Agenda and minutes

Prior to the meeting the Chairman led a presentation acknowledging the work and effort of the Community Area Manager, Sally Hendry who was leaving the Council. The Board praised the tremendous support she had provided and her contributions to the community and wished her all the best with her future endeavours.

The new role of Community Engagement Manager for the Board was to be filled for the next meeting by Liam Cripps.

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

It was stated that Item 9 on the agenda papers - Leigh Park, updates on plans for a nursery - would be moved forward to item 5.

Apologies for absence were received from Julia Cramp, Wiltshire Council, and Sgt Gill Hughes, Wiltshire Police.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held Thursday 4 June 2015.

Decision

Subject to the removal of Cllr Christine Mitchell among the list of attendees, the minutes of the previous meeting 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.

To receive a presentation from Angela Brennan, Childcare Co-ordinator, Commissioning, Performance & Schools Effectiveness and Cllr Chris Williams, Portfolio Holder for Area Boards.

At the request of the Board, an update was provided by Councillor Chris Williams, Portfolio Holder for Area Boards and Campuses, and Angela Brennan, Childcare Co-ordinator, Wiltshire Council, on Early Years Provision in Westbury.

Details were provided, as attached to these minutes of the number of Early Years settings in the community area, as well as the number of childminders and their ratings and details of the free entitlement funding for 15 hours childcare to be provided to parents that was available for childminders to claim.

It was stated vacancies for childcare places were currently available in the area, although in anticipation of greater housing and population increase, a new nursery was planned, although it was expected this would be met through expanding upon existing provision rather than an entirely new build.

The Board discussed the update, seeking details of when funding for free childcare could be sought by parents, how childminders are registered and monitored and the types of accommodation of childcare facilities, and whether in future the shared accommodation many currently used might be deemed unacceptable.

The Board were also updated regarding the Leigh Park site adjoining the community centre, which contained land set aside through a s.106 legal agreement for a large amount of nursery provision from the construction of the estate 15+ years before.

It was explained that at the time the level of nursery provision required, determined following a consultation of the community area, was quite high and that as a result a large space had been set aside after negotiations with the developers, but that the s.106 had only applied to acquiring the land for such provision to be enabled, not the funding for its construction. Access to the site for vehicles did not currently exist, and efforts to work with the landowners of suitable access points had not proven successful. It was, however, hoped, that if the land were transferred from Wiltshire Council to the Town Council or a community group, and the access arrangements resolved, that group could then investigate the present level of additional provision required and how funds might be acquired to achieve this.

It was also stated any monies raised from the sale of a lease on the site would go towards maintenance of the adjacent community centre, and that the site would potentially be available for an approved community body to hold and administer.

News and information on what’s going on across Wiltshire.

·         School Place Planning

·         Leader Funding

·         Recycling

·         Street Lighting

The Board received update announcements as detailed in the agenda papers.

In relation to School Place planning, it was explained a consultation was currently underway.

On ‘Leader Funding’ for rural organisations and businesses details were sought on how local farmers would be made aware of the opportunities provided, and it was explained local groups were working with the National Farmers Union

On Street Lighting it was reemphasised that lights at junctions, pedestrian crossings and where required for safety would remain on all night despite the rollout of reduced lighting at night elsewhere. Lighting where there were CCTV systems, in the town centre, and in areas where crime was a problem would remain on and at normal lighting levels.

On Recycling, Councillor Jerry Wickham, Portfolio Holder for Waste, provided details of recent Cabinet decisions on how the council’s various Waste contracts would be tendered, including the possibility of moving to comingled waste collection, which would involve fewer different collection bins.

It was also confirmed that historically residents in West Wiltshire had larger waste bins than in the rest of the county, and as a result of the merging of the district and county councils and harmonisation of the services, where new bins were required or replacement ones requested, the smaller bins now standard across the county were supplied. It was also stated the ability to recycle a much wider array of plastics would be in place from August 2017.

Jessica Thimbleby from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust was also in attendance, and provided details of events to engage with local schools, festivals and others to educate people on recycling issues, such as a workshop on 17 October at the Laverton.

It was also stated the Trust was looking for local volunteers to take children on nature trips.

To receive updates from our key partners.  Some reports have been received and are included in the agenda pack.

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Healthwatch Wiltshire

·         Town and Parish Councils

Updates were received from partners to the Area Board, as detailed in the agenda papers and as follows:

Wiltshire Police - In response to the written update, several members were dissatisfied it stated comparative figures with other areas could not be provided, noting the formatting of updates to Area Boards seemed the same and that such comparisons had previously been provided. The Board therefore once again requested such comparisons, or a more sufficient explanation of why this was not possible.

The Board discussed the update as well as the ‘Operational Policing Pilot’ and there was criticism of a reliance on managerial speak and unclear language. In particular, members had concerns about whether it was the case that more officers were to be based in Warminster, with Westbury a satellite, and that an emphasis on neighbourhood policing limited the deployment of officers on other priorities.

It was noted that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner had consulted upon a draft policing plan that would set priorities for the police, which had concluded at the end of July.

BA13 - A report would be presented at the next meeting of the Area Board, with the next meeting of the BA13 steering group on 1 September 1915.

Fire and Rescue - The written update as detailed in the agenda was presented, and it was explained that with work on the forthcoming merger of Wiltshire and Dorset fire services, managerial structures had been altered but operations should not be affected. Details were also provided on plans for a Hub for the new Authority in Salisbury, retained fire-fighter numbers and an event at the Labour club in Westbury from 10-2pm on 30 September.

Healthwatch - The written update was presented.

There were no Town or Parish Council updates.

·         To receive a Local Youth Network update.

·         To consider a grant application for youth activities

Aimee Schuring, Community Youth Officer, presented a report from the Local Youth Network (LYN) on recent activities, and future plans on advertising and promotion of local events.

Decision

£2000 top sliced funding made available for summer consultation on positive activities.

Councillors and the Community Area Manager will provide an update on community issues and progress on area board projects.  This will include:

·         Highways Working Group (CATG)

·         Campus Working Group

·         Westbury Hospital Site

·         Older People’s event

Community Area Transport Group - A full update would be provided at the next meeting, but it was stated two projects in Dilton Marsh had successfully received additional funding, having required more monies than was able to be granted through the CATG-Area Board procedure.

Shadow Community Operations Board - an update was provided as attached to these meetings, including details of meetings with Cllr John Thomson, the new Cabinet Member for Campuses, on developing a business case for future proposals for Westbury Campus, and highlighting the need for continued work to progress the proposals.

Hospital Site - The Chairman provided an update on a recent visit to the hospital site, noting that while it required considerable work and money to develop, it was not in as bad a state as had previously been reported. The Board discussed that it was not viable to expect the site to return to a purely medical usage, and would await further information on future plans.

The Board also discussed the possibility of assigning an Older Peoples’ Champion to assist with community engagement specifically toward the older parts of the community, and welcomed volunteers.

To hear from past recipients of grants that helped improve community facilities and to consider applications for funding from the Community Area Grants Scheme. 

If your community group is looking for funds, visit our website to see if you might qualify for a grant at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboards.

Consideration was given to a report by the Community Area Manager in which councillors were asked to consider funding from the 2015/16 Area Board Grants Budget, both of which met the grants criteria.

a)    Westbury Music and Arts Festival

Decision - To approve a grant of £920 towards arts supplies.

b)    Councillor Led Grant - Councillor Jerry Wickham

Decision - To approve a grant of £5000 towards the set up of a post office in Dilton Marsh.

Following approval of the grants, the Fund total stood at £19,376.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

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

Thursday 8 October 2015 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury BA13 3EN

Future Meeting Dates

Thursday 10 December 2015 at The Laverton, Bratton Road, Westbury BA13 3EN

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on 8 October 2015.

A workshop for the Board members during September would also be arranged to create an action plan arising from a Joint Strategic Assessment report on Poverty indicators.