PARISH COUNCIL -- The Annual General Meeting of Breinton Council was held in the village hall, on Thursday, May 15. This was the first meeting of the council following the local government elections. Four members had been returned unopposed and a further member was co-opted, leaving one vacancy. One member of the public was in attendance, as was the newly re-elected Herefordshire Councillor for the Ward, Bob Matthews. Councillor Alec Dawe was unanimously elected chairman for the next 12 months. Concern was expressed about a number of persons having apparently taken up residence in vacant industrial property within the parish, during the previous 24 hours. The meeting was informed that an enforcement officer from Herefordshire Council would be visiting the property in question the following morning. A number of parish councillors were unhappy about delays in receiving satisfactory replies from Herefordshire Council and felt that such delays were unacceptable. The members noted that some slippage was likely on the start date of the Roman Road improvement. Two members reported that the black refuse bags, when placed out for collection, had been attached by crows resulting in the contents being scattered in the lanes. It was agreed that the best method of combating this nuisance was to keep the black bags in a bin. It was decided that no objection should be raised in respect of three planning applications and a site meeting was arranged to examine one further application. The parish council noted that the new recycling arrangements for refuse collection were being applied to a part of the parish and urged all residents in the area to comply with the instructions provided. The members noted, with disquiet, a complaint about motor cycles being ridden on the footpaths adjoining the River Wye and resolved to seek the assistance of owners, Herefordshire Council, to see what could be done to prevent vehicular access. It was unanimously agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Jennifer Budd, who had not sought re-election after 26 years as a parish councillor, as a mark of appreciation for her long public service to the parish. The next meeting of the parish council was arranged Thursday July 17 in Breinton Village Hall, commencing at 7.30p.m.