BISHOPSTONE GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held on Wednesday 16th September 2026
Present
Cllr S. Crump (Chairman); Cllr H. Birch; Cllr M. Holmes; Cllr N. Richards; Cllr L. Handscombe; Cllr D. Hadley; Cllr S. Keefe.
Cllr C Taylor attended but left the meeting at 7.20 p.m.
Also present: Mrs Lesley Hay (Parish Clerk).
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the September meeting.
1. Apologies for Absence: Cllr A. Russell; Ward Councillor David Hitchiner.
1.2 Co option of New Parish Councillor – deferred.
2. Declarations of Interest / Requests for Dispensations : None received.
2.1 Attendance Ruling
Councillors are legally required to attend meetings. Self disqualification occurs if a councillor fails to attend for six consecutive months (not six meetings), unless the reason for absence is approved beforehand.
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th July 2026 were approved as a true record and unanimously adopted. The Chairman signed the minutes.
4. Chairman’s Report
Thank you all for attending tonight. I apologise for the change of date due to unforeseen circumstances. We are all happy to see Lesley back in action of course.
Sadly, Cathie Draper has decided to resign from Parish Council after serving for approximately 40 years. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say how grateful we are for her input over the years and we shall indeed miss her.
I believe there are items in correspondence and planning which have come to my attention for action and they can be discussed as they come up. With autumn approaching and the falling of leaves as well as hedge trimming, may we all be vigilant of drain covers being kept clear. A lot of work has been carried out by Dave our lengthsman on ditches and drains but they need maintaining to allow them to do their job.
A mini litter pick was done one evening from the Kenchester triangle to the main road and 5 bags of rubbish were collected. I was horrified to notice practically the next day that litter had been thrown out by passing cars.
Thank you for all your continued efforts to carry out your duties as Parish Counsellors
4.1 Retirement of Cllr Draper
It was unanimously agreed that the Chairman will visit Cllr Draper with a card and flowers. The Clerk will notify the Election Officer and advertise the vacancy in due course.
4.2 Vote of Thanks
A unanimous vote of thanks was given to Dave Campbell, his wife Pam, and the team for their work supporting drainage and PRoW grants.
4.3 Personal .gov.uk Email Addresses
Allocation deferred until the November meeting. The November meeting will begin at 6.30 p.m. Councillors requiring assistance should bring laptops/phones.
5. Report from Ward Councillor David Hitchiner
Apologies were received; no report submitted.
The Chairman closed the Open Session.
6. HALC Issues Items circulated prior to the meeting.
7. Finance: Schedule of payments and current accounts sheet circulated.
7.1 August Invoices: Unanimously agreed to pay August invoices.
7.2 External Audit
The Clerk confirmed completion of the 2025–2026 external audit. No recommendations were made other than the absence of an Asset Register. It has now been established that the Council is responsible for four notice boards which will now form part of an ongoing register.
The lengthsman to be asked to inspect all notice boards and provide quotes for repair or replacement.
7.3 Clerk’s Pay
Unanimously agreed that the Clerk’s annual increment and pay rise be backdated to April 2026.
8. Highways and Environmental Matters
8.2 Making Space for Nature
The lengthsman will be asked to strim the entire Kenchester triangle.
The Council discussed biodiversity initiatives. While supportive of wildflower planting and noting the previous planting of 25+ saplings, councillors agreed the main aim is to encourage private homeowners to support biodiversity within their own gardens.
This item will remain on the agenda.
8.3 Drainage – Mansell Gamage
Cllr Richards requested the Clerk remind D.C. Gardening to fit a deflector or grid to prevent the recently cleared drain from blocking again.
He also noted that the Mansell Gamage road will soon be closed for resurfacing and installation of low kerbs.
8.4 PRoW Asset Register : Cllr Hadley will complete the Kenchester PRoW Asset Register and present findings at the next meeting to provide a template for other parishes.
8.5 Bridge Under A438 (The Dingle)
The Locality Steward reported that although bridge inspections are normally carried out every two years, this bridge is currently considered substandard and is being inspected every three months. The most recent inspection was completed in August; the next is scheduled for 10 November. The Bridge Team is aware of the condition and continues regular monitoring.
9. Planning
9.1 Bishon Farm Development: No activity reported on site.
9.3 Planning Consultation – 261655
Land at Bridge Sollers – Change of use to create a dog walking paddock. Concerns raised at the previous meeting regarding access, traffic volume, and loss of agricultural land have been addressed following detailed discussion between the Chairman and the applicant.
9.2 Planning Consultation – 262305
The Steppes, Bishopstone – Investigation works and repairs to frame. No objections raised.
10. Police
A letter was received from West Mercia Police outlining their Local Policing Community Charter and the importance of parish-level priorities. Proposed priorities:
• Priority 1: Road Safety
• Priority 2: Rural Crime
Safer Neighbourhood Team: Inspector Julie Watson; Sgt Rebecca Colcombe; Constable Kimberly Jones; PCSO Adam Westlake; PCSO Rachael Mahoney.
11. Items for the Next Agenda (No discussion.)
12. Date of Next Meeting – Wednesday 11th November 2026
The Chairman closed the meeting at 19:57 p.m.
Signed: …………………………………. Date: ………………………………