Minutes of the Meeting held in the Phoenix Hall On Thursday, 9th October, 2025 at 7p.m.

REPORT BY WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR

Cllr Blair-Pilling started by thanking Netheravon for hosting the recent Stonehenge Area Board but observed how sparse the attendance was beyond those seeking grants. He would be discussing how to respond to this with his Board and suggested that this was a reality to be accommodated rather than resisted.

He spoke about the shift towards focussing the business meetings on the planning and progression of each councillors agreed objectives, while pursuing the delivery of those objectives in separate more public focussed events.

He outlined the areas of focus for each Board member

Cllr Graham Wright is leading on youth, and the youth fayre, something that he has already been doing.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling is leading on community cohesion and community recognition, with events to bring together parish council reps on a more local basis.

Cllr Kevin Asplin is leading on the Environment, with an initial focus on supporting the Great Bustard project.

Cllr Monica Devendran will continue to concentrate on Adult social care

Cllrs Alan Haggar and Kevin Daley will lead in the creation of a Community safety forum with each respectively focussed on urban and rural aspects.

Local Highways Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

Cllr Blair–Pilling reported back on the Netheravon A345 Speed Limit reduction trial report. He had let the group know that whilst we the Parish Council are happy with most of it, we are unhappy about not including the road North to Mill Road. We will look at writing a response to the cabinet minister about further measures, moving Speed Indication Devise (SIDS) road markings etc.

Bus stop at Harefield – The topographical survey has been carried out and passed to MoD estates as the basis for them to decide whether or not the necessary strip of land could be rededicated to Wiltshire Council for the enlargement of the bus stop. The estimate included should act as a maximum indicative cost of works. The Parish Council would be responsible for 25% of cost and should consider its provision when setting precepts

East and West Court - Residents met with Danny Kruger MP about the access up the A345 and putting a footpath in. Kruger has since asked to Cllr Blair-Pilling to assist. Cllr B-P advised that he had previously investigated footpath provision and concluded this was very unlikely to prove feasible, due to the owner ship constraints. He pointed out that the residents of E&W Court already have an agreement with The Stable enabling a safe walking route to the village. There was also a request for a bus stop outside Support Weapons wing, there is one on one side but not on the other. Parish Council to write to Salisbury Reds and LHFIG regarding putting in a pole, as this should already be a bus stop.

Draft Council Plan - Cllr Blair – Pilling said the draft plan had been through scrutiny and a recent 7 hour Cabinet meeting.

He commented that in his view it says a lot of nice things, but little on how it may be implemented in a time of very constrained budgets and so far contains few targets against the selected Key Performance Indicators.

Army Liaison - Cllr Blair Pilling and Cllr Graham Wright of Durrington have been discussing with Maj ‘Paddy’ McGill how little the local communities may understanding of ‘life, work and play’ of their military neighbours in Larkhill Garrison. They are arranging a series of coach trips with Paddy as tour guide. He asked if the Parish Council would be interested in going on one. There were affirmative nods around the table, Cllr Blair Pilling to come back to us.