Minutes of the Meeting held at The Flyford’s Hall on Tuesday 5th December 2023

Present

Sadie Densham
David Waide (Chairman)
Richard Davey
David Rhodes
Andrew Short
Jane Hand
Linda Robinson
Mark Broughton-Taylor attended as clerk

1. Apologies

None

2. Declaration of Interest

None

3. Public Participation

The meeting was live streamed but there were no online participants.

There were six members of the public in attendance.

Relevant comments from the public are recorded under the relevant items below.

The clerk informed members of the public that an appeal had been received concerning the land at Radford Road. It was hoped that this could be dealt with at the next meeting in January.

4. Minutes of the meetings on 18th July and 29th August 2023

Meetings held on 26th September 2023 were approved (subject to correct: Item 7 change ‘Suggested’ to ‘Agreed’)

Proposed: Sadie Densham
Seconded: Richard Davey
All in agreement

It was noted that the minutes were not up to date on the website.

5. Matters Arising from the Minutes

None

6. Poling Station

Flyford Hall committee has requested that the polling station should be moved back to the hall. The clerk informed councillors that a review of the parish polling station was being carried out by Wychavon but this had been delayed pending a comment from the parish council.

The polling station had been moved to the school a few years ago but had then been moved to the church. It was felt for reasons such as parking and inaccessibility for some in the parish that the hall would make a better location.

Councillors agreed that the hall would provide better facilities but were mindful that the church was in closer proximity to more people than the hall, meaning that more people could walk. On balance though it was felt that a review would be beneficial and backed the request from the Hall committee. It was noted that Linda Robinson also favoured a review with a presumption to move the polling station back to the hall.

7. Local Police and neighbourhood Watch

Jane Hand made a presentation about Smartwater and explained that she thought it was feasible to start a project in Flyford Flavell. It was noted that the parish council had agreed funding for this at the last meeting. Linda Robinson said that she could help with the funding and it was left to the clerk and Councillor Robinson to work out the details after the meeting.

Should 67 households sign up at a cost of £640.80 signage will but put up in the village. Jane stated that this has proved a very effective deterrent in areas where it has been implemented.

8. Flyford Green

It was reported that the annual inspection of the play equipment had been completed by ROSPA and everything was in order.

The outside of the hedges have been cut but the swale hedge and the inside need to be cut by hand. The clerk to arrange this.

It was reported that there had been no further news from the Land Registry.

The clerk reported that legislation had come into force this year that required parish councils to consider biodiversity in all its decisions. It was agreed that the clerk would provide a briefing note to councillors over the next few weeks.

Flyford Pond

Again, we are still waiting for the Land Registry.

9. District and County Councillors Report

Well, it certainly feels like winter has arrived and we have experienced higher than average rainfall in the last month. Consequently, I have enclosed some links from WCC and the Environment Agency as last week was ‘Flood ActionWeek’ Onegivesusefuladviceonpreparingforfloodingincludingcautionaryadviceondrivingintoflood water when evidently only 30cms of water is enough to float a car! The other is the Worcestershire hot line re flooding and includes Flood risks over five days, school and road closures with subsequent diversions.

As more evidence is raised globally re Climate Change and its effects on our weather. I am pleased to note that WCC reported in October that it has received a 45% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions and reduced 91% of emissions from its buildings, fleet vehicles and street lighting. The data is in line with the council’s long-term mission to reduce its own emissions to net zero.

WCC have also planted 50,000 new trees with additional plans to plant 150,000 more.

More good news from our local Envirosort at Norton is that since the plant opened over a decade ago it has processed over a million tonnes of recycling.

GWR recent proposals for closing their ticket offices have been withdrawn. In a recent public consultation to which there were 750,000 responses 99% of which were not in favour including myself and many residents I discussed it with.

Prepare for flooding: Protect yourself from future flooding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Flooding | Worcestershire County Council

A KNIFE amnesty has resulted in 360 knives being taken off the streets, including in Worcestershire.

Operation Sceptre is part of a national week of action to challenge and reduce the threat of knife crime across West Mercia Police, including Worcestershire.

During the week a blade was found in Kempsey and was handed in PC Dee Stanley, of the local safer neighbourhood policing team, while out on patrol. Checks were also carried out in shops in Worcester city centre.

A search in Evesham took place across Charity Brook Park, The Muddies and the walkways around Woodlands Adventure playground with Evesham Safer Neighbourhood Team checking in bushes and around trees with sticks.

During the week, officers deployed knife arches in prominent locations and carried out 49 weapon searches in areas where there was information to suggest weapons could’ve been discarded.

Knife surrender bins remained in place at police stations open to the public which saw 340 weapons handed in, preventing them from getting into the wrong hands.

Working alongside partners, colleges and schools, officers made 44 diversion visits and delivered over 140 anti- knife sessions to help raise awareness of knife crime and the devastating impact carrying a knife can have.

The sessions covered the dangers and consequences of carrying knives and the laws around it, as well as advice on how to avoid becoming involved in knife crime and the diversionary pathways available to young people, including highlighting the Steer Clear programme.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “Removing knives from our streets is vital to reducing the harm felt in our communities.

“I am proud to play my part in breaking the cycle of knife crime by investing in the Steer Clear campaign which educates young people on the life altering impacts knives have in our society."

Concerns about knife crime can be reported online via our website call 101 or dial 999 in an emergency if there is an immediate danger to life.

Alternatively, you can report concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through Fearless www.fearless.org.

Whilst on the subject of policing there is often some confusion as to exactly which parishes are covered by West Mercia’s Pershore rural safer neighbourhood team. Here is a table below with their contact details. They actually cover the whole of my County Council Division.

As the dark nights get longer rural crime tends to increase so please stay alert and keep these contact details to hand.

On the beat in Pershore Rural

Safer Neighbourhood Team Newsletter

Where we work

Ashton Under Hill,
Aston Somerville,
Besford,
Birlingham,
Bredicot,
Bredon,
Bredon’s Norton,
Broughton Hackett,
Combertons,
Conderton,
Defford,
Dormston,
Drakes Broughton,
Eckington,
Elmley Castle,
Flyford Flavell,
Flyford Grafton,
Hinton on the Green,
Kemerton,
Kington,
Nertherton,
Norton,
Overbury,
Peopleton,
Sedgeberrow,
Stoulton,
Strensham,
Upton Snodsbury,
Wadborough,
Westmancote,
White Ladies Aston,
Whittington.

Your Safer Neighbourhood Team has one Safer Neighbourhood Officer and two Police Community Support Officer. The two community support officers work between the rural Pershore areas and Pershore town. Our team does not work 24 hours and as such the team mailbox is not monitored 24/7. Between a mixture of shifts the team work between 08:00 and 22:00.

How to contact SNT

Pershore Rural has a direct email address which all members of the team have access to, [email protected]. Please do email us with queries and non-crime incidents. These types of incidents including: nuisance vehicles, suspicious circumstances, anti-social behaviour (if past the incident), nuisance noise, neighbour disputes and fly tipping. These incidents whereby they do not require an immediate response or crime reference can be directly emailed to us and we aim to get back to you as soon as possible.

If your matter is a non-urgent crime such as reporting criminal damage after the event, vehicle crime and burglaries please call 101 or alternatively you can report these online at: West Mercia Police.

If you are in immediate danger and need to contact us regarding an incident which is happening at that time and you need urgent assistance please call us on 999.

We also try and regularly update our areas on ongoing issues through Neighbourhood Matters and our Facebooks and Twitter pages: PershoreCOPS.

Neighbourhood Matters enables residents, businesses and community groups to keep in touch with local policing teams. You can choose exactly what type of alert you wish to receive and how you receive them; whether that be by email, text or telephone. Sign up now at: neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk

It was noted that North Piddle was not on the policing list. The clerk was asked to check this out.

10. Planning Matters

W/23/02162/FUL

Mr & Mrs Kember
Lower Church Farm
Bishampton
Flyford Flavell
WR7 4BX

Mrs Kember spoke in favour of this application explaining that a Class Q
application had been approved to convert a redundant barn on their land into 2 dwellings. This application is for two houses which it is believed would be of higher architectural value than the barn and would provide accommodation for the family.

The parish council broadly supported the application on the basis that it would provide a better development than the barn conversion. It was agreed that the final comment would be finalised after the meeting. (See addendum).

W/23/02149/OL

National Grid
Electricity Distribution
Jaspers Farm
Grafton Flyford
WR7 4PH

It was reported that the parish council had entered a comment of No Objection for this application.

W/23/01778/PIP

Meadow Croft
Bishampton Road
Flyford Flavell
WR7 4BT

This application had been Approved at committee despite the parish council objection. The chairman had written to Wychavon asking for a meeting with a senior planning officer to discuss the decision. This meeting had not yet taken place so any further discussion was deferred until next meeting.

John Broderick addressed the council with the chairman’s permission. He explained that he had broadly two choices for possible development following the decision at committee. This would be for four market houses or 9-12 smaller houses. He asked if the parish council would be prepared to enter into discussion with him concerning these options.

The parish council said that it would help to facilitate a dialogue with the public if that was helpful but did not wish to commit itself to any preference without gauging public reaction. It was stated that at the moment the parish council was still opposed to any development on the site.

Radford Road Appeal

It was agreed to write to the inspector and ask for an extension of time until after the next parish council meeting.

11. Highways and Footpaths

The chairman provided some comments for the clerk concerning the draft minutes of the public meeting.

It was reported that there had been no further development concerning arranging a public meeting with Highways.

It was again noted that the promised wires for the speed test on Radford Road have still not been laid down.

The clerk agreed to write to Kieran Hemstock concerning the speed limit issues.

Richard Croxton was asked if any progress had been made with the petition. He agreed to liaise with the clerk following the meeting.

The chairman asked for a list of the neighbouring councils email contacts which were interested in the A422 initiative. The clerk will send this after the meeting.

It was suggested contacting Community Speed Watch it see if there would be any assistance in enforcement of speeding through the village.

12. Treasurer’s Report

Appeal Fund: £1,570.00

Deposit Acc: £16,761.25
Current Acc: £2,425.67

The clerk had distributed accounts for the last financial year to coucnillors by email for information as the budget and precept for the financial year 24.25 needs to be set at the next meeting in January.

13. Flyford Church

It was reported that the Remembrance Day Service had been held at Naunton Beachamp this year. Anne Howarth, chair of Naunton Beachamp Parish Council had presented a wreath on behalf of both parish councils and this had then been brough back to the hall and put on the war memorial in the hall during the month of November.

14. Flyfords Hall

The Christmas Party and AGM will take place on 30th November and all parish councils are invited. Carols at the Hall will take place on 21st December at 6.00pm.

15. Any Other Business

Ruth Edge had asked if the parish council would pay for the replacement pads for the Defibrillator in Flyford Flavell. The clerk was asked to check whether there was a programme to distribute the older pads to agencies which used them regularly before they expired. It was also asked how much this would cost.

The headmistress at Flyford School had written to the parish council via Linda Robinson who is a governor there expressing her concern about the parking. The clerk was asked to write back offering the parish council help if it could but also thank the headmistress for the efforts she is making to safeguard the school pupils and residents.

16. Date of Next Meeting

9th January 2024

Actions Required By Councillors

Three vacancies to be filled.
Vacancy for Footpaths Officer and Tree Warden to be filled.
Liaison with Neighbourhood Watch – David Rhodes & Sadie Densham
Village Green working group to be convened – David Rhodes

Addendum

Final Comment concerning Lower Church Farm finalised after the meeting.

This is the official comment of the Flyford Flavell, Grafton Flyford and North Piddle Parish Council.

The Parish Council would usually oppose new development in open countryside, however in this instance we support the application. Our support is entirely on the basis that this application will be less intrusive to the rural setting than the already approved class Q for this site.

If approved, it is suggested that conditions are imposed to provide a Construction Environment Management Plan and a scheme of biodiversity enhancement.