A meeting of Dorstone Parish Council was held in the Old School Hall Dorstone on 
Wednesday February 8th 2023 at 7-30pm

Present; Councillor T Usher, Chairman, Councillor Aubrey-Cosslett, Councillor T Arnott, Councillor A Phillips Councillor D Phillips, & Mr C Hendy Parish Council Clerk.

Also, present, Mr & Mrs Wright for Tree Warden report

Apologies
Councillor B James, work commitment, Councillor E Wright, unwell, Ward Councillor J Hewitt, family illness

No declaration of interest made.

The minutes of January 11th 2023 having been circulated, were approved

Reports
Golden Valley Police none received, now bi-monthly. 

Planning
a) Planning Consultation
APPLICATION NO & SITE ADDRESS: Planning Consultation - 230125 - Bage Pool, Dorstone, Hereford, Herefordshire HR3 5SU 
DESCRIPTION: Change of use if land from agricultural to residential curtilage and construction of patio 
Linked application for Listed building consent
Application had been passed to Councillor D Phillips.
No letters of support or objection received.
Councillors resolved to support the application


Finance
a)	Clerk’s salary January £129.42

Payment authorised

      b) Councillors consider the updates from Herefordshire Association Local Councils, which recommended increase in Clerk salary by £1 hour, backdated to April 1st. Clerk left the meeting, on return he was informed Councillors had resolved to pay the increase
 
a)	 Councillors considered renewing membership of Herefordshire Association Local Councils for 2023-2024, cost £400.44 + VAT £80.09.
Councillor Aubrey-Cosslett was concerned about the increase in cost & the poor service she had received with queries raised, she enquired if there was a service level agreement. The clerk had difficulties recently but has since found out the Chief Executive was unwell. Clerk to make enquiries regarding service level.

       d) update hire charges for village hall
Charge for 2023 as follows

Booking of hall up to 4 hours   £40
Heating costs up to 4 hours.  £10, heating will be charged Oct to Apr

Parish Council costs are

Hall, less 10% discount £36
Heating                           £10
There is a potential for an alternative option to use the Village Shop association building which is smaller.  Information has been requested

Dorstone resilience plan.
Information from Herefordshire Council, the document on line is still current & correct, they would be willing to have a face-to-face session or virtual meeting to discuss the type of things to include. 
Councillor D Phillips produced a draft which was discussed, meeting to arrange with Herefordshire Council. Councillor Phillips to contact some local residents who may be able to help with equipment, etc.


Report from the tree wardens
The question, suggesting a small, native tree for the village green as Dorstone’s contribution to the late Queen’s canopy resulted in a good range 17 responses, 1 in favour, 3 against, 3 reservations. Whilst those in favour outnumbered those who were not, the case against planting a tree is significant for historic reasons.  
The stone sundial. It is a listed monument, web of historic water pipes, original village well, previous village market hall, green once covered by gravestones safety of road users/pedestrians around the green, is the green large enough to support a tree planting scheme?
With the history of the village green it had been decided not to plant a tree there, alternative sites Playing Field or local land owners had been suggested.
Councillors supported the decision not to plant a tree on the village green & welcomed any updates on alternative sites

Highways
a)	Councillor Usher reported on his attendance at Balfour Beatty draft plan for Golden Valley 2023-2024, the event had been poorly attended, opportunity to see the operations room & new equipment.
b) A report of broken bridge on footpath DO6 had been received, this has been forwarded to Herefordshire Council
c) Peterchurch PC had received reports of problems with deer on the roads, particularly B4348, enquired if Dorstone had any problems. Councillors were not aware of any recent problems

Location of the bus stop in the village, Councillor Aubrey-Cosslett reported on her recent meeting with Herefordshire Council to discuss the potential improvement of passenger waiting facilities in Dorstone village. It was noted that the existing stop location is not at all accessible, requiring passengers to walk up the village green bank in order to wait off the carriageway. An alternative location was identified in the Village Shop Association car park which would allow removal of the current concrete bus stop post. The car park location also has the potential for a bus shelter to be installed to further enhance waiting facilities.
 
 Written permission from car park owners for contractors to carry out the necessary groundworks and installation
Shelter to be gifted to the parish council who would assume all responsibility for insurance, cleaning, maintenance etc

The Village Shop Association had been contacted, they were unwilling for a bus shelter to be erected on the car park, agreed passengers could wait by the building.
Councillors required clarification if the bus stop would only be used for Herefordshire bound traffic & access for Hay-On Wye traffic would continue to by the village hall.

Dorstone Relief In Need  
Councillor Aubrey-Cosslett had asked if Dorstone PC were able to make a donation to the Dorstone Relief in Need Charity, the charity is "FOR RELIEVING EITHER GENERALLY OR INDIVIDUALLY PERSONS RESIDENT IN THE PARISH OF DORSTONE WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED, HARDSHIP OR DISTRESS BY MAKING GRANTS OR MONEY OR PROVIDING OR PAYING FOR ITEMS, SERVICES OR FACILITIES"
Latest accounts;
Income and expenditure, Data for financial year ending 31 March 2022
Total income: £23
Total expenditure: £300
There is no record of who receives income nor the amount
The clerk had sought advice from Herefordshire Association Local Councils
“If donation was considered under S137 then the monies need to be spent in a commensurate way with the benefit received.  As the PC are unable to decide where the money goes once it is given to this organisation then this cannot be achieved”

Rural cost of living survey, circulated & posted on The Blast

Herefordshire Council;
 Information circulated
      a) Partnership Information bulletin
      b) Talk Community
      c) Leader’s newsletter 2023
      d) Change of identification requirements for local government elections in May, 

Local Government Elections 2023
From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. If someone doesn’t have accepted photo ID, they can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC). 

Next meeting 
Date of next meeting; March 8th 2023

No further business the chairman thanked those attending & closed the meeting at 09-15pm.

Signed………………………………… Councillor T Usher

March 8th 2023