Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sue Ezra and Cllr Francis Morland.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2012.

Decision:

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are requested to declare any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Cllr Russell Hawker declared a non-pecuniary interest for transparency purposes only as he was a member of the Leigh Park Community Association (Westbury) Committee. 

Chairman’s Announcements can be discussed and members of the public can ask questions but they are not an item on the agenda open for debate;  officers / people with the knowledge on the subject are not usually present to answer questions or provide additional information.

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However members of the public do have an opportunity to ask for any further information to be included as an item for a future agenda.

(a)          Impact on Welfare Reform 

On 8 March 2012 the Welfare Reform Act 2012 was approved. This government change to welfare is designed to simplify the benefit system and encourage people to work.  It will affect many people across the country and if you are in receipt of benefit, or an employer, then it will affect you too.  The council is working with partners to make sure information and support is available to all those who need it.

Further information is included in the agenda pack.

The Chairman made the following announcement:-

Impact on Welfare Reform

On 8 March 2012 the Welfare Reform Act 2012 was approved. This government change to welfare was designed to simplify the benefit system and encourage people to work.  It would affect many people across the country including those in receipt of benefit and employers.  The Wiltshire Council was working with partners to make sure information and support was available to all those who need it.

Dr Peter Biggs enquired as to how many people might be affected by the passing of this new legislation and also the level of support that would be available.  Julia Cramp, Service Director for Commissioning & Performance,  explained that the Council’s Revenue & Benefits Service was in the process of gathering data to identify the scale of the problem. Further information would be reported back to this Area Board when available. Reference was also made to the DVD which gave an overview of the Welfare Reform Act, referred to in the accompanying information sheet included in the agenda pack and available to view at https://sites.google.com/site/wiltshiremoney/welfare-reform.    

A report by the Westbury Area Community Manager is attached.

Consideration was given to a report by the Area Community Manager. It was noted that at its previous meeting on 18 October 2012, the Area Board had approved the transfer of a long leasehold interest in Leigh Park Community Centre to the Leigh Park Community Association, in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy.  However, since that meeting, a new company limited by guarantee had been formed to oversee the running of the centre.  The Area Board was thus now being asked to amend its previous decision and to approve the transfer to Leigh Park Community Centre (Westbury) Limited rather than to the Leigh Park Community Association.

AGREED

Westbury Area Board welcomes the completion of the Leigh Park Community Centre and congratulates the Community Association and its members and Wiltshire Council officers on the hard work they have done to deliver this important community resource.  Accordingly, the Board approves the grant of a 125 year lease to the Leigh Park Community Association (Westbury) at a peppercorn rent subject to the following:

That the Leigh Park Community Association (Westbury) seeks further advice from Community Matters on the most suitable not-for-profit or charitable company structure to deliver the public and community benefit of the Community Centre and that upon the submission of satisfactory confirmation that such a structure is in place, the Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and Local ward member, be granted delegated powers to approve the lease without further delay.

Further, to enable the Community Centre to operate in the interim period a temporary time limited licence/tenancy at will can be agreed between the Community Association and the Council and/or developer on terms to be approved by the Solicitor to the Council. This is to facilitate early access prior to signing the lease.

To consider the following applications for funding from the Community Area Grants Scheme:-

1.         Bratton Silver Band for £5,000 to part fund replacement of instruments

2.         Restoration of recreation land and walkways off The Mead - area board councillor led grant application - £675 requested  

3.         White Horse Day Centre for £350 to fund the purchase of indoor curling equipment - this is an application under the Small Grant Scheme.

4.         Bratton Park Life  for £4921 to help fund a new children’s play project

Consideration was given to a report by the Community Area Manager in which councillors were asked to consider applications for funding from the 2012/13 Area Board Grants Budget.  She then explained each application in turn.

(a)          Bratton Silver Band – to part fund replacement of instruments - £5,000 requested

Decision

To approve a grant of £5,000 to part fund replacement of instruments.

Reason

The project is to replace some of the existing brass instruments and to purchase some additional percussion instruments. 2 timpani  and other percussion items will be purchased and also 4 brass instruments will be replced. As well as performing regularly at many local events throughout West Wiltshire, the Band is also a contesting band and takes part in regional and national brass band contests. The Band has been promoted to a 3rd section band from January 2013 and it therefore needs to extend its range and improve the quality of some instruments in order to raise the overall standard of the Band’s musical performance.

(b)          The Mead, Westbury – restoration of recreation land and walkways - £675 requested

Decision

To approve a grant of £675 to restore recreation land and walkways.

Reason

This area of open land off The Mead is a delightful potential nature reserve containing lakes, walkways and seating and leading onto a network of footpaths. Currently the area is considerably waterlogged and needs remedial drainage work in order to make it more accessible to everyone. While funds from a S106 agreement have been set aside for the long term maintenance of this land, it does not include allowance for such remedial action. It is believed such remedial work would enable the area to be better used by the community for leisure and hopefully for an educational resource – it is hoped interpretation boards may be provided in the future to chart the flora and fauna of this area.

(c)          White Horse Day Centre, Westbury – purchase of indoor curling equipment - £350 requested

Decision

To approve a grant of £350 for the purchase of indoor curling equipment.

Reason

To motivate the older people and lunch club members who attend the day centre with games and activities. The aim is to help everyone keep fit, alert and healthy - and to have fun in the process. This grant request would pay for New Age curling equipment. New Age Curling is a form of the original curling game, but adapted so that it can be played indoors on any smooth, flat surface, such as a sports hall, rather than on ice.

Importantly, the game can be played by both able-bodied and disabled people of all ages alike.

(d)          Bratton Park Life – help fund a new children’s play area - £4,921 requested

Decision

To approve a grant of £4,921 to help fund a new children’s play area.

Reason

To improve the facilities on the village green to include more play equipment for children of varied ages and abilities within the local rurally isolated community. Commence improvements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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

Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

BA13+ Partnership

NHS Wiltshire

Town and Parish Councils

Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG)

The Area Board received the following partner and community updates:-

·         Wiltshire Police – Dr Peter Biggs suggested that the statistical information about Domestic Violence should be shown as a separate entry and questioned if the total detection rate had been reduced by 10%.   Inspector Lindsey Winter would be consulted regarding these points which she would be asked to respond to at the next meeting.

Dr Biggs also suggested that the new Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) be invited to attend a meeting of this Area Board to explain his plans to reduce crime in Wiltshire and also if he intended to appoint a Deputy PCC.

·         Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – Dr Peter Biggs considered that some of the graphical information should be amended by improving the vertical axes in the Non-Fire incidents attended by WFRS, and also in the Death & Injuries in incidents attended by WFRS.    Mr Michael Franklin would be consulted regarding these points and asked to respond at the next meeting.

·         BA13+ Partnership

·         NHS Wiltshire – It was noted that this update should be included in the White Horse News.

·         Westbury Town Council – Cllr Russell Hawker explained that the Christmas Events had been cancelled by Westbury Town Council the day before the event on account of the stall holders withdrawing at the last moment due to the very wet weather.

Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG) – Tony Nye, Youth Development Coordinator & Locality Team Leader, reported on the youth work that was being undertaken in the area including a piece of rural outreach work being carried out in the local villages whereby young people aged 13 – 17 years of age would be offered training to run junior youth groups, starting in January 2013. 

·         Neighbourhood Tasking Group (Police) – Cllr Russell Hawker reported that this Tasking Group had recently adopted two key priorities for Westbury as follows:-

(i)            Speeding with a focus on Trowbridge Road, Chalford & Station Road.

(ii)          Litter, including dog fouling and spitting.

·         The Chairman reported on traffic issues in High Street car park and Haynes Road.

To note that the next meeting of the Area Board is due to be held on Thursday 7 February 2013 at Leigh Park Community Centre, Westbury, starting at 7.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Board was due to be held on Thursday 7 February 2013 at Leigh Park Community Centre, Westbury, starting at 7.00pm.