MINUTES OF RICHARDS CASTLE (SHROPSHIRE) PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT 8.00 PM ON THURSDAY 18 MAY 2023 AT THE VILLAGE HALL
PRESENT: Cllr. H Salwey (Chairman); Cllr. V Hawkins (Vice Chairman); Cllr. A Cowell, Cllr. A Hall; Cllr. R Smith; and Cllr. A Wright.
IN ATTENDANCE: Ward Cllr. V Parry; and R Hewitt, Clerk. One member of the public was present.
23/1 Election of Chairman – Mr H Salwey was elected unanimously and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.
23/2 Apologies – Cllr. D Ayres.
23/3 Declarations of Members Interests and requests for Dispensation – None.
23/4 Election of Vice Chairman – Cllr. V Hawkins was elected unanimously.
23/5 To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting – The minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2023 were approved as a correct record.
23/6 Ward Councillor Report
Ward Cllr. V Parry’s report provided at the Annual Parish Meeting held earlier in the evening was noted.
23/7 To invite views and discussion from members of the parish
There were no matters raised.
23/8 Planning
23/01593/FUL The Old Wood Yard, Station Road, Woofferton. Erection of portal steel frame building for storage of recycled inert materials and installation of package treatment plant. It was agreed to object to the proposed location on the plot for the portal steel frame building. The parish council questions the need to place the proposed building on the boundary with existing residential housing and does not understand the reason that the building is required as there is no clear explanation of its purpose contained in the planning application documents.
23/9 Local Plan funded projects
The invitation to share place plan projects was noted. It was agreed to consider potential projects funded by CIL and neighbourhood fund monies received by the parish council at the next meeting.
23/10 Report from Representatives who have attended meetings of other Organisations on behalf of the Parish Council – There were no reports.
23/11 Financial items
a) Annual Governance Statement – Approved.
b) Parish council accounts ended 31 March 2023. The completion of the internal audit and auditor’s report was noted. The Accounting Statement 2022-23 was approved.
c) i. Risk schedule – Approved.
ii. Insurance renewal – The long-term agreement was renewed with Zurich Municipal.
d) The following payments were approved: K Adams, internal audit 2022-23 (£80.00); Zurich Municipal, council insurance (£214.00); SALC, affiliation 2023-24 (£196.57); Eyelid Productions, website support 2023-24 (£100.00); Clerk, wages April-June 2023; HMRC, PAYE to 5 July 2023 (£115.00); Clerk, office and administration 2022-23 (£226.25); and All Saints Church PCC, donation for community event to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III (£291.89).
e) Review of banking services – It was agreed to remain with the current provider for the time being and to add Cllr. Hawkins as a signatory.
23/12 Queen’s Green Canopy
The Chairman and Cllr. Hall provided a verbal report on a site meeting held with Shropshire Council’s arboricultural officer and proposed that seven oak trees are planted in a row along the verge of the B4361 from the top of the hill at Batchcott to the first telegraph pole. Each tree will be approximately 10 metres apart and the row will start 10 metres from the telegraph pole and end 10 metres from the railings on the top of the hill. Some scrub and 2-3 self-seeded minor trees will need to be removed to prepare the verge for the planting of the trees.
The parish council resolved to support the proposal as set out in the report, and to finalise the planting licence application to Shropshire Council on this basis.
23/13 Highway Items/ Amenity Items/ Footpath Items
a) Environmental maintenance grant (EMG) funded projects in 2023-24: It was agreed to commission work as set out in the EMG application.
b) Highway / Amenity and Footpath items: Potholes have been reported on Mitnell Lane, lane off Wheatcommon Lane towards Mitnell Lane, and on Wheatcommon Lane off the B4361 towards the county boundary.
Planned resurfacing work on the B4361 has been raised with the highway officer working on the traffic regulation order to extend the speed limit and introduce a new 30mph limit by the village hall.
23/14 Consultation on draft recommendations for new divisions in Shropshire
The consultation was noted.
23/15 Employment Matters
(The meeting was closed to members of the public to consider confidential employment matters.)
The Clerk’s hours will be increased to 4 hours per week effective from 1 June 2023.
23/16 Clerk’s Report
The 2023-24 precept (£5,000.00) and 2022 Neighbourhood Fund (£1,734.69) has been received from Shropshire Council. Shropshire Council is consulting on the draft Cycling and Walking Plan. The Herefordshire parish council have paid for new pads for the defibrillator at the village hall. The community charter has been submitted to the local policing team at Ludlow. Grant funding for safer road projects is available for 2023-24 from the Police and Crime Commissioner. The Pensions Regulator requires a re-declaration of compliance by August 2023. The funding required to purchase a community bench to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will be £660.00 plus delivery and fixings.
23/17 Matters raised for next meeting – Waste bins and litter pick.
23/18 Next Meeting – The next scheduled meeting of the parish council is at 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 July 2023.
The meeting closed at 9.21 pm.