Minutes and meeting notes - 10 March 2022
Present: Cllrs P Hartley (Chairman), D Dennis (Vice Chair), P Knowlson, J Wood, K Cockerton, and S Batley.
In Attendance: Mr P Gill (Clerk) Cllr C Williams and 2 members of the public.
Apologies: Cllr L Gomes, Cllr S Lyons, Cllr K Bell, Wilts and PC Sharon Duggan
89.21. Chairman’s Announcements: The Chairman announced or spoke on the following: The Annual Parish Council meeting in May and the need to review Cllr’s roles and responsibilities and the forthcoming Queen’s Jubilee.
90.21 Declarations of Interest and dispensation requests: None declared
91.21 Co-Options: None.
92.21 Minutes of the last meeting: Having reviewed the minutes of the Parish Meeting held on 6 January 2022 Cllrs RESOLVED to approve the minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting and for the Chairman to sign them.
93.21. Matters arising:
Item 77.21. The Knapp. Cllr Hartley reported that he has yet to engage with the Knapp residents as he now sees this as part of a wider survey to identify other possible enhancements to the village. However, he expects to do it this weekend. As a result, the item is deferred to the next meeting.
Action: Cllr Hartley
94.21 Police Report and Policing Issues: Having considered the latest Police Newsletter for February 22 and the email regarding Updated Policing Model of 10 March Cllrs RESOLVED to note the report and the updated Policing Model.
95.21 Wilts Councillor Report: Cllr C Williams reported the following:
At a marathon meeting on 15 February Wiltshire Council debated and agreed the 2022/23 budget and 10-year Business Plan. Over the next year the council will spend over £417m – with over 56% (£235m) on support and care for adults and children. £92m will be spent on the vital day-to-day services such as waste management, road maintenance, leisure and library services, as well as the council’s carbon management and climate change work – which recently saw the council ranked as the fifth best unitary authority in the UK for its response to the global challenge. The council will also continue its commitment to invest £1m a year to support high streets across the county become vibrant places for shopping and leisure.
One of the most debated parts of the budget was the proposed increases to car parking fees which help to fund rural public transport. Councillors made arguments about the impact on our high streets (but see the £1m per annum investment above). Our local charges are already competitive compared with neighbouring counties and it should also be noted that fees are not planned to increase for four years so that the costs of implementing the increase (car park signage and reprogramming machines) can be offset over this period. The council’s capital programme, which is spent on projects to improve and maintain the county’s infrastructure is confirmed to be £307m in 2022/23. This will be spent on many different projects including leisure services, council house building, schools’ maintenance, footpath and highway improvements.
The 10-year Business Plan ensures that the budget has a clear long-term focus. It outlines the council’s key themes - prevention and early intervention; improving social mobility and tackling inequalities; understanding communities; and working together. It includes metrics ensuring the council can measure its performance and keep on track. This strategic focus is essential due to the current financial challenges facing public services, which includes the ongoing pandemic, rising inflation, and increased demand for support. More than half of the council’s budget comes from council tax, and this will increase by 1.99%, with an additional 1% directly supporting adult social care. For a Band D property, which is an increase of 91p per week. Alongside this, the council has put plans in place to make savings of around £25m in 2022/23 while limiting the impact of vital services as much as possible.
Dates for future local meeting March 21. Ludgershall Memorial Hall - Tackling Climate Change in the Tidworth Community Area followed by Tidworth Area Board
There then followed a discussion on assistance been provided by Wilts Council to help the less well off and vulnerable residents of Wiltshire who are facing substantial increases in their utility bills at a time of high price inflation. After which Wilts Cllr Williams agreed to investigate and report back. Action: Wilts Cllr Williams
Adjournment for public comments/questions: 7.10pm. A member of the public introduced themselves and explained that they wished to offer their website design services to the Council and to that end they had been in contact with Cllr Cockerton with regard to updating and redesigning the Council website. Cllr thanked the member of the public for their offer and asked that they offer their thoughts and ideas to the Cllrs at item 100.21.
Moreover, the member of the public expressed an interest in being co-opted on to the Council and the Clerk agreed to email them on this matter. Action: Clerk
The meeting reconvened at 7.15pm
96.21 Finance Report: The Clerk presented the Income and Expenditure report for March along with Bank Reconciliations. produced from the accounts package and the latest bank statements. Cllrs noted the report and reconciliations.
The following Bills and cheques were presented and authorised for payment:
1935 P Gill (Clerk’s Sal & Exps 11 Jan 22) £408.97
1936 HMRC (Clerk’s PAYE 11 Jan 22) £93.001937 P Gill (Amazon Voucher for Speed watch Poster Competition 10 Jan 21) £20.00
1938 WALC (Cllr Trg Course 14 Jan 22) £36.00 (VAT £6.00)
1941 EDF (Recreation Gd Electric 14 Jan 22) £.8.62 (VAT £0.41)
1942 Idverde (Tree Works in Burial Gd 14 Jan 22) £780.00 (VAT £130.00)
1943 K Cockerton (Website Software 9 Jan 21) £38.49
1944 Idverde Ltd (Idverde Ltd Gds Maint & Bins 25 Jan 22) £559.68 (VAT £93.28)
1945 P Gill (Clerk’s Sal & Exps 14 Feb 22) £408.77
1946 HMRC (Clerk’s PAYE 14 Feb 22) £93.20
1947 JRC Cleaning (Bus Shelters 17 Feb 22) 328.00 (VAT £4.67)
1948 EDF (Recreation Gd Electric 23 Feb 22) £9.45 (VAT £0.45)
1949 P Gill (Clerk’s Sal & Exps 6 Mar 22) £408.97
1950 HMRC (Clerk’s PAYE 6 Mar 22) £93.00
1951 CDVHT (Hall Hire 10 Mar 22) £12.00
1952 P Knowlson (Warning Signs 4 Mar 22) £36.76 (VAT £ £6.12)
Having considered the bills and cheques presented above Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise them for payment. Action: Clerk
Projects, Bus Shelter: Cllr Batley reported that the bus shelter is due for delivery and installation on 6 Apr 22 with the ground works to be completed in late March. Cllr, Denis is to chase the quote for the Ground works tomorrow. Action: Cllrs Batley & Dennis
Grant Requests, None Received.
Queen’s Jubilee Event Thu 2 Jun 22. Cllr Hartley updated Cllrs on the situation to date and that both the CD Village Hall Committee and the Cricket Club had expressed an interest in being involved in the running of the event and to that end he is meeting with the two committees on 16 March to work the division of out roles and responsibilities. He also explained that he was being deployed on operations and that there is a possibility that he might not be here for the event itself. Moreover, although he was prepared to lead on a daytime event, he was not prepared to lead on an evening event. He also expressed his view that this should be an “open” event as the PC had budgeted for and was prepared to meet the known fixed cost i.e., the costs of the bands and sandwiches for up to 300 people. He then explained that all the jigsaw pieces had been identified but would need to be slotted into the correct place at the appropriate time.
(After having offered his input Cllr Dennis left the meeting at 7.30 pm.)
Cllr Hartley then spoke on the need to ensure that the village environments were well presented i.e., that a litter pick be held in April, Cllr Knowlson volunteered to organise , the grass be cut just prior to the event, the road signs and white village entry signs be cleaned, a Wilts Council Road sweeper be requested for just prior to the event and that bunting and flags be hung around the village. There then followed a long and detailed discussion regarding whether it should be a day time event, a day/evening event/evening event and whether the PC should lead on the event or offer financial and practicable to support to an event organised and run by a Village Group. Cllr Wood agreed to attend the meeting on the 16 March in support of Cllr Hartley.
Cllrs then RESOLVED the following:
That the Council would be prepared to run a day event but not a day/evening event or an evening event but would be prepared to offer financial and practicable support to those organising a day/evening event or an evening event.
That event should be “Open,” and that the Council would meet the known fixed costs i.e., the costs of the bands and sandwiches for up to 300 people regardless of which organisation ran and organised the event.
That the Cllrs Hartley and Wood were to take these resolutions to the meeting on the 16 March.
Action: Cllrs Hartley, Wood and Knowlson
97.21 Planning Report:
PL/2022/00671: Full planning permission. Demolition of the existing building and erection of a new building of similar size to replace it, built to modern standards at Westhill Farm, Chicks Lane, Collingbourne Ducis, SN8 3FQ
PL/2022/00812. Listed building consent (Alt/Ext). Conversion of outbuilding to annex with associated internal alterations at Sunton House, Sunton SN8 3DY
PL/2022/00698. Full planning permission. Conversion of outbuilding to annex with associated internal alterations at Sunton House, Sunton SN8 3DY.
PL/2022/01281. Notification of proposed works to trees in a conservation area 6 x Lime trees – fell at The Old Rectory, Church Street.
Having considered the application Cllrs RESOLVED not to raise any comments. Action: Cllr Gomes
98.21 Property Report
Communal Play Areas: Cllr Knowlson reported that the monthly reports had not identified any unknown issues. The warning sigs have been ordered and will be put up in due course. Action: Cllr Knowlson
The Clerk informed Cllrs that although he did not have a firm quote the cost to reinstate and re-seed the damaged grass bank on The Recreation Ground would be in the order of £250.00 plus VAT and that the cost to repair goal mouths using screened top soil and re-seed, put up bunting to allow seed to germinate and settlement would be in the order of £300,00 plus VAT. After consideration Cllrs RESOLVED to accept a quote up the £550.00 plus VAT. Action: Clerk
War Memorial: Cllr Dennis reported work should be completed as soon as the weather improves. Action: Cllr Dennis
Defibrillator: Cllr Knowlson reported that he had not been able to source a location nearer to the Knapp, however, Cllr Wood volunteered to have the defibrillator located on the outside of his property and that he would provide a power supply. Cllrs thanked Cllr Wood and then resolved that Cllr Knowlson was to source a defibrillator and to apply for a grant to cover part of the costs.Action: Cllrs Wood & Knowlson
General Maintenance: Cllr Hartley reported that he had identified a number of items and areas that needed attention/replacement and that a plan was required to address this. He agreed to draw a list and outline plan of action that he would circulate to Cllrs for consideration. Action: Cllr Hartley
99.21 Speed Watch. Cllr Hartley reported that 8 of 9 volunteers have been trained and that the team is in a good place and that he would soon be able to set up a monthly rota. Cllr Hartley further reported on the overarching Wiltshire Council requirements for SIDs and on three different types suitable SIDs that he had identified. After discussion Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise Cllr Hartley to order a SID from Messeage Maker Limited at a cost not to exceed £3K. +VAT. Action: Cllr Hartley
100.21 WEBSITE. Cllr Cockerton and Kelly Earle briefed Cllrs on the previously circulated plans for the updating and redesign of the Council website. Following a lengthy Q&A session Cllrs RESOLVED to accept the plans as presented in principle and that Cllr Cockerton was to purchase a suitable software package at a cost not to exceed £100.00 +VAT. Action: Cllr Cockerton
101.21 HIGHWAYS & ROW. Having considered maintenance issues for raising to the Highway Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIG’s) and noting that partial funding might be available via CATG Cllrs agreed that these issues would be best captured by Cllr Hartley when draws up his general maintenance outline plan of action as indicted at item 98.21 above. Action: Cllr Hartley
102.21. COMPLAINTS. To consider as received
103.21. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The date of the next meeting was confirmed as the Annual Parish Meeting as starting at 7.00 pm. on Thursday 5 May 2022 followed by the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
The meeting closed at 21.05.pm
