Minutes - Parish Council Meeting - 6 May 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 6th May 2025 at 7.00pm - subject to later approval by Councillors.

PRESENT: Cllr. H. Collins (Chair), Cllr. M.Charlick, Cllr. Anna Strang, Mrs. J. Childs (Parish Clerk). Three residents were present.

Cllr. Collins welcomed all to the meeting and thanked those newly elected for their willingness to put themselves forward for election.

1. APOLOGIES: There were no apologies.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS: No interests declared.

3. PUBLIC QUESTIONS:

No issues raised.

4. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS HELD ON 10th February 2025:

These were signed as a true record.

5. MATTERS ARISING:

SMAN9 -It remained the intention of Councillors that a working group should meet to consider a solution to improving access to /descent from the footpath on to Glasses Lane/ Rectory Road. The aim was to keep users safe. The matter was still listed as an issue with LHFIG.

Cllr. Collins had written to a resident who had expressed concern about night lights in Lower Chicksgrove explaining that Dark Skies could become an interest for the newly elected Parish Council.

6. CONFIRMATION OF COUNCILLORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES: All Councillors signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office. Interests would be registered online.

• Chair - Cllr. Collins was proposed by Cllr. Charlick and seconded by Cllr. Strang. Cllr. Collins agreed to serve.

  
  

• Vice–Chair Cllr. Charlick was proposed by Cllr. Strang and seconded by Cllr. Strang. Cllr. Charlick agreed to serve.

  
  

• For the present Councillors agreed that: Cllr. Strang would lead on Planning,

  Cllr. Charlick on Website and Communication as well as overseeing Finance, and the Chairman on Public Rights Of Way.

  
  

The Chairman thanked Councillors for their willingness to volunteer for these roles.

7.COUNCILLOR VACANCIES: There remained 2 vacancies for Councillors following the election. These would be advertised and filled by cooption. All residents who have lived within the parish for 6 months could apply and join in the work of maintaining and improving our parish life and environment.

8.WILTSHIRE COUNCIL: WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR'S REPORT:

No report

9. FINANCE:

• Payments are now made online. The Clerk would seek authority to make additional payments not listed on the schedule of payments presented at Parish Council meetings.

• Payments were scheduled totalling £305.72. A further payment was requested for insurance for the year 01 06 2025 – 31 05 2026.

• The Annual Statement of Governance was signed by the Chairman.

• The Annual Return was approved and signed.

• The Certificate of Exemption was signed.

10. RISK ASSESSMENT:

This was signed but would be subject to amendment as soon as Councillors were registered for online banking.

11. NOMINATED ITEMS:

• RIGHTS OF WAY: SMAN9 as noted under Matters Arising. Work on SMAN 17 was bedding in well following recent improvement. Work was awaited on SMAN15 opposite Glasses Lane. There had been no action on the access to SMAN14 from Panters Road, currently too steep to allow wheelchair access. The matter had been reported, as noted in the previous minutes, but no action had yet been taken.

  
  

• NOTICE BOARDS: Cllr. Strang agreed to contact Natural Landscapes about repairs to the notice board in Lower Chicksgrove. The Clerk added that the Parish Steward had arranged for a digger in the area to clear the grips at Panters and it was good to note that repairs to road surfaces in Sutton Row had been completed.

  
  

• THE WALTER ALLOTMENT TRUST (area to the west of the allotments): No further work was reported. Concern was expressed about fencing at the allotments, brought down by falling trees. Replacement was essential because of intrusion by deer. Fencing had not been covered by the Walter Allotment Society’s insurance policy. A proposal was being put together and the Parish Council would be approached for funding.

12. PARISH WEBSITE:

No comments added.

13. PLANNING:

No objections were expressed to Planning App. PL/2025/04104 at Panters.

P2025/0161, SMAN13 proposed diversion. The application had been withdrawn and was pending resubmission.

14. CORRESPONDENCE: Concern had been expressed by a resident about speed on the A30. The matter was last raised with Highways some years ago. The matter would be discussed further.

15. ANY OTHER BUSINESS: The Chairman agreed that the 7pm start had proved beneficial and it was hoped future meetings would cover all agenda items. The Chairman had suggested a move to 6 meetings a year, considered unnecessary by Cllr.Charlick in view of the additional meetings held in relation to planning.

16. 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 15th September 2025.

The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.