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Monkton Farleigh Parish Council > Documents > Minutes > Parish Council Minutes – 7th May 2025

Parish Council Minutes – 7th May 2025

Minutes Uploaded on June 3, 2025

MFPC MInutes 7th May 2025

Monkton Farleigh Parish Council

Minutes

 Wednesday 7th May 2025

Present from the Parish Council: Frances Longmore (Co-Chair), Suzanne Stansfield (Co-Chair), Tom Firbank, Pauline Adams, Suzanne Stansfield, Elliot McBryde, Liz Watts and Jane Ghali (Clerk)

Other: Richard Mead

  1. Apologies for Absence – Andrew Tucker, there were no Declarations of Interest
  2. Items from the public – Richard Mead mentioned the Monkton Farleigh village sign was in a poor state of repair. The Clerk had put this on the Parish Steward’s work sheet last month. Clerk to follow up with Parish Steward and Dean Baker at Western Highways, Wiltshire Council. Action JG
  3. Minutes of Meeting 2nd April 2025 – agreed and signed
  4. Matters Arising
  5. Phone box – it was agreed that PA would contact the village to see what they would like to use the phone box for. The Clerk mentioned that an Ikea bookcase fits into phone boxes, this could be purchased second hand and fixed in place. Action PA

Defibrillator training – the Clerk has been in touch with someone who could provide defibrillator training for the village. Suggested date Monday 9th June. Clerk to arrange and see if VH is free. Action JG

Lights at Restore – it was reported that the outside lights have been dimmed at Restore, so that they no longer shine in driver’s eyes when coming up from the Blackberries road.

Litter notice – has been put up in the Farleigh Rise layby. Thanks to Tom Firbank.

Playground maintenance – No quote received from Neil Evans for painting equipment at Farleigh Rise (FR). Clerk contacted Wicksteed as they possibly installed original equipment at FR. Awaiting response. HAGS also came out to give a quote. Clerk to chase. Action JG

Playground transfer and speed signs – on agenda see items 8. and 11.

Due to the length of the meeting with the AGM, it was decided to leave the updates on the following until the next meeting:

JG – Website guidelines, policies and standing orders, gov.uk addresses for PC, computer issues, anti-graffiti paint, bark for climbing frame at FR

AT – Salt bins/football goals/climbing frame edge maintenance in FR

TF – Reproof back of noticeboard at FW

  1. Report from Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) – not present
  2. Update from Tree Warden – not present
  3. Planning Application: Application No: PL/2025/03681

Application Type: Householder planning permission

Proposal: Erection of single storey flat roofed parapet designed portico following demolition of existing front entrance pitched roof portico, and associated works.

Site Address: Inwoods, 3 Farleigh Wick, Bradford on Avon, BA15 2PU

This application was agreed. Clerk to add PC comment to planning application portal. Action JG

  • Playground land at Farleigh Rise and Broadstones – FL, LW and JG met with Craig Campbell (Streetscene Area Manager) and Fiona Waind (Streetscene Engineer) from Wiltshire Council (WC) on 10th April to go through outstanding items on the playground transfers. Thanks to the WC officers, who continue to be helpful and responsive. The PC have seen the actions from this meeting, to update:
  • The gate timing has been adjusted at Farleigh Rise (FR)
  • The roundabout has been mended at Broadstones (BS)
  • Part of the high-risk fence has been re-fenced at FR, another section is still to be completed. The owners of the house have been contacted, but WC received no reply.
  • WC have agreed to send through weekly inspections to FL. FL has booked a RoSPA inspection which is likely to be in the early autumn. Need to recruit volunteers to do low level weekly checks at both play areas. Need to look at insurance, so no liability will be with the volunteers and how checks will be done and recorded. PC previously had checklist from RoSPA. Clerk to find check list, investigate how volunteers will record findings (maybe using Forms and photos where necessary), find an online training video and contact insurers (Clear and Zurich). Action JG
  • WC have provided information on signs – need to start drafting so that they are ready to go. Action JG/FL/SS
  • WC have relocated the bins outside of the pay areas and they will continue to be emptied by WC
  • WC are hoping to provide an inventory of equipment for of future keeping (who provided play equipment and when).
  • The PC will need to look at grants and fundraising to pay for new equipment.
  1. Finances and budget – the Clerk presented the accounts for April 25. Half of the precept has been paid by Wiltshire Council (WC), the second half will be paid in September. £4,250 has been paid to WC for the speed signs. On 30 April 2025 there was £7,157.86 in the current account and £2,563.21 in the savings account. The budget will be discussed at the next meeting, having previously been discussed and agreed at the meeting on 8th January 2025. Clerk to prepare an updated budget and to send off for VAT rebate. Action JG
  2. Speed signs/road markings/crossing A363 for school & buses
  • All speed signs have been checked by Kirsty Rose (Principal Engineer Manager, Traffic Engineering Team) from WC and are correct and legal. Some road markings are still to be completed.
  • Andy Weston (from Restore) has spoken to staff about new speed limits, thanks to Andy Weston for his help.
  • Some feedback about continued speeding. The PC might ask the PCSO about speed checks once the road markings are in place.
  • Kirsty Rose (KR) also met with residents who are concerned about crossing the A363 at Farleigh Wick (TF and LW also attended). She said a review of this part of the road could be included in the review that is being done out from Bradford of Avon towards Cumberwell. This review could ‘piggyback’ on this at a much-reduced cost of £500, MFPC would be asked to contribute 50%. It was agreed that the PC would contribute £250 to have the review extended to Farleigh Wick. The review will also look at where the buses pull over. Kirsty Rose is looking to see if she can get money from the bus route improvement scheme fund. KR will see if this is all allocated and if not, she will try and get some to put in proper infrastructure at both Farleigh Wick and Pickney Green for the bus stops.

There was also discussion about the A363 junction and concerns about safety due to speeding (both for pedestrians crossing over to the bus stop and cars pulling out from the junction). Agreed that it was worth checking if KR can include this in the review.

  • It was suggested that the Clerk should approach Bathford PC about the bollards on the A363 from Dry Arch towards the footpath which goes up to Brown’s Folly, as they are in BANES and appear to have been knocked over, leaving pedestrians vulnerable to oncoming traffic. Action JG
  1. Footpaths – the footpaths have been sprayed on Cumberwell’s land to make it clearer for walkers.

One of the stiles, which goes through a garden in Farleigh Wick needs repairing. TF will contact the owner about this. Action TF

The stile is broken at the end of Jubilee Avenue. Clerk to find contact for Cotswold Wardens and to ask AT who’s stile it is. Action JG

Some residents would still like a gate rather than a stile to give them access to the back of the church, elderly residents find it particularly hard to navigate the stile. When the stile was in need of repair in April 2024, the PC had approached the landowner to ask permission to change the stile to a gate, but this was not granted. The Cotswold Wardens had therefore put a new stile in May 2024. The PC therefore agreed that it wasn’t appropriate to take this matter forward again. Complaints can be made directly to Wiltshire Council and/or the landowner.

  1. Work for the Parish Steward – the Parish Steward does general Council jobs in May and will be back in the village on 17th There are some dangling brambles on the footpath into Broadstones.
  2. Correspondence received – Planning application PL/2025/02321 for a garden room at 67 Monkton Farleigh has been withdrawn.
  3. Parish Matters – Blackberries campsite is up for sale

The PC had a closed session regarding legal matters in relation to the playground and footpaths. Richard Mead left the meeting.

  1. Date of Next Meeting – Wednesday 18th June at 7pm in the Village Hall

Meeting closed at 8.35pm