Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked all the town, parish and partner representatives who were in attendance, including the young people who attended as representatives of the Trowbridge Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG).

The Chairman then introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the boardand also introduced Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, (Wiltshire Council cabinet member) who was in attendance for this meeting.

The Chairman advised that a Health Fair would be held in Trowbridge Civic Hall on Wednesday 24 February from 3pm, various health related stalls were planned, followed by an NHS Wiltshire health consultation event that would commence at 6.30pm until 8.00pm.

Apologies were received from Councillor Tom James - (Trowbridge area board member).

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

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on

 5 November 2009 (copy attached).

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2009 were agreed as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman.

Update of election of representatives to the Trowbridge Community Area Future, theme groups.

Trowbridge Community Area Future – Area Board Theme Group Representatives.

The following Representatives were noted:

Economy & Transport – Cllr Jeff Osborn.

Environmental Task Group – Cllr Helen Osborn.

It was also noted that Cllr Tom James had stepped down as the Area Board representative for the Trowbridge Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG); it was requested that another Area Member Board represent this group.

      To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·        Trowbridge Community Area Young Peoples’ Issues Group, (CAYPIG).

·        Wiltshire Police.

·        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

·        Community Area Partnership - Trowbridge Community Area Future (update report attached).

·        Trowbridge Town Council.

·        Parish Council Nominated Representatives.

Trowbridge Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG)

A report included in the agenda pack was noted.

Wiltshire Police

Inspector David Cullop briefly updated the meeting on current policing activities in the Trowbridge community area. The Inspector highlighted to the meeting of a number of house burglaries over the Christmas period and of the “Lock it or lose it” campaign which offered good practical advice on home security, Parish and Town Councillors were encouraged to take copies of this leaflet for distribution at local meetings etc.

Inspector Cullop then introduced Joy Hillyer - (Independent Member of the Wiltshire Police Authority) who advised that the Wiltshire Police Authority would be sending out e-mails and letters to find out just what Wiltshire residents think their Policing priorities should be.

For more information, Joy Hillyer could be contacted via Wiltshire Police Authority 01380 734022 or http://www.wiltshire-pa.gov.uk/feedback.asp

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service representative was unable to attend the meeting.  The report included in the agenda pack was noted.

Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF) Partnership

Doug Ross (Project Officer) briefly updated the meeting.

Points included:

• TCAF continues to update the Community Area Plan and are inviting young people, including Secondary School and College students to be come involved and have their say.

• TCAF were disappointed that the post for the director of the Arc Theatre is only a temporary post for six months.

David Holdsworth – (Wiltshire College) advised that the College fully supported the Arc Theatre and that the post was initially for six months, but could become permanent there after if the right applicant was found.

• Environmental Theme Group – would like the Board to endorse the ‘Nottingham 10/10 declaration’ to reduce carbon emissions by 10% during 2010.

A report included in the agenda was noted.

NHS Wiltshire

It was noted that representatives from the NHS Wiltshire were again unable to attend the meeting.

Trowbridge Town Council

A report included in the agenda pack was noted.

Parish Council Updates

There were no parish council updates.

The Chairman thanked all representatives for their respective updates.

      Wiltshire Councillors appointed as representatives to outside bodies will  report on any recent news.

Councillor Jeff Osborn updated the board on the Transforming Trowbridge executive board.

Points included:

• Adam Nardell (Vision Director) is now solely the Trowbridge Vision Director.

• The ‘Vision for Trowbridge’ document is being rewritten to encompass Wicker Hill and Hill Street areas.

• Work on the Sainsbury’s site is progressing well.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Osborn for his update.

A short presentation by Martin Donovan - (Wiltshire Council Service Director), followed by a public participation session to identify areas of priority spending in the Community Area.

Martin Donovan (Service Director for the Trowbridge Area Board) gave a brief video presentation which outlined how Wiltshire Council currently spent its budget and the budget setting process for 2010 – 2011.

Attendees were requested to partake in an interactive ballot box session which gave them an opportunity to say in which areas they would like to see the Council’s budget spent, the results of the questionnaires that attendees had completed would be announced at the end of the meeting.

               I.      Smoking in Wiltshire Council owned play areas/open spaces – Steve Richardson, (Acting Play Manager, Wiltshire Council), (report attached).

             II.      Update on Transformation of County Hall (inc Trowbridge Library) - Mark Stone, (Office and Workplace Transformation Programme Director, Wiltshire Council).

            III.      Update on Children’s Centres in Trowbridge Community Area – please note that this item has been deferred to a future agenda.

         IV.      Proposed disposal of Margaret Stancomb School, British Row, Trowbridge – Nigel Walker, (Corporate Estates Surveyor, Strategic Property – Wiltshire Council) - (report attached).

Update on Transformation of County Hall (including Trowbridge Library)

Mark Stone (Office and Workplace Transformation Programme Director, Wiltshire Council) advised the Trowbridge Area Board on a proposal Workplace Transformation Programme of County Hall.

Points made included:

• Reduced carbon footprint with the library moving into the County Hall building
• A new ‘café’ style location
• The opportunity to have a ‘flag ship’ building as the centre hub of Wiltshire Council
• The library would have the same floor space as the Waterside proposal
• Wiltshire Council were looking to engage with service users, service managers and Area Boards for feedback on the proposal.

Some concerns were raised about parking issues at the County Hall site and for pedestrians crossing a busy road to use the new library.

Decision

Mark Stone would report back regularly to the Trowbridge Area Board to give updates of the proposal.

Smoking in Wiltshire Council owned play areas/open spaces.

Steve Richardson (Acting Play Manager, Wiltshire Council) advised the Trowbridge Area Board how its decision to pilot ‘No Smoking’ advisory notices in Wiltshire Council owned play areas/open spaces within the Trowbridge Area may be implemented.

At the Trowbridge Area Board on the 5th November 2009 the Board made the decision to support a pilot scheme of advisory notices (No Smoking) to be displayed at Wiltshire Council owned play areas within the Trowbridge Community Area.

Decision

The Trowbridge Area Board agreed to fund signage of this Scheme up to a cost of £1,400.

The Area Board to be consulted on the wording on the signs.

Proposed disposal of Margaret Stancomb School, British Row, Trowbridge

Nigel Walker, (Corporate Estates Surveyor, Strategic Property – Wiltshire Council) advised the Trowbridge Area Board of the proposed disposal of Margaret Stancomb School, and to allow the Members an opportunity to consider whether they wish to propose any alternative community uses for the property, under the Council’s recently adopted procedure for the disposal of surplus assets.  

A housing scheme had been drawn up, which envisaged the provision of up to 22 housing units, including three in the Old School building at the front of the site. Public consultation on the proposal had not been undertaken at this stage.

Points made included:

• The Wiltshire Music School would like the Main Hall of the School to use as a community building

• The main hall should be preserved and that the Board should see what plans the Wiltshire Music School can come up with before disposing of it.

Decision

The proposed disposal of the site is put on hold for a period of three months for the Wiltshire Music School to develop a business case for use of the site, after this period it will come back to the Trowbridge Area Board.

  Members will discuss possible future venues for the board to meet at during 2010.

The Chairman had requested that Board Members discuss future venues as it had become apparent that rural venues were not available to use as venues for the Trowbridge Area Board to meet at.

Decision

The Trowbridge Area Board will hold all future meetings at Wiltshire Council, Bradley Road from 1 July 2010.

        The Chairman to take any other urgent business.

Residents of Navigator Close/Towpath Road requested that the Trowbridge Area Board assist them in their plans to set up a local Community Centre.

Decision

It was agreed that this topic would come back to the Trowbridge Area Board as part of the 4 March 2010 meeting.

Martin Donovan will update the meeting on feedback received on the night from the public participation session.

Martin Donovan gave the results of the meeting’s earlier vote on how the attendees viewed the Council’s spending priorities.

Highest 3 priorities:

1. Youth Services

2. Adult Social Care for older people

3. Adult Social Care Mental/Physical disabilities/ Street Cleaning/Town Centre Improvements.

Lowest 3 priorities:

1. Planning

2. Archives

3. Museums and Galleries.

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows (copies attached):

i.                    Vine for PAT - Supportive accommodation for deprived and socially excluded potentially homeless, pregnant or abused,teenagers - requested £4,729.

      ii.  Bradley Gardens Residents Association - Installation of  Rubbish/Dog Mess bins – requested £924.

iii.      Trowbridge Town Council - Cultural Olympiad Dance Festival - requested £2,500.

iv.                 Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park - Purchase Tools, Equipment & Safety Wear - requested £1,000.

v.                   Longmeadow Tenants And Residents Association - Purchase equipment for Community Engagement & Youth Activities - requested £1,000.

vi.                 Trowbridge Pub and Club Watch - Provision and Monitoring of the Towns Pubwatch Radio system - requested £5,000.

vii.               West Ashton Village Hall and Institute - Fitting of photovoltaic panels to village hall  - requested £5,000.

Total requested = £20,153.

Allocation of Grant Funding to date:

Trowbridge Annual Festival of Fun - £5,000

Trowbridge Town Council – Enhancement of Christmas lights - £5,000

Trowbridge Town Council – Provision of dropped kerbs around Trowbridge town - £5,000

Trowbridge Museum – Provision of holiday activity - £1,300

Trowbridge Community Area Future – Trowbridge Neighbourhoods Partnership - £1,000

BA14 Culture Group - £4,900

Trowbridge Town Council – Christmas Fair - £1,000

To date £23,200 has been allocated from the Community Area Grants Scheme budget of £42,676 for 2009/10 leaving a remainder of £19,476 for allocation.

Councillors were asked to consider 6 new applications and 1 deferred application seeking 2009/10 Community Area Grant Funding:

Debbie Vaughan addressed the Area Board on behalf of the Bradley Gardens Residents Association.

James McDonald addressed the Area Board on behalf of the Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park.

James McDonald addressed the Area Board on behalf of the Longmeadow Tenants and Residents Association.

Ron Pybus addressed the Area Board on behalf of the West Ashton Village Hall and Institute.

Decision

The application from VINE for PAT that requested £4,729 was refused.

Reason

The application did not meet the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Decision

The application from Bradley Gardens Residents Association for the installation of Rubbish/Dog Mess bins that requested £924 was deferred.

Reason

Wiltshire Council Waste Service Officers to undertake an inspection of the local area and any other possible funding can be sourced from Wiltshire Council.

Decision

Trowbridge Town Council was awarded £2,500 for the Cultural Olympiad Dance Festival.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Note: Cllrs H Osborn and J Osborn abtained from the vote.

Decision

Friends of Biss Meadows Country Park was awarded £561 to purchase tools, equipment and safety wear.  £439 for litter bins and fittings was deferred.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10. 

Reason

Wiltshire Council Waste Service Officers to undertake an inspection of the local area and any other possible funding sources from Wiltshire Council.

Decision

Longmeadow Tenants and Residents Association was awarded £1,000 to purchase equipment for Community Engagement & Youth Activities.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Decision

Trowbridge Pub and Club Watch was awarded £5,000 for provision and monitoring of the Towns Pub watch Radio system.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Decision

West Ashton Village Hall and Institute was awarded £5,000 for fitting of photovoltaic panels to village hall.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Thursday 4 March 2010 - The Arc Theatre, Trowbridge.  6.30pm for 7.00pm.

The next meeting of the Trowbridge area board would be held on Thursday 4 March 2010 at the Arc Theatre, Trowbridge.