SELLACK PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF SCHEDULED MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 13TH JULY 2021
IN SELLACK VILLAGE HALL AT 8PM
Present: Cllrs Mark Whittal (Chair), Sarah Aitken, Nick Washington and Paul Franklin
In attendance: Mrs Claire Vaughan (Clerk) via remote access. Terry Griffiths (Parish Lengthsman).
Residents: None.
1. Apologies were received from Cllr Mark Robinson.
1.1 County Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst was unable to attend.
2.Declarations of Interests – There were none.
3.Minutes of meeting held on 26th May 2021
It was RESOLVED to adopt the above minutes, subject to the following amendment:
3.1 Councillor Aitken’s name was removed from those present and added to those who had given apologies.
The minutes were then signed by the Chairman.
4.Welcome to new Parish Clerk
The new Parish Clerk was welcomed to the parish and it was noted that her contract contained a commitment to undertake CiLCA training.
Agenda Item 9 brought forward: Parish Footpath Officer and Lengthsman Report
The Chair agreed to move agenda item 9.2 to accommodate the Lengthsman.
9.1 Cllr M Robinson, Parish Footpath Officer, was not present but provided the following update:
9.1.1 The outstanding items reported on the following footpaths, are still to be completed by the Lengthsman, who was present for the discussion.
9.1.2 SK8– the post with the round marker on it has snapped at the bottom, making it unstable to open and close the wooden gate – still needs to be fixed.
9.1.3 Footpaths SK10/SK11 (through the woods – from the Lough Pool Pub to the church, and the back of Lawless Cottage) – the weather affected vegetation growth needs cutting back asap as it is very difficult to walk through the woods at present.
9.1.4 Wooden stiles – It was RESOLVED that the council would inform the Lengthsman of the type of gates and self-closing mechanism proposed to replace present stiles, in order for him to hold informal discussions with the landowner, pending the latter’s formal written approval to the parish council.
9.2 It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would await a final list of works/invoices from T Griffiths before finalising the drainage grant invoice for Balfour Beatty by 31st
9.3 It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would contact Balfour Beatty to request that funding be made available until the end of this financial year. To make the Ward Cllr aware of the issues in getting the work done in the last financial year due to Covid.
9.4 It was RESOLVED that the Lenthsman (on behalf of the clerk) would report the collapsed grid at Loughpool to Balfour
9.5 It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would review the previous decision on S106 rights of way monies and update the Lengthsman accordingly.
9.6 It was RESOLVED that Councillor Whittal would check that the pond at Lower Grove is within the curtilage in order for the Lengthsman to carry out work
5.Backney Bridge Picnic Site (BBPS) and Backney Common (BC)
5.1 There was no further update on the picnic site. The Council discussed whether another volunteer day or a fundraising event would be beneficial but RESOLVED to discuss this further at the next meeting.
5.2 The Council RESOLVED to defer making a decision on the quotation for writing a development plan for BBPS.
5.3 There was no further update on Backney Common.
6.Website redesign
The Council received an update on the prototype site developed by Cllr Washington. Councillors and the clerk had emailed comments to Cllr Washington in advance of the meeting.
Cllr Washington confirmed that councillors and the clerk would all have administration rights to website.
A discussion took place on the benefits of a gov.uk URL and the Council RESOLVED to defer making a decision on the website until Cllr Washington had found out whether the host site could adopt such a URL and the cost associated with it. Cllr Washington to also confirm upfront and ongoing costs associated with the host site.
The Council thanked Cllr Washington for his work on the prototype site to date.
7. Open Public Session
7.1 Views of Local Residents – There were no residents present to raise views.
Cllr Franklin confirmed that he had logged and addressed the resident issue raised regarding Loughpool pond.
7.2 Report from County Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst
7.2.1 Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst had circulated her monthly report.
8.Finance
8.1The Council noted the bank balance as £11593.07 on 4/7/21.
8.2The Council noted payment of the following invoices under the Clerk’s delegated powers:
8.2.1 Outgoing Clerks K Hughes final salary.
8.2.2 Clare Perez – Internal Audit – £80.
8.2.3 Hire of Sellack Village Hall on 26/5/21 Inv 002 – £20.
8.2.4 HMRC months 1-3 for outgoing Clerk K Hughes – £199.80.
8.3Invoices for payment:
8.3.1 It was RESOLVED to pay Autela Payroll Services invoice 6286 for £43.50+VAT.
8.3.2Terry Griffiths contracts invoiceTGC1527 – £2000+VAT: It was RESOLVED to delay payment of this invoice, pending receipt of the drainage grant.
8.4 It was RESOLVED to include information on annual forecasts at future meetings in order to confirm that finances are on track for the year.
9.Reports from Parish Footpaths Officer, Lengthsman & P3 Scheme
See above, following agenda item 4.
10.Planning
No new planning applications had been received.
11.Updates:
11.1Village Hall – It was agreed that the noticeboard be painted rather than replaced. Clerk to advise the Village Hall.
11.2Speeding issues on road by Picts Cross/Loughpool – It was RESOLVED to discuss this at a future meeting.
11.3WW1 Plaques – It was RESOLVED to discuss this at a future meeting
12.Information Sheet
Parish Councillors noted the Information Sheet which included:
11.1 Herefordshire Council Leader’s Update.
11.2 Talk Communities Newsletter
13. It was RESOLVED that the following items be included in future agendas:
13.1Safer Roads Partnership recommendations
13.2Talk Community/CLOVER project (Cllr Aitken).
13.3Good Neighbour Scheme
14. Next Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday 14th September at 8.15pm at Sellack Parish Hall.
It was RESOLVED to return to bi-monthly meetings of the parish council.
Meeting closed at 22:36