Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting. 

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from: Jon Baldwin, Dr Helen Osborne and Dr Sanfordhill.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2014 and the minutes of the Special Meeting held on 1 December 2014.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2014 and the Special Meeting held on 1 December 2014.

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

There were no declarations of disclosable interests.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       Consultation on the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan.

·       Integrated Performance Management Report from the Clinical Commissioning Group.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire- Monitoring Dementia services

The Chairman drew attention to documents in the agenda pack which detailed a public consultation on the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan 2015 and a performance management report from the Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Chairman explained the role of Healthwatch Wiltshire in monitoring dementia services in the local area.

The Canal and River Trust were looking for interested groups to ‘adopt’ sections of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Cllr Whitehead announced a petition had been received calling for super-fast broadband in the All Cannings Exchange. The Councillor expressed his support for the petition and the business necessity of high-speed broadband; it was confirmed Wiltshire Council was currently surveying the All Cannings Exchange.

Jasper Selwyn, Devizes Passengers, updated that Community First would be funding a consultant to assist the development of a new bus timetable between Devizes and Pewsey.

The Chairman encouraged businesses in Devizes to subscribe to CCTV supported by Devizes Development Partnership as it was helping to reduce crime in the area.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c.    Health Services

d.    Devizes Campus Team

e.    Schools

f.     Town and Parish Councils

Inspector Matt Armstrong, Wiltshire Police, updated that PC Helen Clarke would shortly be replaced by PC Andy List and Community Messaging would be launched on 5 February 2015. An overview of local crime levels was provided and was praised by Cllr Gamble.

Mike Franklin, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service,advised that consultation on the merger with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was ongoing until 28 January 2015. If the merger was approved, the service would be Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and it’s Board would consist of 15 members from each county.

Cllr Nigel Carter, Devizes Campus Team, updated that a potential site for Campus development had been submitted to Wiltshire Council for consideration.

Malcolm Irons, Devizes School, updated on recent activity at the school and encouraged those present to buy tickets for its performance of Oliver due to start on 28 January 2015.

To receive a presentation from the PCC Chief Finance Officer on the precept.

Kieran Kilgallen, Chief Executive (OPCC) explained there was likely to be an increase to the precept from 2015 of 1.9%. It was emphasised the increase was not an increase in the Council Tax by Wiltshire Council and was needed as the Police Service would receive a 5% cash reduction in its funding from central government. The consultation on the precept increase would be running until 4 February 2015. During a question and answer session it was confirmed that strategic alliances with Avon and Somerset Police, the sharing of buildings and reductions in back-office funding would cover the remaining funding shortfall.

Members discussed Wiltshire Council’s precept and members of the public agreed it would be reasonable for the Council to increase it’s precept due to reductions in funding.

To hear about the work of DCAP, the future of the organisation and to consider any outstanding funding.

Philip Mackie, DCAP, gave an overview of work undertaken by the organisation. In particular the group had been promoting ‘Devizes means business’ and had produced three films to promote the town

Resolved:

To grant DCAP approximately £1,997 for outstanding funding following the production of three films to promote business in Devizes.

To receive an update and any proposals from the working group examining the gull problem in Devizes.

Cllr Laura Mayes updated the Area Board on the progress of the working group examining the gull problem in Devizes. A plan to prevent breeding had been developed and would need to be implemented for three years. Thanks were given to Roundway Parish Council for its £5,000 contribution to the project; Devizes Town Council and Public Protection at Wiltshire Council would  also be asked to contribute.

Resolved:

To grant approximately £3,200 towards a project to prevent the gull problem in Devizes.

To provide further information on and consider funding for new projects the Area Board is championing in the local Area.

·       Celebrating Volunteering

To consider a Member initiative of £2,000 to support a volunteering day in Devizes

·       ‘Beat The Street’

·       SPICE Credits

·       Supporting young people with SEND

To consider a Member initiative of £2,500 to undertake mentoring and promote apprenticeships.

The Community Area Manager, Richard Rogers explained projects the Area Board was championing in response to local priorities indentified in the Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA):

The Area Board would be running a Volunteering day on 4 May 2015 in partnership with the Lyons Club. The event would aim to produce 750 more hours of volunteering in the Devizes area.

SPICE credits were to be launched in the Community area, the credits would be a currency to encourage volunteering; hours spent volunteering would be exchanged for activities nationally and locally.

‘Beat the Street’ was Championed by Cllr Philip Whitehead; the project would be launched in Summer 2015 and encourage local people to walk rather than drive in Devizes. The aim was to help people be more active, reduce traffic in the town and improve air quality.

Funding for films to document experiences of young people with SEND had already been approved  by the Area Board and filming was due to start in July.

Margaret Bryant had worked to organise career and mentoring sessions at Devizes School in the 2014-15 school year, the project had proved very successful and would run again in 2015-16.The scheme would now be accredited, it was hoped this would encourage even more students to participate.

The Area Board considered two Member Initiatives:

Resolved:

To grant £2,000 to support a volunteering day in Devizes.

To grant £2,500 to undertake mentoring and promote apprenticeships.

To receive an update from the Local Youth Network including the priorities identified for young people in the Devizes area.

To formally approve the membership of the LYN Management Group and receive its minutes.

To agree the transfer of £2,600 agreed expenditure from the Area Board general budget to the Area Board Youth Funding budget, for funding a film for SEND young people in the Devizes Area.

To consider the following funding application for positive activities for young people:

·         £250.17 towards a young person’s art competition and exhibition

Sally Willox, Community Youth Officer, highlighted the young peoples’ priorities in the Devizes area she had identified through consultation. In many instances activities identified by young people were already being catered for in the area, in these cases the officer would work to link young people with existing providers. It was highlighted that grants were also available from the Area Board to develop new opportunities for young people. The Area Board was updated on recent LYN projects, in particular the group was considering establishing a young persons’ cafe.

The Area Board considered recommendations from the Community Youth Officer.

Resolved:

To note the minutes of the LYN Management Group meetings.

To approve the Membership of the LYN Management Group as detailed in the agenda pack.

To agree the transfer of £2,600 agreed expenditure from the Area Board general budget to the Area Board Youth Funding budget, for funding a film for SEND young people in the Devizes Area.

To grant £250.17 from the Youth budget for a young person’s art competition and exhibition.

Those who have received a grant previously will be asked to briefly outline how that funding was used and the benefits for the community before their current request is considered.

To consider the following applications for funding from the Community Area Grants scheme:

·       Urchfont Village Hall- £5,000 for improvements to the hall and to allow a local surgery;

·       Bishops Canning Cricket Club- £5,000 for a safe hut for storage;

·       West Lavington Village Hall- £3,500 to rebuild and expand the BMX track;

·       Devizes Bowls Club- £5,000 to build a verander and improve drainage;

·       Devizes  Outdoor Celebratory Arts- £1928 for equipment;

·       Devizes Sports Club- £5,000 for improvements to the club.

Applicants to the Community Area Grant Scheme were invited to speak to their application and describe the community benefit of previous grants they had received:

Thanks to a previous Area Board grant Urchfont Village Hall had been able to improve its kitchen to make it suitable for catering. A new funding application for a secure reception area would allow a satellite doctors surgery to continue at the hall.

Bishops Canning Cricket Club thanked the Area Board for previous funding which had allowed them to coach more children. A new application was made to improve storage facilities at the club which needed upgrading.

West Lavington BMX track was in need of re-building and expansion following much use.An error in the agenda pack was corrected, £2,468 of Area Board funding was applied for by the Young Club in order to rebuild and expand the track.

Devizes Bowls Club required funding to improve drainage and build a veranda following damage from storms in 2014.

Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts, thanked the Area Board for previous funding permitting the purchase of a confetti canon. The group was now responsible for Devizes Carnival and required more equipment.

John Thomson, Chairman of Devizes Sports Club, explained work to improve the washrooms at the club would help the venue to be let for occasions thus generating income to keep subscriptions down.

The Area Board considered applications for funding from the Community Area Grants scheme

Resolved:

To grant Urchfont Village Hall  £5,000 for improvements to the hall and to allow a local surgery.

To grant Bishops Canning Cricket Club  £5,000 for a safe hut for storage.

To grant West Lavington Village Hall (Youth Club) £2,468 to rebuild and expand the BMX track.

To grant Devizes Bowls Club £5,000 to build a verander and improve drainage.

To grant Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts £1928.40 for equipment.

To grant Devizes Sports Club £5,000 for improvements to the club.

To consider the update and any recommendations arising from the last Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 12 January 2015.

The Area Board is requested:

·         To note a report from Highways and Transport on the progress made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15

·         To consider the list of proposed highway maintenance schemes in the Devizes 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.

Members considered recommendations arising from the last Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 12 January 2015.

Resolved:

To grant approximately £1,000 for an initial survey to examine pedestrian count and practicalities of three crossings proposed by Potterne Parish Council.

To grant approximately £200 for signs being erected on the A360.

Members received a report from Highways and Transport on the progress made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15; it was explained Wiltshire Council now had more funding available to maintain highways.

Resolved:

To note the report.

To approve the list of proposed highway maintenance schemes in the Devizes area for 2015/16.

The next ordinary meeting of the Area Board would be on 23 March at Devizes Sports Club.