UNADOPTED

LINTON PARISH COUNCIL

Bromsash Gorsley and Linton

Minutes Of The Meeting Held On December 12^th 2005

In Gorsley Village Hall At 7:30 p.m.

Present:

Cllr Jean Foley, Chairman

Cllr Keith Summers

Cllr John Foley

Cllr John Wheble

Cllr Rob Crawford

Cllr Margaret Pearce

Cllr Ken Downham

Annette Steele (Clerk)

6 Parishioners attended.

Minute Item			Action
1		Apologies
	1.1	Cllrs Richard Smith , Audrey Duke and Gary Woodman

2		Declarations of Interest
	2.1	Cllrs Rob Crawford & Keith Summers in the Linton basketball project.
	2.2	Cllr John Wheble in a Planning Issue.

3		Minutes of the Meeting Held on 7th November 2005
	3.1	These were accepted without change and duly signed by the Chairman.

4		Matters arising therefrom not covered in the Agenda
	4.1	PC Jonathan Roberts will advise the Clerk if & when he can attend future meetings.
	4.2	The telephone box by the Alma in Linton is now on BT’s re-painting list for 2006.

5		Parish Plan Implementation
	5.1	Cllr.John Wheble said that he has had discussions with Local Authority Youth Workers to try and make improvements for the youth of the area.

6		The Future of Linton Quarry
	6.1	Cllr.John Foley said that he has received a letter from English Nature offering to fence in the Quarry & footpath. There is an ongoing problem with rubbish being dumped and this should act as a deterrent. They would like to discuss access to the Quarry and study groups for educational purposes. Long-term there are issues over the management and ownership of the Quarry, but this is a separate issue to be discussed with the Earth Trust. It WAS AGREED unanimously that English Nature should carry out this work. Cllr John Foley will e-mail Francis Flanagan to confirm this and also to arrange for English Nature to attend a future meeting in order to present proposals regarding the Quarry.	Cllr John Foley

7		Lengthsmans Project
	7.1	The Clerk has received another letter from CHDC re the Lengthsman’s grant asking for copies of invoices paid to date in order to receive the final allocation. The Clerk will contact Brian Atherton regarding the letter and also to arrange a date to discuss the Lengthsman in the New Year. The Clerk will advise Cllr Jean Foley of the dates.	The Clerk

8		Accounts, Treasurer’s Report and Authorisation of Payment of Accounts
	8.1	Accounts to date were tabled and noted.
	8.2	The Clerk confirmed that way leave of £53.24 for 2004 and £54.61 for 2005 had been received and banked.
	8.3	The Clerk will raise a cheque for £50.00 payable to Gorsley Goffs School re the agreed yearly donation.	The Clerk
	8.4	Proposed by Cllr Margaret Pearce, seconded by Cllr John Foley and approved unanimously, IT WAS AGREED to pay the following invoices and the cheques were duly signed.

AP323	Lengthsman for November	284.00
AP324	Clerk's Salary for November 2005	229.50
AP325	Clerk's Expenses for November 2005	16.45

9		Working Party Reports
	9.1	FOOTPATHS Cllr John Foley has had discussions with Mr & Mrs Farrington with regard to the steps on footpath no.22. A copy of the letter sent to Mr & Mrs Farrington is appended. The Clerk has received a reply from CHDC regarding liability on public footpaths. An inspection of the steps will be carried out by the Rights of Way Warden, Lisa Lloyd and she will inform Cllr John Foley if any further action is required.
	9.1.1	The next improvement work will be a on the stiles on both sides of the field opposite Gorsley School (LTR18). The footpaths committee haven’t met due to pressure of time.
	9.1.2	There will be an informal walk on Boxing Day starting at the Alma at 10.30am.
	9.2	PLANNING
	9.2.1	P158. DCSE2005/2311F. Proposed two storey extensions & alterations. Chapel Mill Cottage, Bromsash, HR9 7PL. Permission Refused on 26/10/05.
	9.2.2	P163. DCSE2005/2651/F. Construction of 32 holiday apartments. Hartleton Farm, Bromsash. HR9 7SB. Permission Refused on 26/10/05.
	9.2.3	P166. DCSE2005/3257/F. Erection of a PVCU Conservatory to the side of the property. Wrens Nest, Linton, Ross-on-Wye. HR9 7RX. Permission granted on 15/11/05.
	9.2.4	P171 DCSE2005/3536/F. Agricultural dwelling. The Fruit Yard, Linton. HR9 7SD. Cllr Jean Foley has e-mailed Council’s comments to the Planning Dept. as follows: We have now seen copies of the functional and financial tests supplied by the applicant together with other letters of recommendation. In addition Parish Councillors have looked in detail at the site. It is unfortunate that approximately 10 years ago, a previous owner was allowed to sell off the farmhouse and ancillary buildings separately from the land; they have now all been converted and sold. We believe this application to be genuine and that the present owner has now demonstrated the need for an agricultural dwelling. We suggest that if you decide to permit this application the ownership of the house should be strictly tied to the land as suggested by the applicant. Having taken into account the planning policies in the SHDC Local Plan Linton Parish Council wish to support this application.
	9.2.5	P172. Cllr John Wheble declared an interest and took no part in the discussions. DCSE2005/3635/F.Retaining existing timber fence. Woodbine Cottage, 2 Fairview, Gorsley. HR9 7FD. Council supports.
	9.2.6	P174. DCSE2005/3790/F. Timber stables on a hard standing. Land at Royal Cottage, Gorsley. HR9 7SH. Council supports.
	9.2.7	D1706/1707. Appeal no:EN2005/0054. Cothars Farm, Gorsley. An appeal has been made to the Secretary of State, the details of which were read out by Cllr Jean Foley. The Clerk was asked to write to say that the Council strongly agrees with CHDC and also to request a copy of the appeal decision.	The Clerk
	9.2.8	The proposed Traveller’s site between Jay’s Green and Revell’s Farm. It was noted that large items are being dumped on the site and the Clerk was asked to write to CHDC drawing their attention to this.	The Clerk

10		Chairman’s Announcements
	10.1	None

11		Correspondence
	11.1	The following correspondence was tabled.

D1705	07/11/2005	Parish Councils Minor Maintenance Initiative-Lengthsman Scheme	CHDC
D1706	10/11/2005	Cothars Farm, Gorsley, Notice of appeal 1st letter (Planning)	CHDC
D1707	10/11/2005	Cothars Farm, Gorsley, Notice of appeal 2nd letter (Notice)	CHDC
D1708	16/11/2005	Linton Quarry-Vital scrub works to achieve favourable condition	English Nature
D1709	25/11/2005	South Herefordshire Transport Forum-Minutes 12/10/2005	community first
D1710	05/12/2005	G&KPC Minutes-01/11/2005	G&KPC
D1711	05/12/2005	Clerks & Councils Direct
D1712	17/11/2005	Local Development framework-Submission Draft. Statement of Involvement	FoD District Council
D1713	05/12/2005	Local Development Framework-Core Strategy issue & options consultation	FoD District Council
D1714	05/12/2005	Contact Details-Aquila	Central Networks
D1715	05/12/2005	Herefordshire Parish Plans Update	CHDC
D1716	05/12/2005	Public notice of committee meetings	CHDC
D1717	17/11/2005	English Nature Magazine	English Nature
D1718	17/11/2005	Information sheet	HALC
D1719	17/11/2005	Emergency Numbers	HALC
D1720	25/11/2005	Public Footpath Liability-Reply to Clerk's letter	CHDC
D1721	18/11/2005	Phone Box-Linton, Confirmation that it is to be re-painted in 2006	BT
D1722	10/11/2005	Way leave Payments advice	Central Networks
D1723	10/11/2005	Register of Electors 2006 Request Form	CHDC
D1724	14/11/2005	B4221 Action Group Minutes	B4221 Action Group
D1725	02/12/2005	Abberley & Malvern Hills Geopark-promoting awareness of the park	Abberley & Malvern Hills Geopark
D1726	08/12/2005	Quarterly Economic Report	CHDC
D1727	12/12/2005	Newsline	community first
D1728	12/12/2005	English Nature Magazine	English Nature

	Cllr Jean Foley read out the following correspondence:
11.2	A letter has been received from the Linton Village Hall Committee asking if there were any funds available to help purchase a Basketball unit for erection at Linton Village Hall. The cost of purchasing the unit, together with delivery & installation would be between £500-£600. Objections from Cllr Richard Smith were read out. Cllr John Wheble voiced his support for the proposal and Cllr Margaret Pearce agreed saying that it would be for the youth of all of the surrounding villages. Cllr John Wheble proposed that we offer to buy the Basketball Unit at a cost of £339.00 plus VAT and we can then re-claim the VAT. This was seconded by Cllr Margaret Pearce and WAS AGREED unanimously. Cllrs Rob Crawford & Ken Downham declared an interest and abstained from voting. The Clerk was asked to write to the Linton Village Hall Committee offering to purchase the Basketball unit. It was also suggested that a plaque be put up to say that the Parish Council had purchased it.	The Clerk

12		Councillors’ Submissions, including Village Events
	12.1	Cllr Margaret Pearce asked the Clerk to write to Andrew Lee-Jones at CHDC Highways Department requesting that they put a salt supply at Bromsash Crossroads and other locations. (Cllr John Foley will supply map references). This is very urgent as cars have been slipping in the icy weather.	The Clerk/Cllr John Foley
	12.2	Cllr Jean Foley said that a provisional date of January 23^rd 2006 had been agreed for a meeting with G&K Parish Council re the B4221. The Clerk was asked to contact Cllr Richard Smith to see if he is able to attend and then to e-mail Margaret Highton. Cllrs Jean Foley & John Foley are able to attend.	The Clerk
	12.3	Cllr Rob Crawford said that he had contacted Herefordshire Waste Management regarding some possibly hazardous waste that had been dumped at Jay’s Green. This was cleared very quickly.
	12.4	Cllr John Foley said that trees were due to be cut back near to power lines in Linton on Thursday. The Post Office in Linton will be open but as the power will be turned off, they will not be able to use the computer.

13		Public Submissions
	13.1	Parishioner Mr Angier asked what is to be the main access to Linton Quarry. He also asked if, as the Quarry no longer meets the original purpose for which it was given to the Parish, should it be returned to the descendents.
	13.2	A Parishioner asked about the location of the proposed Traveller’s site and who owns it.

14		Items for Consideration at the Next Meeting
	14.1	None

15		Date of the Next Meeting
	15.1	January 9^th at 7:30 pm – Linton Village Hall.

The Meeting Finished At 9:27 p.m.

SITE:- The Fruit Yard Linton, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7SD

DESCRIPTION:- Agricultural Dwelling

APPLICATION NO:- DCSE2005/3536/F

GRID REF:- 66234,25622

APPLICATION TYPE:- Full

Linton Parish Council has resolved to make the following comments:-

We have now seen copies of the functional and financial tests supplied by the applicant together with other letters of recommendation. In addition Parish Councillors have looked in detail at the site.

It is unfortunate that approximately 10 years ago, a previous owner was allowed to sell off the farmhouse and ancillary buildings separately from the land; they have now all been converted and sold. We believe this application to be genuine and that the present owner has now demonstrated the need for an agricultural dwelling.

We suggest that if you decide to permit this application the ownership of the house should be strictly tied to the land as suggested by the applicant.

Having taken into account the planning policies in the SHDC Local Plan Linton Parish Council wish to support this application.

Dear Mr. Flanagan,

I am writing to confirm that at the last Linton Parish Council (LPC) meeting (12.12.05) it was agreed that English Nature could proceed with the works listed in the Specification, enclosed with your letter dated 10th. November 2005, for the scrub clearance works on the quarry face and the installation of a fence alongside footpath LTR 20 to deter unauthorised access to the quarry. We are grateful for the efforts that English Nature have undertaken so far to improve the general environment of the Linton Quarry site.

There are 2 items of concern relating to the Linton Quarry site that LPC would seek confirmation that English Nature will make the necessary provisions for public safety:-

I. That the clearance of the scrub on the ground surface of the 2m wide strip behind the top of the quarry face will not reduce the effectiveness of the existing safety barrier to unauthorised public access above the quarry face. If the existing fencing is exposed by these clearance works the condition and suitability of the fencing should be examined for ‘fitness for purpose’.

2. It is noted from the maps, enclosed with your specification, that the SSSI boundary encloses the bungalow 'Pyke's Meadow' together with the access drive to this property and the adjacent dwelling 'The Quarries'. There have been re-occurring problems with the threat of some adjacent unstable trees being blown over onto the bungalow and it's access drive. The trees in question are mainly conifers that grown on the spoil heaps produced from former quarrying operations, hence they tend to be shallow rooted in unstable ground.

We would like to establish with English Nature a joint policy for both the immediate and long-term future management of these problem trees. LPC representatives would be pleased to discuss these matters further with you at a site meeting.

Finally LPC would like to take up the offer, suggested at our site meeting on 24.6.05, for a speaker from English Nature and/or one of the other advisory groups to make a short presentation on the environmental aspects of Linton Quarry to one of our LPC meetings, to which the interested members of the public would be invited, early in 2006.

John Foley.

for Linton Parish Council, 16th. December 2005.