Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited the Councillors and Officers present introduce themselves.

The Chairman also noted those parish representatives who were in attendance.

Apologies for absence had been received from the following:

• Claire Perry MP
• Alan Phizacklea, Aldbourne Parish Council

a.               To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 20 May 2014 and 22 June 2014.

b.               Update on actions and outcomes arising.

The minutes of the meetings held on 22 July 2014 and 20 May 2014 were presented for consideration and it was:

Resolved:

To approve as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

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

Councillor Dobson declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10d as he was a member of Marlborough Town Council. For this item Councillor Dobson took no part.

Councillor Fogg declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10d as he was a member of Marlborough Town Council. For this item Councillor was advised that he could vote.

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online.  If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak to the Community Area Manager, or the Democratic Services Officer.

a)    Changes to the Electoral Register.

b)    Garden Waste Consultation.

c)     Positive Activities for Young People.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

a.               Garden Waste Consultation: The Area Board noted the garden waste announcement and announced that the consultation would be finishing the next day.

b.               Young People: The Area Board noted the update on youth activities. It was stated that youth activities were changing, as there will no longer be Wiltshire Council-run youth clubs. It was announced that these changes and future provision would be brought back to the next Marlborough Area Board, which would be youth themed.

c.               Big Pledge: It was announced that the Chair, Councillor Jemima Milton, had cycled 330miles as part of the 3 Cities challenge, including 116miles in one day. £3500 had been raised for clinical research nurses at Great Western Hospital as a result.

d.               Prospect Hospice: It was announced that there will be a new facility providing end of life care services at Savernake Hospital. Prospect Hospice will enable a range of support services to patients and their families.

To receive a short presentation, including a 10 minute film, from Wiltshire CCG on the role of the Better Care Plan. This will be followed by a Q&A session.

Councillor Jane Scott OBE was in attendance to describe the background to the Better Care Plan.

Cllr Scott OBE explained that the Better Care Plan was centred on the integration of health and social care, and will guide how the frail and elderly will be looked after in the future.

It was stated that there had been direct communication with the people who are being supported and receiving services. What had been heard was that people wished to stay in their homes if possible or within their community, the last place people wanted to stay was at a residential home.

It was stated that if it was safe and possible people needed to be looked after within their own homes and community. 24/7 care was said to be a priority as people hit crises at inconvenient times. It was also heard that Wiltshire Council and CCG are investigating shared data so that personal details do not need to be repeated. The importance of looking after carers was also noted.

It was heard that testing was to take place in Salisbury, Bradford Upon-Avon, and Calne. This was stated to be so that what works best can be identified and that the money available was used to deliver the best service.

Cllr Scott OBE introduced a short DVD presentation on the role of the Better Care Plan to the Area Board.

In response to questions Cllr Scott OBE stated that the Better Care Plan is a radical and necessary change. It was heard that partners have taken this on board. It was stated that if the Better Care Plan is not implemented then there will not be enough money to move forward.

The Better Care Plan was stated as being much closer to the client, customer, and patient. This was described as one of the main differences between the Better Care Plan and previous initiatives. GP’s were stated to be at the head of the CCG, working with partners and patients. Dr Jonathon Rayner stated that as a GP he had felt involved from the beginning of the process and was confident that it would work. Cllr Scott OBE stated that there would be a progress report in 6 months.

In response to questions over the cost of health and social care it was heard that £27million was being moved across from health into an integrated health and social care system.

GP’s were urged to engage with local people as every GP practice was heard to be participating in providing everyone with a free health check, including a dementia risk assessment. Wiltshire was described as being one of the best in the UK, but still only having around 50% taking up the offer.

To receive a presentation from Area Manager Jim Mahoney on the consultation from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Area Manager for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, Jim Mahoney, provided a presentation on the proposed merging with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

The Area Board heard that the Fire and Rescue Service had experienced a 25% cut in their budget this year. It was explained that they have had to save over £5million, and that they have another £3-4million further to save.

It was explained that there were no other options left in terms of how to reduced staff and protect frontline services. The proposal had been put forwards and the business case will go forward in November 2014.

Mr Mahoney stated that the options included: remaining independent as a service, but work more closely with Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council; remaining independent as a service, but working more closely with Dorset Fire Authority; or a full merge with Dorset Fire Authority.

It was heard that the third option of a full merge was expected to save £4million. The first was expected to save £800,000, and the second was expected to save £900,000.

Details were said to be available in paper form at the meeting and also available online. The consultation was stated to finish on the 20 October 2014.

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

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. Wiltshire CCG
4. Town / Parish Councils
5. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)
6. Transition Marlborough
7. Marlborough Community Operations Board (COB)

The following partner update reports were received and noted:

1. Wiltshire Police

A written report was circulated at the Area Board. It was announced that investment had been placed in stopping rogue traders and neighbourhood protecting. Sergeant Claire Wallace was introduced to the Area Board, who had joined in May 2014.

2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

Mike Franklin announced that they are running four briefing events; details were stated to be in last week’s “Just a Minute” publication.

3. Town / Parish Councils

Elizabeth Marian Hannaford Dobson, the Mayor for Marlborough, was in attendance to give a short presentation on the work of Marlborough Town Council. The Area Board heard that more than 3500 people had attended the July reconstruction of the Battle of Marlborough. It was also heard that there had been a royal visit from the Duke of Kent on 27 October 2014 to unveil a World War I commemorative plaque. Changes had been made to Number 5 to make their offices more user-friendly and attract more people to visit them. Those who had helped out during South West In Bloom 2014 were thanked for their efforts.

4. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)

Martin Cook provided a verbal update. It was heard that there were two key projects: Community Wi-Fi and Distributed TIC. Both were stated to be moving successfully and hoping to expand further. Two villages were said to have signed up to Community Wi-Fi and others were invited to express interest.

e.     Transition Marlborough

It was announced that Transition Marlborough had recently had a very good AGM about re-imagining the high street with stable ideas.

f.      COB (Community Operations Board)

The Chair of COB, George Hayles, provided a verbal update. It was announced that they had met onsite with Wiltshire Library, Wiltshire Leisure, and Wiltshire Police to establish what services were available and where the gaps were. Residents would be asked what they would like to see at the Marlborough campus. It was heard that the process would take months or years.

Thanks were expressed on behalf of the Area Board for their work.

For the Area Board to ratify the funding recommendations from the meeting of the 3 July 2014.

Cllr James Sheppard, as Chairman of the Community Area Transport Group, presented a report on the CATG meeting held on 3 July 2014.

Resolved:

To agree to fund the following new projects as requested by CATG:

a)    £800 for a pedestrian survey in Aldbourne.

b)    £800 for a new dropped kerb at Pattern Alley.

c)    £800 for a new dropped kerb at Knowledge Crescent, Ramsbury.

d)    £3000 for implementation of changes to C18, Free’s Avenue Marlborough.

e)    £3000 for a speed limit review of C189 Baydon to Ogbourne St George.

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

a)    Kennet Valley Hall - has requested £900 of funding to purchase new floor maintenance equipment. Recommendation – Meets criteria.

b)    The Greatwood Charity - has requested £845 of funding for de-escalating conflict training for key staff. Recommendation: Meets criteria.

c)     Kennet Valley Amateur Dramatic Society - has requested £952.46 of funding for new microphones and sound equipment. Recommendation: Meets criteria.

d)    We Love Marlborough - has requested £2149.07 of funding for the Marlborough Christmas Lights Night. Recommendation: Meets criteria.

e)    Marlborough Allotment Association - has requested £997.23 of funding for improvements to three allotments sites within Marlborough. Recommendation: Partly meets criteria.

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

The Area Board considered five applications for Community Area Grant funding.  The Community Area Manager introduced each application, following which a representative of the applicant was given an opportunity to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

Decision

1.               Kennet Valley Hall was awarded £900 towards purchasing new floor maintenance equipment.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

2.               The Greatwood Charity was awarded £845 towards de-escalating conflict training for key staff.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

3.               Kennet Valley Amateur Dramatic Society was awarded £952.46 towards new microphones and sound equipment.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

4.               We Love Marlborough were awarded £800 towards funding first aid services, lanterns, and the parade at the Marlborough Christmas Lights Night.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

5.               Marlborough Allotment Association was awarded £590 towards providing effective means of communication for all members and improving security at the Elcot Lane site.

Reason – The 1^st and 2^nd elements of the application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14. The 3^rd was requested to be brought back in a subsequent application at a later date.

There were no other questions.

The next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board will be held on 25 November 2014, 7.00pm at Marlborough Town Hall.

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, 25th November, 2014 7.00 pm at Marlborough Town Hall, 5 High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA.