Chair’s report to the annual parish meeting

Holt Parish Council – Chair’s Report to the Annual Parish Meeting – 19 May 2022

Since the last annual Chair’s report, we have seen the continued impact of the pandemic and more recently a gradual recovery across society, which has been most welcome in the village as it has elsewhere. This has allowed the dynamism to return to village life; we are now meeting in person again and our many wonderful groups are now re-connecting people, improving wellbeing and raising money for good causes to support activity in the village and beyond.

Of course, society is now grappling with the impact of the war in Ukraine which has been catastrophic for their population and, in our small way, we are showing our support to them through the Ukrainian flag flying proudly on our village green. Here in the UK we are facing a cost-of-living crisis and the Parish Council has responded through a freeze on our element of the Council Tax precept and also a donation of £500 to ‘Help for Holt” in time for Christmas. We will continue to monitor this situation with other local groups. Finally, on Christmas, I’d like to thank the local businesses* and individuals for their generosity and Cllr Hendon for coordinating a Christmas tree and lights on the village green, which was a welcome respite from the darkness of CV19 restrictions at the time.

The global supply chain and economic situation has also had an impact on the development of the Old Tannery site, but we have seen the number of properties completed and occupied grow over this time and we welcome our new fellow villagers. We have also seen the completion of the Midlands junction work by the shop and the shelter, all at no cost to parishioners. Separately, we have been working with Stonewater and Wiltshire Council to understand the demand for affordable housing and the potential for a solution at the end of Station Road to meet this need, in accordance with the Neighborhood Plan. We remain statutory consultees for planning applications and have worked hard to respond appropriately to benefit the overall amenity of the village. I’d like to thank Cllr Siddall and the Planning Committee for their ongoing efforts across all these areas.

The Council remains committed to improving the Highways and Street Scene of the village and has developed a number of schemes to improve safety and reduce the intimidation of traffic in accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan. We have been successful in our bid for matched funding with Wiltshire Council for the next phase, which will see an improvement to the junction with the B3017 and the east junction to the Midlands, which is scheduled for October 2022 and we will consult villagers as the design is matured by Wiltshire Council. Our pavements remain in a generally poor, and in places unsafe, state and we will continue to progress this alongside our other schemes, working closely with Wiltshire Council. We have continued to promote access across our public footpaths around the village, conduct our annual survey and have supported some improvements, including the recent additions of kissing gates towards Holt Manor thanks to efforts of Cllr Nicholson and the generosity of the landowner.

Our facilities are of huge benefit to the village I’d like to thank Cllr Mizen for his sterling Chairmanship of the Facilities Advisory Group for many years, often going “above and beyond the call of duty”. He has now passed the baton to Cllr Fletcher who has already rolled out a number of significant enhancements, including the new fencing around the play area, additional tree planting around the village and more. We have also continued our monthly village inspections and implemented improvements through the Parish Steward, village caretaker, contractors and self-help to keep our parts of Holt in good order. I’d like to thank Cllr Fletcher and everyone involved in keeping our village looking at its best.

The Parish Council finances remain in a healthy position thanks to the stewardship and forward planning by Cllr Goodman, the Finance Committee and the Clerk as the Responsible Officer. We continue to add to the Village Development Fund through the solar panel income and part of the precept to provide for matched-funding with Wiltshire Council for Highways improvements and other future capital projects.

I am proud to be part of such a great village and serve on the Council. I’m pleased to see a few new joiners over the past year and very much look forward to working with them. I’d like to thank all my fellow councilors who give up their time voluntarily for the benefit of all villagers and thank our outgoing Clerk, Neil Baker, for facilitating our operations over the past 4 years and wish him well for the future.
Phil Game
Chair HPC

* Manor Farm, Stonewood Builders, Holt Superstore, The Old Ham Tree, The Tollgate, Formosa Kitchens, Box Steam Brewery