Agenda and minutes

The Chairman; Councillor Ricky Rogers welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Salisbury Area Board and invited the members of the Board to introduce themselves.

Steve Milton, Head of Service for Community and Governance and Area Boards was welcomed to the Board as he would be standing in as the Community Area Manager until the completion of the county wide Area Board Review.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

·         Mike Franklin – Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on Thursday 12 September 2013, as attached to the agenda.

Questions and Comments

·       Item 5 – Clarification regarding consultation about New Canal improvement works.

·       Item 8 - Mr Brown asked for his question regarding the junction on Roman Road to be included in the minutes.

·       Item 10 – The decision to convene a CAP workshop had not yet been carried out.

·       Youth Advisory Group (YAG) – The nominated Board Representative was not able to attend the YAG meetings. Would it be possible to produce a rota of Board members to attend future YAG meetings?

·       YAG – at the last meeting the group had expressed interest in having a regular slot on future Area Board agendas to provide an update. Answer: The Chairman agreed to the YAG having a standing slot under Partner Updates on future agendas.

·        

Decision

Subject to the addition listed below, the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Addition to Item 8 - Highways:

Mr Brown had asked that the road junction at the bottom of Roman Road, onto Wilton Road be revised, as he felt the recent implementations there were not safe. At the meeting of the 12 September, Parvis Khansari informed Mr Brown that the junction had been evaluated and was not found to be unsafe.

Answer: The Chairman informed Mr Brown that the matter would be passed to the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) for further consideration.

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

The following declarations were received:

Cllr Tomes is a Salisbury market trader and therefore declared a pecuniary interest in discussion relating to the ongoing market square refurbishments.

Cllr Dalton, Cllr Tomes and Cllr Walsh are all Salisbury City Councillors and therefore declared a personal interest to any matters relating to the City Council.

Cllr Douglas declared a personal interest relating to item 13, Community Area Grants as she knows one of the members of the Phoenix Stars Cheerleaders.

Cllr McKeown declared a personal interest relating to item 9, Hillcote Residential Centre, as she is a GP.

Note: All of the standard interests declared by each Board member can be viewed online at: http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1

The Chairman will present an iPad to the winner of the County wide Our Community Matters blogging competition - Mr Tim Scrace from Salisbury.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

The Chairman presented an iPad to the winner of the Wiltshire Our Community Matters blogging competition, Mr Tim Scrace of Salisbury.

Amanda Newbery informed the Board that the Salisbury Business Chambers had voted in favour to back a BID (Business Improvement District) application.  Further information is available by following the link: http://salisburybid.co.uk/ 

To note the following Items for information, attached to the agenda:

1. Maltings & Central Car Park Redevelopment
2. Market Square update
3. Carers’ Small Grants Scheme
4. Pest Control Update
5. Salisbury Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA)
6. State of the Environment Report
7. Wiltshire Community Land Trust

The Board noted the information items attached to the agenda, in addition the following information and comments were received:

a)    The Maltings & Central Car Park Redevelopment - The Chairman informed the Board that further information on the Maltings development had been requested, if required the board would consider holding a special additional meeting in 2014 to consider the proposals.

b)    Market Square Update – Steve Dewalder of La Molina Restaurant felt that the small businesses around the market square had suffered a great deal during the redevelopment works. He felt that there had been difficulties in communicating with the contractors and asked that this be improved before further changes occurred.

Cllr Tomes asked if the completion date was still set for November 2013. Answer: Stonework would be complete 7 December, with the remaining work completed by 20 December.

To receive updates from representatives of the following partner organisations:

a)    Salisbury City Council

b)    Laverstock and Ford Parish Council

c)     Salisbury City Community Area Partnership

d)    Wiltshire Police

e)    Fire and Rescue

f)      NHS – 111 Service (written update)

a)    Salisbury City Council (SCC) – Andrew Robertsgave the following updates:

·       The City Council had found the market place contractors very helpful in making it possible to hold the scheduled events, including the Fair.

·       A Bi-election would be held for St Martins and Cathedral ward.

·       In the process of determining the budget for 2014.

·       The Remembrance Sunday parade had been well attended.

·       The Salisbury Carnival had raised £2,800 for the Scanner Appeal.

·       The Christmas lights would be switched on this year by Craig Revell Horewood from Strictly Come Dancing.

·       The Christmas market would open on 28 November and was planned to be even bigger than last year.

·       SCC recently adopted a resolution to become a ‘Living Wage’ employer.

·       Following discussions with the planning officer for the Cemetery site, the Councils preferred first choice site had now been approved for consideration.

·       A motion had been passed on Parking Charges in the city; SCC would now be forming a view with other interested parties.

The Chairman added that the board shares the concern that the Car Parking Charges Review take place as soon as possible.

b)    Laverstock & Ford Parish Council

The representative had nothing to report.

c)     Salisbury City Community Area Partnership

The Partnership was continuing its work with the Purple Flag scheme for Salisbury, the Vision Board and the Campus Community Operations Board.

A competition was being held by WFCAP ‘Your Community’ in 300 words, further information was available on the WFCAP web site: http://www.wfcap.org/

d)    Wiltshire Police – Inspector Andy Noble

Andy gave thanks to long serving PCSO Owen Fisher in the City Centre Team who was undergoing his training to become a Police Constable.

A suspect had been charged with 23 counts of commercial burglary and would be put before the crown court in the coming months, a further update on this would be provided in due course.

Cllr Walsh praised the work of the Police teams as the statistics showed that crime figures had dropped on those of the same period the previous year.

e)    Fire & Rescue

The Board noted the attached written update and statistics attached to the agenda.

f)      NHS – 111 Service

The Board noted the update attached to the agenda.

To consider a request from Salisbury City Council for the Bus Station to be designated as an asset of community value under the powers conferred on the Council by the Localism Act, 2011 (papers attached).

The Board considered a request from Salisbury City Council for the Bus Station to be designated as an asset of community value, under the powers conferred on the council by the Localism Act, 2011, as detailed in the papers attached to the agenda. SCC Chairman, Andrew Roberts explained that the process was a necessary next step. If a negotiated settlement could not be reached, they may look to work with Wiltshire Council to form a commercial bid.

Questions and comments were received, some of these included:

·       Cllr Walsh raised his concerns relating to the current owners ability to sell the site to make a profit, passing the costs of implementing additional bus stops on to Wiltshire Council.

·       A suggestion for a better use for the site was to develop it into a covered market.

·       The owners of the bus station site had been invited to meet with SCC, however they had not attended.

·       Until plans were agreed for an alternative bus station, then the current site should not be developed.

·       Concerns were raised as to why the Area Board had not been consulted on the proposed sale of the bus station back in January, rather than first hearing about it in June.

·       Cllr Clewer added that the bus station site was clearly a community asset, and proposed that consideration be given to identifying other possible assets which could be listed for future.

·       In the event of the closure of the bus station, the buses would have to use the coach station, which is chargeable, would the buses have to pay the charge, if not why not?

·       In the summer, Salisbury receives the arrival of thousands of tourists; some of these will arrive on buses. Without a bus station they will be dumped onto the streets.

Following discussion the Area Board members voted on a resolution. Cllr Walsh abstained from voting.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board supports Salisbury City Council’s concerns about the proposed closure of Salisbury Bus Station and the impact this will have on the City Centre and the additional cost this will place on Council Tax payers in the area.  The Board recognises the need for an integrated transport hub in Salisbury as set out in the Salisbury Vision and is disappointed that Wilts and Dorset Bus Company have thrown this into doubt by announcing its intention to close the Bus Station.  The Board is of the opinion that the Bus Station, despite a recent lack of investment, provides a very important facility for travellers, visitors and local residents, offering convenient facilities close to the City centre.   Consequently, the Salisbury Area Board supports the application made by Salisbury City Council to designate the Bus Station as an asset of community value

To consider the proposals for the closure of Hillcote Residential Centre. The consultation document produced by Wiltshire Parent Carer Council is attached.

During the previous week the Clinical Commissioning Group had held a public meeting on the proposed closure of Hillcote Residential Centre. The Board received a presentation from the speaker at that meeting, Dr Angela Scott.

The closure of the centre would impact on families across the south of Wiltshire, with disabled young people who currently use the facilities, as it would mean they would need to travel to the alternative site in Devizes.

A Rapid Scrutiny Review was carried out, the following recommendations were made:

1.               The rapid scrutiny group recommends that Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services notes the following comments and makes appropriate representations to the Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body on 26 November. A formal response at the Children’s Select Committee on 3 December 2013 is also requested.

The rapid scrutiny group accepts the argument that a revised provision of services for children and young people with SEND could lead to greater accessibility of services overall, assuming the retention of a specialist residential centre (i.e. Canon’s House). However, little information has been provided to evidence that the proposed alternative service model would adequately meet the needs of service users. The group therefore has considerable concerns about the proposals and the amount of information provided to support them. The group’s concerns are as follows:

1.     The proposals have not been properly costed in the following ways:

a)    No figures have been provided to demonstrate how the predicted cost of specialist carers (£40kpa, per carer) has been arrived at (for example, figures from other local authorities who have already adopted this system). The group are sceptical that this sum is realistic given the high upfront costs the carers will face in order to properly adapt and equip their homes;

b)    The potential impact of the new specialist carer scheme on the future use of Canon’s House and its sustainability in the long term does not appear to have been considered.

The group therefore concludes that the cost neutrality of the proposals has not been substantiated. The availability of the savings proposed for reinvestment in early intervention services therefore cannot be assumed either.

2.     Given historic difficulties recruiting foster carers for young people with more complex needs, the Council may face considerable difficulties recruiting and approving the specialist carers proposed. No information has been provided demonstrating how this will be achieved (for example, from the experiences of other local authorities who have already adopted this system), particularly within the ambitious timeframe of April 2014.

3.     It has been reported that specialist carers would be subject to the same quality assurance and safeguarding checks as foster carers for children and young people without SEND. The group believes that the greater vulnerability of children and young people with SEND demands a much more robust system of monitoring to protect the children’s welfare and to protect the specialist carers.

4.     No information has been provided to show how continuity of provision for service users will be maintained if a specialist carer decides  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Frances Chinemana from the Council’s Public Health Team will introduce a short DVD outlining changes to public health and the new role for Area Boards.

Frances Chinemana from the Council’s Public Health Team introduced a DVD outlining the changes to Public Health and the new role for Area Boards.

The following comments and questions were received:

·         The air quality is an issue in Salisbury, would this come under the remit of Public Health, and would walking and cycling be encouraged? Answer: With regards to the Air Quality Action Group, the Public Health Team would be willing to support the local community in their work in improving the air quality.

Action: Cllr Clewer would be scheduling a date for the next Air Quality Action Group to meet, details of this would be brought to a future Board meeting.

·         How would the Public Health Team work with the Community Area Partnership? Answer: We could offer support, as far as resources allow.

To receive an update from a member of the Community Operations Board (COB) on the progress of the Salisbury Community Campus project at the 5 Rivers Leisure Centre.

The Board received an update from Patricia Fagan, Chairman of the Shadow Community Operations Board (COB) on the progress of the Salisbury Community Campus project at the 5 Rivers Leisure Centre.

·       Planning Permission was granted in October 2013.

·       The possibilities for a community bus were being considered.

·       Tenders for contractors would be complete by the end of 2013.

·       It was hoped that work could begin on site in spring 2014, with a completion date of late 2015 or early 2016, however further updates would be available once a contractor was appointed.

·       There would be a series of working groups.

·       Regular updates would be circulated on the Our Salisbury community blog site as well as in newsletters and posters at the 5 Rivers site.

Cllr Clewer added that once the working groups had been formed, this may be an opportunity for the Board Members to become more involved.

Questions and comments included:

·       What was being implemented for energy conservation? Answer: There would be solar panels on the roof.

·       This will be seen as a new council building, whilst there are many other closures, how will you address negative feeling? Answer: Whilst the Campus will house some council services, it will also house other services and users. This building will be a community building, managed by the community.

·       The enhanced facilities at the centre will include a climbing wall and other new facilities inside and out.

·       There are other alternatives to Solar Panels, all options should be considered.

To note the report from the last meeting of the CATG, and to consider the recommendations for funding as set out in the paper.

The Board noted the report from the last meeting of the CATG and approved the recommendations for funding new schemes for 2013/14 as detailed in the papers attached to the agenda.

Decision:

The Salisbury Area Board awarded £3,000 of CATG funding for 2013/14 – to impliment a TRO to restrict access to permit holders only in Hollows Close and Folkestone Road.

Decision:

Due to the number of schemes submitted, the Salisbury Area Board agreed to release a further £15,000 to the CATG budget for 2013/14.

Decision:
the Speed Indicator Device programme be adopted as recommended.

To consider community grants for 2013/14 as set out in the attached document, with the opportunity for questions from the public.

The Board considered four applications for funding from the Community Area Grant Scheme for 2013/14. The Chairman invited a representative from each application to speak in support of their project.  Following discussion, the Area Board members voted on each application.

Decision

Phoenix Stars Cheerleaders was awarded £750 towards the purchase of a Tumble Track.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

Track.

Decision

South Wilts Cricket Club was awarded £5,000 towards the Academy Ground Pavilion Refurbishment & Grounds Upgrade.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

Decision

Alabare Christian Care & Support was awarded £3,000 towards a Learning Disability Activities Room.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

Decision

Salisbury Concert Band was awarded £3,000 towards the purchase of a Contra Bass Clarinet.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2013/14.

The Board will consider the Community Asset Transfer request for Wiltshire Council owned land at Macklin Road, made by Salisbury City Council, as detailed in the attached papers.

The Board considered an application to the Community Asset Transfer scheme for the transfer of the play area and footpath at Macklin Road, Salisbury to be transferred to Salisbury City Council in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy, as detailed in the report and accompanying papers attached to the agenda.

Decision:

The Salisbury Area Board approved the transfer of the play area at Macklin Road, Salisbury, to Salisbury City Council, subject to the matters referred to in paragraph 9 of the report and detailed below:

The land is to be transferred on the standard basis. This is that there will be a covenant restricting use of the land to community purposes. If the land should cease to be used for this purpose it will revert to Wiltshire Council.

The land has no value other than as amenity/play area land and Salisbury City Council will take over maintenance. Therefore, financial implications are limited to the maintenance cost previously incurred by Wiltshire Council being transferred to Salisbury City Council.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 9 January 2014 at the City Hall in Salisbury starting at 6.30 for 7.00pm.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and noted that the next meeting of the Salisbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 9 January 7.00pm at City Hall Salisbury.