These notes incorporate some but not all of the matters discussed at the HTC meeting on 4 November 2024, the agenda for which can be found here. The official minutes of the meeting will in due course be found on the HTC site. Any references below to “the meeting” refer to this event unless specified otherwise. Any such issues are not necessarily covered here in the order in which they were discussed. This report may also include information about HTC’s activities which were not discussed at the meeting.
Full Council Meetings generally take place at 7pm in the Library on the first working Monday of every month, or on the first Tuesday if the first Monday is a bank holiday.
The agenda for the future meetings (as well as for the Council’s various committee meetings) can be found in this section of the HTC website.
See the foot of this post for more information.
HTC = Hungerford Town Council; WBC = West Berkshire Council; WAPC = WBC’s WBC’s Western Area Planning Committee. NDP = Neighbourhood Development Plan. H2036 = Hungerford’s NDP (so-called until October 2023). HNP = Hungerford’s NDP (from October 2023). DC = District Councillor; TVP = Thames Valley Police.
For HTC updates from previous months, please visit the archives here.
Questions from the public
Susan Hofgartner of Below Stairs drew HTC’s attention to the fact that the Town-centre Strategy Group (TCSG) appeared to be supporting a plan which would lose four parking spaces, something which she said the town’s retailers were opposed to. The Mayor stressed that the TCSG has so far decided nothing and that this is one of several proposals which are being looked at.
Further discussion and questions followed during which Susan Hofgartner again referred to the concern about parking spaces. Councillors Keates said that the whole town-centre strategy project had been initiated in something of a rush by WBC in 2022 and has sailed into some choppy waters since the TCSG was established last year. The deliberations had, Councillor Hudson added, proved to be difficult and sometimes divisive and that all parties should exercise restraint.
Councillor Cole (who also chairs the TCSG) said the TCSG was looking at possible projects that had been identified by WBC’s consultation in 2022-23. He conceded that changing the composition of the group might help its future work. He also said that so far, none of the proposals regarding the proposed pedestrianised area near the Town Hall were acceptable to WBC, which was a fundamental problem. Councillor Fyfe added that the last meeting of the TCSG agreed to have some visualisations done which might present a way forward.
The Mayor concluded the discussion by thanking Susan Hofgartner and the other members of the public who had attended and that HTC was aware that the needs and concerns of the retailers were important (as too were those of other groups, including HTC). She added that the task of finding common ground and representing the interests of the whole town may prove insuperable under the TCSG as there were so many points of view being expressed.
Presentation by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue (RBFRS)
Matt Riley, who manages all the on-call stations in Berkshire including Hungerford’s, gave a brief presentation of RBFRS’s work. The most visible aspect of this is running the service from the tri-station. This was currently operational about 50% of the time (so hitting the RBFRS’s targets for such centres), with 12 retained staff. His aim was to get this closer to 18 and stressed that vacancies existed for full-time and on-call firefighters, details of which can be found here. From 1 January 2025 charges to hours and conditions were being introduced which should make the positions more attractive.
As regards response times to incidents in Hungerford, if the town’s base is operational this was likely to be about five minutes: if it wasn’t and the crew had to come from Newbury it would be ten to fifteen. He said that there had recently been two fire-related deaths in Hungerford and that it was possible there might have been a different outcome were the local team been able to respond. He pointed that both had happened in the day time: this is more challenging in recruitment terms as most on-call firefighters have jobs from which it’s hard to absent themselves.
In addition, the RBFRS also runs a number of help and advice schemes, including safe and well visits, safety inspections, adults at risk, fire-risk reduction and support for those who feel they’re threatened by arson. He was also hoping to be able to get the Hungerford Landrover equipped to deal with flood rescue, this being another aspect of the service’s work. More information on all the RBFRS services can be found here.
In response to a question, Matt Riley confirmed that space was indeed tight at the tri-station, which had not been originally designed for all the uses to which it’s now being put. He was confident that the three services could continue to co-exist there. He also added that as this building was fairly new and as there were other stations elsewhere that were in far greater need of repair, there was no immediate prospect of any extension or modifications.
Any Q&A session with the fire service is always likely to turn to the question of the old trope about cats stuck up trees: this one was no exception. Matt Riley confirmed that the first call should be to the RSPCA. Cats were, he said, usually pretty adapt at eventually extracting themselves from predicaments like this: however, if the cat was still stuck after about 24 hours (at which point there might be a danger to the cat or to humans trying to rescue them) a further call to the RSPCA should then produce a request for the fire and rescue service to intervene.
The Mayor’s report
Opening of the Judiciary Reading Minster
Councillor Knight attended this annual event with me. The chain gang come together alongside the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Berkshire to mark the opening of the judicial year. This event is always very well attended and highlights the work of the justice system.
Purple Socks campaign: supporting the UN Day of Disability
Supporting local charity Swings and Smiles, we met with a local retailer to launch the campaign in Hungerford. Thank you to the Hungerford Arcade and Hungerford Adviser which are stocking a selection of socks to sell in aid of the charity. Hopefully more retailers will get involved to raise the profile of the needs of disabled people. Let’s turn Hungerford purple on 3rd December
Meeting with Rev Mike Saunders – what can we do to help
Councillors Cole, Coulthurst, Mike and I met to discuss hardship within the local area. We are trying to reach people that may not be obvious within the community, who could use a little support. It was decided that local school headteachers, alongside the foodbank may help to identify local need. It was decided that small hampers with a few Christmas treats might be a way of helping when funds are stretched at this time of year. Some other ideas included a new-baby hamper, basics hamper and new house essentials. St Lawrences will be the base for on-going support. Please ask Councillor Coulthurst for further information if you would like to support.
UN Day
I attended an event organised by Graeme Panting alongside Lee Dillon MP and the Newbury Town Mayor Andy Moore. The event was organised to mark the work of the United Nations. Several speeches were read to mark the vital work carried out by the UN. There was a profound speech which was highlighted theMichael Jackson Man in the Mirror: it was noted that we can all look in the mirror and decide to make a change.
Poppy appeal concert – Hungerford Town Band
I attended the concert held at St Lawrence’s church alongside the Constable. The concert was held to raise money for the Poppy Appeal and Hungerford Town Band. The band were exceptional (as always), we were spoilt with a 10-minute medley of essential Elton John and the band did this music legend total justice. Congratulations Hungerford Town Band. The solo performances were exceptional.
Halloween fancy dress – Royal British Legion
I was asked to attend a children’s Halloween party at the RBL and to judge the best fancy dress costumes. I was delighted to see all the effort made with some amazing costumes and face painting. Well done to all those who turned up looking splendid. Four prizes were awarded for the best costumes and runners up. A big shout out to the legion committee who really pulled out the stops for this annual party. The event is paid for by the committee whose members really work hard to decorate and entertain the children. Well done team!
District Parish Conference
Several councillors and the Town Clerk attended the conference at WBC. The meeting was well attended. Several speakers delivered presentations on and including the Library Service, Climate and Ecological Emergency, Berkshire Youth, Waste Management to name a few. There are many consultations that members of the public can complete if they’d like their viewpoint heard and recorded. Details of all active WBC consultations can be found here.
Devolution, with parish and town councils paying for increased services currently provided by WBC, was discussed. Supporting WBC to provide additional services like dog poo Bins, waste bins, gully clearing and street-sign cleaning. More discussions alongside careful budget planning will be needed before HTC would or could consider supporting.
REME meeting – planning Remembrance Sunday
Details have been finalised and Hungerford will come together on Sunday 10 November in remembrance and to honour those who served and lost their lives serving.
If you would like to walk with the veterans, please meet outside the Town Hall at 10.30am
District Councillor’s reports
Only DC Gaines was present at the meeting. The points she covered included the following:
- Budget consultation. WBC will be seeking the views of residents on its 2025-26 budget from Monday 11 November. More information can be found here.
- Housing Support Fund. The government has allocated nearly £700,000 to WBC for distribution by 31 March 2025 on projects designed to support households who would otherwise struggle to meet essential housing costs including energy and water bills, food and wider essentials. More information can be found here.
- CIL bids. She congratulated the Town and Manor’s Wetland Reserve project and the Croft Hall for having secured the requested grants. More information can be found here.
- SEN costs. She stressed that this was a huge challenge facing all councils and that WBC was working to provide the most efficient results while also maintaining its statutory services. She warned that both the costs of and the demand for this service were only likely to increase.
- Community forum. Hungerford Town Hall will host the next such event at 6.30pm on Tuesday 19 November (also available remotely) focussing on the cost of living, flood prevention and winter preparedness in West Berkshire. More information can be found here.
- Chestnut Walk. DC Gaines that slow progress was happening on this stalled social-housing project. A number of options were still confidential but she was able to confirm that a number of “imaginative solutions were being actively considered” to resolve the long-running impasse.
Contact details for the Hungerford & Kintbury ward members (and all the other ones) can be found by clicking here.
The Hungerford neighbourhood development plan (HNP)
All the necessary documents were submitted to WBC in early November and it’s now up to to the Council to study these and fix a date for the Regulation 16 consultation. From this point on, the timings of the remaining stages are entirely in the control of WBC and, as regards the external examination, of the Planning Inspectorate.
The Regulation 16 consultation will be given wide publicity when the start date has been agreed. Regulation 16 consultations must run for at least six weeks but this is normally increased to seven if they span the Christmas holidays. Following this and the external examination, the final part of the process is a referendum of all the electors in the parish. Assuming it is approved, the HNP will then be ratified by WBC and will thereafter become as much part of the district’s local plan as if WBC had written it itself.
Assuming that the above stages take place in a reasonably timely fashion, an adoption date in mid 2025 is still achievable.
For more information on the HNP project, see this separate post.
The Hungerford Community Shed
At the September 2024 meeting, a presentation was made about the charity (which is in the process of being formed for Hungerford) using and converting the semi-open part of the Croft Field Centre for its regular weekday activities.
HTC has recently considered the proposal. After a discussion, it was agreed at the October 2024 meeting that it would be happy to support the proposal, subject to a contract which would encompass the points referred to in item FC202400168 of the meeting’s agenda and other matters, such as parking issues and the terms of the reversion.
At the November 2024 meeting, HTC confirmed that solicitors had been asked draw up a lease.
Health and safety issues
Various matters were raised the meeting. These included:
- The chaos caused by a massive lorry carrying railway tracks recently trying to turn into Park Street from the High Street (a notoriously problematic junction) and getting stuck. Network Rail – which appeared to have informed nobody about this impending delivery – has warned that several other lorries will be using the same junction for similar reasons in November.
- Continuing discussions between WBC and HTC about cleaning the York stones in the High Street.
- HTC has reported to WBC problems with the cobbles and the tarmac at the foot of the alleyway from the High Street up to Fairview Road.
Flower tubs
Following a discussion at the September 2024 meeting, the need for tubs was identified. Two can be moved from other locations and two will need to be bought. These will need to more robust than the current ones as they will also be used as unofficial bollards.
The meeting was told that quotes of about £1,500 had been received and it was agreed that HTC would propose this as a members’ bid.
WBC’s soil conditioner
The results of local residents’ recycling of food waste through their caddies are taken to the Padworth recycling centre which, in time, produces soil conditioner for residents to use. Unfortunately for Hungerford, Padworth is at the opposite end of the district and the Mayor questioned if it would be possible for this to be delivered in bulk to other parts of the district.
The meeting was told that the Hungerford Allotment Holders Association (HAHA) was prepared to look into collecting an agreed amount of this in future to a distribution point in Hungerford to be agreed.
Remembrance Day marshalls
Volunteer Marshalls are required for the event on 10 November. If you’re interested, please email townclerk@hungerford-tc.gov.uk.
HTC’s audit
The Responsible Financial Officer, the Clerk and all the staff were congratulated for having achieved another good report following the recent audit of HTC’s financial processes.
The grant for the Hub
Speaking on behalf of the Hungerford Hub, Councillor Knight explained that a similar grant of £10,500 was requested for 2025-26. The original intention was that that this support would be reduced over time, though this had not happened. The main problem was, he suggested, one of inflation.
He also pointed out that HTC was about £45,000 better off since 2018 (when the charity took over the building) than it would have been were the old arrangements to have been continued: these advantages included the removal of the request to pay the £1 per resident per year library contrition (which is voluntary, though many other parishes contribute to it), the removal of rental that would have been paid to WBC for HTC’s office, HTC’s use of it for meetings and the revenue that’s come from the hub shop.
There are also the advantages that have come from the building been in the town’s control, including being able to install more sustainable heating systems and to re-invent itself as a community hub, so benefitting a wide range of local organisations.
DC Gaines said that that the Hub was held in very high esteem at WBC and was seen as an exemplar of how such buildings could be reinvigorated. The Mayor added that the Library and Hub was a very important resource for the the town. After a short debate, the grant was agreed. In response to a question from Councillor Fyfe, Councillor Knight said that he did not anticipate that this requirement would rise in 2026-27.
Purple socks appeal
A reminder that Sunday 3 December is the International Day of People with Disabilities: this year, the theme is purple socks and the main local beneficiary is Swings and Smiles which though based in Thatcham supports many families in Hungerford. The scheme is supported by Parallel “a disability lifestyle brand with purpose and an attitude of no-limits living.”
Councillor Coulthurst gave a brief summary of the the aims and ambitions of the initiative at the October 2024 meeting and said that she has socks for sale, with all the profits going to Swings and Smiles and Parallel. These will also be available from retailers in Hungerford including Hungerford Printing Company. For more information, email cllr.stella.coulthurst@hungerford-tc.gov.uk.
HTC’s committees
The following committee meetings have recently taken place (“last meeting” refers to the last meeting for which minutes were available on the day this post was published). Environment & Planning generally meets once a month and the others every other month. See the separate section above for meetings relating to the Hungerford neighbourhood Plan and the Town-centre Strategy.
- Environment and Planning. (Last meeting 14 October – click here to see the minutes.) Items covered included: three planning applications (one no objection, one objection and one support); and case officer reports.
- Highways and Transport. (Last meeting 23 September – click here to read the minutes.) Items covered included: actions from the previous meeting, including the York stone cleaning, A-boards, EV chargers and speed limits; the new twi-bins; speeding; CCTV; a new noticeboard; the parking consultation; the Christmas lights contract; and health and safety issues.
- Recreation, Amenities and War Memorials. (Last meeting 12 September – click here to read the minutes.) Items covered included: actions from the previous meeting, including training, tree work, repairs and maintenance and play equipment; the car park at the Rugby Club; grants; the RoSPA inspection; a possible boules court; cleaning the war memorial; bollards; warning signs; and the Cemetery.
- Finance and General Purposes. (Last meeting 11 September – click here to read the minutes.) Items covered included: formal matters; the Tennis Court lease; a review of policies; grant applications; the Community Shed; and staffing matters.
Note: if the links above don’t work, this may be because they were linked to unadopted (draft) minutes which have since been replaced by adopted ones. If so, please visit this page of HTC’s website for the most up-to-date information on meetings past and the agendas of those yet to come.
For details on HTC’s committees, including membership, agendas and minutes, please click here (and go to the “Town Council” tab).
Contacting HTC
HTC can be contacted in the following ways:
- By email to townclerk@hungerford-tc.gov.uk.
- By post to The Town Clerk, Hungerford Town Council, The Library, Church Street, Hungerford RG17 0JG.
- In person at the above address between 10am and 2pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- By phone on 01488 686 195.
Any questions for an HTC meeting need to arrive by 2pm on the day (please allow more time if you have left this on the ansafone).
Members of the public are also welcome to attend any meetings.
Contacting WBC in an emergency
You can also contact West Berkshire Council out of office hours for emergencies. These are considered to include:
- Major incidents such as major accidents or significant flooding.
- Fallen trees and other debris blocking or restricting roads or causing potential danger to road users.
- Traffic lights not working (West Berkshire Council only manages fixed traffic lights, not temporary ones).
- Emergency repairs to council-owned temporary accommodation (tenants of properties should contact their housing association, landlord or agent).
The sections above cover the main issues with which HTC has recently been involved or concerned: it by no means describes all of HTC’s activities. Nor is this an official record of any meeting nor of any other aspect of HTC’s activities. Links to the official minutes of this and other meetings are provided in this post. For more information on HTC, please click here.
If there’s anything that you’d like to see addressed by HTC, and perhaps also covered in this way in future editions of Penny Post Hungerford, please email claire.barnes@hungerford-tc.gov.uk. Any such suggestions should be received at least four working days before the end of the month (and preferably sooner) if they are to be included in the corresponding post for the following month. That is not, of course, to say that HTC will not in any case give the matter its attention and respond personally if appropriate.
This information has been compiled by Penny Post from information supplied by HTC and others. Every reasonable effort has been made to provide a clear and dispassionate summary of the points covered but these may contain expressions of opinion which may not accord with HTC’s official view on the matter. Links have been provided to other posts, on the Penny Post site or elsewhere, to give additional information where this has been judged useful or necessary. The presence of such a link should not be taken to imply that HTC necessarily agrees with, endorses or supports any of the material contained therein.
