Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and the Councillors and Officers introduced themselves. The Chairman explained that the Area Board had written to the Cabinet regarding retaining free parking in the Market Place in Devizes.

A question was asked regarding introduction of a 20mph speed limit in Devizes town centre. The Area Board had investigated this issue and Wiltshire Council would not consider the request until the impact on traffic speed of a planned zebra crossing on Long Street had been assessed and without any evidence of local need or support.      

Apologies had been received from Councillor Jane Burton, Councillor John Noeken (Cabinet Representative), Peter Evans (Devizes Town Council) and Chris Saunders (Easterton Parish Council) and Jan Barber.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

Councillor Ody expressed a prejudicial interest in the Community Area Grant application for the Devizes District Association for the Disabled. He did not vote on this application.

Councillor Grundy explained that he would represent the interests of Bromham, Rowde and Potterne residents until further notice.  

Councillor John Noeken will provide a short overview of his role as Cabinet Representative for the Business Management Programme, Information Communications Technology, Human Resources, Procurement and Customer Services.  

As Councillor John Noeken had presented his apologies, this item was subsequently withdrawn from the agenda.

Councillor Nigel Carter to provide information about a possible resource centre at Melbourne House.  

Councillor Carter provided information about a possible resource centre at Melbourne House. This included its location, the purpose of a resource centre and potential adjustments to the road layout.

To consider plans to retain a Tourist Information Centre in Devizes as a community project.

Plans were considered to retain a Tourist Information Centre in Devizes as a community project. Wiltshire Council was exploring how Tourist Information Centres could be locally run and funded following the decision by Cabinet that management of the centres by Wiltshire Council was no longer viable.  

To receive updates from the following partners:

a) Wiltshire Police

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.    The written update from Wiltshire Police was noted.

b.    The written update from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was noted.

c.    The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted. Jeff James provided a verbal update about changes to services in the Devizes Community Area.  

d.    The written update provided by Devizes Community Area Partnership was noted.

e.    Please see the following

f.     The Parish Councils would continue to meet and thanked Councillor Hayes for attending their previous meeting.   

To approve the schedule of priorities for traffic schemes, as presented by the Traffic Working Group.

The Area Board had established a working group, the Traffic Working Party, to look into small traffic schemes. The group currently had four schemes that were active, with one scheme already approved by the Area Board (a new zebra crossing at Long Street). Attention was also drawn to the rat run from Etchilhampton across to London Road.

Decision

The Area Board would approve the prioritisation of the traffic schemes as recommended by the Traffic Working Party below:

·         Conscience Lane and diverting traffic flows from London Road towards Rowde

·         A section of Estcourt Street identified as a traffic hazard

·         A hazardous footpath between Devizes and Potterne.

Devizes Community Area Partnership will run a workshop session as part of the consultation process on the revision of the Community Area Plan.

Devizes Community Area Partnership (DCAP) ran a workshop session as part of the consultation process on the Community Area Plan. The Partnership had produced a draft plan and circulated it to Parish Councils. The meeting was divided into thematic groups to discuss the draft plan and feedback on this would be provided at the next Area Board meeting.

The consultation would also be online on the DCAP website: http://dcap.org.uk/. The Chairman thanked all volunteers for their time spent working on the document.    

Information will be provided about the parish steward scheme. This will be followed by a short question and answer session.

A video had been shown before the meeting providing information about the parish steward scheme. This was available to view on the link below: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets/roadshighwayspavements/roadmaintenance/parishstewardsscheme.htm.

To contact the parish steward service, please email CLARENCE on  clarence@wiltshire.gov.uk or telephone 0800 232323 from landlines within Wiltshire or 01225 777234 from mobiles and from outside Wiltshire.

Councillors will be asked to consider five applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

a.    Devizes District Association for the Disabled, seeking £800 for repairs to heating system and purchase of replacement dishwasher

b.    St James Church, Devizes, seeking £4,157 towards rebuilding the wall of the Crammer

c.    Lions Club of Devizes, seeking £1,500 for a sports coaching weekend

d.    Potterne Cricket Club, seeking £5,000 for an additional practice net.

e.    Little Cheverell Village Hall, seeking £996 for a replacement door.  

Consideration was given to five funding applications made to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

Decision

Devizes District Association for the Disabled were awarded £800 for repairs to heating system and purchase of replacement dishwasher.

Reason

The application meets the grant criteria for 2010/11 and the application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan (better facilities for the disabled).  

Decision

St James Church, Devizes, were awarded £4,157 towards rebuilding the wall of the Crammer.

Reason

The application meets the grant criteria for 2010/11 and the application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan (repairing important local buildings and promoting tourism through heritage).   

Decision

Lions Club of Devizes were awarded £1,500 for a sports coaching weekend.

Reason

Although the application did not meet the grant criteria for 2010/11, the sports coaching weekends had been running for twenty three years and had broad support from schools and sports clubs. They were considered to be of wider community benefit.   

Decision

Potterne Cricket Club were awarded £5,000 for an additional practice net.

Reason

The application meets the grant criteria for 2010/11 and the application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan (through the support and expansion of sporting facilities).  

Decision

Little Cheverell Village Hall were awarded £996 for a replacement door.

Reason

The application meets the grant criteria for 2010/11 and the application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan (through the support of community venues).

The Chairman thanked those at the meeting and wished everyone a Happy Christmas. The next Area Board meeting would take place on Monday 24 January 2011 at 7.00 pm at Devizes Sports Club (please note change of venue).