SELLACK PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF SCHEDULED MEETING HELD ON
TUESDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2021
IN SELLACK VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30PM
Present: Parish Councillors Mark Whittal (Chair), Mark Robinson (Vice Chair), Nick Washington and Paul Franklin. Ward Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst (for part)
In attendance: Claire Vaughan (Clerk)
Residents: None.
1. Apologies
1.1 Cllr Sarah Aitken (work related absence) and Terry Griffiths, parish lengthsman were unable to attend.
2. Declarations of Interests – There were none.
3. Minutes of meeting held on 14th September 2021
It was RESOLVED to adopt the above minutes, subject to the following amendment:
3.1 Item 7 to read ‘It was RESOLVED to approve and adopt the following policies:’
The minutes were then signed by the Chairman.
4. Report from County Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst
Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst presented her October report to Council. Council noted the report and a brief discussion took place on the current bus service provision. Cllr Swinglehurst advised that a strategy is being developed by Herefordshire Council and encouraged the parish council to continue lobbying the cabinet member for transport with regards to the No. 44 bus service.
5. Open Public Session
There were no residents present to raise views. Cllr Robinson advised that he had received correspondence from one resident concerned with the lack of water in the Loughpool. The parish council AGREED to continue monitoring this.
6. Report from Parish Footpath Officer and Lengthsman
6.1 Parish Footpath Officer update – The Parish Footpath Officer, Cllr Mark Robinson, advised that he had emailed the list of the three priority stiles (raised at previous meeting) that needed replacement to the parish lengthsman.
6.2 Parish lengthsman update – The parish lengthsman was not present but council RESOLVED to request an update from him on the six outstanding drainage grant jobs and the three stile replacements (see 6.1). Cllr Robinson reminded Council that they had received 106 monies for footpath work in June 2020 (the amount was later confirmed by the clerk as £1075).
6.3 Work programme for Parish lengthsman – Council had no further work requests for the parish lengthsman, apart from those raised under Item 6.2.
6.4 Council did not have any defects to raise with Balfour Beatty.
6.5 Salt restocking of grit bins – Council RESOLVED to take delivery of four 250kg bags from Balfour Beatty and to store them at the Chairman’s residence until such a time as parish councillors can restock grit bins located within the parish. Council RESOLVED to report damages to three grit bins located between The Loughpool Inn and Picts Cross and request replacements from Balfour Beatty. Ward Cllr Swinglehurst left the meeting after this item.
7. Finances
7.1 Parish precept – Council RESOLVED to set the Precept at £11,000 for 2022-23 (an increase of 15.8% from 2021.22).
7.2 The Council noted the bank balance as £21,768.42 on 9/11/21. Council noted that just under £9,000 of this was earmarked for drainage works, following payment receipt from Herefordshire Council.
7.3 Invoices for payment – it was RESOLVED to pay the following invoices:
7.3.1 Clerks C Vaughan salary – October and November
7.3.2 Herefordshire Association of Local Councils Clerk training – £400.00 plus VAT
7.3.3 Eyelid Productions Website development and annual website support – £650.00
7.3.4 Wel Medical Defib Electrode Pad replacements – £41.95 plus VAT
7.3.5 Terry Griffiths contracts Public Rights of Way (PROW) works – £344.00 plus VAT
7.4 No immediate financial risks were identified.
8. To approve and adopt the following new or updated policies
Council RESOLVED to approve the following:
8.1 Photo and video permission form for Sellack Parish Council (new)
8.2.Council gave permission for the parish clerk to review the council’s standing orders and financial regulations and to bring any recommended updates to the next meeting.
9. Backney Bridge Picnic Site (BBPS)
9.1. There was no further update on the picnic site.
9.2. BBPS working group – It was agreed at the previous meeting of the parish council that a working group would be formed and that Cllr Aitken would chair that group. As agreed at the previous meeting of the parish council, a draft terms of reference for the working group was submitted to parish council for approval. Council RESOLVED to approve the draft terms of reference with membership comprising of Cllrs Aitken and Robinson and the parish clerk. Council RESOLVED to contact all members of the backney bridge picnic site volunteers group to ask if they would like to join the working group. It was RESOLVED to arrange the first meeting of the working group for January/February 2022.
10. Communications
10.1 The parish clerk advised that the new website www.sellackparishcouncil.gov.uk was now live but added that a note had been added to the homepage to advise users that the site was ‘under construction’. The parish clerk confirmed that the Parish council’s new Facebook page was also live and encouraged members to follow it at www.facebook.com/Sellack-Parish-Council-101177158993148/ Council RESOLVED to write to the previous website’s coordinator to thank them for their work on the website and to ask for the website to be closed down.
10.2 The parish clerk asked Council to send any additions for the new website or Facebook page to her.
11. Planning
11.1 The following planning application was discussed:
11.1.1 Planning Application 213927/PA7, The Grove Farm, HR9 6LZ. Construction of two winter fill, water storage reservoirs for irrigation – reply by 19 November. The Council AGREED that they had no objections to the application. Clerk to reply.
11.2 The Council noted the planning applications received and decisions made from Herefordshire Council since the last meeting.
12. To receive an update (if time permits) on:
12.1. Queens platinum jubilee tree planting – Council RESOLVED to discuss at the next meeting, when Cllr Aitken is present.
12.2. WW1/2 Plaques, War Memorial and Wreath – It was RESOLVED to include an armistice link on the Parish Council website (once developed) including the stories and walking route created. Council AGREED to contact the local volunteer and thank her for her work in taking care of the memorial and for purchasing the wreath on behalf of the parish council.
12.3. Defibrillator – the parish clerk confirmed that the electrode pads had now been replaced and were due for renewal again in 2024. Council RESOLVED to check the defibrillator at the start of future parish council meetings. The parish clerk confirmed that she had made contact with the British Heart Foundation to change the guardianship details for the defibrillator to the clerk, on behalf of the parish council.
12.4. Village Hall public noticeboard – Cllr Robinson confirmed that he would varnish the board.
12.5. Speeding issues on road by Picts Cross/Loughpool – Cllr Robinson confirmed that the parish clerk had returned a community commissioning assessment request form to Balfour Beatty requesting a quote for slow markings and was awaiting a response.
12.6. Bus service – The parish clerk advised that the Cabinet Member for Transport at Herefordshire Council had acknowledged the parish council’s letter regarding the No.44 bus service and a copy of his response was included in report packs. The parish clerk added that the Chairman of Kings Caple Parish council had sent a response to the clerk to advise that their parish council had also raised concerns with Herefordshire Council.
13. Clerk’s Information Sheet
The Parish Council noted the correspondence received and Clerk’s information sheet.
13.1 Flooding – The parish clerk advised that Cllr Swinglehurst had circulated the Environment Agency’s email regarding flood risk management plans with the current action for the Severn Flood basin district being to await Herefordshire Council’s flood risk management strategy review.
14. Matters arising after the preparation of this agenda
None.
15. Future meetings
15.1 It was RESOLVED that the following items be included on future agendas:
15.1.1. Finance and Environment working groups (carried over from September meeting).
15.2 Council noted the date, time and venue of the next meeting (see Item 16).
15.3 Council RESOLVED to agree the dates, times and venue for parish council meetings in 2022 as follows – all at 7.30pm at Sellack Village Hall.
15.3.1 Tues 11 Jan, 8 March, 12 July, 13 September, 8 November and 10 January 2023.
16. Next Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday 11th January 2022 at 7.30pm at Sellack Village Hall.
Meeting closed at 21:30.