Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 28th November 2024 at Abbots Morton Village Hall
Minutes 11/2024
Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Jacqueline Allum, Martyn Walton, Nick Humphries & Richard Whitlow.
In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk), PC Fabian Gayle, Cllr Terry Bennett (Cookhill Parish Council) and Jeremy Moore (Lengthsman).
Parishioners: 0
- Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Cllr Martin Willingale opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.
- Apologies for absence
Ben Hurdman (District Councillor).
- Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
- Register of Interests
Noted.
- Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
None.
- Other Disclosable Interests
None.
- Dispensations
None.
- Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
- District Councillors
Cllr Ben Hurdman provided the following report to be shared at the meeting:
I was disappointed by the result of the appeal for the 2x dwellings. We have seen a few successful appeals over the past months in the Lenches and now yours. I hope it’s not a pattern as the planning committee work very diligently.
There have been several reports of fly tipping locally. The Report-It section of Wychavon website has proved very effective in getting these cleared up so please use it. At the next Overview & Scrutiny committee we are having a discussion about fly tipping and littering so I will try and make the point to the Head of Client Services how big an issue it has become in our villages.
On Monday, 4 November HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) urged people to download the HMRC app to access HMRC services such as Child Benefit and their National Insurance number. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/do-one-thing-get-on-the-hmrc-app
This Talk Money Week (4 to 8 November), taxpayers are being urged to “Do One Thing” and get on the HMRC app to save time and simplify managing their money and tax.
Download the app from Google Play or Apple Store.
There will be some changes to the Post Office in Inkberrow (WR7 4EJ); following the resignation of the postmaster the Post Office branch will be closing on Friday, 24 January 2025.
For further information, please visit the Consultation Hub via the link below: https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/national-consultation-team/inkberrow-wr7-4ej-183247/
Customer posters will also be displayed in the branch.
I hope you all have a good Christmas, see you in the New Year.
- County Councillor
No report was available.
- Village Hall Committee
Cllr Jacqueline Allum, as Village Hall representative, shared the following report on behalf of the Village Hall Committee:
The Village Hall annual accounts will be produced in December. The Village Hall has been booked by Wychavon District Council for the local elections next year. Committee members will be approaching local funeral directors to promote the Village Hall as a venue for wakes. Jacki and Stephen Allum have covered the cost to have the laurel hedge trimmed. The Committee will be getting three quotes for the car park work. The Committee had applied for a £5,000 Community Matters grant but unfortunately the grant application was unsuccessful. The Village Hall will hold the Abbots Morton Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30th November and there will be Carols on the Green on Friday 20th December.
- Footpaths Officer
Vacant position noted.
- Public participation
0 parishioners in attendance.
Cllr Terry Bennett from Cookhill Parish Council was in attendance to introduce himself to the Councillors as he intends to stand for the County Council elections next year. Cllr Bennett asked what was important to Abbots Morton Parish Council, he welcomed feedback to be sent to him. Cllr Bennett also advocated Neighbourhood Watch and wanted to get the local villages to link up to share information.
PC Fabian Gayle was in attendance to introduce himself to the Councillors, as a new member of the Safer Neighbourhood Team for Droitwich East. PC Gayle was aware of Abbots Morton’s police priorities, but Councillors reported speeding, hare coursing and lamping. PC Gayle will be attending training in December for the use of Tru Cam – a speeding recognition device. PC Gayle intends to bring the device to the Parish. Councillors made PC Gayle aware of a historic campaign where the Parish Council tried to instigate a speed reduction from 60mph to 40mph. PC Gayle used Martin Hussingtree as an example where this has been successfully implemented. The Clerk will do some research into this example as this has now set a precedent in the county.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
- To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 26th September 2024
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.
- Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
- W/22/00711/FUL & 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. Application restarted due to revised information being received. Application approved by Wychavon District Council.
NOTED.
- Appeal lodged W/23/02210/FUL: The Chalet, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton. Demolition of existing workshop and storage yard and erection of 2 residential dwellings and associated infrastructure. Further representations sent to the Planning Inspectorate (Ref: APP/H1840/W/24/3339168). Appeal allowed by The Planning Inspectorate; planning application approved.
NOTED.
Cllr Willingale reported that diggers and fires had been seen at the site. Under Condition 4 of the Schedule of Conditions, no work should have been started until wildlife surveys had been conducted. The Clerk will contact Planning Enforcement.
- Public Rights of Way and Highways
- PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.
No issues.
- Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.
The Lengthsman was in attendance to introduce himself to all the Councillors. The Lengthsman had reported blocked gullies and would re-report the gulley at the Speart. The Lengthsman expressed his view that the speed limit on Alcester Road should be reduced to 40mph. He also raised that the culvert guard at the Alcester Road/Village Road junction blocks the view. The Lengthsman had attended to lots of grips in the Parish. The Lengthsman requested to work one day rather than two half days in May, June and July.
- Flooding: Update on the flooding issues within the Parish.
Cllr Martin Willingale reported that some flooding had occurred on the road outside his property. The Clerk will contact Worcestershire County Council to request that the drain is cleared. Wychavon District Council had sent the roadsweeper to the village, following a request raised by the Clerk.
- Progress reports
- Speeding & Road Safety
PC Gayle had provided an update under 4.5 Public Participation.
- Christmas Tree on the Village Green
Cllr Walton had ordered, collected, and placed the Christmas Tree on the Village Green in preparation for the lighting on 29th November. The Clerk had obtained the licence from Wychavon District Council and reviewed the risk assessment.
- Parish matters for discussion/decision
- Health and Wellbeing Survey
The survey from Worcestershire CALC was discussed and completed.
- Road Verge Diversity
The survey from Worcestershire County Council was discussed and completed.
- Finance
- Budget expenditure: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
- Bank reconciliation: To consider and approve.
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
- Clerk Pay Scales 2024/25.
The Clerk’s new pay scale value was NOTED.
- Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
- Kerry Williamson (salary and expenses): £662.74
- HMRC (PAYE): £19
- Jeremy Moore (Lengthsman): £320
- Abbots Morton Village Hall (Hall booking for meeting): £27
- Martyn Walton (Christmas Tree expenses): £360
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices. Clerk to set up the payments to be authorised by Cllr Martin Willingale.
- Clerk’s Delegation: To note the following payments made between meetings:
- 01/10/2024 – Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (data protection annual fee): £35
- 22/11/2024 – Eyelid Productions (website): £170
The above payments were NOTED.
- 2025/26 Budget & Precept: To approve the 2025/26 budget & precept:
The Clerk presented two budget options, one where the precept covered the budget and the other where reserves were used to cover some items in the budget to reduce the precept. It was AGREED to increase the precept by 7% in 2025/26, the national average increase.
- Correspondence
- Worcestershire CALC: CALC Update 24-
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire CALC: CALC Update 24-08.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire CALC: Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of Worcestershire CALC minutes.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire CALC: Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of Worcestershire CALC.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire CALC: Health and Wellbeing Survey.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 9.1.
- Worcestershire CALC: Staff Payscales 2024-25.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 10.3.
- Wychavon District Council: Member Conduct Committee.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Wychavon District Council: Co-option.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Wychavon District Council: 2025/26 Budget Requirement
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 10.6.
- Wychavon District Council: Christmas Tree Temporary Licence.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 8.2.
- Worcestershire County Council: Public Engagement Exercise – Draft Streetscape Design Guide.
The above correspondence was NOTED.
- Worcestershire County Council: Managing Road Verges to Promote Biodiversity Survey.
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered in item 9.2.
- West Mercia Police: Local Priorities
The above correspondence was NOTED and covered during item 4.5.
- Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
The Clerk had received an email from a resident regarding the second dog foul bin. The resident had been emptying the bin and was concerned about this. Cllr Martyn Walton had agreed to monitor and empty the bin on a regular basis. Cllr Martyn Walton would put his contact number on the bin so he can be contacted to empty the bin. Cllr Richard Whitlow reported that the reduction in dog faeces had been noticeable and that the addition of the bin had been a success.
- Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 23rd January 2025.
Cllr Jacqueline Allum will not be available for the next meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.33PM.