Parish Council meeting mintues (November 2025).
Present: Councillors Tom Thornton TT, Sarah Dorrington SD, David Williams DW, Brendan Smith BS, Lorna Platt LP and Chris Brayne CB
In attendance: Karungi Grant KG, Clerk & RFO
Standing Orders are suspended to allow for public participation
Public Participation
None
Standing Orders are reinstated following public participation
Report from Unitary Councillor
None
126. Acceptance of apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Councillor Jon Neville JN.
Absent: Cllrs Simon Howe SH and Nicola Carpenter NC.
127. Dispensations
None
128. Declarations of interests
None
129. Exclusion of the Press and Public
No items that the Press and Public would need to be excluded, on the agenda
130. Minutes of the meeting held on 13st October 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.
131. Matters Arising from previous minutes and Chair’s announcements
· Codford Green Corridor – The Clerk reported that no further responses had been received to the call for volunteers or ideas. Cllr Brayne reportted that he had prepared a map trail which could be utilised.
· Cllr Thornton reported that attempts to contact the resident observed depositing household waste in the layby bin on Salisbury Road had been unsuccessful. It was suggested that a temporary sign be placed on the bin, and that the Parish Steward be asked to clear vegetation around the existing WC sign. The Clerk will follow up with Wiltshire Police regarding their offer of ASB signage.
132. Casual Vacancy – Codford Parish Council
Following the statutory notice of vacancy published on Friday 29 August 2025, no requests were received to hold an election. The Parish Council received one application from Ms Lorna Platt, who attended the meeting. The Council resolved unanimously to co-opt her as a new councillor. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office was duly signed and witnessed by the Clerk
133. Approval and signing of reconciliation of Parish Accounts for the month of October 2025
Internal Audit Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003 reg 2
Council approved the accounts for October 2025. Bank reconciliation was not ready, deferred. Clerk reported that the Lloyds Bank balance as of the 19th November 2025 is £26,407.57
133.1. Payments
LGA 1972 s150 (5)
Council reviewed and approved the items of expenditure listed below:
PLAY SAFETY LTD (ROSPA) £201.60
WAR MEMORIALS TRUST GRANT £50
ELECTIONS £400
OCTOBER WAGE £663.43
IDVERDE LIMITED £7.80
SERVICE CHARGES £4.25
MICROSOFT SUBS £ 138.24
HMRC £210.64
133.2. Receipts: To note receipt of income
COMMUNITY FUND GRANT £ 14200
134. 9. Scribe Accounts
Parish Council approved the proposal from RFO to subscribe for Scribe Accounts Software. It offers an intuitive, cloud-based alternative that is purpose-built for parish councils. It will enable streamlined financial management, audit readiness, and real-time visibility for councillors and the RFOs. And will significantly reduce the time and effort spent on key financial tasks such as VAT claims, budget preparation, and year-end reporting.
135. Plans for Next Year
All members received a copy of the past year’s expenditure and were invited to put forward proposals for the coming year. All grant requests received (138. Grants) were reviewed and incorporated into the budget.
· £400 previously spent on elections will be replenished by allocating £100 annually back into the election reserve.
· £1,500 for Village Hall maintenance was approved, with members noting the expectation that the Village Hall Committee should continue to explore additional fundraising opportunities.
· A new payment for Scribe of £249, plus £31 per month, was agreed.
The total budget currently stands at £21,795.
136. Policy Review
Parish Council resolved to approve the following policies and documents.
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
137. Planning application consultation
(Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015
Application No: PL/2025/08746
Proposal: Ash tree - reduce crown by 50% and reduce height by 50%
SITE ADDRESS: 7 WOOL HOUSE GARDENS, CODFORD, WARMINSTER, BA12 0PS
No objection
Application No: PL/2025/08973
Proposal: Change of use of agricultural barns Units 5, 6 & 7 to B2 Workshop (part-retrospective)
SITE ADDRESS: East Farm, Chitterne Road, Codford, Warminster, BA12 0PG
No objection
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.
138. Speeding New Road
Parish council noted concerns made by a resident.
137. Parish Steward.
The Clerk reported that the Parish Steward was unavailable on the scheduled days due to training commitments. He will visit later in the week with the tractor to cut back the overgrown hedge near the Grove bus stop.
Jobs for September:
1. Clearing leaves and unblocking drains.
2. Removing vegetation from the sign in the Salisbury Road layby.
Cllr Thorton confirmed that he had cleared the grips on Green Lane and New Road.
138. Grants
1. Codford St Peters PCC – A funding request of £900 towards churchyard maintenance was approved.
2. South Western Ambulance Charity – A request to support the purchase of a volunteer vehicle was considered and parish council agreed to contribute £50.
3. Village Hall – Funding for annual maintenance (£1,500) and the capital fund (£6,000) was approved.
4. Resident Suggestion (SIDs on New Road) – A proposal to apply for funds from the Fireworks Group to support deployment of Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) was discussed. Cllr Dorrington reported the Fireworks group may fund a SID for New Road at a cost of £3,500. The Clerk confirmed a metro count request has been submitted for New Road, and was asked to submit an additional request for the High Street.
5. SSE Community Investment Grant – The Clerk reported that the application for £2,812 was successful. Funds will be used to equip the Village Hall, now registered as an Emergency Hub, with essential emergency equipment.
139. Proposed measures to improve ASB in Codford
Clerk reported that had met with the local PCSO and discussed a range of measures to help prevent further instances of anti-social behaviour (ASB), these include:
· Encouraging youth participation in physical activity through badminton/tennis sessions, supported by a WhatsApp group to share reminders.
· Exploring funding for CCTV surveillance at Codford Primary/After School Club.
· Exploring funding for CCTV surveillance at Cherry Orchard and the High Street.
· Regular reminders in the local newsletter and social media encouraging residents to report incidents to the police.
140. New Playground structure
The Clerk reported that installation of the new recreation climbing track, funded by the Community Lottery Fund, is currently underway.
141. Village Hall
The Clerk reported that Cllr Carpenter has resigned from the Village Hall Committee. As the Clerk is also a member of the Committee, they will assume the role of Parish Council representative until a new appointment is made.
142. Emails sent to Councillors
National Highways: A36 resurfacing (15/10/2025)
Community First Responder Appeal (21/10/25)
Briefing Note 25-08: Gypsies and Travellers DPD – Update and Call for Sites (21/10/25)
WALC - October 2025 Newsletter (23/10/25)
ASB signage location and more (23/10/25)
WMT Thank You (23/10/25)
Request for funding from PC for St Peter’s church (28/20/25)
A36 – Resurfacing (28/10/25)
Speeding New Road (28/10/25)
Road Safety Update: Warminster Area Board (01/11/25)
Can you share an online survey so local NHS can improve services for people wanting to manage their weight? (08/11/25)
Scribe Quote and further information (19/11/25)
143. Meetings
1. LHFIG meeting on the 26th November. Cllrs Williams and Dorrington to attend.
2. Town and parish clerks meeting 18th December
144. Notice of items to be taken into consideration at the next meeting.
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 need 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)
145. 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.