Meeting of Abbots Morton Parish Council at 8:00PM on Thursday 27th July 2023 at Abbots Morton Village Hall
Minutes 07/2023
Present: Martin Willingale (Chair), Karen Brighton, Martyn Walton, Jacqueline Allum.
In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk).
Parishioners: 2
- Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Martin Willingale opened the meeting.
- Apologies for absence
Tim Jones (Footpath Officer), Colin Pemberton (Village Hall Committee) & Ben Hurdman (Wychavon District Councillor).
- Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
- Register of Interests
Noted.
- Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Nil declared.
- Other Disclosable Interests
Cllrs Karen Brighton and Martyn Walton declared a disclosable interest in agenda item 8.3 as they are neighbours to the applicant.
- Dispensations
It was RESOLVED to grant a dispensation to Cllrs Karen Brighton and Martyn Walton to allow participation but not voting on item 8.3.
- Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session.
- District Councillors
The following information had been received:
There is a new Wychavon rural fund that has been made available for businesses and organisations in the rural community. The panel is giving out money to worthy businesses and organisations across the parishes. If you can make your council and locals aware that the funding is available. For further information visit: www.wychavon.gov.uk/business/funding-and-support/wychavon-rural-fund. Applications have to be in by 14th August and there are grants of up to £25,000.
- County Councillor
No report was available.
- Village Hall Committee
The following written report had been received:
Village Hall Committee Report to Parish Council Meeting 27th July 2023
New Pilates Class
We’re delighted to confirm that a new Pilates Class is starting up at the village hall on Tuesday nights from 6pm to 7pm. It’ll be run by Sally Morris from Bishampton, an experienced fitness tutor. The first class is this coming Tuesday with others on 8th, 15th and 22nd August. There will be class in September on 5th and 19th. Sally has a ready-made class of 10 but has 4 spaces available. Anyone interested can e-mail Sally on positivefitnessuk01@gmail.com
Yoga
Our Monday and Friday morning yoga classes are running successfully, bringing in valuable regular income. The Friday morning class run by Danielle Clarkesmith is taking a break during August, but the Monday morning class by Beverley Young is continuing throughout the summer.
An Evening with Doris Gisbourne and friends – A Living History of Abbots Morton
Doris Gisbourne from Alcester Road, Radford, has an unrivalled knowledge of Abbots Morton and the hamlets of the parish. Her stories of days past are legendary and entertaining, as anyone who comes to the Community Coffee Morning knows.
On Friday evening September 8th there is an open invitation to all in our community to hear Doris sharing her memories. We intend to make an audio recording of the evening so that this revealing and informative session can be captured as a contribution to an archive of Abbots Morton history.
People attending can chip in, where appropriate, with their own stories of community life in days gone by.
It will be free, and people can bring their own refreshments. Doors will open at 7pm with the session starting at 7.30pm.
Community Coffee Mornings
The first Tuesday of each month between 10am and 12 noon is now a permanent fixture in the Village Hall diary for the Community Coffee Morning. There are regularly around 16 or 17 people who come for a chat and a catch up over tea, coffee and biscuits.
It’s hoped that it will continue to grow as more and more people hear of its success. There is no charge but many people make a contribution in the autumn and winter months, towards the cost of electricity. The next one is this coming Tuesday.
Bookings
We had a successful wedding reception in June. There was an issue with music playing a little beyond 11pm but lessons have been learned and better notice of such events will be given to immediate neighbours.
The hall has been booked on September 16th by the Whitlow family in connection with the wedding of Grace Whitlow up to 9pm.
St Peter’s Church is holding its traditional Harvest Supper on Friday October 6th. It’s a good date for your diary. More details in due course in the parish magazine, the ARCH Messenger.
Committee Members needed
Anyone who would like to be involved in running the village hall would be warmly welcomed by the Village Hall Management Committee. Meetings are roughly once every six weeks. If anyone would like to come to see and hear a “taster” session, they would be very welcome at our next meeting on August 23rd at 2.30pm. Please contact the Chair, Lynne Pemberton, or any of the current committee members (Sarah Dykes, Pat and Martin Willingale and Colin Pemberton).
Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter goes out either by email or on paper to all in the community, except for those who’ve said they don’t want one. The Summer newsletter is currently being put together and will go out in August.
- Colin Pemberton, Bookings Officer and PRO
- Footpaths Officer
The following written report had been received:
There were 5 bridges that were of concern to the east of the parish – one being unpassable because of fire damage. I recently checked all 5 and they have either been replaced or repaired and vegetation has been cut back.
Path 543C and 541C (to the south of the main road) was obstructed by a fallen tree which has been removed.
- Public participation
2 Parishioners in attendance, no participation.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
- To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 18th May 2023
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.
- Co-option: To consider an application for councillor vacancy.
It was unanimously RESOLVED to accept Richard Whitlow’s co-option application. As Richard was in attendance the Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed.
- Election of a Vice-Chairman
It was unanimously RESOLVED to elect Richard Whitlow as Vice-Chairman for the 2023/24 municipal year.
- Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
- W/22/00711/FUL & W/22/00968/LB: To receive an update on 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.
No updates available, pending decision.
- W/22/02758/HP: To receive an update on Appletrees, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Demolition of existing garage and erection of garage with work from home office.
Application approved by Wychavon District Council.
- W/23/00703/HP: Hathaway Three, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton, Worcester, WR7 4NA. Rear two storey extension, side two storey extension together with front porch extension.
Councillors felt that the plans would improve and modernise the property. It was RESOLVED to support the application.
- Public Rights of Way and Highways
- PROW maintenance and obstruction issues: To consider and review.
No issues to report.
- Lengthsman Scheme: To receive an update and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule.
Weeds in the kerbside running along the footpath outside Chestnut Cottage.
Vegetation to be cut back at the eastern exit when looking left.
- Flooding: To consider issues relating to highway drainage on the C2010, Abbots Morton Village Road.
Cllr Richard Whitlow reported that the drain outside High House Farm had been looked at with a camera and had subsequently been cleared. Cllr Martin Willingale reported further flooding outside Chestnut Cottage. Clerk to contact Worcestershire County Council for an update on this and to provide photos of recent flooding.
- Progress reports
- Councillor vacancies
It was noted that there is one vacancy on the Parish Council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.
- Neighbourhood Watch
It was RESOLVED to start the recruitment drive with the leaflet drop in September/October. Currently have 22 households out of 80 signed up. Clerk to add to the September agenda.
- ’20 is plenty’ scheme
Next stage is to sign a motion and pass to County Councillor.
- Second dog fouling bin
Cllr Martyn Walton has fitted the bin in its location and is fully operational. Pleased to report that the bin is being used.
11. Parish matters for discussion/decision
- Policing priorities
Following discussion, it was RESOLVED that the priorities would be flytipping, wildlife crime and Police response to incidents. Clerk to contact Safer Neighbourhood Team to find out which team covers Abbots Morton.
- Town and Parish Council survey from West Mercia Police
Councillors completed the survey, Clerk to submit.
- Division Boundaries for Worcestershire Consultation
Clerk to double check that the boundary will remain the same for Abbots Morton.
- Community funding opportunities
Cllr Martin Willingale will speak with the Village Hall committee about community funding opportunities. Village hall committee looking to install solar panels to help with energy bills. Issue will be having to have a percentage of the funding to contribute.
- CiLCA training for Clerk
It was RESOLVED to fund the CiLCA training for Clerk.
- Clerk’s six-month probabtionary period
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk has passed the six-month probationary period.
- Finance
- 2022-23 Accounts & Audit
Clerk has had confirmation from the auditors that exemption has been received and logged.
- 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.
- Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
- Kerry Williamson (June and July salary and expenses): £549.59
- Carl Brassington (Lengthsman): £240
- Worcestershire CALC – Clerk’s CiLCA Training: £231
- Abbots Morton Village Hall booking – £23
- Graham Hobbs (Village planters): £147.79
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices and cheques were duly signed.
- Correspondence
- Worcestershire CALC: CALC Update 23-06
The above update was noted.
- Worcestershire CALC: Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of the Worcestershire CALC: Minutes from March meeting.
The above minutes were noted.
- Worcestershire CALC: Briefing on the Local Government Boundary review.
The above briefing was noted.
- Worcestershire CALC: Training Newsletter
The above newsletter was noted.
- Wychavon District Council: Parish and Town Newsletter
The above newsletter was noted.
- Worcestershire County Council: Countryside reference for reported blocked right of way.
The above reference was noted.
- Worcestershire County Council: Planning Consultation database refresh.
The above communication was noted.
- Lengthsman Scheme: Parish Lengthsman training course.
The above communication was noted.
- West Mercia Police: South Worcestershire Rural Beat.
The above communication was noted.
- West Mercia Police: Town and Parish Council Survey 2023.
The above survey was noted and completed.
- West Mercia Police: Police Community Charter Priorities.
The above communication was noted and completed.
- Zurich Insurance: Payment receipt.
The above communication was noted.
- Abbots Morton resident: notification of blocked right of way on pathway 500B.
The above communication was noted.
- Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
Neighbourhood Watch recruitment drive – leaflet drop.
- Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 28th September 2023.
The meeting closed at 9.18PM.