BISHOP’S FROME & FROMES HILL PARISH COUNCIL
Draft Minutes of a meeting held at Bishops Frome Village Centre at 7.30pm on
Tuesday 8 June 2021
Present: Cllr J Pudge (Chair), Cllr A Nash, Cllr Partridge, Cllr M Pudge, Cllr W Pudge,
Cllr C Sincock, Cllr S Fallas and Cllr A Morel
The Clerk – Nicola Carless
2021/064 To receive apologies for absence
The clerk had received apologises from Cllr E Chowns
2021/065 Declarations of interest
a) To receive declarations of interest from councillors on items on the agenda
b) To receive written requests for dispensations for disclosable pecuniary interests (if any)
c) To grant any requests for dispensation as appropriate
Cllr R Partridge declared a pecuniary interest in 069.4 and took no part in voting
065.1 Update Councillor’s register of interest
The clerk reported that the Councillors declarations of interest were available to view on the Herefordshire Council website and if Councillors wished to amend their register to let her know and the relevant paperwork would be provided.
2021/066 Suspend standing orders to allow members of the public to speak
There were no members of the public in attendance
2021/067 Report from County Councillor – Ellie Chowns
This wasn’t available
2021/068 To adopt the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 May 2021
These were accepted as a true record of proceedings and duly signed by the Chairman.
2021/069 Finance
069.1 Agree Accounting Statement for 2020/21
The clerk read out the figures and the Council voted to accept them and the statement was signed by the Chairman
069.2 Receive Internal Auditor report and Note recommendations
The internal auditor advised better documentation of the financial risks being and that the clerk’s salary should be formally reviewed every 12 months. It was thought that financial risk management would be better controlled by the new financial committee. Councillors accepted the internal auditor’s report.
069.3 Bank Reconciliation
This was circulated, see appendix to these minutes
069.4 Payments for consideration:
GDPR Renewal Fee via Direct debit – £40
B.C Partridge – diesel, mower battery and mowing hours – £242.00
Community Garden – Travis Perkins – £80.46, Underwoods – £15.92 paid by Colin Jefferson
N Carless – clerk expenses – Printer ink 65.10, Postage Stamps – £13.02
C Pinches – Internal Audit fee – £75.00
The above payments were accepted and cheques drawn and signed.
2021/070 Planning
070.1 Decisions made since last meeting
No notifications of decisions had been received
070.2 Plans for consideration
P211510 – The Farm, Bishops Frome WR6 5BJ – proposed storage and workshop building for private/non-commercial use, associated with private dwelling
This had been reviewed by Cllr C Sincock and Cllr A Morel who considered the siting of the storage/ workshop better sited than the previous application. The Council agreed to raise no objections but wished to point out to the planning officers that this should be the only such development on this site.
P211990/L – Dovehills, Dovehills Farm, Bishops Frome WR6 5BQ – proposed application for variation of condition 2 following grant of listed building consent 184361, to allow small scale alterations and substitute current approved drawings for the revised proposals drawings
P211616 – Dovehills, Dovehills Farm, Bishops Frome WR6 5BQ – proposed application for variation of condition 2 following grant of listed building consent 184360, to allow small scale alterations and substitute current approved drawings for the revised proposals drawings
Both Dovehills applications were being reviewed by Cllr M Pudge who was still reviewing the extensive attachments. He would forward his recommendation to the clerk and the Council were happy to agree to Cllr M Pudge’s recommendation.
P212043/AM – Land South of the Wheatsheaf Inn, Fromes Hill – proposed non-material amendment to planning permission 194217 – to allow change of house types and materials and remove pedestrian link to public house, amendment to condition 7 in order to extend the period of time in which the highways works have to be completed
This had been reviewed by Cllr S Fallas who raised no concerns over this amendment so the Council agreed to raise no objections but wished to comment that the entrance to the site was very untidy and hoped that the developers would improve its appearance in the near future
P212157/PA7 – prior approval, Wellington Farm, Bishops Frome. WR6 5BY – application for prior notification for proposed agricultural storage building
This was reviewed by Cllr W Pudge who could see no objection but wanted to speak to a local resident so he would forward his recommendation to the clerk, the Council agreed to accept Cllr W Pudge’s recommendation.
2021/071 Correspondence
071.1 correspondences for reference
This was noted
071.2 correspondences for consideration
Police and Crime Commissioner Survey – to complete
The Chairman read out the questions and the Councillors agreed on the answers, these would be entered on line and submitted by the clerk
Application for a grant for Churchyard maintenance at Fromes Hill Church from Joan Rose – Churchwarden
The Council agreed that £500 would be donated to both Fromes Hill and Bishops Frome PCCs to be used solely by the PCCs as contributions to the cutting of the grass in the Churchyards. The Council consider that the Churchyards are an amenity that all Parishioners use and greatly value and should be kept in good order. The cheques would be raised, signed and sent to the PCCs.
Letter from Tracy Farley about dog fouling in the Churchyard of Bishop’s Frome Church
The email was read out to the Council and a discussion took place on the best way to address this. The clerk had raised this concern to the Vicar at Bishops Frome who would in turn raise it to the PCC. It was agreed that the clerk should write a note to go in the Parish Magazine pointing out this antisocial behaviour in both the Churchyard and play areas.
The Queen’s Green Canopy in Herefordshire
This had been discussed at the Fromes Hill Field management committee and they thought that there would be an opportunity to do some planting to mark the Queen’s Platinum jubilee in the field. The Council also suggested that the Community Garden volunteers should be approached to see if they would be willing to have a suitable sized tree and care for it to mark the occasion in Bishops Frome’s community garden.
2021/072 Affordable Housing – To consider communication from Herefordshire Council
Cllr J Pudge said that he had been approached by Herefordshire Council to discuss the possibility of building 5-6 affordable houses within the Parish. One area they thought could be suitable was the Village centre carpark by moving the play area into the riverside field. He suggested that they send him their plans so he could formally discuss with Councillors. However he did suggest they look at the Fromes Hill field especially a strip of land opposite Uplands as a more suitable site.
2021/073 Section 106 Town/Parish Wish List – Request from Herefordshire Council
The Council considered that their section 106 request for improved pedestrian access and speed calming measures had been submitted as part of the consultation of the building of the new houses at Fromes Hill. The Chairman encourage Councillors to considered where section 106 moneys could be spent in Bishops Frome too and asked them to come back to the next meeting with ideas. This item would be included on the next meeting agenda.
2021/074 Fromes Hill Report
Update on TRO – consider email from Will Wilson dated 2.6.21
The letter from Will Wilson was noted and the Council would wait to hear further from him especially around a proposed meeting. Cllr A Nash said that the petitions had been well received and there are many signatures.
Report from recent field management meeting
The minutes from this meeting had been circulated to councillors. It was noted that a quotation to replace the gates in the field had been accepted and that a neighbour to the field had expressed an interest in renting part of the field.
2021/075 Bishops Frome Report
075.1 Bishops Frome Village Centre
Cllr A Moral reminded Councillors that the AGM would be held on 24 June but this date may change to reflect the current COVID restrictions at that time. He added that various maintenance jobs were being carried out around the hall.
2021/076 Sports Field – Update on actions from the letter from the Eveson Trust
The Chairman said that at the moment there was no update on the letter from the Eveson Trust.
The Clerk noted that there had not been a meeting of the sports field committee
2021/077 Footpaths Officer Report
Cllr C Sincock expressed her disappointment that many issues were still outstanding and had not been dealt with by Belfour Beatty.
2021/078 Date of next meeting
This was confirmed as Tuesday 13 July
Meeting closed at 8.55pm
……………………….. signed by the Chairman …………….. date
Appendix 1
Bank Reconciliation for 8 June 2021
Balance as of 1.4.2021 – 27,078.63
Receipts
Receipts as of 31.4.21 – 13,617.06 (receipt for 187.50 not cleared)
Total = 40,695.69
Payments
Outstanding cheque HMRC – 135.00
Cheques cleared as of 30.4.21 – 4149.95
Total = 4284.95
Balance = 36409.74 +1.00
£36410.74
Cheques approved in May not cleared – 1619.34
Cheques to be approved in June – 573.64
………………………………….. Chairman ………………… date
……………………………. RFO ……………… date