7:30pm @ Elberton Village Hall
Agenda
Downloadable copy of the agenda and meeting papers at the bottom of this page.
2026-07/1 To receive apologies
2026-07/2 To receive declarations of interest and requests for dispensations
2026-07/3 Public Forum
Members of the public are invited to address the council on matters of council business set out below. The Chairman may accept submissions on other matters if he chooses to do so. No council discussion may take place at this time.
2026-07/3.1 Introduction from Simone Shephard, WERN Community Development Manager
2026-07/3.2 Other public forum matters
2026-07/4 To approve the minutes of last meeting held on 9th June 2026
2026-07/5 Parish matters for decision
2026-07/5.1 To request that the appropriate agencies install sound barriers along the M48 off slip above Sandy Lane and air pollution monitoring adjacent to the closest houses
2026-07/5.2 To consider possible application for National Highways community impact grant funding
2026-07/6 To note items of report
2026-07/6.1 To receive the clerk’s report
2026-07/6.2 To receive any reports from councillors
2026-07/7 Planning
2026-07/7.1 To note any planning applications received since issue of the agenda, and resolve response
(Details of all current planning applications can be found via the South Glos Council planning system)
2026-07/7.2 To note the following SGC planning decisions
i. P26/01022/PN1 – Car Park At Brightside Park Sandy Lane Aust – Prior notification of the intention for development of a Gateway Ground Station Antenna Site consisting of 40no. Satellite antennas, a fibre supply equipment cabinet, and cables set within a compound secured by 2.4m high fencing with vehicular access gates, and development works thereto. SGC decision: Prior approval granted with conditions
2026-07/8 Council administration
2026-07/8.1 To note Freedom of Information request and response, and confirm clerk’s overtime due to dealing with the request
2026-07/9 Finance
2026-07/9.1 To receive the quarterly finance report & budget statement (paper 1)
2026-07/9.2 To note receipts:
Source Item Amount
Unity Trust Bank Bank interest Q1 £60.66
2026-07/9.3 To note payments made under prior approval:
Payee Item Amount Prior approval
Clerk Staff costs £313.80 2026-05/11.4
Unity Trust Bank Bank charge June £ 7.00 2026-05/11.4
2026-07/9.4 To approve payments:
Payee Item Amount Power to spend
Clerk/HMRC Overtime – Freedom of Information request £122.32 LGA 1972 s112
2026-07/10 To consider responses to the following consultations received
2026-07/10.1 SGC “Climate & Nature Strategy 2026 to 2030”, comments by 19th July
2026-07/11 Any other minor matters of report (no decision required) or items for next agenda
2026-07/12 Meeting closure
Minutes
Downloadable copy of the minutes at the bottom of this page.
Present: Councillors Steve Meredith (chairman), Heather Bayston, Ian Jenkins, David Spratt, Robert Taylor, Anne Wiseman
In attendance: Ward Councillor Matthew Riddle (SGC), no members of the public
Clerk: Emma Pattullo
Please note that these minutes are draft until approved at the subsequent meeting, and may be subject to change until that time.
2026-07/1 To receive apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr. Julian Cooper.
2026-07/2 To receive declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations
There were no declarations of interest or dispensation requests.
2026-07/3 Public Forum
2026-07/3.1 Introduction from Simone Shephard, Community Development officer, West of England Rural Network
Simone Shephard introduced herself and her role. She is covering the Severn Vale and will work alongside the Village Agents, focussing on community development and addressing wider issues, rather than the one-to-one focus of the Village Agents. Key issues identified in the Severn Vale area are transport (e.g. to medical appointments or social opportunities) and digital inclusion.
Simone hopes to work with parish councils alongside community groups and organisations to identify issues and possible ways to put improvements into place.
2026-07/3.2 Other public forum matters
No members of the public were present.
2026-07/4 To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 9th June 2026
It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th June 2026 be approved as a correct record. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.
2026-07/5 Parish matters for decision
2026-07/5.1.1 To request that the appropriate agencies install sound barriers along the M48 off slip above Sandy Lane and air pollution monitoring adjacent to the closest houses
Residents of Aust, particularly those in Sandy Lane adjacent to the off-slip from the M48, are concerned that the new arrangements for HGV filtering will lead to increases in queuing traffic along the slip road, with consequent impacts on noise and air pollution.
The council has asked SGC to investigate installing air pollution monitoring equipment; Cllr Riddle agreed to chase this up with SGC officers.
It was agreed that until the results of modelling studies are available, there is little chance of National Highways (NH) agreeing to any mitigation measures such as barriers. It was therefore RESOLVED that once the modelling data is received, the clerk will request another meeting with NH to discuss the likely impacts on residents and request mitigation.
2026-07/5.1.2 To consider possible application for National Highways community impact grant funding
NH have a community grant fund which can be used towards infrastructure improvements in communities impacted by major NH schemes.
The preferred application would be for air quality monitoring equipment. The clerk will check whether this would be a valid item of funding.
Alternatively, a grant application towards repairs to Aust village hall will be considered.
2026-07/6 To note items of report
2026-07/6.1 To receive the clerk’s report
The clerk reported on the following items not otherwise on the agenda:
• Reply from Claire Young re: return of HGVs to the bridge. She has contacted National Highways to ensure we receive modelling results once available. Also contacted by a resident on the same matter – resident has also approached SGC to ask how air pollution will be monitored. NH reply as expected; modelling data due end July.
• Resident query re: Aust Nature Reserve and adjacent footpaths. Appropriate contacts at SGC were provide.
• BDO (external auditor) have confirmed exemption certificate received.
2026-07/6.2 To receive any reports from councillors
None received.
2026-07/7 Planning
2026-07/7.1 To note any planning applications received since issue of the agenda and resolve response
No planning applications had been received.
The clerk had submitted delegated responses on the following applications since the last meeting:
i. P26/01225/CLE – Severn View, The Green, Littleton Upon Severn – Verification of building use (Class C3) for a period of time exceeding 10 years, and the installation of new wall cladding for a period of time exceeding four years prior to 25th April 2024. Responded: no evidence to offer.
ii. P26/00942/F – Brightside House, Brightside Park, Sandy Lane, Aust – Erection of 2.4-metre-high security fencing to the rear of site. Responded: no objection.
2026-07/7.2 To note the following SGC planning decisions
i. P26/01022/PN1 – Car Park at Brightside Park, Sandy Lane Aust – Prior notification of the intention for development of a Gateway Ground Station Antenna Site consisting of 40no. Satellite antennas, a fibre supply equipment cabinet, and cables set within a compound secured by 2.4m high fencing with vehicular access gates, and development works thereto. SGC decision: Prior approval granted with conditions
ii. P26/01054/CLE – Home Farm, Village Road, Littleton Upon Severn – Continued use of land and buildings for equestrian use and use of Menage in breach of condition 2 of PT13/0550/F. SGC decision – Approve Certificate of Lawfulness
2026-07/8 Council administration
2026-07/8.1 To note Freedom of Information request and response, and confirm clerk’s overtime due to dealing with the request
A request was received under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) regarding communications around the planning application P25/00131/F for a poultry unit at Village Farm, Elberton. The search undertaken covered councillor and clerk email addresses and council electronic files. No relevant hard copy information was held.
All information requested was supplied; following communication with the requestor, the response was extended to include communications between councillors and residents as much of the internal correspondence would not have made sense without this.
Personal data was redacted, as required under the General Data Protection Regulations.
An FOI page has been created on the council’s website and the log of FOI requests uploaded.
It was RESOLVED that the clerk should receive payment for overtime of 8.8 hours for the time taken to deal with the request and provide the response.
2026-07/9 Finance
2026-07/9.1 To receive the quarterly finance report and budget statement
The quarterly finance report and budget statement were NOTED. The bank reconciliation was checked and signed by Cllr Jenkins.
2026-07/9.2 To note receipts
The following receipt was NOTED:
Source Item Amount
Unity Trust Bank Bank interest Q1 £60.66
2026-07/9.3 To note payments made under prior approval
The following payments, made under the given prior approval, were NOTED:
Payee Item Amount Prior approval
Clerk Staff costs £313.80 2026-05/11.4
Unity Trust Bank Bank charge June £ 7.00 2026-05/11.4
2026-07/9.4 To approve payments
The following payments were resolved to be made. All will be paid via bank transfer. A record of authorisation will be held by the Clerk.
Payee Item Amount Power to spend
Clerk/HMRC Overtime – Freedom of Information request £122.32 LGA 1972 s112
2026-07/10 To consider responses to consultations received
2026-07/10.1 SGC “Climate and Nature Strategy 2026 to 2023”
It was RESOLVED that no response should be submitted.
2026-07/11 Any other minor matters for discussion (no decision required) or items for next agenda
Cllr Riddle has received complaints regarding speeding in Elberton and HGVs breaking the restriction. Police and SGC have been notified. If HGVs are seen and the company details reported, Cllr Riddle will inform the police of specific offenders.
Cllr Jenkins reported that the Boar’s Head in Aust has changed hands and requested information about applying for Asset of Community Value status for the pub.
Several vehicles are present at Greenacres. SGC has an ongoing investigation. Cllr Riddle will provide an update.
2026-07/12 Meeting closure
The meeting closed at 8:31pm.
