Parish Council Meeting 21st May 2008

NEWS FROM
MATHON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

21st
MAY 2008  

Annual Parish Meeting

The Chairman Mr S Harte gave
a report to the meeting.  This covered the activities of the Council
during the year 2007/08.  The year started with the re-election
of five Councillors unopposed.  Mrs S Thetford stood down after
many years of service to the Council.  The Council had considered
a variety of planning applications during the year ranging from extensions
to change of use.  Grants had been given to Mathon Parish Hall
and Mathon PCC.  In November 2007 the Precept for 2008/09 was increased
by £364, which was a smaller increase than in previous years. 
The Council had kept within its budget for the year 2007/08.  During
the year CSO Paul Smith had attended PC Meetings and the local Neighbourhood
Watch had been restarted at the end of 2007.  The green, other
grass areas and benches around the village had been well maintained,
due to the efforts of Ron Hadley and Ted Stewart.   Thanks
were also due to Chris Hook, our Footpaths Officer.  He and his
team had done an excellent job throughout the year, with Chris managing
to obtain an extra grant of £150 for the maintenance and repairs of
footpaths in the parish.  The Council had also been encouraged
by the news that Gillian Menzies intended to re-open the Cliffe Arms. 
The Cliffe had been opened over the Easter period serving afternoon
teas, but to date the Council had not received any information regarding
the licence application.  The Cradley Youth Group had been re-started
and the Council would be hoping to support this Group in the future. 
After the floods in July, damage to roads and ditches has been repaired,
and the flooding by the football pitch has been alleviated to a large
extent.  The Chairman thanked the Clerk, Mrs Diana Taylor for all
her hard work during the year, especially during the election time. 
He also thanked all the Councillors for their support and attendance
at meetings. 

Annual Council & Parish
Council Meeting 

Mr S Harte was re-elected as
Chairman for the following year, and Mrs T Barnes was re-elected as
Vice Chairman.   Mrs T Barnes was appointed as Parish Council representative
on the Parish Hall Management Committee.  Mr R Thomas continued
to be the Parish Council Representative on the Board of Malvern Hills
Conservators. 

CSO
Deb Huggins

Community Support Officer Deb
Huggins reported to the Council.  Bogus traders had been spotted
in the locality, usually asking people if they needed their drives tarmacing. 
Should anyone agree to have this type of work done on a “cold call
quote” basis, they are still entitled to a 7 day refusal.  Customers
should ideally get a written quote and telephone numbers.  Any
problems should be reported to the Police and/or trading standards office. 
Suspicious vehicles had also been reported in the area with a claw for
picking up scrap metal.  Any sightings should be reported to the
CSO’s.  The theft of metals i.e. lead, copper, aluminium was
on the increase, also fuel theft from central heating oil tanks. 
CSO Huggins explained about PACTs (Partners & Communities Together). 
The aim was to find solutions to improve local communities where there
might be problems of anti-social behaviour, traffic speeding, drug taking
etc. or any other problem that might be highlighted by residents. 
She would like to put on a PACT presentation to any meeting held in
the Parish. 
 
 
 
 

Herefordshire Councillor(s)

Dist Cllr Rees Mills reported
on the situation regarding the proposed closure of some schools in Herefordshire. 
This had been brought about by Central Government, not Herefordshire
Council, who had now withdrawn the closures for the time being. 
However, should a school register fall below 35 pupils, the Council
would have to take action.  On the housing front, Herefordshire
was having to plan for 16000 houses to be built by 2026.  Developers
now have to build at least one third of affordable houses in any development. 
Parish Councils need to plan now for future possible development. 

Malvern Conservators

Mr R Thomas reported that the
Conservators would be having a stand at the Three Counties Show open
to members of the public.  A Recreational Advisory Panel had been
created to work with local clubs and associations who use the hills
i.e. the Wild Life Advisory Committee; hang gliders; horse riders; walkers
etc.and others. 

Herefordshire Council
– Parish Initiative for repairing highway defects

Herefordshire Council have
started a new initiative to provide a consistent service to each parish
for dealing with minor road defects.  A schedule has been
put together detailing the dates when the highways team would be in
Mathon.  The Council, therefore, need to notify Herefordshire Highways
one month before the team is due to visit which is in September. 
If you are aware of any minor road defects, please contact any of the
Parish Councillors or the Clerk in time for the next Parish Council
Meeting on 16th July. 

Next Meeting Date

Wednesday 16th July
at 7.30 pm in Mathon Parish Hall.  

DIANA TAYLOR

Clerk to Mathon PC 

Tel: 01684 569430 
E-Mail: [email protected]

9 Lambourne Avenue, Malvern
WR14 1NL