FLYFORD FLAVELL, GRAFTON FLYFORD & NORTH PIDDLE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting held at The Flyford’s Hall on Tuesday 25th November 2025

Present David Waide (Chairman) Sadie Densham Andrew Short Richard Croxton

Mark Broughton-Taylor attended as clerk

1. Apologies

Tracie Bluck Alison Crickmore Linda Robinson - District and County Councillor

2. Declaration of Interest:

   Sadie Densham declared an interest in item 10i and vacated her seat during the discussion on that item.

3. Public Participation

   The chairman took comments from the floor concerning the following planning application:

Briary House Farm, North Piddle Lane, North Piddle, W/25/02427/PIP Worcester, WR7 4PR Permission in Principle for self-build Live Work unit with

The parish council was thanked for its support in objecting to previous application on this site. Concerns were raised on behalf of the neighbours and it was noted that a PIP application was only applicable where housing was the majority of the application. In this case housing represents only 40% of the application and so it is considered that this is an invalid application. It was also noted that two neighbouring buildings were missing from the site plan which would be affected by the development. It was queried whether this was a brown field site as stated in the planning document as the barn is in a field. It was also stated that the development would lead to more traffic movements in a confined area and that it would have a devastating affect on a small hamlet. It would represent over development in the vicinity of a cluster of houses and set a president for further development in the future.

4. Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 21st October 2025.

   The minutes of the meeting were approved.

   Proposed: Sadie Densham 2nd: Richard Croxton All in favour

   Concern was raised again that the minutes of meetings were not being uploaded to the website in a timely manner.

5. Matters Arising

   Following the notes that had been circulated to councillors by email about transparency and accountability it was noted that the website needed some updating. The relevant accounts had already been forwarded to the webmaster for uploading but it was agreed that the Code of Conduct should be updated to show that it was signed and dated.

6. Local Police and Neighbourhood Watch

There was no report from the local police officer.

The Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator provided a written report which was presented on her behalf:

‘October/November has been a worrying month for local crime. There have been incidents of poaching close to the Fishery Lakes in Flyford Flavell, a farmer’s fence was destroyed and a vehicle was driven over the fields causing damage to crops. In Naunton Beauchamp, a silver Mercedes was reported for poaching, this vehicle was later stopped by Droitwich Police and over 30 dead Hares were found in the vehicle.

In the Flyfords, there has been a report of 3 individuals, one in high vis, walking across fields in the dark, looking into properties and taking photographs of homes and vehicles. This comes in the wake of 2 burglaries in Radford, 2 in Grafton Flyford and one in Rous Lench in the past 2 weeks alone.

A white van has been reporting acting suspiciously around Inkberrow, Radford and the Lenches. There is a view that this vehicle has some connection to recent burglaries.

None of this information has come to me through the police or their communication channels, I have been contacted by concerned residents and asked to highlight these matters on my social media platform.

As a NHW Coordinator, all I can do is advise residents to secure their property and to report any unusual vehicles, suspicious individuals or behaviours to the Police directly using 101 or online. Unfortunately, residents seem reluctant to inform the police.

Our Watch v Neighbourhood Matters

Neighbourhood Matters A gentleman called Ian Baldry has been campaigning on social media for many months, asking residents to subscribe to Neighbourhood Matters. This is a communication platform run by West Mercia Police and is used to highlight local crime and issues to subscribed residents.

I understand Ian Baldry is part of the NHW Executive, although I have never met him or been contacted by him.

Our Watch

Our Watch is a platform run by the Neighbourhood Watch Network, it has many functions, one of which is to share local crime and issues to subscribed residents. A resident can also decide what type of information they wish to subscribe to.

The Our Watch platform also allows residents to find and join their local NHW Scheme. This then gives them the opportunity to contact and hear directly from their NHW Coordinator about local matters.

Another function of the Our Watch platform is to offer crime prevention information.’

Councillors queried the relationship between Neighbourhood Watch and Neighbourhood Matters and asked the clerk to clarify with the local police.

7. Report from District and County Councillor

£1 bus fare across Worcestershire this December – now including weekday travel Festive travel across Worcestershire just got cheaper with the return of the £1 cap on all single fares, and this time it’s running every day of the week through December, no matter the distance travelled.

The offer applies to all local bus services in the county, including Worcestershire on Demand and the one-off park and ride service that is organised for the Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre.

All Worcestershire bus information is held on the Traveline West Midlands website where you can plan your journey, search for bus timetables or find out about bus service disruptions: • Journey Planner • Plan your journey on a mobile device • Timetable Search

Worcestershire On Demand Expansion On Monday 24 November, the North Malvern and North Central zones will launch, and the current Wychavon zone will be expanded, With no timetables or fixed routes, on demand buses provide a flexible travel option that gives you more control over how and when you travel. Bookings can be made up to five days in advance, so why not book a journey for Monday and let the service take you places.

View maps of the new and expanded zones and find out more about the service at https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/WOD

Highways Winter Service has started

From October 15th up until April 15th our winter maintenance teams are on standby ready to take action when cold weather hits. We have 36 gritting vehicles, over 50 drivers and 16,750 tonnes of salt ready to grit the roads when it is needed.

Our teams monitor road surface temperature, moisture levels and forecasted low temperatures to know which routes to grit and when.

For more information about gritting in Worcestershire visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting

For more information about how to stay physically, mentally, and financially well as winter approaches visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/winter

Could you be a Worcestershire Health Champion?

Our health champions are people who, either out of personal interest or as part their role, volunteer to help share information about local health initiatives to help improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Health champions work closely with the public health team to share accurate information so our communities can make informed decisions about their own health and wellbeing.

Health champions are supported by providing them with a monthly newsletter that includes information about:

• local and national health campaigns and resources • current preventative health programmes • upcoming opportunities (training and webinars) • current public consultations (related to health) • funding opportunities (related to health)

If you are someone who: • lives or works in Worcestershire and over the age of 18 • passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of people who live and work in Worcestershire • can share health information, health related public consultations etc through social connections • wants to make a positive difference in your community by supporting people to live well in good health for as long as possible, particularly those who have poorer health outcomes.

Please sign up at: Worcestershire Health Champions Newsletter Registration Form (Further information on Worcestershire County Council Website – www.worcestershire.gov.uk)

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government is requiring 21 areas of England to restructure their system of local government before 2029 through a Local Government Reorganisation. They are looking to replace Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough, Worcester City, Worcestershire County, Wychavon District and Wyre Forest District Councils with fewer councils.

There are two plans for Local Government Reorganisation being submitted to the Government for Worcestershire.

One Worcestershire: this is would create a single unitary councils to run all services for the county. It is being proposed by Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest.

Transforming Worcestershire: this involves creating two unitary councils - a North Worcestershire Council and a South Worcestershire Council - to run all services for their part of the county. This is the option put forward by us, Bromsgrove District, Malvern Hills District, Redditch Borough and Worcester City Councils.

What happens next: Both plans will be submitted to the Government by 28 November 2025. A formal consultation will then be held in early 2026. A final decision by the Government is expected by July 2026. For more information, visit: Local Government Reorganisation - Wychavon District Council

8. Flyford Green and Pond

The Land in Trust documents for The Green have now been reviewed by councillors and following a short discussion it was resolved to adopt the scheme and put the Flyford Green into trust. This means it will be adopted by “Fields in Trust” under its Green Spaces for Good scheme and the land will be protected from any form of inappropriate development in the future.

Proposed David Waide 2nd Andrew Short All in favour

It was noted that there had been a successful grant application to The Wychavon Rural Fund for the sum of £4,064 for a boules court on The Green.

The clerk was asked to follow this up and make arrangements for the work to take place.

It was noted that under the present terms of the grant, work needs to be complete by the end of January 2026. It has been suggested by the nominated contractor that this is not an ideal time of year to carry out the work as it will create a great deal of mess. The clerk had already written to the Rural Fund asking for a dispensation to carry out the work at a later date when the ground was dryer but arrangements were still being negotiated. It was agreed that as a contingency sum up to 10% extra on the quote would be covered by the council, for protection and reinstatement works if it was not possible to delay matters to the spring, so that work can be undertaken in accordance with the grant requirements.

The annual ROSPA inspection of the play equipment had taken place recently and there were no issues to report.

The clerk raised a concern that there was no mandate for David Rhodes to continue to carry out the weekly inspections now he was no longer a councillor.  It was agreed that the chairman would speak to David to see if he was willing to continue.  Richard Croxton offered to take over the role if necessary.  The matter to be brought back to the next meeting.

The clerk is still waiting for the report from the arboriculturist (Neil McLean) and ecologist concerning the Flyford Pond. 

Flyford Pond: -The solicitors had returned completed forms for the approval of the chairman and clerk but these were still not correct.  Corrections will be suggested to the solicitor forthwith.

9. Flyfords Hall The clerk reported that the Flyfords Hall was still proving to be a popular venue although it needed some more daytime bookings. The coffee morning on the second Thursday of the month was very popular but there is no desire to run it more frequently. The committee has recently had an enquiry to run a ‘Working From Home’ club but an initial advertisement had a poor response. The hall AGM will take place on 4th December followed by ‘Jingle and Mingle” and all councillors and their partners are invited to attend. Chris Bonehill has been invited to turn on the Christmas Tree lights this year. Carols at the Hall will take place on 18th December.

10. Planning Matters

i. To formulate Comment

Mrs Jean Goff

Briary House Farm, North Piddle Lane, North Piddle, W/25/02427/PIP Worcester, WR7 4PR Permission in Principle for self-build Live Work unit with associated garage and landscaping

The chairman noted the comments received under public participation earlier in the meeting and asked the clerk to outline the planning history on the site.

Planning Application W/23/01395/GDPQ - Notification for Prior Approval for the proposed change of use of an Agricultural Building to a Dwellinghouses (Class C3), and for building operations reasonably necessary for the conversion – Refused.

A subsequent APP/H1840/W/23/3333376 appeal was dismissed

Planning Application No W/19/00568/CU - Change of use of agricultural building to 2no. holiday lets – Refused.

A subsequent appeal APP/H1840/W/19/3230274 was dismissed.

Councillors discussed the merits of the application but agreed with the observations made by members of the public and resolved to oppose the application.

The clerk was asked to formulate a comment which would be circulated and agreed by email the following day.

Proposed: Andrew Short 2nd: Richard Croxton All Agreed

ii. Hill Top Farm Enforcement action concerning new gateway

The clerk inform the meeting that an enforcement action had been registered with Wychavon but it has been given a low category rating. The clerk was asked to explain the highways issue relating to the site and the recent failed planning application.

11. Planning Policy

    NPPF & SWDP Development Plan

The clerk informed the meeting that there was a raft of new policy due to be released in the near future. The long awaited government Planning and Infrastructure Bill was just about to clear its third reading in the House of Lords. A new National Planning Policy Framework was due to be released before the end of the year and the Revised South Worcestershire Development Plan was due to be approved imminently although it would be immediately out of date.

The clerk expressed concern about the new legislation which would restrict access to planning committees and would likely reduce the influence of parish councils in the planning process. CPRE were hoping to address the issue by providing new guidelines for rural councils in the near future.

12. Highways and Footpaths The clerk had received short shrift from the County Footpaths Officer concerning the suggestion the parish council take over responsibility for footpaths in the parish. Although it was uncertain how this objection could be sustained the officer did say that any parish council footpaths representative would be band from County Council land. The clerk had also searched for suitable training schemes for a footpaths officer but had not found anything. The clerk was asked to contact the insurance company to see if a parish council employed footpaths officer would be insured. The clerk was also asked to contact Sarah Doughty for her observations. It was agreed that the outstanding items from the Highways Meeting should be added to the action log.
13. Treasurer’s Report It was agreed that there should be a review of the investment with CCLA and the clerk was asked to arrange a meeting with a representative with CCLA in the near future. Balances: Deposit Acc. £9,886.56 Current Acc. £1,588.19 The clerk presented an account of income and expenditure to date for the calendar year. This is to inform councillors of the financial requirements for the precept which needs to be set at the January meeting. It was agreed that councillors should review the objectives, projects and policy of the council which might need funding in the coming year. An online discussion will be instigated before the next meeting to formulate a proposed budget for 26/27. It was noted that the present precept per household was £59.04 against a national average of £92.22.

14. Parking In Flyford Flavell
    

This matter was deferred to next meeting 15. AOB. It was requested that training and compliance should be on the agenda for the next meeting. It was requested that the action log should be mailed out. 16. Date of Next Meeting 20th January 2026 Signed: Date: