Parish Councillors are summoned to attend a meeting of the Parish Council
Annual meeting of the parish council, to be held at
Brampton Abbotts Village Hall
on Wednesday 28th May 2025
at 7.30pm
(or immediately after the APM, whichever is later)
for the purpose of transacting the business identified on the agenda below.
Press and Public are welcome to attend
AGENDA
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
C25/33 To Elect a Chairman
C25/34 To Elect a Vice Chairman
C25/35 To receive, consider and approve apologies for absence
C25/36 To receive declarations of interest and consider written requests for dispensation
C25/37 To receive, amend as necessary and approve the minutes of the meeting on 26th March 2025.
C25/38 Open Session (10 minutes)
Members of the public to note that this is the only opportunity to address the parish council and that the meeting will be “closed” to the public after this item unless a member of the council specifically asks a member of the public for comment or to answer a question (though the public is welcome and encouraged to stay and listen to the deliberations of the council)
a) To receive the views of local residents on parish matters.
b) To receive a report from or on behalf of the Ward Cllr. if appropriate / available
C25/39 Planning (15 minutes)
a) To consider and agree comments relating to new applications – None advised
b) To note planning decisions
250394 Hillcrest, Foy HR9 6RD
Change of Use of Hillcrest to 2 no. self build C3 dwelling houses and continued use of staff accommodation as two dwelling houses (part retrospective) Permission Granted
c) To note Applications Between Meetings
250465 Land Adjacent to Ross Labels, Netherton Road, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7QJ
Outline application for the siting of 62 storage containers.
The PC did not object to the proposal in principle but voiced concerns over noise and light pollution and the need to camouflage as much as possible. The PC specifically asked that conditions be applied restricted the amount and direction of light, requiring it to be contained within the development site. The PC also suggested that hours of operation should be restricted to reduce impact on this neighbouring parish.
d) Other Planning Matters
i. Hillcrest, Foy – Update on previous enforcement activity relating to static caravans and advice that the matter is now closed.
C25/40 Finance (15 minutes)
Invoice No. Payee Goods / Services Total £
n/a Miss A Jones Expenses incl. MS Office 365 & antivirus 185.55
TGC3236 Terry Griffiths Contracts Bin emptying 28.32
TGC3181 Terry Griffiths Contracts Lengthsman (24/25) B4229 cleansing 600.00
TGC3169 Terry Griffiths Contracts Bin emptying 26.98
175 Brampton Abbotts Village Hall Room Hire – March 20.00
(b) Other Expenditure to be noted
n/a Miss A Jones Clerks wages and office allowance (paid monthly by s/o – Dec) 552.63
n/a Lloyds Bank Bank charges – debited in April 6.25
n/a Lloyds Bank Bank charges – debited in May 5.25
(c) Income
n/a Herefordshire Council Lengthsman Grant 2024/25 1,695.00
n/a Herefordshire Council Precept – 1st payment (50%) 7,275.00
(d) Independent Internal Audit – Council to receive and note the report and agree any necessary actions.
(e) AGAR (Annual Governance & Accountability)
i. Certificate of Exemption – Council to decide whether to declare itself Exempt from Limited Assurance Review and sign the certificate as appropriate.
ii. Annual Governance Statement – Council to review and agree the sign off of the statement
iii. Accounting Statements – Council to consider, approve and sign the accounts as provided by the Clerk.
iv. Public Rights – Information Item – council to note that the Clerk will be advertising the Public Rights on Friday 6th June and the period will run from 9th June to 18th July.
(f) Online Banking – Council to consider whether to allow the Clerk to commence activity to arrange for her to use online banking for payments.
C25/41 Highways / Footpaths / Greenspaces / Environment (10 minutes)
a) Update on previously raised issues.
b) To consider and agree any urgent new highway/footpath issues to be reported to BBLP/HC.
c) Local Drainage Fund – Clerk to provide update from Lengthsman and HC as available.
d) PRoW Grant funding for minor repairs etc. – Clerk to update
e) Lengthsman :
i. To consider update on tasks for the Lengthsman and agree any actions.
ii. To consider the 2025/26 Lengthsman contract and associated grant funding available from HC and decider whether to opt in, and to sign agreement as appropriate
C25/42 Clerk’s Laptop – Council to consider report from Clerk and agree whether it is appropriate to purchase a replacement laptop, including authorising any associated costs if appropriate.
C25/43 Correspondence – general – council to consider and agree actions if appropriate
a) Herefordshire Council –
i. Various updates relating to roads including resurfacing works in adjacent parish between meetings
ii. Advice that the new Mastic Asphalt material continues to be used for pothole repairs representing a 20% saving on traditional methods, after the trial showed good results for quality long-lasting repair.
iii. Notification of resurfacing of B4225 2nd – 6th June.
iv. Residents have the opportunity to register their interest in the new garden waste collection service due to commence in March 2026.
v. Advice that road schemes in How Caple, Luston, Kingsland and Fromes Hill will be progressed in May.
vi. Notification that works to fell and replace diseased Ash trees are progressing, with 2 out of 3 phases now completed.
vii. Affordable Housing Delivery update
b) HALC – Information Corner – incl. new model Standing Orders and Financial Regulations and advice that the limit for S137 spend is £11.10 per elector
c) West Mercia Police – Information relating to the We Don’t Buy Crime campaign including potential cost to the PC (if progressed) and minimum requirement from local take up.
d) Ward Cllr. Barry Durkin – April Ward Report (also available on PC website)
e) B4224 Multi Parish Strategy Group Meeting – minutes from the March meeting
C25/44 Correspondence – Consultations / Reports etc.
a) Herefordshire Council – Local Transport Plan – online questionnaire available until 8th June
C25/45 Meetings, Training and Seminars
Wednesday 25th June – B4224 Multi Parish Strategy Group Meeting, via Zoom from 6.00pm
C25/46 Information Share – not requiring discussion, expenditure or decision
C25/47 Items for next / future meetings
• Councillor Numbers / Community Governance Review – once advice received from HALC regarding their proposed “group approach” to HC.
• Standing Orders / Financial Regulations – review once clarification requested from HALC is received.
• Road cleaning – council to reconsider once activity related to Local Drainage Fund has been completed and costs provided by the Lengthsman.
• Junction at Oak House Nursery – council to review Cllr. liaison with residents and any additional formal complaints, if received
• Light Pollution – Council to consider any update(s) from Dark Skies / Hfds Wildlife Trust
• Insurance Cover – Cllr. Teague to lead – July meeting
• Risk Register – Cllr. Teague to lead – July meeting
C25/48 Next meeting – Next scheduled ordinary meeting – Wednesday 23rd July 2025.