Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting and members of the Area Board introduced themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from the following:

Ruth Hopkinson, Corsham Town Council

Dave Martin, Corsham Town Council

Jennie Hartless, Box Parish Council

Inspector Dave Hobman, Wiltshire Police

Mike Franklin, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Kevin Gaskin, Corsham Community Area Network

Rita McLoughlin, Corsham Schools Group

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2015.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2015.

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:

·       Universal Credit explained

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire update

The Chairman explained that Universal Credit had begun in Wiltshire on 16 March 2015 and drew attention to further details in the agenda pack.

An update from Healthwatch Wiltshire was available in the agenda pack. Anne Keat added that a specialist dementia care hospital was to be located in Salisbury and promoted the awareness of Dementia in the Corsham area.

The Chairman advised it had been Child Sexual Exploitation awareness day on 18 March and encouraged those present to join the ‘pledge’ on www.stop-cse.org to raise awareness and prevent this form of abuse.

Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director for Economy and Planning, and Carolyn Gibson, Spatial Planning Manager, gave a presentation on the Chippenham Site Allocations Plan. It was explained that 4,510 new homes and 26.5 hectares of employment were needed in Chippenham by 2026 and the plan would identify appropriate locations for this development. A map of strategic areas for housing and mixed-use sites was shown, Corsham and Lacock parish were included in these areas. A consultation on the draft plan was running until 8 April, and public feedback was encouraged. It was understood that, should feedback be reasonably positive, the Site Allocations Plan would be submitted to the Secretary of State in June 2015.

During a question and answer session it was confirmed that the provision of healthcare was a consideration in the Plan. A question was raised over the determination of extant planning permissions in the local area and officers suggested it would be inadvisable to delay their determination for longer than necessary. The meeting noted that the A350 was considered the western boundary of Chippenham under the current Plan. It was verified that an application from ‘The Range’ would go to the Strategic Planning Committee. Parish and Town Councils were assured that their identification of settlement boundaries would help to ensure that local development was appropriate and they could expect to be contacted by planning officers again in the summer of 2015. The Area Board thanked the officers and their teams for their hard work in developing the Core Strategy and the associated Chippenham Site Allocations Plan.

To receive any updates from the following partners:

(a)  Wiltshire Police

(b)  Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

(c)  Health Services

(d)  Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives

(e)  Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN)

(f)    Chamber of Commerce

(g)  Schools

(h)  Rotary

PC Hazel Anderson provided an overview of recent crime in the area including drug-related crime, burglary, and theft. An appeal was made for information on the owner of a young Alsatian dog following an attack on sheep on 6 March 2015. It was emphasized that there had recently been an increase in domestic burglaries and residents should secure their properties even when they were occupied.

Written updates from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Clinical Commissioning Group were available in the agenda pack. It was noted that the single Children’s Community Health Service for Wiltshire did not appear to incorporate mental health services.

A written update from Corsham Town Council was available in the agenda pack. Box Parish Council updated the Area Board that it had reduced its precept for 2015/16. Colerne Parish Council informed the Area Board that it had prepared a snow plan, a tree planting scheme for the skate park had been finalised and local views had been submitted in relation to the aircraft hangar development.

Penny Bell, Community Engagement Officer, advised that following a successful Health Fayre in Corsham in November 2014, this would be rolled out to the parishes. At parish health fayres there would be a slipper exchange, as well as health advice and refreshments.

The Chairman advised that the Corsham Means Business Show on 18 March organised by the Chamber of Commerce had been a great success.

Mac Place and Peter Wragg introduced the Rotary Club and sought feedback on local appetite for this organisation. The representatives explained that Rotary supported and promoted local communities. The club offered a broad range of social activities, and was open to all ages and sexes, it was noted that the club had a vibrant youth division.

To receive a presentation from the Community Engagement Officer on activities and events on offer in the Corsham area and the county as a whole for 2015.

Penny Bell introduced the Legacy project which had started following local celebrations in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics. The 2014 World War One commemorations and Cycle Wiltshire Event were examples of how communities continued to come together following 2012. Details of up-coming events in 2015 were provided, in particular on 15 June 2015 celebrations would be held in Salisbury to commemorate the 800^th anniversary of the Magna Carta. Corsham community area had been invited to join a procession and firework display in Salisbury, alternatively residents were encouraged to celebrate locally.

The Chairman praised the community for engagement from 2012 and encouraged it to celebrate in 2015.

To receive an update from the Community Engagement Officer on Wiltshire Council’s 2015-1016 Budget and its implications.

The Area Board had not yet been allocated a budget for 2015-16, therefore no update was available.

To receive the minutes of the last LYN Management Group meeting.

To receive an update from Xina Hart, Community Youth Officer and consider the following application for Youth funding:

·       Pound Arts Trust- TAKEOVER project

Xina Hart, Community Youth Officer, updated the meeting that she had been engaging with young people in the community area and over 200 had responded to a questionnaire to indentify their needs and priorities. An event for young people had been held at Springfield Community Campus in February by KIK radio and had been well attended. The officer introduced a funding application from the Pound Arts Trust, the LYN management group had scored the application and was in support as it would provide young people will the opportunity to organise events themselves.

The Area Board considered the application and agreed it would provide a positive activity for young people in Corsham.

Resolved:

To grant the Pound Arts Trust £1,500 for the ‘TAKEOVER’ project.

To note the update and minutes of the last LYN Management Group meeting held on 24 February 2015.

To consider the following applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme:

·       Lacock Parish Council – £4,000 for a community stakeholder consultation for Lacock Sports Pavilion development.

·       Corsham Cricket Club – £3,148 for sports equipment purchase.

To consider a recommendation from the Community Engagement Officer on the allocation of remaining revenue balance.

The Chairman explained that Corsham Area Board had a remaining balance of £6,169.14 in its capital budget for 2014/15. Current applications for funding totalled £7,148, and so if approved, would leave a deficit of £978.86. It was proposed, and agreed by the applicants that the remaining funding be granted to them on a pro-rata basis.

A representative from Lacock Parish Council spoke in support of its application which was considered by the Area Board. Cllr Dick Tonge explained the Area Board would not usually grant revenue funding however in this instance it would provide seed money for a larger capital project, it had been authorised.

Resolved:

To grant Lacock Parish Council £3,452 for a community stakeholder consultation for the Lacock Sports Pavilion development.

A representative from Corsham Cricket Club spoke in support of its application which was considered by the Area Board. Cllr Whalley expressed support for the club which was much used by the local community.

Resolved:

To grant Corsham Cricket Club, £2,716 for new sports equipment.

The Area Board considered a recommendation from the Community Engagement Officer to ring-fence its remaining revenue balance to fund local projects, including three rural slipper exchanges. It was explained the officer had delegated authority from the Area Board to allocate this funding as necessary between Area Board meetings and would report expenditure to a future meeting of the Area Board for approval.

Resolved:

To allocate the Area Board’s remaining revenue balance, £351.65, to support community projects between Area Board meetings, as identified by the Community Engagement Officer.

A representative from Box Pre-school and playground updated the Area Board that since it had originally granted the organisation funding, the project had been revised slightly. The Area Board agreed it would continue to support the project.

Resolved:

To thank Box Pre-school and playground for the update and confirm the Area Board’s continued support for the project.

To receive the notes and actions from the last CATG meeting held on 12 February 2015.

To note progress made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15, consider the list of proposed highway maintenance schemes in the Corsham area for 2015/16, and agree the final list for implementation.

To suggest any sites for inclusion in future year’s highway maintenance and resurfacing programmes.

Cllr Dick Tonge introduced the minutes and actions arising from the last CATG meeting. In particular, the Councillor highlighted that Ivis Thomson had investigated the location of signage on Velley Hill with officers and established an appropriate location. The proposed location was explained and it was commented that the lack of signage posed a danger and so should be agreed upon at this meeting. Comments from the public and members of the CATG were invited and the Area Board considered the proposed location of the signage.

Resolved:

To agree that signage be located just south of The Close and should include a reference to ‘Coppershell’

Cllr Tonge updated that the CATG was awaiting a response from the Ministry of Defence in relation to the use of Skynet Drive and there would be an update on the Corsham Estate permissive path at the next meeting. Additionally, one way/no cycling  signage was to be removed from High Street Corsham and redundant signage was to be removed from the A4 in Pickwick.

Feedback from the public was invited on the request for 30mph speed limit on the C155 in Gastard which the CATG had recommended not to support. Rae Marshman challenged the CATG recommendation and process, suggesting letters of objection to the request were not valid and the recommendation not to support the request was flawed because the reasoning was that the nature of the road prevented excessive speed and a 30mph speed limit would be difficult to enforce. Anecdotal evidence of speeding was provided and it was suggested the current speed limit was dangerous. 

Cllr Tonge emphasised that the CATG was not a decision-making body and the decision would, in this case, be made by the Cabinet member following a recommendation from the Area Board. The public was assured that local views would be incorporated in the report to the Cabinet member.

Corsham Town Councillor, Ivis Thompson, and Colerne Parish Councillor John Bull, both of whom attended the CATG when this topic was discussed, commented that speeding was rarely an issue in this location as the nature of the road deterred drivers from speeding and that a 30mph speed limit would be difficult to enforce. Members considered the recommendation from the CATG.

Resolved:

That the Area Board recommends that the proposal to change the speed limit on the C155 is not supported and that this recommendation be sent to the Cabinet member to be considered with other responses from consultees.

The Area Board was asked to consider the proposed list of highways maintenance schemes 2014/15 and attention was drawn to investments that had already been made. It was identified that Mons Lane Junction would undergo improvements in  March 2015.

Skid resistance treatment to road surfaced was explained and it was confirmed that officers had prioritised routes in the worst  conditions. The public were encouraged to contact town and parish councils and highways officers if they felt additional roads required attention.

Resolved:

To note progress made on implementing road resurfacing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The next meeting of Corsham Area Board will be held on 21 May 2015 at Springfield Community Campus, Corsham.

The next meeting of Corsham Area Board would be held on 21 May 2015 at Springfield Community Campus, Corsham.