Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 1 July 2008

PRESENT
Mr T Hughes (Chairman), Mr I Owen (Vice Chairman), Mrs F Hughes, Mr C Savery, Mrs B Sharpe, Mrs K Law, Mr C Carter,
District & County Councillor N Hartin.
6 members of the public.

OPEN DISCUSSION
Mrs Evans asked about the current position regarding the proposed wind farm at Reeves Hill, Herefordshire. Mr Hartin said that the original proposal had been reduced to four smaller turbines. The proposal for Garreg Hill in Powys involved 23 very big and less efficient turbines. It was understood the cabling would be undergrounded. The Chairman had attended a meeting in Knighton, and said that everyone should write to Herefordshire Council to make their opinion known.

Mrs Jackson had seen two tankers emptying the tanks by the garage and wondered why, as they were specifically to take the overflow. The Chairman said that the whole sewerage system in Bucknell left a lot to be desired. Mr Owen said that the number of developments in the village since the sewerage system had been installed in the early 70's had contributed to the overload. In some cases surface water now entered the sewerage system rather than going into soakaways and this also had an effect.

The Chairman then closed the Open Meeting.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr P Davies.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.

MINUTES OF ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD 3 JUNE 2008
Agreed unanimously and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record.

MATTERS ARISING
School Garden Play Area. Chairman had received a telephone call from Mrs R Eardley regarding the availability of the £9,000 grant funding from the District Council. Mr Hartin said that the grants would be given when receipted invoices were submitted, but an interim payment could be obtained to provide working capital. Mr Hartin to speak to Mrs Eardley.
Chestnut Meadow Play Area. Mr Hartin reported that a recent survey of residents had been inconclusive, and would speak to all residents of Chestnut Meadow himself.
Allotments. Nothing to report at present.
Land opposite The Tyndings. Mr Hartin still making enquiries with Mrs Calderbank. Chairman asked if the scalpings from the resurfacing work at Weston Road could be used to fill in the pot holes. Mr Hartin to enquire.
Village sewerage system. Dealt with during the Open Meeting.

ROADS
Bucknell to Bedstone road. Mr Hartin had held a site meeting with Mr Glyn Shaw. Some of the road signs were obscured by vegetation. It was considered that the hedge trimming could be improved, particularly where the hedges were very high, and Mr Rutherford to be contacted about this. Mr Owen suggested another site meeting when the road was flooded.
Hedge by the Railway Station. This had been cut down by the railway company in response to a complaint from a member of the public. It had now regrown and was looking unsightly and also obscuring the view of the level crossing. Clerk to write to the railway company.
Bollards opposite the shop. Mr Ian Martin from Highways had agreed to provide these.
Resurfacing of part of Weston Road. This was scheduled to take place between 30 July and 2 August and incorporated a road closure. All ironworks would be raised beforehand. It was anticipated the road closure would allow for local residents and access by emergency vehicles. The Chairman cautioned that residents’ cars could be damaged during the resurfacing process and advised that they be temporarily parked elsewhere. Resurfacing of the other section of Weston Road was dependent on the planning application by South Shropshire Housing Association.

PLANNING
Application No. 1/08/20842/TC Tree works at Brambles, Bedstone. Supported.

Applications Nos. 1/08/20759 & 1/08/20760/LB. Erection of a walk-in freezer at Bedstone Court, Bedstone College. Supported.

The following applications had been granted:
No. 1/08/20694/F Replacement potting shed/greenhouse at Hillside Cottage, Bridgend Lane, Bucknell.
No. 1/08/20696/TC. Tree works at Church Cottage, Bucknell.
No. 1/08/20725/F. Temporary siting of mobile home (renewal) at Hales Barn, Bucknell.

Affordable Housing for local need. It was understood that South Shropshire Housing Association would apply for planning permission for affordable houses in Weston Road, possibly in August this year.

PARISH PLAN
The inaugural meeting of the Bedstone and Bucknell Parish Plan Steering Committee was held on 19 June and was attended by 11 villagers. The following Officers were elected:

Chairman Mr Ian Graves
Vice Chairman Mr Ian Hay Campbell
Secretary Mr Graham Jackson
Treasurer Mr Peter Pryke.

The Chairman was asked to provide a short progress report at the monthly Parish Council meeting, and reported as follows:

Mr Graves gave the assurance that the Steering Committee’s purpose was to reflect the view of the village as a whole, and ensure that the parish plan was as comprehensive as possible. A questionnaire would be devised at the appropriate time. Further members of the Steering Committee would be welcome, especially from Bedstone.

Mr Hartin explained that the grant of £1,500 from South Shropshire District Council was as a right, and would be used as working capital. The District Council was to produce a flyer for the Steering Committee, the cost of which would be deducted from the grant prior to payment.

Mr Hartin also said that the grant of £2,000 from the Community Council was on a prepayment basis, and to be claimed back on submission of receipted invoices.

The Chairman said that the insurance for those involved must be sorted out. Clerk to telephone the insurance company.

DAFFODIL LANE DEVELOPMENT
Report from Steering Group. Not available. The Chairman paid tribute to the Steering Committee, especially Mrs Dorothy Edwards and Miss Nicky Edwards who had worked tirelessly over a period of years to keep this project going.

Second Lease. This was now in operation for a period of 999 years.

Mr Hartin reported on a meeting held in the Memorial Hall earlier this evening.

FINANCE
Account balances. Not available from the Bank. Clerk to make enquiries. Bank statements should be received soon and Parish Councillors would be informed of the account balances.
Settlement of accounts:
It was agreed unanimously on a show of hands to pay the following: