27 / 2019-20 DORMINGTON & MORDIFORD GROUP PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Group Parish Council held on Wednesday 16th October 2019 at 7.30pm at Priors Frome Chapel Present Cllrs David Lloyd (Chair), Ray Dickson, Willow Groeber-Shaw, Derek Hughes, Craig Preedy and Mel Preedy In attendance Chris Bucknell (Parish Clerk) 3 Members of the Public Item Minutes Action 1.0 To Receive Apologies for Absence – Cllr Julia Cotton, Ward Cllr John Hardwick, 2.0 Declarations of Interest a) To Receive Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest b) To Approve any Written Requests for Dispensation There were no requests for dispensations 3.0 To Accept Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Group Parish Council held on th 18 September 2019 Resolved: The minutes were accepted and signed by the Chair 4.0 To Receive Brief Verbal Reports: a) Ward Member – Cllr Hardwick Cllr Hardwick was not present at the meeting and there was no report 5.0 Public Participation Session The Chair gave an update on a question that was asked at the last meeting regarding cycle parking at the school, confirming that the plans did include an area for bicycles. A member of the public said that there was water coming onto the road at Swardon Quarry running off from Ann’s Cottage. There was also a bad pothole on the bend by the car parking area. It was agreed that Clerk would speak to James Hereford and Manny Smith (Balfour Beatty) Clerk about the water runoff and report the pothole (CAS-736455-J4Z9J9). 6.0 To Consider Planning Matters a) To Consider any New Planning Applications Ref Application Stables and Yard North of the Mews House, Mordiford - Variation of condition 2 192596 of planning permission application 143272/F. To allow changes to design and detached garage. Re-Consultation Clerk Resolved: To support the revised application Regular Meeting of the Group Parish Council Wednesday 16th October 2019 27 / 2019-20 28 / 2019-20 Item Minutes Action b) To Note any Decisions/Notifications Received Ref Application Decision Wootton Barn, Checkley – variation of condition 15 – conversion of Awaiting 191451 barns to residential use. Decision Awaiting 192375 Wootton Barn, Checkley – Listed Building Consent Decision Lady Grove, Mordiford HR1 4LT. Proposed removal of Section 106 191870 Approved agreement. St Nicholas Mission Church, Checkley – proposed small extension to Awaiting 191199 existing church to provide kitchen and disabled toilet Decision Wootton Barn, Checkley - Proposed variations to link and existing Awaiting 192375 outbuilding, proposed garage and the provision of solar pv panels on Decision outbuilding roof Wootton Farm, Perton Lane, Dormington - application for variation Awaiting 191451 of Condition 15 of DCC083188/F Conversion of barns to residential Decision use Stables and Yard North of the Mews House, Mordiford - Variation of condition 2 of planning permission application 143272/F. Proposed Awaiting 192596 earth sheltered dwelling to replace an existing stable and storage Decision building on a previously developed site. c) To Consider Other Planning Issues and Updates Tarrington Parish Council - Draft NDP, Reg 14 consultation – Councillors felt this covered all the Clerk major opportunities and risks. They supported the plan, commending Tarrington Parish Council on a professional and well-constructed document. 7.0 Finance a) To receive a Finance Report from the RFO Bank balances: Business Current Account £11,530.60. Business Reserve Account £74,459.26 Income since September meeting is £12.65 interest on the Business Reserve Account and a £65 payment for a Memorial in the Burial Ground. Mr Vince Heeley had deposited £182.31 as a contribution to the Defibrillator (see item 13) b) To Agree Payments made since September meeting Chq/ Expenditure Amount BACS Daniel Squire invoice 75855. Grounds Maintenance of Communal BACS £108.00 area and Community Orchard. Cutting 1 vacant Allotment. £90 + VAT D C Gardening invoice SI-529. Grounds Maintenance in Churchyard BACS £240.00 and Burial Ground September 2019 £200 + VAT BACS Enviroability invoice 3843 Regular monthly cuts to 3 sites (September) £62.50 c) To Agree Payment of Outstanding Invoices Chq/ Expenditure Amount BACS BACS Clerks Expenses Quarter 2 including travel and printing at 44% 62.16 BACS Priors Frome Chapel Use of Room for GPC Meeting October £20.00 Clerk Resolved: Invoices were noted and approved for payment d) To Consider Draft 2020/21 Budget and Precept The Finance Group (Cllr Ray Dickson, Cllr David Lloyd and Cllr Mel Preedy) had prepared a draft budget which had been circulated to all Councillors in advance of the Meeting. Cllr Preedy Regular Meeting of the Group Parish Council Wednesday 16th October 2019 28 / 2019-20 29 / 2019-20 Item Minutes Action presented this budget at the meeting, which assumed the precept would remain at £22,445 for 2020/21. Clerk Resolved: To Approve the 2020/21 budget as presented and to submit a precept request to Herefordshire Council for £22,445. e) To Consider Purchase of I Don’t Buy Crime Packs The details of the offer presented at the September meeting had been forwarded to all Councillors. The 2011 Census showed the number of households as: Dormington 108, Mordiford 236. It was noted there would need to be a plan of events/locations where the public could pick up their packs and have them registered with West Mercia Police. It was agreed to go forward with the Smartwater initiative and the Clerk would look further into the documents and application form forwarded from West Mercia Police, contacting Estelle Stock Clerk for advice and assistance in putting the programme into place. 8.0 Highways, Footpaths and Commons a) Dormington and Mordiford Traffic/Pedestrian Safety Proposals i. Update on Dormington SID Application Cllr Lloyd confirmed that the SID application had now been submitted and an invoice was to be sent to the Clerk. He had obtained 2 quotations for the equipment with installation and maintenance in addition. The Clerk confirmed that 2 quotations for specialist equipment, such as a SID, which would need to be approved by Balfour Beatty, would be acceptable and would comply with section 11 of the Financial Regulations. ii. Update on Community Speed Watch Clerk It was agreed that now the SID was being progressed there was no need for the Community Speed Watch activity, and this would be taken off the agenda. b) Highways and Footpath Issues i. Update on Footpath Maintenance The fallen tree across the bridle path which ran from Old Sufton to Swarden Quarry had been removed together with 2 others. A gate had been repaired on the northern end of MF5. ii. Update on Volunteer Way Wardens Cllr Lloyd reported that copies of the footpath maps had now been delivered to all but 3 of the DL Way Wardens and he was now arranging to meet them either in small groups or individually to plan the way that the footpaths were monitored and maintained. c) To Consider Options and Responsibilities for Checkley Common As agreed at the September meeting, Helen Beale of Herefordshire Council Property Services had been contacted and she had confirmed that Checkley Common, although owned by the Foley Estate, was an 1899 Act Common and therefore had a Scheme of Management. Having checked this document, Helen Beale confirmed that there was nothing which suggested the Common was the legal responsibility of the Parish Council. In summary she confirmed that the Parish Council would not be legally responsible, as due to the restructure in 1998 any responsibilities would now lie with Herefordshire Council as the unitary authority. In terms of Checkley Common there was nothing specific as the Scheme of Management generally granted a power rather than a duty. The views of the Councillors were divided in terms of whether the Parish Council should resume mowing the Common with the Clerk noting that one issue in the past had been the grazing of horses and the occasional travellers, which had interfered with the mowing schedule. A member of the public, who provided his name to the Parish Council, said that he could arrange for the Common to be mowed by a third party for £200 with no liability on the part of the Parish Council. He said he would arrange to get a letter from Mr Foley giving permission for the Regular Meeting of the Group Parish Council Wednesday 16th October 2019 29 / 2019-20 30 / 2019-20 Item Minutes Action Common to be mowed and confirmed that the contractor would hold his own Public Liability insurance. Resolved: To have the Common mowed at a cost of £200 provided the above conditions and actions were complied with. d) Work to be carried out and any Other Issues and Updates Speed of Traffic on Sufton Lane – Cllr Craig Preedy had contacted Manny Smith, Balfour Beatty Locality Steward, about a resident’s concern regarding the safety of children playing on Sufton Lane, suggesting that the speed limit be reduced, or warning signs erected. Manny had responded saying that signs of that type did not comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 and would therefore be contrary to Highway Law, potentially resulting in legal prosecution if they were erected. Manny also stated that he would be reluctant to erect any sign that encouraged children to play on the public highway with the serious road safety issues that implied. If a TRO were requested this would be looked at but Balfour Beatty currently had 111 TRO requests for speed limits and parking restrictions and therefore any request would take some significant time to process. MP/ It was suggested that an article be put in the next newsletter and also on Facebook, warning both CP motorists and parents of the risks.