DRAFT - Minutes of the Meeting held in the Phoenix Hall On Thursday 8th October 2026
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| Parish Councillors Present: | Cllr Burke | Chairman |
| Cllr P Perry | Vice Chairman | |
| Cllr Brown | ||
| Cllr S Perry | ||
| Cllr Coslett | ||
| Cllr O'Grady | ||
| Cllr Covill | ||
| Cllr Bridewell | ||
| In Attendance | Mrs D Corbett | Clerk to the Council |
| Cllr Blair-Pilling | Wiltshire Council Rep. | |
| 3x Members of the Public | MOPs |
WELCOME BY CHAIRMAN
Cllr Burke welcomed everyone to the meeting, and thanked Cllr Coslett for taking down the hanging baskets.
REPORT BY WILTSHIRE COUNCILLOR
Cllr Blair-Pilling spoke about 4 new briefing papers:
Community Wellbeing Fund
Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Organisation of the Month
Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects Fund
Community Resilience Hubs
He said Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money will be going into these through the area boards for each area. These are meant to be local infrastructure projects for people to bid for. The thinking behind it is that local areas know what local areas want. The bidding process has already started, and the area board is there to provide comments at the filtering stage and to give guidance. (The area boards only meet 3 times a year now though.)
Cllr Blair-Pilling attended the Local Highways and Footpaths Improvement Group (LHFIG) this week, where the lack of movement or contact from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on the bus stop was once again discussed. It was agreed that the council should try and put in some measures to help improve safety there. Clerk to investigate purchasing a sign to go into the Netheravon sign, and ask the Parish Steward if he can cut some of the greenery back etc. Post meeting note: Handyman to carry out some safety measures, i.e. solar powered light etc.
Cllr Blair-Pilling is hoping to have a meeting with the Commander of the Salisbury Plain Training Area regarding safety at the tank crossings, and will raise the lack of communication from the DIO regarding the Harefield Crescent bus stop with him.
POLICE REPORT
Not received
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
A member of the public brought to the council the proposal to have the Christmas tree switch on and carols, hot chocolate etc. on the 4th December to “kick off” a weekend of events to try and raise some money for the Pembroke Suite at Salisbury District Hospital, plus bring the community together. Events include the scarecrow trail on the 5th and 6th December, a craft show in “Furnies” on the 6th, with a Christmas craft event and bingo already planned for the 5th in the Village Hall. It was discussed and the council asked some questions. The Clerk has found out that the tree can be delivered on the 27th November (not sure of price yet). It was agreed to get a working party together to put the tree up a few days before the 4th. MOP to contact a family member to help dig a hole to make the Christmas tree more stable. Clerk will write to the residents of Old School Close and the flats in the High Street informing them of the event and a voluntary road closure between 5 and 7pm on the 5th. Council to provide high visibility vests etc. Organisers to send a plan of the event.
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APOLOGIES
Apologies received and accepted from:
Cllr Copeland
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
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MINUTES
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council Meeting on the 10th September be accepted as a true record, proposed, seconded and all agreed.
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FINANCE
a. Bank Reconciliation – The bank reconciliation was given out before the meeting.
b. Public Rights – The final report from the audit was put on the noticeboard and published on the website.
c. Budget – Revised figures accepted. Clerk to review the headings to make sure they are correct.
d. VAT – Error return raised with HMRC as the software is not producing the correct report. Clerk to speak to the former Clerk to see if they can help.
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COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Planning
Since the last Parish Council meeting there have been 0 items for the planning committee to attend to.
PL-2026-04958 concerning 3 Harefield Crescent – has been approved by Wiltshire Council.
Updated standing orders were approved at the October Parish Council Meeting.
2. Flooding & Adverse Weather
Salt bags ready to pick up on October 22nd
3. Highways plus Parish Steward
The Clerk investigated the request for a 20mph speed limit to be put in place in Mill Road and was sent the new policy from the council. It would cost approx. £10,000–£15,000 and would involve speed assessments before it could be agreed. Council agreed to try and make the jump park entrance and exit safer for users, and put up a gate to stop cyclists from going straight into the road.
4. Cemetery / Enhancement / Netheravon in Bloom
Cemetery rules updated and agreed by the council. Clerk to ask the Handyman to make some concrete R blocks to put on reserved graves; the cost of these could be added to the price of reserving a grave. Hanging baskets now down, and as we have quite a few now it was agreed that, as part of Netheravon in Bloom next year, we could give residents a hanging basket and they could plant their own, like the tubs. Money could be provided for plants up to £20.
5. Recreation
ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) reports back, mostly green.
Corfe – Issue with Corfe jump park; Handyman using soil from new house in Thorne Road to help repair. Gate quotes for Corfe given and accepted. Handyman to action.
Old School Close – Didn't have opening! Sails are taken down before poor weather sets in. Grass will need cutting again next week. Quotes for a basket swing for Old School Close given – Council picked a metal one. Handyman to action. Hopefully the delayed opening will be in the spring when the swing is in place.
Millennium Park – Nest swing is getting lots of use. Cross trainer not repaired; they say it needs a whole new part. They also asked why we didn't have a service contract in place, as after 5 years wear and tear is starting to show. Full report to be sent. Handyman has an idea on how to repair the cross trainer, and has some work to do on the gym equipment from the ROSPA reports. Council asked if he could also maintain, lubricate, paint etc. Clerk to ask him.
Sovereign repairs to Trim Trail – Only put in 5 months ago and already split along the bolt lines; Sovereign told the Clerk it was normal cracking of wood. Clerk wrote and said that the integrity of the bolts had been compromised and it was a finger entrapment issue. Sovereign agreed to send some new posts, which the Handyman will put in, probably after the winter. Awaiting delivery.
Court Farm Close / Old School Close Parks – ROSPA brought up some repairs needed for wear and tear. Handyman added to list.
6. Allotments
All ok
7. Community Allotment and Community Larder
Council once again thanked the volunteers for their hard work. A volunteer from Safe Haven has cut round the orchard trees for us, and the allotment volunteers have turned over the ground, with the last vegetables put in the larder. Safe Haven has advertised on Facebook for some help with it again, but it didn't state it was in Netheravon.
8. Rights of Way
All ok.
9. REPRESENTATIVES ON OTHER GROUPS
a. Phoenix Hall Chairperson report September 26
Finance – Finances show a current bank balance of £3,286.52
Total bookings for this year are £14,108.25 after only 6 months
Down on last year by £457.37
Maintenance and Improvements
Cllr S Perry thanked two local children who helped pull up all the weeds from the patio, which was appreciated.
Cllr S Perry reported that they have not had any volunteers come forward to help on the Committee or take up the Chair post. At the moment he is doing both the Chair and the Treasurer's post, which he cannot continue. He has streamlined the Treasurer's post now and it is a lot less work. He wanted to thank Cllr P Perry and Cllr Brown for all their hard work assisting him lately; their help was really appreciated. He stated that they definitely needed more volunteers from the public, and that the hall was in good standing.
The hall now has bookings for most days, and as always they are grateful for the support of their regular hirers. They are advertising in the newsletter.
b. All Saints School liaison
Cllr Bridewell said that he had a meeting that day at the school and could confirm that the choir will sing at Cheerful Cuppa on the 5th November. It was pointed out that the 5th is a Thursday, so he will go back and check – potentially the 3rd? The idea was raised of Cheerful Cuppa providing books for every child in the school, and they have asked if the Council can give a donation too. Cllr Bridewell to go and price it up and come back with actual costs. It was stated that it would be a good time to give them out at the Christmas tree lighting up evening. Cllr Bridewell said that the school had ordered the wreath for Remembrance and was planning on putting crosses on the war graves. Not sure of date yet, but beginning of November. The Clerk said she had reminded the Royal British Legion representative of the request for more poppy crosses, and they said they were putting in their order this week.
c. Netheravon Speed Watch Group
All ok; been rained off a couple of times.
d. Newsletters
The Newsletter finances are ok, and there is enough to keep the newsletter going until next financial year at the moment.
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REPORT BY THE CLERK
Emergency Plan sent back to Fittleton with recent changes on their council, as they currently have no Chairman and only 4 members on the council.
Still trying to get some help with the .gov emails. Clerk to ask other local councils. Fittleton have given all their councillors the same as the Clerk: an_other@FittletonHaxtonParishcouncil.co.uk (not sure if this will suffice for Assertion 10).
Landmarc have cut willow trees, cherry trees and oak trees in Millennium Park. No news on them planting any new ones to replace the ones cut back as part of the ash dieback. They suggested the community fund it; the Clerk reminded them that they were meant to be supplying them, and we even chose the trees two years ago. When they called asking for access, the Clerk reminded them again, and also asked them to remove the wood, as oak was left. Wood removed by Gary and the Handyman as per the ROSPA report. Clerk waiting for their tree person to come back from leave and give her a call.
Clerk asked if we should give a donation to the Day Centre. Clerk to go back and see what was given in the past. Post meeting note: £400 given in February 2025. Agreed to do the same.
Bobby Van – £100 donation in October 2022 and only £50 last year. Give the same as 2022? £100 agreed.
Relook at committees – Cllr Copeland not available; to look at next meeting.
Tilshead Parish has lost its clerk, chairman and vice chair. If anyone knows anyone that may be interested in the Clerk post, it is 4 hours a week.
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CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
ROSPA reports – Handyman's tasks have been discussed with the Chair and highlighted on the reports, passed round at the meeting and jobs agreed.
Letter re shabby fence between Pigotts and Court Farm Road – suggestion of a hedge. Not ours; owned by Aster. Clerk has written back copying Aster in.
Engagement and partnership scheme letter and meeting planned regarding the 4 briefing papers discussed earlier. Clerk or Chair to attend meeting on 28th October at 18:30.
Resident email re Christmas light switch on, in favour of it going ahead – not read out as earlier decisions superseded this.
Resus defib training – Wiltshire Air Ambulance with Fittleton, £100 for a 90-minute session. Fittleton Clerk requested that we go forward with this. Council agreed but asked if the Fittleton Clerk could organise it. Post meeting note: A private donor has agreed to pay for it.
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GENERAL PARISH MATTERS
Cllr Coslett asked about arranging a working party to put the poppies up; it was agreed to go for Saturday 31st October at 09:00 outside the library. Cllr Coslett and Cllr Bridewell gave their apologies for next month's meeting.
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DATE OF NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next meeting of the Netheravon Parish Council will be Thursday 12th November 2026 at 7 pm