This page contains all current information about the Parish Council, including meeting minutes and agenda papers for the current year (April-March).
Minutes are approved and signed by the Chairman at the next meeting. Until approved, they will be marked “Draft – subject to confirmation”. Signed copies of the minutes published on this website are kept in the official minute book, and may be inspected on application to the Clerk.
Accounts for the last two financial years, and general policy documents can be found at the foot of this page.
For earlier years see the Archive page.
Councillors and committee members
Councillors are elected for a four-year term. Below are the names and contact details of the Councillors. If no contact details are given please contact the Clerk on 01885 400712 or clerk@hfspgroup.org.uk
The parish councillors for 2023-27 are:
Humber Parish
Cllr Hugh Fowler-Wright (hughfw@aol.com or chairman@hfspgroup.org.uk)
Cllr Richard Thomas
Cllr Richard Collins (01568 760148 or rcollinshumber@gmail.com)
2 vacancies to be filled by co-option
Ford & Stoke Prior Parish
Cllr Kenneth Bemand (ken@greathousefarm.plus.com)
Cllr Janette Fullwood (01568 760115)
Cllr. Anne Grace (01568 760993 or a.grace958@btinternet.com)
Cllr Chris Marston
Cllr Tim Yair (07950 146659)
1 vacancy to be filled by co-option
Ward Councillor (Herefordshire Council)
District Cllr Bruce Baker (bruce.baker2@herefordshire.gov.uk)
From 21 July 2021 parish councillors are governed by the LGA New Model Code of Conduct 2020, adopted under revised Standing Order 25 by the Council on 21 July 2021. LGA new Model Councillor Code of Conduct 2020
Councillors’ registered interests are published on the Herefordshire Council website:
Parish Councillors’ register of interests
Schedule of Council meetings
The agreed Schedule of Council meetings for 2023-24 is below.
Schedule of meetings 2023-24
All meetings are held on the third Wednesday (except for 12 July meeting 2023) of the month, on alternate months as follows. All meetings start at 7.30pm except the annual meeting which will be preceded by the two annual Parish Meetings which will start at 7pm. The annual Council meeting will start once the Parish meetings are completed.
Wednesday 12 July 2023, Wednesday 20 September 2023 , Wednesday 15 November 2023, Wednesday 17 January 2024, Wednesday 20 March 2024, Wednesday 15 May 2024 (Annual Meeting)
Typically the May, July & September meetings are held in Stoke Prior Village Hall and the November, January & March meetings are held in Risbury Village Hall. However, for various reasons this arrangement does not always hold and the agenda for a specific meeting should be checked for the correct location.
The draft minutes of the latest Council meeting can be found here-Draft Minutes 17 May 2023 Annual Meeting
Council Meeting Wednesday 12 July 2023, 7.30pm, Stoke Prior Village Hall
Agenda 12th July 2023
Draft Minutes 17 May 2023 Annual Meeting
12th July 2023 meeting papers final
Council Meeting Wednesday 17 May 2023, 7.30pm, Stoke Prior Village Hall
Agenda 17 May 2023 Annual Meeting
Draft minutes 15th March 2023
17th May 2023 meeting papers
Council Meeting Wednesday 15 March 2023, 7.30pm, Risbury Village Hall
Agenda 15th March 2023
Draft Minutes 18th January 2023
Draft Minutes 1st February 2023
15th March 2023 meeting papers
Extra Ordinary Council Meeting Wednesday 1 February 2023, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall
Agenda 1st February 2023
Council Meeting Wednesday 18 January 2023, 7.30pm Risbury Village Hall.
Agenda 18th January 2023
Draft Minutes 16th November 2022
18th January 2023 meeting papers V2
Council Meeting Wednesday 16th November 2022, 7.30pm Risbury Village Hall.
Agenda 16th November 2022
Draft Minutes 19th October 2022
16th November 2022 meeting papers
Council Meeting Wednesday 19th October 2022, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall.
Agenda 19th October 2022
Draft Minutes 20th July 2022
Draft Minutes 28th September 2022
19th October 2022 meeting papers
Extra Ordinary Council Meeting to discuss developments around The Lamb Inn, Wednesday 28 September 2022, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall
Council Meeting Wednesday 20th July 2022, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall.
Papers for the Group Parish Council meeting
Agenda 20th July 2022
20th July 2022 meeting papers
Council Meeting Wednesday 18th May 2022, 7.00pm Stoke Prior Village Hall.
Please note this meeting starts at 7pm with the Annual Parish meetings of Humber Parish followed by the Ford & Stoke Prior Parish meeting.
Annual Parish Meeting agenda 2022
Annual Parish meeting minutes 19 May 2021
Papers for the Group Parish Council meeting which starts after the Parish Meetings are concluded-
Agenda 18 May 2022 Annual Meeting
18th May 2022 meeting papers
Revised draft Equalities & Diversity Policy
Council Meeting Wednesday 16th March 2022, 7.30pm Risbury Village Hall
Agenda 16 March 2022
16th March 2022 meeting papers
DRAFT BUDGET FOR 2022-23
Council Meeting Wednesday 19th January 2022, 7.30pm Risbury Village Hall
19th January 2022 meeting papers
Council Meeting Wednesday 17th November 2021, 7.30pm Risbury Village Hall
Council Meeting Wednesday 15th September 2021, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall
15 September 2021 meeting papers
Extraordinary Council Meeting 18 August 2021, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall.
This meeting has been called to discuss and comment on current planning applications. There are five new applications and summary details are publishes below. Further information can be found on Herefordshire Council’s planning portal by entering the 6 digit application number. The planning portal is easily found via the Planning tab on the top menu of this site.
212389 – Rectory Gate, Stoke Prior, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0ND
DESCRIPTION: Proposed demolition of single storey rear extension and replace with a two storey extension together with new vehicular access.
APPLICANT(S): Mr A Williams
GRID REF: OS 352540, 256714
APPLICATION TYPE: Full Householder
212473 – Dev 1 Land adjacent to Risbury Cross Cottage, Risbury HR6 0NG
DESCRIPTION: Proposed permission for the siting of a caravan to provide
accommodation on site during the construction of a dwelling on
Plot 5 approved under application ref 181648
APPLICANT(S): Mr Neil Smilie
GRID REF: OS 354739, 255106
APPLICATION TYPE: Planning Permission
212824/5 – Ford Farm, Ford Bridge, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0LE
DESCRIPTION: Proposed lean to structure to cover an open yard between
existing agricultural building.
APPLICANT(S): Mr Roger Helme
GRID REF: OS 351138, 255234
APPLICATION TYPE: Planning Permission
212750 – Field No 5794 Ford Farm, Ford Bridge, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0LE
DESCRIPTION: Proposed field shelter.
APPLICANT(S): Mr John Helme
GRID REF: OS 351540, 255929
APPLICATION TYPE: Planning Permission
211887 – Butt Oak Farm, Risbury, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0NQ
DESCRIPTION: Proposed 20x40m equestrian arena for personal use
APPLICANT(S): Miss Clare Harris
GRID REF: OS 355343, 254958
APPLICATION TYPE: Full Householder
Council Meeting Wednesday 21st July 2021, 7.30pm Stoke Prior Village Hall
July 2021 – meeting papers
LGA new Model Councillor Code of Conduct 2020
2021.05.01. Stoke Prior and Risbury Bridleways
Planning Committee meeting 7pm Wednesday 16th June 2021. Stoke Prior village hall
Planning Meeting notice 16 June 2021
Annual Meeting of the Council 2021-
Parish Meetings for Humber and Ford & Stoke Prior Parishes 7pm Wednesday 19 May 2021
to be followed by the Annual meeting of the Group Parish Council at 7.30pm
Meetings to be held in Risbury Village Hall.
Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions entry will be limited to Council members and six residents only. The agenda will also be restricted to essential items only.
Annual meeting 19th May 2021 – meeting papers
Annual Parish Meeting agenda 2021
Annual Parish meeting minutes April 2019
General Council policies and procedures
HFSP Standing Orders 2013 amended May 2022
HF&SP Publication Scheme Schedule Classes of Information April 2015
HF&SP Complaints Procedure Jan2013
Protocol on the recording and filming of Council and Committee meetings
Data Protection policy and procedures
The Parish Council has a responsibility under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 to hold, obtain, record, use and store all personal data relating to an identifiable individual in a secure and confidential manner. The documents below explain how we do this.
HFSP Data Protection Policy revised May 2018: our overall policy statement
HFSP Data Privacy Policy: why and how we hold and process your data, and your rights
You have the right to know what data we hold about you:
HFSP Subject Access How to access your records
HFSP Subject Access request form
We also have some procedural documents:
HFSP Data Breach Procedure revised May 2018: how we will deal with any data incident
HFSP Data Retention Schedule: how long we retain data and documents
HFSP Data Privacy Impact Assessment : the procedure we use for any major project
Current financial information
The council’s financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Information for the current and last financial year are below. For earlier years see the Archive page.
Financial Regulations November 2019
2022-23 Financial Year
Accounts and Audit for 2022-23 financial year
The preparation, audit and publication of parish councils’ accounts is a formal process governed by The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. The following gives an overview of the process for this Council.
In April 2023 the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023, including the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR), were prepared and an Internal Audit Report undertaken. The accounts and AGAR (including the Internal Auditor’s report) were approved by the Meeting of the Council on 17 May 2023. For the first time the Council’s expenditure exceeded £25,000. In this case Council cannot declare itself exempt from external audit so the accounting documents are currently marked as “Unaudited” and will be sent to the Government appointed external auditor who will carry out a limited assurance review. These and other financial documents relating to 2022-23 are published below.
When received the external auditor’s review will be published.
Following Council approval of the accounts and Annual Return, there is a statutory period of 30 working days for the public and local electors to exercise their rights to inspect these documents and other financial documents underlying them (such as invoices and receipts). Additionally local electors may submit questions or objections to the external auditors. The notice of “Exercise of Public Rights 2022-23” is given below and will also be placed on public noticeboards around the Group Parish concerning the dates for this, which are Monday 19 June 2023 until Friday 28 July 2023 inclusive.
Section 1 – Annual Governances Statement 2022-23
Section 2 – Accounting Statements 2022-23
Banking Reconciliation 2022-23(1)
Annual Internal Audit Reports 2022-23
HFSP Notice of Public Rights 2022-23
HFSP Expenditure items over £100 2022-23
2021-22 financial year
Accounts and audit for 2021-22 financial year
The preparation, audit and publication of parish councils’ accounts is a formal process governed by The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. The following gives an overview of the process for this Council.
In April 2022 the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022, including the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR), were prepared and an Internal Audit Report undertaken. The accounts and AGAR (including the Internal Auditor’s report) were approved by the Meeting of the Council on 18 May 2022. These and other financial documents relating to 2021-22 are published below:
Statement of Accounts and Asset Register 2021-22
Annual Governance & Accountability Return 2021-22
Banking Reconciliation for 2021-22
HFSP Expenditure-items-over-£100-2021-22
Following approval of the accounts and Annual Return, there is a statutory period of 30 working days for the public and local electors to exercise their rights to inspect these documents and other financial documents underlying them (such as invoices and receipts). Additionally local electors may submit questions or objections to the external auditors. The notice of “Exercise of Public Rights 2021-22” is given below and will also be placed on public noticeboards around the Group Parish concerning the dates for this, which are Monday 27 June 2022 until Friday 5 August 2022 inclusive.
Exercise of Public Rights notice for 2021-22
External auditors are appointed for the Council, but as the Council has a turnover of less than £25,000 it certifies itself as exempt from external audit (see Certificate of Exemption within the Annual Governance and Accountability return 2021-22 above).