Agenda and minutes

(reports in pack where appropriate)

·         Plastic and cardboard collections

·         101 new police non emergency phone no.

·         Allocation of Speed Indication Devices

The Chairman then welcomed everyone to the Aloeric School and introduced the Head Teacher, Mr Nightingale.

The Chairman then introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the area board, supporting Wiltshire Council officers and Cllr Fleur de Rhe Philipe, (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Tourism), who was attending the meeting.

The Chairman thanked the various stake holders and parish representatives in attendance.

The following Chairman’s announcements contained in the pack were noted:

Plastic and cardboard collections.

From October the council is rolling out service changes so that everyone receives the same level of service, beginning with fortnightly plastic bottles and cardboard recycling collections using blue-lidded bins in the north, west and east. This service is already in place in the south.

In late February 2012, the council will roll out fortnightly non-chargeable garden waste collections, using green lidded bins, for the north, east and south of the county. This service is already in place in the west. Residents will need to opt in to receive the service, ideally by 30th September, and should complete the opt-in form online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/waste if possible. Alternatively residents can complete the FREEPOST form found in the latest edition of Your Wiltshire magazine, or in the "Coming Soon" leaflet which has been sent out in the post to all residents from week commencing 4th July. If residents already have a garden waste bin, they do not need to re-apply, and their collections will carry on as usual.

Finally, the weekly household waste collections that the north and south currently have, will be replaced with a fortnightly collection service during March 2012, using existing bins. This service is already in place in the west and the east of the county.

For further information residents can: visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/waste, call 0300 456 0102 or look out for further information coming in due course.

101 new police non emergency phone number.

Wiltshire Police have launched a new telephone number providing people with an easier way to get in touch about non-emergency issues.

As well as making the police more accessible, it is hoped that 101 will reduce the number of inappropriate 999 calls that are made to the force.

The new 101 number is part of a national drive to make it easier to contact the police and report crime and disorder.

Allocation of Speed Indication Devices.

Area Boards had now been given the authority to allocate speed indication devices through their community areas.

Apologies were received from Cllr Jon Hubbard and Charles Boyle, (Atworth PC)

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Agenda Item No.9 Cllr Initiated Project – Melksham Trust, Promotional DVD.

Cllr Rod Eaton – Personal interest, member of Melksham Trust, would view the application with an open mind when this application was discussed and voted on.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2011.

Decision

·         That the minutes of the meeting on 14 July 2011 were approved and signed as a correct record.

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

a.      Melksham CAYPIG

b.      Community Area Partnership Representative

c.      Wiltshire Police

d.      Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

e.      NHS Wiltshire

f.        Melksham Town Council

g.      Parish Council Nominated Representatives

h.     Melksham Chambers of Commerce

i.        Melksham Campus- shadow operations board

Melksham CAYPIG

Siobann Chaplin advised that:

• A litter pick had been carried out in Melksham Park.

• CAYPIG were working with the Community Area Partnership to put together youth related campus ideas.

• A skate park consultation was to be held on Wednesday 21 September for skaters to meet with the design company.

• Planning a community safety event at the Canberra youth centre.

Community Area Partnership Representative.

Colin Goodhind advised that:

• The community safety group had been meeting with the neighbourhood policing teams.

• Touch2ID scheme – working hard to get this rolled out across Melksham.

• Planning to hold an alcohol related event at the assembly hall during November.

• Waterways group – looking at waterways in general

• Energy group – meeting to discuss re-newable energy.

• Community plan – nearly at the first daft stage.

• SCOB – CAP feeding in to this process.

• Working with Melksham Community Radio.

• Holding “tea and talk” sessions around the parishes to find out what issues rural areas have. Village groups are encouraged to contact Miriam or Abbi to arrange a tea/talk session.

Wiltshire Police

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted, Inspector David Cullop also advised that:

• The roll out of the new 101 non-emergency number.

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.

Melksham Town Council

Cllr Richard Wiltshire advised that the town council would like updates on previous grant applications that the Area Board had granted, It would be nice to know how the applicants had benefitted from funds that they had received.

It was agreed that updates would be sought from grant beneficiaries.

Parish Council Nominated Representatives

Cllr Mike Mills ( Melksham Without parish council) advised:

• That the new Berryfields allotments were now being used and are proving very popular.

• Were unhappy that Mike Sankey was a non-voting member of the SCOB.

Roy While advised that he would pursue this, and made the point that input from the parishes was very important.

Melksham Chamber of Commerce

Graham Ellis advised that:

• Concerns re lorries entering and exiting the Bowerhill business Park.

• Rail services, in and out of Melksham, a case was being put together to highlight the lack of services.

• The setting up of an Independent town traders group was welcomed by the chamber of commerce.

• The need to encourage more tourists to visit Melksham.

Shadow Community Operations Board

Cllr Roy While advised that now the membership had been decided the SCOB could get on with its work, making positive progress, the first being to look at design & travel principles and a communications plan.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their updates.

Angus McPherson, Chair of Wiltshire Police Authority.

Angus McPherson – Magistrate member of the Wiltshire Police Authority gave an update of current Police performance.

Points made included:

• Levels of serious violent crime continue to drop.

• Satisfaction with police in relation to violent crime improved but more to do.

• Much improved work with partners – in relation to licensed premises visits.

• Force recognises that more work needs to be done in relation to serious sexual offences – very low figures and improved reporting of historic offences may be pushing down “success” rates.

• Introduction of community speed watch great success.  22 planned and 44 established.

• Introduction of local resolution.  Up to 4% of crime dealt with in this way.  Too early to know rates of reoffending but high satisfaction for victims.

• Committed to maintaining numbers in NPT.  Checked and broadly accurate.    Issues over maternity, etc.

• Low drugs problem and public perception agrees.

• Dwelling house burglary below expected levels, and excellent  performance in relation to distraction burglary.

• Speed Watch – doing good work.

• Keen to get Neighbourhood policing teams into the campuses.

What do the residents think of its Police force?

• Low perception that crime is increasing.

• Higher than average feeling of safety at night, day time safety on county average of 98%.

• High satisfaction level with Wiltshire Police.

• Very satisfied with police visibility.

• Disappointing number know what police performance is or aware of the Police Authority.

The Chairman thanked Angus McPherson for his presentation.

Peter Tyas, Arts & Archives Service, Wiltshire Council and Tom Littlewood, Ginkgo Projects.

Peter Tyas- Wiltshire Council and Suzanne Heath & Tom Littlewood – Ginkgo Projects outlined the concept of public art re the funding from the east of Melksham development with a brief power point presentation.

Points made included:

• Public art should be of high quality art and design, should be site specific with a local distinctiveness.

• Wiltshire Council was holding talks and seminars across the county, looking to involve communities and improve architecture and the landscape.

• The role of Ginkgo Projects – to create opportunities for artists and to provide integration of the art into the development.

The Chairman thanked Peter Tyas, Suzanne Heath and Tom Littlewood for their presentation.

Petition re Removal of Bus Service Avon Road, Trent Crescent, Tamar Road and Severn Road.

i.                    Petition re Removal of Bus Service Avon Road, Trent Crescent, Tamar Road and Severn Road, it was agreed that Cllr Mark Griffiths was dealing with this issue and would update the Area Board in due course.

ii.                  The Chairman advised that at the Melksham Area Board meeting held on 12 May 2011, the Area Board had made grants to various local youth projects, one of which was for a graffiti wall. This project had now been shelved so it was agreed that that the funding of £500 should be given the Artworth youth club who had taken part in the funding selection but hadn’t on the night been granted any funding for their project.

Decision

·         That the Melksham Area Board grants Atworth youth club £500 for youth related projects.

iii.                BaNES preventing heavy goods vehicles using the Midland Road Bridge in Bath – agreed the Area Board would monitor this issue.

Short Grant DVD – Bowerhill Picnic Area

Also available on youtube: http://youtu.be/Jh2si7HZS3M

Melksham Community Area Partnership (MCAP) Recommendations from Partnership Development Officer:

·       approve the whole year’s core funding of £9,941 with an agreement to release the 1^st tranche of £4,971 immediately.

·       agree to the release of the 2^nd tranche at the 14 December Area Board meeting as long as conditions set by the Partnership Development Officer and agreed by the Board, have been met.

Community Grants Scheme

·         Poulshot Village Trust have applied for £739.33 towards restoration of the major pond on Poulshot Green.

·         Seend Parish Council have applied for £288 towards the renovation of the village war memorial.

Cllr Initiated Projects

·         Cllr Petty has applied for £5465 to install new street lighting near Riverside Walk/Millennium Bridge, King George V Playing Fields, Melksham.

·         Cllr Seed has applied for £200 towards Melksham Trust promotional DVD.

Bowerhill Picnic Area

A film showing the work that had been carried out to create the Bowerhill Picnic Area was shown, the picnic area was the result of a community area grant and had been well received by all who had used it.

The Chairman made the point that it was good to see the results of grant funding being highlighted at a meeting.

Melksham Community Area Partnership (MCAP) application for core funding.

Decision

·       That the Melksham Area Board approves the whole year’s core funding of £9,941 with an agreement to release the 1^st tranche of £4,971 immediately and agrees to the release of the 2^nd tranche at the 14 December Area Board meeting as long as conditions set by the Partnership Development Officer and agreed by the Board, have been met.

Community Grants Scheme

The Wiltshire Councillors considered two applications seeking 2011/2012 Community Area Grant Funding:

Decision

Poulshot Village Trust were awarded £672 towards restoration of the major pond on Poulshot green.

Reason

This application demonstrates a link to the Melksham community plan in terms of ‘landscape management and improving green and open spaces’.

Seend Parish Council were awarded £288 towards the renovation of the village war memorial.

Reason

This application will provide a renewed focus for village Armistice services.  The War Memorial is located in the grounds of the village parish church.  The War Memorial can be used to educate future generations about the sacrifices made by British troops in two World Wars, and still being made today in current conflicts.

Cllr Initiated Projects

Cllr Petty awarded £5465 to install new street lighting near Riverside Walk/Millennium Bridge, King George V Playing Fields, Melksham.

Cllr Rod Eaton now in the chair

Cllr Seed awarded £200 towards Melksham Trust promotional DVD.

Cllr Jonathon Seed now back in the chair

·         Weds 26 October 2011- Seend Community Centre.

·         Weds 14 December 2011 – Semington Village Hall.

Wednesday 26 October 2011- Seend Community Centre.

Wednesday 14 December 2011 – Semington Village Hall.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Tourism will introduce her portfolio and answer any questions.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Tourism gave a brief overview of her portfolio and answered questions.

Points Made by Cllr de Rhe-Philipe:

• Strategic Planning & Economic Development – the prime objective being

      to get jobs into Melksham, rather than houses, and to achieve carbon reduction targets.

• Tourism – concentrating on selling Melksham and the county of Wiltshire to the rest of the country, looking to get tourists into Wiltshire for longer stays.

• The importance of the core strategy planning policies to the town and

            community area.

• The Wilts & Berks canal – a huge opportunity for Melksham, could be the basis for regeneration.

• Looking for communities to take responsibility for their Tourist Information Services.

Questions raised from the floor included:

• There are concerns that with the campuses being built many TICs would face closure with a loss of good volunteers and little training for those who remain.

a.      Warminster TIC is a good example of a local community taking on its TIC and making a success of it, Wiltshire Council will look at what training is available to volunteers.

• Concerns over the loss of bridleways in the county.

a.      Limited funds available but equestrian views are always considered, also equestrian tourism is a growing opportunity.

The Chairman thanked Cllr de Rhe-Philipe for her presentation.

Area Board Issues Process:

Please see our online issues tracker for progress on all issues submitted to the Melksham area board to date. 

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/areaboards/areaboardsissuestracking.htm . 

You can also submit issues online for the area board to consider, or fill in an issues sheet by hand.  https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboards.php

The Chairman thanked everybody for attending the meeting.