Wotton Town Council Meeting

15th December 2025

My informal notes and personal comment from the Town Council meeting on Monday that I attended along with GCC/SDC Cllr Cohen.

I arrived early, took my place in the public area. There were only two other people present. I guess it was forgotten that I attend as a member of the public so had to listen to, what I assume is, the normal misogynistic banter that occurs when the Clerk (or other female Cllrs for that matter) aren't around. :(

Soon the meeting started to fill, two other members of the public arrived. Cllr Braun had sent apologies along with another town councillor.

There was a one minute standing silence for former Stroud District Council Chair Dennis Andrewartha, who died on December 3. He served at SDC for 15 years and was at GCC for eight years until 2013, and also Cam Parish Council for 17 years.

The Chair and Deputy declared interests in the Recreational Trust item on the agenda.

At the Public forum I asked for the following statement to be noted;

It's regarding the Symn Lane Car Park DCC meeting earlier this month at Ebley Mill. A Wotton Town Council representative DIRECTED me not to speak against the planning variation S.23/2101/VAR. I chose to disregard that request. As an elected representative, I have a duty to voice the concerns of my constituents. Being told that I should have remained silent runs counter to the fundamental principles of open council debate and undermines the transparency that residents expect. Freedom of expression ensures that a range of perspectives is represented at council. I am deeply disappointed that the situation occurred. Raising the issue publicly here at Full Council, is my response.

I also raised a couple of items on behalf of a resident; Why a few items on the agenda seem to be being discussed again as they have previously been RESOLVED or NOTED and now, they're back. Why? The Clerk explained. It turned out they were consequential and additional to the previous work.

The Chair mentions that he and the deputy had attended a meeting over at North Nibley along with other neighbouring parish councils. They all looked at how they could work together and discussed how LGR might effect things. Nothing decided; "if when and buts". They will be meeting again. Any Cllr can attend. [Good reports on this meeting at Stinchcombe and North Nibley too (Cllr J Smith at NN organised)]

No questions on the County Councillor or SDC District Councillors' reports. The Chair thought that the Lunch club was not running after Xmas. Cllr Choen said that everyone should be using the timetabled Y8 bus not the dial-up Robin service to ensure that the timetabled service continues. The campaign group is a little worried about the monitoring of these services.

Increase in bank charges to £7 per month clerk says good value for money and to stay with Unity. Chair says it takes 9 months plus to move accounts can be a nightmare. [I'm sure the Current Account Switch Service would disagree]

A receipt of an M&G dividend of £417.34 was noted. It transpired, later in the meeting, these investments are in coal and the fossil fuel industry.

It was agreed to replace the office fridge at the Civic Centre. Chair has checked, on the web, extensively and all similar fridges are £159.

More quotes for lighting works at the Civic Centre. Additional to Bradley Room a few weeks back. Chair says that the white coating inside florescent tubing is very toxic. Cllr insists that H&S guidance is hopelessly out of date regarding these tubes and there is a requirement for 200 lux. The maintenance manager seems to lack the qualifications to reply in such depth and says that he works on the advice of the professionally qualified electricians. That short circuits this lengthy and illuminating debate. Cheapest quote approved.

To consider two more quotes for repairs to the potholes in St Mary’s Church driveway which, I assume, have appeared since the last work was carried out only a few weeks ago. £695 and £1215, the Chair thinks neither is cheap. Actually, he thinks them both expensive. £425 for the previous work, half the size. Extensive debate. Chair thinks the Chipping will need to be resurfaced by Youth Centre and where Jotcham's yard used to be. Maybe in a years time after Openreach have done their work. Maybe GCC would consent use their contractor at £25 per square metre?? The Deputy says that there is a licence agreement with owner of vicarage to seek a fair and reasonable contribution for all this type of work. Clerk says fair and reasonable needs to be defined. Besides the new owners haven't moved in yet. Cheapest quote APPROVED.

Membership of the Society of Local Council Clerks for the Town Clerk of £442 APPROVED

Council agreed to delegate appointment of locum cover to the Town Clerk. There is an advert running for a permanent role but they need temp cover and need someone to hit the ground running. Yasmin prepared to come in to pass things over. £25 per hour + expenses. There is someone who lives local and was a town clerk and prepared to do 12 hours a week.

Agreed renewal of membership of the Open Spaces Society very useful for quick legal advice on public right of way issues etc. May offer larger contribution along with the other grants next year.

December accounts for payment were approved. £49,599.28. I think I heard that the utilities will finally be disconnected from the Old Town Toilets. [Result!]

The Chair and Deputy left the meeting so the the dissolution of Wotton-under-Edge and District Recreational Trust could be discussed. New Chair chosen for the item.

Dominic Driver spoke that the Rec Trust is having to close because it has been unable to attract enough trustees to remain quorate. Background here Transferring the Trust’s assets to the Town Trust seems appropriate and should be straightforward with any required legal fees covered by the funds transferred along with the property. The Bowls Club is self-supporting and Streamsfield, with the help of volunteers, should not require support over and above that traditionally provided by the Town Council. Solicitor has been dealing with all the local issues. Cllr asks; would WCSF be a possibility? Two sets of assets green space and bowls. Did consider splitting but right now no capacity. Town Trust could take it forward.... APPROVED

Carbon Literary Trust to consider accreditation training costs, £190. Dates have been organised two lots of 4 hours in March. Need two people. Approved.

An update on the Public Works Loan for the Town Hall. It's been picked up at PWLB and some questions about community engagement and the technical spec and evaluation have all been answered. PWLB seem happy with evidence. Waiting on Govt now..... Deputy worried that it may slip beyond Xmas. [Which would be tragic as the Clerk, warned over a year ago, that a consultant was required to help with the application] However, critical dates have been noted on the forms.

An update on the Symn Lane Play project and agree to pledge donation to meet the crowdfunding target. £87k raised of the £92k target. £5k short..... (Please donate, I've donated a few £££ :) If this additional £5k is not approved the target will not be reached and SDC will take back their £9k. However the deadline has been extended to 29th Dec to allow for this decision at council. Cllr says that when TC agreed to carry out project in Oct 2024 £25k was agreed. Since TC have added a further £28k to make TC's contribution £58k. More than double what was agreed. Thinks it is not good enough. Another Cllr says this is what the Council is here for. Previous Cllrs felt that they could get much more grant funding, that hasn't happened. After long debate approved from contingency.

Solar Panel Project for Civic Centre. In November working group had been looking at Co-Op. But the tariff didn't seem to be a good deal. It's been suggested that the TC's M&G investments of £63k could fund the project. 15kw per hour plus battery. £2k bill est. install costs at £35k. However a structural roof engineer report will be required. Remarkably, the current Civic Centre's flat roof has been in-situ for 40 years with no maintenance. Hard to believe that it's not leaking given all the pooling water. There seems to be push back from the Chair and Deputy to move the project forward, they want another meeting to look at data in early January then bring back to a future full meeting. Needs quote for structural engineer either way, that roof is in need of attention. Bring back to future meeting agreed. Clerk says must be early Jan to ensure budgets for next year can be considered.

The Clerk gave an update on the Christmas lights project which has been funded by the Market Towns Vitality Fund. GCC Contractors have upgraded infrastructure in the town, distribution boxes for un-metered supply. Xmas lights contractor worked together, not one complaint from the public. Not finished, GCC needs to do some extra work. This can all be used in future years. 3 year warranty. District council thanked. Phil and Andy also thanked for going the extra mile, working nights etc.

Some brief reports from Councillors. The Deputy went to a meeting up in Westridge woods which he found quite interesting. They need to take out the Ash re die-back. Lots of collateral damage with machinery and it's going to look messy. Chair thought they were building a runway. My report on both meetings and background here

The Chair attended a Gloucestershire Association of Parish & Town Councils extra-ordinary meeting. He said that at their AGM they didn't pass the accounts. £40k extraordinary spend. Secret. GAPTC Chair and others wouldn't speak about it. An extra-ordinary was called for more info. WTC Chair asked awkward questions and was told the info must stay confidential. He asked if there was any illegality? Was there any malpractice involved? No answers were forthcoming. Members voted 11 vs. 6 not to approve accounts. WTC Chair says he's appalled. No answers. GAPTC Auditors said it was illegal for them to talk about it although when asked what law would be broken there was no answer.

I don't know what action WTC Chair took, if any, but I've formally asked the GAPTC for a response (by 5pm 16th Dec) which I will post below as and when I receive it.

A formal response was received promptly

Twinning Meeting. Arrangements for the French to come over in May. Going to Bowood House and Gardens, near Chippenham. Hog Roast at Kingwood Village Hall. AGM to follow at Baptist Church. If council agrees when they arrive at 4pm to have reception at Civic Centre. TC could offer to hire room for free. On next agenda. 29th year, 22nd May 4pm.

Meeting went into private session. Public and press excluded. So Council can agree a quote for the services of an employment lawyer.