Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 28th July 2022 at Abbots Morton Village Hall
Minutes 07/2022
Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Martyn Walton, Nick Humphries
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Clerk)
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Martin Willingale opened the meeting.
2. Apologies for absence: To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence.
Apologies were noted from Karen Brighton and Richard Whitlow.
3. Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
3.1. Register of Interests
Noted.
3.2. Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Nil declared.
3.3. Other Disclosable Interests
Nil declared.
3.4. Dispensations
Nil received.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
4.1. District Councillors
David Wilkinson provided a report as follows:
Pershore Railway Station
Wychavon has agreed to invest £2 million to help boost the number of people using Pershore Railway Station. Members of the Executive Board have agreed to put £0.5m towards the building of a new £1.5 million footbridge linking the station to council owned land at Dawes Way in Pinvin. Wychavon has also agreed to invest another £1.5million into developing a car park with more than 300 spaces at Dawes Way once the bridge is finished.
Improving parking provision at Pershore Railway Station is one of the promises in Wychavon’s corporate strategy. A lack of parking is one of the major deterrents to people using Pershore Railway Station to travel by train.
Ukraine
Wychavon residents continue to open their homes and offer support to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. As of 5 July, 312 visas had been issued to Ukrainians intending to travel to Wychavon under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with 228 of those guests having arrived.
Unfortunately, we are beginning to see a small number of sponsorship relationships break down. In this instance, it is really important that the guests or hosts get in touch with Wychavon so that we can ensure they are accommodated safely and that any rematching arrangements are made with the correct safeguarding checks in place.
Covid
Rising case numbers continue to be a cause for concern. Whilst the ending of free test kits has reduced the extent of reporting, studies suggest that the level of Covid in Wychavon is currently 3% of the population, which is less than the UK average of 5%.
2021 Census
The first set of data from the 2021 Census has been released. It reveals household and population figures. In Wychavon, the population size has increased by 13.3%, from around 117k in 2011 to 133k in 2021. This is higher than the overall increase for England (6.6%) and is the highest increase within Worcestershire. Despite the increase in population, Wychavon remains relatively sparsely populated, with around one person living on each football pitch-sized area of land. The data also confirms what we already knew, that our population is ageing rapidly. Since 2011, the number of people aged 65 and over has increased by 31.5%.
4.2. County Councillor
No report was available.
4.3. Village Hall Committee
It was noted that the hall hire rates had been revised from September 2022, in line with increasing running costs.
4.4. Public participation
No matters reported.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
5. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 26th May 2022
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
6. Progress reports
6.1. Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there were two vacancies on the Parish Council and enquiries and applications from parishioners were welcomed.
6.2. Flooding, Abbots Morton Village Road
It was noted that Worcestershire County Council had identified a number of drainage issues and remedial works had been ordered.
7. Correspondence
7.1. CALC: Update on the Official Controls (Plant Protection Products) Regulations 2020 and the impact on contractors undertaking weed spraying activities.
It was RESOLVED to contact the Lengthsman to advise them not to undertake weed spraying unless they have complied with all of the relevant legislation.
7.2. CALC: ‘The Circuit’ defibrillator registration.
It was RESOLVED to register the Parish Council’s defibrillator on ‘The Circuit’.
7.3. Police and Crime Commissioner: Town and Parish Council Survey 2022.
The above survey was noted.
7.4. Police: Introductory letter from Superintendent Rebecca Love.
The above correspondence was noted.
7.5. The Local Government Boundary Commission: Consultation on further draft recommendations for ward boundaries in the south of Wychavon.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council had no objections to the revised proposals.
7.6. Resident: Tree obstruction to bridleway 550B.
It was noted that the fallen tree had been reported to Worcestershire County Council.
7.7. Worcestershire County Council: Adoption of the Worcestershire Minerals Local Plan.
The adopted Minerals Local Plan was noted.
8. Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
8.1. W/22/00711/FUL and W/22/00968/LB: Manor Farm, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Conversion of barn to dwelling and erection of car port, to include raised drive and dropped kerb.
It was noted that the application had been made invalid and had been removed from Wychavon District Council’s website.
9. Public Rights of Way and Highways
9.1. Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.
No matters were reported.
9.2. PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.
No matters were reported.
10. Parish matters for discussion/decision
10.1. Jubilee commemorative tree: To receive an update on arrangements for planting a commemorative tree and plaque.
It was noted that the best time for planting would be autumn 2022 and a Silver Birch tree was the preferred tree species.
11. Finance
11.1. Bank account: To review banking arrangements with a view to utilising online banking.
It was RESOLVED to sign up to internet banking with the existing Lloyds bank account.
11.2. Balances and Reserves Policy: To review and update.
It was RESOLVED to adjust the reserves policy in line with recent estimates of election expenses.
11.3. Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
11.4. Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
11.5. Invoices
11.5.1. David Hunter-Miller (June and July salary and expenses)
11.5.2. HMRC (June and July PAYE)
11.5.3. Luke Farnsworth (Lengthsman): £255.00
11.5.4. Martin Willingale (jubilee expenses): £35.90
11.5.5. Re-issue of cheque 0572 (Iain Selkirk – internal audit): £110.00
11.5.6. Abbots Morton Village Hall (room hire): £44.00
11.5.7. St James Harvington (Arch Messenger donation): £120.00
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices and cheques were duly signed.
11.6. Clerk’s Delegation
11.6.1. 27/05/22 Graham Hobbs (planters): £140.95
11.6.2. 27/05/22 S Dykes (jubilee expenses): £34.50
The above payments, made between scheduled meetings, were noted.
12. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was noted that the Parish Council noticeboard windows required replacement and this would be reviewed before the next meeting.
It was RESOLVED to add the following items to the next agenda:
• Parish Council noticeboard repair (expenditure up to £100.00)
13. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 22nd September 2022.
A resolution was passed to exclude members of the public due to the confidential nature of the following item.
14. Clerk’s contract: To undertake an annual review.
The Clerk’s contract was reviewed and it was RESOLVED to increase the Clerk’s salary to NJC SCP23 (National Joint Council for Local Government Services) to fall in line with neighbouring parish councils.
The meeting closed at 9:37PM.