Gorsley & Kilcot Parish Council

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council

Held Monday 2^nd March 2026 at 7.30pm in Christ Church Gorsley

Present:

Councillors:  Nigel Warwick (NW), Nigel Poole (NP), Mike Howley (MH) Duncan Macdonald(DM), John Barker(JB) & Malcolm Riggs (MR)

Officers:        Charlee Roberts (Clerk & RFO)

Others:           Gill Moseley

82 Apologies for absence

None.

83 Declarations of Interest

None.

84 Minutes of previous meetings

Council reviewed and signed the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 5^th January 2026.

85 Reports

County Councillor Gill Moseley provided a report covering; Highways Local, Grassroots community fund, County Council budget, Extra highways funding, 2 new elderly residential homes, Local government reorganisation, Elections in 2027 for Shadow Unitary Authority, May 2028 the County and District Councils will cease to be in operation.

86 Financial Matters

86.1 Council approved the following payments already made:

31.12.25               Epson                   Ready Print Subscription               £2.99

5.1.26                   IONOS                  Web Hosting                                    £8.40

19.1.26                 Lloyds                   Bank Charges                                   £4.25

25.1.26                 Clerk                     Salary                                                 £291.80

25.1.26                 Clerk                     Homeworking Allowance              £26

30.1.26                 Epson                   Ready Print Subscription               £2.99

4.2.26                   IONOS                  Web Hosting                                    £8.40

4.2.26                   CHT                       Defib Pads                                         £77.94

16.2.26                 Mythic Beasts    Hosting (1 year)                               £60

17.2.26                 Lloyds                   Bank Charges                                   £4.25

25.2.26                 Clerk                     Salary                                                 £291.80

25.2.26                 Clerk                     Homeworking Allowance              £26

26.2.26                 Clerk                     Microsoft 365 Subscription           £84.99

86.2 Council approved the following payments to be made by bank transfer

GAPTC                  Data Protection Training (Clerk)                 £35

86.3 Council noted bank interest received in January for £6.81 and February for £6.04.

86.4 Council discussed the purchase of a new Defib battery as the current one is out of date and a second set of pads as they will be expiring shortly. Clerk will put in the request with CHT and payment will be made upon receipt of the invoice.

86.5 Council agreed to appoint GAPTC as the Internal Auditor for 2025/26.

87 Policies

The Council reviewed the following policies: Data Protection Policy, Document Retention and Record Management Policy, FOI Publication Scheme, IT Policy, Risk Management Policy and Privacy Policies for Staff and General. No concerns raised. Adopted as presented with immediate effect.

88 Website and Emails

Council noted the progress made with the new website, the domain and hosting has now been purchased and the Clerk is beginning to rebuild the website ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA as required. Clerk will continue to work on the website within the current working hours. All Councillors acknowledge receipt of the details of their new email addresses and will work to begin using them. Clerk will assist with any issues using the new email address.

89 Data Protection Training

Clerk has completed the two relevant data protection training sessions provided by Breakthrough Communications. Councillors noted the training options available to them. Council noted that training for Councillors is not mandatory at present. Councillors will review options and let the Clerk know if they wish to sign up to any training courses.  

90 Local Plan Call for Sites (SHELAA)

Council reviewed and noted that there is no land to be identified, at present as a settlement without boundaries it is highly unlikely for future development to take place in this Parish.

91 Revised Local Plan Consultation

Council noted information provided and that MR and NW attended the public consultation session. Noted that the Parish should remain protected as a settlement without boundaries, with necessary conditions to be met for development to take place. Draft response discussed and will be amended with agreed points; this will be confirmed by all councillors via email and sent in by the Clerk.

92 Highways / PROW Matters

Still awaiting response from highways about the Grit Bins in the Parish, one of the road signs previously mentioned has been repaired and another replaced. The road outside squirrel cottage is due to be resurfaced. Kilcot cross has had a 4^th repair done. The Ash Dieback team has determined that they hold no responsibility for the affected trees at Kilcot Green, works at Kilcot Green to be added to the next agenda. Councillor led Parish Road survey to be completed again once the weather improved.

NW to check speed gun and arrange for a speed watch session to take place.

93 Planning Decisions

None.

94 Planning Applications

None.

95 Planning Enforcement

Council noted updates received from the Enforcement Team, awaiting further information.

96 Clerks Report

None.

97 Meeting Dates

Council confirmed date and time of next meeting as Monday 11^th May 2026 at 7.30pm.

Council agreed date and time of Annual Parish Meeting as Monday 18^th May 2026 at 7.30pm.

98 Clerk Review

Council noted no concerns or changes. Council agreed contractual move to scale point 12 from 1^st April 2026.

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