Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Area Board meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Philip Glen – Lacock Parish Council

Jennie Hartless – Box Parish Council

Sgt Alex Reid – Wiltshire Police

Anne Keat – Wiltshire Involvement Network

Peter Kallemier – Youth Development Services

Neston Drama Group

Decision

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2011 subject to the following amendments:

(a)  The interest declared by Cllr Alan Macrae to read “personal” interest and not “prejudicial”.

(b)  Ruth Hopkinson to be listed as a member of Corsham Town Council and not Box Parish Council.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following chairman’s announcements:

a)    End of Life Care

b)    Reducing Child Poverty Strategy Consultation

c)    Proposed Changes to Bus Services

d)    Great Western Hospital – NHS Foundation Trust

The chairman made the following announcements:

(a)  End of Life Care

NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire Council and local hospices were joining in with national events planned for “Dying Matters” week 16-20 May.  The aim was to raise awareness of how people can talk about planning for their future care and putting plans in place with their families. 

(b)  Reducing Child Poverty Strategy Consultation

A consultation was currently open regarding the content of the Wiltshire Reducing Child Poverty Strategy.  People were invited to comment on the strategy through the Wiltshire Council website.

(c)  Proposed Changes to Bus Services

As a result of significant reductions in local authority funding, Wiltshire Council had identified changes to some local bus services.  The main changes to services in the Corsham Community Area were:

·         Withdrawal of Sunday evening services after 6.30 / 7pm on services 232 (Bath – Corsham – Chippenham) and 272 (Bath – Box – Melksham – Devizes)

·         Reduction in the frequency of the ZigZag service (Trowbridge – Bradford – Melksham – Corsham – Chippenham) to two-hourly

·         Withdrawal of service X76 which provides a daily shoppers bus from Marlborough to Bath, via Calne, Melksham and Kingsdown

(d)  Great Western Hospital – NHS Foundation Trust

In November 2010 the Trust had been selected as the preferred bidder for the following services:

·         Maternity

·         Children’s and Young People’s Services

·         Adult Services

(e)  Copenacre Site

The Chairman informed the area board that the Copenacre site was now up for sale and that the plans for the site would soon be clear. 

(f)   Guide Dogs for the Blind

Councillor Peter Davis informed the area board that an event in aid of the guide dogs for the blind would take place at Corsham Court on 2 July from 10am to 4pm.  There would be a dog show, craft show, children’s fun area and other activities.

(g)  BANES Proposal to close Cleveland Bridge for a trial 18 months

Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) were planning to issue an order closing the Cleveland Bridge to all lorry traffic for a trial period of eighteen months.

BANES commissioned a consultant's report showing the numbers and weights of lorries within a twelve hour period presently passing over the bridge.   Roadside interviews of HGV drivers took place in November 2009 which claimed to show the effects of the closure and the routes which it was thought the HGV’s would take in order to reach their final destination.

The report also included a map showing four possible alternative routes which displaced lorries might choose to take. It would seem that a proportion of these would divert along the A4 before turning right through Box and Atworth - or alternatively continue along the A4 through Pickwick to its junction with the A350.

The consultants’ report claims the closure will be very limited in its effect on Wiltshire residents "as only six HGVs will divert through the county".  Wiltshire Council would be making representations about this proposal.

Councillor Alan Macrae will present this award to Corsham Primary School and Corsham Regis Primary School.

Councillor Alan Macrae congratulated Corsham Primary School and Corsham Regis Primary School on achieving the Wiltshire Quality Standard in Extended Services. 

To receive any updates from the following partners:

a)    Wiltshire Police

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c)    NHS Wiltshire

d)    Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives

e)    Chamber of Commerce

(a)  Wiltshire Police, Fire and Rescue Service and NHS

Copies of the reports from the above partner services were circulated with the agenda papers.

(b)  Corsham Town Council

The annual meeting of the town council would take place on 7 April at Corsham Town Hall.  The Town Council was working with the Tourist Information Centre and Wiltshire Council to explore the future of the centre.  The Town Council was considering making a sum of £2,500 available to support the centre along with rent free accommodation.

(c)  Colerne Parish Council

The Colerne Village Hall was now showing films.  Work was also progressing on a local footpath project.

Joan Davis, Head of Library Services, will inform the Area Board of the results of the Library Services Review and how this will affect the Corsham Community Area. 

Joan Davis, Head of Library Services, informed the area board of the results of the Library Services Review and how this would affect the Corsham Community Area.

• The review of the service had started in November 2009
• There was a requirement to save £505k over the next two years
• The key results of the consultation were outlined
• The library service would be promoted as the “face of the Council”
• There would be greater community involvement through the use of volunteers
• There would be more investment in self service terminals
• The Wiltshire library service would consist of 21 council operated libraries with rationalised core opening hours,  10 libraries operated in partnership with the community and 5 mobile libraries
• In Corsham all mobile library stops would continue to operate
• Corsham Library opening hours would be reduced from 39.5 to 33 hours
• Box, which was one of Wiltshire’s 10 smallest libraries, accounting for 0.19% of library visits overall, would be operated in partnership with volunteers and supported by the library service
• Self service technology would be introduced to Corsham and Box libraries

The Chairman informed members that a drop in meeting to discuss Basil Hill had been held on 17 March.  The MoD had attended along with 76 members of the public.  All comments made at this meeting would be considered by officers.  A number of different views had been expressed regarding the proposals for parking restrictions.  Further details would be placed on the Council’s website when available.  A traffic regulation order would then be made following the necessary consultation process.

The Chairman then responded to various questions as follows:

·         The traffic regulation order would be permanent.  The two MoD sites would soon be open and would have adequate parking for all staff.  In October an additional 400 parking spaces would be available on the Basil Hill site.

·         The Chairman would ask officers to respond to a question from a Neston resident regarding a second traffic census.

·         The consultation process for a traffic regulation order would take around two months. 

·         The Area Board would continue to encourage the MoD to request that its staff park on site and not in residential areas.

Lucy Murray-Brown, campus lead officer, gave a presentation regarding the development of community campuses across Wiltshire.  The Cabinet had approved the principle of five pilot campus schemes and one of these would be built in Corsham.  The following issues were covered:

•         A campus is a building, or buildings, in a community area that will provide the services the local community needs in an accessible location

•         Local community involvement would be critical to the success

•         A campus would reduce the long term financial, environmental and operational pressures on operating aging, low quality buildings

•         There was potential to co-locate with partner and voluntary organisations

•         The council would explore wide ranging innovative management and operational arrangements

•         The core criteria to all campus buildings included shared reception, community space, accessible IT provision, personal care facilities and catering facilities

•         Phase two of the community consultation was currently taking place, up to 11 April

•         The Area Board would then consider proposals in April/May 2011

•         Cabinet consideration would take place in spring 2011 if the Area Board decides to put forward any recommendations

•         Detailed design and planning would be carried out in spring/summer 2011

•         Construction would take place from autumn 2011

•         The Community Campus would be in place by summer 2012

•         The Area Board was asked if it would like to consider setting up a Shadow Community Operations Board comprising of 8 members and expression of interest forms to be a member of this group were available at the meeting.

•         The Area Board was asked to consider the draft terms of reference for a Shadow Community Operations Board.

The following issues were then discussed:

·         There was some concern about the level of consultation that had taken place.  CCAN confirmed that they had carried out as wide a consultation as they had been able to including the outlying areas.

·         The community would be encouraged to take part in the development of the campus and to put forward their requirements for the campus.

·         A suggestion was put forward that the method of “enquiry by design” could be used as a tool to engage the community in the design of the campus.

·         Options were open as to the exact siting of the campus as final consideration and approval would be done by the Cabinet

·         Inspector Lange from Wiltshire Police stated that the police were currently undergoing large scale reorganisation and with the development of the campus were keen to work with the council on this project.    The current police station was not fit for purpose and the campus offered an excellent opportunity to co-locate which was a positive step for neighbourhood policing.

Decision

(1)  The Area Board shall be the conduit through which consultation regarding the community campus will take place and shall act as the local decision making body on this project. 

(2)  A Shadow Community Operations Board, representative of stakeholder and community interests be established, to work with Wiltshire Council in developing a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN) will provide an update on their workplan and request the first tranche of funding for 2011/2012.

The area board considered a report by the Partnership Development Officer which sought the area board’s approval to provide core funding to CCAN covering the financial year 2011/12.

It was noted that CCAN’s main responsibility over the last few months had been the community campus consultation.  The CCAN annual workplan for 2011/12 was circulated with the agenda papers.

The Chairman of CCAN thanked Wiltshire Council and the Corsham Area Board for their support and also Kevin Gaskin, the CCAN co-ordinator and the Steering Committee for all the work they had undertaken over the last year.

Decision

(1)  To approve the payment of the whole year’s core funding of £8,900 with an agreement to release the first tranche of £4,450 from 1 April 2011.

(2)  To agree to the release of the second tranche in early autumn as long as conditions set by the Partnership Development Officer and agreed by the Board have been met.

ACTION: Dave Roberts and Andrew Jack

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider the following applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme:

·         Wiltshire Wyverns Rugby League Club - £800

·         Jamie’s Farm Box - £5,000

·         Colerne Village Hall Association - £5,000

·         Neston Drama Group - £1,000

·         Mansion House Playgroup - £1,032

The area board considered one application for 2010/11 community area grant funding and four applications for 2011/12 community area grant funding.

It was noted that all applications met the grant criteria for the respective financial years.

Decision

From the 2010/11 community area grants budget:

(1)  To award Wiltshire Wyverns Rugby League Club £800 to purchase new kit, subject to an agreement from Corsham Rugby Club to allow use of premises, facilities and pitch.

Reason for Decision

The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan providing new sporting activities in the community.

From the 2011/12 community area grants budget:

(2)  To award £5,000 to Jamie’s Farm in Box to install a kitchen space within a barn conversion as a therapy kitchen space, subject to the balance of funding and planning permission being in place.

Reason for Decision

The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan in relation to education and lifelong learning, improving facilities which will enhance the community as a whole and promoting local food and produce.

(3)  To award £5,000 to Colerne Village Hall Association to install 21 solar panels onto the roof of the building to enable the building to become more self sufficient, subject to planning permission and the balance of funding being in place.

Reason for Decision

The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan by providing meeting places for members of the community.

(4)  To award Neston Drama Group £1,000 to install and upgrade stage lighting.

Reason for Decision

The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan by improving facilities which will enhance the community as a whole and offering facilities and activities for people.

(5)  To award the Mansion House Playgroup £1,032 to install an all weather shelter to enable children to use an outdoor space for longer periods of time, subject to planning permission and the balance of funding being put in place.

Reason for Decision

The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan by improving facilities which will enhance the community as a whole, offering facilities and activities for young people and building a sustainable and resilient community.

ACTION: Dave Roberts

It was noted that meetings of the Corsham Area Board would take place on the following dates:

Thursday 2 June 2011- Corsham Town Hall

Thursday 18 August 2011 – Corsham Town Hall

Thursday 20 October 2011 – Corsham Town Hall

Thursday 1 December 2011 – The Pavilion, Box

Thursday 2 February 2012 – Corsham Town Hall

Thursday 22 March 2012 – Corsham Town Hall