Parish Survey Results – Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council

Biddestone and Slaughterford Parish Council
Parish survey results October 2023

Survey overview

The survey was developed by the Parish Council to gather views from parishioners to help set priorities for the 2024 Precept (our budget) and update the Corporate Plan. Five years previously, in 2018, the BSPC conducted a major consultation exercise and detailed survey which led to the production of the 2018 Parish Plan. The scope of this survey was intended to be more focussed to update current priorities against those established in the 2018 Parish Plan.

The survey questionnaire (see appendix 1) was distributed with the October Biddestone Broadsheet to the approximately 250 households within the parish.

50 completed surveys were returned, a response rate of 20%. 47 surveys were from Biddestone and 3 from Slaughterford.

Survey findings

The results of the survey were collated and this section summarises the findings, with statistics on responses to individual questions and highlighting specific comments. The response rate was sufficient to obtain a statistically meaningful sample of parishioners’ views, but care needs to be taken in interpreting small sample sizes – noting that 2% equals one person. However, we can gain useful insights from individual responses provided we do not interpret these as representative of widely held views.

Parish Council response

After each section, we have recorded what the Parish Council plans to do in response to the survey findings. These points were agreed at the Parish Council meeting on 12 December 2023.

1. General Questions

What do you like most about your village and the Parish generally?

Responses were overwhelmingly positive, with most referring to the attractive and well-kept appearance of the villages, strong community spirit, breadth and diversity of community activities available, access to beautiful countryside and easy transport links.

What would you most like to see changed or improved in the Parish?

42% of people mentioned traffic calming, with particular mention of Church Rd, Cuttle Lane, Twitten Bend. Related issues included the safety of pedestrians, parking on The Green and damage by other vehicles to parked cars on the Green.

12% mentioned having a village shop.

8% mentioned making green spaces more environmentally friendly with several mentioning rewilding.

8% mentioned better maintenance of green spaces, including some commenting that wildlife areas (e.g. Butts and edge of playing fields) were untidy.

8% mentioned protecting and improving the White Horse pub.

6% mentioned poor road surfaces and drainage problems, particularly Cuttle Lane.

Other issues raised were diverse, including improving footpaths and stiles, not feeding bread to ducks on the pond, better mobile phone reception, having more dog waste bins and a defibrillator for Slaughterford.

Parish Council response

We note the continued emphasis on traffic calming in Biddestone. We are considering purchasing an new ‘automated community speedwatch’ device (see Question 3). We continue to discuss traffic calming with Wiltshire Council Highways but there is little more we can do in the context of Wiltshire Council policies. In particular, speed bumps would not be permitted as the main road through Biddestone is a ‘priority route’ for emergency vehicles, and on other roads new street lighting would be required which our previous survey showed was not favoured by a large majority of residents. The Biddestone Arms development includes some additional traffic calming and pedestrian access improvements around the site.

Village shop: this was considered in the previous survey consultation. The Parish Council formed the view that this is unlikely to be commercially viable, however if a proposal did come forward from a developer we would of course consider it.

White Horse pub: the Parish Council has registered the White Horse as an asset of community value which gives the parish the right of first refusal in the event of a sale. However, we have no influence over the running of this private business.

Defibrillator for Slaughterford: this has been noted and will be considered.

The other points raised have been noted and are regularly discussed and reviewed at Parish Council meetings and form part of our routine work in the Parish.

2. Your views what the PC spends its budget on (the Precept)

Please give us your comments on the areas that fall within PC responsibility and are paid for through the Precept. The total Precept for 2023/24 is £19,209, which is spent in the following ways:

Overall comments were positive and supportive of the current level of spend in the precept.

Managing the Parish Council (Clerk salary, website, hall hire, insurance, audit, training, subscriptions): £8845 (47% of budget)

Acceptable: 44%
Too much: 4%
Questions/comments: 14%
No comment: 38%

The vast majority of those expressing an opinion supported this spend. Two people felt it was high, and others asked questions, mainly asking for a more detailed breakdown. A few suggested that BSPC should not pay for hiring the Village Hall, which probably comes from a misunderstanding about the Hall being owned by BVHRT.

Maintaining Biddestone village green and pond, The Butts (cutting grass, managing vegetation around pond, two Autumn and Winter cuts of the Butts): £2553 (13% of budget)

Acceptable: 60%
Too much: 0%
Questions/comments: 16%
No comment: 26%

The vast majority of those expressing an opinion supported this spend. No one felt this was too high. Individual questions/comments included: could the pond be better maintained, could the Green be cut less often to be less ‘manicured’, could the Butts be cut more often, could the Parish Steward spend more time in the Parish.

Maintaining Church Road public conveniences: £2348 (12% of budget)

Acceptable: 44%
Not needed: 20%
Questions/comments: 20%
No comment: 22%

The majority of those expressing a view support the continued spend on the public conveniences. There remains a minority who do not see this as value for money, with some commenting that they are not generally used by villagers and the money could be better spent elsewhere. Questions/comments included asking if they could be kept open all year; could a payment system be introduced; could the pub provide an alternative. A couple of people suggested that the site could be redeveloped, to continue to provide a smaller but more modern, fully accessible, efficient and lower maintenance toilet facility, whilst releasing some capital for other purposes.

BSPC contribution towards restoring Slaughterford Highbank railings: £2000 (10% of budget)

Acceptable: 54%
Too much: 4%
Questions/comments: 4%
No comment: 38%

The vast majority of those expressing an opinion supported this spend.

Maintaining Little Challows open space: £638 (4% of budget)

Acceptable: 58%
Too much: 0%
Questions/comments: 6%
No comment: 36%

The vast majority supported this spend. One person commented that Wiltshire Council should pay for this (as we know they decided a few years ago to cease maintaining this area) and another commented that they recalled that local residents used to pay for this.

Church Road defibrillator: £450 (2% of budget)

Acceptable: 60%
Too much: 0%
Questions/comments: 0%
No comment: 32%

All of those expressing an opinion supported this spend.

Biddestone speed indicator device (SID): £240 (1% of budget)

Acceptable: 66%
Not useful: 2%
Questions/comments: 12%
No comment: 20%

The vast majority supported this spend, with only one disagreeing. Several commented that we should spend more on additional SIDs and further traffic calming measures. Some comments mentioned the SID not working sometimes or not being effective in slowing traffic.

Contingency and contribution to future reserves (£1950, 10% of budget)

Acceptable: 52%
Too much: 0%
Questions/comments: 8%
No comment: 40%
The vast majority supported this spend. One commented that it seemed too low, and another that the level of annual contribution depends on how much there is in existing reserves.

Parish Council Response

We are pleased that the great majority of respondents are supportive of the current levels and breakdown of spend in the Precept, and we will therefore continue to set the Precept on a similar basis. We note comments and suggestions on specific areas of spend and will consider these as part of our regular discussions.

3. What else could we spend money raised from the Precept on?

The Parish Council sets aside some money from the Precept each year to pay for discretionary projects, which we allocate to priorities identified by people in the Parish, for example traffic calming measures.

What would you like to see the PC prioritise for new discretionary expenditure, when/if funds can be raised through the precept?

40% mentioned traffic calming and related issues, particularly speed bumps.

32% raised other issues (no one issue had more than 2 people raising it).

18% had no comments.

Other responses were diverse and only mentioned by one or two people. These included flooding due to blocked drains, access/seating/picnic area on the Butts, having another bench on The Green, more dog waste bins, a defibrillator for Slaughterford, EV charging points, a bus shelter, replacing signposts, floral displays at entrances to villages, improving the entrance to the cemetery, improved footpaths/pedestrian safety, e.g. road crossing at Cuttle Lane.

Would you like to see the PC raise funds for another Speed Indicator Device (SID) to be used in Biddestone, with data capture so speeding vehicles can be individually identified to Wiltshire Police and speeders contacted by the police? This would provide an automated version of Community Speedwatch, which was run by volunteers.

Agree 62%
Disagree 26%
Comments/questions 8%
No comment 4%

The majority supported the acquisition of a new data recording SID, consistent with the overall priority given to further traffic calming. However, several people did not support this, some saying that police are too busy to take action and others that speeding is not that big an issue. Others suggested that speed bumps would be more effective.

Parish Council Response

We note the continued emphasis on traffic calming and support for a data capture speed indicator device. We are investigating an ‘automated community speedwatch camera’ which will record the speeds of individual vehicles identified by their number plates, and provide this data to the police. This is a similar process to the speedwatch camera that used to be operated by volunteers in Biddestone, but does not require volunteers to operate it, and functions all the time in daylight hours. As noted earlier, speed bumps are not viable given that the road through Biddestone is a ‘priority route’.

The other suggestions made will be considered as part of our regular PC discussions.

4. Your views on the Parish Council

Please give us your views on the way the PC engages with the community. We will use this information to help us improve the way we operate.

Overall people were supportive of the PC and several made specific positive comments thanking councillors for their efforts.

Do you feel well informed on how the PC works and what it does for the Parish?

Yes 78%
No 10%
Other comment 4%
No comment 8%

The vast majority felt well informed and several commented that the information in the Broadsheet and Honeycomb is good, although one person said they found it difficult to read. One commented that the website needs more frequent updating, another that the PC should have a social media page allowing people to comment. One person mentioned the need for representation from Slaughterford, which has now been addressed.

Do you know how to raise an issue with the BSPC?

Yes 78%
No 6%
Other comment 6%
No comment 10%

Again, the vast majority confirmed they know how to do this.

How responsive do you think the BSPC is to the needs of people in the Parish?

Good 64%
Poor 8%
Other comment 6%
No comment 22%

Overall people felt the PC is responsive. One person felt responses could be quicker. Another suggested having a ‘meet the team’ page on the website to raise awareness of individual councillors.

If you have raised any issues with the BSPC, how well do you think they responded to you?

Good 24%
Poor 4%
Other comment 2%
No comment 70%

The high level of no comment is driven by the fact that many people have not had reason to raise issues with BSPC. One person commented that the chairman had not been helpful when an issue was raised by phone, but there is insufficient detail to identify what this concerned. Another mentioned that planning issues take too long to be resolved and raised a perception of conflicts of interest.

How could the BSPC improve the way it engages with and communicates with people in the Parish?

Good as it is 26%
Better communications 16%
No comment 58%

The majority of those who expressed a view felt this was adequate. Individual suggestions for improvement included a social media page with ability for people to comment, a regular column in the Broadsheet (rather than just minutes), more regular updating of website, better publicity on noticeboards.

Parish Council Response

We are pleased with the overall positive nature of these comments. We will consider how to improve the clarity of meeting minutes in the Broadsheet, and we are currently reviewing the Parish Council website to improve communications. We do not think a Parish Council social media presence is required as the parish already has social media sites that we can use as needed.

5. Other comments

Do you have any other comments or issues you would like to raise with the PC?

Good as is 26%
Other comments 26%
No comment 48%

Several people made positive comments about the PC. Other comments made by individuals included: a more strategic approach (with Wiltshire Council) to green initiatives (including renewable energy installations on listed buildings), regular updates on big developments, eg Biddestone Arms. One person mentioned that councillors should have the ability to vote by email instead of just in person at meetings. One person suggested using electronic means for surveys rather than a paper form. One person suggested communication about work on the Butts could be improved to help people understand the project better. One person mentioned the length of time it takes to get actions done, like changes to road signage (which is dependent on Wiltshire Council Highways, and is not controlled by the Parish Council).

Parish Council Response

We note these comments.

We regularly disuss environmental issues with Wiltshire Council, including responding to consultations such as the recent Local Plan consultation.

Voting at Parish Council meetings is governed by a general rule covering all parish councils (and other democratic bodies), for the good reason that councillors need to attend the meeting to take into account the views of other councillors (and any members of the public attending the meeting) and to explain the basis for their own view, before casting their vote. Parish Councillors are voting as representatives of the Parish and therefore need to take all views into account; they are not voting as private individuals.

For this survey, we agreed not to use an IT based survey this time as it would exclude those in the village without access to computers. We will consider this for future surveys.

Appendix 1: Survey questionnaire

Parish Survey 2023: have your say!

Introduction

Biddestone and Slaughterford Parish Council (BSPC) is keen to find out what people in the Parish think about what the Parish Council does, so that we can focus on the things that are most important to everyone.

In 2018, we did a big consultation exercise and a detailed survey, which helped us identify the top priorities for people at that time. Five years on, we would like to ask you what’s most important now, what you think about what the BSPC spends its budget on, and how well we deliver on what’s important to the Parish. We will use the results of the survey to help set our budget (the Precept) for the next few years, and improve the way the BSPC operates. We will publish a summary report on the results of the survey, but all responses will be anonymous, so please feel free to say exactly what you think.

Please complete the survey by Sunday October 15th. From 10am on this day, volunteers will come round to every household to collect your completed survey. Please have it ready, sealed in the return envelope provided. If you are not going to be in, please leave it somewhere visible so it can be collected. Thankyou.
Please can you also complete the enclosed questionnaire for the Biddestone Village Hall and Recreation Trust (BVHRT) and return in the same envelope for collection. Thankyou.
Completed questionnaires will be collated by BVHRT and will inform future provision.

What does the Parish Council do?

The BSPC is directly responsible for the following assets:
• Biddestone village green and the village pump
• the Church Road lavatories (including the defibrillator)
• the Speed Indicator Device (SID)
• The Butts (owned by BSPC but maintained by a volunteer group)
• the common at Weavern Lane.
• the open green space at Little Challows.

The BSPC also maintains the Parish website and employs the Parish Clerk.

The BSPC has a range of routine responsibilities, which include: mowing grass and maintaining trees and structures on PC owned land. The PC comments on planning applications; liaises with Wiltshire Council on maintenance of footpaths, verges, road surfaces, drains and gullies; and maintains a resilience plan for incidents such as heavy snow or flooding. The BSPC does not control the budget for actions which are the responsibility of Wiltshire Council, but we work with Wiltshire Council to arrange for maintenance to be carried out, for example via the Parish Steward. We also liaise with local landowners such as farmers where maintenance work needs to be done, such as trees overhanging public roads, but such work is the responsibility of the landowner and Wiltshire Council is responsible for ensuring landowners do the work required to maintain the safety of highways and footpaths.

The BSPC also works on improvements in the parish, where funds are available to do so. For the past five years, these have been prioritised based on the Parish Survey conducted in 2018. The main focus has been traffic calming in Biddestone, and the work on the Butts also arose from the Survey.

The BSPC pays for what it does through money raised from the Parish Precept, which is part of the Council Tax you pay each year. This year, we have raised funds through the Precept and through voluntary donations to replace the worn-out oak railings at High Bank in Slaughterford.

Survey questions

Please write your responses in the boxes provided. If you do not have enough space, please continue on a separate piece of paper and attach it to the survey.

1. General questions

Which village do you live in?

What do you like most about your village and the Parish generally?

What would you most like to see changed or improved in the Parish?

2. Your views what the PC spends its budget on (the Precept)

Please give us your comments on the areas that fall within PC responsibility and are paid for through the Precept. The total Precept for 2023/24 is £19,209 which is spent in the following ways:

Managing the Parish Council (Clerk salary, website, hall hire, audit, training, subscriptions, insurance): £8845 (47% of budget)

Maintenance: Biddestone village green, the pond, The Butts (mowing grass, managing vegetation around pond, two Autumn & Winter cuts of The Butts), snow clearance: £2553 (13% of budget). The PC must contribute 30% to WC highways work.

Maintaining Church Road public conveniences: £2348 (12% of budget)

BSPC contribution towards restoring Slaughterford Highbank railings: £2000 (10% of budget)

Maintaining Little Challows open space: £638 (4% of budget)

Church Road defibrillator: £450 (2% of budget)

Biddestone speed indicator device SID): £240 (1% of budget)

Contingency and contribution to future reserves (£1950, 10% of budget)

3. What else could we spend money raised from the Precept on?

What would you like to see the PC prioritise for new discretionary expenditure, when/if funds can be raised through the precept?

4. Your views on the Parish Council

Please give us your views on the way the PC engages with the community. We will use this information to help us improve the way we operate.

Do you feel well informed on how the PC works and what it does for the Parish?

Do you know how to raise an issue with the BSPC?

How responsive do you think the BSPC is to the needs of people in the Parish?

If you have raised any issues with the BSPC, how well do you think they responded to you?

How could the BSPC improve the way it engages with and communicates with people in the Parish?

5. Other comments

Do you have any other comments or issues you would like to raise with the PC?

Thank you for completing the survey. Please put your completed response in the envelope provided and have it ready for collection by 10am on Sunday 15th October.