EPC – Draft Minutes 24th October 2023

 EVERLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

 Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held

at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall on Tuesday 24 October 2023

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), Wilts Cllr C Williams and PC J Kinge

1. Chairman’s Announcement.  The Chairman welcomed PC J Kinge to this her first Council meeting and wished her well in her post.  He then announced that the main effort of this meeting to progress the detail of the plan for the Bonfire Night on Sat 4 Nov 23, take stock of  the Everleigh Enhancement 4 Year Plan and the consideration of safety concerns on the A342.

• Apologies: None.

• Disclosure of Interest.  None declared.

• Co-option.  No applications have been received.

• Minutes of the Parish Council Meetings held on 5 and 21 September 2023. 
  • The minutes of the Meetings of the Parish Council held on 5 and 21 September 2023 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 that since the last meeting, he has attended several events and meetings including Overview and Scrutiny, Cabinet, Full Council and has chaired a Southwest Armed Forces Covenant Partnership meeting.  Items at Full Council included a report on Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023-26, an update to the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency and revised Environmental Policy, Community Governance Review and some proposed changes to the Constitution affecting the Code of Conduct. Further information regarding all these items and more can be found on the Wiltshire Council website.  At a more local level, the Tidworth Community Area Health and Wellbeing Group met online on 12^th October, mainly consisting of updates from the various local organisations, but also received an excellent presentation from Jo Hillier from Warm & Safe Wiltshire, which is a service provided by both Wiltshire and Swindon Councils in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy. Warm and Safe Wiltshire provides in-depth telephone support and home visits to help people save money on their gas and electricity bills, and to get funding for heating and insulation improvements in their homes. The help available includes free and impartial advice on:
• ​Understanding fuel bills and tips on simple ways to save energy and lower your bills.
• Guidance on heating systems and controls.
• Eligibility for heating and insulation grants and fuel vouchers.
• Issues with damp and condensation.
• Fuel debt advice.
• Switching energy suppliers and fuel tariffs.
• Signing up to the Priority Services Register.
• Discounts and support with water bills.

More information is at www.warmandsafewiltshire.org.uk

The Local Plan event for our community area was held in the Tidworth Leisure Centre library and there is more information regarding the consultation online and paper documents can be found in the library. Closing date for comments is 5pm on Wednesday 22 November 2023.  Tidworth Area Board will meet on Monday 6^th November, 6.30 for 7pm at the Ludgershall Memorial Hall and there is still funding in the grant pots with only one more meeting in this financial year on Monday 18^th March in the Civic Centre, Tidworth.

The Chairman thanked Wilts Cllr Williams for his report.

• Police Report.  PC Kinge gave a brief synopsis of her career to date and then  gave an overview of the latest Police monthly report that she had brought with her.

After some questions and answers the Chairman thanked PC Kinge for her report.

• Correspondence.  None that has not  been circulated.

1. Forecast of Events.  Cllrs reviewed the latest Forecast of Events and RESOLVED that it required no change.   Action:  Cllr Bottomley

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 has yet to provide an invoice for his work and that he will chase him.

Action:  Cllr K Wheeler Mallows

1.   Play Area.  Cllr Earle reported that the RoSPA report had been received and that     

  there were 5 areas that need some work or repairs and that these will be actioned by    

the Spring Work Party. Moreover, he will get around at some point in the next few weeks to collect the flower rubbish.  Action:  Cllr Earle.

1.  Streetscene Minor Works.  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported the system was working all right but that some minor issues remain.  Action:  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.

1.   Farm Shop Signs.  The condition and removal of Farm Shop signs on the A342 was discussed, and Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows agreed to speak to the owners of the former Farm Shop. Action:  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows.

1. Finance.
   1.  The Clerk presented a bank reconciliation and current liquidity statement as follows:
      1. Balance at Lloyds CA (statement date 23 Oct 23) £4277.89
      1. Reconciled Balance as 23 Oct £4213.90

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

1. Authorise cheques for payment and those cheques issued since last meeting or presented for payment.………………….
   1.  Cllr noted the receipt of the following:
      1. Marquee Hire – £100.00
   1.  FY24/25.  Cllrs noted the requirement to set the budget and Precept at the January 2024 meeting.                                                           Action:  All Cllrs
   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 spring bulbs have been planted and no further work was required at this time.  Action:  Cllr Earle

1.  Replacement Benches.  Cllr Waight has yet to install the bench in the area of Everleigh Centre to replace the current park bench on the A342. However he agreed to install it before the next meeting.                    Action:  Cllr Waight.

1. Radios.  Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported that the radios had been purchased and are ready for use.  Item closed.

1.  Sound System.  Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows reported thatthe sound system hadbeen purchased and was ready for use.  Item closed.

1. Christmas Tree.  Cllr Earle reported that all was in hand.

 Action:  Cllrs Earle & Waight

1.   Future Enhancement Aspirations – FY 2024-25.Cllr Bottomley led a discussion on possible projects and costs (£650.00) as set out in his latest draft after which it was agreed that no amendments were required.  Cllr Bottomley agreed to keep this under constant review. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

1. Village Events.

1.   Litter Pick Sat 21 Oct 23.   Cllr Evans reported that 11 volunteers collected 6 bags of rubbish. This is much less than normal (14 bags+ in the past), so perhaps Everleigh is getting cleaner.  Cllrs thanked Cllr Evans for organising the event.       The dates of the next litter picks in 2024 were confirmed as 9 Mar and 19 Oct and that they would follow the standard format.        Action:  Cllrs Bottomley and  Evans

1.   Harvest Festival Sat 7 Oct 23.  Cllr Bottomley reported that a Harvest Festival service took place in St Peter’s Church on Sat 7 Oct 23, attended by 14 parishioners. The Church was decorated beautifully by the Ladies of Everleigh, who arranged a stunning floral display. Rev Michael McHugh conducted an excellent service. Harvest gifts were gratefully received and donated to the Trussel Trust food bank in Devizes. Item closed.

1.  Bonfire Night Sat 4 Nov 23.  Cllr Bottomley led the Cllrs through his previously circulated checklist and, although there was quite a lengthy discussion, the only major changes to the checklist were to confirm the BBQ budget as £300.00 and that a First Aid Post was to be set up and manned in the Council Marquee and that Cllr T Martin was to put together a suitable First Aid Kit.                      Action:  Cllrs Earle and Martin

1.  Carol Service Sat 9 Dec 23.  Cllr Bottomleyled the Cllrs through his previously circulated checklist with the only change being there was no requirement to purchase Mulled Wine as there was some left over from a previous event.                                                                                                                     Action:  Cllr Bottomley

1. Recruitment of Clerk.  Cllr Bottomley reported that an amended advert had been circulated and two expressions of interest had been received.  However only one application has been received to date.  The Chair then gave Cllrs an overview of the recruitment process from this point forward.       Action:  Cllr Bottomley & Clerk

1. Digital Voice Communications. Cllr Evans tabled a Digital Voice Switch Over Briefing note outlining the process and issues as he understood them from BT.  The switch over is due to take place over summer 2024 by BT and other providers. However, customers will be contacted in advance of the switch over. Customers who meet certain criteria will not be pro-actively switched over if the provider knows that the customer meets the criteria e.g. customers with healthcare pendants, customers who only use landlines, customers who have disclosed additional needs, customers with no mobile phone signal or customers over the age of 70.  Digital Voice will not work in a power cut, so BT can supply vulnerable customers with a battery backup that will ensure an extra hour of service if an outage occurs. Everleigh suffers from some  power cuts and has poor mobile phone coverage, so we need to keep an eye on developments in the New Year. After discussion Cllrs RESOLVED that Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows was to contact Chris Manuel the Wiltshire Council lead resilience officer in order to seek more clarity on the process.    Action: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows

1. Road Safety.  Cllr Bottomley reported that he and Cllr Martin had attended the LHFIG meeting on 11 Oct 23 with the intention of delivering his presentation to the LHFIG Members.  He submitted a Highways Improvement Request Form and a marked map of Everleigh with the following proposals:

• Replace the missing 50mph speed limit sign on the Western approach to the village.  MyWilts # 00126238 (24 Sep).  However, the sign was/is still on the ground where it was placed it, despite being reported again on 24 Sep (MyWilts case # 00126238).
• Repaint the change of speed limit road markings on the Eastern approach to the village. A photo was attached.
• Replace or repair the double bend warning sign on the Eastern approach to the village. MyWilts # 00126239 (24 Sep).

Moreover, he and Cllr Martin have invited the Wilts County Senior Highways Engineer  to come to the Village to be briefed on the above proposals and to discuss other possible signs and road marking improvements for the A342 in Everleigh.           Action:  Cllrs Bottomley & Martin.

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. Email Accounts.  The Clerk reported that the uniqueparishclerk@everleigh.org email account was working well.    Item Closed

• Date of Next Meeting: The date of the next meeting was  confirmed as 7.00 pm on Tuesday 9 January 2024 at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 2100hrs.

Signed:                                                                                     date:

Name:                                                                                      Chairman