Draft Minutes - EPC Meeting 10th March 2026

EVERLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held

at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall on Tuesday 10^th March 2026

Chair: Cllr D Bottomley.

Present: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows (vice Chair); Cllr A Earle; Cllr H Waight; Cllr P Evans;

Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows.

In Attendance: Ms H Boulton (Parish Clerk); Cllr C Williams (Wiltshire Counci);

Chair’s Opening Remarks. The Chair announced that the main objectives for the meeting were:
To fine tune plans for Everleigh Enhancement in 2026.
To review the Parish Council’s IT situation.

Apologies for Absence: Cllr T Martin; PC J Kinge & PCSO R Kaur (Wilts Police).

Declaration of Interest in Items on the Agenda. None declared.

Co-option. None. There are currently no vacancies.

Minutes of Previous Meetings.

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 13^th January 2026. The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 13^th January 2026 were signed by the Chair as a true record. Action: Clerk

Matters Arising. There were no matters arising.

General Public. No members of the public were present.

Wilts Council. Wilts Cllr C Williams submitted the following update:

Wiltshire Council approved its budget for 2026/27 at Full Council on 24th February. This was the first budget to be proposed by the current administration and approved a 2.99% general Council Tax increase, plus a 2% Adult Social Care levy. The Band D rate for 2026/27 will be £1981.15, an increase of £1.81 per week.

The budget included amendments to ensure:

That the Purton and Lower Compton HRCs would remain open for now,
Grants would be maintained for community transport including the Link Scheme,
A line rental scheme would be introduced which will allow the council to charge utilities companies for working on some main roads.
The capital scheme for the proposed Melksham Bypass would be paused and use that money to part fund the highway investment.
There will be a delay to the proposed changes to the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme (PEAS), which provides flooding resilience equipment such as gel sacks and tabards will be delayed.
The empty homes council tax premium savings would be removed as there was no clear way to deliver it.
There will be an increase to parking charges including changing to normal parking charges on a Sunday as per weekday, and to extend the hours of charging from 8am-6pm to 7am-7pm.
Three weekly bin collections will be introduced next year along with weekly food waste collection.

An alternative budget was put forward by the Conservatives which would have incorporated two amendments from the Reform Group, but this was voted down as the Independent and Labour Councillors decided the Lib Dem approach was better for Wiltshire.

There are two events planned for later in the year:

Digital Inclusion sessions – Provisional date is Wednesday 20th May, 1pm-3.30pm at Tidworth Library
Health and well Being (HWB) event – Monday 1st June 2026, 10.00am – 12.00noon at Ludgershall Memorial Hall.

Wilts Police Reports.

Ludgershall and Rural Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT). The NPT report for February had been circulated to Parish Councillors prior to the meeting. Key points for Everleigh:

A break in to a garden shed in Everleigh.
A general increase in hare coursing in the eastern part of Salisbury Plain.

After discussion, Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows agreed to liaise with the Everleigh

Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) co-ordinator with a view to arranging crime

prevention advice and/or a visit to the village by Wilts Police’s “Bobby’s Van”.

Action: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.

Wilts Police Rural Crime Team. The Wilts Police Rural Crime Team has been reduced from seven to two police officers.

Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC). Some key points from the PCC’s update at the Tidorth Area Board meeting on 2^nd February 2026:

Proposals for Police Reorganisation include:
Setting up Strategic Mayorial Areas to replace PCCs
Police authorities might reduce from 43 to 10.
Possible effects to create areas c2M population:
Swindon & N Wilts might merge with Oxford & Reading.
S Wilts might merge with Dorset and Somerset.

Police Funding remains a concern:
Wilts police facing a shortfall of £4.6M in the next FY.
The PCC is proposing a £15 pa increase in the police precept for Band D properties.

The PCC is commited to no reduction of frontline policing.

Correspondence.

9.1 Wiltshire Best Kept Village Competition 2026. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED

not to enter the Wilts Best Kept Village Competition this year. Item closed.

9.2 Local Town and Parish Councils Liaison Meeting Wed 18 Mar. Ludgerhall Town

Council are hosting an informal liaison meeting for Tidworth Area Board Town and

Parish Clerks on Wed 18 Mar at 5.30pm at the Ludgershall Town Council Offices.

After discussion, Cllr Earle agreed to represent the Parish council at this forum.

Action: Cllr Earle.

Forecast of Events. After reviewing the Forecast of Events for 2026 Cllrs RESOLVED to make no changes. Dates for the Harvest Festival and Carol Service at St Peter’s Church are not yet confirmed for this year. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

Planning.

11.1 PL/2025/09030 Lower House Farm, Everleigh, SN8 3EU. After two retrospective

planning applications have been refused for conversion and rebuild of six barns

at Lower House Farm, a third retrospective planning application has been

submitted with the footprint and scope reduced to two barns (with one

extended) for a residential dwelling and garaging. The Parish Council have

raised no objections. The Wilts Council consultation deadline is Tuesday 17^th

March 2026. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

Property.

12.1 Grass Cutting. Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows confirmed that the plan for cutting the

grass verge south of the A342 in 2026 will be 7 cuts @£60 per cut, ie £420 for the

cutting season, as agreed at the Parish Council meeting on 13^th January 2026.

Action: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows

12.2 Play Area. Remedial work on playground equipment identified on the annual

RoSPA Playground inspection (24th October 2025) will be conducted on the

next playground work party on Saturday 18th April 2026. Action: Cllr Earle.

12.3 Streetscene Minor Works. Situation:

A342/ Marlborough Road – Safety & Infrastructure. Update:

Repair of the grips on the verge of Marlborough Road near the Linden Farm entrance remains subject to further consideration.

“May’s Lamb” Road Sign. A request has been received to position a “May’s Lamb” sign opposite the junction of the A342/Marlborough Road utilising the poles of the “Pewsey” directional sign. We have submitted this proposal to Wilts Council, supporting this initiative. Wilts Council Highways have refused permission as this type of signage is not allowed on a public highway and the case that directional signs would enhance road safety and traffic management is not supported.

Street Signs. Wilts Council have installed 2 name plate signs for Marlborough Road. Item closed.

Everleigh Street Map. Situation:

A draft copy of the Street Map has been on the village web site for a month, inviting any comments by 1^st March 2026.
Cllr Martin will now order 2 copies size A0 @£50 each 5mm PVC foam.
One copy of the revised map will replace the version on the fence at the Crown bus stop, courtesy of the residents at Laburnam/Ivy Cottage.
The residents of Heathside have kindly agreed to the installation of a second copy on their fence at the junction The Street/West View.
Cllrs Martin and Earle will now take this initiative forward.

Action: Cllrs Martin and Earle.

Finance.

13.1 Current Liquidity State and Bank Reconciliation. A bank reconciliation to date

Is showing a balance of £4023.12.

13.2 To authorise payments made since last meeting:

13.2.1 Lloyds bank charges x 2 months £8.50

13.2.2 Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall Hire £12.00

13.2.3 British Heart Foundation. Donation ref firework night £400.00

13.3 To note payments received:

13.3.1 None.

13.4 Parish Council Fixed Assets. The annual audit of assets and review of insurance

cover isnow due by the end of the FY. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED that Cllr

Earle and the Clerk be requested to complete the audit by the time of the next

Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 12^th May in order inform our renewal of

insurance policy on 1st June 2026. Action: Cllr Earle and the Clerk.

13.5 Parish Council IT Situation. The IT sub committee presented a position paper on

the Parish Council’s IT situation. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED:

To purchase a www.gov.uk domain and official e-mail addresses for the clerk and all Cllrs at a cost of £35pa + £150pa respectively.
To conduct further work on IT policy, data retention/storage/security and web site development.

Action: IT Sub Committee.

13.6 Bonfire Night 2025. Cllr Evans presented a donation for £400 to the British

Heart Foundation charity on Monday 2^nd March 2026 on behalf of the Parish

Council and the Collingbourne Crickert Club, from donations kindly received at

the Everleigh Bonfire Night 2025. Item closed.

13.7 Everleigh Enhancement. Updates:

13.7.1 Flower Planters. Cllr Earle reported that all was well with the village

planters.

13.7.2 Plan for FY 2026-27. After discussion of future proposals for FY 2026-27,

Cllrs RESOLVED to:

Maintain budgets of £350 for planters and £100 for a Christmas Tree.
Replace the Defibrillator at the 7 year point in September 2026 at an estimated cost of £1,100. Funding for a new defibrillator is now in place. Action: Cllrs Bottomley, Earle, Waight and Martin.

Afternote: It is now proposed to replace the defibrillator by 26 May this year

in order to synchronize with the need to replace pads by that date.

Village Events.

14.1 Spring Litter Pick Saturday 7th March. A village litter pick took place

on Saturday 7th March. 13 volunteers collected 12 bags of rubbish. After

discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED to continue to hold 2 village litter picks per year in the

Spring and the Autumn.

14.2 Playground Work Party Saturday 18th April. A Playground Work Party will take

place on Saturday 18th April, meeting up at the playground at 09.30am and

finishing by 1230pm. The focus will be on cleaning, painting, strimming and

repaIrs. Action: Cllr Earle.

14.3 Everleigh Village Walk Saturday 6^th June. An Everleigh Village Walk will take

place on Saturday 6th June. The plan is to assemble at 9am at the Everleigh

playground and then conduct a leisurely 5-6 mile hike around most of our scenic

parish boundary, to finish at midday. This event will be covered in more detail at

the next Parish Council Meeting on 12th May. Action: Cllr Evans.

14.4 Everleigh Summer Party Saturday 18^th July. The village Summer Party will take

place this year on Saturday 18th July at 5pm in Jubilee Field opposite the

Everleigh playground. Event planning will be considered in more detail at the

next Parish Council meeting on 12^th May. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

15. Highways and Footpaths.

15.1 Footpath Right of Way (RoW) 15. The Wilts Council RoW team are conducting a

feasibility study on the 2 main options to open up RoW 15:

Clearing the vegetation along the perimeter fence of the former HRC
Possibly adjusting the RoW to go through the former HRC site

Action: Cllr Bottomley.

16. Village Emergency Plan. After consideration at the Parish Council meeting on 13^th

January 2026, the Village Emergency Plan has been posted on to the village website. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

17. Date of Next Meeting: The date of the next Parish Council meeting was confirmed as

Tuesday 12^th May 2026 at 7pm at the Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall. There will be

two sessions: the Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the Annual Parish Council

Meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.05pm.

Signed: date:

Name:

Chair