SELLACK PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2025
IN SELLACK PARISH HALL AT 7.00PM
Present: Parish Councillors S. Aitken (Chair), M. Robinson, E. Crowe and J. Marshall (Vice Chair)
In attendance: Claire Vaughan (Clerk)
Residents: None
Before commencing the meeting, the Clerk asked if the Parish Council would consent to her audio recording the meeting, to assist with note taking. All Councillors agreed to this.
1. Apologies
Elissa Swinglehurst, Ward Member (Herefordshire Council)
2. Declarations of Interest
None received.
3. Co-option – to consider any applications received for co-option onto the Parish Council
None received.
4. Open Public Session
4.1. Resident views: The Chairperson advised that both the Clerk and Chair had received an email from a resident concerned about the condition of Church Road. Both the Clerk and Chair had responded to the resident to advise of the recent condition assessment carried out by the Locality Steward.
The Chair advised that another resident had been in touch to advise of the growing issue of navigation systems directing vehicles down the Caradoc bridlepath, when trying to get to the Church. One councillor advised that the resident could log this issue with Google. The Chair advised that the resident had asked the Parish Council to lobby to Herefordshire Council to add a road sign to the bridle path entrance to state ‘no vehicular access’. The Clerk advised that she would add this to the Forward Plan for future discussion.
4.2. Ward Member Report: Noted. The Chair emphasised the reference Elissa made to budgeting for future years and that Parish Councils should plan for reduced lengthsman grants going forward.
5. To adopt minutes of the meetings held on 9th September 2025
It was RESOLVED to approve and adopt the minutes of the ordinary meeting of Council, held on 9th September.
The minutes were then signed by the Chairperson.
To review any outstanding actions:
Remembrance Event on Sat 8th November – the Chair provided a brief update on the event, which did not include an optional walk this time. The Clerk added the item to the Forward Plan for a decision on whether to make this an annual event going forward and, if so, to factor in appropriate planning times and schedule. The Chair advised that a collection was taken for the Royal British Legion (this was counted after the meeting, by both the Chair and Clerk) and the amount was confirmed as £122.00.
6. Parish Council Assets
6.1. Backney Bridge Picnic Site (BBPS)
6.1.1. Update on repairs and to thank volunteers – The Chair advised that the two new posts that were installed to block vehicle access to the grass area had disappeared, so the Chair advised that these would be replaced with an additional barrier installed over the posts, which could be removed if access is required in the future. The Parish Council thanked the volunteers for their support with this project, to repair the wooden car park barriers. It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would set up a Bradford trading account, to assist with future works on the site. Cllr Marshall gave an update on the volunteer day, with good progress made on removing brambles and painting the guard rail. It was RESOLVED to ensure that all volunteers read and adhere to the volunteer risk assessment before taking part and the Council agreed to review the risk assessment regarding strimming. The Parish Council thanked the volunteers who took part in the volunteer day. Cllr Marshall advised that the BBPS Working Group would take place on 24th November (online).
Council RESOLVED to purchase more paint to complete the painting of the viewing point guard rail.
6.1.2. Habitat Regulation Assessment – update and to agree next steps for application for tree works to Natural England – the Chair confirmed that she had completed a response for this, which has been sent to Natural England with the request to coppice the riverside trees every 2-3 years, which the Parish Council is content with. The Parish Council is awaiting a response from Natural England.
6.2. Benches – update on repairs to coronation bench – no update at present but the Council RESOLVED to agree that they were content to pay the additional amount to galvanise the bench, if deemed appropriate by the repairer.
6.3. War Memorial – the Chair advised that the long-term volunteer is no longer able to continue to look after the Memorial and she took a moment to thank them for their many years care for the memorial. The Chair advised that a new volunteer had come forward.
6.4. Consider any potential risks to Parish Council assets – no further items were mentioned.
7. Parish Footpath Officer and Lengthsman
7.1. Parish Lengthsman Update
7.1.1. Update on the Council’s application for the Herefordshire Council 2025/26 Drainage Grant Funding Scheme – the Clerk advised that a response had not yet been received from Herefordshire Council. The Clerk has shared this delay with the Ward Member, as the Parish Council does have some concerns about any work not being able to be completed during the winter months.
7.2. Parish Footpath Officer Update (Cllr Mark Robinson): Cllr Robinson advised that he had liaised with the landowner re: SK11 uneven path through the woodland and had asked Herefordshire Council to survey that section of the path. The Parish Footpath Officer has recommended that a temporary path diversion be put in place, which the landowner is content with.
7.2.1. To consider the draft application for the Herefordshire Council 2025/26 Public Rights of Way Grant Funding Scheme – the Clerk has submitted an application to Herefordshire Council for gates and is awaiting a response.
7.2.2. Sellack War Memorial Trail:
7.2.2.1. To agree and approve the final proof of the Information Board draft –
Council RESOLVED to make the following changes:
– remove the photographs from the draft and replace with labels to mark Sellack Bridge and War Memorial.
– replace text with ‘men of Sellack who lost’ rather than ‘that’.
– move marker 13 slightly, to the fence line.
7.2.2.2. To consider funding options to purchase the Information Boards – deferred item.
7.2.2.3. To receive update on permissions to site Information Boards – the Clerk advised that the Parish Council has received approval from the Herefordshire Council PROW team to site one information board on the PROW, subject to it being professionally installed and it not being installed in a position which causes an obstruction to users. The Council will need to apply for a noticeboard licence to site a board alongside a highway (Church Road).
7.3. Review any defects to be raised with and receive updates on work requests from Herefordshire Council – the Chair took Agenda Item 12.1 at this point in the meeting, advising that the Locality Steward has agreed that Church Road needs resurfacing and that Sellack Marsh Road and the C1270 at Lower Grove Common (pond area) need some patching work. Since that visit, responding to a resident query, the Locality Steward has returned to the Lower Grove area and raised some further reactive repairs, which the Clerk has responded to the resident about.
8. Finances
8.1. To agree and approve the latest bank reconciliation for Q2 – Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for Q2. Appendix 1
8.1.1. Cllr Marshall confirmed receipt and review of bank statements for September 2025, as part of Council’s Financial Regulations. Cllr Marshall signed the bank statements to confirm reviewed.
8.2. To consider and approve the budget and precept requirement for 2026-27 alongside the updated Reserves Policy (also for approval)
A detailed discussion took place on each line of the draft budget produced, with some amendments made to the suggested amounts. Council RESOLVED to finalise the budget and set the precept at the January meeting.
8.3. Council noted receipt of income since the previous meeting:
8.3.1. HCC Creditors – Precept PT2 2025/26 – £7250
8.4. Council noted any payments made since previous meeting, under delegated authority, as follows:
8.4.1. Unity Trust Service Charge (Account Fee) – £6 per month for September and October 2025. Automatically deducted from account.
8.4.2. Wreath for Remembrance Day Event – £24.49 (approved at September 2025 meeting)
8.4.3. Walford Timber supplies for BBPS car park barriers – £464.49 plus VAT (approved at September 2025 meeting)
8.5. Council considered and RESOLVED to approve and pay the following invoices for payment:
8.5.1. Clerk’s Salary for October and November 2025
8.5.2. Lengthsman Maintenance Day 2 – Inv TGC3536 – £489.30 plus VAT
8.5.3. Flying Colours Newsletter Printing and Delivery – Inv 15435 – £78.00.
8.5.4. Autela Payroll Services (Aug-Nov) – Inv 16463 – £72.50 plus VAT
8.5.5. HMRC Q3 – £351.64
8.6. Consider any financial risks to the Parish Council.
9. To consider signing up to the new Charter for Herefordshire Councils
Council RESOLVED to sign up to the Charter. Appendix 3
10. Communications
Council RESOLVED to include newsletter items as individual posts on Facebook.
11. To note items arising after the preparation of this Agenda which the Chairman agrees to take as urgent. Such matters will be for noting only or deferral to a future meeting.
None noted.
12. Correspondence – for consideration
12.1. Sakura tree project – Council RESOLVED to include this item on the BBPS Working Group agenda. Cllr Marshall queried whether BBPS would provide enough light for the tree, so the Parish Council suggested that Sellack Marsh may be an appropriate site, pending commoner approval.
13. Clerk’s information sheet and correspondence – for noting
13.1. Bank statements – noted
14. A resolution was passed to exclude the press and public from the following confidential item – at 20.50.
14.1. To consider the clerk’s salary review and NALC national pay increase – Council RESOLVED to award the clerk the national pay-rise backdated to 1st April 2025 as per her contract.
14.2. To consider the benefits of holding General Power of Competence (GPOC) and having a CiLCA qualified Clerk – Council noted that the Chair would be carrying out the Clerk’s appraisal shortly. Council RESOLVED to remain content with not having GPOC but to keep this under review.
The meeting reopened to the public at 20:56.
15. Future meetings:
15.1. Council noted the forward plan and raised any items for future meetings
15.2. Council noted the date of the next meeting: Ordinary Meeting of Parish Council, Tues 13th January 2025, 7pm at Sellack Parish Hall
Meeting closed at 21:00