Council Meeting 3.3.25

To consider any Members reasons of absence

Members are reminded of the need to keep their register of interests up to date.

Members are reminded that they must act solely in the public interest and should never

improperly confer an advantage or disadvantage on any person or act to gain financial or other

material benefits for themselves, their family, a friend, or close associate.

Disclosure of Interests
Members to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interests in items on the agenda and their nature.

Chairman to Move: The Meeting & Standing Orders be now adjourned:

At the Chairman’s discretion residents are invited to give their views and question the Parish Council on issues on this agenda or raise issues for future consideration.  Members of the public may not take part in the Parish Council Meeting.  There will be no discussion by members of the Council during this session but the views expressed may be considered later as part of particular agenda items.  During this period, in accordance with the revised Code of Conduct, members of the Council who have a disclosable interest (but not a disclosable pecuniary interest) in an item on the agenda may also make representations, answer questions, or give evidence relating to that item.

To receive Ward Member’s Reports.

County Cllr Adams

District Councillor Ciotti

District Councillor Robson

Chairman to Move: To close the adjournment and the suspension of Standing Orders

To consider and approve the wording of the Clerk’s Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 3^rd February 2024 – circulated 4.2.25

Decisions:

W/24/02522/HP Proposal: Garage conversion to form a habitable ancillary accommodation Location: Woodford, 4 Norton Gardens, Pebworth, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 8YA. Application approved subject to conditions.

a)       To receive the Clerk’s report on payments made since the last meeting

b)       To consider for approval the schedule of payments to be made by internet banking

c)       To set a Reserves limit and pass a resolution to authorise investments into Qualifying Money Market Funds (including Public Sector Deposit Fund)

a)       To note defib grant funding had expired. Clerk has applied to London Hearts.

b)       To consider responding to South Warwickshire Local Plan Preferred Options 2025 Consultation, specifically Draft Policy Direction 2 – Potential New Settlements E1 Long Marston Airfield.

c)       To note email regarding the Worcestershire Minerals and Waste Local Development Scheme (February 2025 – November 2027) (emailed 24.2.25)

d)       Following last month’s meeting to receive update from Members regarding the Severn Trent Water’s Community Fund which is currently open for applications.

e)       To note update from CALC regarding Devolution.

a)       To receive update following submission of consultation responses to Persimmon Homes.

b)       To note Wychavon District Council has requested Persimmon carry out a litter pick at Bennetts Rise, Meon Way Gardens.

c)       To receive update from Cllrs Weller & Pearson regarding the points raised in the last meeting regarding the safety of the Persimmon site.

To receive update:

a)       Regarding the completion of the Locality Grant.

b)       regarding the Housing Needs Survey and whether to proceed depending on the commencement of the NDP review.

a)       To note monthly report and consider any works required

b)       To consider a boules pit on the Recreation Field.

c)       To note works on the grill at The Close have now been completed and all debris cleared away. Clerk has requested half the costs from Rooftop Housing.

d)       To consider recommendations from Heart of England regarding possible planting on the Recreation Field.

e)       To receive update from Cllr Pearson regarding the surface outside the MUGA.

f)        To note the hardstanding for the picnic benches have now been installed.

To receive update from Cllr Weller regarding headstone maintenance quote.

To note Severn Trent Water have confirmed they will refund the £285 paid out recently for the streetlight repair on Priory Lane.

To note:

a)       the Clerk has requested a road sweep for Priory Lane from Worcestershire County Council, as Wychavon District Council advised the task was beyond their capacity.

b)       Severn Trent Water have carried out repair works at Priory Lane, Broad Marston following the recent complaint.

c)       To receive update from Cllr Shiers regarding the oak bollards on Front Street.

a)       To note Lengthsman’s jobs issued from last Council meeting; comment on progress

b)       To consider future tasks to be issued to the Lengthsman

c)       To note VAS data

a)       Statement of Internal Control

b)       Asset Register review

c)       Data Protection & Information Security Policy

d)       To consider the adoption of an Investment Strategy Policy

e)       Risk Assessment Procedure

To confirm the date of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting at 7.00pm on Monday 7^th April 2025 at the Village Hall, Pebworth.

Cllr Cranage – approved

Disclosures of Interests:

Members were reminded of the need to keep their register of interests updated. Members were asked to

declare any Disclosable Pecuniary or other Interests in items considered in virtual meetings and their

nature.   

None declared

a)       1 member of the public was in attendance:

–          It was confirmed the County Council elections would be taking place in May

–          Clerk confirmed Safer Neighbourhood Team emails are forwarded to everyone who has subscribed to Pebworth E-News

b)      County Councillor Adams – not present, no report sent

c)       District Councillor Ciotti reported –

–          Public hearings to examine the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) will begin in March at Worcester Guildhall. Government inspectors will assess whether the plan, which outlines housing developments until 2041, meets legal and national planning requirements. The hearings will run from 4 to 27 March, covering various themes, with additional sessions in Pershore on 29-30 April. The public can attend but may only speak if they registered during the 2022 consultation and are invited by the inspector. If approved, modifications will be consulted on in Summer 2025, with final adoption expected by late 2025 or early 2026.

–          Wychavon Drainage Engineers are investigating the drainage system at Langate Fields.

The Chairman closed the open forum and reconvened the meeting at 19:10

The Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 3^rd February 2025 at the Village Hall, Pebworth were considered and approved by the Council to be a true record of the meeting and were signed by the Chairman.

Considered:

a)       W/25/00387/HP Location: Ivy Cottage, Front Street, Pebworth, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 8XQ Description of Proposal: Replacement of existing windows. Following consideration Clerk to respond “Pebworth Parish Council would like to respectfully remind the Planning Officer that the site is located within a designated conservation area. Given this status, the Parish Council trust that the special character and heritage significance of the area will be carefully considered in the assessment of the application, in line with relevant local and national planning policies”

b)      W/25/00400/FUL Location: Land Adj To Bramble Cottage, Dorsington Road, Pebworth Description of Proposal: Residential conversion of barn including replacement roof and extension, to replace approved barn conversion – (Variation of condition 2 Ref W/22/02615/FUL). Following consideration Clerk to respond “No objection”.

Decisions:

c)      W/24/02522/HP Proposal: Garage conversion to form a habitable ancillary accommodation Location: Woodford, 4 Norton Gardens, Pebworth, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 8YA. Application approved subject to conditions.

a)       No payments have been made since the last meeting.

b)       The Council gave consideration and unanimous approval of the payments listed in Appendix A, confirming the payments in Appendix A have been approved by full Council and there is provision within the budget, and that financial regulations and relevant policies have been followed. Cllr Weller to authorise the payments made by internet banking.

c)       Following discussion, Members resolved to set a minimum General Reserve of £50,000.  Additionally a resolution was passed to invest 60% of the Parish Council’s available cash into Qualifying Money Market Funds (including Public Sector Deposit Fund) with a ceiling limit of £80,000 subject to confirmation that the funds are protected under the FSCS.

a)       Members noted the defib grant funding County Cllr Adams had provided details for has expired. Clerk has applied to London Hearts but no response received to date.

b)       Members resolved to respond to the South Warwickshire Local Plan Preferred Options 2025 Consultation, specifically Draft Policy Direction 2 – Potential New Settlements E1 Long Marston Airfield. Members to provide bullet points for Clerk to respond by the morning of Thursday 6^th March.

c)       Members noted the email regarding the Worcestershire Minerals and Waste Local Development Scheme (February 2025 – November 2027) (emailed 24.2.25)

d)       Cllr Cotton will provide details to residents of Severn Trent Water’s Community Fund which is currently open for applications.

e)       Members noted the update from CALC regarding Devolution. Cllrs Weller & Pearson are attending the CALC session on 31^st March.

a)       It has not been possible to meet with Persimmon homes regarding the submission of the consultation responses to the public open space area. Cllr Pearson is in the process of setting up a meeting. He will also bring up the points raised in the last meeting regarding the safety of the Persimmon site. Cllr Mccluskey has taken photos evidencing the lack of security – unlocked and unopened gate and open windows, although following the theft of a number of fitted boilers security has now been enhanced.

b)       Following Cllr Mccluskey’s organisation of a community litter pick at Bennett’s Rise, Meon Way Gardens, it was observed that a significant amount of the litter originated from social housing properties in the area. Clerk to contact Citizen Housing requesting a site visit.

a)       Cllr Pearson will liaise with the Clerk to finalise the Locality Grant application.

b)       Cllr Pearson has contacted Brodie Planning requesting a timeline of the commencement of the NDP review. Once this has commenced, Clerk will initiate the Housing Needs Survey.

a)       No monthly reports provided.

b)       Members discussed the provision of a boules court on the Recreation Field. Clerk to contact the resident requesting they provide further information demonstrating the need for this.

c)       Members noted the works on the grill at The Close have now been completed and all debris cleared away. Rooftop Housing has confirmed they will remunerate the Parish Council with half the costs.

d)       Members reviewed the recommendations from Heart of England regarding potential planting on the Recreation Field. The suggested tree planting in the proposed area had been previously considered and declined. Cllr Weller will consult with allotment holders regarding their views on hedging around the allotments and report back at the April meeting. Members expressed their support for this initiative and requested the Clerk to contact Heart of England to conduct a survey at The Close.

e)       Cllr Pearson provided photos of the surface outside the MUGA. He advised whilst there is some surface cracking he recommended weed spraying to delay further damage.

f)        Members noted the picnic benches on The Close have now been installed.

a)       Cllr Weller spoke in depth with Simply Stone regarding the headstone maintenance quote and proposed that the quote is accepted. This was unanimously approved.

b)       Cllr Mccluskey has taken some footage of the burial ground using a drone for Clerk to document on Parish Online.

Members noted Severn Trent Water have refunded the monies for the streetlight repair on Priory Lane.

Members noted:

a)       The road sweep for Priory Lane has been carried out.

b)       Severn Trent Water have carried out repair works at Priory Lane, Broad Marston following the recent complaint.

c)       Cllr Shiers advised one oak bollard on Front St is missing by the post box, which a resident is storing. There are also 3 red reflectors and two white ones missing. Clerk to request Lengthsman re-install the bollard and replace the missing reflectors. To receive update from Cllr Shiers regarding the oak bollards on Front Street.

a)       Future Tasks:

–          Weed spray the area outside the MUGA

–          Grip works – Steve Baker to carry out

–          Contact ken re bollard reinstallation on Front St

b)      The VAS data was noted.

a)       Statement of Internal Control – Members confirmed acceptance – next review Mar 26.

b)       Asset Register review  – Members confirmed acceptance – Clerk to carry out a review in the summer and then annually thereafter.

c)       Data Protection & Information Security Policy – Members confirmed acceptance – next review Mar 27 unless there is a change in legislation

d)       To consider the adoption of an Investment Strategy Policy – deferred to April.

e)       Risk Assessment Procedure – Members confirmed acceptance – next review May 25.

a)       Clerk has received a request for an application form for the Parish Councillor vacancy. Once the application has been received, Cllr Weller to phone to discuss.

b)       There is a significant litter problem around the area of Sims Metal (UK) Ltd. Clerk to contact the Company.

Council confirmed the date of the next Ordinary Parish Council Meeting on Monday 7^th April 2025 at 7.00pm in the Meon Vale Community Hall.