Everleigh Parish Council – Minutes 9th January 2024

EVERLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall on Tuesday 9 January 2024

Chairman:  Cllr D Bottomley

Present:      Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows (vice Chair), Cllr A Earle. Cllr H Waight, Cllr P Evans. Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows and Cllr T Martin.

In Attendance: Mr P Gill (Parish Clerk) and Wilts Cllr C Williams

1. Chairman’s Announcement.  The Chairman read out the text of a Xmas Card thanking the Council for doing a great job on behalf of the village. He thenannounced that the main effort of this meeting was to consider the allocation of a grant from the Bonfire Event income, maintain the momentum on Everleigh Future Enhancements items to be purchased and to then set the budget and Precept for FY 2024-25. Other priorities were to take stock of the process for recruiting a parish clerk and to review road safety on the A342.

• Apologies: PCSO R Rupinder

• Disclosure of Interest.  None declared.

• Co-option.  None that do not appear on the agenda.

• Minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on 24 Oct 23. 
  • The minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on 24 Oct 23 were signed by the Chairman as a true record.                     Action: Clerk
  • Matters Arising.  None that do not appear on the agenda.

• General Public.  None.

• Wilts Cllr Report.  Wilts Cllr C Williams reported that although he did not have a detailed report to offer, he did inform Cllrs that it was likely that Wilts Council would raise the Council Tax for FY 24/25 by 4.9%.  In response to a question from Cllr Waight about the clearance of Right of Way (RoW) 15. Cllr Bottomley will seek an update from the Wilts Council RoW Officer.                                                                         Action:  Cllr  Bottomley.

The Chairman thanked Wilts Cllr Williams for his report.

• Police Report.  The Chairman gave an overview of the latest Police monthly reports.

• Correspondence.  Cllr Evans gave an update on the Digital Voice Switchover which is due to take place in the Southwest over Summer 2024.  Cllrs noted the update and directed the Clerk to include this as an item for the next meeting and asked Cllr Evans to lead on the item.

Action:  Cllr Evans

1. Forecast of Events.  Cllrs reviewed the latest Forecast of Events and RESOLVED to change the date of the May meeting to Mon 20 May 24.        Action:  Cllr Bottomley & Clerk

1. Planning.  Planning Applications as received from Wiltshire Council.
   1. None received.

1. Property.
   1.  Grass Cutting Contract.  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported that Mr J Bowen had submitted a quote to cut the grass for season 2024-25. After discussion Cllrs RESOLVED that Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows is to review the requirement and to then seek revised quotes. Cllr Martin also agreed to research other options.                     Action:  Cllrs K Wheeler Mallows & Martin.

1.  Play Area.  Cllr Earle had little to report other than that the actions from the RoSPA would be addressed by the Work Party on 20 Apr 24.              Action:  Cllr Earle.

1.  Streetscene Minor Works.  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported that he will continue to pass on taskings directly to the Parish Steward rather that fill in an unnecessary work request sheet.                                            Action:  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.

1.  Farm Shop Signs.  Cllr Wheeler-Mallows reported that he now has permission to remove the signs and he, along with Cllr Waight, will remove the signs forthwith.                                                                    Action: Cllrs Wheeler-Mallows & Waight

1.  Everleigh Paintings.  The future location of the 5 Everleigh Paintings which are currently housed in the Collingbourne Village Hall is under consideration. After discussion, no clear alternative locations were identified. Cllr Bottomley has asked to attend the next Village Hall Committee meeting in order to seek clarification. Cllrs agreed to defer this item to the next meeting.  Action:  Cllr Bottomley

1. Finance.
   1.  The Clerk presented a bank reconciliation and current liquidity statement as follows:
      1. Balance at Lloyds CA (statement date 8 Jan 24 £4362.40
      1. Reconciled Balance as 9 Jan £4,362.40

Members noted the statements but had no comment at this time.

1.  Having considered authorising the following cheques for payment and those cheques issued since last meeting.
   1. 803 Roses Ironmongery Ltd (fireworks 30 Oct 23) £600.00 (VAT(£100.00)
   1. Bank Tfr The Courier (Bonfire Flyer 29 Oct 23) £28.00
   1. Bank Tfr (J Bowen Grass Cutting 30 Oct 23) £620.00
   1. 805 P Gill Clerk’s Sal & Exps (Oct – Dec 23) £379.59
   1. 806 HMRC Clerk’s PAYE (Oct – Dec 23) £94.80
   1. Bank Tfr (ICO Registration 30 Oct 23) £35.00
   1. 807 D Bottomley (Carol Svcs Pines & Cups 8 Dec23) £42.03 (VAT £4.50)
   1. 808 H Waight (Xmas Tree 19 Dec 23) £80.00

Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise the payments.

1.  Cllr noted the receipt of the following:
   1. IT Reimbursement from CD PC – £75.00
   1. Bonfire Donations – £1657.92
   1. Bonfire BBQ Income – £295.00

1.  Grants.  Having considered making a grant from the Bonfire Night income Cllrs RESOLVED to make a grant of £500.00 to Naomi House and that the Chairman was write to Naomi House informing them and that Cllr Martin was to arrange an event at which the grant would be presented.  Action: Chairman & Cllr Martin.

1.  Everleigh Enhancement. Cllr Bottomley briefed Cllrs on his latest draft of the Everleigh Enhancement 4 Year Plan, after which Cllrs gave the following updates:

1.  Flower Planters. Cllr Earle reported that planting will take place in the Spring. The budget for planters for FY 2024-25 was confirmed as £350. Action:  Cllr Earle.

1.  Replacement Benches.  After discussion Cllrs RESOLVED that the new park bench be installed at a location to be identified by Cllr Waight and after confirmation by Cllrs.                             Action:  Cllr Waight.

1.  Xmas Tree.  Cllr Waight reported that he had purchased and positioned a Xmas tree and that he had secured a potted tree. The budget for a Xmas tree for FY 2024-25 was confirmed as £100.                          Action: Cllr Waight.

1.  Bonfire Legacy. Cllr Bottomley led a discussion on possible items to be purchased in FY 2023-24 or rolled over to FY 2024-25 as set out in his latest draft.  After which Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise the following purchases in FY 2023-24 or FY 2024-25:
2. 4 x Weatherproof Ext Leads and 4 x CFL at a cost not to exceed £151.08 +VAT.  Action:  Cllr Wheeler-Mallows
3. 6 x  Remembrance Flags + Posts at a coast not to exceed £60.00 + VAT. Action: Cllr Earle.
4. 1 x BBQ at a cost not to exceed £350.00 +VAT. Action:  Cllr Earle
5. 6x small Xmas Trees at cost not to exceed £180.00 + VAT.

Action: Cllr Earle

• A number of “6 Nations”, St George’s Day and Xmas day celebration flags at a cost not to exceed  £130.00 +VAT Action:  Cllr Earle
  • Defibrillator.  A budget of £200 was confirmed for FY 2024-25 for   

replacement of pads and batteries for the village defibrillator.

Action:  Cllrs Earle and Martin

13.6 Budget & Precept FY 2024-25.  Having considered in some depth the draft budget presented by Cllr Bottomley and the Clerk Cllrs RESOLVED to accept the budget as presented and as a result further RESOLVED to set the precept for FY 2024-25 at £4003.24, an increase of £30.34 which for Band D = £0.95/2.24%.   Action:  Clerk

1. Village Events.

1. Bonfire Night  Sat 4 Nov 23 .

1. Cllr Bottomley reported that the event had been the most successful to date with a record attendance and income generated and was a novel joint venture in that the Collingbourne Cricket Club had run the bar.        Cllrs noted the report.

1. Having considered the post event review Cllrs RESOLVED to take the recommendations into account for the Bonfire Night 2024. Action.  All Cllrs

1. Cllr Bottomley reported that the last communication the Council had received regarding a possible insurance claim was on 8 Nov 23 and that he had responded on 10 Nov 23.  Moreover,  the possible claim has been notified to the Council’s insurance Company.  Cllrs noted the report.

1. . Carol Service Sat 9 Dec 23.  Cllr Bottomley reported that this had been another successful event which was much appreciated by those who attended.  He thanked everyone involved for making this event the success that it was.  Cllrs noted the report.

1. Replacement Clerk.   Cllr Bottomley reported that following the recruitment process a candidate had been interviewed on Thu 7 Dec 23 but was found to be unsuitable and that the post had been re-advertised with a closing date of 23 Feb 24 and a start date of 22 Apr 24.

Action: Cllr Bottomley

1. Highways. 

1.  Footpath 8.  Cllr Bottomley reported that  the following update had been received from Wilts Council RoW officer in an email of 20 Apr 23 “My colleague Alex met with the MOD in January to walk the footpath and agree what gates are needed and where they need to be located in order to get the footpath available on the correct line. The MOD have also liaised with the landowner on the matter. It is with them to write a bid to secure funding for the gates and then schedule installing them. Once I hear the outcome of the bid and the plan going forward, I will let you know”.  Cllrs noted the update and Cllr Bottomley agreed to monitor the situation.            Action:  Cllr Bottomley.

1. Road Safety.  Cllr Martin reported that he had met up with the Wilts Highways Senior Engineer on Thu 16 Nov 23 and after briefing her on the safety issues on the ground they then drove through the village in both directions to give her a firsthand view of the driving safety issues and sight lines and of poor, inappropriate or missing signage. However, he has yet to hear back further from her and will raise the issue to her at the next LHFIG meeting later this month on Wed 24 Jan.  Cllr Bottomley reported that he had submitted a signage related Highways Improvement Request Form (HIRF) in on 28 Sep 23.  After discussion Cllrs RESOLVED that Cllr Martin was to request a Metro Count and that he was to submit a signage related HIRF to Wilts Council Highways.      Action:  Cllr Martin

1. Policies.   

1.  Having reviewed a previously circulated Equality Policy Cllrs RESOLVED to adopt the policy as presented.         Action:  Clerk 

1.  Having reviewed a previously circulated Discipline Cllrs RESOLVED to adopt the policy as presented.         Action:  Clerk

1.  Having reviewed a previously circulated Grievance Policy Cllrs RESOLVED to adopt the policy as presented.         Action:  Clerk 

1. Coronation Orchards.  Having considered the Wilts Council Briefing Note 23-36 regarding Coronation Living Heritage – Coronation Orchards  Cllrs RESOLVED that Cllr K Wheeler- Mallows was to lead on this item and to report back at the next meeting.

Action: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.                                 

• Date of Next Meeting: The date of the next meeting was  confirmed as 7.00 pm on Tue 12 Mar 24 at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 2130hrs.

 Signed:                                                                                                date:

Name:                                                                                      Chairman