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COLWALL PARISH COUNCIL
The minutes of the
meeting of Colwall Parish Council held in the Jean Simon Room, Colwall Village
Hall, at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th February 2008
Present: Chairman: Mrs N Carless
Councillors: Mrs E Haynes, Mrs H Stace, Mrs G Rees, Messrs Ashton, Beard, Cooney, Hunt, Leaper, Morris, Mills and Milne
Also present: The Clerk and the Press.
1. Welcome and Apologies for Absence:
The Chairman welcomed the new members of the Council Messrs Milne and Mrs Rees.
Apologies were accepted for Councillors Abbotts and Jackson.
2 Declaration of Interests:
. Councillor Stace declared a personal interest in item 7.
Councillor Cooney declared a personal interest in item 10 (iii).
Councillors Carless and Beard declared a personal interest in 4 (ii)
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At this point the meeting was
adjourned for Council to receive a report from Amanda Rosbotham on Ledbury
Youth First and its activities and achievements |
3. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 30th January 2008 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
4 Planning
Applications:
i) DCNE2008/0270/K
To fell 1 Ash Tree at Redland, Redland Drive, Colwall, Malvern
Applicant: T Martin
IT WAS RESOLVED that No Objections would be raised.
ii) DCNE2008/0275/F
Proposed single storey extension and conversion of garage to provide additional living accommodation which will form a granny annexe at The Reddings, Old Colwall, Malvern
Applicant: - Mr & Mrs J Ling
Agent: - Mr N J Teale
IT WAS RESOLVED that No Objections would be raised.
5 Progress Reports
The Clerk read out the following progress reports
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Parish Office and retail space for The Post Office –
Clerk is working with the freeholder on applying for change of use planning. This is being submitted this week now I have all the plans required.
The potential post master was interviewed on Monday 18th with Post Office Ltd re granting of the licence and passed his interview.
The Head Lease has now been negotiated, subject to Solicitors agreeing the suggested wording, this should be finalised over the next few days.
Timescales – We are working towards being ready to sign the lease at the end of March subject to planning re change of use being granted (this is in hand), and works for making good of premises completed (this is in hand).
In the interim period,
i) Once the head lease has been agreed, the sub-lease is to be negotiated and drafted; discussions have already been held with the potential postmaster in this regard.
We are working towards this also being ready to be signed by the end of March.
ii) I am also working on disabled access (I have asked Herefordshire Council’s help in obtaining a grant to cover these costs)
I am also waiting to speak with Highways (who I believe own the pavement) re planning requirements for disabled access and a list of their approved contractors (call out 20/2).
Once the head and sub leases are signed the estimated timescale for getting the Post Office open, is 10 weeks (as advised by Post Office Counters)
Finally, in order to inform the Parishioners of our proposed course of action in getting a Post Office back into the Village. It is suggested a further Parish Meeting be held in March.
It was AGREED a Parish Meeting will be held at 7.30pm on 18th
March 2008, Clerk to arrange the venue.
Colwall Railway Bridge Closure
A Parish Meeting is to be held at Colwall C of E Primary School on Weds 27th February 2008 @ 7.30pm.to which Network Rail and Herefordshire Council have been invited to - explain the proposals, the rationale behind the proposals and the timetable when this information is developed. Notices have been put up on the Parish Notices Boards and on the Parish Council web-site.
It was AGREED Councillor Mills, would place a copy of the notice about the Parish Meeting in all the Village shops.
Martin Jackson has been thanked for his efforts in producing Progress Report 5, so promptly, for last months meeting.
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Herefordshire Council have repaired Flapgate Lane after a request from the Parish Council via Martin Jackson.
The Clerk has meet with Transport Mgr at Coca Cola Schweppes to discuss the Bridge and its ongoing impact on the business.
Speed Indicator Devices
Herefordshire Council have confirmed there are 8 Parish Councils almost ready to take a Speed Indicator Devices, one of which is Colwall. A traffic speed count is to be carried out at the locations proposed, which will give a set of results from which we will be able to review the effectiveness of the scheme in the Parish.
The Clerk and Councillor Mills will attend the proposed sites with Herefordshire Council and the Police, to review the risk assessments, already provided by the Parish.
Assuming the costs (see below) are approved by the Parish Council and the Risk Assessments re the proposed sites are acceptable to the Police and Herefordshire Council then the installations can go ahead.
The costs for the speed indicator devices are:-
£247.98 per socket/site – of which Colwall has requested 6. This will cost £1,487.88
PLUS – delivery, set up and removal of the post and sign at a cost of £100. (see below)
Herefordshire Council are offering an initial training session, after which, a volunteer will collect the sign and post, and set up the Speed Indicator Devices on behalf of the Parish Council, at no cost
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk would confirm to Herefordshire
Council that Colwall Parish Council would proceed with the scheme.
It was AGREED the Parish Council will ask the Lengthsman to undertake this training and duty, and we will offer to pay£10 per relocation, to cover this additional weekly duty.
In addition Councillor Cooney will be trained, so that he can move the Speed Indicator Devices when the Lengthsman is on holiday (this will be a voluntary duty by the Councillor).
It was AGREED that the Clerk would invite Paul Smith the local
Community Support Officer to the next Parish Meeting, to discuss the
opportunity for speed traps in the Village pending the installation of the
Speed Indicator Device.
IT WAS RESOLVED that the Income and Expenditure for February as per the issued list be approved.
IT WAS RESOLVED that Councillors Cooney, Morris and the Clerk be added to the signing mandate for the Parish Council at Nat West and the Clerk be added to the Parish Council signing mandate at Lloyds TSB Bank
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7 Allotments
Councillor Stace reported that a potential site for Allotments has been identified. The next stage is for a full costing of the project to be produced which will be
submitted to Full Council for consideration.
Councillor Stace is hopeful that the set up costs can be met from grant monies.
It was
AGREED Councillors Stace, Carless and Mills
would make further enquiries into the potential site and Councillor Stace would
submit a further report for consideration, with the benefit of detailed
costings for the Project
It was also
AGREED that the Parish Council would be
seeking to make the project cost neutral once set up.
8 Correspondence for processing
i)
Letter
from Parishioner, seeking a monetary donation towards the Colwall Festival
which is being held i July 2008. It was AGREED the Clerk would write to the Parishioner and
seek further details of the budgeting and costings of the Festival, to be able
to consider this request further
ii) E-mail received from John
Duddington confirming his availability for Councillor’s training sessions on
both the 13th and 20th May Clerk collated
attendees
details. It was
AGREED the Clerk would book the venue and seek additional attendees from
neighbouring Parish’s to share the costs.
iii)
Herefordshire Council - Re Planning
Application DCNE2007/3842/F – Amended plans re the Provision of new sports hall
facility incorporating classrooms, parking, landscaping and highways
improvements to the junction of
Brookhill Road and Church Road relating to The Downs
School, Brookhill Road, Malvern
IT WAS RESOLVED
that Council fully supports the amended
application elements relevant to the cycle storage facilities and a bin store
for the Sports facility but continues to object to the proposed Highway Plan,
for all the reasons previously submitted.
9 Correspondence for
Information
Correspondence
was noted as per the attached list.
10. Reports of Committees
i) IT WAS RESOLVED that the report from the Countryside Committee meeting held on 6th February 2008. was received, approved and adopted.
ii) IT WAS RESOLVED that the report from the Planning and Development Committee meeting of 13th February 2008 was received, approved and adopted.
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11. Bye-election for one
vacancy on the Parish Council
The Clerk read out the following report:-
Timetable
The timetable for the election process is set out below, should you receive any questions relating to it
· “Election of A Parish Councillor Notices” were placed on the Parish public notice boards on the 14th February 2008
· Nomination papers have to be delivered to Herefordshire Council by Noon on 22nd February 2008.
· If there is an election, polling day will be the 20th March 2008.
The Clerk will contact
Herefordshire Council after the 22nd
February to find out if there is a contested election or not.
Costs
Looking at the estimated cost schedule- and on the basis of the assumption that the Parish has up to 2000 electors
The Election office has confirmed that the estimated fee for filling a casual vacancy in a Parish Council by way of a contested election is £3,500.00. This sum includes the estimated nomination process fee of £100 and the estimated election process fee of £1,050.00 , with the difference being the estimated costs for the
polling cards of £460, the polling station and election staff plus HC councils in dealing with the election.
The Parish Council have the option if to issue polling cards or not (cost of £460.00); this is strongly recommended by Herefordshire Council, if the position is contested.
Should the election be uncontested then the Nomination Process Fee will be charged of £100 plus any costs included by HC in dealing with the process.
After a period of debate it was RESOLVED that Polling Cards would be requested by Herefordshire Council should there be a contested election.
The Clerk advised the Parish Council that Mrs J Robinson had accepted the Parish Councils invitation as a Co-opted member onto the Village Amenities Committee.
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13. Representatives on
Outside Bodies
Councillor Beard reported on the Herefordshire
Council- Community Forum –
The main topic of debate had been the Herefordshire Council Review of School review document.
Councillors Stace and Hunt reported on the
Conservators recent meeting. Where the Conservators endorsed the Parish
Councils comments regarding “the proposed improvements to the junction of
Brookhill Road and Church Road relating to The Downs School, Brookhill Road,
Malvern”.
Councillor G Rees volunteered to represent the
Parish Council on the Village Hall Management Committee.
14. Date of next meeting
This was confirmed as Wednesday 26th March 2008.
The meeting closed at 10.20pm.
Chairman: ……………………………………. Date: …………………………
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Table Correspondence
February 2008.
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Document 1 |
Herefordshire Council- results of Water Supply test at Evendine Spout, taken on 22nd January 2008. Which confirms, that the sample shown complies with the required standards of legislation |
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Document 2 |
Herefordshire Council – Feedback from Local Involvement Network (LINk) stakeholder event 3 December 2007 |
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Document 3 |
Old postcard received of Evendine Court, Colwall |
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Document 4 |
Hereford Voluntary Action (HVA) Newsletter Feb 2008 |
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Document 5 |
Herefordshire FWAG February newsletter, including booking form for events/courses – Capital Grants 20th Feb, Water Voles-the reintroduction and eradication of Mink on the river Dore 13th March |
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Document 6 |
Herefordshire Council – Review of Polling District – extension to consultation period to March 2008. |
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Document7 |
Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB)
E-Bulletin February 2008 - Issue 2
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