Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bowerhill Village Hall, Halifax Road, Bowerhill SN12 6SN

Contact: Kevin Fielding  (Democratic Services Officer)

Items
No. Item

1.

Chairman's Welcome, Introduction and Announcements

(reports in pack where appropriate)

 

i.State of the Environment Report.

 

ii.Localism Act - http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/localismact.htm

 

iii.Boundary (Community Governance) Review.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Bowerhill  village hall, and then introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the area board as well as Cllr Fleur de Rhe Philipe, Cabinet Member for economic development and strategic planning who was in attendance.

 

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

 

 

The following announcements contained in the pack were mentioned briefly:

 

·         The State of the Environment Report.

 

·         The Localism Act.

 

·         The Boundary ( Community Governance) Review.

 

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Roy While and Paul Wiltshire – Broughton Gifford Parish Council.

 

3.

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 6 June 2012.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Decision

 

• The minutes of the 6 June 2012 meeting were agreed as  a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

4.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

Agenda Item No.12 Community Grants Scheme – Extended Services Melksham.

Cllr Jon Hubbard – was a member of the board of governors, (Extended Services Melksham), Would speak and then leave the room when the application was discussed and voted on.

5.

Partner Updates

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

 

a.    Melksham CAYPIG

b.    Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

c.    Community Area Partnership Representative

d.    Wiltshire Police/Wiltshire Police Authority

e.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

f.     NHS Wiltshire

g.    Melksham Town Council

h.    Parish Council Nominated Representatives

i.      Melksham Chambers of Commerce

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

a.Melksham CAYPIG/YAG – not in attendance.

 

 

b.Community Area Partnership Representative.

Colin Goodhind advised that:

 

  • The CAP had facilitated an event that highlight community budgets and

Local needs, the meeting had been well supported.

 

·         A steering group was to be set that would look at a Federal Neighbourhood Plan.

 

·         Some good cross Community Area Partnership working, looking at bus routes.

 

·         The CAP were looking to revive the community action plan.

 

 

Theme Groups

 

  • The Waterways group - had now had several meetings.

 

·         Community Safety Group - ongoing work being carried out.

 

 

c.Wiltshire Police Authority/Wiltshire Police

 

Chris Hoare  gave the Police Authority update which highlighted the election of the posts of Police and Crime Commissioners across the country.

 

Points made included:

 

·         PCCs will be elected for every force area in England and Wales outside London.

 

·         Elections take place on 15 November, with PCCs taking office on 22 November.

 

·         PCC will replace Wiltshire Police Authority (WPA).

 

·         PCCs are being introduced by government to increase accountability of the Police.

 

 

Inspector Lisette Harvey  gave the Wiltshire Police update.

The written report was noted.

 

Points made included:

 

·         Residents should ensure that ground floor windows were secured to deter opportunist burglaries during periods of hot weather.

 

·         Anti-social behaviour around the Waitrose store in Melksham was now being targeted.

 

 

d.Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

 

Points made included:

 

·         The Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were putting together its new business plan and invited stake holders to register for a questionnaire to help shape the plan.

 

·         That the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were keen to carry out free fire safety checks for residents in the area.

 

 

e.NHS Wiltshire

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

 

 

f.Melksham Town Council

Cllr Chris Petty advised that he had nothing to report.

 

 

g.Parish Council Nominated Representatives

Nothing to report.

 

 

h.Melksham Chamber of Commerce

Graham Ellis advised that the Chamber of Commerce were currently  looking at regeneration and transport, both rail and canal based.

 

 

The Chairman thanked everyone for their updates.

6.

Cabinet Member Questions

Cllr Fleur de Rhe Philipe, Cabinet Member for economic development and strategic planning, will explain her portfolio and answer any questions.

Minutes:

Cllr Fleur de Rhe Philipe, Cabinet Member for economic development and strategic planning gave a brief outline of her portfolio.

Points made by Cllr de Rhe-Philipe:

 

  • Economic Development – the prime objective being

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

 

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

            community area.

 

The Chairman thanked Cllr de Rhe-Philipe for attending the meeting.

 

7.

Enara - home care provider

Update people about the services Enara are currently providing in the Melksham and surrounding areas to help people stay at home. 

 

Justine Pickford and Karen Sneddon, Enara.

 

Minutes:

Justine Pickford – Regional Director, Enara gave an update on the services that Enara were currently providing in the Melksham and surrounding areas to help people stay at home.

 

Points made included:

 

·         How is  the Enara Team made up:

 

Office Team - 15 office staff plus ‘surge’ capability from dual trained care staff.

 

Sheltered Housing Team - Managed by Greensquare.

 

Care and Support staff - 127 care staff with 210 Customers  in Wiltshire; 82 in Melksham.

 

 

·         How do Enara continue to improve:

 

Annual Customer Survey.

 

Quarterly telephone reviews.

 

Field based quality checks.

 

Staff training and supervision.

 

 

·         Recruitment:

 

Significant local employer.

 

Constant retention.

 

Constant recruitment.

 

Methods: Local newspaper, Leaflets, Internet and word of mouth.

 

 

Questions raised from the floor:

 

·         What training do new members of staff receive?

a.New staff receive a one week induction, which includes, food hygiene and personal care.

 

 

The Chairman thanked Justine Pickford for her presentation.

 

8.

Neighbourhood Plans

Anna Lee, Economy & Enterprise, Wiltshire Council.

 

Minutes:

Anna Lee - Economy & Enterprise, Wiltshire Council gave a presentation that outlined the concept of Neighbourhood Planning and how these plans fitted in to the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

 

Points made included:

 

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

 

·         Plans which set out policies in relation to the development and use of land.

 

·         Neighbourhood plans are permissive: about enabling development not stopping it.

 

·         Once brought into force, neighbourhood plans would be used in the determination of planning applications.

 

·         Plans must be prepared in accordance with the legislation.

 

·         Plans must have regard to national policy.

 

·         Plans must be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan.

 

 

Relationship with other plans

 

·         Parish plans.

 

·         Melksham Area Community Action Plan.

 

·         Melksham Urban Design Study.

 

·         All can form part of the evidence base for developing a neighbourhood plan.

 

 

Roles and responsibilities

 

·         Neighbourhood planning has to be led by town and parish councils.

 

·         Wiltshire Council advocates a ‘steering group’ approach.

 

·         Wiltshire Council has a duty to provide support.

 

 

Costs and funding

 

·         Cost will depend on nature of the plan.

 

·         Costs to be met by town or parish council may include:

    Preparing evidence.

    Consultation and printing/distribution costs.

    Undertaking Sustainability Appraisal.

 

·         Wiltshire Council funds examination and referendum.

 

 

Questions raised from the floor included:

 

·         Is there a deadline for submitting a plan?

a.No.

 

·         How do the steering groups get formed?

a.Early days for this, there are four pilots currently running, how the steering groups are formed will come from the experiences of these pilots.

 

·         Would Wiltshire Council be able to give guidance as yo what is an appropriate Neighbourhood Plan?

a.Yes, a link officer would be assigned to work with on each plan submitted.

 

 

The Chairman thanked Anna Lee for her presentation.

9.

Our Community Matters: Melksham Blogsite

Matthew Woolford, Communications, Wiltshire Council.

 

Minutes:

Matthew Woolford - Communications Account Manager, Wiltshire Council gave presentation for the proposal of the setting up of community area blogs sites.

 

Points made:

 

What are we proposing

 

·         Build on social media revolution with a series of digital community notice boards.

 

·         Increase opportunity for people to engage locally.

 

·         Free virtual space that communities can use to promote events and news.

 

·         The sites will provide an additional way to publicise local news, comments, ideas, events and jobs.

 

 

How you can get involved.

 

·         You will be able to post stories, news, events, comments, jobs and ideas.

 

·         We will be able to promote your projects and groups through links from this site.

 

·         Community reporters.

 

 

What next

 

·         Working with local groups to show how it can be used.

 

·         Holding a hands-on demonstration to show you how you can use the site, which would be held at Melksham House on Tuesday 18 September, start time 6pm.

 

·         Looking to launch the site in early autumn.

 

·         All sites launched in Wiltshire by early 2013.

 

 

The Chairman thanked Matthew Woolford for his presentation.

10.

Update on Melksham Campus and Timeline

George Roberts, Melksham Shadow Campus Operations Board.

 

Minutes:

George Roberts - Melksham Shadow Campus Operations Board gave the Melksham Campus update.

 

Points made included:

 

·         That the architects were now looking at the Campus brief and would be reporting back to the SCOB.

 

·         The Special Area Board meeting that had been planned for the 18 September would now not take place, the architects and SCOB still needed to consult and discuss plans before bringing them to the Area Board. It was decided that the Area Board meeting of the 10 October would be used as a Campus themed meeting.

 

 

 

Decision

 

·         That the Melksham Area Board would now hold its Campus  themed meeting on the 10 October 2012, which would approve services and facilities to be contained in the campus before proceeding to architects and planning.

 

 

 

The Chairman thanked George Roberts for his update.

11.

Any other urgent items of public concern?

Minutes:

There were none.

12.

Grants and Funding

Feedback

 

·         Melksham Comic Con, Hayley Spencer.

 

 

Community Grants Scheme

 

·         Golden Fleece Cricket Club have applied for £6,834  towards a new pavilion at their new cricket field adjacent to Whitley Golf Club.

 

·         Melksham Council of Community Services have applied for £4966 for a replacement engine for their accessible community bus.

 

·         Extended Services Melksham have applied for £2500 towards counselling for young people.

 

 

Small Grant Scheme

 

·         Busy Bees have applied for £200 towards the purchase of a new sewing machine.

 

·         AFC Melksham have applied for £350 towards coaching for kids.

 

·         Bowerhill Residents Action Group have applied for £120 to purchase two strimmers to maintain the picnic area.

 

·         Poulshot Village Trust have applied for £304 to purchase a gazebo for village events.

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Hayley Spencer - Melksham Comic Con, gave a brief presentation which highlighted the successful first Melksham Comic Con, which was held on the 26 May 2012. Hayley thanked the Area Board for the funding that the Area Board had given to Comic Con.

 

The Chairman Thanked Hayley Spencer for her presentation and wished Comic Con well for the future.

 

 

Community Grants Scheme

 

Golden Fleece Cricket Club awarded £5,000 towards a new pavilion at their new cricket field adjacent to Whitley Golf Club.

Decision

This application demonstrates a link to the Melksham community plan – ‘increase recreation provision in the Melksham area’.

 

 

Melksham Council of Community Services awarded £4,966 for a replacement engine for their accessible community bus.

Decision

Agreed, reliable accessible transport for the elderly and disabled provides benefits for the vulnerable in our community, as this is often the only way they can leave their homes.

 

Note: Cllr Jon Hubbard leaves the room.

 

Extended Services Melksham awarded £2,500 towards counselling for young people.

Decision

This application demonstrates a link to the Melksham community plan – ‘encourage local support of disadvantaged young people and ensure convenient and accessible source of advice’.

 

Note: Cllr Jon Hubbard returns to the room.

 

 

Small Grant Scheme

 

Busy Bees awarded £200 towards the purchase of a new sewing machine.

 

AFC Melksham awarded £350 towards coaching for kids.

 

Bowerhill Residents Action Group awarded £120 to purchase two strimmers to maintain the picnic area

 

Poulshot Village Trust awarded £304 to purchase a gazebo for village events.

 

13.

Future Meeting Dates

  • Tues 18 September 2012 – Melksham House (special meeting to approve services and facilities to be contained in the campus before proceeding to architects and planning).

 

  • Weds 10 October 2012 – Seend Community Centre.

 

  • Weds 12 December 2012 – Melksham Oak School.

 

Minutes:

Tues 18 September 2012, Melksham House – Melksham Blog themed meeting. Note: that this is not an Area Board meeting.

 

Weds 10 October 2012, Melksham Assembly Hall - (special themed

meeting to approve services and facilities to be contained in the campus before proceeding to architects and planning).

 

Weds 12 December 2012, Melksham Oak School.

14.

Evaluation & Close

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

 

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked all for attending, including Alison Sullivan the Community Area Manager.