Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the new Wiltshire Council Chief Executive, Andrew Kerr, and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust Chief Executive, Reverend Jeff James. The Councillors and Officers introduced themselves.

The Chairman drew attention to the announcements included in the agenda papers. She highlighted that a drop in event to discuss the issues and approach to identifying land for new gypsy, traveller and show people sites in more detail would be held on Tuesday 11 May between 4.00pm and 8.00pm at the Corn Exchange in Devizes. There would be a flood fair at the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham on Wednesday 14 April between 10.00am and 2.00pm. There was the opportunity to meet with Officers to discuss proposals arising from the review of special educational needs provision at Devizes School on Monday 29 March at 7.00pm. Councillor Lionel Grundy said that £100,000 was available to be distributed through Area Boards for children and youth activities, he hoped that at least part of the funding was spent on improving rural transport links.

The Chairman confirmed that St Monica’s Trust had withdrawn their planning application for a health centre and elderly care homes.         

Apologies were received from Councillor Nigel Carter (Devizes North) and Michael Matthews (Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service).  

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2010.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record, with the amendment that Janet Giles should be linked to Rowde Parish Council, rather than the Village Hall.  

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a)    Wiltshire Police and the Police Protective Services Department

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c)    NHS Wiltshire

d)    Devizes Community Area Partnership

e)    The Traffic Working Party

f)     Town and Parish Councils

a)    Kevin Rowse gave a presentation on the work of the Police Protective Services Department and answered questions from the floor. Departments covered by Protective Services included major crime, special branch, economic crime, public order, civil contingencies, critical incidents, organised crime, public protection, forensics and operations (such as roads policing, dog section and firearms). 

b)    The written update from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was noted. Michael Franklin drew attention to the two canal boat fires that had taken place in the period January/February 2010, which represented a significant risk because of the number of canal boats in total. Work with the Fire Stop project was continuing to identify the more vulnerable members of our community who may be at an increased risk of dwelling fires. Please contact Jonathan Gale (Community Area Manager) at jonathan.gale@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01380 734617 if you know of anyone who would benefit from a home fire safety check.         

c)    The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted.

d)    Devizes Community Area Partnership.

e)    Councillor Jeffrey Ody reported that a traffic working party would meet every two months to address current traffic issues before each Area Board meeting. The working party involved people from the Town Council, the Community Area Partnership, Devizes Development Partnership, a relevant Wiltshire Council Officer and Wiltshire Councillors Jeffrey Ody and Richard Gamble.    

f)     The written update from Easterton Parish Council on the Easterton Flood Group was noted. It had been forwarded to Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Waste, Property and Environment. 

A printed log of the community issues that have been submitted and progress made will be available at the meeting. The log is available to view online at:http://portal.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboard_issues_search.php?issue_location_in=Devizes. The Committee will be asked to approve Community Speed Watch information. 

The issues log had been circulated with the agenda papers and issues could be submitted and tracked online through the Wiltshire Council website: http://portal.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboard_issues_search.php?issue_location_in=Devizes.

An expression of interest had been received by all Wiltshire Area Boards for the Community Payback Scheme.

Three further expressions of interest had been received by Devizes Area Board from Devizes Hospital and Community Radio, Devizes Carnival Committee and Devizes Town Council.

The Area Board considered applications to go forward under the performance reward grant scheme from Devizes Hospital and Community Radio, Devizes Carnival Committee and Devizes Town Council.

Decision

To reject the bid for performance reward grant funding from Devizes Hospital and Community Radio.

The reason for not putting the application forward was that the Area Board had concerns over the demand for the facility.   

Decision

To endorse the bid for performance reward grant funding from Devizes Carnival Committee.

Decision

To endorse the bid for performance reward grant funding from Devizes Town Council.

A presentation from the NHS with a public and answer session.

Reverend Jeff James gave a presentation on plans for a Primary Care Centre in Devizes. The presentation covered the following main points:

·         Plans to reform community services from January 2007

·         Funding of Primary Care Centres

·         Three possible sites identified in Devizes - Southgate House, Green Lane and Quakers Walk

·         NHS Wiltshire endorsement of the Green Lane site in June 2008

·         Changes to the NHS planning context - future spending plans assume no growth in resources in the next three year period

·         Decision to push ahead with plans for Primary Care Centres, with money from efficiency improvements in other budgets

·         More flexible use of buildings

·         Quakers Walk site specifically - St Monica’s Trust had offered NHS Wiltshire a faster solution that looked to be better value for money

·         Two obstacles to the Quakers Walk site remained - financial risks remained unresolved and the site did not meet certain space requirements      

·         All parties had agreed that further progress was not possible on the Quakers Walk proposal

·         NHS Wiltshire’s substantive policy was still to prefer the Green Lane site, however Southgate House remained a possible site  

The Chairman pointed out that questions submitted in advance were likely to be less relevant given that St Monica’s Trust had withdrawn their planning application. The presentation was followed by a 1 ¾ hour question and answer session. Issues addressed included the following:

·         Redeveloping Devizes hospital had initially been considered - advised purpose built building would be less expensive and more suitable

·         Suggestion to rebuild on the Devizes hospital site would be considered

·         Purpose of moving GPs - existing GP facilities were not all suitable for now and in the future

·         Concerns over existing premises meeting National Registering Premises standards

·         Belief co-location would enable people to share knowledge and understanding and improve quality of care

·         An interim solution if Primary Care Centre plans could not progress in a suitable timeframe - however the longer plans were postponed, the more remedial work would be needed, making capital investment less likely

·         No plans to close x ray services - Royal United Hospital had given notice they wished to withdraw from Devizes due to internal reasons, urgent conversations were taking place with other providers

·         Savings on running costs from any new build were all committed to the Primary Care Centre model

·         Capital gains had not been factored into any of the options, because the amount that would be realised was not known and the NHS had a rule whereby they must pay a charge to invest in a building (currently equivalent to 8%)  

·         Rural transport issues - a Primary Care Centre could not transform rural transport issues, however centres were considered best for provision of an active core of services where there were enough patients to make a range of services viable

·         Malmesbury as a good working example of a Primary Care Centre - though it had been a single surgery and had a developer prepared to take some of the financial risk 

·         All three GP practices in Devizes were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Chairman thanked Reverend Jeff James and the meeting for the extensive debate. She asked for a show of hands regarding views on whether a Primary Care Centre was needed in Devizes. Three people in the room believed that a Primary Care Centre was not needed and the remainder believed that a Primary Care Centre was needed in Devizes.

The next Area Board meeting would take place on Monday 19 July 2010 at Devizes Sports Club at 7.00pm, with refreshments available from 6.30pm.