday Cricket side for the use of the pavilion.

Resolved

That this was noted

Local Security Matters

No items were raised under this section.

It was noted that the new system of Neighbourhood Watch reporting through emails was very helpful in disseminating information through the local community.

Correspondence

Date received	Sender	Content
7.1	NatWest	Notification of changes to on-line banking procedures
7.2	Herefordshire Council	Local Involvement Network (LINk) – Bishop’s Palace , Hereford, 9am-12.30pm 3rd December 2007
7.3		Clerks & Councils Direct – November 2007, Issue 54
7.4	HC Adult + Community	Herefordshire Partnership Newsletter (Autumn 2007) and Annual Report (2006/7)
7.5	HC Adult + Community	November Funding Opportunities
7.6	HC Adult + Community	Winter Gritting Routes 2007/8
7.7	HC Adult + Community	Bus and Train Timetable update (Area 1 from 28th October 2007)
7.8	SLCC	The Clerk – November 2007
7.9	West Mercia Constabulary	Copy of wording from new signs on EH Common
7.10	Greenfields	Ground maintenance brochure
7.11	REKK	Youth Shelter flyer
7.12	HC Environment	Review of Licensing Policy – Consultation period closes 7/12/07 Resolved That this is noted (see 7.17)
7.13	HC Environment	Alteration to routes for services to south of Hereford
7.14	SLCC	2008 Conference Programme
7.15	Jean Addis	2007 costs incurred by EHPCC for churchyard Resolved That this was noted in 4.6 of the December 2007 minutes
7.16	HALC	Payment of Parish Talk award
7.17	HC Environment	Extension of consultation period re Licensing policy until 16th January 2008 Resolved That this was noted
7.18	Community First	News Line – Issue 72, December 07
7.19	Artmarkers	Notification of booklet release (email) When these are available from the printers they will be sent to the Clerk for distribution. Resolved That this was noted
7.20	West Mercia Police	Golden Valley News Beat – December 2007 (email) Copies to Councillors in December 2007
7.21	Glasdon	Equipment brochure
7.22	EHFC	Herefordshire Football Association Ground Criteria Resolved That the Clerk should copy the main details of this report to all Councillors ACTION CLERK Resolved That Councillor R Mailes should request that a spokesman from the FA gave a presentation to EHGPC so that consideration could be given as to how EHFC could be best supported with satisfying essential ground criteria. ACTION RM Post meeting note Herefordshire FA was willing to make a presentation but this was likely to take an hour and therefore would be better to consider hearing this as a committee rather than at a full council meeting.
7.23	Kentchurch Parish Council	Kentchurch PC requested a review of the proportional payments for the Parish Freighter service. It was noted that there seemed to be a misunderstanding with regard to the total costs for this service. Resolved That the Clerk would write to KPC and identify shared costs. ACTION CLERK
7.24	SLCC	2008 Practitioners’ Conference – 29th Feb and 1st March 2008
7.25	HM Revenue + Customs	Employer Talk events 2008
7.26	HALC	Information Corner 6.12.07 Copies to Councillors
7.27	HALC	New salary scales Resolved That this was noted
7.28	HALC	Training Booking forms
7.29	HALC	Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust – application form to become a member There was a discussion re the importance of becoming involved. Resolved That an article should included in the forthcoming Newsletter
7.30	HALC	Red Cross Warden Scheme Resolved That this was noted in item 4.1
7.31	HALC	West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy – Phase Three Revision
7.32	HALC	Parish Talk application form Paperwork given to Councillor Mrs E Overstall for consideration of website application.
7.33	HALC	NALC – L11-07 Public Participation at Parish Council Meetings New recommendations for standing orders following paragraph 12 (2) of new model code of conduct. Clerk has prepared draft standing orders and these two items need to be considered together. Resolved That this is tabled as a future agenda item.
7.34	Esther Grisenthwaite	Updates/information on Red Cross Village Warden Scheme(email) Village Warden contacts Feedback from users of scheme Resolved That this was noted in item 4.1
7.35	Graham Amey	Resignation as Councillor (email) Resolved That this is noted and that the Clerk should make arrangements to advertise this and the outstanding vacancy ACTION CLERK
7.36	HC Corporate + Customer	Register of Electors 2008 (application form)
7.37	Community First	Newsline – December 2007, Issue 72
7.38	HC Adult + Community	River Tales – DVD produced for Age Concern Passed on to Councillor R Weaver
	HC Adult + Community	Bus and Train Timetable Update – Area 1 Hereford + Bromyard (from 9th December 2007)
7.40	HC Adult + Community	December funding opportunities update
7.41	HC Corporate + Customer	Major Emergency Plan template (electronic version for local amendments) Herefordshire Council is requesting that local councils amend the 15 page template to suit and when complete send a copy to them for their files. Resolved That this is tabled as a future agenda item.
7.42	HC Corporate + Customer	Herefordshire County Flood Plan – Amendment No 8
7.43	HC Environment	Acknowledgement of bus shelter request and notice of further required site meeting
7.44	Community First	Parish Plan Newsletter
7.45	Marie Curie	Daffodil Appeal 2008 Paperwork given to Councillor Mrs J Addis
7.46	Herefordshire CAB	Annual Report 2006/7 and 2008 funding appeal
7.47	Electoral Registration	Electoral register 2008 (email)
7.48	Electoral Registration	Monthly additions for Parish of Dulas parish (email)
7.49	Electoral Registration	Monthly additions for Parish of Ewyas Harold (email)
7.50	West Mercia Police	Draft priorities for 2008 consultation – Hindlip Hall, Worcester 7pm 15th January 2008 Feedback requested Resolved That this is noted
7.51	Hereford Museum	Wagging Tongues 19th January to 5th March 2008 (poster)
7.52		Clerks & Councils Direct – January 2008
7.53	SLCC	The Clerk – January 2008
7.54	John Armson	The Clerk read out a letter requesting support for establishing a nature reserve. In the discussion the following points were raised: Help might be obtained through placing an advert in a publication such as the Newsletter Defra should be approached re the project’s feasibility Resolved That EHGPC was supportive in principle but at the moment was not prepared to offer practical support, but would reconsider after a Nature Trust had been established. ACTION CLERK

Lengthsman Scheme

8.1

Lengthsman work undertaken in November/December.

Date	Work	Hours
9/12	Check drains and clear as necessary	195/60
28/12	Check drains and clear as necessary	180/60
	TOTAL	375/60

Resolved

That this is noted and approved

Financial Report

9.1

Payments for approval

Clerk salary	£	565.04
Stationery/Office Expenses	£	4.92
Clerk postage	£	12.56
Clerk travel	£	17.86
HM Inland Revenue (PAYE £16.50 NI £18.11 employee £21.07 employer)	£	55.68
Black Hill Computer Software – web hosting 2008	£	84.00
Brian Ball – Play Area maintenance	£	55.00
Brian Ball – Hedge cutting	£	201.00
Amey Wye Valley – December road sweep	£	70.50
Transfer from NatWest to A+L	£	7,000.00
Martin Roper – Lengthsman December 2007	£	103.11
Martin Roper – Waste collection December 2007	£	80.00
Martin Roper – Repairs (play area sign and pavilion railing)	£	60.00
Martin Roper – Sand bag collection and storage	£	16.50

9.2

Balances as at 31st December 2007

NatWest Current account

1207.81

Unpresented cheques

232.68

Cheques/cash to be credited

nil

NatWest Business Reserve

8910.04

Alliance + Leicester Current account

674.71

Alliance + Leicester Deposit account

5099.97

Total cash assets

Consisting of:

15,659.85

Precept funds

14,152.97

Lengthsman Scheme

Balance available but not yet claimed

557.49

Administration charge outstanding

55.77

Available funds for remainder of financial year

(annual allocation £2,229.95)

710.45

208.73

Parish Path Funds

445.40

Parish Plan Funds

852.75

9.3

Payments Received

		nil

9.4

Budget Adjustments

Source of transfer	Sum to transfer	Budget code receiving payment
Budget code 28 Capital Projects	£84	Fees/subscriptions (1)
Budget code 28 Capital Projects	£1	Hedge-laying/trimming (12)
Budget code 28 Capital Projects	£100	Litter control (21)

Resolved

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

Carried unanimously.

Planning

10.1

Application number DCSW2007/3704/F

Site:	Former Garden Centre, Pontrilas, Herefordshire. HR2 0DJ
Description:	Demolish existing buildings and build new warehouse and store/shop/office
Application type:	Full
Applicant	Pontrilas Timber + Builders’ Merchants, Pontrilas, Herefordshire. HR2 0BE

Resolved

That EHGPC has no objections to this application (plans viewed prior to meeting)

Comments:

Concern over increased vehicle access and would like to see inclusion of give way sign and/or visibility mirror.

10.2

Application number DCSW2007/3771/F

Site:	Millcroft, Pontrilas, Herefordshire. HR2 0EL
Description:	Proposed first floor extension to front of existing dwelling house to extend existing bedroom
Application type:	Full
Applicant	Millcroft, Pontrilas, Herefordshire. HR2 0EL

Resolved

That EHGPC has no objections to this application (plans viewed prior to meeting)

10.3

Application number DCSW2007/3583/F

Notification of Planning Permission

Site:

Pontrilas Army Training Camp, Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire.

HR2 0JA

Description:

Set-up of pre-fabricated modular laboratory

It was noted that the concerns over drainage and waste raised by EHGPC did not provoke comments from HC

Resolved

That the Clerk should find out if these issues had been considered.

ACTION CLERK

Road Maintenance and Related Matters

11.1	Prill Lane An elderly resident fell and sustained injuries and concerns were raised that the state of road surface may have been a contributory factor. Resolved That councillors review the state of footways and roads and report back at the February meeting. ACTION ALL
11.2	B4347 Footway A pothole has formed in the pavement outside Smith’s garage Resolved That the Clerk report this to HC ACTION CLERK
11.3	C1213 Near Dulas Court The previously reported blocked drains 200yards on the Dulas side of the lodge have still to be cleared. Resolved That the Clerk will remind HC of this outstanding work ACTION CLERK
11.4	C1213 Little Walkmill Storm water is still running through the entrance gate to Little Walkmill and washing away the road surface. This has been reported to HC but as yet no action has been taken. Resolved That the Clerk will remind HC of this outstanding work ACTION CLERK
11.5	U74419 Several dead branches are overhanging this roadway Resolved That the Clerk report this to HC ACTION CLERK
11.6	Pudding Street A tree is growing dangerously close to power lines by Lower Mill House. Resolved That the Clerk will report this to Central Networks ACTION CLERK
11.7	Cwm Dulas Lane The drain at the bottom of this lane is blocked again and requires clearing. Resolved That the Clerk would report this to HC/Lengthsman ACTION CLERK

Footpaths

12.1

Footpaths Officer’s Report

EH14 It was reported that a gate along this path had been padlocked. The padlock has now been removed.

EH14/18 The area where these two paths cross just north of the Dulas brook has been turned into a quagmire by cattle. We had a similar problem with the same landowner’s cattle on EH37 two years ago. The landowner has to prevent his cattle accessing the path and damaging it. I will discuss this with Jonathan Roger when he returns from leave.

EH 31A The path through Cae Newydd wood has become very overgrown and is also obstructed at the south end by piles of earth and hard core. I have spoken to the landowner and he has agreed to clear the path using a digger. He plans to do this fairly soon whilst extracting timber from the wood. Once the path is cleared we may need to add it to our annual strimming programme.

At the south end of EH31A where it passes through the garden of Paradise the gate is tied up to prevent sheep getting in. It would improve access if there was a stile next to the gate. The landowner has offered to erect the stile and I will ask Hereford to provide a stile kit.

Peter Overstall

Parish Newsletter

Items for February Issue

Artmarkers booklet launch - Clerk
Neighbourhood Watch
Footpaths/roads re disabled access
Flicks in the Sticks – DH
Field maintenance equipment sharing
Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust – PJ

Parish Website

Updates

News pages will be updated with items from Newsletter – EO
Parish Talk grant application – EO + Clerk

Items for Future Discussion

15.1

STANDING ORDERS

15.2

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN

The Meeting closed at 9.10pm

Chairman

Date

NEXT MEETING February 5th 2008

Future Meetings Mar 4th, April 1st (Rowlstone), May 6th (Annual Meeting)