HEREFORDSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS – EAST HEREFORD AREA COMMITTEE
Secretary: Janet Chester, Mapleside, Ashperton, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2RZ
email:ashperton.pc@btinternet.com. Telephone: 01531 670036
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 17th March 2016 at Ashperton Village Hall at 7.30pm
Present:
N Carless – Chairman (Colwall Parish Council)
F Helme (Ashperton Parish Council)
G Blackmore (Ocle Pychard Parish Council)
D Hewitt, L Clothier, M Thwaites, K Bray (Pixley & District Parish Council)
J Tallis (Tarrington Parish Council)
D Williams (Wellington Heath Parish Council)
In attendance:
1. Welcome and Apologies
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and everyone introduced themselves to one another.
Apologies for absence were received from Keith Francis (Ledbury Town Council), Anne Carver (Cradley Parish Council) and Rowena Hatfield (Pencombe Parish Council)
2. Guest Speaker – Cathy Berkeley Balfour Beatty Three Crosses Locality Steward
Cathy advised that the Three Crosses name comes from Burley Gate, Newtown Crossroads and Trumpet Crossroads and covers the neighbouring parishes. Balfour Beatty 2016/17 budget for resurfacing and surface dressing roads has reduced from £8 million to £1.6 million.
Cathy welcomed questions from those present.
Q. What road restrictions are there for HGV’s?
A. HGV’s of any weight can use any road to access any property adjacent to that road unless a structure (eg bridge) has a weight limit. Parish Councils have no powers to apply a weight restriction. “Not Suitable for HGV’s” signs can be put up but they are advisory signs and are not policed and cannot specify a weight.
Q. The Herefordshire Trail has pedestrian access onto the A4172 – should there be a pedestrian crossing sign in place to advise motorists?
A. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) could be put into Herefordshire Council but this was discouraged as there are a great number of TRO’s to process already in the system. The parish council could request a sign but would need to fund it themselves at a cost of between £6 and £16k.
Q. What is happening with public bins?
A. Balfour Beatty have taken on the responsibility of 350 extra bins in Herefordshire. Some bins are being removed as they are not being used for general litter and black bags are being dumped by them increasing littering. This will be reviewed overtime.
Q. What is the relationship between Balfour Beatty and lengthsmen?
A. Parish Councils can employ a lengthsman to carry out minor highway and footpath work in the parishes. The locality stewards ideally work closely with the lengthsman so that each knows who can and are carrying out each job. Balfour Beatty can provide training to new lengthsman. The lengthsman grant available to parish councils from Herefordshire Council is being gradually withdrawn. New applicants are not being accepted. The level of grant to parish councils for 2016/17 will same at the same rate as 2015/16, reducing to 25% in 2017/18 and nil by 2020.
Q. Flooding Problems – Who puts up the flood signs as in some areas signs are very slow to be put up? How can blocked culverts be cleared?
A. Balfour Beatty are responsible for putting up the signs but can only do it when they are notified of any problem. If people are aware of a problem they should ring 01432 261800. Blocked culverts can be reported via Herefordshire Councils website “Report It” section. If the exact location can be advised it will be examined to see if it is blocked or just slow flowing.
Cathy closed by advising that all locality stewards are happy to attend parish council meetings or meet with councillors to discuss and view any problems. She also advised that a Public Rights of Way meeting is being held on Thursday 24th March at Burley Gate Village Hall 6pm – 7.30pm and everyone was welcome to attend.
The Chairman thanked Cathy very much for her time and information.
3. Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on 17th March 2016 were approved and duly signed by the chairman.
4. HALC AGM
The HALC Annual Conference and AGM was held on Saturday 21st November at the Blind College in Hereford. The conference had a number of guest speakers on subjects ranging from websites, effective communication with Herefordshire Council, pensions and government listening to parish councils. The AGM followed and members were advised about the Transparency Fund available to parish councils to set up websites to meet legislation. So far 53 parish councils have applied and £43k has been paid out. An increase in the HALC subscription rate was agreed. HALC have got a new website which will be interactive for booking courses. New passwords and user names will be sent to clerks shortly.
5. Malvern Hills AONB update
Sven Bosley from Bosbury & Coddington Parish Council was not present and had not sent a report. The Chairman advised that as Bosbury and Coddington Parish Council were minded to cease being members of HALC a new AONB representative may need nominating at a future meeting. As the Malvern Hills AONB comes to the eastern side of the area it was suggested the new representative come from Cradley, Colwall, Wellington Heath or Ledbury councils.
6. Reports from any meetings attended
None
7. Update on Neighbourhood Plans
Lynda Wilcox has received full training on Neighbourhood Plans and can help parish councils.
Herefordshire Council have adopted the Core Strategy and where they had a five year housing land supply they may have just dipped below this, but it is a rolling ever changing figure. Ledbury, Ashperton, Colwall, Tarrington and Wellington Heath are at various stages of an NDP and undergoing community consultations. Weston under Penyard are at Regulation 16.
8. Matters raised by member parish councils
John Tallis advised that Tarrington had been successful in obtaining £8k for Tarrington Playground via http://www.groundwork.org.uk/sites/tescocommunityscheme. He encouraged others to also investigate this cheme if they were looking for funding for projects.
9. Items for possible inclusion on the next agenda.
Neighbourhood Development Plans – perhaps ask Lynda Wilcox to attend to advise how to keep momentum going during the various stages.
Guest Speaker – Dave Tristram to advise on various grants available to parish councils.
10. Dates of Future Meetings
Wednesday 6th July 2016 (AGM) – Ledbury
The chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.46pm