7:30pm at Elberton Village Hall
Agenda
(Agenda pack includes links and supporting papers)
2026-01-1 To receive apologies
2026-01-2 To receive declarations of interest and requests for dispensations
2026-01-3 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.
2026-01-4 To approve the minutes of last meeting held on 11th November 2025
2026-01-5 Parish matters for decision
2026-01-5.1 To discuss possible rural transport initiatives with the Village Agent
2026-01-6 To note items of report
2026-01-6.1 To receive the clerk’s report
2026-01-6.2 To receive any reports from councillors
2026-01-7 Planning
2026-01-7.1 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)
2026-01-7.2 To note the following SGC planning decisions
i. P25/02274/HH – Newhaven, Village Road, Littleton Upon Severn – Installation of 1.no enlarged front dormer. SGC decision – Approve with conditions.
2026-01-8 Council administration
2026-01-8.1 To confirm internal audit to be carried out via ALCA small councils audit network
2026-01-9 Finance
2026-01-9.1 To receive the quarterly finance report & budget statement (paper 1)
2026-01-9.2 To note the following receipts:
Item Amount
Bank interest Q3 £82.81
2026-01-9.3 To note the following payments made under prior approval:
Item Amount Minute (where applicable)
Staff costs for month to 16th November 2026 £299.72 2025/09/9.4
Unity Trust – banking charge November £6.00 2025/05/10.9
Staff costs for month to 16th December 2026 £299.72 2025/09/9.4
Unity Trust – banking charge December £6.00 2025/05/10.9
South Glos. Council – emptying of litter bin Q3 £51.39 + VAT 2025/05/10.9
2026-01-9.4 To approve the following payments:
Item Amount Power to spend
Salary arrears Nov & Dec 2025 £28.16 LGA 1972 s112
Amazon (via clerk expenses) – Equipment for Woodwell volunteer group £308.31 + VAT Open Spaces Act 1906 s9-10
Nature Conservation Services – Tree popper for Woodwell volunteer group £285.00 + VAT Open Spaces Act 1906 s9-10
2026-01-9.5 To adopt a budget for financial year 2026/27 (paper 2)
2026-01-9.6 To determine the precept for financial year 2026/27
2026-01-10 Any other minor matters of report (no decision required) or items for next agenda
2026-01-11 Meeting closure
Minutes
Present: Councillors Steve Meredith (chairman), Heather Bayston, Julian Cooper, David Spratt, Jeremy Warren, Anne Wiseman
In attendance: Elizabeth Woodland (West of England Rural Network – Village Agent)
Clerk: Emma Pattullo
2025-11-1 To receive apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr. Ian Jenkins.
South Glos. Council (SGC) Ward Cllrs. Matthew Riddle and Tony Williams had also sent apologies.
2025-11-2 To receive declarations of Interest and requests for dispensations
There were no declarations of interest or dispensation requests.
2025-11-3 Public Forum
The WERN Village Agent mentioned that it would be helpful to have more representation from Aust at their steering group meetings. Cllr Bayston offered to attend the next one.
2025-11-4 To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 11th November 2025
It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th November 2025 be approved as a correct record. The minutes were signed by the Chairman.
2025-11-5 Parish matters for decision
2025-11-5.1 To discuss possible rural transport initiatives with the Village Agent
Ms Woodland explained that lack of transport is one of the issues most often raised to her. The Westlink on-demand service is limited and may not be funded in the longer term, and there are no scheduled bus services within Aust parish. She is looking into setting up a voluntary driver network to assist with things such as getting to medical appointments. Councillors felt that this already happens informally within our communities.
Another option might be for the parish council to have ‘club’ membership of the Four Towns and Vale community transport initiative. This could then cover any groups within the parish who wanted to use the FT&V minibuses. WERN could potentially help with minibus driver training if required.
2025-11-6 To note items of report
2025-11-6.1 To receive the clerk’s report
The clerk reported on various actions and other matters:
• new councillor email addresses now operational
• booked councillors onto the Data Protection e-learning module.
• agreed to take part in a trial of a new online audit submission system. This will involve the same audit process as currently, but with electronic submission rather than a printed and signed hard copy of the final paperwork
• responded to the SGC budget consultation proposal for special expenses (e.g. grass cutting) to be passed to parishes
• submitted request for replacement of sharp bend chevron at B4461 / Foxholes Lane junction.
• caution against first registration for Littleton pond – map & caution title received
• letter sent to Lead Local Flood Authority re: community flood resilience planning.
2025-11-6.2 To receive any reports from councillors
Cllr. Spratt was thanked for arranging grass cutting on the B4461 verges between Elberton and Aust.
Cllr. Warren reported on a recent meeting with EDF. Their trials of an Acoustic Fish Deterrent for Hinkley C water intakes have gone well and they are applying for permission to install a full system; this should mean there is no need for other mitigation measures such as the previously proposed saltmarsh.
Cllr. Bayston had met with an SGC biodiversity officer at Woodwell Meadows. The site is looking much better since the working group started. SGC are seeking assistance from an Avon Wildlife Trust project which may be able to fund additional works. They are also investigating registering the site under the DEFRA Stewardship Scheme, which would attract funding for habitat improvement tasks such as clearance of the pond.
Cllr. Wiseman has responded to National Highways to emphasise residents’ concerns about the proposed HGV filtering system and the lack of involvement of local stakeholders in the design and planning of the scheme.
Cllr. Wiseman noted recent planting of apple trees at the Aust nature reserve.
Cllrs. Cooper and Warren reported residents’ concerns about the development of a free-range egg unit in Elberton. The planning application was discussed by this council in February 2025 (ref: 2025/02/7.1). Residents have been advised to address their concerns to SGC.
2025-11-7 Planning
2025-11-7.1 To note applications received and resolve response
No planning applications had been received.
2025-11-7.2 To note the following SGC planning decisions
The following planning decisions were noted:
i. P25/02274/HH – Newhaven, Village Road, Littleton Upon Severn – Installation of 1.no enlarged front dormer. SGC decision – Approve with conditions.
2025-11-8 Council administration
2025-11-8.1 To confirm internal audit to be carried out via ALCA small councils audit network
It was RESOLVED that, providing the audit network goes ahead this year, the internal audit should be carried out by a clerk as assigned via the network.
2025-11-9 Finance
2025-11-9.1 To receive the quarterly finance report and budget statement
The quarterly report was noted and the bank reconciliation checked and signed by Cllr. Wiseman.
2025-11-9.2 To note receipts
The following receipts were noted:
Item Amount
Bank interest Q3 £82.81
2025-11-9.3 To note payments made under prior approval
The following payments, made under the given prior approval, were noted:
Item Amount Minute (where applicable)
Staff costs for month to 16th November 2026 £299.72 2025/09/9.4
Unity Trust – banking charge November £6.00 2025/05/10.9
Staff costs for month to 16th December 2026 £299.72 2025/09/9.4
Unity Trust – banking charge December £6.00 2025/05/10.9
South Glos. Council – emptying of litter bin Q3 £51.39 + VAT 2025/05/10.9
2025-11-9.4 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.
Item Amount Power to spend
Salary arrears Nov & Dec 2025 £28.16 LGA 1972 s112
Amazon (via clerk expenses) – Equipment for Woodwell volunteer group £308.31 + VAT Open Spaces Act 1906 s9-10
Nature Conservation Services – Tree popper for Woodwell volunteer group £285.00 + VAT Open Spaces Act 1906 s9-10
2025-11-9.5 To adopt a budget for financial year 2026/27
The proposed budget was reviewed and it was RESOLVED that it should be adopted with no amendments.
2025-11-9.6 To determine the precept for financial year 2026/27
It was RESOLVED that, in accordance with the adopted budget, a precept of £7,030 should be set. This equates to an annual charge of £28.81 for an average (Band D) household.
2025-11-10 Any other minor matters for discussion (no decision required) or items for next agenda
It was noted that the number of vehicles camping on the verge at Whale Wharf has decreased over the winter. The owner of the adjacent land has put up “No Camping” signs. Cllr. Warren offered to contact the website on which the area is listed and ask them to take down the listing.
More ponies have been housed on land near the exit from Aust services. The clerk has previously made SGC aware.
2025-11-11 Meeting closure
The meeting closed at 8:46 pm.
The next meeting of the Council will be held on Tuesday 10th February 2026.
Items for the agenda should be with the Clerk by 3rd February.
