Council met at the village hall on Wednesday, January 12. Apologies were received from the ward councillor, Bob Matthews, and from one member, both of whom were attending the Local Area Forum Meeting at Credenhill. The Footpaths Officer and the Internal Auditor were both present, along with eight members of the public. The clerk reported that the Parish Plan was now being prepared in draft and would be forwarded to the Countryside Agency and Herefordshire Council for their comments. Two planning permissions, to which the Parish Council had offered no objection, were noted. Three other planning applications were considered. One had been the subject of a site meeting and appeared not to meet the criteria laid down by the Planning Authority, the others were considered but sites had not been visited by the Parish Council Working Party. Decisions on the latter were consequently deferred. New Standing Orders were approved and adopted, the Code of Conduct arrangements were renewed. Approval of Financial Standing Orders was stayed until the next meeting, for minor alterations. The clerk reported that because of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the parish council should have a publications scheme in place. She undertook to investigate what was required and to report back as soon as possible. The next meeting of the council will be held at St Michael's Church on Wednesday, March 16, at 7.30pm.