EPC - Draft Meeting Minutes for 9th September 2025

EVERLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held

at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall on Tuesday 9^th September 2025

Chair: Cllr D Bottomley.

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

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

Chair’s Opening Remarks. The Chair announced that the main effort for the meeting was to take forward the detailed planning and preparation for the village Bonfire Night on Saturday 8^th November.

Apologies for Absence: Cllr P Evans; Cllr T Martin; Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows;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 1^st July 2025. The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 1^st July 2025 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 a report with the following key points:

A Full Wiltshire Council Meeting on 22^nd July included annual updates on the Corporate Parenting Panel, Youth Council, the Youth Justice Plan and the Trowbridge and Westbury Bat Mitigation Strategy. The Enforcement of Weight Limits on Wiltshire Roads was approved which should lead to a policy regarding the use of mobile ANPR camaras to enforce weight restrictions on Wiltshire roads. Other motions debated were Lime Down Solar Farm, Climate Emergency and the Ask Angela Scheme.

A Tidworth Area Board Meeting was held on 1^st September. Agenda items included an update from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Philip Wilkinson. Having come out of special measures in 2024, Wiltshire Police has made vast improvements and is now rated in the top third of police forces in the country. The PCC then went through the priorities based on public consultation and gave an update on the financial situation. Wiltshire Police is in the lowest third per capita funding of police forces in the country for UK Government grants. Wiltshire Police received £127 per person compared to the national average of £164 and the current level of policing to support the priorities is not sustainable if further cuts take place and there is no increase in funding next year.

Marlborough Road Post Box. The closure of the Marlborough Road Post Box since October 2024 was raised with the Wilts Cllr who advised seeking support from our MP. Action: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.

Wilts Police Report. The Ludgershall and Rural Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) reports for June, July and August 2025 had been circulated to Parish Councillors prior to the meeting. Incidents relating to Everleigh included damage to a rear window and theft from a vehicle on Marlborough Road in June and fire damage to a portaloo at Beaches Barn on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) in July. Police priorities remain speed enforcement and to combat theft and anti social behaviour (ASB).

Correspondence.

Community First AGM and Awards Celebration Wednesday 8^th October.

Notification of the Community First AGM and Local Council Community Project

Awards on Wednesday 8^th October 5.30-7.30pm at the Devizes Town Hall has

been received. After consideration, Cllrs RESOLVED to take no further action.

Item closed.

Forecast of Events. After reviewing the Forecast of Events for the remainder of this

year and the first DRAFT for 2026 Cllrs RESOLVED to confirm the plan with no changes.

Action: Cllrs Bottomley.

Planning. No newPlanning Applications have been received from Wiltshire Council.

Property.

12.1 Grass Cutting. Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported that the current regime for grass

cutting is working well. Action: Cllrs K Wheeler-Mallows and Earle.

12.2 Marquees. There is a need for some repairs to the Parish Council marquees.

After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED to consider this next year at the Parish Council

meeting on 13^th January 2026.

12.3 Play Area.

Inspections. The annual RoSPA inspection is due to take place in the

Autumn. An option for the Parish Council to conduct its own additional

routine playground checks using Saferplay software was considered. After

discussion Cllrs RESOLVED to remain with the current regime of an annual

RoSPA inspection and Parish Council physical routine checks at regular

intervals and at the annual work party in the Spring. Action: Cllr Earle and

the Clerk.

Development. An organisation named Playtime by Fawns is offering advice on funding sources for Playground Development. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED that the playground remains in good order and that there is no need for further development at present. Item closed.

12.4 Streetscene Minor Works and A342 Road Safety. Situation:

A342/ Marlborough Road – Safety & Infrastructure. Following an on site meeting in Everleigh with Ms Grish Lohani, Wilts Council Highways Engineer, on Wednesday 16^th July 2025 the following plan was agreed:

Tabled for Action (with contractor):

Repaint the SLOW road markings on the A342 in Everleigh.
Repair the Summerdown Farm bend chevrons on the Marlborough Road. Afternote: These chevrons have now been repaired.
Repainting of roundel and countdown markings on the A342 eastern 50mph gateway.

On hold: Repair of the grips on the verge of Marlborough Road near the Linden Farm entrance is subject to further consideration.

General Streetscene Matters. The procurement of signs for The Street

and Marlborough Road was considered at the Tidworth LHFIG[1]

meeting on 30^th July 2025. Outcome:

Our request was agreed.
Cost: c£800; no contribution is required from the Parish Council.
Timeframe for Implementation: By the end of this FY.
The requirement was refined to 2 street signs for Marlborough Road and one for The Street. Afternote: The residents of Blacksmith Cottage have agreed to The Street sign being fitted their wall.

Action: Cllrs K Wheeler-Mallows and Bottomley.

Finance.

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

Is showing a balance of £6669.87.

13.2 To authorise payments made since last meeting:

13.2.1 Two monthly bank charges @ £4.25 each – £8.50

Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise the payments. Action: Clerk.

13.3 To note payments received:

13.3.1 Cllr H Waight Marquee Hire – £50.

13.4 Parish Council Fixed Assets. Purchase of computer equipment for the Clerk will

be considered at the next Parish council meeting on 28^th October 2025.

Action: Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows and the Clerk.

13.5 Everleigh Enhancement. Updates:

13.5.1 Flower Planters. Cllr Earle reported that planting has taken place and all

was well with the village planters. He also requested that those

residents who have adopted planters be congratulated for their efforts

particularly over the recent dry weather. This will be included in our

article for the next edition of the Courier. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

13.5.2 Christmas Tree. The budget for the tree in this FY remains £100.

Action: Cllr Waight

13.5.3 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 options for a new defibrillator will now be considered.

Village Events.

14.1 Collingbourne Ducis Church Fete/Games Saturday 6th September.

The Collingbourne Ducis St Andrew’s Church Fete took place on Saturday 6th

September in the Ducis Village Hall and on the recreation ground. Team

Everleigh put in a good effort in the Tug of War competition but could not

match last year’s success. Congratulations to Collingbourne Kingston on

winning the Tri Village Cup. The fete was well organised and was a great way to

develop community spirit with our neighbours from Kingston and Ducis.

Item closed.

14.2 Harvest Festival Service Saturday 4th October. The Everleigh Harvest

Festival Service will take place on Saturday 4th October at 3pm at St

Peter’s Church. Planning for this Service includes: two lesson readers;

decorating and cleaning the Church; and harvest gifts to the Trussel

Trust. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

14.3 Litter Pick Saturday 18th October. A village litter pick will take place

on Saturday 18th October, meeting up at The Crown bus shelter at

11am and finishing by 1230pm. After issue of equipment, volunteers

will be split into several groups to clean up the verges of all arterial

roads approaching and running through the village.

Action: Cllr Evans.

14.4 Bonfire Night Saturday 8^th November. Cllrs reviewed the latest planning

checklist for the village Bonfire Night, Saturday 8^th November, and RESOLVED:

To approve a flyer with one possible amendment. Afternote: The watermark for the template can not be removed from the flyer border.
- To retain use of a clicker to control attendance which is limited to 500.
- To liaise with the British Heart Foundation for a banner to support donations. Action: Cllr Evans is requested to make contact.
- To retain a gazeebo as a 1st Aid Post and a 2nd BBQ stand.
- To hire a portaloo at c£150. Action: Clerk.
- To retain the 2024 Bonfire Night layout: cordon; firing area; & drop zone.
- To retain the use of a PA system.
- That the budget for fireworks is to be £800 gross. Action: Cllr K Wheeler- Mallows
- To retain the car parking plan used for the 2024 Bonfire Night.
- To retain a BBQ, less hot dogs. Action: Cllr Earle
- To retain drinks refreshments for sale, kindly provided by the Collingbourne Ducis Cricket Club. Action: Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows.
- To retain both cash and card payments
- To explore options for medical cover in the absence of a response from St John Ambulance. Action: Cllrs Bottomley and Martin.

Action: Cllr Bottomley

15 Highways and Footpaths.

15.1 Footpath RoW 13. The Mid Wiltshire Ramblers Group conducted maintenance

to clear Right of Way (RoW) 13 on 22^nd August 2025. Cllrs RESOLVED to seek

support from this Ramblers Group next year. Action: Cllr Earle.

15.2 Footpath RoW 15. The Wilts Council RoW Officer is exploring options for

clearing the permissive path for RoW 15 around the outside of the site of

the former Everleigh Household Recycle Centre (HRC). An update was

received from the Wilts Council RoW Officer on 13th May to report that this

issue remains ongoing. We will seek an update for the next Parish Council

meeting on 28^th October 2025. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

16. Bus Transport. Wilts Council have announced that the No 80 bus service will no

longer stop at Everleigh with effect from 1st September. As an alternative, enhanced

Connect 2 on demand and timetabled minibus services are available for the Pewsey

Vale/Marlborough/Devizes/Tidworth area, including Everleigh. Residents can find lots

of information available about the Connect 2 services and download the Wiltshire

Connect app from the website at: www.wiltshireconnect.co.uk or by telephone on

01225 712900. This information will be promulgated in the next edition of the Courier.

Action: Cllr Bottomley.

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

Tuesday 28^th October 2025 at 7pm at the Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 8.52 pm.

Signed: date:

Name:

Chair

[1] LHFIG = Local Highways and Footways Implementation Group