Present

Councillor Revd L Rickards in the chair

Councillor W Preece (Dulas)

Councillor P Jinman

Councillor G Sprackling

Councillor Mrs J Addis

Councillor Mrs M Tovey

Councillor R Weaver

Councillor Mrs M Williams (Rowlstone)

Councillor P Sheen (Rowlstone)

Councillor J Middle

Councillor D Harries

The Clerk

In attendance:

Councillor J B Williams (Herefordshire Council) and 1 member of the public

1

Apologies for Absence

Councillor Mrs E Overstall (unwell) and P Jinman (late arrival – arrived during item 4.3)

2

Declaration of Interest

None declared

3

Minutes

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday 1st August 2006 were approved without amendment.

4.1

Village Warden Scheme

Jean Howard (Hereford PCT) gave a brief presentation of this scheme

• Scheme is aimed at ensuring that all older people have the same opportunities as other citizens to access services and participate in everyday activities.
• Developed from the signposting scheme where less involved help may be required.
• Ewyas Harold was identified as a suitable parish through 2001 census and parish plan and is one of 8 pilots throughout the county.
• Scheme will be managed by Red Cross
• Warden post will be paid 12 hour per week post
• Warden post must be resident of local community
• Advertisements will be going out this week and Red Cross will make appointment
• Applicants will be subject to training and standard vetting
• Red Cross have the capacity to bring in funding to the scheme including their wheelchair facilities.
• Pilot study for 18/12 and during this period effectiveness will be gauged and if successful will look for ways of sustainability.  
• The approach is hoped to be informal and therefore should take some time to be fully operational
• If needs for certain individuals are more involved then will be directed to the signposting scheme
• Judith Rice of the Red Cross will keep EHGPC informed
• If thought appropriate  signposting co-ordinator could make visit to talk to EHGPC

Resolved

That EHGPC fully supported this scheme

4.2

Kingstone School Bus

Mr Dave Baldwin (HC Enforcement Officer for School Transport) has visited the drop off point and has issued the following instructions to the bus companies involved:

• Rearrange riders between buses so that smaller bus can be used on this run
• Drivers have been instructed to treat triangle as roundabout so that they can turn here and make drops on other side of road.
• Drivers have been instructed to only drop off children where there are pavements

He asks that the situation is monitored and that any further problems be reported to him.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.3

Artmarkers

• The grant application for £200 made through the no longer existing SPF has been credited to EHGPC by Artmarkers therefore reducing registration costs to £200.
• Permission has been granted by the Catholic Church to allow the artwork to be installed within their land at Ewyas Harold. A legal document will need to be drawn up to protect both parties involved if the situation with the land changes in the future. It was noted that the Environment Agency have compulsory access through the grounds later this year to carry out essential work in the brook.
• Planning permission needs to be sought before the completed art work can be installed and this will cost a further £135.

Resolved

That planning permission should be sought and therefore this payment is agreed.

ACTION CLERK

• There was conflicting evidence on the most popular stone sculpture

Resolved

 That the final decision should be made as a matter of urgency by the original group involved                 with the project as the stone work must be completed by November.

ACTION CLERK

4.4

Rowlstone Village Hall

A lease for use of land by the village hall committee is required. This will not require any money to change hands and advice on the documentation is being sought from HALC

Resolved

That this is noted

4.5

Museum on the Move

Nothing to report but information should be available for the next meeting.

Resolved

That this is noted.

4.6

Flicks in the Sticks

Dates have been set and films agreed as follows:

13th October        King Kong

10th November     Ladies in Lavender

10th December      Walk the Line

These events should receive wider publicity from the 3rd week of September.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.7

Planning Procedures

Nothing to report this month

4.8

Reporting of Minutes

There was a discussion on the timing of release of draft minutes to the public.

Resolved

Draft minutes to Councillors would not be available for general release until the Chair informed the Clerk that it was appropriate.

4.9

Dulas Brook

It was reported that vegetation had become overgrown in the brook and this might increase the possibility of flooding.

Resolved

That the Clerk should report this to the Environment Agency.

ACTION CLERK

5

Recreation Ground

5.1

Monthly Audit

• Extra bark is required in play area – Martin Roper to access situation
• Thistles are growing around embankment slide – Martin Roper to strim
• Balcony loose on pavilion  

ACTION CLERK

5.2

Play Area

5.3

Car Park sign

This is now ready for collection and the Clerk will collect it when he is next in Hereford.

Resolved

That this is noted  

ACTION CLERK

5.4

Pavilion redecoration

The initial phase of redecoration has been completed. The likely cost for painting the front and balustrading of the pavilion is £250 and Ewyas Harold Football Club has offered a donation of £200 towards this cost. 

Resolved

That EHGPC will provide the extra £50, and that an order should be placed with Mr Howells for this work.

ACTION CLERK

5.5

Pavilion Use

A request has been received from Ewyas Harold Football Club to use the pavilion to serve tea and coffee on match days.

Resolved

That permission is granted for this request provided that the pavilion is still available for other users on such days.

ACTION CLERK

5.6

Footpath Sign

The diversion footpath sign (Jarrold) has been removed. Councillor G Sprackling has a replacement

Resolved

That the Clerk should ask Brian Ball to erect this replacement.

ACTION CLERK

5.7

Vandalism/Litter

Following excessive rubbish being deposited in the picnic area and evidence of potential drug abuse being found in the brook a witness provided evidence to the police and action was taken. (Crime No 260S1608-06)

 This appears to have led to an improvement in the situation.

Resolved

That the Clerk should contact the police to request information on the follow-up to the alleged drug abuse

ACTION CLERK

6

Local Security Matters

No issues raised under this section.

7

Correspondence

8

Lengthsman Scheme

8.1

Lengthsman work undertaken in August

Resolved

That this is noted and approved

8.2

Lengthsman Work Requested

9

Financial Report

9.1

Payments for approval

9.2

Balances as at 29/8/06

9.3

Payments received

9.4

Lengthsman Quarterly Returns

Payments for period April to June 2006 (income £557.49 expenditure £876.93)

See appendix 1

Resolved

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

10

Planning

10.1

Application number DCSW2006/2598/F

Resolved

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

10.2

Application number DCSW2006/1808/F

Notification of Planning Permission

Resolved

That this is noted  

10.3

Application number DCSW2006/2092/L

Notification of Planning Permission

Resolved

That this is noted 

11

Road Maintenance and Related Matters

12

Footpaths

13

Parish Website

There were no issues raised under this section

The Meeting closed at 9.00pm

Chairman

Date

Appendix 1

Lengthsman Returns 2006/2007 (period April to June

Receipts Record

Details and Description

Date

Amount

£

Payments Record

Payee Detail

Cheque No

Date

Amount

£

Apr – June quarterly payment

18/7/06

557.49

Herefordshire Jarvis Service

Road sweep (April 2006)

1039

26/4/06

70.50

Mr Martin Roper (Lengthsman)

Work carried out in April 2006

(See attached time sheet)

1042

30/4/06

120.38

Herefordshire Jarvis Service

Road sweep (May 2006)

1050

23/5/06

70.50

Mr Martin Roper (Lengthsman)

Work carried out in May 2006

(See attached time sheet)

1053

4/6/06

210.54

Herefordshire Jarvis Service

Road sweep (June 2006)

1060

28/6/06

70.50

Mr Martin Roper (Lengthsman)

Work carried out in June 2006

(See attached time sheet)

1062

30/6/06

334.51

Appendix 2

PARISH FOOTPATH OFFICER’S REPORT    September 2006

RW 18

The broken fingerpost at the north end has been replaced

EH11

It has  been clarified that the north end of this path starts at the gate at the top of the path up from the Neville Arms. The path goes through the garden of Whitecastle and access has now been cleared.

LY9a

It is not possible to continue this path across the railway (and hasn’t been for some years). Instead, Mr Morris of Llancillo Court has agreed to allow access from LY9a to LY8 along the north side of the railway track.

Map.

I have had discussions with the map-maker regarding style and size of the map and now that he has returned from holiday we will press on with this and a draft will be available in time for the next meeting.