A proposal was made that Cllr Sunners chair the council meeting in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/50. Public recess. 3 members of the public and a local PCSO
Matt Pound from the Roxi Foundation.

Supporting Swindon and the surrounding areas with diagnosis for ADHD and Autism for children. They focus on education and advocating for families.

They attend a lot of community events but its hard to raise the £1300 needed per assessment per child.

They funded 3 children last year and have funds to help 6 children this year.   They are looking for funds for a branded gazebo so they can attend even more events in all weather conditions. The gazebo costs £1300.00.

A proposal was made to approve £500 grant funds to the Roxi Foundation. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour. Cllr Ford did not vote.

PCSO report:

Jan to April 25 stats for the area, include the following;

  • Violence and sexual offences 14
  • Public disorder 3
  • ASB 3
  • Drug related crime 3
  • Vehicle crime 1
  • Burglary 8

In total there were 46 crimes in the area.

  • Please do warn the elderly and vulnerable about cold calling crimes. Refuse services and shut the door. Take down any reg numbers of vehicles and report using 101.
  • It was reported that hazardous and drug waste was in the carpark next to the 3 Trees Farm Shop.
  • The police and Traveller Liaison officer at SBC can work together over issues when the Chiseldon Firs traveller site is in use. Residents should use common precautions to secure their property.
  • The naked person seen at Washpool was noted. This has also occurred in the evenings as well as early mornings. The police are patrolling.
  • Speeding along Draycot Road was noted. Can the police set up there to monitor and record speed/issue fines. Cllr Sunners will mention to Cllr Kearsey for a Speedwatch site.
  • Also speeding on Plough Hill between the Esso Station and Farm Shop heading to Marlborough.
  • The Chiseldon to Coate Water Sustrans route is being used for drug movements using e-scooters and similar.  The public are urged to report ALL of these issues.

25/51. Approval of apologies given.

Absence with apologies:  Cllr Kearsey is away and Cllr Jefferies is unwell.

No apologies from Cllr Quidwai and Jackson.

Ward Cllr Elliott had sent apologies as he was attending another meeting.

A proposal was made to approve the apologies given with the reasons stated. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/52. Co-option of Parish Cllrs. No candidates

25/53. Declarations of interest. Cllr Ford will not vote on the grant application from the Roxi Foundation as he knows one of the trustees.

25/54. Approval of minutes from 12th May 2025. No changes.
A proposal was made to approve these minutes as an accurate account of the meeting. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/55. Action points from previous meeting.

Clerk

24/92. To include planning app S/OUT/24/0982 on all Full Council agendas until further notice.

24/165. Create and send a document to SBC and Ward Cllrs ref no confidence vote.

24/180. Create 1 new ACV document for the Calley Arms in Hodson when its future is known and submit to SBC for consideration.

25/31. Talk to HeartSafe about defibs that don’t need an electricity source. DONE. On agenda.

25/35.  Respond to the SBC polling stations consultation. DONE

25/43. Add Roxi Foundation donation to June agenda. DONE

25/44. Contact companies who arrange new burial grounds for the spec and a quote. For the June meeting. DONE. On agenda.

25/49. Add Allbuild meeting with EGPA committee to next agenda. DONE. On agenda.

RFO

25/43. Arrange for donation of £500 to Chiseldon Primary School. DONE

Cllr Stevens

25/22. Look at ideas for promoting the PC and the need for new Cllrs. DONE. On agenda.

Ward Cllr Hopkins and Elliott

20/16. Investigate end of Badbury footpath being blocked. Waiting for SBC officer update. WC Sumner will chase Martin Fry PROW officer at SBC.

25/56. Police and Community report. Cllr Sunners

Already done during public recess with PSCO.

25/57. Ward Cllrs reports.  Ward Cllr Sumner, Ridgeway Ward.
Still talking to Badbury residents and Chris Watts at SBC ref flooding issues. The field at the highest point needs alterations so that water does not run off the field into properties down Badbury Bottom. The current drainage ditch isn’t working as designed and the 2016 system has all but disappeared. Pipes and gullies have been destroyed, new hedges and landscaping added.

Martin Fry will be chased for the path issue with the last house on Plough Hill at J15. He has been on leave.

With regards to the flashing speeds signs on Plough Hill not working, SBC are getting a list of all devices to be fixed/replaced and will go out to tender.

WC Sumner left at 20.09

25/58. To vote on the approval of the following policies. Training and Development.

A proposal was made to approve the policy with the addition of the section on sexual harassment prevention. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/59. Vote to approve the Vote of No Confidence letter to SBC. Deferred to July.

25/60. PLANNING. To vote on any applications provided by SBC after the agenda  was published. There were none.

25/61. To discuss and vote on an approach to placing defibrillators in Draycot Foliat and Burderop Park where there is no publicly accessible electricity supply.

Solar options are not recommended as they are not 100% reliable.

Can place devices on the wall of a private property with the owners permission. The expected electrical cost is £30 per year.

A proposal was made for the Clerk to send letters to Draycot Foliat and Burderop Park residents asking if anyone is willing to have a defib on an external wall. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/62. To re-approve section 2 of the AGAR document.

A proposal was made to re-approve section 2 of the AGAR.   The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/63. Discussion on the Chiseldon Firs site and residents request for what actions the PC would take when next occupied.

The contents of the Clerk’s correspondence had been shared where it was noted that the PC would take their lead from SBC.

Cllr Stevens has a contact at SBC who is the Liaison officer. She is going to make contact for any extra advice and will also ask the officer can attend a council meeting.

25/64. To approve the council’s bank reconciliation for May.

This item was deferred to July as the documents have not yet been reviewed and signed.

25/65.  To discuss the initial costings for whether the PC try to purchase new land to continue to carry out burial services once the Sir Henry Calley and Butts Road cemeteries are full.

The details received from a contractor who provide these services showed an initial cost of around £6,500 to review possible sites, but this did not include locating the sites.

The other contractor quoted around £30,000 for the planning stages and £60,000 to £200,000 for the construction stage.

A proposal was made for the Clerk to send out letters to local landowners to see if any has some suitable land they could suggest. It was also proposed that the project be tabled for 12 months’ time, at which point the current need/possible sites could be reviewed. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/66. To approve costs of £325.00 plus VAT from Allbuild to treat the box hedges at the Butts Road cemetery which are suffering from an infestation of the box caterpillar.

A proposal was made to approve costs of £325.00 plus VAT to treat the hedges. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/67. To vote that costs of £6120 plus VAT to Allbuild for the placement of bollards at the junction of New Road and Castle View Road come from CIL funds.

A proposal was made to approve £6120 plus VAT from CIL funds. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/68. To vote to approve £82.50 plus VAT maximum from Sansum and Co for the RFO to be trained on how to adjust the accounts system to an accruals basis.

A proposal was made to spend a maximum of £82.50 for this training. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

25/69. To discuss the ways that the council can attract new Cllrs.

Cllr Stevens reported that a professional service for a 2/3 minute video would cost around £1095.00.

Publishing a personal statement from Cllrs as to why they joined the PC and what they get from it was suggested. Videos on smart phones can also be created. All willing Cllrs to take part and something to be posted on FB and our once a week. Cllr Stevens will arrange this.

25/70. Feedback from EGPA committee on meeting with Allbuild around parish appearance.

It was discussed that some areas need more regular cleaning. The litter picking sessions are clear of waste once completed but some areas become untidy shortly afterwards.

Hi-vis vests for the Allbuild team have been approved. Showing PC and Allbuild details.

A price list of additional services such as street cleaning, sign washing and pavement cleaning were provided. The committee will review this at the June meeting and create a list of what is required within the budget. After going out to tender the contractor will be chosen to proceed with the extra work.

25/71.  To approve whether to make turning off commenting on FB posts a standard procedure.

As residents can still email and phone council staff it was agreed to turn off commenting on all FB posts.

25/72. Committee reports, Correspondence and risk assessments.
A proposal was made to approve the May 25 finance report as an accurate list of the councils income and expenditure. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

Finance – no meeting held.

EGPA – No further report.

Planning – It is thought that the Hannick Homes application may go to the SBC planning committee soon. No notification yet from SBC to the PC.

Risk Assessments.   All May assessments carried out with no issues to report. For June,  volunteers are needed for the Millenium Path.  Cllr Ford will do the Rec hall/ground assessment.

Correspondence – No comments

25/73. Items for next agenda.  None

Meeting closed 20.54

Actions

All Actions to be completed by the next Full Committee meeting unless otherwise specified.

Clerk

24/92. To include planning app S/OUT/24/0982 on all Full Council agenda’s until further notice.

24/165. Create and send a document to SBC and Ward Cllrs ref no confidence vote.

24/180. Create 1 new ACV document for the Calley Arms in Hodson when its future is known and submit to SBC for consideration.

25/50. Add to FB that cold callers should be refused and a reg number obtained if possible.

25/58. Add updated policy to the website

25/61. Send out letters to Draycot Foliat an Burderop Park for locations for a defibrillator.

25/65. Send out letters to local landowners asking if there is any suitable burial land they’d be willing to discuss. Add item back to June 26 agenda.

Cllr Stevens

25/63. Talk to SBC contact about Chiseldon Firs site and a visit to a council meeting.

25/69. Get personal statements from Cllrs.  Pass to Clerk to add to FB and website.

RFO

25/50. Arrange grant payment of £500 to the Roxi Foundation.

Ward Cllr Hopkins and Elliott

20/16. Investigate end of Badbury footpath being blocked. Waiting for SBC officer update. WC Sumner to chase.