MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BOBBINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

held on Wednesday 17^th September 2025 at 7.30pm at Bobbington Village Hall

Present: Cllr L. Jones (Chair), Cllr M. Snelson (Vice-Chair), Cllr A. Perry. Cllr A. Burton, Cllr M. Slater, Cllr S. Hadgett, Cllr J. Stanton.

Guests in Attendance: 1

Public in Attendance: 5

Minute Taker & Clerk: Kate Pritchard, clerk@bobbington.staffslc.gov.uk

25/048. Chair’s Welcome: The Chair’s welcome was DELIVERED.

25/049. Apologies: Cllr R. Reade sent his apologies to the Chair.

25/050. Public Participation: The Chair raised the motion to move Public Participation to the end of the meeting. The Council RESOLVED to move Public Participation before 25/066. Financial Matters.

A resident raised the issue of jets taking off on the Airfield at 9am on Sundays.  The resident questioned if there is a license for jet propelled aircraft. Cllr J. Stanton advised there is information available in the Local Plan. Cllr V. Wilson advised she would investigate the matter. Cllr L. Jones advised that residents can submit comments and objections on the Planning Portal. Cllr M. Snelson advised about planning consultations.

Public Participation finished at 21:07pm

25/051. Declarations of Interest and Dispensations: Cllr M. Snelson raised an interest regarding agenda item 25/061. Airfield Matters.

25/052. Minutes: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 16th July 2025, having been circulated, be confirmed, and signed as a correct record.

25/053. Reports from County and District Councillors (for information only) if present: Cllr V. Wilson provided an update on the Councillor Community fund, Local Government Reorganisation and advised the District Council will be submitting their proposal on 28^th November 2025. Tom Lane sign has been replaced. The area outside the post office is not owned by the County Council. Cllr V. Wilson has raised with the District Council. Cllr V. Wilson thanked the Parish Council for working in collaboration with the County Council and the District Council on the Tom Lane hedge cutting project.

25/054. Reports from Chairman and Councillors: (for information only):

Cllr L. Jones expressed thanks to the County and District Council for their help on the Tom Lane hedge cutting project.

Cllr J. Stanton provided an update on the papers for Bobbington Village Hall. They are to be passed to the Village Hall key administrator.  The original deeds confirm the Village of Bobbington owns the Village Hall.

25/055. Clerk Report: The Clerk report was noted. ACTION: Clerk to chase Cllr R. Reade and SSDC for a further update on the airfield land bund.

25/056. Reports from Committee Representatives:

• Corbett School –All children have settled back into School life after the summer holidays. Class sizes are working well.

• Bobbington Village Hall – No report received. AGM to be held 1^st

• Holy Cross Church – Overall congregation numbers are improved from 12 months ago, nice age ranges of congregation. The gardener continues to keep the church grounds in good shape, presentable, neat and tidy. The tree surgeon checked the large lime tree, due to some wind damage, some minor work needed but tree not a health and safety risk. Forthcoming services: 28th September 10 am, harvest festival. 29th September Harvest supper and auction at Blakelands 19.00 start, posters and flyers circulated. 19th October 15.30 Pet Service. 9th November Remembrance Sunday service 10.45am start. Air scouts, school and Parish Council invited to attend. Cllr L. Jones will be attending on behalf of Bobbington Parish Council.

• Community speed watch – There are now 10 speed watch volunteers. A meeting was held Monday 15th September to discuss strategy. A visit is planned to the newly approved site on Gospel Ash Road once temporary signage is available.

• Health and wellbeing – Cllr S. Hadgett provided an update on the everyone health van. Cllr M. Snelson advised the van could be parked on Salters Hall Farm.

• Crime report – Cllr L. Jones provided an update.

25/057. SID Data: Cllr A. Perry provided an update on the speeding data received from the temporary speed indicator device borrowed from Swindon Parish Council for nearly 3 weeks.

1^st site – Corner of Brantley Lane. Results:  2% of vehicles with a speed violation. Average speed 20 mph.

2^nd site – Six Ashes Road, opposite the donkey field. Results: 39% of vehicles with a speed violation. Average speed 29 mph.

Highest speeds were at 9am and between 3pm-7pm. Speed needs to be at or above 35 mph for the police to action.

ACTION: Cllr A. Perry to request the SID from Swindon Parish Council in the future. Cllr J. Stanton to raise the possibility of borrowing a SID from Kinver Parish Council at the Parish meeting.

25/058. Highway Matters: Temporary Road Closures were NOTED.

• Temporary Road Closure – Tom Lane 1^st – 5^th September – highway repair
• Temporary Road Closure – Gospel Ash Road 27^th – 29^th October – remedial works
• Temporary Road Closure – Six Ashes Road 24^th September – utility repair and maintenance work
• Temporary Road Closure – Halfpenny Green 27^th – 29^th October electrical maintenance work

The sink hole on the Six Ashes Road is looking problematic. Cllr V. Wilson to chase up. ACTION: Clerk to log on the report it tool. Cllr S. Hadgett reported fly tipping on Crab Lane. The waste was collected on 17^th September 2025.

25/059. Community Governance Review: The Council RESOLVED to approve no change to Bobbington Parish Council as it stands. Proposed by Cllr A. Burton, seconded Cllr J. Stanton. The motion was CARRIED.

ACTION: The Council to create a survey to send out to residents. Clerk to create a draft Action Plan for the next 3 years, to be approved in the November meeting.

25/060. Friends of Bobbington: The Council NOTED the next meet up will be Spring 2026. ACTION: Clerk to chase SSDC re the litter picking equipment.

25/061. Airfield matters: Cllr A. Perry provided an update. The pre application for airfield development has been submitted. The flooding on Crab Lane outside the airfield was raised. ACTION: Clerk to email the airfield administration to ask for the meeting dates for the next 12 months.

25/062. Data Audit: To review the data we capture, how we use it and how it is stored. Clerk to check GDPR rules.

25/063. Gov.uk email and domain: ACTION: Clerk to speak to Swindon Parish Council. Clerk to compile quotes on November agenda.

25/064: Tom Butler Cup: The Council RESOLVED to approve the next Tom Butler Cup to be arranged for 2026, and for the competition to be something creative and handmade. ACTION: To consider arrangements in November agenda.

25/065: Application for Grant/ Funding: Cllr A. Perry expressed frustration regarding limited funds to carry out Parish Council projects. The Parish Council RESOLVED to discuss the Action Plan in November meeting and in the budget 2026/27. ACTION: Cllrs to look at funding/ writing bids and to send details to the Clerk.

25/066. Finance Matters:

1. The Council RESOLVED to approve the payment schedule for August and September. Cllr J. Stanton proposed, Cllr S. Hadgett seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

2025. The Council RESOLVED to approve the September Financial Report 2025. Signed by Cllr A. Perry.
2026. The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank statements to 31st August 2025. Signed by Cllr A. Perry

25/067. Planning:

1. To consider new application/s:

1. To report decisions on previous applications:

 25/068: Policies:

1. The Council RESOLVED to approve The Code of Conduct Policy.
2. The Council RESOLVED to approve the new Financial Regulations.
3. The Council RESOLVED to approve the Standing Orders.
4. The Council RESOLVED to approve the Document Retention Policy.
5. The Council RESOLVED to approve the Health and Safety Policy.

25/069. Items for future meetings: Items were NOTED. Budget 2026/27. Action Plan. Data Audit update. Tom Butler Cup.

25/070. Date of future Parish Council meeting: Dates were NOTED. The next meeting is to be held Wednesday 26^th November 2025, 7:30pm, at the Half Penny Green Wine Estate.

25/071. Closed Session: The Council RESOLVED to move into a closed session and exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, due to the commercial or sensitive nature of business to be discussed for item 25/072.

25/072. Employment matters: The Council RESOLVED to approve the Clerk/ RFO salary to be increased to SCP Level 16 from 6^th October 2025.

The meeting closed at 21:38pm

                        …………………………………..…………… Signed             ……………………………………… Date