CHISELDON PARISH COUNCIL REPORT
Points of interest from January 2024
The Old Chapel, Butts Road, Chiseldon SN4 0NW
Facebook page – Chiseldon Parish Council Notices
email: clerk@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk; telephone: 01793 740744
Neighbourhood Plan (NHP) Regulation 14 consultation
On Monday 8th Jan our consultation went live. This is one of our most in-depth and important consultations as the NHP, if approved at a referendum will detail specifics for potential developers, and landowners for all future planning applications. Swindon Borough Council are also required to consider the plan when making planning decisions.
The consultation runs until 18th February.
You can see all the details here: www.chiseldon-pc.gov.uk/microsites/neighbourhood-plan/
A leaflet should have now been delivered to all homes to advise you further.
The survey can be completed online easily by going to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHPReg14 or by scanning this RQ code on your phone.
A paper copy can be provided to you on request. Contact the Clerk using the contact details above.
Precept and budget for 2024/25
The Parish Council is pleased to announce that last night at Full Council our 2024/25 precept was set at £160,000 which is the same as the 23/24 current year. We expect to be able to maintain the same level of services for this amount. Due to the number of houses within the “tax base” decreasing slightly this will have a small effect per household. We have calculated that a band D household should expect a 28p per month increase next year.
Details of our 24/25 budget will be available on our website shortly https://www.chiseldon-pc.gov.uk/abo…/account-transactions/ You can already view all of the councils internal and external audits and financial transactions on this page.
You are welcome to email our Responsible Financial Officer, nina.hempstock@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk or myself clerk@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk if you have any questions.
Great news – a new defibrillator for Hodson – NOW LIVE. Can be accessed via 999.
Located at the Calley Arms public house. Please call 999 if the device is needed.
Current Projects in progress/under investigation/for consideration. Update from Jan edition.
Road re-surfacing at New Road – A holistic whole village approach will be considered by SBC Highways – more to follow. The road has recently had some tests carried out on it. Still waiting for confirmation of further action by SBC. Scheduled by SBC for school summer holiday – no exact date known. Complete at roundabout section. Awaiting further information on other sections. The water leak near the roundabout has finally been rectified by Thames Water. No update.
Removal of Build Out on New Road – This item is part of the considerations above. No update
We continue to ask our Ward Cllrs for updates on these road issues.
Hedge cutting work at the New Road allotments – quotes being obtained. Quote approved, work to go ahead during February. Delay due to unforeseen circumstances, being re-visited in March meeting. New quotes approved – work to be carried out end of April. Due to nesting birds this item has been deferred to Autumn. Booked for early 2024
Alterations to New Road/A346 junction. Parish Cllrs and Ward Cllrs met with SBC Highways in November where it was confirmed that the junction is being discussed with National Highways who have responsibility for the A346. We hope to hear that safety improvements will be confirmed. We will ask for an update at the End of January after the expected meeting between SBC and National Highways. No update.
Proposed new football goals at Castle View Road – Ongoing. Still looking at options.
The council are looking at options to replace the old wooden posts that are at the end of their life. Funds were allocated as part of the current years budget for this work. The EGPA committee will be discussing this at their 20th Nov meeting. This decision has been deferred to the Jan meeting.
Benches.
We are still working with SBC on permission for the 2 new benches. We may have to chose alterative sites if we cannot get permission. This project is still a work in progress and we await an update from SBC. This was chased in Dec 23 with no further update received from SBC.
20mph zones and dropped kerbs/safer crossing UPDATE. Now closed for comments.
The questionnaire period has now ended and the results will be compiled ready for our Jan Planning Committee meeting. We hope to be able to have a proposal after this time to submit to SBC with the support of our Ward Cllrs.
Subscribe to the Parish Council’s newsletter:
To receive regular updates on Parish news, go to our website www.chiseldon-pc.gov.uk and go to the “Subscribe” option at the foot of every page.
Enter your email and receive weekly updates from us direct to your in-box.
Alternatively email the Parish Clerk who can set up your submission for you.
Speed Watch Volunteers – a message from the team.
Vacancies for Chiseldon
We are looking for Volunteers aged over 17 to join the team to help deal with the local issues of speeding. The Community Speedwatch is co-ordinated by Wiltshire Police, if you are interested or would like more information, please contact the Chiseldon Parish Clerk (Clair Wilkinson) who will pass your details to the local co-ordinator.
More information can be via the Wiltshire Police website www.wiltshire.police.uk and searching for “Community Speedwatch”.
Memory Café next date
The popular memory café is next running Friday 2nd February 2024, 10.30am at the Church Hall off Butts Road. The café was created for anyone who wants some company and a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. Also for carers who look after anyone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s to come along with their loved ones. There is singing and dancing, all very informal and fun. There is no charge to attend.
Recreation Hall, Recreation field and Chapel hire:
The Rec hall off Norris Close, the Rec field in the same location and the Parish Council Chapel offices are all available for hire for events, meetings or parties.
Please contact the Clerk on the details above who can advise of charges, availability and what space would suit your needs.
The council also has 2 marques that can be hired for £100 per 24 hr period per marque. Contact the Clerk for more details.
A reminder that the Parish has 5 defibrillators – one outside Cameo Hairdressers on High Street, on, , one outside the Calley Arms pub in Hodson e outside the Pavilion on the Recreation Field, one outside the Calley Memorial Hall on Draycott Road and one in the BT Box in Badbury. All units are accessed by calling 999 to gain the code for the box. You cannot use these defibrillators on someone who doesn’t need it as the machine will not work. It also provides audible instructions on how to use them.
There is also a defibrillator on the outside wall of the school in Ogbourne St George.
CURRENTLY OPEN – From 1st April 2023 – Parish Council Grants and Donations fund & Calley Memorial Hall fund
The Parish Council have an annual fund that we can donate to worthy causes within the Parish. If you are a group, charity or society that believe you could benefit from this fund then please contact the Parish Clerk for further details.
The trustees of the Calley Memorial Hall fund are also able to approve grants and donations to worthy causes within the Parish. (This doesn’t have to be connected to users of the Memorial Hall). Please contact the Parish Clerk in the first instance who can provide you with an application form.
(It should be noted that this fund is not connected to the Parish Council)
Next Parish council meeting
The next Full Council meeting of the Parish Council will be Monday 12th February 2024. This will start at 7.30pm at the Rec Hall off Norris Close. There is a public recess at the start of proceedings, after which residents can choose to leave the session. Meeting locations may change so please verify the location before making a journey. Our committee meetings will now meet in the Chapel Office on Butts Road.
Ward Cllrs surgeries.
Your Chiseldon and Lawn Ward Cllrs will be holding a monthly surgery on the first Saturday of the month at the Old Chapel office on Butts Road 11.30 to 12.30.
The next session is Sat 6th Jan. Please pop along and have a chat with them.