Minutes – 1 August 2023 – APPROVED
PYONS GROUP PARISH COUNCIL (PGPC)
MINUTES OF AN ORDINARY Meeting OF PYONS GROUP PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT 7.30 PM ON TUESDAY 1st AUGUST 2023 AT LEDGEMOOR CLUB ROOM
Present: Cllrs David Bowen-Jones, Gill Dickson, Louise Evans, Jon Lee, Ross Murray, Mike Perruzza (Chairman), Rob Shubert.
In attendance: Cllr Nick Mason (Ward Councillor).
Mr Kev Murphy (Parish Footpath Officer).
Mr Paul Hayden (Clerk).
Public: Four.
2023/92 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received and accepted from Cllrs Ian Barber, Jane Carr and Colin Rees.
2023/93 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION
None declared or requested.
2023/94 TO CO-OPT TO FILL CANON PYON AND KINGS PYON COUNCILLOR VACANCIES
More potential councillors than expected attended the meeting and declared their interest to be co-opted covering both vacancies.
RESOLVED: Item deferred to the next meeting in order for the Clerk to complete eligibility checks on the potential councillors.
2023/95 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the ordinary meeting of PGPC held on the 04th July 2023 were approved as an accurate record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.
2023/96 PUBLIC SESSION
2023/96.1 The Chairman warmly welcomed the new Ward Councillor to his first PGPC meeting. Cllr mason asked how Members would like to receive his Ward Councillor’s report at future PC meetings and offered to send a written report which could be circulated with the meeting papers.
RESOLVED: The Ward Councillor will in future submit a written report to be distributed with the meeting papers.
Members considered Cllr Mason’s verbal report. The key points included:
- Cllr Mason has been appointed to the new Cabinet and been given a roving role providing cabinet support.
- Recently toured the ward with the BBLP Locality Steward.
- Top of mind for the new Council are:
- Large deficit inherited from the previous administration.
- Ongoing inherited issues requiring funding meaning less funding available for new projects.
- Children’s Services.
- BBLP contract renewal.
- Herefordshire Council (HC) Local Plan.
2023/96.2 No local residents views on parish matter were raised.
2023/97 PLANNING
There were no planning consultations to consider at this meeting.
2023/98 DRAINAGE ISSUE BROOKSIDE
Members considered the update from the Ward Councillor. Key points raised:
- Doubt has been expressed to the Ward Councillor that the BBLP proposed solution will solve the flooding issue.
- Members feel that BBLP view the Canon Pyon drainage problem as a lost cause.
- Members are frustrated at the lack of progress on what is a very real and costly problem for the residents at Brookside.
- Members continue to be disappointed at BBLP’s ongoing lack of response to their request for a copy of the camera work report carried out at Brookside in July 2021 that would give Members an understanding of the problem and possible solutions. The Ward Councillor committed to obtain a copy of this report for Members.
RESOLVED: To defer to the next meeting.
2023/99 FINANCE
2023/99.1 The finance reports from the Responsible Finance Officer were accepted.
Members considered and approved the following payments:
2023/99.2.1 Clerk’s July 2023 salary.
2023/99.2.2 Ledgemoor Club Room 2023 donation £75.00.
2023/99.2.3 Westhope Church Meeting Room 2023 donation £40.00.
2023/99.2.4 Richard Mills Invoice 3652 Lengthsman activities £68.00 plus VAT
2023/99.2.5 Canon Pyon Parish Hall annual grant support £500.00.
2023/99.2.6 Marches Ground Maintenance Invoice 114417/0069 £60.00
Members considered the request from Canon Pyon Parish Hall for a grant of £500 to support the parish hall committee in its provision of a facility that contributes to the well-being and social cohesion of the local community. The £500 payment will cover the cost of the use of the parish hall and parish hall equipment during 2023 for all parish council related meetings and include a financial fillip to help the voluntarily run registered charity. PGPC are hugely supportive of the parish hall committee and all the work they do to support the community and are delighted to accept their invitation for a parish councillor to join the parish hall committee.
RESOLVED: To pay £500 for 2023 to cover parish council related use of the parish hall and equipment and as a financial fillip to help the voluntarily run registered charity.
RESOLVED: Cllr Lee will be the PGPC representative on the Canon Pyon Parish Hall Committee.
2023/100 HM KING CHARLES III CORONATION PARISH CELEBRATIONS
A grant request has been received from the Nags Head Public House. The Clerk has requested they supply copy invoices for consideration by the Council.
RESOLVED: Item deferred until the next meeting.
2023/101 GRANT REQUEST FOR LEDGEMOOR DEFIBRILLATOR OUTDOOR CABINET
Members considered a grant request from Mr Bagley on behalf of Ledgemoor residents who are raising funds to purchase an outdoor cabinet to house the defibrillator purchased earlier this year. The cabinet will cost £594 and residents have raised £394.
RESOLVED: To support the request and provide £200. Item removed from agenda.
2023/102 HIGHWAYS/ LENGTHSMAN/ FOOTPATHS
2023/102.1 Footpaths – Members considered the verbal footpath report from the PFO. Members NOTED the that only 4 of the 14 reported defects have been addressed by HC PROW Team. There is a fallen tree on Watery Lane – CP15 which had been reported to the HC PROW Team 5 months ago with no remedial action.
RESOLVED: Clerk to request the parish Lengthsman to remove this fallen tree.
2023/102.2 Highways – No report due to Cllr Carr’s absence.
RESOLVED: Deferred to the next meeting.
2023/54.3 Lengthsman – The Clerk has spoken to the Lengthsman to arrange a face-to-face meeting to complete the Lengthsman 2023/24 contract and maintenance plan.
RESOLVED: Clerk requested to progress with Lengthsman.
2023/103 PROW WORKING GROUP
Members considered the update from Cllr Lee. The working group has stated work on gaining an understanding of the various duties and responsibilities of stakeholders, which will be covered further on the 17th august 2023 when the group will meet with a member of the Herefordshire Council PROW Team. Other work completed has covered gaining an understanding of landowner views, and work on identifying historic PROWs and the potential of bringing some of these back into use where they can offer a betterment.
2023/104 DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING
Cllr Shubert updated members on providing defibrillator training in Canon Pyon Parish Hall. The trainer used to provide the training in Ledgemoor has agreed to provide training in September 2023.
RESOLVED: Cllr Shubert requested to arrange defibrillator training in September 2023 for the rest of the parish group. Cllr Lee requested to publicise in the Pyonear.
2023/105 SECTION 106 CANON PYON PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AND FOOTWAY SCHEME
The Clerk is booked onto a S106 update briefing on the 2nd August 2023.
RESOLVED: Item deferred to the next meeting.
2023/106 NDP REVIEW
Cllr Lee updated Members. The External Examiner asked for further information on the reasoning behind the Ledgemoor Settlement Boundary which has been provided. The External examiner will hold a hearing on the exclusion of Site D in the Review NDP in early September.
RESOLVED: Cllr Lee requested to keep Members informed of progress.
2023/107 HEDGE REMOVAL IN CANON PYON
Despite many attempts the previous Ward Councillor has not been able to progress this matter with Herefordshire Council Environment Service.
RESOLVED: Item deferred until the next meeting.
2023/108 PARISH TREE SURVEY
A professional arborist has been retained to complete this survey. Dates to be confirmed.
RESOLVED: Clerk requested to progress.
2023/109 HEREFORDSHIRE MINERALS & WASTE LOCAL PLAN MAIN MODIFICATIONS CONSULTATION
Members considered a response at the previous PC meeting but felt they did not possess the required knowledge to respond properly. Several Members tried to work through the consultation post that meeting but none could progress further due to the difficulties understanding the document due to the way it has been written which required a technical knowledge and the use of numerous technical abbreviations which were not included in a glossary was considered unhelpful.
RESOLVED: Clerk requested to write to Herefordshire Council explaining the difficulties faced by Member leaving them unable to respond.
2023/110 MATTERS RAISED FOR THE ORDINARY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 5th SEPTEMBER 2023, CANON PYON PARISH HALL
Co-opt to fill the current two councillor vacancies.
Drainage report/Brookside.
King Charles II Coronation expenses.
Highways/ Lengthsman/ Footpaths reports.
S106 pedestrian crossing and footway scheme.
PROW working group report.
NDP.
Litter pick.
Hedge removal in Canon Pyon.
Defibrillator training.
Parish tree survey.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.58 pm.
Signed: ……………………………………………….. Date: …………………………………………………..
These minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting and signed at the ordinary meeting of the parish council on Tuesday the 5th September 2023.