Present

Councillor D Harries in the chair

Councillor R Weaver

Councillor B Krige

Councillor R Baker (Llancillo)

Councillor Mrs J Webb

Councillor P Jinman

Councillor Mrs M Bradley

Councillor Glyn James

Councillor Mrs E Overstall (Dulas)

In attendance:

The Clerk

Public Forum

No items raised

1

Apologies for Absence

Councillors Mrs M Williams, P Sheen

2

Declaration of Interest  - None declared

3

Minutes

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on Tuesday 6th January 2009 were approved without amendment.

Carried unanimously

4.1

Public Notices

Amendments made following discussion at January’s meeting

Notice Board –

 “Members of the public ….” made more prominent.

Meeting –

Removed “If an item on which you have previously spoken…..”

Statement relating to tier of government now reads – “ Remember your Parish Council is the first point of contact for elected government and is there to represent You”

Resolved

That the Clerk should publish the notices with these amendments.

ACTION CLERK

4.2

Memorial Bench (Mr Martin Norton)

HC Highways have approved the chosen site and paperwork identifying services in area has passed on to contractor. It is now confirmed that the bench was installed on 27/1/09.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.3

Quality Parish

EHGPC has now been designated a Quality Parish and the official presentation has been set for the next Parish Meeting on 3rd March 2009. This will begin at 6.30pm so that normal council business can begin at the usual time of 7.15pm

Resolved

That a press release should be made.

ACTION LO

That an open invitation should appear in the Newsletter

ACTION LO

That invitations should be sent to people specifically involved in the process over the years.

ACTION CLERK + LO

4.4

Councillor co-option

Councillors discussed the expression of interest received from Mrs Judith Webb.

Resolved

That Mrs Webb should be invited to be co-opted as a councillor for EHGPC

Proposed by Councillor P Jinman

Seconded by Councillor Mrs M Bradley

Carried unanimously

Mrs Webb accepted the invitation and after signing the Declaration of Office took her place on the Council.

4.5

Election of Officers

Councillors were reminded that the posts of Chair and Vice Chair would be up for re-election in May.

Councillor P Sheen has indicated that, if required, he would be happy to continue as Chairman for another year. However, Councillor D Harries confirmed that after 3 years in post he would be standing down as Vice Chairman.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.6

Helicopter Flight

A request has been made to use the Recreation Ground for a helicopter flight on July 25th 2009 as part of the celebrations of a local wedding.

The following points were noted as being necessary for such a flight:

• Permission from EHGPC
• Notices to public
• Police to be informed
• PATA - possible permission for use of air space
• Sports Clubs – fixture list
• Adequate Insurance (Helicopter company)
• Risk assessment (Helicopter company)
• Protected area for take-off and landing.
• Access maintained to play area + other parts of Recreation Ground
• Agreement to make good any damage
• Adequate parking arrangements

Resolved

That, providing the above points can be agreed with the organisers, EHGPC is happy to give permission for this activity.

That the Clerk should attempt to clarify the need for permission to be sought from PATA

ACTION CLERK

4.7

Ewyas Harold Village Notice Board

The back of the notice board is rotting and future funding will need to be considered for repair/replacement within the next year.

Resolved

That this noted

4.8

Segonzac Twinning

The twinning committee visited Segonzac in France on 23rd – 25th January and highlighted the following points:

• Very positive feedback from France with regards to the possibility of twinning.
• They had 20 years experience of twinning and were aware of the difficulties that Ewyas Harold would face, and accepted that even if successful it could take some time to formalise the twinning.
• Jumelage (Twinning) committee have provided information on their funding applications
• Segonzac had many more facilities with regards to schools, sports and public buildings. They even had a small university (20 students) dedicated to the study of spirits (alcohol).
• Population was about 2,000
• Any future twinning committee should be mostly independent from EHGPC and would need to involve the whole community.
• Members of the current committee were currently trying to gather information with regards to procedures and possible sources of funding.

There will be a meeting of the Twinning Committee after this Parish Meeting

Resolved

That this is noted

5

Recreation Ground

5.1

Monthly Audit

• Moles are active and soil needs removing from footpath - Clerk will ask Martin Roper.
• Broken bottle was removed – highlighted need for method to deal with broken glass.
• Roller stored between pavilions had been used resulting in damage to ground in this area.
• Window frames on toilet block will require repair/repainting
• Suggested fitting of self-closer on unlocked toilet door to prevent frozen pipes

ACTION CLERK

5.2

Play Area

Replacement gates should be fitted within the next week after receipt of new hinges. 

Resolved

That this is noted

5.3

Youth Facilities

Still waiting on report from HCVYS

Resolved

That this is noted

6

Local Security Matters

Not in Herefordshire

Campaign aimed at reducing the disproportionate fear of crime across the County.

Resolved

That this is noted

Smartwater signs – Extra signs are now available

Resolved

That the Clerk should place an order for 3 signs at the cost of £30

ACTION CLERK

Ringmaster – Community Messaging system which will provide security information and crime prevention advice – The Clerk has registered with this service

Resolved

That this is noted

7

Correspondence

8

Lengthsman Scheme

8.1

Lengthsman work undertaken in January.

Resolved

That this is noted and approved

9

Financial Report

9.1

Payments for approval

9.2

Balances as at  3rd February 2009

9.3

Income received

9.4

Budget Adjustment

Resolved

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

Carried unanimously.

10

Planning

10.1

Application number DCSW2008/2506/F

Refusal of Planning Application

Resolved

That this is noted

10.2

Application number DCSW2008/3080/S

Agricultural Building – Prior Approval Not Required

Resolved

That this is noted

10.3

Application number DCSW2008/2793/L

Listed Building Consent

Resolved

That this is noted

11

Road Maintenance and Related Matters

12

Footpaths

12.1

Footpaths Officer’s Report

EH14/18 Tim Thompson the Area Rights of Way warden advises that he has been in discussion with the Monnow Fisheries Authority and the Wye Usk Foundation regarding the stock damage to the area on the north bank of the Dulas brook where these two paths cross. The mud run-off affects fish spawning and the proposal is that new fencing and gates will be installed to control stock access and the footpath dug out and filled with stone this summer. There have been concerns about the structural integrity of the concrete bridge at this site and it is to be inspected by HC. Response to MFA letter discussed in January

DU8   The finger post on the road is missing, the first stile is broken, the next stile leading to the brook is too high and has barbed wire running across it and the stile on the far side of the brook also has barbed wire crossing it. The landowner has agreed to repair the stiles and HC will send us a new finger post. The lack of a bridge to cross the brook at this point is a longstanding concern. When water levels are low it is possible to walk across but not after prolonged rain (such as most of last summer!). A bridge has been promised by HC but no date set. – response to Ramblers Association

EH31A The path through Cae Newydd wood is passable but needs cutting back. This will be done initially by HC and thereafter could be added to our P3 routine annual work programme.

Resolved

That this noted

12.2

Footpath EH13

Post (with finger sign attached) by the stile leading on to this short path is rotten. Apparently it is used to pull on when mounting the stile and if it breaks someone could have a nasty accident.

Resolved

That the Clerk should report this to the FPO

ACTION CLERK

13

Parish Newsletter

Draft was issued to Councillors and feedback requested.

Resolved

That this is noted

14

Parish Website

Requests from CAPS for pages on EHGPC website or a link with their own website.

Resolved

That as CAPS wanted to set up a booking system for the Memorial Hall it was thought more appropriate to set up links between the two websites.

.  

The Meeting closed at 9.00pm

Chairman

Date

NEXT MEETING      March 3rd 2009 at MEMORIAL HALL

Future Meetings       April 7th (Rowlstone), May 5th (Annual Meeting)