Wickwar Parish Council
Meeting of the Parish Council – Minutes
A meeting of the above Council was held on Wednesday 4th March 2026, at the Town Hall commencing at 7.00pm.
Please note that these minutes are draft until approved at a subsequent meeting of the Parish Council
Attended:
Councillor S Isaac
Councillor G Fielding
Councillor B Walter
Councillor R Houghton
Councillor L Ford
Ward Councillor A Rush
Ward Councillor B Romaine
Apologies:
Councillor A Carroll
Councillor J Jones
Councillor A Parris
Councillor S Williams
Clerk:
Sarah Quick, Parish Clerk
Public time
The possibility of a new Neighbourhood Plan for Wickwar was discussed with a parishioner offering to share their expertise and experience. Parishes with a Neighbourhood Plan have better access to Officers at South Gloucestershire Council and can mean more help with issues such as flooding, transport and housing development.
The village has been consulted in the past and there was little interest however times may have changed. The community does need to engage with the plan to ensure that it would be adopted.
Further information will be provided for Councillors to consider next steps.
AGENDA ITEMS
1.3.26 To RECEIVE apologies for absence.
Cllrs Carroll, Jones and Parris sent their apologies.
2.3.26 To NOTE and RECORD Declarations of Interests relevant to this meeting.
Cllr Isaac declared an interest in planning item 7.2
3.3.26 To AGREE whether the minutes from the meeting of the Parish Council held on the 4th of February 2026 should be signed as an accurate record of the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 4th of February 2026 should be signed as an accurate record. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.
4.3.26 To RECEIVE the Clerk’s Report on matters arising from previous minutes/ not covered elsewhere on the agenda. (circulated)
The Clerk had attended a meeting regarding the Y8 bus service which has been extended until August. The contract will be taken over in April by Eurocoaches but the timetable will remain the same.
The Clerk has also met with the Clerks from Rangeworthy and Cromhall regarding the Solar Farm Community Fund. It was thought that grant funding should be split equally between the parishes although further contact will be made to determine how monies should be claimed and distributed.
5.3.26 To determine which items, if any, of the Agenda should be taken with the public excluded.
None required.
PLANNING
6.3.26 Planning – For the Council to NOTE the following planning decisions & notices
6.1 P26/00046/TCA – Arnolds Field Estate The Downs Wickwar. Works to fell 1no Sycamore Tree (T1) Works to 5no of Sycamore Trees (T2) to crown reduce by 1-2m in height within Wickwar Conservation Area. Decision: No objection
7.3.26 Planning – For the Council to REVIEW and COMMENT on planning applications received before the meeting
7.1 P26/00352/TCA – Stable Cottage Westend Road Wickwar. Works to fell 1.no Sycamore Tree (T1) Works to Pollard 1.no Sycamore Tree (T2) up to 5m. works to fell 1.no Ash Tree (T3) works to Pollard 1.no Sycamore Tree (T4) up to 5m. Trees situated within Wickwar Conservation Area.
Resolved: The Parish Council will defer to the South Glos Tree Officers who are investigating
7.2 P26/00293/CLE – Hall End Farm Hall End Lane Wickwar. Continued use of building as a Farm Shop.
Resolved: Support as the Farm Shop has been in operation for some 15 years and is a valued asset to the village, particularly since there has been no other shop
Items for CONSIDERATON and DECISION
8.3.26 To AGREE dates of meetings for the following Council year May 2026 to April 2027 including the Annual Parish Meeting
Council meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month with the exception of August when there will be no meeting. The Annual Parish Meeting has been set for Wednesday the 20th of May 2026.
9.3.26 To AGREE the format and budget for the Annual Parish Meeting
It was AGREED that there should be a small amount of refreshments provided at the meeting to encourage participation. Consideration will also be given to the giving of some Good Citizen awards.
10.3.26 To AGREE a meeting with WPFA to discuss a way forward to manage both fields
Cllrs Isaac and Ford along with the Clerk agreed to meet with the WPFA trustees to discuss a way forward. The Clerk will contact the trustees and arrange a convenient date.
11.3.26 To CONSIDER hanging baskets for the Town Hall for this summer
The larger hanging baskets used last year worked well and are available to use again. It was agreed that plants should again be sourced from Ormonds Nursery as a village based business.
12.3.26 To AGREE to summer events at King George’s Field
It was AGREED that the Wickwar Beer and Cider Festival can be held by Wickwar Entertainment Committee on Saturday the 13th of June, the Clerk will again liase regarding the appropriate risk assessments. It was also agreed that other gatherings can employ food vans for their catering, provided the correct insurance is in place.
13.3.26 To DISCUSS the required Data Protection training for Councillors
The Clerk has created a document to record the training that individual Councillors have had and will ensure that courses are booked for those who require more training.
14.3.26 To ADOPT a new IT policy
Following circulation of a draft policy the new policy was agreed and adopted by the Council
REPORTS
15.3.26 To RECEIVE reports from Ward Councillors
The budget for the 26/27 financial year has been agreed although finances remain tight. Flooding budgets have been rearranged so that those areas which have experienced flooding will receive more funding. The Council’s reserves are reduced but proportionately this is no more than in previous years.
As mentioned in the Clerk’s report funding for the Y8 bus service has been agreed until the end of July, WECA clarification is awaited for the future of the service going forward.
The state of the speed bump at the Wickwar Road/Pennington Road junction was discussed as the road surface is beginning to degrade. Cllr Houghton will email with photographs and this will be followed up by Ward Cllr Romaine.
There is a further meeting taking place regarding changing speed limits in the lanes, the Parish Council’s comments have been fed back.
Finally waste bins are not always being returned to each property, despite those properties being registered for assistance. This happens in Firing Close and Avon Crescent and Ward Cllr Romaine will feed this back to the waste team.
16.3.26 To RECEIVE verbal reports from Councillors who are Trustees or Committee members of the organisations listed below, and to take decisions as necessary:
16.1.3.26 King George’s Field
The car park hedges have been cut although it has been too wet to cut the hedges along the field edges and the Clerk will diarise to request this in August.
There are currently several bookings in the pipeline for the Community Room.
There has been a report that one of the heaters isn’t working and the Clerk will follow this up.
16.2.3.26 Wickwar Community Centre
Transition to the school administrator is ongoing and Councillors hope that this goes smoothly and works well for the school.
16.3.3.26 Wickwar Town Hall
Defibrillator training took place on the 3rd of March and was very well received.
16.4.3.26 Wickwar Cemetery
Regarding the grave which has been tidied with stones and a wooden surround Councillors agreed that a flat stone can be installed to help with the issue of the grass not growing properly in that corner. The Clerk will correspond with the plot owner and ensure to approve the style of stone.
16.5.3.26 Wickwar Youth Club
Staffing issues remain and the seniors night also remains fairly quiet.
A local pre-school has approached the trustees regarding use of the building during the daytime. This would be a good income stream for the youth club, but could involve some work to the building to make it suitable for very young children.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION ONLY
17.3.26 To RECEIVE the play equipment and assets inspection for February (circulated)
The inspection was duly noted.
18.3.26 To RECEIVE the register of correspondence received.
Nothing for this meeting
REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
19.3.26 Crimestoppers South West for a parish campaign
As the request related to promoting the Crimestoppers service locally the Clerk will write to offer to put posters in the Town Hall noticeboard and to use the website, Parish News and village Facebook pages.
BURIAL MATTERS
20.3.26 To AGREE and SIGN the ERB transfer for cremation plot 33A at Wickwar Cemetery
The paperwork for the transfer was reviewed and the certificate duly signed.
FINANCE
21.3.26 To NOTE the monthly bank reconciliations for January 2026. Chairman to sign as a true record. (Circulated)
The monthly bank reconciliations for all accounts as at the 31st of January 2026 were NOTED and signed by the Chairman as a true record
22.3.26 To APPROVE accounts for payment and NOTE additional payments made between meetings in line with Financial Regulations
It was RESOLVED that the payments as listed in the following payment schedule should be made.
HMRC February PAYE 589.15
Staff salaries February salaries 1879.24
Sarah Quick February expenses – instant ink subscription 13.49
BT Town Hall broadband 35.94
NEST Clerk pension (employer and employee contribution) 114.42
Tesco mobile Clerk mobile 7.50
Octopus Energy Town Hall January 49.70
Octopus Energy Pavilion January 66.35
Water Business Town Hall water and sewerage services July – February 144.07
Water Business Pavilion water services July – February 101.62
Water Business Park Field water July – February 42.45
The Cumbria Clock Co Annual service for the Town Hall clock 264.00
South Gloucestershire Council Localism charges January – March 1487.99
South Gloucestershire Council Pavilion rates 59.00
ALCA Data Protection Training for the Clerk 35.00
23.3.26 To NOTE the Council’s updated Asset Register and newly created Digital Asset Register (circulated)
The updated asset register and new digital asset register were circulated and duly NOTED.
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT AGENDA
24.3.26 To NOTE any items for inclusion on the following meeting agenda.
It was noted that the 750th anniversary of Holy Trinity Church will take place in 2027 and there will be many events held to mark this.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 8.45pm.