Minutes of the Group Parish Council Meeting held on MONDAY 3 MARCH 2025 in the
Village Hall , Staunton on Wye.
The meeting commenced at 7.30pm
Present – A Andrews, B Arthur, L Boddington, M Jones, E Pearson-Gregory, J Price, N
Sellar , W Shepherd, R Skyrme and S Williams.
There were two members of the public present in attendance plus County Councillor Mr
Robert Highfield
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – There were no apologies for absence.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None were received.
- MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE 2 DECEMBER 2024
– The Minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of that meeting. - MATTERS ARISING – There were no matters arising that were not covered by items
on the agenda. - REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR ROBERT HIGHFIELD – Cllr Highfield reported following a number of Council meetings that he had attended recently.
Many of the items discussed affected Parish Councils directly those being extra money for
Rights of Way, the Lengthsman Scheme and drainage. Two and a half million pounds was
being spent on the repair of potholes. Five million pounds was being spent on top of the
normal budget for roads.
A number of concerns had been expressed at a recent meeting in respect of the slow
development of the Rights of Way issues. All Parish Councils were recommended strongly
to nominate a local Rights of Way Officer. Guidance will be made available through Steve
Organ regarding the establishment of the scheme and training will be made available to
any volunteer who comes forward to take on such post.
There was discussion regarding the Local Development Plan . It was acknowledged that
the Planning Office regularly refer to the Development Plan in their response to planning
applications. Cllr Highfield informed the meeting that the Government was not looking at
any Plan over five years old.
The Council has borrowed thirty million pounds for the construction of the local link
road / by-pass. - LENGTHSMAN SCHEME – Concerns regarding the communication with the current
Lengthsman. It was agreed that the Clerk should pursue the possibility of the employment
of a further Lengthsman as of the 31st March. Concern was also expressed at the state of the road close by the road running to Peter Pantall’s home. It was agreed that this should be brought to the attention of Balfour Beatty. - PLANNING MATTERS – The Clerk reported that after circulating the two recent
planning applications he had responded to those applications with no objection to either. - PLAYING FIELD – Concern was expressed that the mowing of the playground and of
the football pitch was not being done regularly enough and not to a high enough standard.
A name of a potential groundsman was raised and the Clerk agreed to contact him to
ascertain if he was interested in taking such a task on. If he was not interested then it was
agreed that the position be advertised in the Signal and on the Parish Council website. - HIGHWAY MATTERS – The discussion in respect of potholes contined. The Chair
reminded Councillors that they should continue to report potholes on the website available
on line for that purpose. - PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE – It was agreed that whilst legally the website meets
the legislation in respect of its presentation it could be updated and smartened up. M Jones
informed the Clerk that he would provide the name of a local who has worked on another
Parish Council website to a good standard. The Clerk agreed to make contact with that
person. - DEFIBRILLATOR – The meeting was informed that a First Aid course was being
convened that coming Thusday. The possibility of a Defibrillator being placed in
Monnington on Wye was to be pursued by E Pearson-Gregory. It was also agreed that an
appeal for new people to operate on the ‘phone line should be made. - FOOTPATHS – Mr Shepherd has walked and liaised with Cllr Highfield on a regular
basis. Training sessions are to be made available for Footpath Officers. - WAR MEMORIAL – A report was received from B Arthur outlining the latest
developments. The meeting was informed that the sub committee had met and that the
collection of finances for the funding of the memorial was progressing apace. A smaller
sub-committee has been set up to oversee the re-dedication of the memorial. The base for
the memorial has now been laid and a date for the lifting of the memorial has been set for
the 15th May. - GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE – There were no items of General Correspondence for discussion.
- FINANCE – The Clerk informed the meeting of the current financial standing of the
Parish Council. - ANY OTHER BUSINESS – The Chair informed the meeting that the position of Clerk to the Parish Council had been advertised and an expression of interest received. The Clerk will set up a meeting between that person, N Sellar and the Clerk. L Boddington reported back from a Webinar that she had attended on the local environment and bio diversity.
- DATE OF NEXT MEETING – 12 MAY 2025 – COMMENCING 7.00PM
The meeting concluded at 8.33pm.