Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Graham Payne, welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Trowbridge Area Board.

Prior to the meeting, the Board had received presentations from successful grant applicants from the year 2012/13, as follows:

Wiltshire Mind

Trowbridge Sea Cadet Unit

Trowbridge Town Team Market

Trowbridge Town Football Club

Gloucester Road Allotment Association

The BIG Community Grow

The Sunday Club

Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebration

There had been no response from the World Evangelism Bible Church.

To receive any apologies for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Dennis Drewett and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 12 September 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2013 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To APPROVE as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

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

Councillors Graham Payne, Jeff Osborn, John Knight, Nick Blakemore and Helen Osborn all declared general, non-pecuniary interests in Trowbridge Town Council issues due to being members of the Town Council.

Councillor Graham Payne also declared a dispensation for Wiltshire Fire Service issues, due to his role as the Chairman of the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority.

Councillor John Knight declared a non-pecuniary interest in Grant B)ii), by virtue of being a Director of the Trowbridge Town Hall Trust.

To include the following:

      i.        Trowbridge Masterplan Consultation

    ii.        State of the Environment Report

   iii.        NHS 111 Service

Through the Chair there were the following announcements:

i)             Item 9 on the agenda - CCG Update - was to be brought forward to item 6.

ii)            An update was received on the Trowbridge Masterplan, as detailed in the agenda pack.

iii)           An update was received on the Wiltshire and Swindon State of the Environment Report, as detailed in the agenda pack, with copies of the report available at the meeting.

iv)           An update on the rollout of the NHS 111 Service was received, as detailed in the agenda pack.

v)            It was announced that a Christmas Fayre would take place in the Atrium of County Hall on Thursday 12 December 2013.

vi)           At the July meeting of the Board there were questions regarding the library potentially opening on Sundays. It was stated that the relevant Cabinet Member had been informed and that the consultation on the library hours of operation prior to opening had not established being open on Sunday as a priority, but that the matter would be looked into again in a year or two.

Dr Steve Rowland, Chairman of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will talk about future health provision in the Trowbridge area.

Dr Steve Rowland, Chairman of the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), along with Drs Stephen Locke and Tobias Cotton, provided an update on the CCG and health provision in Trowbridge.

Plans to merge two surgeries in Trowbridge were discussed, and it was stated that while the s.106 money from the development was secured, there were legal delays as a result of the change from the Primary Care Trust to the CCG in releasing the money. It was confirmed there was planning permission for the merged surgeries. The Board requested an update from the planning department on the nature of the delays and a timeline for its resolution.

The Board also received a general update on the composition and management makeup of the CCG, and plans to harmonise health provision across Wiltshire, with a system of care co-ordinators, two for Trowbridge, and rolling out schemes on matters such as mental health, which could be piloted in community areas.

The Board also discussed plans for the Trowbridge Minor Injury Unit and potential incorporation of health services within a Trowbridge Campus, and were informed discussions were still at an early stage.

Decision:

The Board thanked Drs Rowland, Cotton and Locke for their update.

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the following:

      i.        Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

    v.        Town and Parish Councils

   vi.        Youth Advisory Group (YAG).

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

No update was received.

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

The written update was noted. Inspector Lisette Harvey also announced a review of staff resource allocation, but which would not lead to fewer community support officers, including the recruitment of a new beat manager, along with plans to focus more resources in the area around the new Cinema Complex, now that more public would be using the area.

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update was noted. Mike Franklin and Jack Nicholson (Station Manager, Trowbridge) also noted the annual Christmas Day lunch at Trowbridge Fire Station, the low impact from recent industrial action and the receipt in the new year of new equipment for retrieving people from damaged vehicles. The dangers from carbon monoxide on Canal boat fires was also raised.

   iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

The written update was noted. Colin Kay announced that two recent events for the polish community had been a success, with further plans to assist in the training of interpreters.

    v.        Town and Parish Councils

The written update from Trowbridge Town Council was noted, with attention drawn to recommendations regarding the proposed Trowbridge Campus.

The Board also requested further details on the Community Governance Review listed in the papers.

   vi.        Youth Advisory Group(YAG)

Representatives from the YAG gave a verbal update on recent developments, and voiced their support for the development of the park.

An update was also provided on a youth arts project, ‘Who’s Asking?, and support for the town council to improve the park and plans for a skate park.

The Chairman thanked the young people for their concise and well delivered update.

Wiltshire Councillors appointed as representatives to Outside Bodies will report on any recent news, to include:

      i.        Transforming Trowbridge

    ii.        Collaborative Schools

   iii.        Trowbridge Shadow Community Operations Board.

i)             Transforming Trowbridge

The Board had received copies of the latest minutes from the body.

ii)            Collaborative Schools

A written update was provided within the TCAF report. The next meeting would be held on 22 November 2013.

iii)           Shadow Community Operations Board

As there was a full agenda item on the Campus, no update was provided.

a.    Community Area Grants

To consider the following applications:

                      i.        Friends of Newtown Primary School - to purchase equipment for the school swimming pool - £3000 requested

                    ii.        Trowbridge Sports Forum - to purchase a mini bus - £5000 requested

                   iii.        St John Ambulance - to teach life saving skills to students - £500 requested

                   iv.        BA14 Culture - Take the Lead (Pop!) performance project run by young people - £488 requested

                    v.        Monday Wednesday Club - to purchase storage equipment and woodwork materials - £483 requested

b.    Area Board Projects

To consider the following applications:

                      i.        Councillors Ernie Clark & Steve Oldrieve - Noise Assessment for Paxcroft Mead Skatepark - £1,890 requested

                    ii.        Councillor Jeff Osborn – Tarmacing of Boundary Walk footpath - £6,500 requested

                   iii.        Councillor John Knight – To purchase equipment and fit a basic kitchen for TrowbridgeTown Hall - £11,360 requested

Total Amount requested = £29,221

The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2013/14:

a)    Community Grants

       i.        Friends of Newtown Primary School

The sum of £3000 was requested for the purchase of equipment for the school swimming pool.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £3000 to Friends of Newtown Primary School.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14.

      ii.        Trowbridge Sports Forum

The application was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

    iii.        St John Ambulance

The application was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

    iv.        BA14 Culture

The sum of £488 was requested for ‘Take the Lead(Pop!), a performance project run for and by young people.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £788 to BA14 Culture. The additional £300 was awarded to cover the performance fees of the young people.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14.

      v.        Monday Wednesday Club

The sum of £483 was requested to purchase storage equipment and woodwork materials.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £483 to the Monday Wednesday Club.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14.

b)   Councillor Led Bid Projects

i)             Councillors Ernie Clark and Stephen Oldrieve

The sum of £1890 was requested towards the cost of a noise assessment for the proposed Paxcroft Mead Skatepark.

Decision

To award the sum of £1890 towards the cost of a noise assessment for the proposed Paxcroft Mead Skatepark.

ii)            Councillor Jeff Osborn

The sum of £6500 was requested towards the cost of tarmacing the footpath of Boundary Walk.

Decision

To award the sum of £6500 towards the cost of tarmacing the footpath of Boundary Walk, minus the amount of any future contribution from North Bradley Parish Council.

iii)           Councillor John Knight

The sum of £11,360 was requested to purchase equipment and fit a basic kitchen for Trowbridge Town Hall.

Decision

To award the sum of £11,360 towards the cost of purchasing equipment and fit a basic kitchen for Trowbridge Town Hall.

A short film will be shown with Amy Bird, Consultant in Public Health answering any questions.

Also in attendance will be Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Health.

Please note that the remit of Public Heatlh does not include NHS issues.

Amy Bird, Consultant in Public Health presented a short video on the incorporation of Public Health responsibilities to Local Authorities along with
Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Health.

It was stated that the fundamental focus for the remit was population health, not individual health, and that increasing the focus of the council’s services on public health and protection was key, detailing how teams such as environmental health and community safety had been integrated with the Public Health service to help achieve that aim. The Cabinet Member also stated it was hoped the local connection with Public Health that had been lost under the system of Primary Care Trusts, would be restored.

Questions were asked of the Cabinet Member and officer, including on how the Public Health service was communicating with the public.

Resolved:

To thank the Cabinet Member and officer for their attendance.

A question and answer session on the Trowbridge Campus proposals with Lucy Murray-Brown (Head of Campus and Operational Models)

Mark Stone, Associate Director (Transformation Services), gave a verbal update on the progression of the Trowbridge Campus, with input from Colin Kay, Chairman of the Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB).

It was detailed that with the second consultation which had concluded in the summer and whose recommendations had received endorsement from the Area Board in September, a detailed scheme would need to be produced with partners such as local health providers, which would eventually be sent to the Cabinet for consideration.

It was stated that it was planned for the background work to be completed by the end of February 2014, with a decision to be made by Summer 2014.  It was noted that it would be important not to duplicate site uses, with reference to the pending appeal from the developers of the Bowyers site on what the site would contain, and which as a major part of the town regeneration would have an impact on what would be required or desirable within the community campus.

The Board discussed the update, and in response to queries it was stated that while partners would need to be consulted for the design of any campus, the process would not be held up indefinitely by specific partners, although any design would need to be able to accommodate future additions to the campus if specific inclusions were not prepared for the initial approval.

The Chairman also thanked the Leader of the Council for their support of the Trowbridge Campus progression, and the assurance given to the Board that the process would be accelerated as fast as possible.

Resolved:

To note the update and request further updates as soon as possible.

To receive an update on the Peter Black site.

A written update on developments at the Peter Black Site was received from Alistair Cunningham, Associate Director (Economic Development  and Planning) and a verbal update from Tim Martienssen (Head of Service, Service Delivery).

It was stated the council had appointed agents to assess the value of the site with a view to making an offer for the site if appropriate. The Board were informed the site was on the market as it currently stands and the existing structures would not be demolished first.

Resolved:

To receive a further update at the next meeting.

To receive the report of the CATG.

The report from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) was presented.

It was,

Resolved:

To approve the recommendations of the Community Area Transport Group:

To allocate £615 for the provision of 2 x dropped kerbs in Broadmead Road on condition that this sum would be matched by £615 from Trowbridge Town Council.

To allocate £615 for the provision of 2 x dropped kerbs in Downhayes Road on condition that this sum would be matched by £615 from Trowbridge Town Council.

A written report to be received by the Area Board for consideration.

A report from Martin Aldam (Senior Transport Planner) on the Trowbridge Transport Strategy was presented, with suggested changes following consultation from Board members.

It was,

Resolved:

That table 5.2 on page 13 of the emerging Trowbridge transport strategy is amended as proposed in table 3.1 of the report:

Short film to be shown with an officer available for questions after the meeting.

 A short film on the Transwilts Community Rail Partnership was shown, along with a short update from Allan Creedy (Head of Sustainable Transport) and Graham Ellis (Transwilts Community Rail Partnership).

The Board noted that trains direct from Trowbridge to Swindon would increase from 1 to 16 a day from 9 December 2013, and increased trains to London. It was highlighted that this service increase would not remain in place if it was not well used.

The Board also discussed the need for Trowbridge station to be better integrated with the Town Centre, with the hope that the development on the former Bowyer’s site would achieve that aim.

Resolved:

To thank the officers for the update.

A written report to be received by the Area Board for consideration.

The item was withdrawn prior to the commencement of the meeting.

The Chairman will take any items of urgent business.

The meeting is asked to note the future meeting dates below and the Forward Plan.

There was no urgent business.

The forward plan and future meeting dates were considered. It was noted the meeting of 27 March would be an older person focused event, and be held during the day.