LINTON PARISH COUNCIL
Bromsash Gorsley and Linton
Minutes Of The Meeting Held On 9th
February 2004
Present:
Cllr Richard Smith, Chairman
Cllr Jean Foley, Vice Chairman
Cllr Rob Crawford
Cllr
Cllr Audrey Duke
Cllr
Cllr
Brian Atherton (Clerk)
7 Parishioners attended.
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Minute Item |
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Action |
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1 |
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Apologies |
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1.1 |
Cllrs Keith Summers and Gary Woodman. |
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2 |
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Declarations of Interest |
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2.1 |
None. |
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3 |
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Minutes of the Meeting Held on 12th January 2004 |
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3.1 |
Proposed by Cllr Jean
Foley, seconded by Cllr Rob Crawford and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED
that these be signed unchanged. |
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4 |
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Matters
arising therefrom not covered in the Agenda
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4.1 |
Wall and Gates Beyond Revell’s Barn: No application had been submitted for the land behind but CHDC’s
enforcement officer, Ken Matthews, has determined that the wall contravenes
regulations as it fronts a highway and exceeds 1 metre in height. (2 metres
is the maximum without permission if the wall is not on a highway). He had
not determined the owner but the Clerk was able to give a name to whom CHDC
will now write. |
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4.2 |
Suspect Change of Use - Jessamine Cottage in
Gorsley: Note that the name is Jessamine, not Jasmine. The same CHDC officer
has determined the owners who have said that they will be making a
retrospective application. CHDC will pursue the matter. |
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4.3 |
Anti Dog Fouling Notices: The Dog Warden is still waiting for CHDC’s legal department to post
the statutory notices. |
The Clerk |
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4.4 |
Letter re Mr J Colyer: The Clerk reported that he had written to CHDC’s Graham Dunhill as
per Council’s agreed draft but, to date, had not received a reply. |
The Clerk |
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4.5 |
Linton Quarry: The Management Agreement with English Nature requires Council to
inform them of any work done but does not charge them with any contribution
to the costs. The Clerk will write, explaining the tree felling done and, at
the same time, remind English Nature that Council is still waiting for action
arising out of the 2003 meeting on site. |
The Clerk |
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4.6 |
West Midlands Passenger Transport Users Forum: A response had been sent as decided at the previous meeting. At the
time of this meeting, there had not been a reply but Paul Keetch MP had asked
to be kept informed. (Clerks Note: A reply to Council’s letter was received
on Wednesday, Feb 11th and has been copied to all Councillors and
Paul Keetch MP.) |
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4.7 |
Lack of Consultation re Cultural Strategy: The letter was
sent and the reply was circulated to Council prior to this meeting. |
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5 |
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Lengthsman Project |
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5.1 |
The litter around the motorway exits, brought to Council’s attention at the last meeting, had been exposed by CHDC roadside maintenance activities. The Lengthsman had promptly cleared up. |
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5.2 |
Drainage of the B4221 on the school playing field side is via a ditch and then a pipe under the road, into the woods on the west side. Ditches and pipe were obstructed as were the storm water drains in the road. The Lengthsman has cleared the drains and dug gullies from the road surface to the ditch. The ditch and pipe appear to be draining satisfactorily, despite the obstructions. |
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5.3 |
The Chairman noted that a tree in Quarry lane that had concerned him had been inspected and found to be safe. The Lengthsman had cut Ivy threatening the tree. |
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5.4 |
Cllr Ken Downham asked whether anything more had happened with the overgrowth along the lane from Shuttons Cross to the Alma. The Clerk explained that CHDC had refused to sanction the work and had not responded to further entreaties. Cllr Downham asked for a contact name in CHDC. |
The Clerk |
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5.5 |
Cllr John Foley said that he had received favourable comments about the work at Talbot’s Well; the History Society is considering the erection of a descriptive plaque. |
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5.6 |
Cllr Jean Foley said that during her visit to CHDC’s Council Tax Road show in Ross, CHDC officers had intimated that the Lengthsman initiative is receiving considerable support. The Clerk reported that Cllr Harry Bramer had promised to lobby on Council’s behalf and that the decision date is said to be “by February 29th”. |
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6 |
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Allotments: Entrance Mud, Water
Supply and Gate |
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6.1 |
Entrance Mud |
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6.1.1 |
Proposed by Cllr Audrey Duke, seconded by Cllr Ken Downham and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED that the allotment fund will pay up to £25 for scalpings provided that the Lengthsman does the excavation and laying work. |
The Clerk |
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6.2 |
Water Supply |
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6.2.1 |
Earlier indications, on the advice of the Tuderville Allotments, that the charge from Welsh Water is a mere £40 p.a. proved unfounded. The Clerk will obtain full quotations from Welsh Water and the suppliers of water tanks and ancillary equipment, for the next meeting. |
The Clerk |
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6.3 |
Gate |
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6.3.1 |
The Clerk tabled an earlier quote from G A Luther for £480. After discussion it was decided to ask the allotment holders, at the next rent renewal, whether they wished the work to be done. |
The Clerk |
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7 |
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Clerk’s Computer Costs and AQA Registration |
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7.1 |
Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved by four votes to three with one abstention, IT WAS AGREED that from January 1st 2004 the Clerk will charge £16.48 per month towards costs of the use of his computer for Council business. |
The Clerk |
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7.2 |
Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Jean Foley and approved by six votes to two, IT WAS AGREED to pay the £55 registration fee, plus occasional module training fees, for the Clerk to work towards achieving AQA accreditation. |
The Clerk |
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8 |
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Accounts,
Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts |
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8.1 |
Cllr Jean Foley reported
that she has satisfied Lloyds TSB Bank’s conditions to be a signatory of the
account. The Clerk will now arrange that TSB makes automatic transfers of
Council’s current account surpluses to the deposit account, to make interest
earnings on surplus funds. |
The Clerk |
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8.2 |
Proposed by Cllr Richard
Smith, seconded by Cllr John Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to
adopt the accounts to date. |
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8.3 |
Proposed by Cllr Richard Smith, seconded by Cllr Ken Downham and
approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to pay the following accounts and the
cheques were duly signed. |
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AP163 |
Clerk's
AQA Registration |
12-Jan-04 |
55.00 |
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AP164 |
Hire
of Linton Village Hall for May to November |
13-Jan-04 |
30.00 |
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AP165 |
Lengthsman
for December |
13-Jan-04 |
284.00 |
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AP166 |
Parish
Project - Talbot's Well |
20-Jan-04 |
480.00 |
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AP167 |
Lengthsman
for January |
03-Feb-04 |
284.00 |
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AP168 |
Clerk's
Salary for January 2004 |
09-Feb-04 |
187.20 |
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AP169 |
Clerk's
Expenses for January 2004 |
09-Feb-04 |
33.05 |
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AP170 |
Lengthsman
Administrator's Fee for January 2004 |
09-Feb-04 |
28.40 |
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AP171 |
Web
Master's Time in January 2004 |
09-Feb-04 |
32.76 |
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AP172 |
Parish
Plan Questionnaire Time in January 2004 |
09-Feb-04 |
222.69 |
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9 |
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Gorsley Village Hall VAT Recovery Scheme |
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9.1 |
The Clerk reported that HALC had re-iterated their previous opinion
that the scheme is legal, citing its use over several years without question.
Cllr Jean Foley said that this conflicts with earlier opinions and that she
will pursue it with HALC. Meanwhile, Council decided to proceed with the
scheme. |
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10 |
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Working Party Reports
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10.1 |
Planning |
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10.1.1 |
P102. DCSE2004/0030/F.
Erection of garage. Penyard View, Linton Hill, Ross, HR9 7RS. Council
supports. |
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10.1.2 |
P103. DCSE2004/0132/F.
Retention of conservation pond. Land at Darnells Farm, Linton, HR9 7SQ.
Council Opposes on the following grounds: The location is too close
to the adjoining land boundary. The pond is built on a
slope; the retaining earth wall is leaking, making adjoining land waterlogged,
and is dangerous. The application is
retrospective. |
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10.1.3 |
P95. DCSE2003/2714/F. Use
of part of agricultural store for storage of timber. Great Woodend Farm,
Linton, HR9 7SR. Permission granted on 30/12/03. |
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10.1.4 |
P100. DCSE2003/3336/F.
First floor extension and enclosure of porch. Bridge House, Bromsash, HR9
7PN. Permission granted on 31/12/03. |
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10.2 |
Footpaths |
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10.2.1 |
Cllr John Foley reported on a joint venture with
Gorsley & Kilcot Parish Council over linking footpaths going on to Upton Bishop.
There will be a preliminary survey by some interested parties. |
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10.2.2 |
There will be
a meeting on Feb 27th, involving the Scouts. A footpaths walk is scheduled
for the 6th March. |
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11 |
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Planning Procedure - proposed ‘agenda
questions’ |
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11.1 |
Cllr Ken Downham tabled
proposed points to be raised with CHDC’s senior planning officials. Cllr John
Foley tabled some additional points and Council decided that the Clerk should
write to invite attendance at an early routine meeting of the Council, the
letter mentioning the points to be discussed. |
The Clerk |
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12 |
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Chairman’s Announcements |
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12.1 |
At the recent
meeting of the Rural Police/Community Consultative Group, it was announced
that funding has been agreed for ten more bulletin boards like the pilot in
Gorsley Post Office and Stores. Community Speedwatch is now going ahead in
the Parish. The new Divisional Commander is Chief Supt Kevin Bentley. |
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12.2 |
The B4221 Road
Action Group has distributed a questionnaire in Gorsley and the Chairman has
responded from his personal viewpoint. |
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13 |
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Correspondence
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13.1 |
The following documents
have been received: |
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D1146 |
17/01/2004 |
Note
on the Lengthsman Position (contains nothing new) |
CHDC |
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D1147 |
19/01/2004 |
Copy
of the Linton Quarry Management Agreement |
English
Nature |
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D1148 |
19/01/2004 |
G&K
Planning Committee Minutes |
G&K
PC |
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D1149 |
21/01/2004 |
Keypoint
Licence Agreement |
Herefordshire
Partnership |
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D1150 |
22/01/2004 |
SHALC
Meetings in 2004 |
HALC |
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D1151 |
23/01/2004 |
Consultation
on Economic Development Strategy on February 5th |
CHDC |
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D1152 |
23/01/2004 |
Formal
acknowledgement of precept |
CHDC |
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24/01/2004 |
Community
Building Grant |
Gorsley
Village Hall |
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D1154 |
29/01/2004 |
Notification
that Lisa Bedford is Leaving |
Herefordshire
Partnership |
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D1155 |
29/01/2004 |
Winter
Gritting Leaflet |
CHDC |
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31-Jan-04 |
Birds
for People for Ever - Seeking Volunteers |
RSPB |
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31/01/2004 |
It's
What We Do - Introducing a Video |
West
Mercia Police |
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02/02/2004 |
Warning
of Election Costs for 1st May 2003 |
CHDC |
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04/02/2004 |
Lifelong
Learning in Rural Communities - Conference on Feb 27th |
CHDC |
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D1160 |
04/02/2004 |
We
Want Broadband posters |
Herefordshire
Partnership |
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D1161 |
04/02/2004 |
Ledbury
& Ross Bus & Train Timetables |
CHDC |
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D1162 |
04/02/2004 |
Schedule
of Meetings |
CHDC |
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D1163 |
04/02/2004 |
Forward
Plan |
CHDC |
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D1164 |
04/02/2004 |
Street
Works Schedule |
CHDC |
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D1165 |
04/02/2004 |
Funding
Directory |
Herefordshire
Partnership |
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D1166 |
04/02/2004 |
News
Letter |
Herefordshire
Partnership |
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D1167 |
04/02/2004 |
Creating
a Splash |
CHDC |
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06/02/2004 |
Response
to our complaint re short notice of consultation - cultural strategy |
CHDC |
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D1169 |
06/02/2004 |
UDP
Proposed changes to draft. |
CHDC |
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D1170 |
06/02/2004 |
Database
Questionnaire |
Community
First |