Present: Cllrs Mrs Smith, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Prince, Mrs Sherwood

Miss E Goodwin (Parish Clerk), Mr W Read, Canon Paul Greenwood, Mrs R Major

• Public Participation

Nothing to report.

• Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs Patterson, Borough Cllrs Ashcroft and Jones.

• William Read, Best Kept Village

William praised Hoar Cross for their achievements in previous years; he explained how the points

are awarded, and how the ‘Community’ element is judged; there will be two visits from the judges.

4   Declarations of Interest

There were no Declarations of Interest.

5    Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 4^th December 2023

The Minutes were agreed as a true representation of the Meeting, and were signed by

Cllr Mrs Smith.

6    Matters arising not covered on the Agenda

There were no matters arising.

7    Canon Paul Greenwell

Canon Paul said Hoar Cross is an amazing community and that it is a delight to be here.

He is grateful to the Parish Council for all that they do in taking care of the graveyard

and the Church clock; he realised that it had been an expensive year.  Time Assured are

working on the motor for the Church clock.

He feels community loneliness is an issue, and that the Church and the Parish Council could

work together to let people know they have been missed; people in Hoar Cross are friendly and  warm.  He feels Hoar Cross is a good, outward looking place to be; the Church is a huge tourist attraction, and he has some ideas of how to promote the local area; he will let Cllr Smith have a copy of his ideas.

8    Church Clock

Cllr Smith expressed the view that there needs to be a limit to the amount of money the Parish  Council spends on the Church clock.  The winding mechanism was installed in 2000, and Rachel Major said that Time Assured have told her that the new winding mechanism will work.

Canon Paul is very grateful to the Parish Council for their financial support.

Cllr Prince commented that work should not be paid for if it has not been done satisfactorily.

Cllr Prince explained how the Parish Council has requested three quotes for the grass cutting.

Canon Paul said he could understand the Parish Council wanting to put a limit on the amount of Money the Parish Council spends on the clock and the grass cutting.

The Clerk will contact Marc Bicknell (PCC) to request a copy of the latest accounts.

9   Planning – Cllr Mrs Baxter

1. a) Applications received:        P/2023/01403 – change of use of part agricultural land

to form domestic curtilage to facilitate a single storey link extension to from garages

at Oak House, Maker Lane; no objections.

P/2024/00011 – coppicing of one hedgerow at Barn

Farm, Abbots Bromley Road; this application has been withdrawn.

P/2024/00056 – retention of a wooden viewing gazebo at

Birchwood House, Abbots Bromley Road.

P/2024/00116 – coppicing of approximately 450m of hedgerow at Frogey’s Farm, Ashbrook Lane; this application replaces P/2024/00011.

P/2024/00158 – fell to ground level one silver birch tree in a pond near to Church Cottage, Maker Lane; no objections, and replacement trees are going to be planted.

P/2024/00242 – removal of three trees at the Old Hall,

St Michael’s Drive; the trees are causing damage, and new trees will be planted to confirm the formal boundary.

1. b) Applications approved:       P/2023/00907 – siting of mobile home as grooms

accommodation and associated hardstanding including demolition of existing stables at

Birchwood House, Abbots Bromley Road.

1. c) Applications refused:
2. d) Other planning matters: P/2023/00416 – partial demolition of the former

Abbots Bromley School Buildings, conversion and extension of the remaining school Buildings to form 60 dwellings, erection of 58 dwellings and garaging and a detached Community Store.

P/2023/00417 – Listed Building Consent for the partial demolition of the former Abbots Bromley School Buildings, internal and external alterations to facilitate the conversion and extension of the remaining school buildings to form 60 dwellings.

P/2023/00749 – partial demolition of St Mary’s teaching block, sports hall and swimming pool at Abbots Bromley School for Girls.

10   Parish Councillors Reports

Highways – Cllr Mrs Patterson has been forwarding the links to Cllr Jessell.  Cllr Mrs Prince

reported that David Williams will be replacing Cllr Jessell as Cllr responsible for roads.

Cllr Mrs Smith will forward a link for businesses to report potholes near to their property, and therefore affecting their business.

Environment – Cllr Mrs Prince reported the flytipping at Jacksons Bank to the Council, and they have written to the Duchy.  Cllr Mrs Prince has contacted the Duchy and they are escalating the removal of the rubbish.

Footpaths – Cllr Mrs Sherwood reported the gate near to the Old Nursery is locked, and people

cannot go through with their dogs.  Maurice Buxton has submitted a quote for repairs to a number of stiles (£312.00); Cllr Mrs Baxter will follow this up

11   County Councillor Jessel’s Report

No report received.

12  Borough Councillors Report

No report received.

13  PCSO Edwards Report

There has been no contact from PCSO Edwards.

14  Parish Clerk’s Report

The Parish Clerk is meeting Kim Squires on 9^th April to prepare the Annual Audit; she has

forwarded the updated policies to Lynne Bott for inclusion on the website; she has been in

contact with a lady in Hadley End regarding speedgates.

15   Finance

Cllr Mrs Smith has been in contact with NatWest; Cllrs Mrs Smith and Mrs Patterson have not  been added as signatories and Mr Major is still a signatory.  Cllr Mrs Smith now has the form, to  be countersigned by Cllrs Mrs Prince and Mrs Sherwood; it should all be set up within seven days.

The balance in the current account is £2598.97.  The Council had received a VAT refund of

£912.75, and the up to date expenses had been forwarded to the Cllrs.

It was resolved to pay the following cheques:

Date          Cheque    Payee                                                           Amount

18^th March 935         Deer Park Dairy Ltd Room hire                               £28.57+£1.43VAT

SO         Miss E Goodwin        Salary                                    £447.85

18^th March 936          Miss E Goodwin       Salary                                £291.00

Expenses                                 £63.15

18^th March 937          HMRC                      PAYE                                      £184.80

18^th March 938          ESBC                       Election costs                      £2288.53

16  Precept 2024-2025

The Clerk had submitted the documents, and the Precept requested is £6450.00.

17  Best Kept Village update – Cllr Mrs Smith

It was agreed to approach the following to ask if they would be willing to maintain the baskets

of flowers on the speedgates: Alex Mercer – Maker Lane; The Meynell – Lower Hoar Cross Road;

Hoar Cross Hall – by the vicarage.

18  Annual Parish Council Meeting/Annual Parish Meeting – Monday 20^th May

The Annual Parish Council Meeting will begin at 6.30pm and the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm at The Deer Park.  The Clerk was given permission to have the photocopying done at Lavins.

19  Thursday 6^th June 2024 – 80^th anniversary of the D-Day Landings

The Clerk has not heard from The Deer Park about an event.

20  Land opposite The Meynell

This area of land is excluded from the BKV judging.  Cllr Mrs Sherwood suggested cutting the

hedge back; Cllr Mrs Smith suggested thinking about it next year.

21   HS2 Update

The Clerk forwards any updates she receives.

22  Correspondence

The Clerk has received emails regarding the following:

Police, Fire and Commissioner Election on 2^nd May – the Clerk will put the notices up in the

bus shelter; she has put up information about photo ID.

12^th March – Invitation from Cllr Jessell to the Needwood Division Forum in April.

11^th  March – D-Day flag; no interest.

28^th February – Portrait of King Charles III for display in a public place.

27^th February – The Clerk thanked Cllr Mrs Baxter for putting information about flooding on the  Facebook page.

14^th February – Defibrillators; Cllr Mrs Smith will ask at The Meynell about putting one there.

1^st February – ‘Become a BKV judge’ information.

31^st January – ‘Become a better Councillor’ courses.

30^th January – Information about funding opportunities from Cllr Jessell

23  Members Points of Information

Cllr Mrs Prince talked about the theft of the memorial bench from Maker Lane; Mike Chappell has a tree trunk which he is willing to give to make a bench to match the existing one.

Cllr Mrs Prince gave a vote of thanks to Cllr Mrs Smith for all that she had done as Chair of the Parish Council.

24  Dates of the next Meetings

Monday 20^th May (Annual Parish Council Meeting/Annual Parish Meeting), Monday 17^th June,

Monday 16^th September, Monday 2^nd December at The Deer Park