Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Westbury Area Board.

At the request of the Chairman, all stood in silence for one minute in memory of the three young men who were tragically killed in a road accident in Westbury Trading Estate on 5 December.      

Apologies for absence were received from:

Julia Cramp, Associate Director for Commissioning and Performance & School Effectiveness

Mike Franklin, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 9 October 2014..

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 October 2014 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.

Cllr Russell Hawker declared a personal interest regarding the Community Grant application for a defibrillator at Leigh Park Community Centre in Minute No. 15 (a) below as he was a member of the Community Centre.

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack or online.  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:-

·         Wiltshire’s Car Parking Review  

·         Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan 2015

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·                Wiltshire’s Car Parking Review – This announcement drew attention to a car parking review being carried out by Wiltshire Council.  A pre consultation assessment had been undertaken in May and June of this year and also a number of community workshops had taken place.  The findings of these pre-consultation exercises had been combined with parking data which formed the basis of a consultation which were open from 27 October 2014 to 16 January 2015.

Interested parties and members of the public were encouraged to respond to the consultation either in writing to Sustainable Transport Group, Highways and Transport, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN or by email to transportplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk by the completion of a questionnaire.  Full details of the proposals were available to view at http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal

·                Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan 2015 – It was noted that a public consultation was taking place between December 2014 and February 2015 on the Stonehenge and Avebury WHS Management Plan 2015. The consultation was available to view on the Wiltshire Council website.

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

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service (a verbal update will be given at the meeting as it is not possible at present to provide a written report due to shortage of staff.)

·         BA13 Community Area Partnership

·         Town & Parish Councils

The Area Board received the following partner and community updates:

·                Wiltshire Police  Inspector Alan Webb presented his update report which was received from which it was noted that the current main issue continued to be non domestic burglaries and criminal damage.  A copy of this report is attached to these minutes.

·                Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service  An update report is attached to these minutes.

·                BA13 Community Area Partnership An update report was received and noted.  Carole King further reported that she would be responding to the car parking consultation on behalf of the Partnership and that their next meeting was due to be held on Wednesday 18 February 2015 when the principal theme of the meeting would be the Environment.  

The Westbury Community Campus Team will present a summary of its working proposal for a local campus based on its engagement and consultation with local people. The Area Board will consider the proposal before deciding whether to endorse it and forward it to Wiltshire Council for further consideration.  A report setting out details of the proposal is attached.

The Westbury Community Campus Team presented a report which set out details of the Team’s working proposal for a local campus based on its engagement and consultation with local people, a copy of which was circulated with the agenda papers.

The meeting noted that a full and comprehensive consultation had taken place within the Community Area and this had included two separate surveys in which questionnaires had been very widely distributed to households and were also made available at key venues including the Library, street fairs and clubs.   It was recognised that the campus was about people and the community as well as buildings and the overwhelming desire of the community was that the campus should be split and developed around the Library, the Swimming Pool and the Leighton Recreation Centre.

The report recommended: that:

1.   the Swimming Pool should be renovated and improved to provide:

•      an attractive and welcoming entrance/meeting area

•      updated changing and shower facilities

•      Accessibility for all

2.     The Library should be renovated, extended and improved providing:

•      A community hub for the campus

•      a statement building delivering a new focal point for regeneration in the town

•      a piazza setting at street level to increase the impact

•      a wide range of services for the community,

•      Flexible space for public and private services to be delivered, including the library, local police services, heritage and visitor centre

3.     The Leighton Recreation Centre should be renovated, extended and improved to include:

Inside

·      significantly increased sports hall area

·      flexible community rooms

·      increased and modernised fitness suite

·      enhanced café facilities

·      Improved changing facilities

·      accessibility for all

Outside

·      All weather pitches

·      Covered courts/playing areas

·      Improved access to all areas

·      External changing rooms

·      Improved access to and from the site

It was explained that the Area Board was now being requested to support the proposals and recommendations set out in the report which would then be forwarded to the Council’s Cabinet for consideration.  Subject to the endorsement of Cabinet, a feasibility study and business plan would need to be developed prior to Cabinet making a final decision.

Cllr Jonathon Seed, Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding congratulated the Campus Team on the production of such a good and comprehensive set of proposals and he also stated that he was very impressed with the level of consultation that had taken place within the Westbury Area Community.   Subject to the approval of the Area Board, he would be pleased to present the report and recommendations to Cabinet which would consider the practicality and feasibility of the proposals. However, he went on to explain that the Council was likely to face significant financial challenges over the next five years and there was no guarantee that Cabinet would be able to providing financial assistance for all proposals.  Nevertheless, he would be pleased to support parts of proposals which could be funded.

Mr Gary Davies, a local trader, expressed concern that the provision of a piazza at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Cllr Jonathon Seed, Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding will be attending to provide an update on Area Boards, the communication around events at Area Boards as well as providing an update on campuses. 

He will then be pleased to answer any questions.

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Jonathon Seed, Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding to the meeting who was attending to provide an update on Area Boards, the communication around events at Area Boards and an update on campuses.

He explained that since the Council had established area boards in 2009 there had been a number of changes which warranted a review of the system. 

The Council’s vision had been to build up stronger and more resilient communities and to provide accessible services which catered for local needs.  The campus programme had been developed to help meet these needs and although it had been realised from its inception that this programme would be long term of at least 15 years to achieve, to date Cabinet had given approval for the first seven campuses to be provided at Calne, Corsham, Cricklade, Melksham, Pewsey, Salisbury and Tisbury, together with the first phase of a campus at Malmesbury.  It was anticipated that the approved campuses would be delivered hopefully by the end of 2017.  However, Cllr Seed stressed that not all campuses would be new purpose built structures and much would depend on local circumstances and needs. He explained that the Council had already approved more than £77 million for the first seven campuses and the first stage of a campus at Malmesbury out of a £120 million budget estimate for the programme but further expenditure would depend upon available funding. 

In other community areas, it was suggested that the delivery of a campus be reviewed and aligned to other key factors including future development, economic development schemes, army basing and community needs and, where appropriate a community hub model could be implemented. It was therefore anticipated that some communities might bring forward smaller scale community hub proposals, approved by their area board, for consideration by Cabinet on a case by case basis.

 On behalf of the meeting, the Chairman thanked Cllr Seed for his update.

A representative from Hills UK Ltd will attend to explain their plans to develop a renewable energy centre on a 6.6-acre plot between Hills Waste Solutions’ Northacre Resource Recovery Centre and Arla Foods Westbury Dairies.

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Ed Dodd, Monique Hayes and Simon Thomas from Hills UK Ltd who were attending to explain their plans to develop a renewable energy centre on a 6.6-acre plot of land between Hills Waste Solutions’ Northacre Resource Recovery Centre and Arla Foods Westbury Dairies.

Ed Dodd explained that Hills was a family owned local company which was established in 1900 and employed 400 staff in the area.  The company was expert in recycling and the management of waste and a leading manufacturer

and operator of advanced thermal treatment technology.

He explained that the proposal would be for the construction of a renewable energy centre, supporting regional energy security and which would be capable of generating 22 megawatts of power and thus be able to supply local business.  The proposal would mean that there would no longer be a need to transport solid recovered fuel to Europe.  The facility would support 80 jobs during construction and 40 permanent jobs once built.    The process would lead to the recovery and recycling of metals, glass and aggregates for use in industry and construction and would process 160,000 tonnes of feedstock each year to generate power and heat.  Most importantly, the facility would lead to a reduction in landfill requirement.  Ed Dodd further explained that the facility would consist of three principal buildings and a substation, the height of the buildings being about 20 metres and the stack would be constructed to a height of 60 metres.  It was anticipated that once this process was fully operational, vehicle movements would amount to an additional 1.3 lorries per hour.

Cllr Jerry Wickham, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Waste, explained that, whilst the Company was not in partnership with the Council, there were ongoing discussions regarding this proposal which would need to be submitted as a planning application and processed accordingly in due course.

The Chairman, on behalf of the meeting, thanked the representatives from Hills UK Ltd. for their presentation.   

A report by the Community Area Manager is attached.

A report by the Community Area Manager was received which provided an update on the implementation of Joint Strategic Assessment priorities on health and wellbeing issues affecting the Westbury Community Area.  In particular, she drew attention to progress which was being made in the following areas:-

·                Reduction of domestic abuse

·                Making people feel safe in their community

·                Reaching hard to reach people

·                Encouraging recycling

·                Improve cycle and walking routes

·                Raise awareness of heritage

·                Improve activity levels leading to
better health and mental wellbeing  

It was noted that the Westbury Area Board had:-

(1)       Agreed to channel its grant funds to reflect these local priorities.

(2)       Designated specific councillors as champions to lead on each of the themes.

(3)       The Community Area Manager had worked with the BA13+ Community Area Partnership on the update of the Community Plan to reflect the findings and prescribed actions.

(4)       Worked with local agencies and with the Community Area Partnership to progress the identified priorities.

Phoebe Brazier, newly appointed Community Youth Officer, will explain plans for the future development of Youth Services in the Westbury area.

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Amy Schuring, the newly appointed Community Youth Officer, who was attending this meeting of the Area Board to explain plans for the future development of Youth Services in the Westbury area.

She explained that she had been appointed together with Phoebe Brazier to job share the post and their role would be to implement the new community led model which had been issued last August.

She informed the meeting that an initial youth network management meeting had been held a couple of weeks previously at which there had been a positive input from youth and also from community groups.  The new youth model (Local Youth Network – LYN) was due to be launched on 8 February 2015 at the Leigh Park Community Centre.  Work was required in engaging young people and to find out exactly what sort of activities would be popular in the area.  There were plans to widely circulate questionnaire forms amongst the youth and also to reactivate the Youth Advisory Group.  The future of the Youth Centre had yet to be determined but it was reassuring to note that all the equipment previously used was being kept safe and available for future use.

It was noted that updates would be provided at future meetings.

To adopt the Leaders Guidance for Positive Activities and Terms of Reference for Local Youth Networks (LYNs) and commence work on establishing a LYN.

To approve a motion that the Community Area Manager, in consultation with the Community Youth Officer and Chairman of Westbury Area Board, may authorise expenditure in support of positive activities for young people of up to £1,000 per project between Area Board meetings and that this will be recorded at the next available Area Board.

Consideration was given to a report which explained that a Local Youth network (LYN) was a sub-group of the Community Area Board.  It would represent a wide range of community stakeholders who would work in partnership to facilitate a range of positive activities for young people across the Community Area.  Young people would play a central role in all aspects of the LYN.

The LYN would identify local needs, priorities and outcomes and make recommendations to the Area Board on how funding for positive activities for young people should be deployed.

It was noted that the LYN may include representatives of:

·         Members of the Community Area Board

·         Young people

·         Schools

·         Town and Parish Councils

·         Community and voluntary organisations and groups

·         Police

·         Health organisations

·         Other organisations, agencies and individuals that have a genuine interest in promoting the welfare and interests of young people

DECISION:

(1)       To adopt the Leader’s Guidance for Positive Activities and Terms of Reference for Local Youth Networks (LYNs) and commence work on establishing a LYN.

(2)       To approve a motion that the Community Area Manager, in consultation with the Community Youth Officer and the Chairman and Members of the Westbury Area Board, may authorise expenditure in support of positive activities for young people of up to £1,000 per project between Area Board meetings and that this will be recorded at the next available Area Board.

To receive a report by the Community Area Manager, together with the minutes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group meeting held on    Friday 21 November 2014 and to consider the recommendations set out in the report.

The Area Board received a report by the Community Area Manager together with the minutes of the Community Area Transport Group dated 21 November 2014.

Decision:

(1)       To allocate £1600 for changes to be made to the white lines at Hawkeridge junction.

(2)       To allocate £1000 for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction to be placed on Brook Lane, Westbury. 

To receive notes of the Air Quality Group held on Friday 21 November 2014.

The notes of the Air Quality Group meeting held on 21 November 2014 were received and noted.

Consideration was given to a report by the Community Area Manager in which councillors were asked to consider applications for funding from the 2014/15 Area Board Grants Budget.  She then explained each application in turn.

(a)       Leigh Park Community Centre

Decision

To approve a grant of £618 towards the purchase of a defibrillator.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(b)      Edington Parish Council

Decision

To approve a grant of £2,262 towards the purchase of play equipment.

Reason

This application meets the criteria for 2014/15.

(c)       Westbury Family History Society

Decision

To approve a grant of £320 towards the purchase of a printer, scanner and hard drive.

Reason

This application meets the criteria for 2014/15.

(d)      Grassacres Day Centre, Westbury – Led by Cllr Russell Hawker

Decision

To approve a grant of £4,380 towards the cost of upgrading the floor and kitchen for set up of leg Clinic for older people.

Reason

This application meets the criteria for 2014/15.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will take place on:

Thursday 5 February 2015 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN.

Future Meeting Dates

Thursday 9 April 2015 at Jubilee Hall, Melbourne Street, Bratton, BA13 4RW

Thursday 4 June 2015 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN

It was noted that the next meeting of the Westbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 5 February 2015 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN.