Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of Melksham Area Board, and thanked the staff at Neston Park Farm Shop for their work to prepare for the meeting.

Details were given of the fire exits.

There were the following announcements:

1)    The YouChose Awards for young people were now open for nominations, with the award date being 28 November 2013.

There were no apologies.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2013.

The minutes of the previous meeting were presented for consideration. It was,

Resolved:

That subject to the addition of Richard Wood (Melksham Without Parish Council) among the list of attendees, to APPROVE and sign as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

a.    Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

To include a short Mental Health film made by the YAG.

b.    Community Area Partnership Representative

c.    Wiltshire Police

d.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

          To include:

·         Draft Public Safety Plan update.

·         Integrated Risk Management Plan update.

e.    NHS Wiltshire/Clinical Commissioning Group

f.     Melksham Town Council

g.    Parish Council Nominated Representatives

h.    Melksham Chambers of Commerce

i.      Melksham Senior People’s Forum

a)    Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

Details were provided on YAG involvement with the recent Carnival and efforts to increase the profile of the YAG, including a YAG produced video on the problem of litter that has been showing in the area’s schools and increased co-operation with other bodies.

A video on mental health issues produced with the assistance of the YAG was then shown, and the Area Board welcomed the efforts of the young people to spread important information throughout the community area.

b)    Community Area Partnership Representative

Details were provided on efforts to upgrade the CCTV in Melksham, with work to begin in several weeks following the completion of the tendering process.

There were also updates on work to determine policing priorities, an initiative begun to improve the bus service and the forthcoming planning application regarding the Melksham Link canal.

c)    Wiltshire Police

It was stated the Carnival and party in the park had been well supported with only a single arrest made, with reported crime in the sector down approximately 9% since the last meeting, though domestic burglary reports had increased slightly. The update closed with a reminder for people to be wary of theft from vehicles by locking their cars and not leaving valuables within them.

d)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Details were provided on the progression of the Draft Public Safety Plan and Integrated Risk Management Plan, with the end date of the final consultation being 1 August.

It was also noted that, in line with national figures, local fires were down approximately 45% in ten years.

e.    Clinical Commissioning Group

The written update was noted.

f.     Melksham Town Council

Details were provided of a new open market to be in place from September in the Church Street car park, plans for the centenary commemoration of WW1 and the 5^th Melksham Food and Drink Festival, to be held from 6-51th September at Melksham house. Further details were available at the Town Hall or Melksham community blog.

http://melksham.ourcommunitymatters.org.uk

g.    Parish Council Nominated Representatives

It was reported that Melksham Without Parish Council had reached full membership and that a Muga (Multi use games areaf) was being planned to the East of Melksham.

It was also reported that during the Inquiry regarding the Wiltshire Core Strategy, representations had been made to emphasise the local view that Bowerhill should be classed as a village in its own right, and not merely an extension of the Melksham urban area.

h.    Melksham Chamber of Commerce

It was noted that Melksham was the only area in Wiltshire to not be part of the ‘Visit Wiltshire’ scheme, and it was suggested the position should be reviewed.

The next meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was stated to be on 10 September 2013.

i.      Melksham Senior Peoples’ Forum

The programme for the Forum was stated to be strong through to April 2014, although the event in August 2013 had been cancelled. A meeting with Wiltshire Police had been arranged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Update by Lucy Murray-Brown - Head of Campus & Operational Models, Wiltshire Council and Cllr Roy While to present the SCOB update.

Lucy Murray-Brown (Head of Campus Delivery and Operational Models) and Cllr Roy While as Head of the shadow Community Operations Board, presented an update on the development of the Melksham Campus proposals.

It was stated a creative adviser had been hired to assist with the project, and it was stressed that some compromise on aspirations might be required due to budget limitations,

There had been visits by the COB to other campuses around the country to better inform the plans for Melksham, and it was planned that a submission of the final plans would take place in the late Autumn or Winter 2013. Updates would continue to be found at http://www.melkshamcampus-scob.org.uk/

Specific updates were made regarding the provision of outdoor space, including a presentation as attached to these minutes. Indicative plans for new Football and Rugby facilities were detailed, as well as a commitment to continue the luncheon service at Assembly House instead of Melksham during the construction of the Campus.

The Area Board discussed the update, and thanked officers and the COB for their continued work on the project.

Becky Saunders and Beckah Tew from Splitz introduced a film created by the organisation as part of a grant approved by the Area Board, on the subject of domestic abuse awareness and support. It was stated Splitz was seeking to have the video shown in schools and other bodies to encourage people tos peak out against domestic abuse, and detailed support given to affected young people.

The Board thanked the representatives from Splitz for their presentation and all the difficult work they were undertaking, and wished them luck in sharing the produced video and other work as widely as possible.

Details of Splitz and other bodies supporting those affected by domestic abuse are included below.

Childline 0800 1111

Samaritans 08457 909090

www.splitz.org

The Chair introduced the item, noting the Board had awarded the Community Area Partnership (CAP) three months of funding at its last meeting, and highlighted the importance of continuing its work.

It was then proposed that an additional four months of funding be provided, which would support the CAP through to the next meeting of the Board in October 2013.

Details were then provided of the agreed responsibilities of the Members of the Area Board as ‘Area Board Champions’, who would look to reach out to organisations and groups in specific areas such as children’s groups and transport, and how best to disseminate that information. Further details were included in a PowerPoint presentation, attached to these minutes.

Resolved:

To award £3,333, 4 month’s funding, to the Area Partnership.

A short film to raise awareness of what public health is and does.

Sue Odams (Consultant in Public Heath) introduced a film detailing Local Authority responsibilities for Public Health from Maggie Rae (Corporate Director) and Cllr Keith Humphries (Cabinet Member for Public Health)

The Board thanked Sue Odams for the presentation and then had the opportunity to ask specific questions on the changes in Public Health.

a.     To ask Councillors to consider Community Area Grant Applications.

b.     Reports from Grant recipients on how Community Area Funding has benefited their group/organisation.

Councillors considered two Community Area Grant applications and two Councillor Initiative Bid

a)Community Area Grants

      i.        Beanacre and Melksham Cricket Club -£1000 approved

Reason: The application meets the grant criteria and demonstrates a link to the Community Plan; to encourage participation in organised and non-organised sport.

    ii.        Wiltshire Mind - £445 approved.

Reason: The application meets the grant criteria demonstrates a link to the Community Plan; to ensure inclusion of all and raise the community spirit.

b) Councillor Initiative Bid

      i.        Melksham and District Seniors Forum – £1500 approved.

    ii.        Disabled Football indoor facilities - £500 approved

Mr Kenneth Spencer raised a proposal from the Atworth Traffic Action Group (ATAG), attached to these minutes, for the attention of the Area Board.

It was agreed that the proposal would be forwarded to the appropriate Cabinet Member, Councillor John Thomson.

·       9 October 2013 – Melksham United Church, High Street, Melksham. (Older Persons Themed, starting at 2:30pm).

·       11 December 2013 – Semington Village Hall.

The next meeting of the Area Board was confirmed as Wednesday 9 October 2013 from 1430-1630 at the Melksham United Church, and would focus on Older People themes.

The following meeting would take place on Wednesday 11 December from 1900-2100 at Semington Village Hall.