Present

Councillor B Krige in the chair

Councillor Mrs M Williams (Rowlstone)

Councillor B Preece (Dulas)

Councillor D Harries until item 7.12

Councillor G James

Councillor P Jinman until item 7.30

Councillor R Baker

Councillor Mrs M Bradley

Councillor Mrs E Overstall (Dulas)

In attendance:

The Clerk , 2  members of the public

Public Forum

Ewyas Harold Air Cadets

Hywel Davies (CO of EH Air Cadets) gave a presentation on the work and aims of the local Air Cadets.

• Organisation has national membership of 50,000
• Have been based at St Michael’s Hall for 12 years
• Caters for both sexes from 13y to 18y
• Membership currently 29 but has been as high as 52
• Currently enjoying a successful recruitment drive
• Recruits come from all over local area and although currently low numbers from Ewyas Harold there are under 13s keen to join
• 6 members of staff (uniformed and civilian)
• Air Cadets see themselves as important providers for teenagers, especially in rural areas with few facilities.
• Provide opportunities to achieve with cadets being able to gain up to 9 GCSEs and BTech qualifications in music etc.
• Aim to provide skills as well as self respect and positive social interaction.
• Apart from provision of building (and minibus from Youth Opportunity Funds) every squadron is responsible for its own funding.
• Air Cadets as a body are a national charity but all funds raised locally are for local expenses. Money is obtained through local activities, donations, grants and subs.

An open invitation to attend a club night was extended to Councillors as long as the visit was pre-arranged.

The Chair then thanked Hywel for an informative and interesting presentation.

Ewyas Harold History and Archaeology Group (EH H+AG)

Peter Overstall and Amanda Huntley presented to Councillors the ideas of their society for a possible future use of St Kembles RC Chapel (SK).

• Site for local history display and education but not focussed on objects. Centred more on photographs and facsimiles and incorporating ecology, farming year etc
• Would provide opportunity to set up and attract exhibitions.
• Opening hours would likely be at weekends between Easter and September
• Grant was gained to carry out feasibility study and St Kembles was deemed most appropriate location.
• Keen to involve other groups and Red Cross has already expressed an interest
• Have EHGPC any other groups to suggest?
• Memorial Hall want to establish a centre of learning and keen to involve EH H+AG possibly with a library/archive area.
• Central area of SK would be good for exhibitions with MH as storage site.
• Likely to be a slow process as they have been in conversation with Father Nick for 12 months

Councillors thanked Peter and Amanda and agreed that they were happy to leave negotiations with them and wait for any feedback.

1

Apologies for Absence

Councillors Mrs J Webb, P Sheen

2

Declaration of Interests

None declared

3

Minutes

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the council held on Tuesday 1st September 2009 were approved without amendment.

4.1

Green Waste

Green waste bags have been ordered and are now available at cost in the Village Store/Post Office.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.2

Herefordshire Small Shop Directory

Clerk has ordered 50 extra copies but these have still to be received.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.3

Power of Well Being

This part of the 2000 Local Government Act was introduced to increase local authorities' capability to act on behalf of their areas. It allows principal local authorities in England and Wales to do anything they consider likely to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area unless explicitly prohibited elsewhere in legislation.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 has extended the possibility of this power to town and parish councils in an attempt to cut out red tape and speed up local projects. 

Being a quality council satisfies many of the criteria required but at least 80% of Councillors must have received training in this area.

Resolved

That the Clerk should attempt to set up some possible training dates with HALC in November

ACTION CLERK

4.4

Twinning with Segonzac

There was a meeting on 15th September to discuss the way forward with this venture and fifteen people from across Golden Valley enjoyed an informal wine and cheese evening. See appendix 1 for the report.

 It is hoped that a follow-up meeting can be arranged within the next month, when the main agenda item must be to form a core committee. Failure to achieve this would threaten the possibility of progressing towards a formal twinning.

It was accepted that to maximise awareness across the communities articles should be sent to  local parish magazines and, if funding could be acquired, flyers should be produced

The initial visit to Segonzac in January has generated interest in a reciprocal visit by 3 or 4 couples from Segonzac. This is now likely to occur in March 2010 which should allow plenty of time to set up a varied weekend of events.

Resolved

That this is noted

4.5

Letter Heading

Two possible designs were discussed but which needed further work using Photoshop.

Resolved

That the Clerk should send copies to Cllrs. Mrs E Overstall and M Bradley

ACTION CLERK, EO + MB

4.6

EH Village Notice Board

• Typical prices for metal backed notice board

A2 (4 x A4 sheets) 67cm by 49cm £120 + VAT + Delivery

A1 (8 x A4 sheets) 91cm by 67cm £165

• Councillor B Krige has identified a suitable location outside the Village Store/Post Office

Resolved

That the Clerk should place an order for an A1 board.

ACTION CLERK

5

Recreation Ground

6

Local Security Matters

No items raised

7

Correspondence

8

Lengthsman Scheme

8.1

Lengthsman work undertaken in August/September.

9

Financial Report

9.1

Payments for approval

9.2

Balances as at  6th October 2009

9.3

Payments Received

Resolved

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

Carried unanimously

9.4

Finance Regulations

Amendments to 3.4, 6.4 and 10.1 (vi) [c] which were highlighted at September meeting were discussed.

Resolved

That regulations should be approved with inclusion of suggested amendments.

Carried unanimously

10

Planning

10.1

Application number DCSW2009/1869/F

Resolved

That EHGPC has no objections to this application - site meeting held on 14th September 2009

However the following comments were made:

• Support for the principle of the business and the employment opportunity
• Still unrealistic traffic figures – 5 per hour. What are the upper and lower values and how does this identify busy periods?
• Timber waste removal at sawmills is not relevant to this site i.e. route through Hereford City.
• Pedestrian access will require clear visibility for vehicles turning into the Rowlestone Lane from Abergavenny.
• No objection to building design and placement
• Vegetation needs to be removed from entrance to improve visibility for vehicles coming from Rowlestone Road towards Pontrilas.
• GPC wishes to meet as a matter of urgency with HC regarding the Rowlestone junction now that the A465 has been de-trunked.

10.2

Application number DCSW2009/1564/U

Certificate of Lawful Use or Development

Resolved

That this is noted

10.3

Planning Contravention Notice – July 2009

The Clerk was asked to contact the Planning Officer to find out if there have been any developments with the notice served on alleged unauthorised structure on land adjacent to EH Common

ACTION CLERK

11

Road Maintenance and Related Matters

No items were raised

12

Footpaths

12.1

Footpaths Officer’s Report   

No items to report this month

13

Parish Newsletter

There was a discussion on possible changes to the production process of the Newsletter:

• Role of the Editor being rotated amongst Councillors
• Improvement of feedback on drafts between meetings
• Printed copies of drafts to Councillors without access to email. 

Resolved

That these issues should be raised as an agenda item in November.

14

Parish Website

As noted earlier, the inclusion of a community diary would be beneficial.

ACTION CLERK

15

Matters for Future Discussion

• Youth Facilities/Organisations
• Newsletter Editor

The Meeting closed at 9.30pm

Chairman

Date

NEXT MEETING   November 3rd 2009

Future Meetings :

December 1st 2009

January 5th 2010

Appendix 1

Twinning Meeting 15th September 2009

Present

Paul Sheen, Maddy Bradley, Peter and Gill Jinman, Andy Shipp, Spencer and Jinico Allman, Derek and Sue Harries, Catherine Baxter, Judith Webb, Ian MacCulloch, John Sandwell, Frances Harvey, Charlie Eynon.

Main points

• Interest in being involved was expressed by all present
• Information getting out to community still needs to be improved
• Ensure local schools are involved (believed that links are being established)
• Ask local businesses and organisations to send a representative on any twinning committee
• Follow up meeting for October
• Itinerary for return visit needs to ensure that French guests meet more than people in the twinning group. PR exercise for promoting link.
• Need to identify people who would be prepared to provide accommodation for visitors.
• Need to identify and contact organisations that can give financial support and/or advice
• Golden Valley approach to twinning was adopted although should not be too restrictive.
• Still need to identify core group to co-ordinate twinning. This should be independent of PCs although they would be represented.
• If decided to go ahead with twinning the process will probably take at least 2 years.
• Visit provisionally planned for early November may be too soon and may be preferable to postpone until better prepared.
• Once established initial twinning exchanges would be on rolling cycle

e.g.

Year 1 Golden Valley to Segonzac

Year 2 Segonzac to Italy

Year 3 Germany to Segonzac

Year 4 Segonzac to Golden Valley

Etc