Minutes 27 Mar 2025

Minutes 03/2025

Present: Cllrs Martin Willingale (Chair), Jacqueline Allum, Nick Humphries & Richard Whitlow.

In attendance: Kerry Williamson (Clerk), Ann Clayden (Footpaths Officer), Cllr Terry Bennett (Cookhill Parish Council), 2 First Responders from Vale of Evesham First Responders.

Parishioners: 0

 

  1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements

Cllr Martin Willingale opened the meeting and welcomed everyone.

 

  1. Apologies for absence

Cllr Martyn Walton and Cllr Ben Hurdman (District) sent apologies.

 

  1. Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial Interest
  • Register of Interests

Noted.

  • Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

None.

  • Other Disclosable Interests

None.

  • Dispensations

None.

 

  1. 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:

This week the Government announced major reforms to the planning system through the tabling of its Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Key proposals in the Bill include:

  • The introduction of a national scheme of delegation which will set out which types of applications should be determined by officers, and which should go to committee.
  • A limit on the size of planning committees.
  • Mandatory training for all planning committee members.
  • The ability for councils to set their own planning fees to reflect local circumstances. Money can be reinvested to further speed up the planning process.
  • The creation of a Nature Restoration Fund. This will allow developers to pay into a pot and the money can be pooled, to fund large projects to connect and restore nature over wider geographic areas. Currently, developers pay to mitigate the environmental impact of a development on a project-by-project basis, which the Government claims slows down delivery.
  • Changes to the rules around the Compulsory Purchase system to make it easier for councils to acquire land.
  • Strengthened powers for Development Corporations to make it easier to build the Government’s planned New Towns.
  • The introduction of strategic planning where development is looked at across multiple council areas. This will be the responsibility of Mayors or councils where necessary.
  • A restriction on the legal challenges that can be brought against major national significant infrastructure projects.
  • Clean energy projects like wind and solar power will be prioritised for connection to the grid.
  • People living within 500m of new pylons across Great Britain will up to £2,500 over 10 years off their energy bills. A community fund will also be created meaning communities could get £200,000 worth of funding per km of new overhead electricity cable in their area, and £530,000 per substation.
  • Streamlining the process for installing EV chargers.

A consultation is also underway on removing Sport England, The Theatre Trust and The Gardens Trust status as statutory consultees on applications. The role of other statutory consultees will also be restricted to heritage, safety and environmental protection. This will reduce the type and number of applications they must be consulted on. There will also be guidance clarifying councils should only consult statutory consultees ‘where necessary’ and decisions should not be delayed beyond the 21-day statutory deadline unless a decision cannot be reached, or advice may enable an approval rather than a refusal.

The examination phase of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) started on 4 March, with public hearings taking place at the Guildhall in Worcester. This is a crucial stage of the plan-making process and a key step on the way to having the SWDPR officially adopted later this year. Officers are positive about the response the Plan is getting from the inspectors so far, although we obviously won’t know until we get their final report.

The hearings are being live streamed on the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review YouTube channel. You can also watch back the previous sessions. Final sessions take place on 25, 26 and 27 March at the Guildhall in Worcester. The final session on 28 March takes place at the Civic Centre in Pershore. There are also some reserve sessions planned on 29 April, 30 April and 1 May should the inspectors need more time. If these take place, then they will also be at the Civic Centre in Pershore.

Over 60 people attended our latest Parish and Town Council event held on 6 March.  The event was chaired by Councillor Emma Sims, Chair of the Communities and Funding Advisory Panel, who explained the role of the Panel. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Day, gave an update on the We Are Wychavon Plan and some of our promises. He shared the headlines of the 2024 Residents’ Survey results, which saw 82% residents being satisfied with the local area as a place to live (79% in 2023) and 72% satisfied with how we run things (64% in 2023).  He highlighted the results from the Corporate Peer Challenge that took place last year, which some of the parish councils had been involved with. He then spoke about the Devolution White Paper, local government reorganisation and the next steps.

Jonathan Morgan, Electoral Services Manager, explained how parish councils can deal with casual vacancies and by-elections.

Ciaran Power, Head of Planning Services, spoke about the changes to planning policy, what’s in the pipeline and how to engage effectively in the planning process.

The attendees then had a choice of three workshops to attend. These covered the topics listed below.

  • Rural Transport Research – participants heard the results of Wychavon’s recent research and were invited to feedback on experiences in their areas.
  • Neighbourhood Plans – participants heard more about what neighbourhood plans are, the benefits and how to get started.
  • Health and Wellbeing – Lucy Bird, Wellbeing Officer at CALC, talked about her role in supporting parish councils with health and wellbeing.

The final speakers were representatives from Cleeve Prior, Pinvin and Crowle Parish Councils. They shared their experiences of creating large scales projects, the financial challenges, how to engage with the community, identifying local needs and how to be resilient when a project doesn’t initially go to plan.

  • County Councillor

No report was available.

  • Village Hall Committee

Cllr Jacqueline Allum had resigned as the Parish Council representative on the Village Hall committee. Cllr Martin Willingale volunteered to be the Parish Council representative and provided an update. The sudden loss of Colin Pemberton had been felt by the Village Hall Committee. Support had been requested and two residents had volunteered to take over Bookings Officer and Communications.

  • Footpaths Officer

The new Footpaths Officer, Ann Clayden was present to introduce herself to the Parish Council. Ann had been walking around the Parish footpaths and had started to do some clearing. Cllr Martin Willingale thanked Ann for volunteering and undertaking the training.

  • Public participation

0 parishioners in attendance.

Cllr Terry Bennett from Cookhill Parish Council was in attendance to update the Council on his progress with Neighbourhood Watch and creating a village network. Cllr Terry Bennett asked if the Councillors had any further information or anecdotal evidence on speeding in the Parish.

The meeting resumed following the open session.

 

  1. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 23rd January 2025

It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record, and they were duly signed by the Chair.

 

  1. Planning: To consider the following planning applications to be determined by Wychavon District Council:
  • 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. To receive an update on any enforcement action.

Cllr Willingale reported that was no updates.

  • W/24/02463/CLPU: Manor Farm, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton. Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed positioning of shepherds hut within the curtilage of the building for the purpose of welfare and to be used as ancillary to the main building (use class C3). Application refused by Wychavon District Council.

 

  1. 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.

No additional items for the Lengthman’s work schedule.

  • Flooding: Update on the flooding issues within the Parish.

Cllr Martin Willingale reported that heavy flooding had occurred on the road outside his property during the recent very heavy rainfall. This had left a lot of debris and residue. The Clerk would contact Worcestershire County Council to request that the drain is cleared and contact Wychavon District Council for a road sweep through the village.

 

  1. Progress reports
  • Speeding & Road Safety

The Clerk had drafted a petition and Cllr Martin Willingale had been collecting signatures. Cllr Martin Willingale would continue to collect signatures.

  • Devolution

The Clerk had shared an information document from CALC with the Councillors. The Clerk reminded Councillors about the upcoming CALC sessions for Councillors to learn more about devolution. Cllr Martin Willingale would be attending the Wychavon session via Zoom.

 

  1. Parish matters for discussion/decision
  • Parish Priorities Q2

Parish Priorities for Q2 to remain as other quarters.

  • Community First Responder Visit

Martin and Anthony (an Abbots Morton parishioner) from the Vale of Evesham Community First Responders were in attendance to inform the Parish Council about the role the First Responder has. Information handouts were provided. All the equipment except consumables and oxygen must be paid for by the charity themselves. They are currently fundraising for a second vehicle and grab bags.

  • Clerk Resignation

The Clerk’s resignation was NOTED.

  • Clerk Recruitment

The recruitment process had been commenced with no applications received. Deadline for applications had been extended to 28th March.

  • Lengthsman Hourly Rate

It was RESOLVED to increase the Lengthsman hourly rate to £22 per hour. The Clerk to advise the Lengthsman that the hourly rate cannot go above the funding from Worcestershire County Council.

  • VE Day Community Events Funding

It was AGREED that the VE Day funding from Wychavon District Council should be utilised by the May Community Coffee Morning. It was AGREED that any remaining funding would be donated to the Vale of Evesham Community First Responders.

 

  1. 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.

  • Invoices: To approve the following invoices for payment:
    • Kerry Williamson (salary and expenses): £661.17
    • Jeremy Moore (Lengthsman): £320
    • Abbots Morton Village Hall (Hall booking for meeting): £27
    • HMRC (PAYE): £19.20 – PAYE account is in credit, no payment to be made.

It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices. Clerk to set up the payments to be authorised by Cllr Martin Willingale.

Following consideration of the budget, it was RESOLVED to grant £300 to the Vale of Evesham Community First Responders.

 

  1. Correspondence
  • Worcestershire CALC: Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting of the Wychavon Area of CALC.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire CALC: Health & Wellbeing Update.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Wychavon District Council: VE Day Celebration.

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 9.6.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Budget Consultation.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Worcestershire County Council: Parish Lengthsman Scheme – End of Year.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • West Mercia Police: Parish Priorities.

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 9.1.

  • West Mercia Police: Worcester Police Station Open Day.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Abbots Morton Resident: Rural Road Safety.

The above correspondence was NOTED.

  • Abbots Morton Resident: Parish Paths Warden.

The above correspondence was NOTED and covered under item 4.4.

 

  1. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda

Cllr Richard Whitlow raised that the water pressure in the Parish was low, it would normally be 14 litres per minute but was down to 4.5 litres per minute. The Clerk raised that there had been a couple of burst pipes in the Lenches during the week. The Clerk would send an email to the dedicated Councillor contact at Severn Trent.

Cllr Martin Willingale asked if there was any further information on the litter pick equipment from Wychavon. The Clerk would investigate this.

 

  1. Date of the next meeting

The next scheduled meeting is at 8:00PM on Thursday 22nd May 2025. The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Thursday 22nd May 2025 at 7.30pm.

 

Owing to the confidential nature of the following agenda items it was RESOLVED “that in accordance with the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act, 1960, as amended by the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting owing to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted” i.e.: agenda item, 14, Permitted Development Enquiry.

  1. Permitted Development Enquiry

The Clerk to send a reply to Wychavon District Council querying the need for Listed Building permission.

 

The meeting closed at 9.40PM.

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