Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the forthcoming year.

The Democratic Services Officer asked for nominations for chairman of the Area Board.

Decision

To elect Councillor Alan MacRae as chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the forthcoming year.

To elect a Vice Chairman for the forthcoming year.

The Chairman asked for nominations for vice chairman of the Area Board.

Decision

To elect Councillor Sheila Parker as vice chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the forthcoming year.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to Box Pavilion and introduced the councillors sitting on the area board.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ruth Hopkinson from Corsham Town Council.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2013.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2013 and to sign these as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following chairman’s announcements:

·         Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026: Further Consultation

·         Safeguarding Thresholds

The chairman made the following announcements:

(a)  Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026: Further Consultation

The consultation provided an opportunity to make comments on a further four sub-documents of the Local Transport Plan. 

(b)  Revised Multi-Agency Thresholds for Safeguarding Children 2013

A thorough review of guidance on safeguarding thresholds had taken place and a revised document and practitioners’ toolkit can be found at www.wiltshirepathways.org and at www.wiltshirelscb.org.  Views and comments can be sent to Pathways@wiltshire.gov.uk.

(c)  Ideas for Future Area Board Items

The chairman explained that he was keen to encourage more public engagement with the area board.  For this reason he asked people to put forward ideas for topics and issues for discussion at future area board meetings.  These should not be single issues or complaints as these can be fed into the “issues” system but wider topics for discussion would be welcomed.  Anyone with ideas should inform Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager on 07979 318504 or email dave.roberts@wiltshire.gov.uk.

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)  Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN)

(f)   Chamber of Commerce

(g)  Shadow Community Operations Board

(a)  Police and Crime Commissioner

Angus McPherson informed the area board that the Police and Crime Plan had now been published.  This would enable further public engagement in policing to take place.  Two priorities for future funding were neighbourhood watch schemes and speedwatch.  These were both important to ensure that communities become more resilient.

(b)  Wiltshire Police

Sergeant Nick Cooke highlighted some of the offences that had been dealt with over the last few months.   These included possession of cannabis, shed break ins, thefts from motor vehicles and shoplifting.  The police had been working with the Council’s licensing officers regarding problems at the Royal Oak public house.  There had also been proactive patrols in Springfield Park following complaints regarding anti social behaviour and underage drinking.

In response to a question Sgt Cooke confirmed that the enquiry into the recent raid on the Katherine Park Co-op were ongoing.

(c)  Fire and Rescue Service

Mike Franklin reported that there was now a new Fire Authority and its first meeting would take place on 30 May 2013.  The integrated risk management plan would soon be approved and this would be brought to the area board.  The recent Sir Kenneth Knight report regarding the fire service in England and Wales stated that fires had reduced by 48%.  Partnership working was continuing in Wiltshire, however, there had been a slight increase in fires in April.

(d)  NHS

Written reports were included in the agenda papers including a statement regarding the NHS 111 number.

(e)  Box Parish Council

Cllr Pauline Lyons had been elected as chairman of the Parish Council and Cllr Alan Clench as vice chairman.  Five new councillors had joined the Council in May.  New play equipment had been purchased using Section 106 monies and fitness equipment would be purchased shortly.  The Box Revels fun weekend would be taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend on the recreation ground.

(f)   Corsham Town Council

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson had been elected as chairman of the Town Council.  The production of a new strategic plan was a priority for the Council.  There were currently five vacancies on the Town Council and 2 June was the closing date for anyone interested in being co-opted.  Armed Forces Day would be taking place on Saturday 29 June between 12 noon and 3pm.

(g)  CCAN

·         CCAN is working on an end of year report to present at the July Area Board meeting.  This will show encouraging progress in some areas of the 2012 update of the Community Plan and in developing the community network during the last year.

·         The budget proposals and new work plan for 2013/14 will also be presented at the July meeting.  The focus will be on tackling more of the community priorities from the plan. 

·         The plan will reflect the new way of working that has been explored since the autumn.  This involves moving away from a formal steering group and committee style meetings to focus instead on encouraging the network and supporting local projects.  CCAN  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To view a DVD and receive a presentation from Emma Townsend, Contracts and Commissioning Lead – Disabilities, regarding autism.

The Area Board received a presentation from Emma Townsend and Patti Harrison regarding autism.  It was important to raise awareness and understanding of autism and to find out where the local area can help.

Some of the characteristics of a person with autism could be:

•         Sensory differences

•         Vulnerability

•         Anxiety and fears

•         Obsessions and rituals

•         Inflexible thinking

•         Keeping things the same

•         Not generalising experiences

•         Difficulties ‘mind reading’

However, it should be recognised that each person with autism is different – “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism”.

·         Social skills training is important for people with autism as they can find this difficult.

·         The presenters asked those present to reflect and share the information they had heard.

·         It was noted that there was currently a pathfinder project taking place at Wiltshire Council which involved changes to the age at which people with learning difficulties were considered to be “adults”.  Work was underway to ensure that this was more flexible and to ensure that people only transferred to adult services when they were ready instead of automatically transferring at age 18.

The chairman thanked Emma and Patti for a very informative presentation.

To meet Paul Bollen the new community co-ordinator for the local highways and streetscene service.

Chris Clark the Area Manager for Local Highways and Streetscene gave a presentation regarding the new contract which had been awarded to Balfour Beatty and started on 1 June 2013.

·         The contract covered services such as repair of potholes and grass cutting.

·         In each area there would be a Community Co-ordinator who would be the first point of contact.  The Coordinator will be responsible for the management of the local highway and streetscene assets and the community priorities.  This person will also give feedback to Parish and Town Councils.

·         The Community Coordinator for the Corsham area is Gemma Winslow.

She is based at Bowerhill, Melksham. 

·         There will also be an area engineer who will deal with service delivery.  This involves the provision of technical support and strategic service provision across two community board areas.  Feedback to the Area Boards will be undertaken by the Engineer at the Community Area Transport Groups.

·         The Engineer for the Corsham area is Paul Bollen and he is based at Bowerhill, Melksham.

·         A workshop for Parish and Town Council engagement would take place on Weds 5 June 2013 from 6pm to 8pm at the Monkton Park Offices, Chippenham.

·         The aim of the new service was to provide a more bespoke approach for the community areas.

·         Contact numbers for Gemma and Paul are as follows:

Community Co-ordinator – Gemma Winslow – Tel 01225 712810 or email gemma.winslow@wiltshire.gov.uk

Area Engineer – Paul Bollen – Tel 01225 712810 – mobile 07712 490089 or email paul.bollen@wiltshire.gov.uk

To receive a presentation from Councillor Allan Bosley from Corsham Town Council.  The market town benchmarking report relating to Corsham is available on the website using the following link http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=162&MId=7406&Ver=4

Cllr Allan Bosley gave a presentation to the Area Board regarding retail vitality in Corsham Town Centre.

·         Corsham Town Council had carried out a benchmarking exercise to understand what it could do to ensure that Corsham has a vibrant town centre and high street.

·         It was also important to understand the market town’s role in the community area.

·         Action for Market Towns had carried out some research across the county and throughout the country.

·         People made the following comments:

o   Re-introduce one hour free parking

o   More events and free activities

o   Better transport

o   Too many kids hanging around

o   More for children

o   Make crossings safer

o   More hotel bedrooms in or close to the town

o   More shops

o   Fewer charity shops

·         The results of the research carried out showed:

o   80% of shops in Corsham are ‘independent’ (the national average was 66%)

o   87% have been based in the town for more than 10 years (national average 53%)

o   Footfall was lower than national picture (but good by regional comparison)

o   90% praised the town’s ‘appearance’ (29% better than regional average)

o   68% rated shops as good or very good (50% higher than any comparison)

o   There was room for improvement (for example, parking, changes to the retail offering and more for young people)

·         What happens next?

o   The study is available from the Town Council and is on the website at www.corsham.gov.uk

o   Signposting

o   Working with, and for, others

o   Corsham has fared better than most in the current economic climate but cannot afford to be complacent.

To receive an update from Elizabeth Devon on the Box Rocks Circus project which received grant funding from the Corsham Area Board.

The Area Board received a presentation regarding the Box Rock Circus from Elizabeth Devon.

·         Box Rock Circus was a project that received funding from the Corsham Area Board.

·         It is a circle of fossils and minerals located on the Box recreation ground.

·         Elizabeth Devon informed the area board of the work that had gone into creating the structure and gave details of the leaflets and website that had been produced to publicise it.

·         The circus was being used as part of the school curriculum.

·         The formal opening had taken place on 14 May 2013 by Iain Stewart.

·         Future plans included more school visits, visits by the disabled, inclusion on AONB walks, inclusion on Cotswold Voluntary Wardens’ walks and the production of an Explore Guide.

·         Elizabeth thanked the area board for its support for this unusual and successful project.

To receive an update regarding the Box speedwatch scheme.

Paul Rylands and Roger Boulton gave a presentation regarding the very successful Box Community Speedwatch scheme and the separate group called “Give Box a Brake”.

·         Box was a village with the main A4 and A365 roads cutting through it.  The roads have huge commercial and social importance and were important for emergency services.  However, safety of residents was a concern.

·         The Box speedwatch scheme had been formed following a serious accident on the A4 in September 2012.  It now had 26 trained members.

·         The schemes’ mission was to promote improved road safety in Box.

·         Its vision was a lasting change in drivers’ behaviour.

·         Its approach was through cooperation, collaboration and consensus

·         Its method was research, consultation and discussion.

·         Those involved with speedwatch had sought the support of pedestrians and had worked with the police service and local school to run a speed awareness campaign.

·         It had become clear that often speeding began on the outskirts of the village and so this had to be controlled.  It was important not to focus solely on speeding through the village itself.

·         With only £230 the impact of the scheme had been:

o   1. Zero accidents in the visible area of operation

o   2. Box Community Speed Watch training and activation

o   3. Regular meetings and activities with the Police

o   4. Over 400 views per day on Facebook

o   5. Video 'evidence' on YouTube and over 650 views

o   6. The Wharf Bus Stop re-defined and extended pedestrian 'right of way' painted along the A4

o   7. Two New 'Metro Counts' completed

o   8. All signage rationalised

o   9. Ben Hamilton-Baille author of 'Traffic in Villages' is now in the loop as a consultant and Box is linked to sister villages in Wiltshire

o   10. Regular articles in the Parish Magazine

·         The scheme was an excellent example of various different bodies and organisations working together to improve road safety.

·         The group thanked PC Mandy Ball for the support she had given to the speedwatch scheme.

·         A show of hands revealed that the majority of those present at the meeting were in favour of the provision of a mobile speed camera for Box to help improve road safety.

·         Those people in favour of the above proposal were urged to contact Cllr John Thomson, Cabinet member for Highways and Broadband.

·         The Area Board congratulated those involved with both Community Speedwatch and Give Box a Brake on the hard work they had undertaken to improve road safety in the village.

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

Colerne Old School Playgroup - £1,500 to install an interactive smart board.

The area board considered one community area grant application

Decision

To award £1,500 to Colerne Old School Playgroup towards a project to install an interactive smart board.

Reason for Decision: The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan – “activities for young people.”

ACTION: Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager

To appoint representatives to local outside bodies and to working groups of the area board.

The area board considered appointments to outside bodies and working groups.

Decision

(1)  To agree the following appointments to outside bodies:

Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN) – Cllr Sheila Parker

Corsham Pound Arts Centre – Cllr Alan MacRae

Corsham Youth Issues Group – Cllrs Philip Whalley and Sheila Parker

(2)  To agree to reconstitute the following working groups:

(a)  Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – To comprise of:

Corsham Area Board Councillors (4)

Representatives from Corsham Town Council

Representatives from Box Parish Council

Representative from Colerne Parish Council

Representative from Lacock Parish Council

Representatives from CCAN

(b)  Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) – To comprise of:

Allan Bosley – Local Town and Parish Council Rep

Steve Hammond – User and Community Group Rep

Patrick Kelly – User and Community Group Rep

Anna Mackie – User and Community Group Rep

Sally Fletcher – User and Community Group Rep

Christine Reid – Wider Community Rep

Marcus Chapman – Education and Young People Rep

Alan MacRae – Area Board Member Rep

(3)  To note the terms of reference for the Working Groups as set out in Appendix C of the report.

ACTION: Marie Todd, Area Board and Member Support Manager

To note that future meeting dates will take place on:

Thursday 18 July 2013 – Colerne Village Hall – 7pm

Thursday 19 September 2013 – Lacock Village Hall – 7pm

Thursday 21 November 2013 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

Thursday 23 January 2014 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

Thursday 20 March 2014 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

It was noted that future meetings of the area board will take place on:

Thursday 18 July 2013 – Colerne Village Hall – 7pm

Thursday 19 September 2013 – Lacock Village Hall – 7pm

Thursday 21 November 2013 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

Thursday 23 January 2014 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

Thursday 20 March 2014 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm