EPC - Draft minutes for 4th March 2025 meeting

EVERLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held

at Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall on Tuesday 4^th March 2025

Chair: Cllr D Bottomley.

Present: Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows (vice Chair), Cllr A Earle, Cllr H Waight and

Cllr P Evans

In Attendance: Ms H Boulton (Parish Clerk);

Cllr C Williams (Wiltshire Counci)

Chair’s Opening Remarks. The Chair announced that the main objectives of the meeting were to confirm plans for a village event to commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of VE Day 1945 and to prepare for the Local Elections on 1^st May 2025.

Apologies for Absence: Cllr T Martin; Cllr L Wheeler-Mallows; PC J Kinge (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 Parish Council Meeting 10^th December 2024 and Extraordinary Meeting 19^th December 2024. The minutes of the Parish Council Meetings on 10^th December and 19^th December 2024 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. This item was dealt with in 2 parts:

7a. Report. Wilts Cllr C Williams briefed the Parish Council on the following key points:

Wiltshire will not be included in the devolution initiative at present.

The Wilts Council budget for FY 2025-26 has been approved, with a 2.5% increase.

The consultation for the Wilts Council Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) took place from Thursday 28th November until Friday 24th January 2025. LTP4 covers the period 2025-2038 and will set the strategic direction for all transport in Wiltshire. The next step is an LTP meeting on 11^th March 2025.

The next Tidworth Area Board meeting takes place on Monday 10^th March at 7pm at the Ludgershall Memorial Hall.

7b. Wilts Council Local Elections – 1^st May 2025. This item was covered at the end of

the meeting after Item 18.

Wilts Police Report. The Ludgershall and Rural Neighbourhood Police Team (NPT) reports for December 2024 and February 2025 had been circulated to Parish Councillors prior to the meeting. Incidents relating to Everleigh include theft and damage to a parked car and a burnt out vehicle.

Correspondence.

Proposed Reimbursement for Councillors. A Wilts Council Independent Review

Panel, considering proposals for reimbursement for councillors for their time and

effort as well as materials, has completed a draft report but will delay publication

until after the local elections in May 2025.

Pollinator Corridor Project. A Tidworth Community Area Environment Meeting will

be held on Monday 24^th March 2025 at 5pm at the Tidworth Civic Centre. The

purpose of the meeting is to explore options for a Pollinator Friendly Corridor

Project to create spaces to encourage biodiversity. After discussion, Cllrs

RESOLVED that the opportunity to attend this meeting would be advertised to

Parishioners, primarily via WhatsApp. Action: Cllr Earle.

Invasive Non Native Plant Species. Wilts Wildlife Trust (WWT) are seeking support to

promote awareness and reporting on invasive non native plant species. After

discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED that a WWT flyer should be posted on the village web

site and noticeboards. Action: Cllr Bottomley and Clerk.

Wilts Best Kept Village Competition 2025. After a brief discussion, Cllr RESOLVED

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

Forecast of Events. After reviewing the latest Forecast of Events Cllrs RESOLVED to:

Confirm the date for a village event to commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day as Thursday 8^th May 2025.
Consequently, a village Summer Party will not be held on Saturday 12^th July.

Action: Cllr Bottomley.

Planning. Planning Applications as received from Wiltshire Council:

11.1 PL/2024/10610 – Lower House Farm. Following a Wilts Council decision to refuse

planning permission, a revised planning application has been submitted

retrospectively for conversion and rebuild of 6 barns into a single dwelling house

with a swimming pool, gymnasium and garages, as constructed now, The Parish

Council have raised no objections. A Wilts Council Decision Date has been

delayed from 16^th January to 13^th March 2025.

11.2 PL/2024/04371 – 6 Pigleaze Cottages. Full planning permission for the

extension of the existing house at front, side and rear, resulting in 2

independent dwellings. Wilts Council have granted permission for this planning

application on 4^th October 2024. Construction of this extension started on 1^st

February 2025.

11.3 PL/2022/02731 – Lower House Farm, Change of use and refurbishment of

existing agricultural barns for commercial use B8 (Storage and

Distribution) and B2 (General Industrial). Wilts Council gave permission for this

planning application on 6^th July 2022 subject to 17 conditions, one of which

(Condition #6) states:

“Before the development hereby approved is first brought into use, the existing access shall be stopped up in accordance with the approved details; and the new access will be relocated and completed in accordance with the approved drawings. The sole

means of vehicular and pedestrian access to the site from then on shall be as shown on the plans hereby approved.”

A new access track has now been constructed.

11.4 PL/2025/00379 – Quickset House. Proposed orangery to the East of existing

house. After consideration by the planning Sub Committee, Cllrs RESOLVED

to support this planning applicationand a Parish Council response was

submitted to Wilts Council to that effect on 8^th February 2025.

Property.

12.1 Grass Cutting. Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows reported that the invoice for £420 for grass

cutting south of the A342 road has been paid. Cllrs RESOLVED that

the budget for this part of Parish Council grass cutting is to remain at £420pa.

Action: Cllrs K Wheeler-Mallows

12.2 Play Area. Cllr Earle reported that the play area remains in good order.

One of the goal posts is prone to collapsing and requires replacement in the next FY. This has been factored into the budget plan for the next FY.

Action: Cllrs Bottomley and Earle.

The annual RoSPAs Playground Inspection took place on 24^th October 2024, resulting in an excellent report, with equipment in good order. Only minor remedial work is required and will be conducted on the next playground work party on Saturday 19^th April. Action: Cllr Earle.

12.3 Streetscene Minor Works and A342 Road Safety. Update following the visit

by Ms Grish Lohani, Wilts Council Maintenance Engineer, on Thursday 28^th

November:

Drainage Sump Pond – Lower Everleigh. HQ SPTA have reported that the pond is working and that dredging is not required. Wilts Council, through Ms Grish Lohani, will now keep the drains clear using a gully tanker or vactor.

A342/ Marlborough Road – Safety & Infrastructure. The double bend sign

100m east of the A342 50mph gateway has been repaired.

Requirements remain:

Tabled for Action (with contractor):

Repaint the SLOW road markings on the A342 in Everleigh.

The grips on the verge of Marlborough Road near the Linden Farm entrance need repair.

Repair the Summerdown Farm bend chevrons on the Marlborough Road (reported on the MyWilts App).
On hold:

Repainting of roundel and countdown markings on the A342 eastern 50mph gateway.

Repainting of road markings at the junction of the A342/Marlborough Road

General Streetscene Matters. The procurement of signs for The Street, Marlborough Road and High Trees may have to be submitted to the Tidworth Local Highways and Footpaths Implementation Group (LHFIG). This will be raised with Ms Grish Lohani on her liaison visit in the Spring this year. 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 £3527.69p.

13.2 To authorise payments made since last meeting:

13.2.1 Lower Fields Farm Xmas Tree` £75.00

13.2.2 Boulton Clerk Salary £1494.93

13.2.3 Amazon Rp to notice board £74.55

13.2.4 Salisbury Hospice Charitable donation £600.00

13.2.5 Bowen Grass cutting £420.00

13.2.6 NSP NHW Signs £177.36

Cllrs RESOLVED to authorise the payments. Action: Clerk.

13.3 To note payments received. None.

13.4 Parish Council Fixed Asset Register. The Parish Council Fixed Assets Policy was

adopted at the last Parish Council meeting on 10^th December 2024. This policy

includes an annual requirement for an audit of assets. After discussion, Cllrs

RESOLVED that a property audit and a review of insurance cover is to be

completed in March/April 2025. Action: Cllr Earle and Clerk.

13.5 Bonfire Night 2024. Cllrs Evans and L Wheeler-Mallows presented a donation for

£600 to the Salisbury Hospice charity on Friday 7th February 2025 from donations

kindly received at the Everleigh Bonfire Night 2024. Item closed.

13.6 Everleigh Enhancement. Updates:

13.6.1 Flower Planters. Cllr Earle reported that all was well with the planters.

13.6.2 Future Enhancement. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED to adopt the

following plan for the next FY:

Planters – Spring and Autumn plants @ £350 (Cllr Earle)
Flagpole vicinity Crown Bus Shelter @ £329 + £65 VAT (Cllr Earle).
Football Goal Post – Playground @c£100.
Christmas Tree December 2025 @c£100.

Village Events.

14.1 Spring Litter Pick Saturday 8^th March. A village litter pick will take place

on Saturday 8^th March, meeting up at The Crown bus shelter at

11am and finishing by 1230pm. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

Afternote: The event was conducted successfully, with 12 volunteers turning out

to collect 11 bags of rubbish.

14.2 Playground Work Party Saturday 19^th April. A Playground Work Party will take

place on Saturday 19^th 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 VE Day 80^th Anniversary Thursday 8^th May. A village commemoration of

the 80^th Anniversary of VE Day will take place on Thursday 8^th May at 6pm at

Jubilee Field and will include the lighting of a beacon bonfire at 9.30pm in

line with national commemorations. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED to adopt

the proposed planning checklist with minor amendments.

Action: Cllr Bottomley.

14.4 Walk the Parish Boundary Saturday 7^th June. A village event to walk the parish

boundary to commemorate the ancient ceremony of Beating the Bounds of

Everleigh Parish will take place on Saturday 7^th June 9am -1pm. The Start/Finish

Point will be the village playground. The plan will be confirmed at

the next Parish Council meeting on 13^th May. Action: Cllr Evans.

15 Highways and Footpaths.

15.1 Footpath Right of Way (RoW) 8. The cattle pen has been opened up but we

continue to await further developments on the provision of stiles and signs. An

update was requested from the Wilts Council RoW Officer via the Chair of the

Tidworth LHFIG on 19^th February. Action: Cllr Bottomley.

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 requested

from the Wilts Council RoW Officer on 19th February. Action: Cllr Bottomley

16. Digital Voice Changeover and Broadband.

16.1 Cllr Evans reported that BT Openreach intent remains to complete the plan to

upgrade phone lines from the old analogue system to a new digital system by

the end of 2027. A drop in discussion event on Digital Voice will be held at the

Marlborough Library on Thursday 22^nd May 10am-1pm.

16.2 On broadband, Cllr K Wheeler-Mallows announced that the Openreach plan to

roll out fibre optic broadband infrastructure to 90 properties within our

community, less Marlborough Road, now appears to be complete.

Cllrs Evans and K Wheeler-Mallows were each requested to provide a paragraph for

the next View from Everleigh Courier article by 18^th March.

Action: Cllrs Evans and K Wheeler-Mallows.

17. Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Signs. The Everleigh NHW Co-ordinator has now

purchased and erected 7 NHW signs for a cost of £177.36. Item Closed.

Parish Council Marquees. After discussion, Cllrs RESOLVED to continue to allow the use of Parish Council marquees by villagers for a fee of £50 per marquee per occasion. This fee was clarified as a hire charge, not a donation. Item Closed.

7b. Local Elections. Local Elections in Wiltshire will be held on Thursday 1^st May 2025, for

both Wilts Cllrs and Town/Parish Cllrs. Nomination forms are to be submitted by

Wednesday 2^nd April by hand at the Wilts Council Offices in Salisbury. Cllr Bottomley

will co-ordinate nomination papers for current parish councillors.

Action: Cllr Bottomley.

Date of Next Meeting: The date of the next meetings for the Annual Parish Meeting, followed by the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, was confirmed as Tuesday 13^th May 2025 at 7pm at the Collingbourne Ducis Village Hall.

The meeting closed at 9.02 pm.

Signed: date:

Name:

Chairman