Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Kennet Valley Hall.

The Chairman then invited all the Wiltshire Council members and the Parish council representatives in attendance to introduce themselves to the meeting.

The Chairman made the point that the Area Board was keen to have more topics of a local nature at future meetings.

It was agreed that the Chairman would take the Community Services Contract presentation straight after his announcements as the speaker had another engagement which she needed to attend.

Apologies for absence were received from Bob Gutherson – Berwick Bassett & Winterbourne Monkton Parish Council, Mary Spender - Fyfield & West Overton Parish Council and Mike Franklin - Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

a.      To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2011.

b.      Matters arising from the last meeting.

a. The minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

b. Matters arising

    An update was requested on the Wiltshire Council parking strategy for the Marlborough community area. Cllrs Nick Fogg and Peggy Dow advised that they had attended a Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting where the parking strategy had been discussed. Cllr Fogg advised that the cost of season tickets would be reduced but that that there would be no reduction of parking tariffs.

      Waitrose had indicated however that their car park would become a free car park when the current lease expired.

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or

dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To include, but not limited to, the following:

a. Digital Inclusion

b. Consultation on Wiltshire and Swindon Proposed Submission Draft Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD)

c. Marlborough Health Fair, Marlborough Town Hall, Wednesday 11 May 2011 To note that posters and flyers are available from the Community Area Manager for this event.

Digital Inclusion

Wiltshire Council’s business plan for 2011-15 has prioritised a number of areas for investment, of which Digital Inclusion and supporting the rollout of superfast broadband for both business and home users is a key area. 

To help understand existing coverage and the requirements for the future, Wiltshire Council will be launching a superfast broadband survey for home and business users between 26 April and 3 June. This would allow people to say what types of services they can currently access over internet and how well their service performs.

Wiltshire and Swindon draft waste site allocations

The consultation on Wiltshire and Swindon draft waste site allocations opens on 13June and ends on 5 August and aims to ensure that future proposals for waste development in Wiltshire are for the right types of facilities in the right locations.  The Salisbury Road Business Park is proposed as a waste transfer station and for local recycling.  Consultation details are in the agenda pack.

The Marlborough Health Fair

The Marlborough Health Fair will take place on 11 May in the town hall.  Attendees were invited to come along to find out more about health care providers in the area including the two hospitals, local surgeries and dentists along with other organisations such as Age Concern, Ridgeway, Relate and Alzheimer’s Support. In addition, there will be a slipper exchange.

Community Resilience

Attendees were requested to read through the papers for agenda item No.9 to consider whether they would endorse the concept of local emergency plans. 

Energy monitors

Energy monitors were now available in the libraries for residents to borrow and measure their household energy use.  On Wednesday 29 June, there would be an official launch event held in Marlborough Library that would include our Home Energy Efficiency Officers, the climate change team and the fuel poverty expert from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Helen Bourner (Director of Business Development, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), will provide information about the Great Western Hospital contract to run Community Services currently run by the PCT, (health clinics, community hospitals, maternity services and neighbourhood teams).

This will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

Helen Bourner (Director of Business Development, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) gave a presentation about the Great Western Hospital contract to run Community Services currently run by the PCT, (health clinics, community hospitals, maternity services and neighbourhood teams).

A power point presentation is attached to these minutes.

Points made by Helen Bourner included:

That the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust):

•         Had approximately 3,300 staff.

•         Served 340,000 people across Swindon, Wiltshire, parts of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and West Berkshire.

•         Around 9,200 members (Over 5,000 are members of the public).

•         Annual income of £200million.

•         Authorised by Monitor (the Foundation Trust Regulator) as an Foundation Trust in December 2008.

•         Licensed by the Care Quality Commission (April 2010).

Currently provided services at:

•         Great Western Hospital.

•         Brunel NHS Treatment Centre.

•         Savernake Hospital (Marlborough).

•         Fairford and Devizes Community Hospitals  (outpatient clinics).

•         Tetbury Hospital.

•         Melksham Hospital.

•         Malmesbury Primary Care Centre.

•         GP surgeries in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Questions raised from the floor included:

Would full services be retuning to Savernake hospital?

We have no plans at the present to reopen the Minor Injuries Unit at Savernake hospital within the three year contract period.

What is happening re Buildings and PFI?

The new trust would not be taking over responsibility for PFI from Wiltshire PCT.

The Chairman thanked Helen Bourner for her presentation.

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

a) Wiltshire Police

b) Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

c) NHS Wiltshire

d) Town and Parish Councils

e) Marlborough Area Development Trust (MADT)

f) Community Area Young Peoples Issues Group (CAYPIG)

Wiltshire Police

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

It was also noted that Inspector Ron Peach had replaced Inspector Any Noble, covering the Marlborough community area.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

NHS Wiltshire

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

Marlborough Area Development Trust

Martin Cook gave a brief update which highlighted the new MADT website and an invitation for the parishes to get involved in the consultation process for the new Marlborough area community plan.

The power point presentation is attached to these minutes.

Town or Parish updates

James Keith, (Broad Hinton & Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council) announced that the new Parish Forum had met, and had agreed its objectives and would meet again. It had been authorised by the Parish Councils to enter into detailed discussions with the Area board on meeting these agreed objectives.

Community Area Young Peoples Issues Group (CAYPIG)

Mary Spanswick advised that the CAYPIG had been visiting young people throughout the Marlborough community area, which entailed mapping out what and where young people were meeting and what facilities, if any that they had or used.

The CAYPIG were keen to make and expand links with the parishes and were looking at ways to bring young people in from the villages to Marlborough for youth projects and events.

Jan Bowra (Youth Development Worker, Wiltshire Council), will introduce a project she is currently running and respond to questions.

Jan Bowra (Youth Development Worker, Wiltshire Council), introduced a bridging project that she was currently running for disabled young people aged 13-19. A dvd presentation was screened prior to the meeting setting out the projects aims.

The young people were encouraged to come to the Marlborough youth centre on a Monday evening where they would be buddied up with another youth club member who would then help to involve them in the youth club activities.

Questions raised from the floor include:

Does this project hope to involve both mentally and physically handicapped?

Yes, the youth club is open to all.

Can disabled young people come on any club night at the youth centre?

Yes, they are welcome on ay evening, the Monday evening is aimed at providing friendship and building confidence.

The Chairman thanked Jan Bowra for her presentation.

Joan Davis (Head of Library Services, Wiltshire Council) will inform the Area Board of the results of the Library Services Review and how this will effect the Marlborough Community Area. This will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

Joan Davis (Head of Library Services, Wiltshire Council) gave the Area Board the results of the Library Services Review and how this will effect the

Marlborough Community Area. 

Points made by Joan Davis included:

• The Library Service Review was started December 2009.

• The review gathered views and key messages from all Area Boards, the Web and Customer and non customer focus groups.

The responses from the Area Boards showed that:

•         Continued investment in the book stock is viewed as essential.

•         The library should provide a wide range of information, particularly local.

•         Investment in technology is required, including free access to the internet.

•         Events and activities should be organised around reading and literacy improvements, for both children and adults.

The Library service Review: approved by Wiltshire Council Cabinet Jan 2011

Strategic vision for libraries:

•         Promote the library service as the ‘face of the council’.

•         Provide a wide range of up-to-date stock of books, and other material, to promote literacy learning and enjoyment.

•         Develop a strong on-line service offer.

•         Space and opportunity for people to develop new skills, including I.T.

•          Greater community involvement, through the use of local community volunteers.

The Wiltshire library offer from 1 September 2011:

•         The library service will be able to keep all libraries open.

•         21 council operated libraries with rationalised core opening hours.

•          All 5 mobiles libraries will continue to operate, including the homes mobile.

•         10 libraries operated in partnership with the community – providing opportunities for local community volunteers, working in partnership with Wiltshire library staff.

•         Opportunities for volunteers to extend the opening hours at other   libraries.

•         Investment in Radio Frequency Identification (R.F.I.D.) self service technology.

Marlborough Area Library Services from 1 September 2011:

•         All mobile library stops will continue to operate.

•         Marlborough library opening hours will be reduced from 42.5 to 33  hours a week.

•         Ramsbury which is amongst Wiltshire’s 10 smallest libraries, accounting for 3% of visits overall, would be operated in partnership with volunteers, and supported by the library service.

•         Aldbourne Library is currently under discussion with possible precept raising by its Parish Council to fund it.

•         New self service technology will be introduced to all libraries.

•         The Contactpoint service at Marlborough Library will cease.

Questions from the floor included:

Would it not be expensive to train volunteers and have them CRB checked?

We would use existing staffing resources for training and CRB checks would be free for volunteers.

Could people volunteer to work in the Marlborough town library?

Not at the present time, we are looking at the smaller libraries, but may look at bigger libraries in the future.

The Chairman thanked Joan Davis for her presentation.

To consider whether the area board wishes to endorse and promote the concept of local emergency plans. Nick Bate, (Emergency Planning Officer, Wiltshire Council) will give a short presentation and answer any questions.

The Chairman had advised the meeting during his announcements that they should try and digest the Community Resilience agenda papers.

Town and Parish councils were asked to consider working with the community to produce emergency plans.  This was a government initiative and emergency planning officers from Wiltshire Council would work with the Town and Parish Councils who wished to produce these plans. 

The Chairman requested that the newly formed parish forum take the lead on this project. 

Four Parish Councils currently had an emergency plan in place.

Decision

• That the Marlborough Area Board endorsed and promoted the concept of local emergency plans.

• That the Parish Forum would take the lead on this project.

Oliver Cripps (Management Plan Co-ordinator and Sustainable Development Fund Manager), will provide information about the work of the NWAONB, and will respond to questions.

Henry Oliver, (Director of the North Wessex Downs area of outstanding natural beauty) who gave an overview of the organisation and its work in the Marlborough area.

Points made by Henry Oliver included:

·        The North Wessex Downs were designated in 1972 under the National Parks and access to Countryside Act 1949. and are the third largest in England.

·        They aim to foster socio-economic well being of communities within AONBs.

·        To provide for quiet informal recreation.

Questions raised from the floor included:

What is happening re the abstraction of water from the River Kennet by Wessex Water to service supplies in Swindon?

NWAONB were not consulted by Wessex Water and the Environment Agency about their intentions to abstract water from the river Kennet, there is an obligation on both their parts to take their obligations seriously, and is viewed as a critical is by NWAONB.

How can we sort out the amount of equine white tape that blights the local countryside?

NWAONB are looking to roll out a directive on this issue, it would have to be tailored to local needs.

The Chairman thanked Henry Oliver for his presentation.

Alistair Millington (Wiltshire Area Manager), will give an overview of the path’s history and relevance to local people, brief the Area Board on recent and proposed work to the path and draw attention to the Friends of the Railway Path Group that is currently being established.

Alistair Millington, (Wiltshire Area Manager of Sustrans) and Nick Stedman, (Volunteer group co-ordinator) gave an overview of the path’s history and relevance to local people and also briefed the meeting on recent and proposed work to the path.

Points made:

·        That the path is about eight miles long and was created during the 1980s, is owned by Wiltshire Council who then lease the path to Sustrans.

·        The path is a key gateway to the North Wessex Area of outstanding natural beauty.

·        Better publicity is required to promote this local asset.

·        Local money is needed to fund the path’s upkeep and help make it better for both cyclists and horse riders.

·        That Sustrans are struggling to manage the path on their own.

·        A volunteer network has now been established to carry out routine maintenance.

·        A new Friends group is fundamental to progress things further.

·        Sustrans hope to be able to apply for area board funding.

Questions raised from the floor included:

Could the path be extended down to the Marlborough business park?

Yes we would like to do this, Tesco have indicated that they would make a contribution to the costs.

Are there any plans to extend the path to Burbage?

Sustrans are always keen to develop railway paths, but any path would have to be correctly managed.

The Chairman thanked Alistair Millington and Nick Stedman for their presentation.

The Chairman will update the meeting on the progress of the Community Area Transport Group priorities. (Report to follow)

The Chairman advised that at the last meeting of the Community Area Transport Group it was decided that more work was needed to be undertaken before any work could progress on the chosen priorities.  It was therefore agreed that officers would report back to the area board meeting in June.

a. The Chairman will give an update on the revised criteria for the year 2011/12.

b. The Wiltshire Councillors will consider two applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

• Avebury Community Shop - £2,407 towards provision of electronic point of sale.

• Ramsbury & Aldbourne Bowls Club - £971 for purchase of junior bowls.

Copies of the completed application forms and grant application packs for the

Community Area Grants Scheme are available from the Community Area

Manager or electronically at

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboardscommunitygrantsscheme.htm

a. Revised Community Area Grant criteria for the year 2011/12.

The Community Area Manager advised that the Area Board Community Area Grant’s criteria had been reviewed following the second year of operation and some minor changes had been incorporated to streamline the application process and placing a greater emphasis on encouraging applications from the community and voluntary sector.   The revised application forms and guidance were now available to download from the area board pages on the Wiltshire Council website and should be used for all applications in 2011/12.

The revised guidance made it clearer that applications in respect of annual ‘running costs’ for which any organisation had an ongoing financial responsibility were now ineligible for funding.  

Parish and town councils should already budget for the upkeep and replacement of existing property, facilities and services and precept on that basis - such costs were outside of the scope of the Community Area Grant scheme. However, this did not preclude bids from town and parish councils as consideration would be given to community projects that provide new opportunities for local people.

b. The Community Area Manager outlined the two grant applications that the Wiltshire Councillors were about to consider.

The Wiltshire Councillors then considered two applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme 2011/12, as follows:

Representation was made by Michele Lomas on behalf of Avebury Community Shop.

Representation was made by Keith Evill on behalf of Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club

Decision

Avebury Community Shop was awarded £2,407 towards provision of electronic point of sale.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2011/12 and the application demonstrates links to Wiltshire Council’s priorities in the Local Agreement for Wiltshire that aim to help local communities develop their own priorities and build a strong and vibrant voluntary sector.

Decision

Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club was awarded £971 towards provision of ten sets of junior bowls.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2011/12 and the application demonstrates a link to Wiltshire Council’s priorities in the Local Agreement for Wiltshire that aims to build‘resilientcommunities’ with high social capital through people feeling socially included, to encourage communal activities and events that bring different age groups together and to promote healthy lifestyles.

To consider one expression of interest to the Performance Reward Grant Scheme, as follows:

Application from Wiltshire Police - Crime Detection through Ultra Violet scanning. As a joint initiative with Smart water technology Limited Wiltshire Police have offered members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the county Smart water property marking kits at a discounted price.

Smart water kits are individually unique and provide a direct link between the property marked and the lawful owner.

To be effective the Police require the facility to scan items for property marking such as Smart water or Selecta DNA.

The purpose of this initiative is to seek funds for the purchase of UV scanning torches for issue to Police Officers on operational duties.

Wiltshire Police - Crime Detection through Ultra Violet scanning.

As a joint initiative with Smart Water Technology Limited Wiltshire Police had offered members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the county Smart

Water property marking kits at a discounted price.

The purpose of this initiative was to seek funds for the purchase of UV scanning torches for issue to Police Officers on operational duties.

Decision

• That the Marlborough Area Board supports this initiative for funding of £20,000 for the purchase of UV scanning torches for issue to Police Officers on operational duties.

Note: This application was withdrawn after the Area Board had discussed and voted on it.

To consider the following applications for funding from the councillor-led Area Board Projects scheme:

• Adult Health & Social Care Event – up to £500 requested for ‘slipper exchange’ (50 pairs of slippers for exchange to the community).

Adult Health & Social Care Event

Cllr Jemima Milton outlined a request for funding on behalf of the Local Health Forum for £500 to purchase orthopaedic slippers for the slipper exchange at the Marlborough Health Fair.

Decision

·        That the Marlborough Area Board agrees to grant £500 for the purchase of orthopaedic slippers for the slipper exchange.

The Chairman will invite any remaining questions from the floor.

There were no other questions.

The Chairman thanked everybody for attending the meeting.

Tuesday 21 June 2011 – St Michael’s School, Aldbourne

Tuesday 6 September 2011 - Marlborough Town Hall

Tuesday 1 November 2011 - Broad Hinton Village Hall

Tuesday 7 February 2012 - Kennet Valley Village Hall, Lockeridge