Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Ian Cunningham – Westbury Town Council

Cllr Sue Ezra – Westbury Town Council

Revd Dai Davies – Crosspoint

Mike Franklin & Andy Green – Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

Ian Holden – Balfour Beatty - Living Places

Norman Burgess – Community Coordinator, Local Highways

Cllr Russell Hawker – Wiltshire Council

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 5 & 17 June 2014.

Decision

The minutes of the meetings held on 5 & 17 June 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.

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

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.

(a)        GOV/14/05/10 Integrated Performance Report May 2014

(b)        Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

(c)        Changes to the Electoral Registration System

(d)        Changes to Bell Orchard Sheltered Housing

The Chairman made the following announcements:-

·                GOV/14/05/10 Integrated Performance Report May 2014 – This report showed that performance across the urgent care system remained broadly as expected over recent weeks, with the exception of a couple of areas which had not consistently achieved the expected targets due to spikes of activity, these areas being A & E waiting times at Great Western Hospital, Swindon and also in NHS111, this being a new service to make it easier for the public to access local NHS healthcare services in England. The public can call 111 when medical help is required fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time.  NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

·                Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – Wiltshire Council submitted its draft Charging Schedule for examination on 23 June.  A Statement of Modification (which sets out proposed changes to the Schedule) had been published for a 4 week consultation period at the same time which ran until 21 July.  The Chairman drew attention to the appendix to the Announcement which explained the CIL in more detail.

·                Changes to the Electoral Registration System – Over the Summer period all Wiltshire residents would be receiving a letter explaining a new, more secure system of Individual Electoral Registration which was being introduced to replace the old Victorian system where the “head of Household” registered everyone living in a property. In future, each individual would be responsible for registering themselves.

·                Changes to Bell Orchard Sheltered Housing -  Selwood Housing was planning to renovate their housing stock at Bell Orchard and was in the process of making arrangements for the residents to receive alternate accommodation whilst the renovations were taking place.  It was noted that Selwood Housing would be providing a more detailed announcement as soon as they were able to do so.

·                The Great War 1914 - 1918 – The Chairman drew attention to the leaflet Westbury Remembers the Great War 1914-1918 which had been circulated at the meeting and was readily available in Westbury.  The leaflet set out the programme of events until the end of the year and plans were being made for further events to take place during subsequent years.  More details about these events can be seen at www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk .

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

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Wiltshire Fire & Rescue

·         BA13 Community Area Partnership

·         Westbury Campus

·         Youth Advisory Group

·         Town & Parish Councils  

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

·                Wiltshire Police Inspector Alan Webb presented his report which was in a slightly different format in that performance and other local issues regarding Westbury were now included.  It was noted with pleasure that ASB incidents in Westbury had reduced by 42.3%. ( A copy of the report is attached to these minutes).

·                Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service  An update report was received and noted.  Attention was drawn to a public consultation on the future of Wiltshire & Swindon Fire Authority which was taking place between 21 July and 20 October 2014.  Attention was drawn to the lack of paper copies of the consultation document and assurances were given that copies would be made available in Westbury Library. It was also noted that information was available to download at www.wiltsfire.gov.uk    

·                BA13 Community Area Partnership An update report was received and noted.

·                Westbury Campus An update report was received and noted.  It was further reported that the Campus Team was looking at how listed buildings in Bath, Radstock and Bourne Hill, Salisbury had been transformed and a report on their findings and how that might apply to listed buildings in Westbury would be reported to the next meeting.

·                Youth Advisory Group  An update report was received and noted.  Sally Willox announced that this would be the last meeting that she would be attending consequent upon her appointment as a Community Youth Officer elsewhere in Wiltshire.  Members expressed their thanks and appreciation for all the excellent work that Sally had carried out during her time in Westbury and wished her every success and happiness in her new role.

·                Town/Parish Councils  There were no update reports.

Sally Hendry gave an update since the last meeting as follows:-

·                Recycling

The recycling campaign had been launched and generated much interest at the Westbury street fayre. Wiltshire Council’s recycling experts were on hand to give tips and information about recycling and to show off alternatives to wheelie bins such as bags and baskets. People also got the chance to have their say on the consultation into the collection of garden waste.

·                Domestic Abuse

The JSA had highlighted high levels of domestic abuse compared with other community areas.  A working group of key partners including the police had now been formed and an awareness campaign was being planned in November.

·                Safe Places

The Safe Places Project was a new community safety project which had  started in Westbury. It was aimed at helping vulnerable people.
This project, funded through the Police and Crime Commissioner, provided a network of places where people could get help if they were lost or confused. The project was being led by the BA13+ community area partnership with support from the Area Board and the police.

·                Health and Wellbeing

Plans were at an advanced stage for a Health Fair to take place during the afternoon of Thursday 9 October 2014 at The Laverton, Westbury, which would be followed by the scheduled meeting of the Area Board.  Health Fairs were being organised in each community area at which stalls on many aspects of preventative medicine would be provided in addition to health experts being available to give advice on various health issues.

·                Cycling

A cycle route map was in the process of being produced and it was anticipated that it would be available by the Autumn.

·                Access to the Countryside

Kissing gates were being constructed to replace some stiles in and around the Westbury area, following on from a grant of £3000 being awarded by the Area Board. Parish councils had been asked to identify where they thought a stile could be replaced with a kissing gate to improve access. The move was part of the commitment to improve access to the countryside and to encourage enjoyment of the local environment. The project was in partnership with Wiltshire Council’s Rights of Way Officer and the gates were being fitted by volunteers from the local Ramblers.

·                Allotments

Allotments in the Westbury area had been neglected and overgrown for several years.  These had now been restored and were in the process of being allocated to users. In the near future an application to transfer the ownership of the allotments from Wiltshire Council to Westbury Town Council would be coming before this Area Board.

Tracy Carter, Associate Director, Waste & Recycling will attend the meeting for this item.

A copy of a Chairman’s Announcement on changes to the garden waste collection service is attached. 

The Chairman welcomed Tracy Carter, Associate Director, Waste & Recycling who was attending to provide an update on recycling in the Westbury Community Area and to explain proposed changes to the garden waste collection service.

She reported that recycling and composting performance in West Wiltshire was higher than in North Wiltshire but lower than the rest of the County, as seen in the following statistics:-

Tracy Carter explained that there were alternatives to bins were provided to residents when there was no storage space for bins at their property, i.e. no garden or outside storage space and where access to and from the point of collection was not suitable for a wheeled bin.   In these circumstances the following alternatives could be provided:-

•         Two blue re-useable bags as an alternative to the plastic bottles and cardboard collection service.

•         Two green re-useable bags as an alternative to the garden waste collection service.

•         A black recycling basket as an alternative to the black box recycling collection service.

She went on to explain that since improved kerbside recycling services were introduced in 2011/12, very small tonnages had been collected through the large network of mini recycling sites across the county. Less than 3,000 tonnes were collected in 2013/14 from mini recycling sites.  Financial savings were having to be made and, to help facilitate this, the Council had agreed to reduce the number of the mini recycling sites network in the county. 15 strategic sites had been retained. These sites contributed 59% of mini recycling site tonnage in 2013/14

She was able to announce that a site was to be retained in Westbury at the Co-op. The Area Board had raised concern at a previous meeting that the site might close and had written to express concern; it was heartening to hear this good news.

The Area Board was informed that Wiltshire Council faced continued pressure to make financial savings and that consequently changes to the current garden waste collection service were being considered which could contribute to finding these savings.

Cabinet had agreed to a public consultation on three options to decide the future of the garden waste collection service, which were as follows:-

1)     A three month suspension with no collections taking place in December, January and February.

2)     A five month suspension with no collections taking place in November, December, January, February and March.

3)    The introduction of a chargeable service instead of the current non-chargeable service.

The Council was carrying out a consultation exercise which was running  from 1 July until 1 September 2014 with the intention that any decision would mean that the service would change during 2015-16.  Members of the public were being encouraged to either complete an information leaflet which was available at the meeting or to fill out the online form or to email views to  gardenwasteconsultation@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Deborah Griffin, Health Trainer for Westbury Community will explain the project in which the Health trainers give information and support to people who want to improve their general health and make better lifestyle choices.

The Chairman introduced and welcomed Margaret Winskill and Deborah Griffin, health trainers who were attending to explain the project in which information and support was available to people in the Westbury area who wanted to improve their general health and make better lifestyle choices. 

Wiltshire Council ran project offers up to six free one to one sessions offering advice on everything from healthy eating to weight loss, exercise and reducing alcohol consumption.  People taking part had benefitted by setting mini goals and taking small steps to improve their general health such as the following:

•       To get off the bus one stop earlier

•       To eat one extra piece of fruit a day

•       To have ten minutes a day ‘me’ time

•       To have one or two alcohol free days a week

Results so far showed that people who had taken part had really benefitted in a range of ways including general wellbeing and weight loss. Westbury’s health trainer was Deb Griffin who could be contacted on deborah.griffin@wiltshire.gov.uk  or on 07810757092.

Julia Cramp, Associate Director, Quality Assurance, Commissioning, Performance, Schools & Early Years Effectiveness will provide an update at the meeting.

Julia Cramp, Associate Director, Commissioning, Performance & School Effectiveness provided an update on the implementation of the Council’s new policy on how youth services were to be provided.

She reminded the meeting that there would be a change in delivery of the service whereby a community-led model would be introduced with funds being allocated to each area board to commission services that had been identified locally as being needed.  A Community Youth Officer was being appointed to each Community Area who would act in an advisory role rather than be responsible for the provision of youth services as currently carried out by the Youth Workers. 

Julia Cramp emphasised that the area boards would be responsible for the provision of local services after consultation with youth groups and other interested parties.  No decision had yet been made on the future of the Youth Centre at Westbury; the Council’s building team was carrying out a review of all youth centres across Wiltshire and would be presenting a report to Council in due course.

It was anticipated that a Community Youth Officer would be appointed for the Westbury Community Area shortly and the person appointed would be introduced to the Area Board at the earliest opportunity.    

To receive the minutes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 18 July 2014 and to consider the recommendations set out in minute no. 4.

The Area Board received a report by the Community Area Manager together with the minutes of the Community Area Transport Group dated 18 July 2014.

Decision

(1)       To allocate £100 to fund a Through Traffic sign at the roundabout at the junction of Westbury Leigh and Camargue Road.

(2)       To allocate £1000 for an extension to time of disabled parking in Market Place from two hours to three hours.

(3)       To allocate £1500 for work associated with an extension of zig zag markings and double yellow lines in Eden Vale Road.

(4)       To approve the 2014/15 list of proposed highway maintenance schemes as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, subject to Road B3098 being resurfaced from the White Horse viewing gallery to the edge of the wooded area near Town Farm.   

To receive notes of the Air Quality Group meeting held on 18 July 2014.

The notes of the Air Quality Group meeting held on 18 July 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)       U3A – Purchase of a Projector

Decision

To approve a grant of £450 towards the purchase of a projector.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(b)      Bratton Silver Band – Purchase of a Tuba

Decision

To approve a grant of £895 towards the purchase of a tuba.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(c)       West Wiltshire Esprit Gymnastics Club – Purchase of Equipment for Young People

Decision

To approve a grant of £1000 towards the purchase of equipment for young people.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(d)      Westbury Music and Arts Festival – Purchase of a Ticket Printer, Laptop and Lighting Equipment

Decision

To approve a grant of £992 for a ticket printer, laptop and lighting equipment, on condition that the ticket printer is made available for use by other organisations in Westbury.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(e)       Domestic Abuse Awareness Project at Matravers School – Led by Cllr Gordon King

Decision

To approve a grant of £660 towards a domestic abuse awareness project at Matravers School.

Reason

This application meets the grants criteria for 2014/15.

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

Thursday 9 October 2014 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN

Future Meeting Dates

Thursday 11 December 2014 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 9 October 2014 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN, to be preceded.by a health fair.