Meeting Minutes

The Parish Council met on 7 October 2026 . The DRAFT MINUTES are available to view here:

Disasters are costly but preparing for them doesn’t have to be.  In fact, taking time to prepare now can help save you worry and cost, and give you peace of mind when an emergency occurs.

Take these simple steps now, that have little or no cost, to be better prepared for any disaster or emergency:

• Start Today Download Home Emergency Plan
• Know what kind of disasters and emergencies are most common for where you live
• Create your emergency communications plan.  Record important contact and medical information about your family, which you then can share with others and store copies both digitally and on paper
• Make sure you store important phone numbers somewhere besides just your mobile phone
• Sign up for emergency and weather alerts to receive local and national information
• Build your emergency supply kit and emergency grab bag over time.  Start with items you may already have in your home, like a torch, extra batteries, copies of important documents, water and non-perishable food.  When you go to the supermarket, pick up an extra item each time that you use regularly, especially if it’s on sale!
• Talk with family or members of your household about where you will go if told to evacuate.  Having a plan before disaster strikes can help you save precious time and money
• Store important documents and items like passports, birth certificates, maps and electronics in a flood-safe place like a high shelf or upper floor in resealable water-tight plastic bags to help waterproof them.  Store important documents like insurance policies digitally
• Consider adding older clothing that still fits well to your disaster kit instead of donating it
• Look for deals at car boot sales and such like. You may find useful items like camping gear, tools, or cookware at a fraction of the retail price.  Also, keep an eye out for seasonal sales on emergency supplies
• Contact your local fire station.  They can help check and replace fire detectors
• Join our next community CPR or first aid course
• Read and keep our community resilience articles in The Link
• Volunteer to be part of our Community Resilience Group, or a ‘Street Champion’ 

72-Hour Emergency Kit

A 72-hour emergency kit should contain enough supplies for everyone in your household to be self-sufficient for 72 hours without outside help. This includes essential items like water, food, first aid supplies, medication, and communication devices, and tools. 
 
Here's a more detailed breakdown of what to include in a 72-hour emergency kit:

• Water: At least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. 
• Food: A 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food. 
• First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and other necessary supplies. 
• Medications: Make sure you have at least a 3-day supply at all times of all essential medications. 
• Communication: A battery-powered or wind-up radio, and a mobile phone with chargers and a power bank. 
• Torch: A reliable torch with extra batteries, or a wind-up torch. 
• Tools: A multi-tool, wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
• Cash: Notes and coins in case ATMs or credit cards are unavailable

By carefully selecting and stocking your 72-hour emergency kit, you can be better prepared to face unexpected situations 

Emergency Grab Bag

An Emergency Grab Bag should hold items that would be essential if you had to leave your home at short notice.
In an emergency you may need to move quickly, so it’s important to have necessities at hand.  Ideally, you should pack an easy-to-carry bag with essentials and store it in a safe place where everyone in your family can easily access it.  At the very least, you should make an up-to-date list of things to put into your ‘grab bag’.
Your Grab Bag should contain a copy of your Home Emergency Plan and items which may help you in an emergency.
 
Items you put in the Grab Bag may change seasonally or be dependent on your needs as a household.  It should be checked regularly to make sure perishable items are still in date and all information is up to date.
 
What to put in your Grab Bag

• A small first aid kit and medication
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag
• Copies of prescriptions for regular medication
• A battery torch with spare batteries or a wind-up torch
• A battery radio with spare batteries or wind-up radio
• Bottled water and some non-perishable (canned or dried) emergency foods.  Don’t forget any special food needs.
• Can opener
• Notebook with pen and pencil
• Baby and small children supplies:
• Food, formula, drink
• Change of clothing
• Nappies
• Toys, books, activities
• Spare clothes
• Warm, wind and rainproof clothing including warm jumpers
• Strong outdoors shoes
• Sun hats, sunscreen
• Blanket, sleeping bag
• Spare sets of keys
• Mobile phone and charger and power bank
• Spare money (notes and coins)
• Spare contact lenses, glasses and hearing aids
• Hi-vis jackets or tabards
• Essential/prescribed medication, plus asthma and respiratory aids
• Basic toiletries e.g.: toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary towels, anti-bacterial hand wipes/gel, toilet paper
• Any other items that might provide some comfort if you have to leave your home in a hurry

Other items to consider:

• Copies of insurance documents
• List of useful phone numbers
• Identity documents (passports/drivers licence/birth certificate)
• Rubbish bags
• Thermos flasks
• Pet supplies

The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner has arranged meetings with the Parish Council during the practical stages of the Police HQ External Transformation project. Please see the Meeting Record for the latest meeting here:

Previous Meeting Records are available to view here:

• 26 Aug 2026 - Community Meeting 5
• 14 Jul 2026 - Community Meeting 4
• 8 Jun 2026 - Community Meeting 3
• 6 May 2026 - Community Meeting 2
• 4 Feb 2026 - Community Meeting 1

On 5 October the annual RoSPA Safety Inspection of the children's playground was carried out and is available to view here:

A MEETING OF THE
PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD 

on
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 7:30 pm
at Leek Wootton Village Hall

15 minutes is allowed at the start of the meeting for members of the public to ask questions on any matter relating to the Parish Council’s responsibilities. Members of the public may not take part in the meeting itself and the Parish Council cannot pass a resolution on matters raised during public participation but upon restoration of the standing orders can discuss and agree actions to be taken.  Individual members may speak for up to 5 minutes.

THE PUBLIC AND PRESS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

The agenda is available to view here:

The Parish council was very pleased with the turn-out for the first ‘Community Drop-In session’ held at the Sports Club on Friday, 21 August.  This was an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and opinions on traffic and highways issues in the parish.  County Councillor Ben Edwards was in attendance and was able to provide information on what the County Council is able to do to address highways issues and the costs of various interventions.  Individual roads and the problems encountered there were discussed.

Two particular issues were raised:

• Speeding cars down Hill Wootton Road in Leek Wootton.  Parish Councillors followed this up with Warwickshire Police and the Inspector for Traffic Enforcement was made aware of the problem.  Consequently, a police vehicle was posted in Hill Wootton Road on a subsequent morning, and evidence of traffic infringements obtained.  Obviously, this was just one occasion and will not in itself solve the problem.  Residents are encouraged to report any and all further incidences using the on-line reporting form at https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/making-a-road-traffic-incident-report/ or by telephoning 101.

The Parish Council is keen to hear from any resident who would be prepared to join Community Speedwatch.

• Concerns were expressed by several drivers who had received penalty notices/ letters which seemingly related to driving too close to pedal cyclists, or overtaking them on double-white lines on the Warwick Road.  Parish Councillors consequently requested guidance from the Police and also from Bikeability on this matter.  The information obtained has been summarised and is available on the parish website.  If you have been affected by someone reporting you, or are concerned about this issue, and want to know that you are driving/ riding safely, do please read this and share the information with others.

The next Community Drop-In Session will take place on Thursday: 8 October at 7:45pm at the Village Hall when potential planning developments in and adjacent to the parish will be discussed.  Do come along so that Parish Councillors can hear your views.

Notes on the Highway Code

1. Since the revision of the Highway Code a few years ago, greater emphasis has been placed on the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.  If you haven’t read the Highway Code for some time, do please read the following sections:
   (a) Rules 127 – 132 re line markings
   (b) Rules 162 – 167 re overtaking
   (c) Rules 212 and 213 re cyclists
   
2. In relation to the double white lines on Warwick Road, while Rule 165 states “You MUST NOT overtake if you would have to cross or straddle double white lines with a solid line nearest to you”,  Rule 129 states “You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.”  At the same time, Rule 162 states that, "you should leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph” (which is the speed limit on Warwick Road).  This is a greater distance than one might imagine (remember the 2-metre rule during Covid!) and Rule 163 states that drivers should “Give vulnerable road users at least as much space as you would a car” and Rule 167 explicitly states “DO NOT overtake …. on the approach to crossing facilities” (there is a crossing on Warwick Road).  Thus. residents might want to exercise extreme caution before overtaking on this stretch of road, particularly in bad weather or at night. The Highway Code
   
3. Children who undertake Bikeability training are taught about primary and secondary road positions.  As there is no reference to these in the Highway Code, we have sought further explanation to help both drivers and cyclists.  The information we have been given by Bikeability is as follows:
   
   “Although the Highway Code does not generally use the terms ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ position, the principles are reflected in the guidance provided to cyclists.  Rule 72 states that cyclists should either:
   
   - Ride in the centre of their lane where this improves visibility or where it would be unsafe for drivers to overtake, such as when approaching junctions, road narrowings or other hazards.
   
   - Position themselves further left when it is safe and appropriate for vehicles to overtake, whilst maintaining a safe distance from the kerb.
   
   Within cycle training, these positions are often described as ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ position, including Bikeability training delivered in schools, to help cyclists understand how to position themselves safely and effectively on the road (www.bikeability.org.uk)
   
   We also use more child friendly language to describe these.  Our preferred terms are ‘follow me’ for primary and ‘pass me’ for secondary, as we find these are easier to understand.  We encourage the use of dynamic road positioning, meaning cyclists should continuously assess conditions and adjust their position according to the road environment, traffic speed, visibility and hazards.  In terms of driver awareness, the Highway Code changes introduced in 2022 placed greater emphasis on safe interaction with vulnerable road users.  The aim is not to give cyclists priority over other road users, but rather to help them position themselves in a way that maximises visibility, predictability and safety.  Drivers are expected to recognise that cyclists may ride in the centre of a lane where this is the safest position.  Increasing awareness amongst all road users of why cyclists sometimes ride centrally can help reduce misunderstanding and improve safety.  As the Highway Code evolves, there is increasing recognition that understanding these principles benefits both cyclists and drivers, particularly on rural roads where vehicle speeds may be higher and overtaking opportunities more limited.  How we effectively raise awareness of this is a constant challenge for us and other active travel organisations”.
   
4. Electric vehicles can be significantly quieter than conventional petrol or diesel vehicles, particularly at lower speeds.  As a result, some cyclists and pedestrians may have less auditory warning of an approaching vehicle.  To address this, regulations now require many electric and hybrid vehicles to be fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), which emits an artificial sound at lower speeds to help alert other road users to the vehicle's presence.  Bikeability say:
   
   “Cycle training generally encourages riders not to rely solely on hearing when assessing traffic.  Instead, cyclists are taught to make regular observations, including looking behind, checking over their shoulder before changing position, and maintaining awareness of the wider traffic environment.”
   
5. Residents, whether or not they are drivers, non-drivers or cyclists, may not be aware of Operation Snap.  As part of Operation Snap, members of the public can report and submit digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences.  This includes dangerous driving, using a mobile phone, driving without due care and attention, careless driving, overtaking on solid white lines, not in proper control, ignoring traffic lights or dangerous driving around other road users, such as horse riders and cyclists.  Incidents can be reported directly to the Force where the incident occurred but the public is encouraged to use the National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDSP).  Footage can be uploaded from any dash cam, mobile phone or any other type of camera.  Submissions about moving traffic offences will be sent to the police force where the alleged offence occurred and will be reviewed by a road traffic police officer.  The options for police action following review are No Further Action, Driver Education Course, Fixed Penalty Notice or Summons to Court.  For more information about Operation Snap, go to https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/police-forces/warwickshire-police/areas/warwickshire-police/campaigns/campaigns/2019/operation-snap/
   
6. As with many road safety initiatives, Operation Snap reports involving cyclists can sometimes highlight differing perceptions between cyclists and drivers regarding road positioning and overtaking.  In recent years, some submissions have related to close passes, overtaking manoeuvres, or drivers attempting to pass cyclists where insufficient space was available.  As vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders are deemed to be at much greater risk of serious injury and death than those in cars, the priority will always be to protect those most vulnerable.

The Parish Council met on 2 September 2026. The minutes were approved and signed at the meeting on 7 October and are available to view here:

The Parish Council has responded to the South Warwickshire Local Plan Reg 19 Consultation as follows:

Leek Wootton & Guy’s Cliffe Parish Council objects to the allocation KEN.1 – Land to the South of Kenilworth.

The inclusion of this site at the scale proposed makes the South Warwickshire Local Plan unsound, failing multiple tests of soundness: justified, effective, and consistent with national policy.

1. The allocation is not justified
A plan is justified only if it is based on a proportionate evidence base and considers reasonable alternatives. KEN.1 fails this test for several reasons:

• Scale far exceeds the settlement’s functional capacity Kenilworth is a constrained historic town with limited transport capacity, limited employment land, and no realistic ability to absorb a strategic-scale new community without severe impacts on movement, landscape, and local services.
• Evidence base does not support a strategic expansion of this magnitude The Regulation 19 evidence does not demonstrate that Kenilworth is an appropriate or sustainable location for growth of this scale compared with other reasonable alternatives across South Warwickshire.
• Reasonable alternatives have not been properly assessed other locations with demonstrably better transport connectivity, employment proximity, and infrastructure capacity have not been fully explored or compared against KEN.1 in a transparent way.

2. The allocation is not effective
Effectiveness requires that the plan be deliverable over the plan period and based on effective joint working.

• Infrastructure requirements are unachievable within the plan period The level of transport, education, health, and utilities infrastructure required to support KEN.1 is not evidenced as deliverable. No funded or committed schemes exist to mitigate the impacts of hundreds of new dwellings.
• Transport impacts cannot be mitigated Kenilworth’s constrained road network, reliance on pinch points, and lack of strategic road capacity mean that the development would generate severe residual impacts—contrary to national policy.
• No credible phasing or delivery strategy the plan does not demonstrate how KEN.1 can be phased without causing unacceptable cumulative impacts on Kenilworth and surrounding settlements.

3. The allocation is not consistent with national policy
National policy requires plans to promote sustainable patterns of development, protect valued landscapes, and avoid severe transport impacts.

• Unsustainable pattern of development KEN.1 forces major growth into a location with limited employment opportunities, requiring significant out commuting and increasing car dependency.
• Landscape harm the site lies within sensitive landscape areas that contribute to the setting of Kenilworth and the wider South Warwickshire character and the separation of Kenilworth from the Villages and Hamlets of the adjacent Parishes. The scale proposed is incompatible with safeguarding landscape character, contrary to NPPF requirements.
• Failure to avoid severe transport impacts the evidence does not demonstrate that the impacts on the A46, local junctions, Kenilworth’s internal network, and the road system in and around Leek Wootton can be mitigated to acceptable levels.

4. The scale of KEN.1 undermines the soundness of the entire plan
The SWLP relies heavily on KEN.1 as a major growth location. Because the allocation is neither justified nor deliverable, the plan’s overall spatial strategy collapses. The plan becomes:

• Over dependent on a single undeliverable site
• Unable to meet housing and employment needs in a sustainable pattern.
• Structurally unsound because its growth strategy is not achievable. If KEN.1 cannot be delivered at the scale proposed, the plan cannot meet its stated objectives or housing trajectory. This renders the entire SWLP unsound.

Action to Make Plan Sound
To render the Plan sound, the allocation must be either (a) removed or significantly reduced in scale, or (b) amended to include binding, enforceable policy requirements obliging developers to fully fund and deliver all necessary transport infrastructure upgrades prior to occupation, secured through legally binding mechanisms such as Section 106 agreements or other similar enforceable conditions.

The Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner has arranged meetings with the Parish Council during the practical stages of the Police HQ External Transformation project. Please see the Meeting Record for the latest meeting here:

Previous Meeting Records are available to view here:

• 14 Jul 2026 - Community Meeting 4
• 8 Jun 2026 - Community Meeting 3
• 6 May 2026 - Community Meeting 2
• 4 Feb 2026 - Community Meeting 1

Application No: W/26/1172
Description: Proposed erection of a replacement front porch and single-storey side and rear extension, with changes in fenestration.
Address: The Old Barn, Hill Wootton Road, Hill Wootton, Warwick, CV35 7PP

LW&GC PC Comment: No objection
WDC Decision: Pending

Link to on-line application documents