Codford Parish Council meeting minutes (13th October) - Draft
Present: Councillors Tom Thornton TT, Sarah Dorrington SD, David Williams DW, Simon Howe SH and Brendan Smith BS
In attendance: Karungi Grant KG, Clerk & RFO
Standing Orders were suspended to allow for public participation
Public Participation - 11 attendees
1. Customer & Community Advisor for Scottish & Southern Electric Networks
Delivered a brief presentation outlining her role in supporting community resilience. She works closely with vulnerable individuals, assisting them in registering for the Priority Services Register - a vital, free service offering essential support during power outages. It was suggested that she be invited to return for a future session at the Thursday Café. Clerk to follow up on the invitation.
2. Planning Director, Lone Wolf Planning ltd
Led the discussion regarding Planning Application PL/2025/06870, responding to questions from both the Parish Council and attending residents. Cllr Howe proposed that the Parish Council uphold its previously submitted objection. The motion was seconded by Cllr Dorrington and unanimously approved.
Standing Orders were reinstated following public participation
Report from Unitary Councillor: None
106. Acceptance of apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Councillors Cllr David Williams DW, Nicola Carpenter NC, Jon Neville JN, and Chris Brayne CB.
107. Dispensations: None
108. To receive declarations of interests: None
109. Exclusion of the Press and Public: No items that the Press and Public would need to be excluded, on the agenda
110. Minutes of the meeting held on 1st September 2025 (Previously circulated) LGA 1972 Sch 12 para 41(1)
Parish Council approved the minutes were a true record of the meetings decisions and were signed by the chairman.
111. Matters Arising from previous minutes and Chair’s announcements
· Codford Green Corridor – Cllr Dorrington issued a call for volunteers. The Clerk reported that two people have expressed interest. Clerk to follow up accordingly.
· ANPR Fundraiser Campaign – Cllr Brayne drafted and circulated the letter to surrounding villages for PC to approve. (further discussed under 119)
· Cllr Thornton has addressed the issue with the damaged waste bin on Giggan Street.
112. Casual Vacancy – Codford Parish Council: A statutory notice of vacancy was published on Friday 29 August 2025 and displayed on the Wiltshire Council website and notice boards around the village. No requests were received to hold an election for the Councillor vacancy, as advertised. Parish Council can now proceed with the co-option of new Councillors
113. Approval and signing of reconciliation of Parish Accounts for the month of September 2025: Internal Audit Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003 reg 2. Council approved the accounts for September 2025. Bank reconciliations were checked and signed by Cllr S Dorrington. Clerk reported that the Lloyds Bank balance as of the 30th September 2025 is £13,883.53
113.1. Payments
LGA 1972 s150 (5)
Council reviewed and approved the items of expenditure listed below:
BANK SERVICE CHARGES £4.25
COMMUNITY WEBSITE £9.98
COMMUNITY WEBSITE £9.98
COMMUNITY WEBSITE £19.20
COMMUNITY WEBSITE £172.80
IDVERDE LIMITED £7.80
IDVERDE LIMITED £7.80
CODFORD VILLAGE HALL GRANT 2 £3000
SEPTEMBER WAGE £612.45
SERVICE CHARGES £4.25
113.2. Receipts: To note receipt of income
PRECEPT 2 £10,347.60.
114. Policy Review
Parish Council resolved to approved revisions to the following policies and documents at the meeting in November after councillors have had a chance to review them.
1. Communication and Consultation Policy
2. Complaints Procedure
3. Data Register
4. Media Policy
5. Member/Officer Protocol
6. PC Email Database
7. Sickness-Absence Policy
8. Council Structure (to amend/approve)
9. Freedom of Information Publication Scheme
10. Code of Conduct
114. Planning application consultation
(Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015
Application No: PL/2025/06870
Proposal: Hybrid planning application consisting of:
(i) Outline planning application for the erection of up to 6 dwellings.
(ii) Full planning application for the change of use of garden land to BNG land
SITE ADDRESS: Willow Farm, 9 New Road, Codford, Warminster, BA12 0NR
Objection: Codford Parish Council objects to the hybrid application (outline for up to 6 dwellings; full change of use to BNG land). The planning balance in a nationally protected landscape remains negative due to:
(1) the location outside the defined settlement boundary for Codford in the adopted development plan (Housing Site Allocations/Policies Map), contrary to the spatial strategy for directing growth;
(2) unsafe and unsustainable pedestrian environment and multiple new private accesses onto New Road;
(3) the in principle risks of the proposed foul drainage solution in combination with local hydrology and designated sites, notwithstanding the applicant’s neutrality calculation;
(4) reliance on offsite BNG to counter significant onsite habitat losses, which does not mitigate settlement edge and character impacts;
(5) likely landscape harm within the AONB;
(6) unresolved concerns about surface water management adjacent to Chitterne Brook; and
(7) the degree of tree and hedgerow loss adversely affecting local character. These concerns conflict with the Wiltshire Core Strategy (including spatial policies for settlement boundaries and CP50/CP51/CP52/CP57/CP60/CP61/CP67/CP56) and relevant NPPF paragraphs.
(Detailed Reasons for Objection are included in the comments on the Wiltshire Council website)
Please note that in planning matters the parish council acts as the consultee of the Principal Authority. The principal authority being the deciding body, parishioners can make their comments directly to the authority.
116. LHFIG meeting – 23rd September
Clerk reported that she had attended the meeting in the absence of the representative councillors. Updated Parish council on the following:
· 17-24-08 Codford Salisbury Road New Street lighting - Resident on High Street requested street light as it is very dark and the nearby layby where HGV’s park overnight is of concern. Nearest Street Light is 50Yds+ away - to be looked at when officer time allows – Street Lighting guidance required. Ongoing
· 17-24-09 Codford Salisbury Road Speeding issues - Resident requests speed bumps to slow down speeding traffic (PC do not support Speed bumps) PC would like other measures to be looked at. Site meeting undertaken with SD/KG/DW to discuss options. Parish Council has ordered metro count to provide evidence of speeding prior to any designs undertaken. PC to share results with the team to move this forward. On going
· 17-24-17 Codford Green Lane waiting restrictions - Parking issues in Codford near The Corner House, Junction of High Street/Green Lane. Site meeting undertaken and PC advised to produce a list of additional sites to be assessed. TRO’s are costly so full list required in order to pursue. List provided below; 17-24-38.
· 17-24-26 Codford Chitterne Road - Request for change in speed limit from 60mph to 40mph, introduce physical traffic calming measures and 20mph speed limit. Site visit was proposed and discussion at the next meeting.
· 17-24-38 Codford area Waiting restrictions - List provided of potential Waiting restriction sites to be assessed. Site visit to be scheduled.
1. Green Lane, Corner House
2. High Street to Cherry Orchard
3. Woolstore Gardens to High Street
4. New Road service station onto High Street#
117. Parish Steward: Clerk reported that the Parish Steward had done the pot holes on Chitterne road and Green lane. He also sprayed the weeds from Salisbury road, the High Street to the Old A36.
Jobs for September: Clerk to request the road sweeper to attend on the days the Parish Steward is scheduled to be in Codford. To clear leaves and unblock drains.
118. Grant application
Parish Council agreed to make a donation of £50 to the War Memorial Trust to support its ongoing mission of protecting and maintaining war memorials.
119. ANPR at Codford Village Garage
Parish Council considered launching a collaborative fundraising campaign involving surrounding villages to foster shared responsibility for the camera. However, further communication from the police indicated that:
(1) the police cannot fund or directly procure the system on behalf of the parish.
(2) the system would be owned and governed by the Parish Council rather than police
(3) if installed lawfully, police can use the data for investigations.
(4) as data controller, the parish council would be responsible for oversight, compliance, and costs of ongoing maintenance (not the police)
(5) aside from the £8k installation costs, there would be some ongoing costs including (licensing, servicing, storage).
Cllr Smith offered to look into alternative options and would present this to Parish Council in due course.
120. Improvements to Codford Recreation Ground
The Clerk reported that the application for £14,200 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund has been successful. The grant will be used to support the development of a recreational climbing track.
121. Funding opportunity for Wiltshire community groups
In response to the invitation for community groups to apply for funding to host events promoting tree planting and woodland restoration, with eligible costs including venue hire, refreshments, printed materials, and staff time, the Parish Council has asked the Clerk to follow up with the aim of securing funding for the proposed green corridor initiative.
122. Village Hall: Cllr Carpenter was not available for an update.
123. Emails sent to Councillors
- From Guesswork to Game Plan: Free planning policy and development training for parish clerks and councillors (01/09/25)
- Evening information event about new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre - Sep 11, 6.30pm Trowbridge (01/09/25)
- Planning Application PL/2025/6870 Willow Farm, 9 New Road, Codford, Warminster, BA12 0NR (08/09/25)
- Housing application on new road (23/09/25)
- Councillor Vacancy - Codford Parish Council (23/09/25)
- Briefing Note 25-07: New bus stop infrastructure funding and emerging process for requests (03/10/2025)
- PL/2025/06539 Codford Parish Council questions (03/10/25)
124. Meetings
1. Warminster Area Board - 9 October 2025 - Partner and Parish Updates
2. Wiltshire Neighbourhood Watch Association AGM - Saturday 18th October 2025
125. Notice of items to be taken into consideration at the next meeting.
· Cllr Thornton to follow up with a resident observed depositing household waste in the layby bin on Salisbury Road, to advise that this is not appropriate use of the facility. On going.
If Councillors have been approached by parishioners with an issue/item for Council to investigate, please can Councillors send it to the Clerk within 6 clear days of the next meeting. If Councillors wish motions to be included on the next Agenda, they ed to be sent to the Clerk before the 29th April 2025 as per Standing Orders. (Standing Orders 9. Motions for a meeting that require written notice to be given to the Proper Officer)
125. Date of the next meeting – 24th November
Proposed meeting dates for 2026: 5th January 2026, 16th February, 30th March, 5th May, 15th June, 27th July, 7th September, 19th October and 30th November
Council is asked to note that in the exercise of their functions they must take note of the following: Equal opportunities (race, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, and any disability); Crime and Disorder, Health and Safety and Human Rights. Any person who may find difficulty in access to the meeting through disability is asked to advise the Clerk01985 850523 email clerk@codfordpc.org.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting so that every effort may be made to provide access
Standing Orders; Parish Council will exercise the right to exclude the public and press by resolution from a closed meeting due to the confidential matters to be discussed.