Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7 January 2016, as attached to the agenda.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The following declarations were made:

·       In regard to the grant application from Salisbury City Church, Cllr Mary Douglas explained that she was not a member of this church, but did know a number of the members. This did not constitute a prejudicial interest.

·       Cllr Rogers declared an interest in relation to the grant application from Bemerton Heath Harlequins FC, as he was a member of the Bemerton Harlequins social club, he did not take part in the debate or vote on this item.

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

1.     Child Wellbeing – Karen Linaker to update at item 8

2.      Health & Wellbeing Group – written update attached & covered in item 8

3.     Maltings and Central Car Park Update – written update attached

4.     Assets of Community Value – written update attached

5.     Harnham Bunker Update

The Chairman gave the following updates:

1.     Child Wellbeing – The Community Engagement Manager (CEM), Karen Linaker would update on this during item 8.

2.      Health & Wellbeing Group – a written update was attached to the agenda and would be covered in item 8.

3.     Maltings and Central Car Park Update – a written update was attached to the agenda.

4.     Assets of Community Value – a written update was attached to the agenda.

5.     Harnham Bunker Update.  Cllr Rogers publicly thanked The Sound Emporium for their work with young people over the past 12-15 months.

To receive a presentation from the new Chief Fire Officer, Darran Gunter.

Darran Gunter, Chief Fire Officer delivered a presentation on the work of the new service.  The following additional points then ensued as a consequence of question and answer time:

(a)  The new service will continue to work in partnership with the community and voluntary sector to carry out its work

(b)  Incorporating health and wellbeing messages, i.e. healthier eating and dementia awareness, in its day to day work and home visits was regarded as a positive move and constructive in reinforcing the message from other public sector partners

(c)  The service will be running a recruitment drive in Salisbury in the near future and would be running an apprenticeship scheme.  Whilst there would be a reduction in corporate staff, there would be no reductions in front line staff

(d)  The service ran a education programme which already benefited many young people, i.e. Salamander

(e)  Statistics on fire show a 60% reduction, but an increase in number of road traffic accidents, and an increase in the number of vulnerable people living at home

(f)    The high incidents of deliberate fires was an issue the service needed to understand better and help to mitigate

The Chairman thanked Darran for his presentation, and welcomed him and his service to Salisbury.

An update on Wiltshire Council’s Street Cleaning Services for the area.

Officer: Adrian Hampton, Head Local Highway Weather Emergency Services, Highways and Streetscene - South

Adrian Hampton (Head Local Highways, Weather, Emergency Services and Highways and Streetscene – South) clarified what the new arrangements were for street cleaning in Wiltshire and in Salisbury in particular, highlighting the increase in the service’s overall budget in 2016/17 from £6.5m to £9.5m.  He explained however, that these changes may well need to be reviewed following the decision on the transfer of assets to Salisbury City Council which had yet to be finalised.  He highlighted how Salisbury was fortunate currently to have been given 37.5 hours (and a sweeper operative and a pressure washing service) a week for street cleaning, where as all other community areas only received 4 hours of the service a day.  He also highlighted that elsewhere in the county, 30 town centres shared a sweeper, where as Salisbury has access to one every day.

Regarding litter on the A30 and A36, Adrian updated that this would be cleared during April to mid May 2016.  Regarding litter picks organised and carried out by community groups, Adrian clarified that Wiltshire Council’s waste collection contractor would come to pick up the full plastic bags, unless these are carried out on non Wiltshire Council sites.

Regarding enforcement to stop litter, Adrian agreed that businesses needed to be reminded of their responsibilities, but that the long term approach needed to be education.

During the ensuing debate, the following further matters were clarified:

(a)  Rebecca McZadeh (01722 438911) was the officer to contact regarding local street cleaning issues, although a review of first points of contact was currently underway and parishes would be informed of any changes

(b)  In terms of local issues regarding street cleaning, i.e. which matters should be a local priority for cleansing (the removal of chewing gum was put forward) – the city council should ensure that these are made known to Rebecca in order to ensure the cleaning service is suitably focused.

(c)  Wiltshire Council was the provider of last resort in terms of clearing litter from the A36, now that Highways England had made a policy decision not to clear

(d)  Concern that the service helped to keep streets clean in the centre, but that outlying areas of the community area were not being attended to.  Adrian suggested that the area board assess what the local priorities were in terms of street cleaning (whether this applied to the location or the item of waste to be cleared) and feed this back to him to see if adjustments could be made to the arrangements

(e)  The board was advised to contact environmental enforcement officers about waste from businesses on Fisherton St

(f)    Concern was raised that tarmac was being used to replace damaged paving slabs, in areas such as the square outside St Thomas's Church, the Poultry Cross, Butcher Row, the Blue Boar Row and the market place and Guildhall Square, with no regard for the history nor aesthetic characteristics of the city, Adrian agreed to look into the specific example which city councillor Matthew Dean  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note the written updates attached to the agenda and to receive any verbal updates from representatives present.

a)    Local Youth Network (LYN)

Update and recommendations for Youth Funding 2015/16

b)    Salisbury City Council (SCC)

c)     Laverstock and Ford Parish Council

d)    Police

e)    Salisbury BID

f)      Safer More Supportive Communities – ICE Card

g)    New Health & Wellbeing Group – Meet the ‘Champions’

h)    Community Engagement Manager

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3 minutes slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Chairman.

The Board received the following updates from partners:

a)    Local Youth Network (LYN)

Update and recommendations for Youth Funding 2015/16

Councillors noted the updates from the LYN and the CYO and agreed the LYN recommendation to grant £5,000 for Youth Action Wiltshire’s Young Carers Project in Salisbury.

b)    Salisbury City Council (SCC)

The City Council Clerk listed the upcoming events planned for the city, highlighted that the refurbishment works at Victoria Park was nearing a close, and that the Guildhall roof works were still within budget but had been affected by the recent high winds.  He also referred to the city council’s collaboration with the BID on matters such as street cleaning and potential for more evening events following the Tuesday and Saturday market days.

c)     Laverstock and Ford Parish Council

No update

d)    Police

Inspector Dave Minty updated that the restructure of community police teams would be reported probably at the next meeting, but that there were no plans to change arrangements for Salisbury.  He also reported that the new Police Cadet Force was now recruiting 14-16 year olds.

Referring to a local incident where a young person had had to be taken to hospital owing to the misuse of ‘legal highs’, Dave explained that whilst Salisbury was not seeing a spike in drug taking, there was nonetheless a real need to improve the education on this matter.  He suggested that, whilst the police needed to be involved and had resources available to work on this matter, for real impact, there would need to be a partnership approach.

e)    Salisbury BID

Steve Godwin updated that although not a high figure, 6.1% of business premises in Salisbury were empty, and that there was a high number of food retailers within the city.  In regard to the street cleaning/handyman service, this would be getting a new vehicle in the spring and this service was working well to complement that which Wiltshire Council provided.  In terms of CCTV, Steve explained that the slow procurement process in setting up the new system was enabling BID to establish a strong volunteer team.  Finally, Steve mentioned the new coach ambassadors that had been recruited to hand out maps and assist tourists arriving by coach to explore the city.

f)      Community Engagement Manager

Karen updated the board concerning its new Health & Wellbeing Group which had met for the first time on the 8^th March.  She introduced the new Older Person’s Champion, Irene Kohler and gave apologies for the new Carers Champion Gloria who would attend the next board meeting.

She then referred to the recent Clean for the Queen success in Salisbury and Wiltshire wide, and to the upcoming work to support the board’s priorities, including dementia, child wellbeing, and the new Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre.

The Board is asked to consider and approved the list of proposed Highways maintenance schemes for 2016/17 as attached to the agenda.

The Board considered the proposed major maintenance schemes for 2016/17 as detailed in the agenda. It was felt that further discussions were needed with Highways Officers before the Board could approve the list.

Action: CEM to schedule a meeting between Highways Officers and Salisbury Area Board Members, and for the item to come back to the next appropriate meeting for decision.

Community Area Grants

To consider applications for funding from Community Area Grants Scheme for 2015/16, as detailed in the attached report.

Cllr Led Initiative – Cllr Clewer

To consider this Cllr Led Initiative for an Air Quality Mapping Matter, as detailed in the attached report.

The Board considered 3 applications for funding from the Community Area Grant Scheme for 2015/16. Applicants present were invited to speak in support to their projects.

Following discussion, the Board voted on each application in turn.

Decision

South Wilts Raynet Group was awarded £1,000 towards a radio loan scheme.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2015/16

Decision

Salisbury City Church was awarded £929 towards Community Fun Day - a free family day out.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2015/16

Decision Bemerton Heath Harlequins FC was awarded £700 towards Wiltshire County Football Pitch Improvement Programme.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2015/16

The Board also considered a proposal from the Salisbury Air Quality Management Group.

Decision

The Area Board supported the recommendation from the Salisbury Air Quality Management Group to allocate £200 of its previously earmarked £5k area board budget for materials to assist a project intended to develop supplementary planning guidance on the issue of non-vehicular connectivity in and around Salisbury.

Reason – to improve air quality in the city

The Board is asked to confirm support for the pilot bus scheme and to allocate £2,000 to fund it, as detailed in the attached report.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board agreed to fund a pilot community bus service (£2,500) to run one day a week from May/Jun 2016, intended to help people travel from the city centre to the new Health & Wellbeing Centre.

To note the report of the last CATG meeting held on 24 February 2016 and consider the recommendations for funding as detailed in the attached report.

1.     2942 - Request for cycle safety improvements to the shared use path running in front of the filling stations on London Road - £6,000.

2.     3497 - Request for improved footway along Stratford Road - £4,000.

3.     Stratford Road Pedestrian Crossing Assessment - £20,000.

The Board noted the report from the last CATG meeting held on 24 February and considered the recommendations for CATG funding as detailed therein.

Decision:

The Salisbury Area Board approved CATG funding recommendations to schemes as follows:

£20,000 to allow a crossing point to be installed outside South Wilts Grammar School, Stratford Rd

£4,000 for footway improvement works on the south-west side of Stratford Road between No. 14 Stratford Road and Warwick Close

The date of the next meeting is Thursday, 12 May 2016, 7pm at Alamein Suite - City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7TU.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and noted that the next meeting of the Salisbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 12 May 2016, 7.00pm at City Hall, Salisbury.