Page One Hundred and Thirty Eight
Comprising Bishopstone, Bridge Sollers, Byford, Kenchester and Mansell Gamage
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 17 September 2009 in The Portway Inn Hotel, Staunton-on-Wye starting at 7.30pm.
Present: - Mrs P Redshaw (Chairman) Mrs C Draper Mrs M Holmes
Mr J Verry Mr B Merrick Miss S Hubbard
Mrs L Allsopp Mr G Malins, Mrs D Shaw
Mr T Hunt, Mr A French Mrs S Knights
Mr B Megson (Clerk)
Apologies: - Mr J Macklin (Vice Chairman), Mrs P Hickey.
Mr Adrian Blackshaw (Ward Councillor)
The meeting began with the Chairman advising all present of the Fire Safety procedure.
There were none.
The previously distributed minutes of the last meeting of 23 July 2009 were accepted as a correct record and signed.
The Clerk read out a letter received from Mrs A Midwinter in response to the letter he had written on their behalf about lorries carrying tree logs passing through the village of Mansell Gamage. A discussion on the matter followed and the clerk was asked to write to Mansell Lacy Parish Council and ask if they had received complaints about damage to the bridge at Moorhampton and damage caused by vehicles to the road and ditches.The Clerk was also asked to write to Herefordshire Council to ask if they would discuss a system of traffic control at Mansell Gamage and a weight limit on the bridge at Moorhampton.
The meeting was advised that the Clerk had written to Herefordshire Council about the safety of horses being ridden on the Madley to Bridge Sollars road and also about safety when driving out of premises at the Barns in Mansell Gamage. He advised that the only reply he had received was a confirmation of his letters.
A letter had been written to Herefordshire Council asking them to consider a 40mph speed limit on the A438 where the agricultural opening could be used as the entrance for the Community Centre. The reply was that this request would be put through the standard procedure.
Page. One Hundred and Thirty Nine.
Matters Arising (continued)
The Clerk had also written to Land Registry at Telford regarding the triangle of land opposite the Lady Southampton Chapel. He had paid Land Registry £5 to be advised that the plot of land was not registered.
They had advised caution if we intended to proceed with registration. The Clerk said that he had contacted Herefordshire Council to ascertain if there were any legal documents to prove that the land had been passed to the Parish Council. The Manager of the department concerned was on holiday and we await his return.
Finally the Clerk reported that the application to Herefordshire Council for a 30mph speed limit through the village of Bishopstone was being processed and that speed strips were laid on the road.
Planning Applications.
Herefordshire
Council planning gave permission for Scaldbach Cottage, Bishopstone. HR4 7JG to
demolish the existing single storey at rear entrance and erect a two storey
extension and porch.
Our own planning
committee considered the proposed construction of a flood relief culvert from
the Yazor Brook at Credenhill to the River Wye, including an offtake weir
adjacent to Credenhill Community centre and an energy dissipation chamber and
outfall to the River Wye on land at Old Weir Farm. There were no objections.
They considered a proposal to renew the welsh slate roof on the Lady Southampton Chapel, Kenchester HR4 7QJ using the existing slates and had no objections.
Village Plan
Reports.
Councillor J Verry reported that three pot holes required attention on the lane leading to Bunshill Farm, Bishopstone and that Herefordshire Council had not completed the tasks already given to them regarding drains on the road between Bishopstone and Kenchester. This prompted other councillors to register their disappointment at jobs not yet done and the Clerk promised to clear all work with “Street Scene”.
Councillor S Hubbard reported that the NBCCC still waited for the completion of a document from the Chancellor of Hereford Diocese.
Councillor P Redshaw reported that with the delivery of wheelie bins to all households that this was the last item to clear the Village Plan on collection of waste from our five villages. The Clerk was asked to write to Herefordshire Council about their collection plans from Bishon Lane, Bishopstone.
Councillor C Draper asked permission of the Chairman to ask the Group Parish Council for a donation to Staunton-on-Wye Junior School. After a short discussion it was agreed that we should support the school by purchasing something that they will use following a suggestion by councillor S Knights. Councillor C Draper will report back.
Accounts.
The meeting approved the payment of the following……….
The External Auditors charge of £80.50,
The £40cost of booking the Parish Freighter for Bishopstone in October,
The charge £153 for producing and distributing the September Newsletter,
The cost of renewing the Website Host subscription of £36.70.
Page One Hundred and Forty.
BT Telephone
Kiosks.
The meeting discussed the renewed attempt by BT for the Parish Council to accept their offer to “adopt” the kiosks within the Group. It was agreed unanimously that we adopt the Bishopstone box and allow BT to remove the Byford and Bridge Sollars boxes.
West Midlands
Regional Spatial Strategy.
Councillor C Draper addressed the meeting and said that she had read the document and responded by computer on behalf of the Parish Group. She said the questions appeared to be relevant only to their requirements and that the answers offered no middle road. She thought that the time span given for a response to this important document was dubious given that it was during the summer holiday period. The whole document, in her opinion, offered only the opinion of a person living in Birmingham. She offered the meeting the opportunity for all to read her responses and hoped that she had truly given the Parish Councils view.
Correspondence.
Clerks and Councils DIRECT magazine.
Local policing news from West Mercia Police.
Herefordshire Partnership’s Quarterly Economic Bulletin, August 2009.
Citizens Advice Bureau asking for a donation. Rejected by the meeting.
Confirmation of Parish Freighter booking for Bishopstone on Saturday 24 October between 11am and 1pm.
Letter from Herefordshire Council about “Changes to the Mobile Library Service”.
Email from Herefordshire Council with an invitation to attend a Symposium on “Landscapes for Towns and Villages” at the Courtyard on Tuesday 22 September from 10am to 4.30pm with free lunch.
Herefordshire Council asking for an “Emergency Co-Ordinator” for the Parish Group. The meeting gave the Clerk permission to advertise the post.
The next meeting was arranged for Thursday 12 November 2009 starting at
7.30pm in The Portway Inn Hotel, Staunton-on-Wye.