Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Corsham Area Board meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Jennie Hartless – Box Parish Council

David Martin – Clerk to Corsham Town Council

Inspector Phil Staynings – Wiltshire Police

Mike Franklin – Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

David Poynton

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2013.

Decision

To sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2013 subject to the following amendment:

In minute number 13 reword to ensure it is clear that the Community Speedwatch and Give Box a Brake are two separate groups.

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 announcement:

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Draft Safety Plan 2013-16 “Have your say”.

(a)  Local Debate at Area Board Meetings

The Chairman reported that the area board was looking for ideas from the local community for future agenda items prior to the area board meeting on 19 September.  Any ideas and suggestions raised would be explored and may appear on the agenda for subsequent area board meetings.

If anyone has any suggestions they should get in touch with the Community Area Manager, Dave Roberts before 5 August 2013 giving details of the proposed item and why it should be debated.  Forms for this purpose were circulated at the meeting.  Issues should be of community concern and something that the Corsham Area Board or Wiltshire Council is able to influence.

Contact Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager email: dave.roberts@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 07979 318504.

(b)  Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Draft Safety Plan 2013–16 – Have your say

It was noted that the new draft Public Safety Plan 2013–16 (Integrated Risk Management Plan) was now available to view on the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service website.  Any thoughts and opinions on the plan should be sent to consultation@wiltsfire.gov.uk or to Sarah Hargreaves, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ, Manor House, Potterne, SN10 5PP.

To view the plan please use the following link or for a paper copy contact Sarah Hargreaves as above.

http://www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/About_Us/Publications/publications.htm

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

(f)   Shadow Community Operations Board

(a)  Police, Fire and Rescue Service and NHS

Written reports were circulated with the agenda papers.

(b)  Box Parish Council

Box was pleased to have won the first round of the Best Kept Village competition and a photograph had featured in the Daily Telegraph.  CampFest was taking place at the weekend which was an event for primary school children and held on the Recreation Ground.  The Council had met with other Parish Councils recently to find out what particular issues they had in common and considered the possibility of joint training and other matters.

(c)  Colerne Parish Council

The Parish allotments had, unfortunately, been broken into in the previous week.  The Colerne skatepark project was moving forward and the “Fun in the Sun” days were being finalised.

(d)  Corsham Town Council

The recent armed forces day event had been a great success and thanks was given to Wiltshire Council for the free parking allowed on the day. 

A meeting about how to commemorate the First World War would be taking place on 23 July at 7.30pm at Corsham Town Hall.

A benchmarking brainstorming session would soon be held with traders to discuss the vibrancy of the town centre.

The campus construction was now well underway and some work was being carried out with Bath Spa University to consider how to improve Springfield.

Refurbishment of the Town Hall and Arnold House would soon be taking place.  There were currently plans for a number of developments in the Corsham area and the Town Council welcomed the community’s views on these.  Comments should be fed through to the Town Council and the developers.

(e)  Lacock Parish Council

The one way system was now in place in Lacock High Street and was proving very successful.

(f)   Corsham Chamber of Commerce

A network event had taken place on 12 June with two speakers.  A further event would be held on 10 July at the Royal Oak in Corsham.  This would be open to anyone and not just members of the Chamber of Commerce.  The linkedin group was growing in numbers.  The Executive had met on 20 June and identified ways the Chamber could be improved in the future.  Another networking event would also be held at the Pound Arts Centre on 11 September at lunchtime.

(g)  Community Operations Board

A written report was circulated.  The group was now looking at the façade and colour scheme.  The governance of the campus was also being considered along with how to ensure community resilience to help unite the whole area around the campus.

Ian White, Head of Service Passenger Transport, will speak to the Area Board about the current bus service review.

The Area Board received a presentation from Ian White, Head of Service Passenger Transport, regarding the review of council funded bus services and how this was likely to affect the Corsham area.

The following issues were discussed:

The Council recognises the importance of good public transport however:

•         There is pressure on public spending increasing year by year

•         The financial plan has a requirement to make savings

•         Contract prices are beginning to rise again

•         For this reason reviews are taking place looking for more financially sustainable ways of meeting these needs

•         The review includes all services financially supported by the council, focussing mainly on services which are poorly used or expensive to provide.  Commercial services are no included in the review as the council has no control over the route or timetable of these services.

Zig Zag Service

•         The Council is currently consulting on proposed changes to the Zig Zag service, but other supported services will also be reviewed in due course

•         The Zig Zag service is poorly used.  There are 28,500 single passenger trips per year.

•         There are on average only eight passengers on the whole length of each bus journey

•         Use is particularly low north of Melksham

•         The service is expensive to provide costing £108,000 per year, the subsidy for each single passenger trip is around £3.70 and costs are expected to rise when re-tendered.

•         The proposed timetable reduces cost by using fewer vehicles, retains a similar service south of Melksham, fewer journeys north of Melksham, and none to Chippenham .  This should still meet the needs of many users.

•         The Council is also looking for other ways of meeting needs at an affordable cost – suggestions are invited.

•         A letter and information sheet regarding the consultation has been sent out via Area Board managers

•         There is a questionnaire for bus users – available on the bus and on website which asks for specific information on needs that would not be met.  The consultation closes on 2 August 2013.

•         Information from the consultation will be considered before a decision is made

•         Tenders to operate will then be invited and implementation will begin in January 2014.

Corsham Town Service

•         The service had been expanded with Basil Hill developer funding, which runs out soon

•         Current use does not justify two buses running the service

•         Options being considered including a single loop with 30 minute frequency and retention of current routes but with hourly frequency

•         A consultation would take place in summer/autumn for implementation early in 2014.

Commercial Services

•         Route, timetables and fares controlled by the operator not the council

•         Two operators running competing services;

•         Chippenham - Corsham - Bath (First 231/232; Faresaver X31)

•         Chippenham – Lacock – Trowbridge – Frome (First 234; Faresaver X34)

•         Changes to First services from 29 July

•         Changes to Faresaver service 1 September

Colerne Services

•         228 (Colerne  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN) will present an update report, make a recommendation on the way forward for the Area Partnership and submit a request for funding.

The Area Board considered an update report from the Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN) along with a recommendation on the way forward for the Area Partnership.

The following issues were discussed:

·         Other partnership models throughout Wiltshire had been considered when drawing up this proposal.

·         The community was the main priority.

·         The partnership should work with different existing groups and not be competing with them.

·         A co-ordinator was still required to work with these groups, provide a network of organisations, support the groups and promote projects.

·         It was important to avoid duplication of work and the area board agreed that the Community Area Manager and CCAN Co-ordinator should use the same website and newsletter rather than two separate ones.

·         It was important to clarify the funding situation because the partnership funding was considered to be revenue funding and if not allocated could possibly be used to fund revenue schemes in the area.

·         The Area Board thanked Kevin Gaskin for his work in putting together these proposals.

Decision:

(1)  To approve the change in partnership model as outlined in the report, subject to combining the newsletter and website with those produced and maintained by the Community Area Manager, and to accept the role of Network Co-ordinator, who will report to the area board, with an over-seeing core group of community representatives.

(2)  To approve an initial funding request of £1,502.06 for the Network Co-ordinator post from within the area board allocation as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report.

(3)  To provide positive support to assist in developing the Co-ordinator role and addressing the Community Plan priorities.

To consider recommendations from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG).

The Area Board considered an update report regarding the CATG meeting that took place on 5 June 2013 along with recommendations from this meeting.  It was noted that the funding for the review of C class roads had now been distributed to individual area boards for them to decide how they wished to allocate it.

Decision:

(1)  To agree to refer the recommendation on priorities for C class roads back to the CATG for further consideration in the light of changes to the funding allocation process.

(2)  To submit a bid to the Substantive Highways Scheme to install a section of shared-use cycleway along Park Lane from Freestone Way to Purleigh Road, Corsham.  If successful the Town Council has agreed to contribute £2,500 and the Area Board will contribute £2,500 towards a total cost of approximately £40k.

ACTION: Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager.

To receive an update from the Colerne Old School Playgroup regarding the grant the group recently received from the Area Board.

The Area Board received an update from the Colerne Old School Playgroup regarding the grant recently given by the Area Board to provide an interactive whiteboard.

The whiteboard had helped in the following ways:

·         Improving personal, social and emotional development

·         Using maths

·         Language and communication

·         Writing

·         Understanding the world

The Playgroup thanked the Area Board for the funding it had provided.

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

(a)  Colerne Skatepark - £5,000

(b)  Colerne Village Hall Cinema - £5,000

The area board considered two applications to the community area grants scheme.

Decision

(1)  To award £5,000 to Colerne Skate Park towards the installation of a skate park on recreational ground in Colerne, subject to the balance of funding and planning permission being in place.

Reason for Decision: The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan by providing activities for young people.

(2)  To award £5,000 to the Colerne Village Hall Rural Cinema Project towards the installation of cinema equipment in the village hall, subject to the balance of funding being in place.

Reason for Decision: The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan by providing activities for young people and will offer local people an opportunity to watch the latest cinema releases and other films without the need to travel outside of the village.

Action: Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager

Future meetings will take place on the following dates:

19 September 2013 – 7pm - Lacock Village Hall

21 November 2013 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall

23 January 2014 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall

20 March 2014 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall

It was noted that future meetings would take place on the following dates:

19 September 2013 – 7pm – Lacock Village Hall

21 November 2013 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall

23 January 2014 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall

20 March 2014 – 7pm – Corsham Town Hall