Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

Decision

To elect Cllr Russell Hawker as Chairman of the Westbury Area Board for the ensuing year.

Cllr Russell Hawker in the Chair

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Decision

To elect Cllr David Jenkins as Vice-Chairman of the Westbury Area Board for the ensuing year.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·         Revd. Jonathan Burke – BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Revd. Dai Davies – Minister, Westbury Leigh & Stormore Baptist Church

·         Dr Peter Biggs – Wiltshire Involvement Network

·         Sally Hendry – Community Area Manager

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2013. (Copy attached)

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 February 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

A report is attached.

On considering a report requesting the appointment of representatives to outside bodies and Working Groups for the year 2013/14,

Decision

(1)          To appoint Councillor representatives to outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2013/14 as follows:-

·                     Leigh Park Community Association (Westbury) – Cllr Russell Hawker

·                     Warminster & Westbury CCTV Partnership – Cllr Russell

·                     Hawker

·                     Westbury Community Area Partnership – Cllr Gordon King

·                     Westbury Youth Issues Group (CAYPIGS) - Cllr David Jenkins & Cllr Gordon King

(2)          To reconstitute and appoint Councillor representatives to the Westbury Community Area Transport Group  (CATG) for the Municipal Year 2013/14 as follows:-

Cllr Linda Conley

Cllr Russell Hawker

Cllr David Jenkins

Cllr Gordon King

(3)          To appoint the following Councillor representative to the Shadow Community Operations Board (COB) for the Municipal Year 2013/14:-

Cllr David Jenkins

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are provided in the agenda pack.  If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak with the Community Area Manager or the Democratic Services Officer.

(a)          Integrated Youth Service

(b)          Safeguarding Thresholds

The Chairman made the following announcements:-

(a)          Integrated Youth Service

The Chairmen briefly outlined the work of the youth service and the link between the youth advisory groups and the area boards.

(b)          Revised Multi-Agency Thresholds for Safeguarding Children

It was noted that a thorough review of guidance on safeguarding thresholds had been undertaken jointly by the Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board and the Wiltshire Children and Young People’s Trust.

Allan Creedy, Head of Service, Sustainable Transport, will be attending to give a verbal update on the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan, with particular reference to schemes in the Westbury area, and funding arrangements.

Allan Creedy, Head of Service, Sustainable Transport, gave a verbal update on the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan, with particular reference to schemes in the Westbury area, and funding arrangements.

He explained that the Government’s 1998 White Paper on Transport, ‘A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone’, introduced the concept of Local Transport Plans (LTP) to steer the development of national transport policies at the local level. The Transport Act 2000 then made it a statutory requirement for local transport studies to produce LTPs.

It was noted that the Wiltshire LTP set out the Council’s objectives, implementation plans and targets for transport in Wiltshire. Furthermore, as a document developed through partnership working and extensive consultation, the LTP also provided the framework for all other organisations with a direct or in direct involvement in transport in Wiltshire.

The third Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP3) covered the period from March 2011 to March 2026.

Mr Creedy explained that the Department for Transport’s ‘Guidance on Local Transport’ (July 2009) set out five overarching national transport goals:

• support economic growth;
• reduce carbon emissions;
• promote equality of opportunity;
• contribute to better safety, security and health; and
• improve quality of life and a healthy natural environment.

In addition, the most recent transport White Paper ‘Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon: Making Sustainable Local Transport Happen (January 2011) contained two main themes:

• offering people sustainable transport choices, particular for shorter journeys, that will stimulate behavioural change; and
• demonstrating how localism and the big society can work for transport.

LTP3’s overall long-term strategy sought to address and support these goals and themes by providing a sustainable transport system.

There were four supporting strategies that also made up LTP3:

• car parking;
• freight;
• public transport; and
• road safety.

Mr Creedy went on to explain that Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet had recently examined a lengthy list of potential transport schemes for consideration by the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Transport Body for prioritisation and had approved the following shorlist for consideration:-

·           A350 Chippenham Bypass Dualling

·           A350 North of Chippenham Dualling

·           A350 West Ashton Relief Road

·           A350 Yarnbrook Relief Road

·           A36 Southampton Road Improvement

·           CorshamStation

·           M4 Junction 16 Improvements

·           Royal Wootton Bassett Station

·           Westbury Additional Platform

·           Wilton Station

It could therefore be seen that although there were potentially three transport schemes which would have a direct impact on Westbury and surrounding area, there was no guarantee that they would receive final approval and funding from the Government.

Further information would be presented to the Area Board as and when it became available.  

A verbal update will be given on action taken.

Mr Pat Whyte, Area Engineer, Highways & Streetscene, reported that his team was in the process of tackling graffiti in Westbury by means of an anti-graffiti spray.  He explained that this spray could be used up to three times on a particular surface after which the spray would start to damage the affected sign. 

PC Gavin Hucks, Beat Manager, stated that the situation was being monitored and additional resources were being used to help in identifying the culprit.  It was noted that much of the graffiti was being found in Westbury and Westbury Leigh and members of the community were encouraged to help and be on the alert for these acts of vandalism.  PC Hucks explained that there was a need to actually catch the culprit in the act before a successful prosecution could be made.      

To note the attached partner and community updates and to receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. NHS Wiltshire
4. NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group
5. BA13 Community Partnership
6. Town / Parish Councils
7. Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG)

The Area Board received the following partner and community update reports:-

·         Wiltshire Police – Inspector Webb presented his report and explained that the crime rate was generally falling. However, there was still a significant number of vehicle crimes taking place and police officers were giving this special attention.  Members of the public were to be encouraged to report any suspicious vehicles to the Police.

·         Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·         NHS Wiltshire

·         NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·         BA13 Community Partnership – Mrs Carole King tabled an update report on recent partnership activities (Appendix 1 to these minutes). She drew attention to the Partnership’s AGM which was due to be held on Tuesday 2 July 2013 at Matravers School, 7.00pm for 7.30pm, to which everyone was invited.  She further reported that there was an urgent need for a new Treasurer.

·         Town/Parish Councils – no reports received.

·         Youth Advisory Group – Sally Willox, Integrated Youth Team Leader, presented an update on the work that was being carried out. (Appendix 2 to these minutes).

To receive updates on the following issues:-

(a)          Community Operations Board (COB) – the progress on ideas for a Westbury Campus

(b)          Local Streetscene – an opportunity to meet the team that look after your community and to hear about the new ways of working

(c)          The Westbury Weaver Bus Service

(d)          Reopening of Westbury Swimming Pool

The Area Board received updates on the following issues:-

·         Community Operations Board (COB) – Lucy Murray-Brown, Head of Campus & Operational Models, gave a presentation on progress made to date on ideas for a Westbury Campus. 

She explained that in February 2011 Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet approved the implementation of a Campus and Operational Delivery Programme which would, amongst other things, work with local communities to develop, facilitate and deliver community campus buildings across Wiltshire which would seek to bring together existing Council and partners services into ideally one accessible location within a community area.

It was noted that a campus development for Westbury would consider including services run by Wiltshire Council, such as the town’s leisure and sports facilities and potentially the library and youth centre. Services could be provided from a single or multiple sites, and could use new or existing buildings.

An initial public consultation took place in January 2013 via the White Horse News, asking the people of Westbury what facilities they would like in the town and how they would like them to be realised.  From the responses received, the following services were put forward:-

Access to a healthy lifestyle

Access to personal care facilities

Indoor sports & leisure facilities

Library facilities

Presence of Registrar of Births, Marriages & Deaths services

Presence of Revenue & Benefits services

From the public consultation, it became apparent that a campus should be sited as centrally as possible with adequate car parking facilites.

The Shadow Community Operations Board (COB) was studying all the various views put forward by the public and would be developing a number of different options which would be brought to the next meeting of the Area Board for consideration and be the subject of further general consultation.

·         Local Streetscene – Chris Clark, ,Area Manager, Local Highways & Streetscene, gave an update on the changes to the local highway and streetscene service.   He explained that following on from Local Government Reorganisation in 2009, the various local highways and streenscene services as provided by the former County and District Councils were merged into one new Unit and further rationalisations had been carried out which resulted in one new highways and streetscene contract which came into effect on 1 June 2013, together with a new staffing structure to support the service.  This new contract would allow for a single point of delivery and remove duplication in processes, such as invoicing and other back office services, thus maximising the economies of scale.  

The existing Parish Steward Scheme, grass cutting, litter collection and town centre cleaning activities were all contained in the new contract and would continue,but the operatives would be known as Community Stewards.  The new contract would bring these activities together to deliver efficiencies and serve improvements.

Each of the area boards would have a community coordinator to manage all the local highway and streetscene operational issues and they would be the point of contact for the parish and town councils.  An Engineer would provide the technical support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Community Area Manager will provide a verbal update at the meeting.

Steve Milton, Head of Community Governance explained there had been some changes to the Community Area Grant Scheme for 2013/14. There was up to £5,000 available for community projects linked to local priorities. The principal changes to the scheme were:-

·                       that up to £500 for projects required no match funding

·                       up to 50% of total projects where they exceed £500 required match funding

·                        all applications would now be submitted online and funding was available for capital projects only.

Steve Milton explained the difference between capital and revenue projects and stated that projects would have to address and demonstrate a local need.

He suggested that Sally Hendry, CAM, be contacted for any further information. 

To note that the next meeting of the Area Board is due to be held on Thursday 15 August 2013 at All Saints Church Hall, Westbury, starting at 7.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Board would be held on Thursday 15 August 2013 at All Saints Church Hall, Westbury, starting at 7.00pm.

The Chairman introduced Mr John Hall, from AMEC planning consultants who was attending this meeting to make a presentation about a proposed new development to be built on land north of The Mead, Westbury by The Gloucester Land Company.

John Hall explained the proposal pointing out that the area, which bordered The Mead and the A350, was currently an area of green space.  The development would consist of up to 220 homes, mostly houses of a mix of sizes, and some flats and terraces. The development would also include up to 66 affordable homes and open space and two play areas would be provided.

Discussions were taking place with Westbury Town Council and AMEC would be holding a two-day consultation in July (exact dates to be confirmed) at a local venue, with a planning application expected to be submitted soon after.

He further explained that if plans for the site did proceed, the developer would be required to make a contribution to the community. Suggestions currently included a contribution to local schools and improved linkages to the town centre but the whole community was being asked to consider what other facilities would be welcomed. .