Minutes of the Full Parish Council Meeting
Held Monday 7th September 2026 at 6.30pm
Venue: Waterside Youth Club, High Street, Fovant
Present: Councillor David Horne, Chair (DH); Councillor Martin Wallis (MW); Councillor Andrew Cousley (AC); Councillor Tony Phillips (TP); Councillor Henry Coxe (HC) (From 19.10hrs); Councillor Jeremy Cock (JC).
Also in attendance: Mrs Julie Wallis, Parish Clerk, and 5 members of the public.
94:26 Public Forum:
No speakers identified.
95.26 Apologies for Absence
Cllr. Roberts Barr and Cllr. Nabil Najjar
96.26 Noting of Absence
No absences were noted.
97.26 Declarations of Interest and Consideration of Dispensations
Cllr. Wallis declared an interest in Item 105.26.
98.26 Approval of Minutes of the Meeting Held on 20th July 2026.
The minutes of the meeting held on 20th July 2026 were unanimously approved.
Outcome: Minutes signed by the chair of the meeting and the Clerk will enter the minutes into the record.
99.26 Clerks Report.
- The Clerk informed the meeting that a letter had been received from a parent of a child who had been to use the playground and was highlighting the level of Pidgeon excrement on the swings. A visual inspection was undertaken, and immediate remedial action was taken with the swings being jet washed and anti-Pidgeon measures put in place to stop the issues.
- A resident contacted the Clerk as a neighbour was lighting bonfires whilst there was a national advisory against it at the moment, advice was taken and the resident informed as there is only an advisory not a ban all they can do is call the fire brigade if the bonfire gets out of control. Clerk sent advice out to residents via the push mail on the website and on Facebook reiterating the national advisory.
- Councillors were reminded of the AWARE training on the 30th of September in the Village Hall.
- Clinical Governance review, the Clerk has been sent a set of questions which were posed to Councillors, the answers will be relayed back before the end of the consultation on the 1st of October 2026.
- Feedback from Town and Clerks meeting:
- Wiltshire Council informed Parishes that the current winter resilience funding from the Council is being withdrawn and so if the Council wishes to continue to issue residents with sandbags etc in inclement weather, this will need to be funded from Precept.
- Public Protection Orders, Clerk discussed their potential use for the Children’s play areas.
100.26 Chairman’s Introduction
The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed those present.
101.26 Statement from Wiltshire Councillor Nabil Najjar
Councillor Nabil Najjar was not available for the meeting, so no statement heard.
102.26 Governance:
- The Council considered the proposed adoption of the biodiversity policy,
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for adoption a safeguarding policy.
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for adoption a dignity at work policy.
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for adoption a Disciplinary and grievance policy.
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for adoption the Parish Councils 2026 risk assessment.
Outcome: Resolved, The Risk assessment was approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for review the Co-option policy.
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was re-approved unanimously for adoption.
- To consider for review the Scheme of Planning policy.
Outcome: Resolved, the policy was re-approved unanimously for adoption.
103.26 Planning Matters Requiring Consideration:
- PL/2026/03695 – Glendower, Dinton Road, Fovant, SP3 5JW: A revision of a Householder planning permission to replace the roof with a steeper pitch brought out to the gables, to provide two bedrooms and a bathroom at first-floor level.
Outcome: Resolved: unanimously agreed to add “no objection with conditions” to the planning portal. Clerk will write an accompanying letter explaining the rationale and send it for approval by email with responses by 10.09.2026.
104.26 Financial Matters for Approval
The Council considered, accepted, and approved the Clerk’s report for payments and receipts for July and August 2026.
Outcome: Resolved by unanimous vote.
Additional payments were approved for:
- Groundskeeping for £160 for grass mowing on 08.07.2026 and a further £100.00 on the 04.08.2026 and a further £160.00 for additional work on the 31.08.2026.
- A payment of £43.32 on 24.07.2026 for office supplies.
- A payment of £210.00 on the 04.08.2026 for the external audit.
- A payment for £1.48 for the Clerks telephone.
- A payment of £14.99 for Pidgeon bars for the swings at the playground.
Receipts received:
- £1032.62 refund of VAT for quarter one received on the 08.07.2026.
- A bank interest receipt of £3.56 received on the 3107.2026.
- A Receipt of the grant awarded by TNL community fund of £19,348.00 on the 31.08.2026 for the refurbishment of the playground.
Outcome: Resolved with a unanimous vote.
The end-of-month reconciliation for July and August 2026, already signed by Councillor Henry Cox, were unanimously accepted by the meeting.
Outcome: Resolved.
The Clerk presented the outcomes of the completed limited assurance review, which found that the Council was running in line with proper practices with no items found giving cause for concern. There was some learning however due to a clerical error on the Notice of public rights however this was a pure dating issue and did not affect the public rights to access documents.
Outcome: Resolved.
The Council noted the end-of-August financial position for Fovant Parish Council of £41,515.99.
105.26 Financial Matters for Consideration, Noting and Approval
Grant applications:
- PCC for £500.00. no representative present, so not heard.
Outcome: Unresolved to be invited to next meeting.
- The Badges Fete for £500. Spoken for by Mrs. E. Coxe, who gave an overview of spend and what the request was for.
Outcome: Resolved. Unanimous decision to award the £500 in April of 2027 but to be kept in the Parish Councils reserve until such time as the next fete is held.
- Fovant Youth Club for £500, spoken for by Mr. Clive who informed the meeting that the Youth Club are looking to start a Youth Café which will be hosted by a youth worker paid for by the grant.
Outcome: Resolved Unanimous decision to award £500 to be paid in April 2027.
- Fovant Village Hall for £345/£479. no representative present, so not heard.
Outcome: Unresolved to be invited to next meeting.
- Purchase of a sim card for use by the Clerk. (Cllr. DH).
Outcome: Resolved, unanimously agreed the purchase and on-going costs.
106.26 Other Matters Requiring Noting and Consideration:
- Resident request for a skate park:
A younger resident gave a presentation on behalf of the younger residents about the potential for a skate park in village.
Outcome: Unresolved, Councillors unanimously agreed to have this as an agenda item for the next meeting and discuss the proposal further, Cllrs JC and MW agreed that they will lead on this item
- The Freight action plan Consultation briefing note (DH)
Cllr. Horne gave an overview of the briefing note and informed councillors that they can put their thoughts forward regarding large vehicles routed through the village.
Outcome: Resolved.
- The delaminated road surface in the High Street (TP)
Cllr. Phillips voiced his concern regarding the condition of the road outside the Waterside, Cllr. Phillips will raise a My wilts report.
Outcome: Resolved, Mywilts report to be raised by TP.
- Roadside hedges (MW)
Cllr. Wallis remarked on the level of growth in some roadside hedges and now that we are in September these should be being cut back by residents. Clerk will source the Wiltshire Council first letter and make available for sending for overgrown hedges.
Outcome: Resolved, Clerk to source hedges letter for use.
To note update on progress.
- Update on Highways (MW)
Cllr. Wallis updated the meeting that the issues with the placement of bollards outside the waterside and the village hall were now resolved and waiting on placement dates.
The A30 buildout had been delayed by a proposed redesign, and he was waiting on the highways engineer to inform him of the potential changes.
He also informed the meeting that he was currently liaising with the Police regarding a potential for ANPR in the village, the movement of straw lorries in the village and he has liaised and is hopeful that a police officer will be coming to the village with the speed gun during busy periods.
Outcome: Unresolved, to remain on agenda with Cllr. Wallis giving updates.
- Additional road signage (TP)
Cllr. Phillips raised concerns about large vehicles doing u turns at the triangle on the A30, this will be looked into at the same time as the above agenda item.
Outcome: Resolved, to be raised as part of the redesign.
- To note update on the Playground and the National Lottery bid (HC and Clerk)
Clerk informed the meeting that the bid had been successful and that full funding had been received to cover the agreed quotation from Wicksteed. She has a meeting with their representative this week to clarify what safe play areas will be replaced and is hopeful that we will be able to afford a new roundabout with the funding generously gifted from the Badges Fete.
Outcome: Unresolved, to remain as an update on the agenda until refurbishment is complete.
- Greater Good Pub as an Asset of Community Value: (MW)
Councillor Martin Wallis reported that there was no update yet.
Outcome: Unresolved, Councillor Wallis will investigate the matter further and report back to the meeting.
- Footpath 20: (TP)
Councillor Phillips reported that letters had been sent and we awaited an outcome from the minister involved.
Outcome: Unresolved, Deferred to next meeting.
- To consider urgent need for safety related repairs to FP 6 (TP)
No work has yet taken place, clerk to chase an outcome.
Outcome: unresolved, Clerk to chase when fix will take place.
- To consider how to improve community responsibility to the brook (TP/JC)
Cllr. JC told the meeting that he hoped to be able use a “river garden edge guide” from a contact in Wessex Rivers Trust and he will update at the next meeting.
Outcome: unresolved, Cllr. JC to update at next meeting.
- Speed Indicator Device: ( DH)
Councillor Horne informed the meeting that a laptop has been received.
Outcome: Resolved, Future meetings will be updated with the outcomes of the downloads.
- SID on the High Street: (MW)
Councillor Wallis updated the meeting that a letter has been drafted which was circulated to the meeting.
Outcome: Resolved, Unanimous decision to use the letter which will be sent this week.
- Letter from Green Drove resident: (HC)
Following receipt of a communication from rights of way team the Drove has been found to be up to bridleway standard.
Outcome: Resolved , Clerk to draft a letter to the resident and with Cllr. Coxes’ approval then send.
107.26 Items for Next Meeting
Budgets for 2027/2028
108.26 Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Monday 19th October 2026 at 6.30pm.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:50