Agenda and minutes

Chairman’s Announcements:

·       Carers’ Small Grants Scheme.

·       State of environment report.

·       Drainage Bye Laws.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Melksham Assembly Hall for the meeting of the Melksham Area Board.

There were the following Chairman’s Announcements which were covered in the agenda pack:

·       Carers’ Small Grants Scheme.

·       State of environment report.

·       Drainage Bye Laws.

Apologies were received from the representatives of the Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG).

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 9 October 2013 (copy attached).

Decision

·       The minutes of the meeting held on the 9 October 2013 were agreed as the correct record.

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

Agenda Item No.10 – Members initiatives,You Decide Event for Young People and Youth worker and funding for 2014 You Decide Event - Cllr Jon Hubbard, Chairman of Melksham Extended Services.

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

a. Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

b. Community Area Partnership

c. Wiltshire Police

d. Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner

e. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

f. NHS Wiltshire/Clinical Commissioning Group

g. Melksham Town Council

h. Parish Council Nominated Representatives

i. Melksham Chambers of Commerce

j. Melksham Senior People’s Forum

The following Partner updates were noted:

Wiltshire Police – Insp Matt Armstrong.

·       The written report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – Mike Franklin

·       The written report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Points made included:

·       That the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service public safety plan was now available.

·       That Fire Service strike action was planned for the period 13/14 December, although services would still be delivered.

NHS Wiltshire/Clinical Commissioning Group

The Chairman welcomed Dr Rob Matthews – Spa Medical Practice who had agreed to represent the local GP practices at the Area Board meeting.

Questions raised from the floor included:

·       That it would be very beneficial if Melksham had a walk in x-ray service.

a.A walk in x-ray service would be of help to reduce the current waiting times for Melksham residents requiring x-ray services.

·       Had the take up of flu jabs for older people been up or down this winter?

a.Take up had been down.

·       Would it not be sensible for Melksham to have a new surgery as local residents are facing longer waiting times due to the new housing developments in Melksham?

a.It was highly unlikely that the Clinical Commissioning Group would set up a new surgery in Melksham.

·       Was it not the case that the East Melksham housing development had space planned for a potential surgery?

a.Local GPs were unaware of this.

The Chairman thanked Dr Matthews for attending the meeting and hoped that either he or other local GPs would attend future meetings.

Melksham Town Council

·       The written report was noted.

Melksham Senior People’s Forum – Brian Warwick

Points made included:

·       That the first Melksham seniors newsletter was now in circulation.

·       That the Seniors Christmas party would be held on Monday 16 December.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

Lucy Murray-Brown - Head of Campus Operational Delivery Models, Wiltshire Council and Rich Pearce - Project Manager, Wiltshire Council  will be in attendance to provide a presentation on the consultation feedback received and the next steps in the process.

Lucy Murray-Brown - Head of Campus Operational Delivery Models, Wiltshire Council and Rich Pearce - Project Manager, Wiltshire Council gave a slide presentation on the consultation feedback received and the next steps in the Campus process.

Following 18 months of developing the campus designs and working closely with local residents and community groups, the Shadow Community Operations Board (COB) unveiled the detailed campus plans at a series of pre-planning consultation roadshows last month.

The plans were displayed around the community area with sessions held at

Melksham House, the Assembly Hall, Christie Miller Leisure Centre, Melksham Oak School and using the mobile library. Residents were invited to attend to have their say on the proposals. Over 300 people across the community area attended the consultation sessions and provided feedback on the scheme.

Points made included:

Common feedback themes.

·       “Exciting Project for Melksham House wishing it good luck”

·       “ Think it will be good for the community and boost Melksham economy”

·       “ The floor area of the sports hall is a cause for concern, being smaller than the existing CMSC hall and unable to support some activities”

·       “ Looks good, but why no snooker or skittles?”

·       “ Why is there Indoor and Outdoor Bowls”

·       “ Parking charge concerns”

·       “ Additional Pilates / Dance studio is required with sprung floor”

·       “ So glad it was decided to build in the centre of town and not at the school”

·       “ Pleased to see the parkland approach is retained”

·       “ Why no bar?”

·       “ How will it be managed? Will we be able to afford to use it?”

Melksham market place improvements.

·       Separate highways scheme being developed by a working group of Melksham Town Council

·       New market area outside Town Hall

·       New roundabout access for Campus

·       Segregated taxi / disabled parking area

·       Speed reduction ramps and raised pedestrian crossings

·       Works to be co-ordinated with campus construction programme

Next Steps

Subject to Area Board approval to submit planning application:

-        Submission of planning application – December 2013.

-        Detailed design, procure contractor – spring / summer 2014.

-        Commence build programme - summer 2014.

Questions raised included:

·       When will the transport plan be carried out?

a.The transport plan would form part of the planning application.

Who is the architect commissioned for the Melksham Market Place project?

a.Liasion with the architects should be done through the local working group, led by the town council.

Why would the Taekwondo club have a smaller space in the campus than it currently has at Christie Miller?

a.The spec for taekwondo was put together with guidance from Sport England, it meets the needs of the user base.

Crown House access issues – potential users of the campus having to cross two lanes of traffic.

a.The design team would be looking at this issue.

Would an extension of the Melksham cemetery encroach into the Cricket club playing area?

a.A small extension is planned for the future, there is no intention to impact on the playing area for cricket.

Will there be tennis  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A presentation from Graham Ellis on the new Transwilts Train Service.

Sion Bretton – Trans Wilts Community Rail Partnership gave a presentation that highlighted the role of the Trans Wilts Community Rail Partnership.

Points made included:

·       That changes to the Trans Wilts rail service which would see train services rise from two trains per day each way, to eight trains per day each way.

What is Trans Wilts Community Rail Partnership

·       The TransWilts Community Rail Partnership (TWCRP) is a group of like-minded organisations seeking to make better use of the TransWilts railway line.The partnership aims to achieve positive, sustainable and imaginative development of the TransWilts railway in ways which also benefit the places it serves, including enhancement of services to meet the current and future travel requirements of those places.

What have Trans Wilts Community Rail Partnership done so far?

·       Trial service 2011 / Weymouth trips 2013

·       Business and Public survey analysis with Chambers 2011.

·       Assist WC and Atkins with surveys WSB and CPM / Summer 2013

·       Constitution formalised / official Community LEP overview input.

·       Timetable distribution Dilton Marsh.

·       Support for Melksham Group / Station Garden.

·       "What is our CRP leaflet" - fits in to lots of other rail bodies.

·       Timetable changes,

       e.g. extra Sunday Southbound; M-F Southbound change.

Next Steps

·       Support launch.

·       local intelligence / early feedback.

·       Ongoing support, marketing and advocacy.

·       The hard work now really begins to support 53 trains each way per week.

·       Installation of a platform ticket machine.

Points made from the floor included:

·       The bus service from Bowerhill does not tie in with the train times.

a.     TWCRP would be discussing this issue with Wiltshire Council.

·       Well done to Graham Ellis for his campaigning to get a better Melksham train service, now we need to use it or lose it!

The Chairman thanked Sion Bretton for his presentation.

Laura Tarling – Post Office Services to highlight the proposed move of Melksham Post Office to new premises at 6-8 Bank Street, Melksham.

Laura Tarling – Post Office Services presented a short DVD film to highlight the proposed move of Melksham Post Office to new premises at 6-8 Bank Street, Melksham.

Questions from the floor included:

·       If the franchise was to fail at the new premises, would Melksham lose its post office service?

a.All services would continue, Post Office Ltd are committed to keeping a post office in Melksham.

·       Will parcels still be able to be picked from the Sorting office?

a.Yes, this service will continue to operate.

·       Will the current sorting office close?

a.     There are no plans to close the sorting office.

·       What would happen to the current site if the move happens?

a.There are no plans at the present for any other businesses to take it  over.

·       Parking for users at the new site is not good.

           a.This would be noted by Post Office Ltd.

·       Melksham post office needs to be profitable, currently it is not.

The Chairman thanked Laura Tarling for her presentation.

To announce the winner of the competition to name the new pub on land just off the A350 near Bowerhill which is expected to open during June 2014.

Cllr Jonathon Seed announced that the winner of the competition to name the new pub was Jeanette Nash who proposed “The Milk Churn”.

The pub is to be built on land just off the A350 near Bowerhill which was expected to open during June 2014 with some 30 staff.

To ask Councillors to consider the following Grant Applications:

i.Community Area Grant Applications

ii.Councillor Initiated Projects

Councillors were asked to consider the following grant Applications:

i.Community area grant applications

Decision

Melksham 1^st Bowerhill Scouts New Minibus – awarded £5,000.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan - 1st Bowerhill Scout Group currently supports the extracurricular activities and development of 50+ children living in and around Bowerhill. The group perform both indoor and out door activities and in order to provide a safe, controlled and financially robust service a 17 seat minibus would allow the group to perform more thought provoking activities. These will provide the young people of Bowerhill access to new experiences and a chance to develop as members of the community and young leaders of the future. This will truly allow the group to put the out in Scouting.

Decision

MTS WIFI Signal For Melksham- awarded £450.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan: ensure inclusion of all and raise the community spirit asking for A WIFI Signal for the community of Melksham. So people can listen to the station FREE around town on any device which has WIFI. i.e WIFI Radio / Mobile Phone / Laptop etc..

Decision

Melksham Community Apple Press – awarded £500.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan - promoting activities This request is for a small grant to enable the already very successful Melksham Community Apple Pressing days to reach more people and potentially expand to encompass other villages in the Melksham Community Area Melksham.

Decision

Self Defence Training – Atworth Youth Club – awarded £300.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan.

Decision

Sports Equipment Atworth Youth Club – awarded £305.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan - promoting    activities The children who attend the Atworth Youth Club would like to have some sports equipment. They would like to purchase footballs and 2 foldable goalposts as there is a keen interest in playing football and because it is a team sport it works well to get the children playing together. They would also like some new table tennis bats and balls to use with the 2 table tennis tables they have.

Decision

Melksham Link Interpretation Boards – awarded £500.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan-To install 2 Interpretation Boards in Melksham, one near the Town Bridge by the proposed towpath (and current footpath) and one by the Town Weir. The purpose of the Boards being to inform the Melksham Community and visitors of details of the proposed canal link between the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington and the River Avon at Melksham plus plans for restoration of the canal beyond Melksham towards Abingdon, as far as possible using the historic route of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

Decision

Semington Village Hall New Disabled Toilet modernising existing Toilets – awarded £2,000.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan - promoting activities.

Decision

Social Isolation IT project – awarded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Joan Savage advised that Seend Parish Council had concerns re the proposed “Solar village” plans that would site a large number of solar panels on land around the village of Seend.

Richard Wiltshire – Melksham Town Council requested that the Area Board supported the walk in x-ray service for Melksham. The Chairman advised that the Area Board had always been supportive of this service in Melksham.

·       Wednesday 12 February 2014 – Seend Community Centre.

Wednesday 12 February at the Melksham Assembly Hall.

The Chairman wished everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year.