Minutes - Parish Council Meeting - 15 Sep 2025

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SUTTON MANDEVILLE PARISH COUNCIL

including Sutton Row and Lower Chicksgrove

DRAFT MINUTES of a meeting of the Parish Council held at The Stalls on 15th September 2025 at 7.00pm - subject to later approval by Councillors.

PRESENT: Cllr. M.Charlick (Vice Chair), Cllr. Anna Strang, Mrs. J. Childs (Parish Clerk). One resident was present, a resident from Fovant, candidate for co-option.

Cllr. Charlick welcomed all to the meeting and thanked the resident from Fovant for his forbearance and attendance.

Cllr. Charlick explained that due to absences the Parish Council was not quorate on this occasion and that whilst discussion would take place no decisions would be taken.

Cllr. Charlick briefly explained the working of the Parish Council

1. APOLOGIES: Cllr. Hugh Collins – Chairman, Cllr N. Najaar WC, Mr. T. Mockridge who had agreed to serve as a Councillor, Mrs. C. Cartwright

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS: No interests declared.

3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS:

No issues raised.

4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS HELD ON 6th May 2025:

These were signed by the Vice Chair as a true record.

5. MATTERS ARISING:

SMAN9 – The Chairman and Cllr. Strang had visited the exit /entrance of SMAN9 at Glasses Lane. They believed the steps were hazardous because they had become dislodged and were in need of rebuilding to make them safe for walkers, particularly those descending. They had concluded that no real improvement could be made until advice was received from WC. The aim remained to keep users safe. The matter was listed as an issue with LHFIG.

6. CONFIRMATION OF COUNCILLORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES: This was deferred. Councillors would continue with existing arrangements for the present.

7.COUNCILLOR VACANCIES: As indicated earlier – Mr. T. Mockridge had met with Councillors and agreed to co-option, the resident from Fovant who had volunteered for co-option was present at the meeting.

8.WILTSHIRE COUNCIL: WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:

No report

9. AREA BOARD /LHFIG: The next Area Board Meeting would take place on 16^th September at the Hinton Hall in Tisbury. There had been no attendance from SMPC at the early September meeting of LHFIG. Apologies had been sent and two issues remained listed; (a) bollards to warn of bend at Lower Chicksgrove - previously approved, and (b) improved access to SM9 from Glasses Lane.

10. FINANCE:

• Payments were approved totalling £313.87

• Expenditure remained in line with budget.

• The invoice for local election costs was expected in October. WIltshire Council had advised they were unable to give early details of the amount.

11. RISK ASSESSMENT: Finalisation was deferred in the absence of the Chairman.

12. NOMINATED ITEMS:

• RIGHTS OF WAY: Grass cutting at the entrance to SM14 from Panters had been requested on the Parish Steward Issue Sheet. He was next due to be present in the parish 24/25^th September. The missing footpath sign at the entrance to SMAN5 from Sutton Row had been reported on MyWilts.

  
  

• NOTICE BOARDS: Cllr. Strang agreed to contact Natural Landscapes about repairs to the notice board in Lower Chicksgrove.

  
  

• THE WALTER ALLOTMENT TRUST: No update was available.

13. PARISH WEBSITE: A payment had been made for renewal of the domain for a 2 year period.

14. PLANNING: P2025/0161, SMAN13 proposed diversion. Wiltshire Council had issued the order which was now in the consultation period. SMPC’s response to applications at Ham Cross had noted the consequential increase in lighting within the Dark Skies Protected Area.

15. CORRESPONDENCE: The Clerk was asked to complete the preliminary survey relating to the Community Governance Review.

16. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: The Vice Chair drew attention to the local campaign to encourage an increase in the number of swifts, for example the use of swift bricks to be incorporated into new construction and renovations. Cllr. Strang noted the low population of swifts within the area and expressed some doubt about whether swifts would be the sole occupiers of the holes within the bricks. She suggested consultation with the Wiltshire Council Ecology Inspectors could be a helpful way forward. The Vice Chair added details of the campaign were available on the parish website and that the PC could encourage all measures to increase the population of nesting birds.

17. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING:

The next meeting of the Parish Council would be held at 7.00 pm at The Stalls on Monday 24th November 2025.

The meeting closed at 7.55 pm.