Full Council Meeting 19th January 2026
Monday, 19th January 2026
Old Sarum and Longhedge Community Centre 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
PC26.001 Apologies for absence
To receive, and consider for acceptance, apologies for absence. (LGA1972 s85)
PC26.002 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)
PC26.003 Confirmation of minutes of previous meeting held on 15th December 2025
To confirm, as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council.
(LGA1972 sch12)
PC26.004 Update on proposed Police Hub at Old Sarum
To discuss the proposal with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable
PC26.005 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:
Planning Log
PC26.006 Highways
– Apostle Way 13-24-14
PC26.007 Fly tipping at Old Sarum
– Discussion on options / solutions led by Councillor Schneider.
PC26.008 Finance Report
– To receive report from Responsible Financial Officer (RFO).- To adopt monthly accounts for December 2025
– To authorise payments for January 2026
– To review Reserves and Treasury deposit report
PC26.009 Clerk’s Report – verbal
To note report from Clerk (Responsible Officer)
Confidential Session
At the conclusion of this part of the Agenda, the Chair will move the following resolution:
That under Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the
press and public be excluded from the meeting as publicity would be prejudicial to the
public interest because of the nature of the business to be transacted
PC26.010 Exempt Business – Staff matters in confidence
– To consider exempt report PERS26.005 concerning the Communications and
Community Engagement Officer role.
Date of next meeting: To note the date of the next meeting which is scheduled for
Monday 16th February 2026 at Hampton Park Pavilion.
Minutes
Councillors present: Baker, Holland, Jones (Chair), Lynn, McDonald, Schneider, Vanstone, Waller, Williams
Officers present: Sloan (Clerk), Deane (Deputy Clerk). Prince (Responsible Financial Officer RFO) joined the meeting online.
There were 10 members of the public in attendance, as well as Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson and Chief Constable Catherine Roper. One further member of the public joined the meeting online.
One member of the public spoke to request changes to the equipment to the play area adjacent to Old Sarum and Longhedge Community Centre to accommodate younger children and to request lighting on the footpath nearby.
The Deputy Clerk explained this was a designated Neighbourhood Extended Area for Play which was designed to accommodate and challenge older children and funding would normally only be allocated to replace equipment at end of life. The Deputy Clerk understands that lighting may be provided as part of developer contributions and will chase this up.
The meeting commenced at 7.06pm.
PC26.001 Apologies for absence
Apologies had been received from Cllr Barker.
Resolved: to accept the apologies received.
PC26.002 Declarations of interest
There were no declarations of interest.
PC26.003 Confirmation of minutes of previous meetings
Resolved: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15th December 2025
PC26.004 Update on proposed Police Hub at Old Sarum
The Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable explained the lack of facilities for effective policing at the current shared site at Bourne Hill and the search for a new site which has taken 4 years. The PCC explained a site without custody requires 4 acres and a site with custody requires 6 acres, which was not available within central Salisbury. The best site to meet requirements was identified as designated employment land at Old Sarum and the purchase of the site was completed on 1st December 2025. Six acres has been purchased, although there are no plans to include a custody suite at present. A major communications and engagement strategy with residents is planned. The PCC explained the challenges of national funding calculations and the savings and reforms made to balance the budget. The PCC also talked about possible police reforms, devolution and changes to force and council boundaries, and the ambition for a Southern Wiltshire Police Hub to secure a force presence in Southern Wiltshire. A joint committee has been established to finalise plans for a planning application.
The PCC and Chief Constable responded to questions from councillors and public.
PC26.005 Planning
The Planning Log had been circulated as Report PC26.005 in advance of the meeting.
Resolved: to approve the following responses:
PL/2025/09619 Demolish garage and new single storey extension 1 St Johns Close, Milford SP1 1NW No Comment
PL/2025/09344 Renewal of permission for temporary classroom Greentrees Primary School, Sycamore Drive SP1 3GZ No Comment
PL/2025/09631 Retrospective permission for change of use of agricultural land to storage Green Guard Storage, Fieldfare Business Park, Old Malthouse Lane SP4 6DR No Comment
PL/2025/09359 Single storey extension (retrospective) 2 Norton Drive, Ford SP4 6DA No comment
PC26.006 Highways
The Clerk had circulated Report PC26.006 in advance of the meeting, regarding Apostle Way (Local Highways and Footway Group LHFIG Item 13-24-14), with details of two options for consideration from Highways to address parking issues. Cllr Baker had also circulated a summary of feedback from residents in response to his leaflet drop. Councillors listened to comments from local residents present and considered the costs of the options presented. Neither of the options were supported by councillors. Cllr Baker will feed back this decision and discuss any other possible actions with Highways Officers.
Cllr Baker reported that he had also circulated feedback from local residents in Boundary Road to councillors, following on from the Highways Improvement Form approved in December’s meeting, which will be passed to LHFIG to consider.
PC26.007 Fly tipping at Old Sarum
The Clerk had circulated Report PC26.007 from Cllr Schneider in advance of the meeting. Cllr Schneider spoke of long term concerns from local residents about anti-social behaviour and fly tipping in areas of Old Sarum, and concerns over lack of action from housing associations. Cllr Waller recommended that Cllr Schneider contact the MP for their support, following her success in this approach at Bishopdown Farm. The Chair suggested Cllr Schneider lead a working group to act on the recommendations of his report. Cllr Baker shared details of Wiltshire Council officers who could assist with fly tipping and contacts with housing associations.
Resolved: that a Working Group of ward councillors, led by Councillor Schneider, be formed to explore solutions to the issues outlined in Old Sarum.
PC26.008 Finance Report
The RFO reported that yearly finance performance remained favourable. The forecast General Reserve at year end is £130,000 in line with the Reserves Policy, which requires 4 months of net revenue expenditure to be available. Financial checks had been completed by Cllr Williams who proposed the accounts for acceptance.
Adoption of Monthly Accounts for December 2025
The Financial Statements had previously been circulated in Report PC26.008. The total funds held on 31st December were £1,895,901.99.
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 PC26.008. Total cheque and BACS payments in January 2026 amounted to £27,593.38. Debit card and direct debit payments in December 2025 amounted to £766.20.
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 PC26.008.
£1,862,866.76 was held on deposit on 31st December 2025.
With Lloyds. £272,140.48 is invested in a 95-Day Notice count that yielded £670.79 interest.
With CCLA. £1,590,726.28 is invested in the Public Sector Deposit Fund and earned a dividend of £4,974.45 in December. The dividend was re-invested.
Total interest and dividends earned in December 2025 were £5,645.24. The total for 9 months is £51,406.48 against a budget of £48,750.
Earmarked Reserves held on 20th January 2026, after all payments have been made, will be £1,676,662.59.
Resolved: to note the reserve and treasury deposit reports
PC26.009 Clerk’s Report – verbal
The Clerk reported on ongoing discussions with solicitors, Wiltshire Council Revenues Team, and other Clerks with similar issues to resolve Venues Management.
The Clerk will continue to meet with River Bourne Community Farm.
The Clerk reported on progress with councillor recruitment actions and asked councillors interested in Best Kept Village Competition to contact him for details.
The Clerk reported that the current leader of the Community Emergency Volunteers was stepping down. Councillors were very concerned and asked the Clerk to ensure all efforts had been made to retain this volunteer, whose work was highly valued.
The Clerk provided an update from the local Police Team and requested feedback on illegal use of electric bikes/scooters. The mobile police station will visit on 3rd February.
Councillors were reminded of possibilities to tour Devenish Bradshaw Trust land.
Confidential Session
Resolved: That under Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, the press and public be excluded from the meeting as publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest because of the nature of the business to be transacted
PC26.010 Exempt Business – Staff matters in confidence
The Clerk had re-circulated Confidential Report PERS26.005 to councillors in advance of the meeting following the resignation of the Communications and Community Engagement Officer, with proposals for appointment of a replacement. The proposals in the report were recommended by the Personnel Committee.
Resolved: to appoint Eloise Castle to the role of Communications and Community Engagement Officer as set out in the recommendations of the confidential report.
The meeting closed at 8.56pm.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 16th February 2026 at Hampton Park Pavilion.
