MINUTES OF RICHARDS CASTLE (SHROPSHIRE) PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT 7.30PM ON TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2022 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Cllr. H Salwey (Chairman); Cllr. D Ayres (Vice Chairman); Cllr. V Hawkins; Cllr. A Cowell; Cllr. A Hall; Cllr. R Smith; and Cllr. A Wright.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr R Hewitt, Clerk. No members of the public were present.
22/56 Apologies – None.
22/57 Declarations of Members Interest and Written Requests for Dispensation – None.
22/58 To approve the Minutes of the previous meetings – The minutes of the meetings held on 12 July and 23 August 2022 were approved as a correct record.
22/59 Ward Councillor Report
Apologies from Ward Cllr. V Parry were noted.
22/60 To invite views and discussion from members of the parish
There were no members of the public present.
22/61 Future Housing Needs Survey
It was agreed to support a housing needs survey by Shropshire Council in the parish, and for the survey to start in November 2022. An article about the housing needs survey will be submitted to Castle News.
22/62 Speed limits on the B4361 on the approach to the village hall and up to the county boundary
A verbal report from members who attended the site meeting with the highway authority was noted. The officer attending the site meeting has agreed to support the request for a new 30mph speed limit at the county boundary and for the 40mph speed limit to be extended further along the B4361. The exact location of the start of the new 40mph speed limit has yet to be confirmed – the parish council request is for it to start at the village name sign by Wheatcommon Lane. The officer attending said that the process to introduce new speed limits may take two years, and that it will not include the deployment of a vehicle activated sign.
The parish council thanked the members attending the site meeting and supported the reported outcome.
22/63 Biodigester
It was agreed to write to the business representative of the biodigester and re-state the outcome of the site meeting held with the business.
22/64 Report from Councillors who have attended meetings of other Organisations on behalf of the Parish Council
Cllr. V Hawkins reported on an online parish council meeting with West Mercia Police. There were no matters arising from the meeting
22/65 Highway Items/ Amenity Items/ Footpath Items
a) Woofferton Station Road: It was resolved to defer consideration of a new 30mph speed limit for the time being.
b) Surface water flooding, Park Lane: A blocked culvert under Park Lane will be reported to the highway authority.
c) Consultation by Shropshire Council on proposed parking restrictions by the garage on the B4361: Deferred pending information from the highway authority on the options.
d) To report Highway / Amenity and Footpath items: Environmental maintenance work has been done on Station Road and on footpath opposite the village hall on the B4361. A defect on the PROW opposite New Church will be reported.
22/66 Financial items
a) The following payments were agreed: Hitrees, environmental maintenance (£1,416.00); Clerk, wages July-September 2022; HMRC, PAYE to 5 October 2022 (£107.20). Cheque #570 was voided and re-issued to re-imburse the Clerk (£100.00). Payment of the ICO data registration fee for 2022-23 (£35.00) by direct debit was noted.
b) Proposal to allocate CIL funds for purchase of a vehicle activated sign: Deferred pending new speed limit on the B4361 by the village hall.
22/67 The Queen’s Green Canopy
The Clerk reported that a highway officer is kindly facilitating a meeting to discuss the proposed location of the Green Canopy trees on the wide verge at Batchcott. Members of the parish council will be invited to participate in the site meeting once a date is known.
22/68 Local policing priorities
A report from West Mercia Police on local policing priorities was noted. It was resolved to request details of the average speeds on the B4361 reported by the police and to re-prioritise theft from outbuildings from #3 to #2.
22/69 Clerk’s report
Warm hub initiatives were noted. The external auditor has confirmed receipt of the certificate of exemption for 2021-22. An option to opt out of central external auditor appointment arrangements was noted. The South Shropshire Area Committee is to meet on 17 October 2022.
22/70 Matters raised for next meeting – There were no matters raised.
22/71 Next Meeting – The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29 November 2022 at the village hall.
The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.