Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will make the following announcements:

a.            Wiltshire Warm and Well – free home insulation scheme.  See briefing note attached.

b.            Event for older people – “More Money in Your Pocket”:

Marlborough town has been identified as an area where older residents may not be making full use of their benefit entitlements.  An event called More Money in Your Pocket has been arranged by Age UK and the Wiltshire and Swindon Users Network, and isaimed at giving advice support and help to encourage older people to know about their entitlements. The morning event will include an information session and also an opportunity to talk about issues facing older people.  There will also be a Tai Chi taster session, stalls and advice points along with morning coffee and lunch.  For further information, contact Nick Crane on 01380 871800 (nickcrane.wsun@btconnect.com)

This event will take place onThursday 6th October 2011 at Marlborough Town Hall from 10am.

c.            Any other announcements

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

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. NHS Wiltshire
4. Parish Forum
5. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust) – update on Community Plan

a.            Wiltshire Police

Inspector Ron Peach referred the meeting to the written update set out at pages 27-28 in the agenda.

A drive to target beauty spot thefts over the summer period had included increased patrols by Neighbourhood and response officers as well as a proactive work to encourage motorists not to leave valuables in clear sight in unattended vehicles.

There had also been an incident in Marlborough where a number of vehicle thefts had taken place on one night, targeting tools from vans.  Again, this type of crime could be prevented by owners not leaving valuable tools in vans wherever possible.

Structural changes within Emergency Response would result in the Marlborough area being covered from Swindon.  This was as a result of cuts to numbers of civilian staff, although the reorganisation would help improve administration and meet demand.  The new arrangements would also see the introduction of an automatic resource tracking system, where GPS devices would inform the response team of the location of every vehicle and unit, in real time.  This would help the strategic deployment of units, and in assigning the nearest or most suitable unit to attend emergency incidents.

It was noted that PC David Tippetts was now in place as the Beat Manager for the Rural West Team, with Sergeant Vince Logue also in place as the sector sergeant.

Further to a question, Inspector Peach confirmed that there were currently no plans to close Marlborough Police Station.  This was strategically well-placed, although there may be opportunities for co-location with other local services as part of any future Campus scheme.

b.            Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

The meeting noted the written report at page 29-31.

c.            NHS Wiltshire

The meeting noted the written report at page 33.

d.            Parish Forum

Mary Spender updated the meeting on the work of the Parish Forum:

·         Community Emergency Plan – Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council had sent their plan to the Council’s Emergency Planning Officer to see if this was suitable as a guide/template for other Parishes.

·         Asset Register – The forms for this had not been sent out yet.

e.            MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust) – update on Community Area Plan

Martin Cook, of Marlborough Area Development Trust, gave an update on the work of the group.  The main focus was currently on the Community Plan.  The first consultation phase was now complete and the results were being evaluated, with some early analysis and initial drafting of the plan. 

There was some concern over the level of input from Parish Councils; it was hoped that this could be addressed through the Parish Forum, although direct input from Parish Councils was welcomed.  Mary Spender commented that the Parish Forum had already submitted a large amount of information.

Geoff Brickell also updated the meeting on the Development Trust’s Community WiFi scheme.  A number of “hot spots” were now up and running in the town, including at the Town Hall and in the Food Gallery.  It was hoped that the technology could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Andy Conn (Head of Waste Management) gave a presentation on the new Waste Collection Service which was designed to give all Wiltshire residents access to the same opportunities for recycling, and to keep landfill to a minimum.

In the Marlborough Community Area, the main impact of the new service would be as follows:

·         New plastic and cardboard collection - Residents in the Marlborough Community Area, and other eastern Community Areas, would receive new blue lidded wheelie bins for cardboard and plastic bottles; these would be delivered in November 2011, with the service beginning from 28 November.

• Free, optional, fortnightly garden waste collection – This new service would come into effect from Spring 2012, with bins being delivered in February 2012.  Residents wishing to register to receive a garden waste bin (and who did not already have one) had until 30 September to do so, to guarantee delivery of a bin before the commencement of the new service.  This could be done via the leaflets available, over the phone or online via the following link: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbishrecycling/gardenbin.htm.  Those residents who currently paid for the service would not have to do anything.  The payments would cease from December 2011.

Any questions on the new service could be directed towards the following telephone number 0300 456 0102

The Chairman thanked Andy for the presentation and invited questions and comments:

·         In response to a question, Andy confirmed that the recyclable plastics were types 1, 2 and 3.  Nearly all plastic bottles were 1, 2 or 3, but only some pots and packaging.  As such, for simplicity and for ease of checking by the crews, only bottles would be accepted in the blue-lidded bins. However, at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) all types 1, 2 and 3 plastics would be accepted (i.e. bottles and other shapes).  This was because the crews were able to spend time checking and advising customers.

• In reply to a question regarding the need to invest in automatic sorting equipment, Andy advised that a significant level of investment had been put into this area under the existing contract with Hills which ran from 1996 to 2016.  The tendering process for the new contract would begin around 2013 and it was anticipated that investment in separating equipment would form part of the new contract.  Councillor Toby Sturgis added that the blue lidded bins were of a larger size to allow more flexibility in terms of recyclable materials in the future.

• It was suggested that there remained a perception amongst some residents that as the materials were all mixed up within the boxes, they were just dumped.  Andy replied that this was not the case, and that the crews separated the materials on collection.  This was then checked at the depot, giving an extremely low contamination rate of less than 1%.

• In terms of “side waste” (i.e. excess waste, left at the side of bins for collection) it was advised that the old District Councils had different policies on this, which were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Representative for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control Services, will give a brief overview of that area of responsibility and respond to the following questions from the Area Board.  The Chairman will also invite questions from the public.

(Note: Written questions may be submitted in advance – please email to james.hazlewood@wiltshire.gov.uk by Wednesday 31 August)

·         The Kennet District Plan runs out in 2011, what happens then in terms of the local plan, prior to the Wiltshire Core Strategy coming into effect?

·         Could the life of the Kennet Plan be extended?

·         How can Parish Councils get more involved in developing future planning?

·         Can Parish Councils receive automatic alerts at each stage of the planning process?

Following discussion at the Area Board meeting on 21 June meeting, the Area Board will focus on a number of key development issues (reducing length of agenda, reducing paperwork, and increasing number of local items).  Performance on these issues will be monitored over the next three meetings and will be reviewed at the meeting on 27 March 2012.

The Area Board is asked to note and approve the recommendations of the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) in relation to the spend on funding on the following prioritised highways improvement projects, from the Area Board’s CATG budget:

1. Aldbourne footpath extension - £7000
2. Marlborough High Street one way road - £5000
3. Savernake pedestrian refuge up to - £13,000 subject to further investigations
4. Chilton Foliat HGV signage - £2500 subject to negotiation with the parish council

The Chairman referred to the report at page 39 of the agenda.

A number of concerns were raised regarding the proposal for a trial one-way system at the high street, immediately to the north of St Peter’s Church.  Councillor Nick Fogg commented that this had been requested by residents to address concerns over safety as it was often used as a short-cut, by traffic travelling eastbound on the A4.  However, it was also noted that residents who lived to the west of Marlborough sometimes used the route when travelling north via Hyde Lane, to avoid stationary traffic on the High Street.

Martin Cook, the Area Highways Engineer, commented that the road was “no access except for stopping”. As such, use of the road as a short-cut was currently illegal.

During discussion, it was noted that the proposals were for a 18-month trial, and that it may be possible to alter the direction of the one-way arrangements for certain events, if the High Street were to be closed.

To gauge the opinion of the room, the Chairman asked for a show of hands: Seven people were in favour of the proposed 18-month trial, with five against.

In relation to proposals for safety works to the A4 at Savernake, and HGV signage at Chilton Foliat, it was noted that further work was required prior to the projects being finalised.  As such it was proposed that the authority to release this funding be delegated to the Community Area Manager, in order to expedite the works without having to come back to the Area Board for final approval.

Decision

The Area Board agreed to:

1.    note that the minutes to all CATG meetings are available on the Marlborough area board web-page:http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/areaboards/marlboroughareaboard.htm

2.    note the CATG budget for 2011/12.  A balance of £13,600 was carried forward from the 2010/11 budget to give a total of £27,200 for 2011/12.  This can be topped up by the Area Board, town/ parish councils and others.  There will be no roll over to 2012/13 at the end of this financial year;

3.    allocate £7,000 to extend the footpath along Oxford Street, Aldbourne to improve pedestrian safety;

4.    note that £1,000 had been spent on a topographical study for the redesign of the junction of Ermin Street and Aldbourne Street in Baydon;

5.    allocate £5,000 to provide new road markings, signage and power supplies to illuminate the new signage, to allow an 18 month one-way system to be trialled along the high street, north of St Peter’s Church, to stop the road being used as a rat-run;

6.    provisionally allocate up to £13,000 to provide a pedestrian refuge, dropped kerbs and a coloured/textured surface at the bus stop on the A4 through Savernake to improve pedestrian safety, subject to further investigations, with the authority to approve the final spend being delegated to the Community Area Manager in consultation with the Area Board Councillors;

7.    provisionally allocate £2,500 to providing signage to reduce the HGV traffic entering Chilton Foliat  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider 1 application to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

• Baydon Firework Committee - £919

Copies of the 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

The Area Board is asked to consider a project to provide £900 towards “pump-priming” the Parish Forum.

To note the attached forward plan.

The next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board will be held on Tuesday, 1 November at 7.00pm (start time to be confirmed) at Broad Hinton Village Hall, Yew Tree Lane, Broad Hinton, Swindon SN4 9RH (venue to be confirmed).

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and asked that the evaluation forms be completed.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board would be on Tuesday 1 November 2011, 7pm at Broad Hinton Village Hall, Yew Tree Lane, Broad Hinton, Swindon, SN4 9RH.  (Note – Subsequent to the meeting, the venue was moved from Broad Hinton Village Hall to Marlborough Town Hall, to encourage and facilitate the attendance of older people.)