Full Council Meeting February 16th 2026

Monday, 16th February 2026

Hampton Park Pavilion at 7 pm

Join the meeting online by Zoom at this link. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87941500935?pwd=cWpSNUpGOS9TandoNzRqRzNOdy9HQT09 

Meeting ID 879 4150 0935.  Phone in only 0203 481 5240. Password 1894.  

For further information please contact the Parish Clerk at parish-clerk@laverstockford-pc.gov.uk

AGENDA

PC26.011 Apologies for absence

To receive, and consider for acceptance, apologies for absence. (LGA1972 s85)

PC26.012 Declarations of interest

To declare any interests relating to the business of the meeting and receive any

dispensation requests from the Clerk. (Localism Act 2011 s29-34)

PC26.013 Confirmation of minutes of previous meeting held on 19th January 2026

To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council.

(LGA1972 sch12)

PC26.014 Planning

Wiltshire Council is the local Planning Authority and consults Laverstock & Ford Parish

Council on planning applications received for the parish. To consider the following

planning applications received:

– PL/2025/02686 Land North East Old Sarum, Portway, Salisbury

– PL/2025/09973 Portway House

– ACV/2026/00002 ACV Application Hilltop Way

– Planning Log

– MHCLG Consultation Reducing the prevalence of private estate management

arrangements – to agree a response

PC26.015 Highways

– LHFIG Scheme 13-24-16 Portway Crossing – to approve contribution of £800- Cllr Baker to update Council on public consultations and discussions with

Wiltshire Council officers on proposals to improve safety and reduce obstructive

parking on Apostle Way

PC26.016 Internal Auditor

To resolve to appoint the Internal Auditor

PC26.017 Policy Review

To resolve to adopt a new Councillor Allowances Policy – Report PC26.017

PC26.018 Review of Financial Regs

To resolve to adopt the new Financial Regulations

PC26.020 Review of Annual Investment Strategy

To resolve to adopt the Annual Investment Strategy

PC26.021 Renewal of Grounds contract 2026/27

To resolve to renew the grounds maintenance contract with agreed uplift.

PC26.022 Finance Report

– To receive report from Responsible Financial Officer (RFO).

– To approve write off of assets Green Lane Dog Waste Bin (part Asset 33) and

Pilgrims Way Bench (Asset 101) which have both been replaced with new

– To adopt monthly accounts for January 2026

– To authorise payments for February 2026

– To review Reserves and Treasury deposit report

PC26.022 Clerk’s Report – verbal

To note report from Deputy Clerk

Date of next meeting: To note the date of the next meeting which is scheduled for

Monday 16th March 2026 at Old Sarum and Longhedge Community Centre.

 

Minutes

Councillors present: Baker, Barker, Holland, Jones (Chair), McDonald, Vanstone, Waller, Williams

In attendance: Deane (Deputy Clerk), Prince (Responsible Financial Officer RFO)

There were two representatives from Bloor Homes/Blue Fox Planning in attendance as well as eleven members of the public, with another joining online.

One member of public spoke about new Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in the parish and encouraged councillors and residents to sign up to community messaging.  Another member spoke about muddy paths connecting Old Sarum and Longhedge open spaces.

Blue Fox Planning and Bloor Homes gave a presentation regarding their updated submission under PL/2025/02686 Land NE Old Sarum and answered questions from councillors and members of the public regarding site layout, site access, transport, infrastructure and timescales.

The meeting commenced at 8.07pm.

PC26.011 Apologies for absence

Apologies had been received from Cllrs Lynn and Schneider.

Resolved: to accept the apologies received.

PC26.012 Declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest.

 

PC26.013 Confirmation of minutes of previous meeting

Resolved: To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on 19^th January 2026.

PC26.014 Planning

PL/2025/02686 Land North East Old Sarum, Portway, Salisbury

Councillors discussed the application in light of the presentation given ahead of the meeting.  Councillors agreed to request conditions concerning:

• the health, education and local facility contributions
• the proposed use of a management company
• traffic, speed limits and access arrangements
• archaeology in particular relating to the Mustang crash site
• the provision of more play areas and not a MUGA as previously requested
• a commitment to guarantee delivery of energy efficiency measures
• changes to the cycle and pedestrian access to join the signal controlled crossing proposed for the top of Green Lane
• permissions to cross ransom strips adjacent to the site
• security, parking, access and facilities to be provided at allotments
• tandem parking resulting in increased on-road parking
• a contribution tied to monitoring s106 delivery and a request for Parish Council involvement in s106 provisions

Resolved: to approve the response ‘no objection subject to conditions’

Cllrs Baker and Barker abstained from the vote on this matter.

The Deputy Clerk will circulate detailed proposals for conditions for approval at the next meeting.

PL/2025/09973 Portway House

Councillors discussed this application together with PL/2026/00652 from the Planning Log regarding access to the site.

Resolved: to approve the response OBJECT PL/2025/09973 due to noise from adjacent industrial sites, inadequate access and parking for 20 units, the fire risk from close industrial units as evidenced by a recent fire and the change of character of the conservation area.

Resolved: to approve the response OBJECT PL/2026/00652 due to unsafe access proposals which cannot provide sufficient access or exit for larger vehicles such as fire engines, without a swing onto the opposite carriage way of The Portway.  Insufficient parking within the site will contribute to these issues, with vehicles likely to be parked outside of marked bays.

ACV/2026/00002 ACV Application Hilltop Way

The Deputy Clerk had circulated Report PC26.014(3) in advance of the meeting with details of an application from a residents group for land just outside the parish.

Resolved: to enter no comment on this application

Planning Log

The Deputy Clerk had circulated Report PC26.014(4) in advance of the meeting.

Resolved: to approve the following responses

PL/2026/00305 Works to TPO trees 10 Green Lane, Ford NO COMMENT

PL/2025/10037 Works to TPO trees Throgmorton Hall, Portway, Old Sarum NO OBJECTION SUBJECT TO REPLANTING OF AT LEAST ONE TREE FOR EACH ONE LOST

PL/2025/09962 Front & side extension Timberley, Laverstock Park, Laverstock SP1 1QJ NO COMMENT

MHCLG Consultation Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements

The Deputy Clerk had circulated Report PC26.014(5) in advance of the meeting with a proposed response to the consultation based on comments received from councillors.

Resolved: to approve the response as circulated.

PC26.015 Highways

LHFIG Scheme 13-24-16 Portway Crossing

The Deputy Clerk had circulated Report PC26.015 in advance of the meeting with details of proposed improvements to the crossing at Green Lane junction with The Portway.

Resolved: to approve the contribution of £800 to LHFIG scheme 13-24-16

 

PC26.016 Internal Auditor

The RFO had circulated Report PC26.016 in advance of the meeting with details and costs for proposed Internal Audit arrangements for 2025-26.

Resolved: That the Council appoint IAC Audit & Consultancy Ltd to provide an internal audit service for the 2025-2026 financial year.

 

PC26.017 Policy Review

The Clerk had circulated Report PC26.017 ahead of the meeting with a draft policy to administer councillor allowances, following the resolution in September 2025 to accept the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel of Wiltshire Council.

Resolved: to adopt the Councillor Allowances Policy as circulated.

 

PC26.018 Review of Financial Regs

The RFO had circulated Report PC26.018 in advance of the meeting, with a revision based on an updated template from National Association of Local Councils and highlighting major changes.

Resolved: that the Council adopts the LFPC Financial Regulations 2026 as circulated.

 

PC26.020 Review of Annual Investment Strategy

This item was deferred to the next meeting.

PC26.021 Renewal of Grounds contract 2026/27

The RFO had circulated Report PC26.021 in advance of the meeting, with details of the option to extend the existing grounds maintenance contract into year two with a 3% inflationary uplift.

Resolved: That the Grounds Maintenance contract with Hurdcott Landscapes Ltd be renewed for a second year commencing on 1st April 2026 and Purchase Order 578 be issued.

PC26.022 Finance Report

The RFO had circulated Report PC26.022(2) in advance of the meeting with details of two assets replaced as uneconomic to repair.

Resolved: That the Council approves the write off of assets Green Lane Dog Waste Bin (part Asset 33) and Pilgrims Way Bench (Asset 101)

The RFO had circulated Report PC26.022 in advance of the meeting with details of finances.  The Chair confirmed Cllr Schneider had conducted detailed financial checks this month.

Adoption of Monthly Accounts for January 2025

The Financial Statements had previously been circulated in Report PC26.022. The total funds held on 31st January 2026 were £1,880,673.18.

Resolved: To adopt the monthly accounts as a true record of the Council’s finances.

Authorisation of Payments

The lists of payments had been circulated in Report PC26.022. Total cheque and BACS payments in February 2026 amounted to £37,895.96. Debit card and direct debit payments in January 2026 amounted to £775.83. The RFO highlighted that payments included the expenditure of £3,309 from Earmarked Reserves, which was noted in the report.

Resolved: To approve the cheque, BACS, direct debit and debit card payments.

Review of Reserves and Treasury Deposit Report

Reserves and Treasury Deposit Reports had been presented in Report PC26.022.  £1,868,732.44 was held on deposit on 31^st January 2026.

With Lloyds. £272,744.29 is invested in a 95-Day Notice count that yielded £603.81 interest.

With CCLA. £1,595,988.15 is invested in the Public Sector Deposit Fund and earned a dividend of £5,261.87 in January. The dividend was re-invested.

Total interest and dividends earned in January 2026 were £5,932.66. The total for 10 months is £57,272.16 against a budget of £54,167.

Earmarked Reserves held on 17th February 2026, after all payments have been made, will be £1,673,325.61.

Resolved: to note the reserve and treasury deposit reports

PC26.022 Clerk’s Report

The Deputy Clerk reported that the Clerk continued to work on proposals for future management arrangements for community buildings, and continued to hold regular meetings with River Bourne Community Farm.  Efforts to recruit further councillors continues with a leaflet to target Old Sarum drafted. The Clerk has met with the Community Emergency Volunteers and discussions regarding future arrangements continue.  16^th May is proposed for a visit to Devenish Bradshaw Trust land and councillors interested were asked to notify the Clerk.  Outstanding matters at Longhedge continue to be chased.  Actions from Worknest are ongoing and councillors were reminded to complete GDPR checklists.  Councillors were asked for availability to support youth events in the Easter holidays.  The Deputy Clerk reported apologies from the Police, who were unable to attend this meeting, that the mobile police station had been diverted to a serious incident elsewhere in the county for the last scheduled visit. An update from the local Police team will be circulated separately with new dates for the mobile unit.

The meeting closed at 9.35pm.

Date of next meeting: To note the date of the next meeting which is scheduled for Monday 16^th March 2026 at Old Sarum and Longhedge Community Centre.