Apologies:  Cllr. Jane Grant, Cllr. Steve Siddall.

Open Meeting:  Cllr. Martin Moyes introduced Mr. Paul Brown, Mouchel Parkman, who gave an interesting presentation re proposals for improved traffic control, and cycle and pedestrian access, in the village. Changes being considered are:
+ A mini roundabout at the junction of Leigh Road and Ham Green
+Traffic islands between Ham Green and Ground Corner
+ A footpath inside the playing fields hedge
+ Shop/The Courts - narrowing of the road to create parking bays outside and   opposite the shop and an island crossing point by Bridge Terrace
+ The Common/Little Parks - an island crossing point west of the entrance to Little Parks
+ Cycling routes - signs directing cyclists around Hawcroft and The Midlands
+ Creation of a cycle path on Footpath 45 from Station Road to The Courts

Proposals for a cycle path linking Holt with Staverton and the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath are not being considered at present.

Mr. Brown said that, after consultation, the preferred options would be presented to the Parish Council prior to submission to Wiltshire County Council. He was confident that funding would be available and that work could commence in 2007.

Cllr. Bob Mizen considered a pedestrian crossing by the shop to be important - pedestrian safety should take precedence over ease of parking.

Mr. Mike Hawkins expressed concern that the National Trust is not providing parking for the increased number of visitors to the Courts.  Cllr. Martin Moyes informed him that the Parish Council has asked the National Trust to do just that.

Mr. Paul Rai wishes to place bollards outside of the shop to stop ram raiders - he was assured that any alterations would leave sufficient room for bollards to be installed.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Brown for the informative presentation.

Mr. Paul Rai said he wishes to apply for planning permission to install steel shutters and erect bollards outside the shop to prevent burglaries.  He was assured by the Chairman that the Council is very appreciative of the service that he gives to the community and wishes to help him and that, without prejudice, looks forward to discussing his planning application.

Mr. Mike Hawkins expressed concern about parking for the development at the main house at The Elms; an application for a single parking space on the grass verge has been submitted.

Chairman's Annual Report: The Chairman presented the following report:

I am pleased to present my sixth annual report as Chairman of Holt Parish Council.

It has been a busy year.  In my report to the meeting in March 2005, I observed that we were still waiting for the faulty surfacing at the speed gates at the entrances to the Village to be repaired.  This has now been done.  We were also trying to get permission to train Villagers in the use of speed guns.  Subsequently, this permission was refused but with a recent change of official we are having another tilt at the windmill.  Courtesy of terrific work by Holt Playsafe, the new Children's Play Area was nearing completion - and the facility opened last summer.  It is important that the workings of the Parish Council are communicated and scrutinised and Marsha Nicholson has been very effective in this respect as the Village Magazine's political correspondent.  Despite one short period where there were difficulties, Gary Ayland has given excellent service throughout the year as our both our Village Caretaker and in cutting the grass.  We are at last moving towards the preparation of a Parish Plan - on which we hope to consult during the course of the year and which will set out the community's vision for the Village.

Traffic matters included consideration of possible improvements to parking arrangements around Ham Green.  Following prolonged discussion it was decided to leave things as they are for the time being, the list of possible "solutions" having unacceptable, if unintended, consequences.  The traffic committee has been very active.  With the support of our County Councillor, Sarah Content, we plan to use the research carried out by Holt Ahead to establish better cycle and pedestrian routes within and around the Village and to link this work to Holt School's Travel Plan.

We have continued to support the Youth Club from the precept and I represent the Council as a trustee.  The Youth Club continues to be a feather in the cap of the Village - greatly buoyed by the work of its support group of volunteers.  We have canvassed support for the possible building of a skateboard track, with little response to date.  The Holt Sports and Recreation Committee is currently considering making a proposal for a second tennis court.

It is now two years since we instigated a survey of the need for affordable housing in the Village.  We very well supported by Wiltshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA) in carrying out a survey (and a subsequent more detailed investigation) which established that there is a local demand.  The search for a landowner willing to sell land at a price acceptable to WRHA took up much of the year.  An unofficial offer to donate land did not come to anything and no alternative, at the price that WRHA would pay, was forthcoming.  However, in recent months Jephson Housing Association (JHA) has entered the ring and agreed terms with a local landowner.  JHA has agreed to attend an open meeting to explain those plans before applying for planning permission and the ball is now in its court.  No specific proposal has yet been put to the Council and we reserve our position.

Planning matters have included a successful objection to proposals for a workers' dormitory at Beaven's and continuing concerns over alleged residential occupation of the Beaven?s site.  Investigations continue.  We had several months' fun with the alternative spellings of Lions (or Lyon's) Orchard.  As I recall. "Lions" won the day, but most sane people ceased to care some time ago.  We have responded to a critical safety report on the goal posts by ordering new posts which will be installed soon.  On the matter of objections to planning applications, we have won some and lost some and we have asked in future to receive an explanation when our recommendation is not heeded.  We were disappointed that the boundary commission saw fit to group us, for electoral purposes, with an urban area rather than, as was the case, with another rural area.

Over the last year we have, I think, improved our communications with the Village.  The web site is up-and-running and Council minutes are posted within a week or so of each meeting.  We have published a series of articles in the magazine covering such issues as parking on Ham Green, the Parish Council budget, the history of our involvement in the "affordable housing" issue and proposed improvements to traffic, cycleways and walkways.

The Council has addressed a number of other issues during the year.  We have waited all year for the hedge to be replaced along the Bradford Road out of the Village.  Despite repeated promises, at the time of writing we are still waiting.  This is not an issue we will let drop.  Dawes Pond currently benefits from a good flow of water, the blockage at Chalfield Hatch having been cleared last summer - but silting-up remains a problem.  Following several consecutive years of wading in mud, we have now paid to have contractors dredge the pond.  Following our usual annual clean-up, we found success this summer in the Best Kept Village competition, winning the competition for villages of our size in West Wiltshire and coming second in the County as a whole.  Certificates were awarded and good publicity for the Village ensued.  We have commissioned the probation Service to undertake specific "tidying" projects in the Village and directed the work of the Parish Lengthsmen.  Complaints about noise and smell pollution from the Cereal Partners factory at Staverton has resulted in firm promises to invest in corrective measures which are due to come into place during this year.  We will monitor and respond as appropriate.  Following our representations to Southern Electricity about the frequent cuts to supply, the power lines have been upgraded and we wait to see if this
             
has done the trick.  A problem with alleged fly-tipping off The Star has, hopefully, been sorted.  We have expressed our opposition to the proposed closure of the Bradford-on-Avon to Waterloo train service.

The footpath network in the Parish has been walked - and reported on - by councillors.  At the time of writing, a dispute with the owner of Holt Manor over the incorrect re-routing of footpath 8 has not been resolved.  This is another issue that we will not let drop.

Our district councillor, Duncan Hames, and our County Councillor, Sarah Content, between them have attended more Parish Council meetings that they have missed and have given us excellent support - following up on local issues where they feel they can add value.  Our initiative to run monthly police "surgeries" were not supported by the community and have been discontinued.  We have had problems with sustaining meaningful communication with PC Manning.  However, more recently he has found the time to attend a Council meting and we hope and expect a fresh start.  As a Council, we value the support of our community police officer and want the relationship to be a mutually supportive one. We have speakers from Age Concern, Dr Steve Rowlands on behalf of the Primary Care Trust (explaining the reasons for the controversial proposals to reorganise health care in the district) and by a representative of the Jephson Housing Association.

Following the traditional request from the governors, we were eventually able to nominate a leading member of the Village to represent the community on the governing body of the school.  Sadly, the governors refused our nomination, preferring to make their own appointment.  On behalf of the Council, in September I wrote to the Chair of Governors, requesting an explanation.  Hopefully a reply will arrive soon.

I am grateful to Jane Grant as my vice-chairman for chairing meetings on those occasions I couldn?t attend and to our clerk, Jennie Beale for keeping the show on the road.  I should also like to thank our committee chairmen - councillors Rodney Moody, Martin Moyes, David Hogg, and Steve Siddall for their good work on planning, traffic, finance and the maintenance of village facilities - and to the rest of the Council in supporting them. 

Minutes:  The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed.

Matters Arising:  A response is awaited from PC Manning re the high incidence of emergency vehicles through the village and training re speed guns.

Skate board area -  no-one has come forward to take this project further.  Cllr. Steve Siddall had followed up a lead re a mobile skate board park, but installation in Holt was not viable.

Replacement hedge Bradford Road - this has now been planted.

Footpath 8 - this is being pursued by the Enforcement Officer.

Beaven's factory site - residential use of commercial premises - the Enforcement Officer has requested that the Parish Council monitors movements on the site.  Councillors did not consider this to be their job and the Clerk will refer the matter back to the Enforcement Officer.  In May 2005 West Wiltshire District Council contacted Beaven's regarding residential use of the premises and at that time Beaven's acknowledged that someone was living on site; it was agreed that retrospective planning permission would be sought.  This has not happened.

Pond clearance - the work has been completed, but it will take some time for the site to re-establish itself.
Cllr. Steve Siddall has informed the Chairman that contractors working in The Midlands have thrown rubbish into the stream.  The Clerk to follow this up with the contractors.

Ground Maintenance Contract - after further consideration, it was agreed that the playing fields hedge should be cut once a year in the autumn.

The Courts, the Clerk has informed the National Trust that further signage should not be erected until additional parking facilities are available.

Holt Ahead - an application has been submitted Cllr. T. Hopkins West Wiltshire District Council for a Parish Partnership Grant to create a safe cycle route to Staverton.  Staverton Parish Council has committed
£400 of matched funding.

Best Kept Village Competition - entry submitted.

The Midlands/Hawcroft inadequate pavement - this letter has been acknowledged.

Affordable Housing:  A model 106 Agreement has been circulated to councillors.  Cllr. Jane Grant asked the Clerk to draw the Council's attention to the definition of "perpetuity" - in this case it means 80 years.

Rural Affordable Housing Conference:  This will be held on 24th March and Cllr. Jane Grant will attend.

Playing Fields:  Cllr. Rodney Moody confirmed that the existing football pitch is 102 yards and 2 inches long, the minimum permitted length is 100 yards.  He confirmed that there is sufficient room for another tennis court adjacent to the existing one. Cllr. Meg Slade hopes to bring proposals for a further tennis court to the next meeting.

It was agreed that the new football goal posts should be installed where the existing posts are and that consideration should be given to moving them once there are firm proposals for changes to the playing fields.

Children's Play Area - Annual Safety Inspection:   RoSPA charges approximately £90 to carry out a safety inspection of the play equipment, West Wiltshire District Council charges £60 to inspect everything on the site - play equipment, football goal posts, tennis court, etc.  Cllr. Bob Mizen proposed that West Wiltshire District Council  be asked to carry out the safety inspection.  This was seconded by Cllr. Jimmy Gooding.  A vote was taken and all present were in favour.

Correspondence: Cycle barrier, Bradley Lane - Wiltshire County Council has been asked to remove this barrier as it obstructs pushchair access.  After discussion Cllr. Martin Moyes proposed that the barrier should be removed. This was seconded by Cllr. Rodney Moody.  A vote was taken, 5 in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions.

Wiltshire County Council: Locality Young People's Issues Group - Cllr. Jane Grant will attend the meeting on 29th March.  Judy Vincent as Chairman of ASGYPH will also attend.

Boundary Committee for England - proposals now are for a new ward CHALFIELD to include Holt, Broughton Gifford, Atworth and Staverton.  Councillors were in favour of this proposal.

Closure of Bradford-on-Avon Hospital will take place on 1st April.  To mark the event and to consider proposals for the continued use of the hospital site for health and social care a public rally will be held on 27th March.

Recycling - during April and May of this year West Wiltshire District Council will introduce alternate weekly collections of recycling and non-recyclable rubbish.  Black boxes and green bins will be collected every other week and non-recyclable rubbish in the alternate weeks.

Caretaker's Report:  A detailed report has been submitted by Garry Aland.  Garry to be asked to clear the leaves from the green opposite the Ham Tree.

Accounts:  The following accounts were approved for payment:
Edwards Sports Products Ltd/
Goal posts& Nets    £569.88 (VAT£84.88)
Society of Local Council Clerks/Annual Sub £ 84.00
Holt Village Hall, Hire Charge  £112.50 
G. Aland/Caretaking   £180.00    
G.Aland/Ground Maintenance  £101.00
RP Gay/Pond Clearance   £280.00
JM Beale     £365.63
Remuneration         £314.77
Fixed Expenses         £  31.28
Stationery/Photocopying     £  15.98   (VAT £2.38)
Postage          £    3.60

Any Other Business: The Chairman has been informed by Cllr. Steve Siddall that the marble surround from Holt Spa has been removed and is being stored by Paul Bloomfield.

Cllr. Meg Slade suggested that the Village Hall Committee should be asked to consider adding textiles to their recycling facilities.

Cllr. David Hogg said he had noticed that jumping on and off of walls had become a popular activity with youngsters in the village; this seems to be a dangerous trend and through the minutes and the magazine this should be drawn to the attention of parents.

Village Clean Up -Sunday 21st May - meet at the Village Hall Car Park at 10.00pm.