DRAFT - Minutes of the Meeting held in the Phoenix Hall On Thursday, 12th March 2026 at 7.00 p.m.
Download this document
| - | - | - |
|---|---|---|
| Parish Councillors Present: | Cllr D Burke | Chairman |
| Cllr Brown | ||
| Cllr Coslett | ||
| Cllr S Perry | ||
| Cllr P Perry | ||
| Cllr O Grady | ||
| Cllr Bridewell | ||
| In Attendance: | Mrs D. Corbett | Clerk to the Council |
| Cllr Ian Blair - Pilling | Wiltshire Councillor |
WELCOME BY CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL
Cllr Burke welcomed everyone to the meeting.
REPORT BY WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR
Cllr Blair – Pilling spoke about the budget and said that the Government has given them a 3year settlement. He said the Wiltshire Council Tax has gone up by 4.99% and that the council was pushing ahead with 3 weekly black bin collection. He said that car parking would be going up 20% in all car parks, times would be extended from 7 am – 7 pm. There would be more charges on a Sunday too. Salisbury car parks are trying to be excluded, if they are successful, others may try.
Highway Maintenance - 20th April, signs say the High St is to be resurfaced then. (Other people have said it won’t be until end of May).
Area boards will only be meeting 3 times a year instead of 4.
Local Plan has been thrown out by the inspector as not sufficient allocation in years 12-15. It will take 3 years to re-write.
POLICE REPORT
Received before the meeting and sent out – apart from a report of illegal Hare coursing, nothing else reported
25/84
APOLOGIES
Apologies received and accepted from:
Cllr Mackay
Cllr Covill
No apologies received from Cllr Padgett. As it has been over 6 months since Cllr Padgett came to a meeting. He has now been disqualified as a councillor. Chairman to write to him again.
The council note and approve Cllr Bridewells upcoming absence from May to July and wish him well on his big trip.
25/85
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
25/86
MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 12th February2026 be accepted as a true record, proposed and seconded.
25/87
FINANCE
a. Bank Reconciliation
The bank reconciliation was passed out to councillors before the meeting, all agreed
b. Bobby van letter was read out by the Clerk and £100 was agreed to be donated
25/88
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1 . Planning
Since the last Parish Council meeting there has been one item for the planning committee to notice.
PL-2025-05825 and Appeal 6001123 – Highview Farm Buildings – Building of 6 properties under section Q. Original application refused. Appeal by landowner dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.
2 . Flooding and Adverse Weather
Issue of logs being put in the stream in lower Road. Residents had carried out tree works. They were contacted and kindly dealt with the problem. Residents will ask the contractor to remove the rest of the wood.
3 . Highways and Parish Steward
Potholes have mostly been repaired.
4 . Cemetery/Enhancement/Netheravon in Bloom
Clerk to ask a resident if they would like to help with the flower tubs down by motor garage. Cllr Brown is doing one, so one maybe two still need volunteers to look after them. Council agreed £25 in plants for people that would like to look after the tub.
5 . Recreation
Sovereign have had a deposit for the work to repair the log walk etc and start day is scheduled for 12 th May. Three quotes were read out by the Clerk for a new swing to be put into Millenium Park. They were from Sovereign, Home Front (local) and South West Play. The Council asked the clerk to find out if Home Front had done any local installations or had any pictures of the swing to see what it looked like. (Post meeting note email sent to councillors with examples)
Old school Close - report from the Handyman was read out by Chairman, all benches and equipment have been removed and priced to be refurbished. Council agreed to go ahead with the next steps. Our Landscape Contractor has given us a quote for removal of bark, turf and matting plus new posts. Due to the amount Clerk to get two more quotes.
6 . Allotments
The spare allotment at the dog and gun site has been let to a resident, agreement given.
7 . Community Allotment and Community Larder
All the beds have now been dug in preparation for the Spring planting and volunteer has done the first couple of strimming sessions, it’s looking good, we just need some sunshine now.
We will be making a trip to the garden centre shortly to purchase potatoes, onion sets etc and will use the gift voucher towards the purchase. The poly tunnel will last until the end of this season, but we will need funding for a new one for next year. Finally, the orchard - all the trees are showing signs of new shoots, the grass will need to be maintained by the council, but volunteers will keep the worst of it away from the base of the trees.
8 . Rights of Way
Nothing to report.
9 . REPORT FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER GROUPS
a . Phoenix Hall
The bookings total for 2025/2026 is currently £17480.12 The total for last year was £14085 this means we exceeded last year’s booking by £3394.88. February 2026 was less than the previous year by £48. However, March 2026 is the most bookings in a single month since we started the total being £1986.75. We start the new year with prebooking’s this is only for 9 months of £10942.50 many of which are new hirers from the village which is very pleasing.
Maintenance and Improvements - The main heaters have now been fixed to avoid people altering the temperature. The fencing around the building has now been repaired. In due course it will be painted when the weather improves and willing volunteers are available.
Looking ahead - Chair and booking Clerk and will be attending a meeting of Wiltshire Village Hall Association on the 17th at Codford village hall where no doubt there will be much discussion and hopefully some helpful information for our hall.
b. Jubilee Committee
The vicar hopes to have a bigger village fete and has asked for the help of the Jubilee Committee. Therefore, a meeting is planned later in the month
c. Stonehenge Area Board
Will be changing its meetings to 3 a year from 4. Next meeting June
d. All Saints School Liaison
Cllr Bridewell has met with the CEO of Acorn Trust and has arranged for the school choir to come and sing at cheerful cuppa on the 24th March, with a raffle to try and raise some money too.
e. Netheravon Speed Watch Group
The local Wiltshire Police Speed Enforcement Officer undertook a speed enforcement session of Friday 6th March this resulted in 2 drivers issued with notices of intended prosecution. The fastest of which was captured at 57mph and will be fined £100 and get 3 points. It is good to know that our volunteer efforts are being backed up by the Police.
f. Newsletter
Still enough money in the account for at least another 3 issues, thank you to Cheerful cuppa for their recent fundraiser, that resulted in another £300, we also have a regular donation, which is appreciated. Old newsletters are still waiting at RGV offices if anyone has the time to scan them with some help
25/89
REPORT BY CLERK
Harefield Crescent Bus stop improvement still with MOD – they have written to Highways to say that they need their solicitors’ fees paid. Highways have written back and said, ok how much?
Assertion 10 various options and pricing have been given to the council, Cllr O Grady and Clerk to continue with this work.
Clerk has asked the internal auditor to look at the books.
25/90
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
Raised elsewhere
25/91
GENERAL PARISH MATTERS
Cllr S Perry raised that a panel on the climbing frame in Court Farm Close Park needs to be repainted. He will liaise with Handyman over it. Clerk reported the state of the gate and fence to Aster once more.
Two more Defib batteries were purchased ready for when we need them
25/92
DATE OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next meeting of the Netheravon Parish Council will be the 2nd April 2026 after the Annual Parish Meeting.