Meeting of Longdon, Queenhill and Holdfast Parish Council at 7:30PM on Monday 21st October 2024 at Longdon Village Hall, GL20 6AZ
Minutes 10/2024
Present: Trish Mullins (Chair), Neil Gray, Phil Jones, Nick Radford, Hugh Davey, Jim Unwin
In attendance: David Hunter-Miller (Clerk), Jennie Watkins (District Councillor), three members of the public
1. Chairman’s welcome and announcements
Trish Mullins opened the meeting and welcomed residents. Thanks were extended to Neil Gray for chairing the previous meeting.
2. Apologies for absence: To receive apologies and to approve reasons for absence
Apologies were noted from Carl Taylor-Hall and Kate Cook.
3. Declarations of personal and prejudicial interest
3.1. Register of Interests: With reference to items on the agenda councillors are reminded of their responsibility to declare interests and to update their register of interests as required.
Noted.
3.2. Disclosable Pecuniary Interests: To declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in items on the agenda and their nature.
Nil declared.
3.3. Other Interests: To declare any Other Registerable Interests or Non-Registerable Interests in items on the agenda and their nature.
Nil declared.
3.4. Dispensations: To consider any written dispensations from councillors who have declared an interest but wish to stay in the meeting during that time to aid discussion / speak / vote.
Nil received.
4. Open Session
The meeting was adjourned for the open session
4.1. District Councillor
Jennie Watkins provided a report on Malvern Hills District Council including:
• Updates on several local planning issues
• Internet access for rural communities
• Marsh Lane unoccupied property (item 6.3)
4.2. County Councillor
No report was available.
4.3. Parish Paths Wardens
No matters were reported.
4.4. Public participation
Three members of public were in attendance to raise concern regarding planning application M/24/01340/FUL (item 9.1.2.) and a number of detailed comments and objections were circulated.
The meeting resumed following the open session.
5. To consider and adopt the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on the 16th September 2024
It was RESOLVED to adopt the minutes as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.
6. Progress reports
6.1. Councillor vacancy
It was noted that there was one vacancy on the parish council and enquiries from parishioners were welcomed.
6.2. AppFest
It was considered that the traffic issues had significantly improved compared to previous events and that the music had stopped at the correct time as specified by the event licence. It was RESOLVED to send an email update to organisers of Appfest to pass on the positive feedback and to request if a phone number could be made available in future as specified in the terms of the event licence.
It was RESOLVED to write to Worcestershire Regulatory Services to raise the following queries regarding event licencing policy; how is consideration given to the number of event licences approved in one area (leading to saturation) and could local councils be consulted as a matter of routine on future event licence applications.
6.3. Unoccupied property, Marsh Lane
No update was available.
6.4. Community Speedwatch
Jennie Watkins kindly offered to contact the Police for an update.
7. Correspondence
7.1. Malvern Hills District Council: Gambling Statement of Principles Policy consultation
The above consultation was noted.
7.2. Worcestershire County Council: Parish Winter Newsletter
The above newsletter was noted.
7.3. County Councillor Tom Wells: Offer to hold a local surgery
It was RESOLVED to circulate the surgery weblink on the community WhatsApp groups.
7.4. Worcestershire CALC: Health and wellbeing questionnaire
It was RESOLVED that Trish Mullins would complete the wellbeing questionnaire.
Jennie Watkins would ask Malvern Hills District Council’s Rural Isolation Team to get in touch with the parish council.
8. Highways and Lengthsman Scheme
8.1. To receive an update on the Lengthsman Scheme and to consider any items for the Lengthsman’s work schedule
It was RESOLVED to ask the Lengthsman to strim a number of entrances to rights of ways (607, 608, 610, and 582).
8.2. To receive an update on highway drainage matters and to consider actions
It was noted that a road closure has been arranged to allow further drainage maintenance work to take place at Queenhill.
8.3. To receive an update on traffic calming/signage improvements and to consider actions
It was RESOLVED that Jim Unwin would get a quote to flail the hedge on the A438 at Long Green (adjacent to the SID site) so that the sign could be turned to face both ways.
9. Planning
9.1. To consider the following applications to be determined by Malvern Hills District Council:
9.1.1. M/24/01222/FUL: Buildings At (Os 8608 3681), Church End Court, Queenhill, Upton Upon Severn. Retrospective change of use of office to living space (cottage), and change of use of part-stable/store to living space (flat 2).
It was RESOLVED that the parish council do not object to the proposals but it is considered that provision should be made for increased maintenance of the unmetalled surface, and for measures to reduce traffic speeds, on byway QH-521.
9.1.2. M/24/01340/FUL: Land At (Os 8172 3904), Lockeridge Lane, Upton Upon Severn. Use of land as a caravan site for the stationing of 10 log cabins for holiday let use and associated works.
It was RESOLVED that the parish council would raise the following objections to the proposals.
The application suggests that the proposals are considered as ‘farm diversification’ (SWDP 12 and 35) but there is little supporting evidence to support this assertion. It is not apparent which farming activities are being supported by these proposals and a firm business case should be provided for review.
It is suggested that the additional ten log cabins are to expand the existing holiday accommodation business comprising two units (SWDP 36). Significant local evidence has been presented to the parish council that the current units have no historic usage as holiday accommodation and valid evidence of the business (visitor records, financial statements) should be provided before a determination can be made. In light of concerns raised, the parish council would also urge a review of the current usage to ensure that it is in compliance with previous planning approvals (19/00888/FUL and 18/00108/FUL) and that the existing units are not being used for permanent accommodation.
Noting the concerns raised above, the parish council consider that it has not been demonstrated that the proposed site fulfils the criteria for farm diversification or expansion of an existing holiday business. The proposed development falls outside any defined settlement boundary and is in open countryside and policy SWDP 2 should be considered and applied accordingly.
The immediate area is defined by its dispersed settlement pattern. An application for 12 holiday cabins is a significant overdevelopment of this small site and will considerably urbanise this distinctive rural environment. Concern has also been expressed at the appearance of the faux log cabins (effectively static caravans) and how this will negatively impact the rural amenity of the area.
The site does not enjoy the benefit of sustainable transport options and there are no facilities available locally (shop, pubs, restaurants etc.). There are no footpaths and no nearby public transport options and so it is imagined that a potential 52 visitors to the site will create a considerable number of additional traffic movements along unsuitable rural lanes.
The current junctions from Lockeridge Lane are very poor due to topography, road layout and frequent flooding issues (flood zone 3). Lockeridge Lane itself is largely single track with no formal passing places. The unsuitability of the road layout to accommodate even the existing level of traffic is apparent by the considerable damage to the verges by vehicle overrun. It is therefore vital that the traffic implications of these proposals are carefully considered to ensure that the safety of road users and potential future visitors is not compromised.
There will be a likely increase in noise nuisance generated by the proposals. The location is currently very tranquil and the proposed development will see potentially up to 52 people using the facilities at any one time. This will undoubtedly generate considerable noise that will impact the amenity of nearby properties and those walking, cycling or horse riding through the area. The parish council are not satisfied that the proposed methods for reducing noise disturbance will be effective.
10. Longdon Village Hall
10.1. To review the need for a Terms of Reference for the Village Hall Committee
It was RESOLVED that a Village Hall Committee Terms of Reference was not required now that a comprehensive governing document had been adopted.
11. Playing Field
11.1. To receive an update on the refurbishment of the goal posts
No update was available.
12. Parish matters for discussion/decision
12.1. To note successful grant funding application for an additional defibrillator (Buckbury) and to consider next steps
It was RESOLVED to accept the London Hearts grant funding offer and order a defibrillator at £750.00 (item 13.4.6.).
It was noted that Upton Town Council did not wish to joint fund a defibrillator near our shared parish boundaries.
12.2. To consider replacement of defibrillator pads and batteries (village hall)
It was RESOLVED to review the expiry dates for the pads and batteries and order replacements if required.
13. Finance
13.1. To consider and approve the budget expenditure
It was RESOLVED to approve the budget expenditure.
13.2. To consider and approve the bank reconciliation
It was RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation.
13.3. To consider additional signatories to parish council’s bank account
It was RESOLVED to add Nick Radford as a full-power signatory to the parish council’s bank account.
13.4. To approve the following invoices for payment:
13.4.1. David Hunter-Miller (Clerk’s salary and expenses)
13.4.2. HMRC (PAYE)
13.4.3. Worcestershire County Council Pension Fund (Clerk’s pension)
13.4.4. Jeremy Moore (Lengthsman): £288.00
13.4.5. Elias Garden Services Limited (grass cutting): £144.00
13.4.6. London Hearts (defibrillator match funding): £750.00
13.4.7. P Mullins (training): £39.22
It was RESOLVED to settle the above invoices.
13.5. To note the following Direct Debit payments:
13.5.1. 06/09/24 Google Cloud EMEA (email hosting): £36.00
The above direct debit payment was noted.
14. Councillors’ reports and items for the next agenda
It was noted that the light in the phone box (parish owned) was flickering and investigations would be made as to how to replace the bulb.
It was RESOLVED to add the following items to the next agenda:
• Budget and precept setting
• Broadband regular update
15. Date of the next meeting
The next scheduled meeting is at 7:30PM on Monday 4th November 2024.
The meeting closed at 9:20PM.