Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:

Tracy Carter, Associate Director – Environment and Waste

Tom Bray – Community Area Manager

Lisa Moore – Democratic Services Officer

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 29 May 2014.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Thursday 29 May 2014 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Cllr Devine reported that he had been in touch with the project manager to discuss the issues with the BT Exchange in West Dean. Further information would be provided to the Area Board and West Dean Parish Council when known.

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

There were none.

To receive Chairman’s Announcements including:

·       Dementia Friendly Villages

·       Health Fair in October – date and venue to be confirmed

·       Whiteparish came 1^st place in the first round of Best Kept Village competition

Ann Ireland

The Chairman had been saddened by the sudden death of Ann Ireland from Downton, and on behalf of the Area Board sent condolences to her family and friends. Ann had been a consistent supporter of the Area Board.

Downton Parish Council paid tribute to her tireless work for her local community, noting she would be very much missed.

Health Fair

The October Area Board had been given over to a Health Fair, and would now be held on Monday 13 October at Downton School. More information would be circulated by email when known.

Area Board – the way forward

The Chairman had set up a meeting with members to discuss the report and recommendations of the recent Area Board review which had been presented to Cabinet on Tuesday 22 April. He invited the audience to email him with any suggestions, views or comments.

Community Foundation

The Community Foundation is able to offer up to £3000 for community organisations for revenue funding. More information can be found on their website:-

Helping local donors to help their community - Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon

WW1 Commemoration Event

The Chairman had attended a World War I commemoration event was held at the Tidworth Military Cemetery on Thursday 30 July 2014. It had been a moving event with a wall of commemoration where 10,000 crosses were placed in remembrance of Wiltshire soldiers.

To note the attached information on current consultations. To take part in an online consultation go to: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm

The Board noted the information on the current consultations online, which was available by following the links in the agenda.

The Chairman drew particular attention to consultations on open spaces study, the big drink debate, the leisure survey and kerbside garden waste collections. Attention was drawn to the risk of fly tipping should kerbside garden waste collections be stopped.

Consultations | Wiltshire Council

Written Updates attached are:

·       Wiltshire Police – Introducing Inspector David Minty

·       Fire & Rescue Service

·       Wiltshire Council (Changes to the Electoral Registration System)

·       Communities Opportunities Board update

·       Southern Wiltshire Issues System

·       Any other comments or reports

Police – Inspector David Minty

Sergeant David Lenane had been replaced by Sergeant Dave Whitby.

The move to Bourne Hill had gone smoothly and it was hoped that the benefits of being directly located with others, like anti-social behaviour officers and licensing officers would have a real impact.

The lack of a custody unit in Salisbury was short term and it was hoped a new unit would be up and running in 18 months.

Speeding through the villages was highlighted, and PC Matt Holland or PC Henry Clissold were happy to visit affected parishes, to work with existing speedwatch teams or to look at what other activities could address this issue.

2 arrests had been made in Coombe Bisset for stealing diesel.

Questions and comments were then received, these included:

·         How can people be stopped from breaking into playing fields, even when gates are padlocked?

Answer: Arrest can only be made if who, when and where is known. Often if there are multiple people on site this is difficult to prove. The land owners need to take the lead – if it is council-owned land there is a set procedure to follow.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Cllr Devine, Chairman of the Wiltshire Fire Authority

Cllr Devine drew attention to the ongoing public consultation running until 21 October 2014 which detailed three options for the fire and rescue service to save money in the face of government grant cut backs. 

Details of the three options were:

1.    Staying as they are but with Wiltshire Council and/or Swindon Borough Council running the back office, giving savings of £0.8million;

2.    Staying as they are but with Wiltshire Council or Swindon Borough Council running the back office and sharing some functions with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service; or

3.    Merging with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, keeping stations and retained fire-fighters and reducing the overall number of senior officers. Although this would give savings of £5million, the deficit resulting from the merger would be £7.9million meaning there would still be a deficit. 

The Fire Authority would make the final decision in November, and all were encouraged to put their views forward.

Any questions regarding the consultation should be directed to Cllr Devine:  christopher.devine@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01722 712464.

Changes to the Electoral Registration System

The Board noted the information seen on page 17 of the agenda.

Community Opportunities Board (COB)

Work was underway on developing a consultation for communities, service providers and the voluntary sector. Support was still needed for the group and anyone interested should contact Cllr Britton:  richard.britton@wiltshire.gov.uk or 01980 610111.

Online Issues System

The issues report seen at page 19 of the agenda was noted. Any concerns should be raised with Stephen Harris in Tom Bray’s absence, or with the Chairman.

To kick off this theme we invited Brian Warwick of South West Seniors’ Network who will talk about the forum’s work for Older People.

Mr Brian Warwick, Chairman of the South West Seniors Network and Wiltshire Council’s Champion for Older People, gave a presentation on Seniors Forums.

There are 63 forums in the south west area with a total membership of 58,000. The forums were run by older people for older people. They represented older people, were able to influence the people making decisions and helped older people make more informed choices. Chairs of the regional forums met quarterly with crown ministers, which provided the chance to have a real impact on government policies.

Mr Warwick noted the challenges faced by vulnerable people in a rural location and described current work being undertaken by forums around the development of local neighbourhood car services, and workshops where skills were passed on to the young. The view of senior citizens and pensioners was also represented at policy level, for example when discussing housing for the next 10 years they worked with officers, groups and social housing providers to overcome social isolation.

In response to questions Mr Warwick confirmed that they not only spoke to providers of housing but were engaged with the whole spectrum, including architects and the financial sector. There was little local activity in the area at present, and Mr Warwick would like to develop local groups in conjunction with the Area Board.

The Chairman thanked Mr Warwick for his presentation.

Following the appointment of the Community Youth Officer for Southern Wiltshire, we will receive an update on the way forward for the development of positive activities for young people in Southern Wiltshire.

Southern Wiltshire’s UKYP representative

We will also hear from Courtney Pickering, Southern Wiltshire’s United Kingdom Youth Parliament representative, on her role and the issues she is tackling.

Tony Nye, the Community Youth Officer gave an update on the future provision of youth services following the Cabinet decision to change to a community-led model.

The new model was a youth service that helps others to deliver youth work. The leisure credits programme would continue to be delivered over the coming few months. Tony would support those wanting to set up and run youth provision.  A Local Youth Network (LYN) would be involved in the decision making process, continuing young people’s role in the heart of decision making.

In addition to area board grant funding there was an amount of money for activities for young people, which could be revenue rather than capital spend.

From 1 October 2014 the council would no longer be providing support to employ youth workers and identification of a county-wide organisation to provide this was in process.

Tony introduced Courtney Pickering, who addressed the Board as a newly elected member of the UK Youth Parliament and a member of the Wiltshire Assembly of Youth (WAY). Courtney explained that she had the opportunity to be involved in the democratic process at a national level, and subjects they were examining were transport, bullying, job opportunities and teenage socialisation. 

Courtney could be contacted via email – courtenyjanep@hotmail.co.uk

In response to questions Tony confirmed that he was still in charge of the Urbie Bus but this would not be delivered from 1 October 2014. Redlynch had been removed from the Urbie Bus round as the young people there had not engaged. The need to get the LYN set up and running successfully was highlighted, and it was hoped that local professionals and the voluntary sector would be able to make facilities and resources available. If a community wanted to pay for a youth worker they could bid for a grant from the area board.

The revenue grant funding could be to assist a new group or support an existing one. Applications for grants would be through the area board application process and further details would be circulated once available.

The Chairman thanked Tony and Courtney for their reports.

We will receive an update on the progress of the footpath project.

Cllr Randall provided an update on the footpath project, noting that the programme to replace stiles with kissing gates was ongoing. This year had been a good year for growth meaning some paths were impassable, and as much help as possible was needed to tackle this.

Dates would be set for specific parishes and it was hoped that parishes would put up notices asking for volunteers to set aside the day. It was hoped that local groups would be set up to do clearance work.

Circular Walks were well underway with Downton almost complete. Any suggestions for walks should be emailed to Cllr Randall – leo.randall@wiltshire.gov.uk

In response to questions Cllr Randall confirmed that it was legal for volunteers to take their own secateurs and cut when walking. The idea of weekend working parties was sensible and Cllr Randall would feed this back into the planning process.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Randall for his update.

The Area Board brought together Parish Council Chairman and Clerks on 14th July to kick off discussions around parish council collaboration. Ten of the fifteen Parish Councils in Southern Wiltshire were represented at the meeting. A paper summarising the outcomes is enclosed in the agenda alongside the discussion paper that went to the meeting.

The Board noted the update attached to the agenda which detailed the way forward for preliminary discussions on “inter-parish collaboration”. A meeting of Clerks was to be convened and the Grimstead Chairman was to investigate the possibility of a corresponding Chairs’ Forum.

The Chairman noted that any recommendations which emerged from these meetings would be addressed to parish councils for their consideration. He hoped that real opportunities for inter-parish collaboration would be possible.

Firsdown Parish Council is looking to take on the ownership of their play area in the village from Wiltshire Council. The Area Board is asked to consider their application to take on this asset.

The Board considered an application submitted by Firsdown Parish Council for the transfer of the Firs Road play area, Firsdown.

Mr Brian Edgeley, Firsdown Parish Council confirmed that no rent had been paid since 2009 as the lease had not been renewed. The maintenance of the site had been done by the parish council for a number of years and legal matters were still being discussed.

Cllr Devine, the local member fully supported the application explaining that it was a major asset to the village and should be in the parish council’s care. 

Decision

The Southern Wiltshire Area Board agreed to support the transfer of the Firs Road play area, Firsdown.

To consider the schemes which have been recommended by the CATG for funding in 2014/15, as detailed in the attached report.

The Board considered the recommendations for funding, made by the Community Area Transport Group, as detailed in the report attached to the agenda.

Decision

The Southern Area Board agreed to release £5500 funding from the CATG budget for 2014/15, to the following projects:

To consider applications for funding from the Community Area Grant Scheme for 2014/15, as detailed in the attached report.

Officer: Tom Bray, Community Area Manager

The Board considered 5 applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme for 2014/15, as detailed in the grants papers attached to the agenda. The application relating to Nunton Community Orchard had been deferred to the next meeting as Odstock Parish Council were unable to attend. The Chairman invited applicants to speak in support of their projects. Following discussion, the Board voted on each application in turn.

Decision

Winterslow Parish Council was awarded £5000 towards the recreation ground play trails.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2014/15

Decision

Redlynch Playing Field Association was awarded £1000 towards Sports Club storage for field maintenance and sporting equipment.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2014/15

Decision

Winterslow Short Mat Bowls Club was awarded £826 towards a replacement short mat bowls carpet.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2014/15

Decision

Lover Green Association was awarded £920 towards purchasing 2 gates and two benches for Lover Green.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2014/15

Decision

Landford Village Hall was awarded £4701 towards the resurfacing of the village hall car park, subject to planning permission being granted, if required. If this was not granted the Area Board could withdraw the funding.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 2014/15

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.