CHISELDON PARISH COUNCIL REPORT
Points of interest from June 2023
The Old Chapel, Butts Road, Chiseldon SN4 0NW
Facebook page – Chiseldon Parish Council Notices
email: clerk@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk; telephone: 01793 740744
Solar Lights at Strouds Hill
The 2 solar lights have now been installed after a long wait (just in time for summer evenings!) but hopefully as we then move forward into the darker months, they will come into their own.
Internal Audit
Last week our bi-annual internal audit by Sansum and Co. was completed, which included their assurance to the external auditor PKF Littlejohn that our accounting and governance practices are in good order.
You can contact the office using the details above if you have any questions, the public rights for inspecting the accounts and the Governance and Accounting Statements will be released in due course on our website.
Youth provision QR code
We’d love to hear from young people in the parish on what types of activities and clubs they’d like to see. If you know of anyone who wants to complete this short 5 question survey ask them to scan this QR code. (or you can do it for them) This is part of the larger project we are working on with BEST to provide some summer youth provision.
Graveyard Audit update
Our audit by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management resulted in 47 graves being identified as unsafe. Where possible we are trying to contact these grave owners by letter to advise them of the situation. Often grave owners do not update us with their details when they move house so we are unable to contact them. If you visit our cemeteries and find a stone with a sign and stabilising post on it, please contact us so we can advise and assist you, as we appreciate this can be a sensitive topic for some to deal with.
Marquee funds to Air Ambulance.
We will shortly be donating £320.00 to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance fund which was raised from the hiring of our 2 marquees.
Current Projects in progress/under investigation/for consideration. Update from May edition.
Solar light at Strouds Hill carpark approved. Awaiting confirmation from SBC on specific locations before ordering. Pending further assistance from SBC. Lights have been ordered and SBC have approved the locations – install to follow shortly. The lights were installed on 26th May.
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.
Hodson Road re-surfacing is scheduled shortly. 1st July currently advised as the start date. The road will be closed and diversions in place.
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.
The council has also approved hedge cutting on a section of hedge on New Road near the roundabout.
Annual asset register approval.
Our register of council assets was approved for the year ending 31.3.23 and will be published on our website shortly.
Monthly Ward and Parish Cllr surgeries
The council will shortly be setting up a rota so that a Parish Cllr can attend the Ward Cllr surgeries which are held on the first Saturday of each month. Dates will be published on our website when confirmed.
Layby works for Draycot Foliat and Windmill Piece.
Due to an issue with the contractor, the Parish Council are having to go out to tender again to start the process of getting approval to create 2 new layby parking areas.
We will look to approve the tender process in March’s planning meeting and hopefully approve a contractor in April or May.
The tender was approved at the March meeting and are now published and we invite tenders.
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”.
Church Fete, Church Car park, off Butts Road.
Come and see us on Sat 24th June from 1-4pm at our Stocks Stall. One “lucky” volunteer will be in the stocks, or you can nominate your own “volunteer”. If it’s a hot day, people usually fight over the right to stand in them!
Memory Café next date
The popular memory café is next running Friday 7th July 2023 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.
Defibrillators – a reminder
A reminder that the Parish has 4 defibrillators – one outside Cameo Hairdressers on High Street, one 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.
Next submission date 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 10th July 2023. 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.