MINUTES OF THE PYONS GROUP PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30 PM ON TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2018 AT LEDGEMOOR CLUB ROOM
Present: Mr H. Ray (Chairman), Mr. G. R. Vaughan (Vice Chairman), Mrs S. Bagnall, Mrs G. Dickson, Mrs. L. Pugh, Mrs M. Riley, Mr D. Spooner, Mr W. Austin, Mr B. Thomas, Mr D. Wilkinson and Mr N.C. Davies.
In attendance: Mr R. Hewitt, Clerk. There were four members of the public present.
2019/39 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Apologies accepted from Mr D. Bowen-Jones.
2019/40 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION – None.
2019/41 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 1 May 2018 were agreed unanimously and signed as a true record.
2019/42 REPORT OF THE WEOBLEY WARD COUNCILLOR
Ward Cllr. Cooper’s written Annual Report for 2018 was noted.
2019/43 VIEWS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS
A member of the public asked for an update on Community Speed Watch and other measures taken to address speeding at Canon Pyon. The meeting noted the request for a Community Speed Watch has been made to West Mercia Police, and agreed to look at speeding at the next meeting.
2019/44 PLANNING
181614 Holly Lodge, Westhope, HR4 8BL – Proposed replacement garage, utility and porch. The planning application was supported.
Consultation by landowner on proposed amendment to 152472 (Outline) and 172339 (Reserved Matters) Dove Cottage, Westhope. The landowner talked about adding a third, smaller log cabin for holiday accommodation in the area currently allocated for amenity and play area. An amenity area would be placed on the other side of the road.
The group parish council expressed concern that placing the play area on the other side of the road may lead to a risk of children running across the road without due care and attention. The landowner was thanked for consulting with the group parish council.
2019/45 CLERK’S REPORT
Herefordshire Council has indicated that discussions on responsibility for maintenance of the bund area of the public open space at Canon Pyon could start in 2-3 months. The GDPR policies and notices agreed at the last meeting have been posted online (www.pyonsgroup.co.uk). A request has been made to add SSL security to the website.
HALC will be asked for advice on the new code of conduct adopted by Herefordshire Council
2019/46 FINANCE
The Clerk reported two lengthsman and P3 footpaths grant payments (£1,500.49 and £317.27) have been made by Herefordshire Council. Payment of the ICO data registration fee, which is made by direct debit, was noted.
2019/47 HIGHWAYS/ LENGTHSMAN SCHEME
The Vice Chairman and Cllr. Austin reported that virtually all potholes have been repaired by the council’s velocity patcher. Remaining minor potholes will be repaired by the lengthsman as required. On the whole, the roads in the parishes are in relatively good condition.
Footpath CP12-13 is reported to be ploughed over at present with no space to the side of the field and will need to be looked at by the footpaths officer.
2019/48 PUBLIC OPEN SPACE DESIGN
The draft design presented by the developer for the Public Open Space at Canon Pyon was reviewed. The following was agreed by the meeting:
• Remove all existing ‘C’ category trees as the tree report states these have a short remaining life span;
• Retain tree 17B;
• Plant three trees just below the bund. Suggested species include maple or flowering cherry (the key requirement is to have mid-size trees that will not grow too large for the site rather than be too prescriptive on the species);
• Plant three trees along the boundary with the A4110 (in the space between the path and substation;
• All other trees and shrubs placed in the draft design are not required;
• There should be no fruit trees planted, and no planting of blackthorn; and
• Request more information on the two benches provided (pictures, size, material).
The developer will be asked to update the design plan in line with the above requests for the group parish council to review.
2019/49 PYONS GROUP NEWSLETTER
Cllr. Pugh reported that the newsletter is being drafted and should be ready to review at the next meeting.
2019/50 PYONS GROUP WEBSITE
The future of the Pyons Group Facebook page was considered. It was agreed to remove the embedded link to the home page of pyonsgroup.co.uk, and to ask whether a volunteer might want to take on the Facebook page, and run it independently of the group parish council. If no volunteer comes forward, the Facebook page will be closed.
Community contributors to pyonsgroup.co.uk will become ‘authors’. Requests to post information will be made via the Clerk and will need to be in line with the adopted General Data Protection Regulation policies.
2019/51 THE COMMON, WESTHOPE
It was agreed to consider the matter at the next meeting so that the concerns raised regarding heavy commercial vehicles using the road through Westhope to access the common can be better understood.
2019/52 CANON PYON C. E. ACADEMY
The meeting considered a consultation on the proposal to include Pippins Pre-school and Kids Club within the academy. The proposal was supported, and the school thanked for consulting on the initiative.
2019/53 BURGHILL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN CONSULTATION – Noted.
2019/54 MATTERS RAISED FOR NEXT MEETING (no discussion)
Review actions on Parish Plan.
2019/55 INFORMATION ITEMS – Noted.
Date of next meeting: Tuesday, 3 July 2018, Canon Pyon Parish Hall.
The Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.09 pm.