News: Parish Council - CDC meetings back on the menu

Chilbolton Parish Council’s meeting last night opened with a surprise: Cllr Tony Ewer said that he had received a message from the Chair of CPC, Cllr Julian Hudson, saying that he wasn’t able to attend. He looked at his phone and said “I’ll read out what he says.”

At this point, Mr Tom Brindley, the Locum Clerk, said, “I’ve seen the message. You can’t read it out.” At this, Cllr Ewer put down his phone and took over as chair of the meeting.

Declaration of interest

Cllr Ewer changed the wording of his declaration of interest. He repeated that he was on the list for a self-build home and a downsize home. To this, he added that he would not enter into any discussion on the allocation of those homes.

CDC meetings to restart

Parish Councillors discussed a meeting they are about to have with Test Valley Borough Council planners on 10 Nov 2025. Cllr Ewer said that he, Cllr Hudson and Cllr Sue Larcombe would attend. He invited Cllrs Debbie Collis, David Griffiths and David Hall to join them.

A discussion took place over what should be on then agenda. Cllr Hall requested that it include the Rural Exception sites that are being analysed by the Community Development Committee. This was agreed by Parish Councillors.

As a result of the meeting with TVBC taking place, it was agreed to resume CDC committee meetings, with the next meeting being on 19 Nov 2025.

However, Mr Brindley raised the question of whether Chilbolton Parish Council has the legal right to establish a committee with the format of the CDC. Cllr Ewer said “let us establish what the legal position is.”

It was also agreed that Cllr Hall would draft letters to the owners of the sites being analysed by CDC. The letters would be reviewed by councillors and sent by the Locum Clerk.

Recording of meetings

During the discussion on meeting TVBC, Cllr Debbie Collis asked the locum Clerk “Tom, are you recording this meeting?” The Clerk picked up a device and replied “I wasn’t, but I am now. It is my right.”

Cllr Collis said “You have recorded other meetings without asking. When will they be destroyed? You didn’t get permission.”

Mr Brindley said “No permission is required, I am legally entitled to record. They are destroyed after I have written up the minutes.”

Questions from the public

The Durnford Room at the Village Hall was full. Four members of the public asked questions.

Evidence of support for housing development

Neil Connor, who is a member of CDC and a candidate in the forthcoming election, asked “How will public support for housing development be evidenced? Will it be a vote or a referendum?”

He pointed out that TVBC’s response to the pre-application for the development requires evidence of community support.

Cllr Ewer said that there had already been two housing needs surveys. He added that if [Chilbolton Community Land Trust] was involved, they would have to evidence community support.

Cllr Hudson’s report in the Parish Magazine

Martin Watson, who is a member of CDC and a candidate in the forthcoming election, spoke about the final paragraph of Cllr Julian Hudson’s report in the latest Parish Magazine. He said “People are upset. Is it appropriate for him to attack parishioners?”

There was audible support from members of the public in the room for this question.

Mr Brindley said “Anything in the magazine is not on behalf of the Parish Council.

Cllr Ewer said “The question has been noted.”

Correspondence section in Parish Council agendas

A resident raised the issue of the lack of correspondence from villagers appearing with meeting agendas. She said that none had appeared in the October and November agendas, or on the website.

She said “The excuse given was GDPR, but in the past sensitive information was redacted. Without that [correspondence] we have no idea what is going on in the Parish.” As an example she quoted the email about the Church Commissioners’ land.

“Openness and transparency has been forgotten,” she said.

This issue was picked up later in the meeting by Cllr Collis under the “Communications” item. She asked the Locum Clerk “Am I receiving all I should be receiving? Has there been no correspondence from the Village?”

Cllr Hall asked “What do you do with the correspondence?”

Mr Brindley replied “I answer it, or I pass it on to the relevant Councillor.”

Cllr Hall said “Correspondence was always on the agenda. I oppose the lack of correspondence.”

Mr Brindley retorted “I came here to help this Council, but Council doesn’t want to listen.”

Cllr Collis asked “Can we revert to the previous system?”

Cllr Ewer said “I will talk to [the Chair of the Parish Council]”.

Quality of Parish Council minutes

Alisdair Campbell, who is a member of CDC, said “I am struggling with what goes into the minutes.” He then read an extract from Cabinet Office guidelines on minute-taking in formal meetings. It specified that:

A minute should, therefore, fall clearly into the following parts:

i. statement of the problem;

ii. discussion;

iii. chair’s summing up (where appropriate);

iv. conclusion.

Mr Brindley replied “Those are not guidelines for a parish council.”

Cllr Ewer said “I’m used to operating in that way, Alisdair.”

Cllr David Griffiths said that his practice was that minutes should reflect the decision but that when it was contentious, to add a concise review of any discussion.

Cllr Hall said “My preference is to return to how the minutes were.”

Recruitment of a permanent Clerk

Councillors were told that an experienced candidate was being considered for the post of permanent Clerk. They agreed that they would have a meeting to discuss possible terms of employment, once the new Councillors were in place.

Report from “Do the Numbers”

A report from “Do the Numbers”, a consultancy, was included with the meeting papers. They had reviewed Parish Council governance and procedures, and had recommended a number of procedural changes.

It was agreed that consideration of the report would be deferred until the new Councillors were appointed, after the election.

On its recommendations, Cllr Ewer wryly observed “Some things we do badly, but some things we like to do badly.”

Cllr Griffiths added “But it works.”

Summary

This meeting took place to a background growl of disapproval from members of the public. This was often at interventions by the Locum Clerk, Tom Brindley. He himself was dissatisfied at a number of issues, to the extent of suggesting that a Councillor put forward a motion to end his contract.

One point highlighted the gulf between Chilbolton Parish Council’s traditional practices, and those that Mr Brindley felt he had been brought in to instil.

Cllr David Griffiths said that Mr Ed Treadwell had done a great deal of work for the Open Spaces Committee, charging only for the materials he used, not his own time. He asked that a note of thanks to Mr Treadwell be included in the minutes.

Mr Brindley objected, on the basis that residents should not be named in formal minutes.

Cllr Ewer said “Please include the thanks.”