23/198. Approval of apologies given.

None.  To note that Cllr Barnes has resigned from the council

23/199. Declarations of Interest.  None

23/200. Public recess.  No public

23/201. Approval of minutes from 18th December 2023.

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.

23/202. Action points from previous meeting.

Clerk

23/87. Work with Bartlett Memorials on laying unsafe stones flat where no owner has been located. Clerk to arrange sending the £40 invoice to cover costs to the last known address on file to try to recoup council costs. STILL WORK IN PROGRESS

23/103.  Talk to SBC to see if bench locations would be approved.  Consult with closest residents if plan can proceed.  Work with SBC feedback and add to October agenda. WILL CHASE FOR FEB AGENDA.

23/123. Work with SBC on bench locations and bring back to Oct EGPA meeting. CLOSING AS RELATING TO 23/103

23/143. Arrange a new contract with BDN for grass and hedge cutting. DONE

23/151. Research options for ramps at the Rec hall concrete flood barrier. PENDING

23/158. Research MUGA goals costs and items for Nov meeting. Carry to December meeting. PENDING.

23/185. Complete PROW forms and send to SBC PENDING.

23/190. Advise Wooton Tree Consultancy to proceed with Lime tree prevention work. DONE. WILL BE DONE IN MAY 24

23/191. Advise family on decision of solar lights and wind chimes and update Cemetery Regulations. DONE

23/203. Parishing Progress. No items

To note that:

Draycot Road bus shelter damaged.  Reported to Clear Channel and the police.  Now fixed.

Litter pick needed on Hodson Road outside the village and Draycot Road.  Clerk to advise Allbuild.

Shipping containers at Castle View Road are for supplies for work on SBC properties in the area.

23/204. Parish Appearance and safety. Update on adding extra benches in the parish.

No update. Waiting for information from Swindon Borough Council.   The Clerk will chase for a response for the Feb meeting.

23/205. Solar Light issue at Strouds Hill.

The item is closed as the cause of the issue is down to seasonal lack of sun/day light. The supplier are posting a remote control to adjust the lights to be a lower percentage during winter months to prolong the hours of light produced. The Clerk is to ask the supplier if there is an increased capacity battery option available.

23/206. Building and amenity priorities. Football Club report. No report received.

23/207. Building and amenity priorities. Tennis Club report. No report received.

23/208. Building and amenity priorities.  Pavilion. No items

23/209. Rec Hall, grounds and carpark.  Discuss and vote on costs for ramps to allow wheelchair and scooter access. To be carried over to the Jan 24 meeting.

The Clerk is to try to find more quotes for creating a concrete ramp with guttering tubes inside to allow water flow.

Moving to Feb agenda as no new quotes for this agenda.  Cllr Rawlings has a quote he will pass to the Clerk.

23/210. Rec Hall, grounds and carpark. No items

23/211. Chapel, Museum and graveyards. No items

23/212. Allotments.  Vote on further rabbit removal. £245.00 & VAT for 10 rabbits, plus a new safety check, by Pestforce.

A proposal was made to approve the costs of £245 for rabbit removal. The proposal was seconded and the majority of Cllrs were in favour.

The Clerk has an action to see if the surrounding landowners can be reached to allow access to their land for ferreting at a later date.

23/213. Ash tree removal at the Millennium Copse.

The quotes were reviewed. It was suggested that Cllr Rawlings will make contact with the person who did some work on site several years ago.   It was noted that this person needs to be qualified to use a chainsaw and also have public liability insurance.

If Cllr Rawlings gets a quote in time for the Feb EGPA agenda then the item will be on the EGPA agenda.

A proposal was made that if a quote from Cllr Rawlings’s contact is not available for the Feb EGPA agenda, then the quote of £380.00 from Morgan Trees is approved. The proposal was seconded and all Cllrs were in favour.

The successful quote will need to go to full council for approval from unallocated funds.

23/214. Vulnerable People. No items

23/215. Youth Provision.  No items.   The Feb EGPA agenda will discuss plans for Easter holiday provision.   The Clerk talked to a new company HeadStart Skillz who provide youth provision. The Clerk will arrange them to come to the Feb EGPA meeting to present their offer to the committee.

23/216. Castle View Play area.   Review how to spend the allocated £12,000 in the 23/24 budget for MUGA goals.

No updates. Move to Feb meeting.

23/217. Items for next agenda.    None
Meeting closed 20.14

Actions

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

Clerk

23/87. Work with Bartlett Memorials on laying unsafe stones flat where no owner has been located. Clerk to arrange sending the £40 invoice to cover costs to the last known address on file to try to recoup council costs.

23/103.  Talk to SBC to see if bench locations would be approved.  Consult with closest residents if plan can proceed.  Work with SBC feedback and add to October agenda.

23/151. Research options for ramps at the Rec hall concrete flood barrier.

23/158. Research MUGA goals costs and items for Nov meeting. Carry to December meeting.

23/185. Complete PROW forms and send to SBC

23/203. Ask Allbuild to litter pick at Hodson and Draycot Road.

23/204. Chase SBC for update on bench situation.

23/205. Ask solar light supplier if an increased capacity batter is an option.

23/212.  Make contact with landowner again to get access approved to fields for ferret work at allotments.

23/215.  Arrange for HeadStart Skillz to attend Feb meeting and add agenda item to decide on April holiday provision.

Cllr Rawlings

23/209. Provide the ramp quote to the Clerk to be included in the Feb meeting.

23/213. Obtain further tree removal quote and pass to Clerk by Mon 5th Feb latest.