Approved minutes 8 January 2024
TARRINGTON PARISH COUNCIL (TPC)
MINUTES OF AN ORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8TH JANUARY 2024 AT 7.30 PM IN LADY EMILY COMMUNITY HALL
Present: Cllrs Jakki Cunningham, Paul Grey, Robert Hodges, Ian Howard, Linzy Outtrim, John Tallis (Chairman), Janette Ward.
In attendance: Paul Hayden (Clerk).
Public: Three.
1/24 APOLOGIES
Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Gillian Board.
2/24 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST & WRITTEN DISPENSATION REQUESTS
Cllrs Hodges and Tallis declared an interest in agenda item 14/24 LECH funding request.
3/24 MINUTES FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THE 18th DECEMBER 2023
RESOLVED: These minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.
4/24 PUBLIC SESSION
4.1/24 The Ward Councillor did not attend and so no report was presented.
4.2/24 A local resident raised the problem of litter around the bus-shelter in front of the Tarrington Arms and asked if the parish council would provide a litter bin to address this issue.
RESOLVED: The Clerk requested to obtain a litter bin to install by the bus-shelter.
5/24 REQUEST TO CONVERT POUND CLOSE PLAY AREA INTO RESIDENT PARKING
Members considered the update provided by the Clerk. The residents who requested the conversion have been written to and informed that TPC are not supportive of converting the play area into parking, as have the Herefordshire Council Officers concerned, and they were also informed that the area is included as a protected green space in the Tarrington NDP
RESOLVED: Item completed and removed from the agenda.
6/24 ROAD MARKINGS IN LITTLE TARRINGTON
No update received from the Ward Councillor.
RESOLVED: Item deferred to the next meeting.
7/24 PLANNING
There were no planning consultations for Members to consider.
8/24 COUNCIL PLANNING SPOKESPERSON AND DEPUTY
Members considered the HALC recommended good practise of appointing a spokesperson and deputy to represent the Council on planning matters.
RESOLVED: Cllr Grey will act as TPC spokesperson and Cllr Howard will act as deputy. Item completed and removed from the agenda.
9/24 SECTION 106 PRIORITIES
Members considered the HALC recommended good practise of regularly reviewing S106 priorities for the parish and sending to Herefordshire Council (HC) Planning Department. The following were suggested:
- Road calming measures.
- Footpaths and footways to protect pedestrians whilst walking in the village.
- Extension of the 30mph limit on the A438 towards Hereford.
- Pedestrian crossing between the two bus-stops.
- LECH facility improvement.
- Improving visibility at Station Road junction.
RESOLVED: The Clerk will submit to HC Planning Dept.
10/24 ROAD SAFETY
Members considered the update from Cllr Hodges on road safety matters. Key points included:
- The gully at the junction of Church Lane and School Road is still blocked due to a broken drain-pipe. Cllr Hodges has raised with BBLP the urgent concern of flooding, particularly in icy conditions.
- Road markings by Little Tarrington Farm. The eroded white lines at the junction with the road accessing Little Tarrington Farm have been re-painted, but is considered to be poorly done. The worn ‘SLOW’ road markings have not been re-painted.
- The worn road markings at Durlow Lane have been re-painted.
- Grit bins have been checked.
- Pot holes have been reported to HC.
11/24 COMMUNITY COMMISSIONING
Members considered a proposal from Cllr Tallis to put together a Community Commission project for Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) to instal traffic calming measures on the A438.
RESOLVED: Cllr Tallis and the Clerk requested to submit an assessment form to BBLP.
12/24 SPEED INDICATOR DEVICE (SID) INSTALLATION
Members considered the update from the Clerk on installing a SID at Garbrook. The parish Lengthsman has agreed to install and the Clerk has identified a supplier of the socket installation system currently in use for the other SIDs in Tarrington.
RESOLVED: The Clerk requested to progress installation.
13/24 FINANCE
13.1/24 Members approved the financial reports from the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO).
13.2/24 Members considered all the invoices listed by the RFO.
13.2.1/24 Clerk’s December 2023 salary
13.2.2/24 LECH inv. 1275 covering room hire for £7.50.
13.2.3/24 Autela Payroll Services Ltd invoice 13132 for £48.32 plus VAT.
13.2.4/24 Richard Mills re-issued invoice 3678 for £209.75 plus VAT. (The previous invoice was incorrect and TPC cheque returned with the new invoice).
RESOLVED: All invoices approved for payment.
14/24 LECH FUNDING REQUEST
Cllrs Hodges and Tallis declared an interest in this item and left the room. Both are on the LECH management committee. Members considered the request from LECH for an annual grant to contribute to the playing field maintenance cost; the playing field is a community facility provided at no charge to all residents.
RESOLVED: To give a grant of £1,554 to LECH to be paid in April 2024 and to review annually this grant support.
15/24 TARRINGTON EVENTS COMMITTEE
Members considered the request for TPC to fund or fund-raise to purchase gazebos and stalls to be stored in LECH at their November 2023 meeting. Members were unable to reach a decision as not enough information was provided by the events committee. The Clerk requested more information following this PC meeting, but has not received a reply.
RESOLVED: To defer to the next meeting.
16/24 LENGTHSMAN SCHEME 2024/25
Members considered the Clerk’s update on the Lengthsman Scheme for 2024/25 which HC are funding, albeit at a significantly lower rate.
RESOLVED: To engage in the scheme next year and to apply for increased funding on a match funded basis.
17/24 FOOTPATHS
Members considered the Parish Footpath Officer’s report. Cllr Ward has experienced trouble reporting a broken finger post on TR9 to HC PROW using their reporting system. No other PROW issues to report. The Clerk is progressing identification of the landowner/tenant re footpath TR15 above Aldersend Farm to Durlow which is impassable due to no footpath provided by the farmer through the field crops as required under public rights of way legislation.
18/24 HC PROW & PARISH FOOTPATH OFFICERS (PFO)
Members considered the PFO guidelines document issued by HC PROW Team and the HALC PFO guidance contained in the HALC Information Corner dated 23 December 2023. Members are concerned at the potential shifting of responsibility for maintaining Public Rights of Way from HC onto the parish council. Members are also concerned about the potential workload which might be placed by HC onto the volunteer PFO, and the nature of work the PFO may be directed by HC PROW Team to undertake. Members are concerned about potential insurance complications arising from claims resulting from the lack of clarity or understanding of the role of a volunteer PRO and their role within the HC PROW team.
RESOLVED: The Clerk is requested to submit the PFO’s details to HC.
RESOLVED: The PFO is to not to tackle tasks that they are uncomfortable with or feel are not part of the volunteer PFO role. The PFO should include all requested tasks in their footpath report to the parish council.
19/24 PARISH WALKS LEAFLET
Cllr Board was unable to attend this meeting to present her ideas.
RESOLVED: Item deferred to the next meeting.
20/24 SCHOOL LANE FOOTPATH RESTORATION
Members considered the proposed restoration of an old footpath on School Lane. The Parish Lengthsman has cleared the vegetation along the route in School Lane and found a gravel path 40cms below the accumulated soil and leaf debris. The Lengthsman also commented on how busy the road is and the number of walkers who had to jump out of the way of passing vehicles. Members consider reinstatement would be beneficial to residents.
RESOLVED: The Clerk is requested to explore ways the path might be reinstated.
21/24 CHURCH LANE PROJECT
Members considered the update from Cllr Tallis. Initial talks with the landowner were positive and the contractor has visited the site to prepare a more detailed specification.
RESOLVED: The Clerk is requested to progress with the landowner.
22/24 D-DAY 80 CELEBRATION
Members considered the request to light a beacon to celebrate the D-Day 80 6th June 2024 national celebration. Members are supportive of taking part.
RESOLVED: Cllr Tallis to investigate the practicalities involved in lighting a beacon and also what other activities might be considered.
23/24 2023/24 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PAY AGREEMENT
It was RESOLVED to ask members of the public to leave the meeting whilst Members considered this confidential item.
RESOLVED: To award the agreed pay increase immediately and backdate to the 1st April 2023 as recommended in NALC document E01-23 dated the 6th November 2023.
24/24 MATTERS RAISED FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING ON MONDAY 11th MARCH 2024
Little Tarrington road safety issue.
Tarrington Events Committee request.
Road safety.
SID installation.
Community commissioning project.
Footpaths Officer’s report.
School Road footpath reinstatement.
Parish walks leaflet.
Church Lane Project.
D-Day 80 celebration.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.08 pm.
SIGNED…………………………………………………… DATE………………………………………
These minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman at the ordinary meeting of the parish council held on the 11th March 2024.