MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF PYONS GROUP PARISH COUNCIL HELD ONLINE AT 7.30 PM ON TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER 2020
Present: Mr M. Perruzza (Vice Chairman), Mrs G. Dickson, Mr D. Bowen-Jones, Mr G. R. Vaughan, Mr D. Spooner and Mr R. Murray.
In attendance: Ward Cllr. M. Jones; and Mr R. Hewitt, Clerk. There were four (4) members of the public present.
2020/98 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Mrs L. Pugh, Mr H. Ray (Chairman), Mr I. Barber, Mr R. Shubert and Mr B. Thomas.
2020/99 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION – None.
2020/100 MINUTES OF MEETINGS
The minutes of the Meetings held on 26 August and 1 September 2020 were agreed unanimously.
2020/101 REPORT OF THE WEOBLEY WARD COUNCILLOR
Ward Cllr. M Jones said the county council is close to a resolution of the phosphates issue which has placed many planning applications on hold and adversely affected the five year land supply. Herefordshire Council is to acquire land for 8 settlement ponds, and one may be located in the Canon Pyon area. Data on Covid 19 in the county was noted. Herefordshire Council will consider financial support for the leisure pool at Hereford at the next council meeting.
Ward Cllr. Jones asked the parish council to consider support for a petition calling for the Hereford bypass to go ahead. Due to GDPR and Covid 19 guidelines it was agreed to reference the bypass in the next Chairman’s article and suggest concerned members of the public write to the responsible cabinet member at Herefordshire Council.
2020/102 VIEWS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS
A member of the public expressed disappointment that speeding at Westhope was not on the meeting agenda and felt that wheelie bin stickers will not be effective. A member of the public asked that the parish council make a formal request to the highway authority, Herefordshire Council, to implement a speed limit through the village. The meeting noted that the Clerk has discussed measures to address speeding with Safer Roads Partnership and is to approach Balfour Beatty as well. Speeding at Westhope will be on the agenda of the next meeting.
A member of the public asked when the drains on the A4110 outside the Parish Hall, Canon Pyon will be unblocked, and requested that the lengthsman raise a drain cover on the verge outside the Parish Hall. The lengthsman coordinator, Cllr. Vaughan, said the drains at the location have been a long term problem that need jetting and have been reported to the highway authority on numerous occasions. Cllr. Vaughan kindly agreed to look at the request to raise the drain on the verge with the lengthsman and make a recommendation. It may be that the lengthsman drainage grant, which has yet to be confirmed, will be able to assist in this.
2020/103 PLANNING
202686 Land at the Old Shop, Ledgemoor – Proposed residential development of 2 dwellings. The parish council decided to object to the planning application and comment that: Building two houses on the site will adversely affect an adjacent long-standing ecological habitat centred on a pond which is understood to support a thriving colony of great crested newts. The pond is believed to be fed from underground water on the proposed site. The plans at present do not appear to take this issue into account. The parish council is concerned that the development will disrupt this water supply which is vital for the well-being of the habitat.
The parish council would prefer to see the site developed with a single property with appropriate mitigation measures in place to preserve the adjacent ecological habitat.
202788 Pyon Cottage, Bush Bank, HR4 8PJ – Proposed ground floor rear extension. The planning application was supported.
200969 Land adjacent to The Croft, Westhope, HR4 8BS – Proposed construction of a new two-bedroom bungalow with new vehicular access. To consider whether to comment or modify/withdraw previous representation (appeal reference APP/W1850/W/20/3255195). The appeal was noted. It was agreed to make no further comment on the planning application.
Herefordshire Council has granted planning permission for 202135 30 Watling Close and 201864 West View.
2020/104 CLERK’S REPORT
West Mercia Police has responded to the freedom of information request on enforcement on the A4110: There has been regular enforcement and 660 notices have been issued to registered keepers. The new chairman of the Playing Field Committee has been signposted to the s106 office at Herefordshire Council. Safer Road Partnership’s traffic management advisor has suggested that speeding at Westhope is raised with Balfour Beatty and advised that the police will be consulted on speed limit proposals. Balfour Beatty’s senior highways engineer will be asked to advise on appropriate measures, including a speed limit. Westhope Common is a Section 45 common, according to Herefordshire Council. Talk Community, Herefordshire Council is holding an online meeting shortly to discuss working with communities during Covid 19.
The external auditors have confirmed receipt of the certificate of exemption for the 2019-20 annual return. The accounts to date in 2020-21 and draft precept for 2021-22 will be considered at the next meeting.
2020/105 FINANCE
Receipt of the second precept payment from Herefordshire Council was noted (£6,750.00). The following payments were agreed: Kirkwells, NDP Review support (£588.00); HMRC, PAYE for period to 5 October 2020 (£162.40); and Clerk, honorarium for internal auditor (£25.00).
Survey of the Canon Pyon parish pound: the cost of £180.00 for the report was agreed, and a further £300 budgeted for the surveyor to draw up a specification of work, run the tender process and provide project management. The Clerk was asked to look at obtaining a grant to help pay for the restoration work recommended in the report.
Consideration of the cost of building a concrete base at the Club Room, Ledgemoor, in preparation for the re-location of the telephone kiosk was deferred.
2020/106 NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The parish council considered the following documents: draft AECOM report and draft NDP Review document. The AECOM report, including steering group comments on the report, was supported. The parish council supported the direction being taken in the draft NDP Review document and agreed that the document should go to Regulation 14 public consultation once it has been finalised.
2020/107 HIGHWAYS/ LENGTHSMAN/ FOOTPATHS
Cllr. Vaughan, lengthsman coordinator, said potholes have been reported and Balfour Beatty needs to undertake jetting to keep some drains clear. The lengthsman has cleared the stream at Westhope by the Church and moved the grit bin by Kilbullock. The Nupton grit bin has been reported but is considered by the highway authority to remain serviceable.
The maintenance of the Wyche Way across Westhope Common, a section 45 common, will be discussed with Herefordshire Council, and if possible, a site meeting organised.
2020/108 JOINT S106 FUNDING ENQUIRY RE: HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS
The meeting noted that Balfour Beatty has said that s106 funded highway improvement projects are still on hold pending a review by Herefordshire Council. It was agreed to propose writing a joint letter with Kingsland Parish Council to try and unblock the s106 monies to use on the agreed highway improvements at Canon Pyon and at Kingsland. The joint letter, if agreed by Kingsland Parish Council, will be sent by email to the cabinet member responsible for highways, the respective ward councillors and senior officers at Herefordshire Council and Balfour Beatty including the chief executive and Place and Economy director, Herefordshire Council, and HALC. The letter will ask why the s106 funding is on hold and highlight potential road safety issues that may result from the delay.
2020/109 PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE CONSULTATION
The parish council agreed to comment in response to two questions asked in the government’s Planning for the Future white paper:
13a) The parish council believes strongly that neighbourhood plans should be retained. They reflect the local view of development which is considered vital in any planning process; and
13b) The parish council is open to the use of new digital tools provided support is provided to help establish an appropriate co-creation platform or template.
2020/110 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN – Deferred.
2020/111 NEW WASTE BIN AT CANON PYON – Deferred.
2020/112 POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER’S PARISH COUNCIL SURVEY – Not considered.
2020/113 MATTERS RAISED FOR NEXT MEETING (no discussion) – Speeding through Westhope village.
2020/114 INFORMATION ITEMS – Noted.
Date of next online meeting: Tuesday 10 November 2020.
The meeting closed at 9.42 pm.