Wotton Town Council Meeting

16th February 2026

[Snowdrops, the first breath after a long dark spell, the quiet return of life where everything once seemed lost]

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

The first job of the Council was to appoint a new Chair. There was a bit of confusion about the role of Mayor. Cllr Lesley Hewish was prepared to become the Chair but didn't want to take on the role of Mayor. It appears that the two roles are inextricably linked (why? I wonder). There was reassurance that the role requires no mandatory participation (unless the King dies, it was pointed out......) Cllr Richard Halpin was voted as deputy. Congrats to both.

Local resident Mike Jeffrey (sp?) who has been attending council meetings quite a few times had applied to be co-opted onto the council. The council agreed. There will be two further vacancies in a couple of weeks once the statutory election period has passed following the resignations of Paul Smith and Roger Claydon. The Chair expresses sadness that they have stood down and recognised all the hard work that they have done.

Next up the council considered a voluntary grant request from the Wotton Lions. The Lions put on a number of events including 10,000m under the edge 31st May at Renishaw. They want to raise as much as poss and are asking for help by means of sponsorship. The council agrees to give a grant of £100 rather than sponsorship.

GCC Cllr Linda Cohen highlights the main issues from her report. There has been extensive comment on social media about potholes. Whilst the situation is not acceptable the money available to address these matters comes directly from central Govt. Gloucestershire after 14 years of under-investment by the previous Conservative administration has left the roads in a poor state of repair. We are also, in terms of funding, one on the worst off counties in the country.

Global warming increases the amount of water that is held in the atmosphere. This additional water gets dumped in ever worsening torrential downpours. Blocked drains help channel water down the tarmacked roads which worsens any existing surface defects rapidly. More information on the risk to Gloucestershire from climate change

Residents need to photograph and report highway issues on Fix My Street. Issues do get addressed promptly but we all realise that the quality of these repairs are sometimes not adequate. However, Cllr Cohen (probably along with every other GCC Cllr, I imagine) are demanding that contracts be amended to allow contractors greater flexibility to action better repairs along with stripping out layers of complexity in the process. This will take time. So in the mean time please refrain from posting on social media for likes and attention, it's really unhelpful, as are personal insults and general rudeness directed at Cllrs who, after all, are doing their absolute best for the community.

Another issue which people have found gains likes and attention on social media is posting about over-flowing dog poo bins.

Rather than posting on social media, it is quicker and more helpful to report it via Fix My Street. Doing this will ultimately get the emptying frequency adjusted, posting on social media merely elicits a dopamine hit, wastes time and enriches a US Tech billionaire.

If you come across an overflowing bin, please don't add to it!! Take the dog poo home. Discussion about increasing the precept to cover additional bins and additional resources to empty them. Consensus that money would be better spent on education, maybe in local schools. Children understand these issue quickly and can help educate parents. Need to check what additional signage is available to encourage people to take litter home.

Problems of parking across dropped kerbs and on double yellow lines is an on-going issue at Parklands. This causes all sorts of issues for wheelchair users and people with prams and those with mobility issues. Cllrs mentioned investigating residents parking permits which will clearly have an impact (misery) for all, not just the selfish few who persist in doing this. The resurfacing work for Bradley Street has been delayed until after the new social housing is complete (officially mid-May but maybe sooner as contractors are running ahead of schedule).

I highlighted from the February SDC Councillor's report that Stroud District Council's Culture Grants are now open - offering up to £2,000 for arts and culture projects in the district. Applications are welcomed from early career artists, students, arts, culture and community organisations, and charities based in Stroud district. Also, regarding the Westridge Woods Forestry Management works. Another site visit with the Forestry Commission is planned for March.

Various routine administrative changes. Agreement to renew the space booked in the Wotton Directory for 2026/27. The Clerk writes the report and the Chair adds, removes or amends items. One or two pages. Chair says they were surprised at how many people read it and seems to be a good comms channel. (Again, this supports a local business rather than enriching a US tech billionaire)

A big contract awarded for replacement fencing at Knapp Road Allotments. Temp repairs are no longer sufficient. Three quotes to repair the whole length, one quote offered to cut back the brambles to half metre from fencing too. Cllrs though this good value at £7,836, paid for from reserves. I think work can start within a month or two.

Next to approve quote of a battery-operated hedge trimmer and blower with 5 year commercial warranty at £591. Also, £2,000 for a mobile battery charger that will be invoiced on next years budget. Approved a quote for repairs to be carried out to Civic Centre lift following service £819.

Discussion about upgrading the alarm system in the Civic Centre lift. At £2,000+ it seemed steep to Cllrs and not necessary until the digital switch over anyway. Not approved.

Council awarded a 3-year SLA contract to Play Gloucestershire for 2026-2029. The previous Chair championed this and it is funded from reserves and precept.

Training for Councillors. Cllr says it's impossible to decide these things when they only receive the dates on the day of the meeting. Cllrs have families and arrangements need to be made. Clerk apologises but short staffed and Town Hall and Play area has taken priority. Clerk says the CEO of the Gloucestershire Parish and Town Council Association can get the training done on-site if required. Discussion. Some training is essential, some not.

Cllr says we need to streamline membership of committees, working groups, and partnerships:-

• Planning Committee
• Remembrance Parade Working Group
• Allotments Working Group
• PROW/Amenity Areas Working Group
• Town Regeneration and Events Working Group
• Commemoration Working Group
• Finance and Special Purposes Committee
• Strategic Planning Working Group
• Car Park Working Group
• Climate Change Working Group
• Wotton & District Recreation Trust
• Beaumont-le-Roger Society
• Wotton Youth Partnership
• Wotton-under-Edge General Charities
• Wotton-under-Edge Combined Charities
• Wotton Community Sports Foundation
• Snow Warden
• Water Course Warden
• Wotton Area Climate Action Network
• Rural Services Network
• Director of Gloucestershire Market Towns Forum
• Synwell Playing Fields Committee
• Wotton-under-Edge Swimming Pool
• Wotton in Bloom
• Under The Edge Arts
• Greenway Group

Much agreement with that sentiment, but not quite a simple as it sounds. Again, too much to work out on the hoof at the meeting and clearly more background research is needed for resolution. I'm asked about how the other parishes work; They mostly have have active, independent groups. Not necessarily with Cllrs on them. They are agile, active and happy to report back to the council as and when. Wotton PROW needs a Cllr to chair its meeting. Opportunity to re-assess. Some have expectation and participation is essential. Make this work with who doing what? Time between now and May. Informal business meeting to discuss, assess and streamline. Agreed.

Date for Annual Town Meeting 2026 suggested as prior to April TC meeting and drop in session on possibly 16th May at the Town Hall. Calendar of meeting dates 2026 – 27 approved.

Town Hall and Chipping Hall repairs
Old scaffolding down, new scaffolding up. First couple of weeks surveyor looking in detail and surveys, what extra work? Significant deterioration noted, investigating if additional planning application will be required. Work to be complete by beginning August.

Play Area improvement Project
Started preparation work last week and working flat out because of half term. Old equipment gone. Laying out. Cat scans done for utilities. School have been helpful allowing in and out and parking. Currently padlocked off with safety fencing.

Symn Lane Car Park
Not so quick. Little going on. Stripe contacted developer. Meeting to discuss the schedule of works and intermittent visits to check on progress. Clerk met with lighting engineers from GGC. Helpful. Turns out that cabling that National Grid put in is sub standard? Developers won't start until March due to weather.

Civic Centre Solar Panels
Meeting with surveyor to check structure and proposed work then go away and give us a price. Phil organised with Clerk. Making progress.

The meeting went into private session so myself and Cllr Braun left the meeting.

As always, if you have any questions or just want a chat I'm easily contactable, phone numbers and e-mail on my home page. Use my contact info if you spot, errors or I've just got something completely wrong! Also, I'm not using Facebook much any more, but feel free to link and share these reports using whatever social media you fancy.

You can also find me on the Fediverse (social media without adverts, algorithms or outrage) here:- https://stroud.social/eco-g I've created another BlueSky as my last account was suspended on 'authenticity' grounds. tbh. I'm beyond caring about US Big Tech social media and would like them taxed out of existence.

18/2/25 edited numerous typos and richard/roger name amend.