Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will provide information about:

1. Localism Act (attached)
2. Wiltshire online: digital literacy in Wiltshire (attached)
3. Paths for communities – grant for parishes (attached)
4. Skate park (verbal).

Councillor Burton explained that she was stepping in for Councillor Mayes who was unwell.

Councillor Mayes had sent her apologies for the meeting because she was having a small operation the next day. She was hoping to Chair the next area board meeting in September. She would still be receiving emails and dealing with day to day responsibilities, however please be patient as replies may not be as prompt as usual. Councillor Burton sent warm wishes on behalf of the area board to Councillor Mayes to get better soon.

This was followed by a minute’s silence to honour Jim Ward, the Devizes solicitor who the day before had died in hospital after being shot in the head. Condolences were sent to his family.

The top table at the meeting introduced themselves and then the Chairman highlighted that information about the Localism Act, digital literacy in Wiltshire and grants available to improve the rights of way network was available in the agenda pack. She added that consultation on the skate park had now closed.    

Apologies were received from Jackie Bawden (Rowde Parish Council), Councillor Carter, Mike Franklin (Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service), Councillor Grundy, Councillor Mayes, Peter Paget (Bromham Parish Council) and Paula Winchcombe (Devizes Community Area Partnership).  

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2012 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Burton declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10c, a grant application from Devizes Town Council, as a Devizes Town Councillor. She remained as Chairman in the room and was free to participate and vote.    

John Carter, Head of Public Protection, will present options for extending the Air Quality Management Area and ask the area board to decide on their preferred option.

John Carter, Head of Public Protection, presented information about air quality in Devizes.

His presentation covered the main points below:

·       Update on progress since attending the Devizes Area Board in September 2011 – a detailed assessment had been completed and findings reported to Defra

·       Wiltshire Council initiatives in the meantime – a county-wide Air Quality Strategy had been completed

·       The UK national Air Quality Objective for the annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide was likely to be exceeded in five sites in the town. A detailed report on this would be made available online

·       Timescale for amending the Air Quality Management Area

·       How to make a formal representation.

John explained there were three options available for Devizes:

1.     Small and discrete Air Quality Management Area based on main routes in the town

2.     Centre of Devizes Air Quality Management Area

3.     Air Quality Management Area based on main routes and extended up to the top of London Road and out towards Hopton Industrial Estate.

Those at the meeting were asked to vote on their preferred option using the voting handsets provided. 67% of the room were in favour of option three, the extended Air Quality Management Area.

Councillor Noeken provided a short overview of his role as Cabinet member for Resources. He explained that Resources covers back room services including human resources, ICT, legal and democratic services, procurement, customer services and the transformation programme.

Councillor Noeken focused on Wiltshire Council customer services and the lean review. Customer services employed approximately 70 full time equivalent staff across four locations. On average 65,000 phone calls were managed per month. The aim was to achieve a 90% call connection rate (and 93.4% was achieved last month). A key recent achievement was the ‘Tell Us Once’ service for notifying Wiltshire Council about deaths.

The lean review championed and promoted ‘lean’ systems thinking to reduce bureaucracy and make services more efficient. Great successes had been achieved with the blue badge and the pothole services especially.  

Emma Cooper, Partnership Development Manager, will give a presentation about financial exclusion in Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Community Bank, which provides a credit union service across the county.

Emma Cooper then presented information about Wiltshire Community Bank which provides a credit union service around the county. This covered the main points below:

·       What financial exclusion is

·       What it means to be financially excluded

·       Where financial exclusion is found

·       Where it exists in the Devizes Community Area

·       What was being done to address financial exclusion

·       Financial inclusion services in Wiltshire.

Emma encouraged people to find out more about Wiltshire Community Bank. This provided affordable credit to people in need who may have been blacklisted for credit in the past. It was run effectively as a cooperative with dividends awarded to members when profits were made.  

You can support your local credit union by volunteering or becoming a member; both good savers and good borrowers were needed. Three to four savers were needed for every borrower. The bank was looking into a pay deduction scheme for employers to become involved in.  

Emma confirmed that you can not lose money by saving with Wiltshire Community Bank as your money is safe and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.   

A presentation by Helie Franklin regarding proposals to convert Marsh Farm into a community farm and training centre.

Mr and Mrs Franklin gave a presentation about proposals to convert Marsh Farm into a community farm and training centre.

The centre would be run as a working farm with (mostly rescued) animals to encourage the enjoyment of wildlife and the rural landscape. The centre aimed for pupils and members of the community to come together and help in the long term running of the farm.

Marsh Farm had been in Mr Franklin’s family for generations but had not been in use over the last ten years. 

The first stage of the project would be to have a lease with Wiltshire Council agreed.

Councillor Bryant spoke in favour of the project. She felt the farm should be a long term asset for Wiltshire Council and having tenants with a passion for the farm was of fundamental importance.

Some concerns were raised about access to the farm and the lack of information provided to the relevant Parish Council. The meeting was assured the Parish Council Chairman was informally aware of the plans and a presentation would be made to the Parish Council as soon as the project was at an appropriate stage.     

Councillor Burton asked for a show of hands as to whether area board members were in broad support of the project in principle. Support was unanimous.   

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.     Wiltshire Police (attached)

b.     Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (attached)

c.     NHS Wiltshire (attached)

d.     Devizes Community Area Partnership (attached)

e.     CATG

f.      Parish Forum (attached). 

a.     The written update from Wiltshire Police was noted. Inspector Peach then highlighted violence against the person was down, but non dwelling burglary was up. Please secure your garden sheds and make sure that any goods are put and locked away. An additional two new PCSOs had now started in the community area. Inspector Peach explained that in the warmer weather, young people consuming alcohol outside increased. A three strike system was in place, with letters sent to the parents of the young people concerned. Please get in touch if you notice any suspicious behaviour.     

b.     The written update from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was noted. Richard Humphries introduced himself as the new Station Manager for Devizes, Melksham and Calne. He was working on improving the format of the Fire and Rescue Service update included in the agenda pack.  

c.     The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted. A question was asked about how Salisbury and Frome had a new health facility while Devizes was still waiting for one. The meeting was informed that a representative from the NHS would be coming to the September area board meeting.

d.     The written update from Devizes Community Area Partnership (DCAP) was noted. Kate Freeman invited people to get involved in the task groups of the Transport Group. Please contact DCAP if you would be interested in improving the cycle network, walking in and around Devizes or rail access by emailing admin@dcap.org.uk.  

e.     Councillor Gamble provided an update about the Community Area Transport Group (CATG). A question had been raised earlier in the meeting about where to find travel information and Councillor Gamble explained that travel line (http://traveline.info/) provided information about all modes of public transport across the United Kingdom. The group were holding regular meetings and were seeking one or two parish council representatives. A new pedestrian crossing was proposed at Nursteed School. Further work had taken place on the cycle route and a route had been surveyed across The Green, with the aim of completing by early summer 2013. Members of CATG were in discussion with the Town Council regarding installing bike stands in Devizes town centre. Devizes Transport Strategy was not yet complete; however it would be brought to the area board meeting in September. Plans for tourist coach provision in the west central car park were moving forward with the provision of two permanent and two temporary spaces. This was a great location for visitors to access the town.      

f.      The written update from the Parish Forum was noted. 

1.     Councillors will be asked to consider three applications made to the

Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

a.     Potterne Cricket Club - seeking £4,000 towards replacement of artificial match pitch

b.     Kennet Young Musicians - seeking £344 towards an educational club for 10-18 year olds

c.     Devizes Town Council – seeking £800 for two way radios for community use.

2.     Devizes Community Area Partnership – seeking £11,638 (20% of area board budget) for their core running costs.

Councillors were asked to consider the Community Area Grants report and make recommendations on the applications received.

Decision

Potterne Cricket Club were awarded £4,000 towards replacement of artificial match pitch.

Reason

The application met the 2012/13 grant criteria and the application would improve leisure and recreational activities.

Decision

Kennet Young Musicians were awarded £344 towards an educational club for 10-18 year olds.

Reason

The application met the 2012/13 grant criteria and it would help increase cultural activities and provide more for young people to do.

Decision

Devizes Town Council were awarded £800 for two way radios for community use.

Reason

The application met the 2012/13 grant criteria and would help with outdoor events to contribute to a sense of belonging and to tourism.

Councillors were then asked to approve core funding for DCAP covering the financial year 2012/13.

Decision

Devizes Community Area Partnership were awarded £11,638 (20% of area board budget) for their core running costs.

The Chairman thanked those at the meeting. The next area board meeting would take place on Monday 24 September at 6.30 pm at Lavington School.