Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from the following:

Nick Fogg

Sheila Glass – Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council

Richard Pitts – Transition Marlborough

Sam Page – Transition Marlborough

It was noted that Sheila Glass had been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her hard work within her community.

Resolved

To write a letter to Sheila Glass from the Area Board congratulating her on the awarding of a British Empire Medal

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 24 November 2015.

Resolved

The minutes of the meeting on 24 November 2015 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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

·         Public Transport Review

·         Your Care Your Support Website

If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak to the Community Engagement Manager, or the Democratic Services Officer.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

a)    Public Transport Review

The announcement was referred to in the agenda pack.

b)    Your Care Your Support Website

The announcement was referred to in the agenda pack.

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

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. Healthwatch Wiltshire
4. Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
5. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)
6. Transition Marlborough
7. Town / Parish Councils

a)    Wiltshire Police

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

It was noted that Mike Franklin would no longer be attending Area Board meetings and providing updates from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

Resolved

To write a letter of thanks to Mike Franklin from the Area Board for his work representing Wiltshire Fire and Rescue at Area Board meetings.

c)    Healthwatch Wiltshire

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

Those present were urged to pass on any relevant information Care Quality Commission (CQC) regarding the forthcoming inspections of the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

d)    Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

e)    Marlborough Area Development Trust (MADT)

A written update was circulated at the meeting and a copy is attached to these minutes.

f)      Transition Marlborough

No update.

g)    Town/Parish Councils

No update.

The Area Board will be informed of Wiltshire’s Legacy campaigns for 2016, including:

·         Clean for The Queen

·         Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebrations

·         The Big Pledge Road to Rio

·         Getting Active- Walking and Cycling activities in Wiltshire

Guides will be available for each of the above to provide further information on how to get involved.

Andrew Jack, Community Engagement Manager, was in attendance to introduce the item.

It had been four years since the London Olympics had been held, along with the successes of the Olympic torch procession and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Wiltshire Council was trying to build on this success through the Big Pledge initiative to get people more active physically and within their communities.

This year the Queen’s 90^th birthday would be celebrated. The Area Board had a small amount of funding available to help people arrange events. Details were available from Andrew Jack.

Other events included Clean for the Queen and the Road to Rio. Equipment would be made available for people to take part in Clean for the Queen events. Distance challenges would be held for the Road to Rio in an attempt to cover the distance to Rio de Janeiro. Gold, silver, and bronze awards would be available for those taking part.

More information and booklets were available from Andrew Jack.

The Area Board will receive a presentation from the Police and Crime Commissioner which will present his proposals for the 2016-17 precept.

Clive Barker, Chief Finance Officer, was in attendance to deliver a presentation.

It was noted that there had been an increase in crime; however this was expected as a result of people having been more effectively urged to report crime. Confidence levels in Wiltshire were at 83.7% which was much higher than the national figure which was at around 73%.

PCC funding was explained as being 62% grant based, with 38% coming from council tax. There had been a slight reduction of £334,000 in funding, however it was noted that there were also still challenges from historic cuts and pressures.

The current cost to Wiltshire residents was £163.98 annually, which was the lowest in the region. The PCC were consulting on an annual increase of £3.12 (1.9%). This increase would provide a total budget of £105.695million. A portion of the reserves would be used to cover the £2.6million funding gap and retain officers.

Consultation details were available online.

A question was asked if a combination of all three emergency services centres had been considered. It was explained that the fire and ambulance services had each decided to have their own centres.

Freeze grants were explained following a question. Previously if there had been a 0% increase in council tax then the government would provide 1% funding. This was no longer available and would be consolidated into another grant.

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

1.     Marlborough Golf Club Youth Committee - have requested £1660 towards the Marlborough Junior Golf Initiative.

2.     Wider Local Youth Network Sub Group – have requested £5000 towards a music festival for young people.

Jan Bowra, Community Youth Officer, was in attendance to provide an update and introduce youth funding applications.

The Marlborough Local Youth Network (LYN) had been established one year previously. Two groups were established as a result: the Local Youth Network Management Group, and the Wider LYN. The area board was still looking for young people themselves or adults who represented a club or group for youth in the target ages (13 to 19, or up to 25 with a disability) to take part in the Local Youth Network and to play a part in developing positive activities for young people in the Marlborough area.

Peta O’Brien, Chair of the LYN Management Group, explained that the group had held several meetings and successfully funded 9 applications. The applications ranged from a variety of topics including a golf club and a music festival. There was £13,000 still available in grant funding, people were encouraged to come forward and apply if they had any projects in need of assistance. An evaluation of the funded projects would take place over the next few months to look at how they’ve helped.

Sasha, Chair of the Wider LYN, informed those present that after a consultation with young people last year it was discovered that they wanted to hold a music festival to bring people together. The dates for the festival had been set for 24 September 2016 on the green site at Marlborough College, which had capacity for 1000 people. The event would be free to attend and local youths would be encouraged to come and play at the event.

The applications for youth funding were introduced. It was noted that all successful applicants should return in 6 months to provide an update presentation to the Area Board on how the grants had been used.

Resolved

1.     To award Marlborough Golf Club Youth Committee £1660 toward the Marlborough Junior Golf Initiative.

2.     To ringfence £5000 for the Wider Local Youth Network Sub Group to use towards a music festival for young people.

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

1.     Kennet Valley Hall - have requested £1225 for a new ride-on lawnmower.

2.     Marlborough in Bloom - have requested £1066 for Marlborough in Bloom 2016.

3.     Chilton Foliat Primary School - have requested £5000 for a new community minibus for Chilton Foliat.

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 two applications for Community Area Grant funding.  A representative of each application was given an opportunity to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

It was noted that the application from Chilton Foliat Primary School for a new community minibus for Chilton Foliat had been withdrawn until there was more community support available.

Resolved

1.     To award Kennet Valley Hall £1225 for a new ride-on lawnmower.

2.     To award Marlborough in Bloom £1066 and for Andrew Jack, Community Engagement Manager, to work with the applicant and the Marlborough Town Council Clerk regarding the 2016 Marlborough in Bloom entry.

The Area Board will be asked to consider a funding proposal for a new Shopmobility Scheme for Marlborough.

Andrew Jack introduced the funding proposal.

The Shopmobility Scheme would be a volunteer-run enterprise based out of the premises on George Lane car park. It would provide shopmobility scooters and wheelchairs so that those who required them could access Marlborough town.

Marlborough Town Council had agreed to provide the running costs. It was explained that Marlborough Area Board could provide the capital to fund the wheelchairs, some changes to disabled parking, and dropped kerbs.

Cllr Jemima Milton noted that this would be a great opportunity to improve the accessibility of Marlborough’s town centre, as it was currently hard for some people to get around.

Resolved

1.     To provide £6,510.63 for the Shopmobility Scheme as described in Option 2 of the report.

2.     To provide £800 for the building of a new dropped kerb.

3.     To provide £1000 for two new disabled spaces.

A question was asked on air quality and the process following a letter from Transition Marlborough. It was explained that a public meeting would be arranged by Transition Marlborough in mid-February to discuss potential solutions.

A cessation of funding for Little Crickets Pre-School was queried. Cllr James Sheppard would liaise to help investigate the conditions under which the funding was stopped.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

Community Area Transport Group (CATG) Report

Cllr Sheppard introduced the CATG report of the 17 December 2015.

The new funds for 2015/16 were confirmed as £13,615. Combined with the £4,680 remaining from 2014/15 would provide a total budget of £18,576 for the 2015/16 year.

Villages were being asked to put forward contributions for 20mph schemes, with an average cost of £3000 per village.

Resolved

1.     To note the discussions from the CATG meeting of 17 December

2.     To agree £2,250 each to implement 20mph limit at Ramsbury & Ogbourne St Andrew

3.     To agree £900 for white gates on C6 at Mildenhall

4.     To agree £1,500 for raised kerbs at Broad Hinton

5.     To agree £1,875 for 20mph assessment at Lockeridge

The next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board will be held on 22 March 2016, 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 22 March 2016 at Marlborough Town Hall.

Following the Area Board an Emergency Planning Workshop was held for those in attendance.