Agenda and minutes

Chairman’s announcements:

a)                 Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026

b)                 Parish Steward Scheme

c)                  Gypsy and Traveller Site Consultation

d)                 Community Flooding Information

e)                 Wiltshire Intelligence Network

The Chairman, Councillor David Jenkins, welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Westbury Area Board and announced that it was good to be holding the meeting at Matravers School again.

The Chairman introduced the Councillors and officers present, including Councillor Richard Gamble, Portfolio Holder for Public Transport, Dave Bullock, Highway Improvement Manager, Laura Young, Head of Homes 4 Wiltshire, Julia Cramp, Services Director Commissioning and Performance, Department for Children and Education.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

a)     Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 - 2026

The Council has a statutory duty to review and publish a new Local Transport Plan (LTP) by the end of March 2011.  Consultation on the draft LTP will run from 4 October to 26 November 2010.  Submit your comments at http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal.  The Council’s Cabinet and full Council will consider the results of the consultation in February 2011 prior to publication of the final LTP in March 2011.

b) Making a Difference – The Wiltshire Council Parish Steward Scheme

A twelve minute film has been made, which describes the work and the workings of this scheme.  Please follow the link http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets/roadshighwayspavements/roadmaintenance/parishstewardsscheme.htm

The Parish Steward Scheme Service can be contacted by email on clarence@wiltshire.gov.uk or landlines within Wiltshire on 0800 232323 or 01225 777234 from outside Wiltshire.

c)     Gypsy and Traveller Site Consultation

The consultation planned on possible new Gypsy and Traveller sites has now been put on hold.  For more information please contact 01225 713289, or email carolyn.gibson@wiltshire.gov.uk

d)     Reminder to Parish Councils regarding Community Flooding Consultation

Please can any Parishes that have not yet returned their flooding information request details please do so as soon as possible.  These should be sent to Renate Malton (Project Officer) on 01225712514 or email renate.malton@wilts.gov.uk 

Derby Court, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, BA14 OXG. 

e)     Wiltshire Intelligence Network

A new website has been set up to provide access to a wide variety of information and research for Wiltshire.  The new site www.intelligencenetwork.org.uk is available to all.  For more information, or to give your views and feedback, please contact Sally Hunter on 01225 713289 or email sally.hunter@wiltshire.gov.uk

Apologies for absence were received from Sue Ezra, Westbury Town Council, Kerry Eatwell, BA13 + Community Area Partnership and Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

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

Councillor Cuthbert-Murray declared a personal interest in Item 9 (Affordable Housing Issues) as he is campaigning for local housing for Westbury people.

Councillor Hawker declared a personal interest in Item 8 (Leigh Park Adoptions Report, Westbury) as he was a member of the Leigh Park Community Association.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 19 August 2010.

The minutes of the previous meeting were challenged.  Councillor Cuthbert-Murray sought clarification on the results of the hand held voting system.

To outline her role as Service Director – Commissioning and Performance, within the Department of Education.

Julia Cramp, Service Director for Commissioning and Performance, Department for Children and Education, explained her joint role in working for both Wiltshire Council and the Primary Care Trust.  She explained that working together across a number of agencies, including the voluntary sector that her department were ensuring that all involved were aiming in the ‘right direction’.

Julia highlighted that the main challenges facing her department was the ability to deliver the right services within diminishing resources, ensuring that the statutory functions were still met, whilst aiming to deliver support that young people consider is important, i.e. things to do and places to go.  In addition to this, referrals of potential child protection have increased since the baby Peter case.

Julia drew attention to several specific areas of note within the Westbury Area Joint Needs Assessment;

• Westbury has a high percentage of 0-15 year olds,
• The numbers of children who are overweight or obese is higher in Westbury than most other community areas,
• Teenage pregnancy is higher in comparison to many other community areas,
• The Child wellbeing index indicates that Westbury is doing relatively well.

A local resident sought clarification as to whether the right services that are needed would be available at the time when really needed. Julia reiterated the need to supply frontline services, and that there are always ways of delivering services more effectively, for example, The Children and Young People’s Trust which is made up of all the partner agencies providing services for child and young people in the county, health, education, social care and others together aiming to make life better for children.  Jonathan Burke of BA13 + Community Area Partnership confirmed that Head Teachers are already discussing the sharing of services.  Julia was encouraged that this was already happening in Westbury.

Another local resident asked for an update on Academies and Free Schools.  Julia said that she did not think there were any applications for Free Schools in the County and that, to date only one school had become an academy since the Coalition Government was elected.  She stated that the Department for Children and Education did not know how many Academies there may be in the future and that this posed a challenge as centrally held funding used to pay for school support services would need to be allocated to Academies and they could then choose whether to ‘buy in’ services.

The Chairman thanked Julia for her input.

To outline his cabinet role and to answer written questions (submitted one week in advance).

Councillor Humphries was unable to attend the meeting. This item was deferred to a later date.

To receive updates from partners – Parish and Town Councils, Police, Fire and Rescue Service, NHS, BA13+ Community Area Partnership, Community Area Young Peoples’ Issues Group and Chamber of Commerce.

NHS Wiltshire

Updates from NHS Wiltshire for September were included in the agenda at pages 31 -32.

Police

Inspector Dave Minty, reported that Anti Social Behaviour was still a concern, but figures were showing a welcome decline.  The Restorative Justice meeting put in place by the BA13+ Community Area Partnership and supported by Tonie Brodie at Matravers was a great success. He welcomed the sensible approach to local resolution, enabling quick and effective policing decisions that often satisfied the victim immediately without tying up Officer time and the return to common sense policing. He added that recent investment in technology is allowing Officers to access information needed whilst out and about, rather than returning to Police Stations. Some of this available time would enable Officers to be out on foot in the Town.  Nevertheless, resources would be placed in the most effective areas.

 He reported that there had been a 31% drop in dwelling burglaries which was very good, however there has been an increase in non-dwelling burglaries often of commercial premises or garden sheds. Tools and metals have generally been the target and he took the opportunity to remind people to be vigilant and take crime prevention measures. Advice can be found on Wiltshire Police website. http://www.wiltshire.police.uk

BA13+ Community Area Partnership

Jonathan Burke of the BA13+ Community Area Partnership reported that a meeting of the Partnership had taken place on 1 September.  The BA13+ Community Area Partnership is to update the community plan. This involves subjects from education and the economy to housing and environment. Local people will be asked to take part and give their views.  A well attended meeting with professionals and the community had taken place to take forward Restorative Justice.  The next step is to try and engage more people and CAP will be distributing flyers to involve more people.

Westbury Town Council

The recent Italian Food Market which took place in Westbury Market Place on Saturday 4 September had been a huge success.  A Christmas Street Day event and Food Market would be taking place between 10.00am and 4.30pm Saturday 11 December.

Community Area Young Peoples’ Issue Group (CAYPIG)

Sally Willox, Westbury Youth Development Coordinator, reported that she has been working closely with Matravers School and Youth Offending, to enhance relationships with young people.  She reported that there are currently 580 young people engaging with the service, which is very good. 100 young people engage with the services that are provided on a weekly basis.

CAYPIG are actively involved in;

·        Transport Scheme, there will be an update at the December Area Board,

·        Voices – profiling young people in a positive light,

·        Multi Media Centre – developing a multi media centre for the youth club for video and arts projects.

Chamber of Commerce

The Chairman reported, on behalf of the Westbury Chamber of Commerce, that a competition was available for those who had started a new business after 25 September 2009 or are planning to start trading before 3 August 2011.  Each of the Chamber  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive a progress report on Leigh Park adoptions from Steve Ibbetson, Technical Manager, Department for Neighbourhood and Planning.

Steve Ibbetson, Technical Manager, updated the Area Board on the amenity land on the Leigh Park development.The Leigh Park development has been largely completed for some years and the highway infrastructure (i.e., roads, footways, cycle ways, street lighting etc) must therefore become maintained at public expense, i.e. adopted by the local authority. An initial inspection of all the amenity land on Leigh Park has been undertaken and phasing for adoption has been agreed with the developer.

·        Phase One (the land shaded green on the maps at Appendix 1) - the amenity land on completed development areas will be adopted by early next year. Detailed inspections have been undertaken, solicitors briefed and remedial works requested from the developer.

·        Phase Two (south of the site) – this includes the balancing pond, nature reserve and possibly the old tannery site. The developer has been requested to supply technical information before detailed inspections are undertaken. It is anticipated that these areas will be adopted towards the end of next year.

·        Phase Three – amenity land to be inspected as developments are completed and amenity land adopted as and when the land becomes available.

Councillor Hawker thanked all those concerned with the good progress that has been made. 

Local residents asked whether the green areas highlighted on the maps would remain ‘green’ areas.  It was confirmed by Council Officers present that areas designated for public space would remain ‘green’ areas.

To receive a report from Head of Homes 4 Wiltshire, Laura Young.

Laura Young Head of Homes 4 Wiltshire introduced her report which was written in response to questions raised by the Area Board.

Homes 4 Wiltshire was launched in March 2009 to coincide with the unification of the five councils and its aim is to allocate housing fairly. The Homes 4 Wiltshire policy states that “in some rural locations, further local connection restrictions may apply”, and this is due to the requirements contained within planning policy.  The West Wilts local plan allows for two types of local connection restrictions.

1. Rural Exception Sites where a local connection would need to be demonstrated.
2. Village Policy Limits which enables Homes 4 Wiltshire to allocate certain properties to those who can demonstrate a local connection.

 Laura explained the local connection as being one or more of the following:-

·        The applicant has a permanent job there

·        The applicant has lived in the area

·        There is a connection by way of family – a parent, grand parent, sibling or child. (all must be over 18)

·        There are special circumstances, for example, a long term need to receive specialist health care, education or support services that are only available in that area.

Councillor Swabey asked how many people have been waiting for over a year to be housed in the surrounding 5 villages – Laura would respond to this when she was able to gather the figures.

Councillor Cuthbert-Murray sought further clarification over the figures quoted in paragraph 4.2 of the report.  Laura explained that 51% of people housed to the Westbury Community Area were either already living in Westbury or had a local connection.  35% had been living in a surrounding town or village, 7% were living in Wiltshire, 4 % outside of Wiltshire and 3% were of no fixed abode.  Councillors asked Laura for a brief explanation of the banding system,

Platinum – Exceptional circumstances e.g. homeless, urgent medical need, flee due to harassment.

Gold +  – Meeting multiple criteria from the lower bands.

Gold – High need e.g. lacking 2 bedrooms, high medical or welfare need, those threatened with homelessness.

Silver – Medium housing need, including medium medical or welfare need, lacking 1 bedroom, sharing facilities with non household members.

Bronze – Those applicants adequately housed but have a desire to move.  Also includes those financial capable or home owners.

Councillor Cuthbert-Murray enquired how long it would take if you were in the Bronze allocation band to be housed.  Laura replied that it would take a very long time.  Councillor Cuthbert-Murray explained that the only way anyone in Bronze would be successful with bidding is on new developments, however he felt that the numbers allocated to Bronze is too low and should be increased.  Laura explained that properties have to be allocated primarily to those in the highest need and highlighted the fact that there are often homeless families living in one room of a hostel who would disagree that those considered to be living in adequate accommodation should be considered above them more regularly.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive a presentation by David Bullock, Head of Service Traffic and Network Manager and Cllr Richard Gamble, Portfolio Holder for Public Transport on feed back from the consultation that has been undertaken.

Councillor Richard Gamble, (Portfolio Holder for Public Transport) updated the meeting on the feed back of the results of the consultation on parking policy across the county.

Points made included:

• The move to one Council highlighted the lack of consistency between the former districts.
• Parking has wider issues to address than just charging, important part of local transport policy (e.g. improving streetscenes, reducing traffic conflicts and supporting bus services).
• The need to update the strategy, changed picture since last review.

Councillor Hawker noted that there had only been 3 Westbury responses, but clarified that 2 of them had been very detailed responses from the Town Council and the Chamber of Commerce.  He stressed that Westbury was currently an undersized retail centre and that car parking should reflect that and Westbury should be placed in to band 4.

Keith Harvey, Westbury Town Council Parish Clerk, invited Councillor Gamble and any other Officer or member of the public present to accompany him around the shops to gain a first hand experience of the strength of feeling over the car parking charges.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Gamble for the presentation.

To receive a presentation on the prioritisation of locations for new grit bins prior to discussion and recommendation at the forthcoming Community Transport Group meeting.

Sally Hendry, Community Area Manager, advised the Board that Westbury Community Area currently has 49 grit bins.  Town and Parish Councils have requested a further 17 but only 5 will be allocated, due to resource constraints.

It is proposed that the allocation of the new bins will be discussed at the Community Area Transport Group Meeting on 14 October, with final locations agreed by highways staff to ensure road safety and a update will be given to the Board at the next meeting on the 2 Dec.

To receive updates on those issues highlighted at the previous Area Board meeting and received online, including:

• Primary Care Centre - Update

• Springfield Road Traffic Problem – Update
• Leisure Review and Westbury Pool  - Update

Primary Care Centre Planning update - A result on this is likely soon.

Leisure Review – Neil Hawkerexplained that a new group with an executive of 5 members has been set up to take forward the aims of Westbury Town in respect of the Leisure review called the Westbury Leisure Alliance (WLA). WLA are urging clubs and groups using either Leighton or Westbury Pool to send them their contact details. Please email WLA at lizantsolutions@blueyonder.co.uk  and they will make sure they respond at the earliest opportunity.

Springfield Road – Sally Hendry, Community Area Manager updated the Board on the progress achieved for Springfield Road. There was now an action plan in place, with work starting during half term.  Entry to both junctions would be delineated by a buff coloured surface. Extra warning signs would be placed at each junction to warn car drivers of pedestrians.  A shared carriage and pathway will be delineated by a solid white line and red surfacing.  All overhanging vegetation will cut back.  The School travel plan and other information will be distributed via the school council and investigations will take place into the possibility of coaches picking up and dropping children off in the Warminster Road car park.

To consider any applications for funding from;

a)     Community Area Grant Scheme – to consider any applications for funding from this scheme.

b)     Performance Reward Grant Scheme – to consider any applications for funding from this scheme.

Grants and Funding

a) Community Area Grants

Councillors considered two applications for Community Area Grants, as follows:

1.      An application has been received from Westbury Amateur Swimming Club for £1000 to send two volunteers on Swimming Teaching Courses approved by the ASA.

Decision

Westbury Area Board awarded the sum of £1000 to Westbury Amateur Swimming Association.

Reason

This application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2010/11 and linked to Wiltshire Council’s priority of engaging with local people; increasing numbers involved in volunteering; encouraging healthy lifestyle changes; improving young people’s participation in positive activities.

2.An application had been received from 68 (Westbury) Squadron Air Training Corp to help part fund the attendance of Air Cadets on an Easter Camp to Plas Pencelli to participate in a range of outward bound and team building activities.

Decision

Westbury Area Board awarded the sum of £1000 to 68 (Westbury) Squadron Air Training Corp.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grants criteria 2010/11 and linked to Wiltshire Council’s priority for engaging with young people; increasing numbers involved with volunteering  and improving young people’s participation in positive activities.

b) Performance Reward Grant Scheme

Councillors considered an application for funding from the Performance Reward Grant Scheme.  An application had been received by all area boards, entitled Wiltshire Voices. This project is a two year initiative which would challenge our Area Boards to develop new and innovative approaches to community engagement and empowerment, particularly focused on engaging with hard to reach and traditionally excluded groups.  The target group for Westbury is to work with older people living at home.

Decision

Westbury Area Board supported the Performance Reward Grant application from Wiltshire Voices.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be on Thursday 2 December 2010, 7.00pm at the Laverton, Westbury.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 2 December 2010, 7.00pm at the Laverton, Westbury.

A forward plan indicating future agenda items was included in the agenda at pages 45- 46.

The Meeting closed at 9.00pm