Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from the following:

• Sheila Glass, Ramsbury Parish Council
• Michael Handford, Chairman of Ramsbury and Axford Building Committee
• Shelley Parker, Marlborough Town Council Clerk
• Alison Jones, Baydon Parent and Toddler Group
• Tamsin Witt, Baydon Parish Council

a.               To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 27 January 2015.

b.               Update on actions and outcomes arising.

Decision

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting on 27 January 2015 as a true and correct record.

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

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online. 

a)    Kennet & Avon Canal Adoption

b)    Universal Credit

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.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

a)      Kennet & Avon Canal Adoption

The Canal & River Trust were seeking volunteer groups to ‘adopt’ sections of the waterway.

b)      Universal Credit

Information was located in the agenda pack.

If anyone wanted one of the announcements to be considered as an agenda item they were invited to contact the Area Board.

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. Healthwatch Wiltshire
5. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)
6. Transition Marlborough
7. Marlborough Community Operations Board (COB)
8. Town / Parish Councils

a)    Wiltshire Police

A written update was circulated.

Crime rates were explained as having fallen in the Marlborough community area.

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Mike Franklin was in attendance to deliver a verbal update.

The combination with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service had been approved by Eric Pickles MP. This had gone to the Houses of Parliament on 2 March 2015 where it would lay for 40 days.

The combination would become legislation if it was not called in.

It was noted that the Fire and Rescue Service council tax precept had increased by 1.98%.

c)    Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

d)    Healthwatch Wiltshire

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

The update covered the work carried out on dementia and the Better Care Plan.

People were invited to speak to Healthwatch. Contact details were available in the update.

e)    Marlborough Area Development Trust (MADT)

There was a short presentation on the progress made by the MADT.

The community WiFi was one of the MADT’s main projects. This had been up and running since 2011, with the most extensive deployment in Marlborough Town. Thanks were expressed to the various organisations who had been involved in rolling out the project.

Content filtering had been implemented for the community WiFi. This was noted to be important in a public system. 

The new tourist information kiosk was almost finished and was stated as now being “fiddleproof”. The software would run from Marlborough’s directory services. Anyone who did not have an article on the directory and needed one was urged to do so. The free online Business Directory was available through www.marlborougharea.org.

A significant upgrade to the WiFi around Marlborough Town was being sought through the Smart Town Initiative.

f)      Transition Marlborough

A written update was circulated.

There was an update on transport related matters. It was stated that the more people that were able to travel via buses, bicycles, and train, the better.

The Area Board had helped out with the resurfacing of the Treacle Bolly bridleway. This would be completed within a few weeks.

An information request had been sent to Wiltshire Council on the effects of bus network cuts to those in surrounding villages. Difficulties of access to shops and hospital appointments were raised as concerns, along with long term isolation. It was also mentioned that they supported installing a bus shelter at the Ladbrokes bus stop.

Concerns were raised over possible downgrading of services to the Bedwyn train station. Many Bedwyn residents were explained as having moved there for the rail link to London Paddington.

A railway station for Marlborough was described as being desirable and practical. Funding was being sought from Wiltshire Council for a feasibility study.

g)    Marlborough Community Operations Board (COB)

The update was received in minute 23.

h)    Town/Parish Councils

Marlborough Town Council –

A written update was provided in the agenda pack, along with a short presentation from the Mayor of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To receive an update on the Local Youth Network (LYN) and for the Area Board to consider one Youth Grant:

1.     Devotion Youth Project: Hangout@Devotion – have requested £730. Recommendation: award funding.

The Area Board is also asked to consider one urgent Youth Grant as follows:

1.     Wider LYN Launch Event – have requested £792.57 to help with the set-up costs. Recommendation: award funding.

Jan Bowra, Community Youth Officer (CYO) for Marlborough community area, was in attendance to provide an update on Local Youth Network (LYN) activities and present youth grant recommendations.

The LYN represented a wide range of youth partners. They had held their first LYN event to promote the LYN network. Clubs and services related to youth interests within the community were encouraged to get involved, along with youths themselves.

Thanks were expressed to the Mayor of Marlborough and Cllr Stewart Dobson.

One of the outcomes of the LYN event was two paintings created on the day. These were displayed to the Area Board. It was hoped that paintings would be gathered from surrounding villages to construct a jigsaw-style community painting.

Another event was hoped to be held later in the year, as there were clubs which wanted to attend but were unable to.

The LYN would be used to start identifying gaps in the community area, and to locate areas of need for local youth.

The LYN Management Committee had been set up to look at youth grant applications. Once the wider LYN was put together the LYN Management would assess applications and judge whether they fit the needs and helped fill identified gaps.

Peta O’Brien from the Devotion project in Marlborough had been elected as chair of the LYN Management Committee; Katy Parsons from Chilton Foliat had been elected as co-Chair.

It was noted that it was disappointing that only 10 young people had attended. Ideas were requested on how to get more young people involved. Visiting local youth clubs was suggested. Jan and Peta were named as contacts to send ideas to. Young people needed to be involved in order to best understand where money should be spent.

Marlborough had about £29,000 available for the 2014-15 financial year, almost all of this could be rolled over to the following financial year. For 2015-16 an additional £24,000 was expected, with a total of £45,000 anticipated to be available.

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

It was noted that an urgent Youth Grant of £792.57 was awarded to the Wider LYN Launch Event outside of the Area Board meetings. Details of this were included in the agenda pack.

Decision

1.     To award the Devotion Youth Project: Hangout@Devotion £730 funding.

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2014/15.

The Area Board will receive a presentation from the Marlborough Community Operations Board (COB) about their work so far.

George Hayles, Chairman of the Marlborough COB, was in attendance to deliver an update on their work so far.

The COB had been meeting since March 2014. The work had begun with a slow start; this was due to the amount of varied information that was required to be looked at.

Ideas for the campus were at first guided by what stakeholders may want from it. These included hotdesks, cafes, and meeting rooms. It was later decided that it should be guided by what could realistically be provided by what was available.

Locations for a potential hub which had been considered were listed. The Youth Centre at St. Margaret’s Mead was noted to be a possible good location for a hub.

It was suggested that funding for a hub could be found from community infrastructure levys (CIL). This was explained to be money given back to the community from housing developments.

Services required were stated as including a need for social services and social care. Space needed would not need to be large, but would benefit from being dedicated.

The Area Board were asked if there was still the political will to create a hub and if it was worth continuing. The COB was said to be a worthwhile initiative, and it was suggested that Laurie Bell, Associate Director, and Cllr Jane Scott OBE attend a COB meeting to explain what could and couldn’t be done.

It was stated that the COB had been trying to contact Laurie Bell for the past 2 months.

James Cawley, Associate Director, explained that funding was unlikely to be available from CILs, as these went to the bottom line of the budget. It needed to be explained what Marlborough wanted from the hub or campus and to then speak to Laurie Bell. James Cawley stated he would be happy to attend this as well.

Future plans for the Youth Centre at St Margarets Mead were stated to be unknown. It was confirmed as having facilities for the disabled.

The Area Board will receive a presentation on services needed by the elderly within the Marlborough Community Area, and consider nominating an Elderly Persons Champion and a Carers Champion.

James Cawley was in attendance to deliver a presentation.

A long time had been spent in the Council looking at older people’s services. Known services for the elderly had been mapped out across the county, this had resulted in a market position statement being produced for Marlborough. However there were said to be services available in local areas that they were unaware of.

A half-day workshop would be held where service providers, Parish Councils, and others would be invited. This was to gain a better understanding of services available in the area. Parish Councils and Marlborough Town Council were urged to attend, as the results would be driven by their attendance and the attendance of others. The meeting was anticipated to be set up within 6 weeks, and would be run from 10am to 1pm.

A digital portal managed by Healthwatch would be set up to provide details of what services were available for local areas. The portal would be available to be accessed from homes and libraries.

The portal would also be used to identify gaps in services and local needs, and then to help set up any services missing.

There was the opportunity to nominate an older person’s champion or carer’s champion to represent the needs of the elderly and regularly ensure that older people’s issues were brought to the Area Board. This did not have to be a Councillor.

It was noted that this would be important as it would help ensure that the right funding was going to the right places. Older people needed to tell the Area Board what they needed.

The Area Board will be updated on activities and events across Wiltshire in 2014 and those happening in 2015.

Andrew Jack was in attendance to provide an update on activities and events across Wiltshire from 2014 and those that would be happening in 2015.

This was something that Wiltshire Council had been working on since 2012. The aim was to encourage peoples and communities to get closer together and promote healthier lifestyles.

Activities and events from 2014 had included:

·       £30,000 had been raised as a result of Legacy for young athletes.

·       The Big Pledge

·       Cycle Wiltshire

·       The Tour of Britain passing through Wiltshire

·       World War I commemoration at Tidworth

Activities and events happening in 2015 included:

·       A Business and Sports Dinner

·       The Big Pledge launch in May

·       The Cycling Festival in May

·       Cycle Wiltshire

·       The 800^th anniversary of the Magna Carta taking place on 15 June 2015 at Salisbury Cathedral

·       The Walking Festival in September

The Magna Carta anniversary would include a celebration pageant and procession through the city to the cathedral. Area Boards across Wiltshire had been encouraged to take part. Marlborough Area Board would be looking at the possibility of allocating some money to help with these costs.

More information on the Magna Carta event would be provided by the Area Board when available.

Legacy hoped to encourage communities to become stronger and more vibrant. Toolkits were available for those interested in setting up their own groups.

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

1.      Marlborough Area Development Trust – have requested £5,000 towards WiFi Development for the Smart Town initiative.  Recommendation: Meets criteria.  

2.      Baydon Toddler Group – has requested £734 towards a new shed for storage of outdoor equipment and new play resources.  Recommendation: Meets criteria

3.      Baydon Parish Council – have requested £200 towards replacement blackout blinds in BYPA hall.  Recommendation: Meets criteria. 

4.      Ramsbury Parochial Church Council – have requested £500 towards repairs to the churchyard lych-gate, Ramsbury.  Recommendation: Meets criteria

5.      Marlborough Concert Orchestra – has requested £1,000 towards Project Drumbeat to purchase new percussion and timpani instruments.  Recommendation: Meets criteria. 

6.      Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council – have requested £3908.50 towards new outdoor play equipment and other outdoor resources.  Recommendation: Meets criteria

7.      Marlborough Riding for the Disabled Association – have requested £970 towards new safety equipment, including riding hats.  Recommendation: Meets criteria. 

8.      Kennet Valley Heritage Group – have requested £710 towards researching, publishing and displaying a 1887 village map.  Recommendation: Meets criteria

9.      Baydon Pre-school – have requested £500 towards new folding tables for the pre-school and other hall users. Recommendation: Meets criteria.

The Area Board is also asked to consider the allocation of £1,600 Revenue funding from the 2014/15 budget to enable the Marlborough community to take part in activities organised as part of Legacy 2015.

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 9 applications for Community Area Grant funding.  Andrew Jack, 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.     Marlborough Area Development Trust was awarded £5000 funding towards the development of the Smart Town Initiative.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

2.     Baydon Toddler Group was awarded £734 funding towards a new shed for storage of outdoor equipment and new play resources.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

3.     Baydon Parish Council was awarded £200 towards the replacement of blackout blinds in the Baydon Young People’s Association hall.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

4.     Ramsbury Parochial Church Council was awarded £500 towards repairs to the churchyard lynch-gate.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

5.     Marlborough Concert Orchestra was awarded £1000 towards Project Drumbeat.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

6.     Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council were awarded £3908.50 towards new outdoor play equipment and other outdoor resources.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

7.     Marlborough Riding for the Disabled Association was awarded £970 towards new safety equipment.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

8.     Kennet Valley Heritage Group was awarded £710 towards researching, publishing, and displaying an 1887 village map.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

9.     Baydon Pre-School was awarded £500 towards new folding tables for the pre-school and other hall users.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15

10.To allocate £1,600 Revenue funding from the 2014/15 budget to enable the Marlborough community to take part in activities organised as part of Legacy 2015.

A question was received on the Area Board’s policies and priorities from a Green Party candidate. It was noted that this question would be better placed at the hustings taking place at St John’s School on 15 April 2015.

It was asked if Cllr Sturgis could be requested to follow up on his announcement that he would be working with Marlborough from April 2015 with regards to fuel poverty. Andrew Jack stated that he would contact Cllr Sturgis.

The next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board will be held on 19 May 2015, 7.00pm at Marlborough Town Hall, 5 High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board would be on Tuesday 19th May 2015, 7.00 pm at Marlborough Town Hall, 5 High St, Marlborough SN8 1AA.