Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on
Tuesday 12th July 2022 at 7.15 pm in the Jubilee Hall.
Present: Cllr Keith Rayward (Chair), Cllr Jo Jolly, Cllr Jeff Ligo, Cllr Eddie Cole and Cllr Steve Ridley. Cllr Catherine Elliot and Cllr Andrea Franklin from agenda item 2022/30.
In attendance: Nicola Duke (Parish Clerk), Wiltshire Councillor for Ethandune Suzanne Wickham and 10 members of the public.
Open Forum
Members of the public were invited to make representations to the Council on any matters relating to the work of the Council or to raise any issues of concern:
• A resident addressed the Council in respect of the allotments; speaking to the benefits and rationale of providing allotments and drawing attention to the arrangements of Salisbury City Council in respect of allotment management. The resident expressed his disagreement with the rent increase proposed in the report before the Council.
• A resident addressed the Council in respect of the allotments; stating that the Council had mismanaged the allotments for many years and that the allotment holders had been maintaining the general site as well as the individual plots. The resident expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed rent increase.
• The Chair confirmed that the comments were noted and would be taken into account during the discussion on the relevant agenda item.
Village updates:
• Police report – PCSO Alice Moore had been unable to attend the meeting.
• Wiltshire Council and Westbury Area Board – Cllr Suzanne Wickham reported the following:
o The new Police Sergeant would be attending the September Council meeting to discuss issues relating to the police presence in Bratton; it was hoped that this would enable these issues to be resolved. Should this not be the case Cllr Wickham confirmed she would progress the previously discussed letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner.
o The date for the next LHFIG meeting was expected to change due to the availability of the groups’ Chair. Cllr Wickham would keep the Council informed.
o The four priorities of the Area Board for 2022/23 were confirmed as:
Reducing child poverty
Tackling social isolation
Wellbeing for younger people
Local environment
o The digital inclusion programme in support of tackling social isolation was being re-run and members were encouraged to advise Cllr Wickham of any residents who would benefit from the scheme.
o The Pollinator Project scheme for the Ethandune ward ‘corridor’ was explained, which was the remit of the local environment group. It was reported that the potential sites had been identified and would be reviewed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
o Future programmes to be led by Wiltshire Council included looking at reducing car usage and improving local infrastructures; work was already underway on projects in Chippenham and the Trowbridge and Westbury areas would follow. Attention was also drawn to the proposal for a cycleway between Bratton and Westbury train station, for which there was noted enthusiasm. Cllr Wickham reported that this project could be considered by the Local Cycling/Walking Infrastructure Group (LCWIG).
o Heywood Parish Council had offered an invitation to local parishes to send a representative to its meeting on 12th September at 19:00, at which the Wiltshire Council cabinet member for Planning would be present to explain the current position on the 5-year housing land supply.
o Wiltshire Council’s cabinet had approved the sum of £2 million for road and highway projects over the next three years. The Council was encouraged to develop a ‘wish list’ for submission to WC.
AGENDA ITEM
2022/26 Apologies for Absence and to consider the reasons given
Cllr Lloyd due to prior engagement, accepted.
Cllr Whittaker was absent.
2022/27 Declarations of Interest and Dispensations to Participate
None.
2022/28 Minutes of Council Meetings
The minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council held on 14th June 2022 were approved for accuracy and adopted (proposed Cllr Ridley, seconded Cllr Cole).
2022/29 Co-option of Parish Councillors
Members considered the co-option of councillors following recent casual vacancies and in accordance with the adopted Co-option Procedure conducted interviews with the candidates and followed the agreed voting procedure. Catherine Elliot and Andrea Franklin were duly co-opted as parish councillors, signed the Declarations of Acceptance of Office and joined the table. The Parish Clerk confirmed that she would arrange a time to conduct an induction and issue the new members with their Welcome Packs. The Chair welcomed the new members to the Council.
2022/30 Committee and Council representative reports
a) Bratton Recreation Ground Committee – The Chair of the Committee, Mr Mike Manson provided a report, which was circulated and is appended to the minutes. Mr Manson further spoke regarding redundant youth club equipment which was being stored at the Rec Ground pavilion and it was agreed that options for either the storage or dispersal of the equipment would be considered with a report to be brought to the September meeting of the Council.
b) Jubilee Hall Management Committee – The Chair of the Committee, Mr Ken Davis had provided a report, which had been circulated to members and is appended to the minutes.
c) Cllr Rayward provided the following report on LHFIG (Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group) meetings and projects:
a. Wiltshire Council was being chased in respect of dates for the installation of the 20mph zone speeding restrictions and new signs at the crossroads.
b. A further meeting of the Highways Update group would be arranged for the autumn.
d) Cllr Cole provided the following report on the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, which is appended to the minutes.
e) Cllr Rayward reported on the evolution of the parish website informing members that methodical progress was being made and the parish council section had been re-vamped in accordance with agreed practice as approved in 2022/16 (e). Members were encouraged to view the parish council pages and submit any feedback to the Chair. It was confirmed that the website worked from mobile devices and members were advised that a software update would take place in 2023.
f) The Parish Clerk reported that she was awaiting a response from the insurer regarding the replacement of the damaged bus shelter at Castle Road. The item would be brought forward to the September Council meeting. The Clerk reported on a request from the W.I (who maintained the shelter) that the new shelter did not have a clear roof and this was noted.
g) The Chair proposed a Vote of Thanks to the Jubilee celebrations event group on behalf of the Parish Council, which duly resolved. Cllr Ligo was planning to organise a meeting of the group in October to discuss potential village events in 2023.
2022/31 Planning applications and consultations
None.
2022/32 Allotments
A report from Cllr Ligo following actions agreed at the June meeting had been circulated to members and was discussed. Members considered the recommendations contained therein and, following debate, resolved the following:
1. The Council would request that all tenants to sign a new Tenancy Agreement based on the draft document circulated by Cllr Ligo; the Clerk was delegated to deal with the finer points in conjunction with Cllr Ligo and the Chair (proposed Cllr Ridley, seconded Cllr Jolly).
2. The Council determined that there would be a 25% rent increase for 2022/23 (proposed Cllr Ridley, seconded Cllr Jolly).
3. The Council considered the two offers for the vacant Millditch plot and resolved that the plot would be allocated to the tenant who had offered to take on the allotment at Millditch on the proviso that no rent would be paid for 2 years and the Council would cover brush cutting of all the overgrown area and removal of said cuttings. It was noted that volunteers would be able to carry out the required brush cut of the allotment.
It was agreed that the Parish Clerk would work with Cllr Ligo to develop a strategy for the allotments, which would include consideration of pricing structures. This would be referred to the September meeting of the Council.
2022/33 Grant Applications
Members received and considered further information received in relation to grant applications considered at the June PC meeting. Standing Orders were suspended in order to enable applicants to address members.
a) Cygnets Pre-School – enhancement of outdoor area – £250 was awarded (proposed Cllr Ridley, seconded Cllr Elliot).
b) Jubilee Players – upgrade to microphone system – £150 was awarded (proposed Cllr Ridley, seconded Cllr Franklin).
Members further resolved the release of the annual budgeted grant in the amount of £135.00 for the Monday Gang (proposed Cllr Ligo, seconded Cllr Ridley).
2022/34 Telephone Kiosk, Melbourne Street
a) Members considered a donation to Westbury Shed in respect of works carried out to the kiosk and resolved that £150 be awarded as a grant (proposed Cllr Ligo, seconded Cllr Cole).
b) Members considered a previously circulated report from Cllr Lloyd regarding costs for carrying out further work required to the kiosk and approved the associated costs of £36.89. Members further considered establishing a project team for the planning and management of the future use of the kiosk and it was noted that Cllr Cole would liaise with the Council and the History Association to form the team, reporting back to the September meeting of the Council.
2022/35 Financial Reports (to follow)
a) A schedule of payments and receipts April – May 2022 had been circulated to members, was approved and the schedules duly signed by the Chair (proposed Cllr Ligo, seconded Cllr Jolly).
b) Members noted the previously circulated bank reconciliation and Financial Position Statement as at 30th May 2022 which were approved and the bank statements and associated documents were duly signed by the Chair (proposed Cllr Ligo seconded Cllr Jolly).
2022/36 Correspondence
Cllr Lloyd re: proposals for a village calendar of events and ‘brought forward’ system for the Parish Council meeting agendas (previously circulated) – it was agreed to establish a calendar of Parish Council events, meetings and those of outside organisations which the PC representatives would attend. A brought forward system for meetings would also be established.
2022/37 Date of next meeting
Tuesday 13th September 2022 at 7.15 pm in the Jubilee Hall.
2022/38 Confidential Information
In view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted at Agenda Item 2022/39 members resolved that the press and public be excluded from this part of the meeting (proposed Cllr Rayward, seconded Cllr Ligo).
Such a resolution would be in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 Sec 1 (2), which states “A body may, by resolution, exclude the public from a meeting (whether during the whole or part of the proceedings) whenever publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted or for other special reasons stated in the resolution and arising from the nature of that business or of the proceedings; and where such a resolution is passed, this Act shall not require the meeting to be open to the public during proceedings to which the resolution applies.’’
Reason for exclusion – Staffing matters
At this point the Clerk left the meeting.
2022/39 Staffing Matters
Members considered a recommendation from the Staffing Committee (following a meeting held on 5th July 2022) that the National Pay Award for 2021-2022 is applied to the Clerk’s salary with effect from 1st April 2021. The recommendation was duly resolved (proposed Cllr Ligo, seconded Cllr Ridley). Members noted that the Committee had requested an evaluation of the Clerk’s role in order to carry out a salary review and further noted that Item 2022/10 a (i) would now be addressed by the appointed external payroll provider on behalf of the Staffing Committee.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.41 pm.