Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the South West Wiltshire Area Board and introduced Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Waste, Environment and Property.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·         Graham Hogg, Service Director

·         Eric Mitchell, Mere Parish Council

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2010

(copy attached).

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following changes:

A correction to those listed in attendance, the Parish representative for Burcombe Without was N Lefroy, and for Bowerchalke it was R Weaver.

The contact telephone numbers for Clarence (Highways reporting hotline) were highlighted, as follows:

From a landline – 0800 23 23 23

From a mobile phone – 01225 77 72 34

·         Gypsies and Travellers Sites Consultation (attached)

·         Services for Children with Special Educational Needs Consultation (attached)

·         Contaminated Land Strategy for Wiltshire (attached)

·         Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire (attached)

·         Reducing Unnecessary Street Lighting

The Chairman informed the Board that at the end of the financial year, Jane Scott, the Leader of the Council, had announced that extra funds had been made available for distribution through Area Boards. The total amounts of funding to be divided among the eighteen Area Boards are detailed below:

·         £100,000 – to help young people access services available to them

·         £250,000 – for improvements to local highways

·         £100,000 - for improvements to street lighting

The funds available to the South West Wiltshire Area Board would be based on there being three community areas.

The Chairman drew attention to the consultation papers which were attached to the agenda and urged anyone who had a particular interest in any of them to participate in the consultation exercises. The consultation papers were:

·         Gypsy and Traveller Consultation

Wiltshire Council was in the early stages of finding land for gypsy and traveller sites.  Information would be available from the end of April on the Council’s website (www.wiltshire.gov.uk) and in libraries and Council offices.  A number of drop in events were also planned – details were available on page 15 of the agenda.

·         Consultation on Services to Children with Special Educational Needs The Council was in the process of consulting on the provision of services to Children with Special Educational Needs.  Details were available on page 17 of the agenda and on the Council’s website.

·         Contaminated Land Strategy for Wiltshire

The Council was in the process of consulting on the above document. Details were available on page 19 of the agenda and on the Council’s website.

·         Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire

The Council was in the process of consulting on the above strategy. Details were available on page 21 of the agenda and on the Council’s website.

Councillor Toby Sturgis explained the process behind the Gypsy and Traveller consultation, and urged anyone who was interested to attend the meeting due to be held on Thursday 13 May 2010, from 4.00pm – 8.00pm at City Hall, Salisbury.

A discussion then ensued; one of the points raised was that half a mile outside of Wiltshire, Dorset County Council were planning a Gypsy and Traveller site which had not been detailed on the map (on display at the meeting). Councillor Sturgis informed the Board that Wiltshire Council had written to neighbouring authorities, and that sites planned around the boarders of Wiltshire would be taken into account.

Reducing Street Lighting

Also discussed was the public consultation on whether to dim or turn off certain street lights within the community. Richard Munro, Community Area Manager agreed to write to parish councils and relevant stakeholders to invite comments.

Decision

The Board agreed that Richard Munro would liaise with all concerned to produce a list of street lights for consideration in the dimming/switching-off project.

Wilton Middle School Update

Councillor Richard Beattie gave an update on recent developments at the Wilton Middle School site, informing the Board that part of the site had recently been sold to the Plymouth Brethren, whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive details of Wiltshire Police Protective Services.

DC Andy Rogers, Wiltshire Police

DC Andy Rogers, from the Vulnerable Adult Unit, Wiltshire Police, gave a presentation on Public Protection Services, and outlined the remit of the service, listing the sections within it, these were:

·         Major Crime

·         Special Branch

·         Economic Crime

·         Public Order

·         Civil Contingencies

·         Critical Incidents

·         Organised Crime

·         Public Protection

·         Forensic Department

·         Operations

DC Rogers added that by working as a team his unit dealt with over 2000 cases involving vulnerable adults per year.

Inspector David Minty explained that the purpose of the presentation was to show local people what services were available, and what work was going on behind the scenes within the special units within the police force.

To receive a short presentation on the interim findings.

Ione Lacey, Tisbury Parking Project

Ione Lacey gave an update to the Board on the interim findings of the working group. Some of the points raised were:

·         Group were to find a sponsor to fund further work

·         Improve parking near the railway station

·         Form a local traffic group

·         Look into buying Johnsons field opposite the railway station

·         Improve communications with South West Trains

·         South West Trains forecast a 25-35% in growth over ten years (from 2006)

·         Growth would lead to the requirement of an extra 30-40 car park spaces

After discussion, several people suggested that South West Trains should be responsible for funding a project to increase the number of car parking spaces, as it was their problem.

One suggestion, once funding had been sought, was to create a car park with a barrier which would divide the car park, with a fee for the spaces at the front and free spaces beyond the barrier, which would be raised after the early morning commuters had travelled to work.

The Board members will consider applications for funding from five applicants as follows (report attached):

·         Donhead St Mary Parish Council – Tennis Courts refurbishment

·         West Knoyle Parish Council – Play Equipment

·         Tisbury Bowling Club – Bowls Clubhouse

·         Zeals VDS Working Party – Village Design Statement

·         Hindon Village Hall – Village Hall Lighting

Richard Munro, Community Area Manager

The Board considered five grant applications for funding under the Community Area Grant Scheme. The Chairman allowed applicants present to speak in support of their application and invited comments from the public.

After discussion the Board voted on each application.

Decision

Donhead St Mary Parish Council was awarded £5,000 towards their project to refurbish the Tennis Courts/Multi Use area.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2010/11 and would improve the sports facilities for the community.

Decision

West Knoyle Parish Council was awarded £4,000 towards their project to purchase and install Play Equipment in an existing play area.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2010/11 and would improve the play facilities for the community.

The Chairman Councillor Bridget Wayman abstained from voting for this application as she lived there.

Decision

The application from Tisbury Bowls Club was approved and the project granted £1,465, but it was agreed that the grant money be paid to Tisbury Parish Council, instead of the applicant.

Reason

If Tisbury Parish Council were awarded the money, they could apply for planning permission at the Parish Councils’ reduced fee rate, and could work with the Bowls Club to oversee the works to the Clubhouse. The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2010/11.

Decision

The application from Zeals Village Design Statement (VDS) Working Party was refused.

Reason

The Board felt that as other Parishes had already funded their own VDS, the applicant should do the same.

Decision

Hindon Village Hall was awarded £2,570 towards their project to upgrade the Village Hall Lighting.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2010/11 and would be of benefit to a wide range of people in the community.

Councillor Jose Green abstained from voting on this application as she had a query relating to the financial figures which could not be answered at the meeting.

To receive Community Area Partnership 2010/11 work plans and funding submissions:

·         SW7CAP (Mere Community Area)

·         TAPCAP (Tisbury Community Area)

·         WilCAP (Wilton Community Area)

Community Area Partnership Chairs

Richard Munro, Community Area Manager explained that the representatives from SW7CAP (Mere) and WilCAP were both unable to attend the meeting. He agreed to get together with them at some point after the meeting to draw up report papers for the next Area Board meeting.

Nigel Knowles, Chairman of TAPCAP gave an update, explaining that a revised budget plan had been produced, which took into account the under-spend of the previous financial year, but that there had not been time to circulate the revised document to Councillors in advance of the meeting.

Plans for 2010/11 included:

·         Assistance to the Area Board with the production of a Community Area Plan

·         To create a first draft of the Community Area Plan

·         Recruit an administrator for TAPCAP, to act on the same level as a parish clerk

·         To seek outside funding

·         To recruit volunteers to assist, and join TAPCAP

Councillor Tony Deane advised the Board that as he had not been able to study the document prior to the meeting, he felt that a deferral on awarding any further funds would be appropriate before he could make his decision.

The Board then discussed the option for deferral.

Decision

The Board agreed to defer TAPCAP’s request for funding until the next meeting of the Area Board, to allow Councillors time to consider the revised documents fully.

To receive an update on the progress of Issues to date.

Richard Munro, Community Area Manager

Richard Munro, Community Area Manager informed the Board that a list of all current issues could be found in the agenda packs. For further information people were advised to go online where they could track the progress of the current issues, or report new ones.

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboards/southwestwiltshireareaboard.htm

To note the Forward Plan (copy attached).

The Board were asked to note the forward plan attached to the agenda. People were informed that they could contact the Community Area Manager, if they had a specific item to be considered on a future agenda. He would then liaise with the Chairman to see if it would be possible to include these items.

Decision

The Area Board noted the forward plan.

The Chairman will invite any remaining questions from Partners, Town/Parish Council representatives or the floor.

The Chairman invited any other questions from those present. These were:

1.    Dinton Parish Councillor Charles Smith informed the Board that at the east end of Dinton, where the new houses had been built, a pedestrian refuge had been installed on the road. It had been established that a number of vehicles had been travelling through on the wrong side of the road, and at great speed. Recent figures from a metro count had shown that 105 vehicles had passed through on the wrong side, within a three week period.

The Transport Policy Officer had already been contacted and had suggested that they invite the Police to the site, to stop the vehicles and re-educate the drivers.

The Parish had also suggested the implementation of white lines to the highways department, but had been told that it was not possible.

An average of five cars a day were travelling through at speed, with the highest speed being recorded at 81mph, in a 30mph zone. It was felt that something had to be done.

Inspector David Minty agreed that the speeds recorded seemed excessive considering the 30mph limit, and said that he would talk to the relevant Sector Commander, Inspector David McMullin, to establish whether they would be able to come out to the site to take a look at the road where the refuge has been implemented. However, he added that their visit would not act as a cure to the problem as it sounded like the design was at fault.

Councillor Toby Sturgis added that incidents like the one discussed required everyone coming together to resolve the problem. He agreed to arrange such a meeting, between the Highways department and other interested parties to establish whether something could be done to improve the situation, as he too thought it sounded like the design was not quite right.

Decision

Councillor Toby Sturgis would arrange a meeting between the Parish Council, Highways Department and other interested parties to find a way forward in resolving the problem in Dinton.

2.    Wilton Town Councillor Phil Matthews expressed his concern over the recent withdrawal of all NHS Wiltshire representatives from attending Area Board meetings until after the election period. He felt that their attendance at the Area Board was not for political reasons, but for an information sharing purpose. 

The Board noted the statements above.

3.    Inspector David Minty, Wiltshire Police gave an update to the Board. Points covered were:

·         At the end of the financial year, reported crime in Mere was up by 8 and down by 31 in Tisbury. Reported crimes in Wilton were down by 130.

·         Burglaries were down across the whole area, but prevention was the key to keeping burglary figures to a minimum.

·         Two people had been caught in connection with the post office burglaries and were currently out on bail, pending further evidence gathering.

Inspector Minty thanked the local people and groups like the Neighbourhood watch for their assistance in reporting crime, and he thanked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The next meeting of the South West Wiltshire Area Board will be held on Wednesday 23June 2010.

Future Meeting Dates:

·         Wednesday 23 June 2010, 7.00pm at South Newton and Great Wishford Village Hall.

·         Wednesday 25 August 2010, 7.00pm at East Knoyle Village Hall.

·         Wednesday 13 October 2010, 7.00pm at The New Remembrance Hall, Charlton.