Agenda and minutes

The Board received feedback from previous grant recipients explaining how their funding had been used to support the community.

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Dennis Drewett and Graham Payne.

To confirm as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2015.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2015.

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

Cllr Ernie Clark declared himself a member of Hilperton Parish Council.

To include the following:

       i.          School organisation planning

      ii.          HealthWatch Wiltshire

    iii.          Wiltshire’s ‘Big Pledge’ 2015

    iv.          Leader Funding

The Chairman drew attention to the written updates available in the agenda pack.

Cllr Helen Osborn advised that she had received an update on the Court Mills building at Full Council, the property would soon go on the market for a 3 month marketing period.

The Chairman thanked Rachel Efemey for all of her hard work supporting the Area Board during her time as Community Area Manager and welcomed Mary Cullen as the new Community Engagement Manager for Trowbridge. Mary’s role would be more strategic and community facing, working on the development of the Trowbridge campus.

A local resident, raised concerns over a developing gull problem in Trowbridge. Cllr Philip Whitehead advised that Devizes had experienced the same problem and would pass on details of how it had been tackled.

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

Attention was drawn to the written updates available in the agenda pack and the following verbal updates were given:

Chris Chammings, Sector Commander Wiltshire Police, introduced the Trowbridge report which highlighted that Antisocial Behaviour in the area had reduced and more people were coming forward to report domestic abuse. Following questions from the Area Board it was confirmed that more Police resource was being deployed to the frontline to ensure greater presence in the town.

A representative from Trowbridge Community Area Future updated that the group had been conducting a survey to identify local priorities and drew attention to the cultural strategy for Trowbridge it had developed.

Dr Toby Cookson and Steve Lock advised that the development of the new Trowbridge Health centre was making progress and was expected to be operational by early 2017.

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.

David Baker, Transforming Trowbridge, advised that the group was changing to be more business led and had opened dialogue with more local businesses and would be marketing the town. The Trowbridge Business Improvement District (BID) was due to commence shortly to raise money for local businesses to spend it on what they wanted.

Colin Kay from the Shadow Community Operations Board updated the Board that the group had met with consultants last week and hoped to report back at the September Area Board meeting. It was discussed that although the health element of the campus was considered achievable, the leisure aspect would be expensive. It was noted that a Task Group had been set up to examine Campus developments across the county.

To receive an update from the Community Youth Officer and consider any recommendations arising from the last LYN management group meeting.

Sarah Holland, Community Youth Officer, explained she would be holding a networking event in the atrium at County Hall in August to promote the funding available locally to support positive activities for young people. The officer had been meeting with young people in Broadmead and the skate park and working with Friends of Trowbridge Park to set up a youth shelter. The Area Board was asked to agree to £490 spent to cover costs for venue hire and refreshments for meetings. It was noted that a report would be needed for the following Area Board meeting to detail this expenditure.

Resolved:

To agree in principle to the expenditure of £490 to support youth activities in Trowbridge, subject to a full report and ratification at the next meeting.

Community Area Grants

To consider the following applications for funding from the community area grants scheme:

                           i.          £1000 for Alzheimer’s Support towards new flooring towards the Mill Street Day Club

                          ii.          £964 for Hilperton Parish Council towards the creation of a community orchard

                        iii.          £4,737.50 for Hope Nature Centre towards inclusive play equipment for disabled children

                        iv.          £800 for Trowbridge Islamic Trust towards Gazebos towards Trowbridge Cultural Food Festival

                         v.          £5,000 for Busy Bees Pre-School towards a new building for pre-school in Southwick

                        vi.          £2,207.90 for Trowbridge Town Council towards sports equipment for a community sports programme.

The Area Board considered the applications for community area grant funding.

Laura Fenson, Alzheimer’s Support, spoke in support of their application to make their current premises more wheelchair and frame friendly. Councillors spoke in support of the care centre as an impressive facility.

Pam Fisher spoke on behalf Hilperton Parish Council’s application for funding towards a community orchard. Area Board members commented they would like to see traditional English trees in the orchard. Cllr Ernie Clark abstained from the vote.

Debbie Martindale from Hope Nature Centre requested funding towards purchase and installation of inclusive play equipment for disabled children.

Kawel Jeddi, from Trowbridge Mosque asked the Area Board for funding towards a food festival on 12 September 2015. Members fully supported the application and the work of the Mosque to aid integration of different cultures in the town.

Rachel and Jenny, Busy Bees Pre-School, introduced their application to enable the group to relocate to a new premises and expand their capacity.

An application from Trowbridge Town Council was considered and members commented that they would usually expect applicants to attend to speak to their item.

Resolved:

To grant Alzheimer’s Support £1000;

To grant Hilperton Parish Council £964;

To grant Hope Nature Centre £4,737.50;

To grant Trowbridge Islamic Trust £800;

To grant Busy Bees Pre-School £5000;

To grant Trowbridge Town Council £2,207.90.

Dr Toby Cookson will update the community on the status of the new surgery in Trowbridge.

Dr Toby Cookson updated the Area Board earlier in the evening under item 6 on the agenda.

The residents association will present on important local issues.

Jill Annil and Julie Chowne, Yerbury Street Residents, presented on the process they followed to organise a residents parking scheme where they live. It was commented that although the pilot scheme was very successful, it had been a slow process and could have benefitted from a single point of contact within the council for residents to liaise with.

The Area Board thanked Jill and Julie for all of their hard work and feedback. Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways, recognised the points raised by the group and would take these into consideration for future schemes.

Councillor Philip Whitehead, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, will update on current priorities in the service area and take questions on residents parking.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, was invited to update on priorities within the service area. The Councillor advised that Highways was suffering from budget cuts and consequently tackling additional problems, such as littering, was a challenge. The Council was currently working to prevent littering through education in schools. Following previous years of lesser investment in highways and winter flooding the road network was considered in a poor state but was now being resurfaced according to priorities. Budget restraints were also affecting passenger transport and alternatives, such as community transport, were being investigated.

During a question and answer session the meeting was advised that the tender for the T1 bus between Trowbridge and Hilperton had only had one response so far. It was confirmed that the central approach to tackle littering was through prevention and residents commented that littering in local school grounds was high. A local resident expressed concerns over the proposal for a 50mph speed limit on the Hilperton relief road on the basis this could endanger riders and horses. The Cabinet member advised that the speed limit was suitable for the road, with enough visibility and a proposed Pegasus crossing for use by horses.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire, will discuss and take questions on racial discrimination, data privacy and surveillance.

Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire explained to the meeting that he was currently reviewing the Police and Crime Plan and this was available for public comment until the end of July.

Members of the public were then invited to ask questions and the officer explained that he was working with the Youth Parliament and schools to relay key messages to children about keeping safe and to engage with children at an earlier ages. Additionally, Police Cadets would soon be launched in the community area for young people to join. The public were reassured that, despite budget pressures, frontline Police services in Wiltshire would be protected. Questions were raised over Police surveillance and attitudes to multiculturalism and the officer confirmed he aspired for a Police Service to reflect multiculturalism and that surveillance was only used when proportional and lawful.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of Trowbridge Area Board was to be held on 17 September 2015.