Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Mike Swabey, Edington Parish Council.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2014.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 December 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 pack agenda 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:-

·         Bell Orchard Update

·         Westbury Community Campus Proposals

·         Dementia in Wiltshire:  The Role of Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·                Bell Orchard Update  An extra care housing scheme was being planned for older people in Westbury; Selwood Housing Association was converting the existing sheltered housing scheme at Bell orchard.  The planning application had been submitted and the determination date was Monday 23 March 2015.

The scheme was expected to be complete in December and first customers moving in for Jan 2016.  As the project involved19 people moving, it was slightly behind schedule as finding the right properties and locations had taken longer than anticipated.  12 had now moved to other properties in Westbury except two who had chosen to move to Warminster and Salisbury respectively. Of the seven remaining, Selwood had identified a property for each person and work was underway on each one of these. 

·                Community campus  The proposals for a Westbury community campus were presented at our last area board and you will no doubt be wondering what happens next.We have now received a letter from Cabinet member Jonathan Seed who attended our last meeting and who heads up the responsibility for the campus programme in Wiltshire. He again congratulated the Campus Team on the production of such a good and comprehensive set of proposals and on the level of consultation that they undertook with the Westbury Area Community.You will recall that at the area board meeting he stressed the financial challenges facing the council’s campus programme and he reiterates that in his letter. However he thinks that it may be possible to consider a phased approach to delivering the proposals. He also thinks some aspects of the proposals will need further consultation, if they are to attract community support. He now plans to recommend to Cabinet that initial feasibility is carried out to ascertain the costs and possible sources for funding and that, on this basis, a phased approach is considered to delivering the campus proposals in Westbury. He will keep us informed of progress and we understand it could go to Cabinet in March. 

·                Dementia in Wiltshire: The Role of Healthwatch Wiltshire (HWW) It was noted that Healthwatch Wiltshire was the local champion for health and social care. The organisation was there to listen to the voices of local people and then use the information to influence commissioners and providers of services.  HWW had brought together local charities to form a partnership that would monitor and support the new Wiltshire Dementia Strategy.  HWW would be gathering together at least 100 people from across the county to monitor the service.  A number of workshops were planned including one to be held at The Laverton, Westbury on Thursday 12 February 2015 from 2pm to 4pm.

It was noted that NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was consulting on the permanent location of specialist dementia hospital care.  They had held a couple of public meetings in January in Devizes and Salisbury and would be consulting with people in service user groups. Members of the public were also being invited to complete  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive an update from Inspector Alan Webb.

Inspector Alan Webb explained that community messaging was a part of neighbourhood policing and was so far active in 12 forces nationally. Members of the public could now join to receive free messages - by email, text or voicemail - about policing and crime matters relating to their area and interests by joining Wiltshire and Swindon Community Messaging.

Wiltshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Angus Macpherson, were committed to involving communities in the prevention and reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour. Working alongside Neighbourhood Watch, Wiltshire and Swindon Community Messaging aimed to improve the flow of information between communities and the police.

Wiltshire and Swindon Community Messaging was currently available in all neighbourhood policing areas in the county. It began its roll out in August 2014 and completed it in February 2015.

Further information could be obtained at   https://www.wiltsmessaging.co.uk

Inspector Webb tabled his update report from which it was noted that a new and improved website was available at www.wiltshire.police.uk

He drew attention to Westbury NPT officers having recently received training in Dementia Awareness which had been delivered by Westbury and Warminster Community Area Board Managers; the training had been very well received.

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

·         Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·         Local Youth Network

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Clinical Commissioning Group Update

·         Town and Parish Councils

The Area Board received the following partner and community updates:

·                Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service  An update report was included in the agenda pack.  In particular, it was noted that at a special meeting of the Wiltshire and Swindon Combined Fire Authority on 11 November 2014, members voted unanimously in favour of combining with Dorset Fire Authority.  Dorset Fire Authority had already agreed unanimously to this combination.  A 13 week public consultation had showed an overwhelming preference from residents, businesses and partners across both counties for combination for financial, efficiency and resilience reasons.

Work was progressing on a Combination Order which would need the approval of Parliament.

·                Local Youth Network  An update report was received and noted.  Amy Schuring, Community Youth Officer (CYO), informed the meeting that the CYOs were currently conducting a needs analysis of young people (13-19 year olds) in the Westbury area, which would be used to produce a positive activities overview for the Westbury Community Area Local Youth Network (LYN).   The CYOs were working in partnership with Matravers School engaging young people in the consultation process of the Positive Activities offer in the Community Area.  The purpose of this consultation was to ascertain the age, gender, area of residence of the young person, the positive activities they currently attended and those they would like to take part in.

The CYOs were planning to consult with young people attending a free young people’s event at Leigh Park Community Centre on Sunday 8 February from 2-5pm.

The positive activities overview would be completed and made available by the end of February 2015.

It was noted that the Westbury Local Youth Network (LYN) was a sub-group of the Community Area Board and represented a wide range of community stakeholders who worked in partnership to facilitate a range of positive activities across the area, with young people playing a central role in all aspects of the LYN.

The current membership of the LYN was noted and it was

AGREED to confirm the appointment of Cllr Russell Hawker to the LYN as representative of the Community Area Board.    

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

·                Clinical Commissioning Group An update report was received and noted.

A presentation will be given by Peter Binley, Head of Highways Asset Management on the proposals for future repairs and improvements to roads in the Westbury Community Area.

(A)      A presentation was given by Peter Binley, Head of Highways Asset Management on the proposals for future repairs and improvements to roads in the Westbury Community Area.

He explained that road maintenance would be the top priority for the next six years with £21M pounds being budgeted each year for this, Central Government promising to provide about half of this amount.

Much work had been carried out on Road A350 in the Autumn last year, including structural work to fix drainage problems, which had necessitated the closure of stretches of this road through Westbury for several weeks. 

Planned work included localised repairs to Road B3098 from Bratton to Edington and also Road B3097 Hawkeridge Road near the entrance to the West Wilts trading Estate.

It was pointed out that the weight limit signage on Station Road was inadequate and needed improvement.  The Chairman stated that this would be referred to the CATG for checking out.

Peter Binley requested CATGs to consider future priorities and make recommendations to their Area Boards.

(B)      Cllr Horace Prickett, Wiltshire Council Portfolio Holder for Passenger Transport, reported that the Great Western Network was benefitting from a £7.5 billion investment, the biggest investment since Brunel built the line in the 1830’s. However, this would cause a considerable disruption to the existing service.

The modernisation would provide for the electrification of the line from London (Paddington) to Bristol and South Wales and would include the provision of new rolling stock.

The timetable for the introduction of the new service was as follows:

Autumn 2015 – Great Western testing to begin

Summer 2017 – first passenger trains to run

Summer 2018 – all trains in service

December 2018 – full timetable to be introduced.

The modernisation was due to reach the Wiltshire area during July and August 2015, when rail users would start experiencing major disruptions to all services operating through Trowbridge and Westbury. Full details were still being worked out but many services would be replaced by buses which would inevitably mean longer journey times and probably poor connectivity with onward services.

During stage one, the current Bristol to Waterloo service was expected to run as timetabled, as would the Portsmouth to Cardiff service, but with some possible delays. The Westbury to Bath service was likely to be a near normal timetable, while Westbury to London Paddington should not be affected to any great extent either. The Hearts of Wessex line connecting Bristol via Trowbridge and Westbury to Weymouth would also continue during this period but with some inevitable disruption.

During stage two, from August 1-31, the Avon Valley line connecting Westbury to Bath would be closed entirely, with replacement buses operating to the stations from Westbury to Bath along that line. Westbury to Cardiff trains after Trowbridge would be diverted to Swindon, with alternate trains calling at Melksham. The Bristol to Waterloo service would not run during August, but might start from Westbury.

Further information would be provided when available.

A presentation will be given by Cllr Jerry Wickham, Wiltshire Council Portfolio Holder for Waste and Recycling on raising awareness of recycling in our community.

Cllr Jerry Wickham, Wiltshire Council Portfolio Holder for Waste and Recycling, gave a presentation on raising awareness of recycling in the community.

He explained that one of the JSA priorities was to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to increase the amount of recycling as much as possible. 

During 2013 Wiltshire households created 221,446 tonnes of waste and recycling, an increase of 3.9% on the previous year. 44.1% was recycled during 2013, increasing to 51% in the first half of 2014.  26.7% was sent to landfill, with an additional 110,000 tonnes of waste going to create energy.

It was noted that the JSA stated that in June 2013 Westbury had significantly higher than average amounts of residual waste collected per household than Wiltshire average and lower than average recycling rates.

Cllr Wickham reported that resources had been secured for a 12 month project to encourage recycling and waste prevention in Westbury and surrounding villages. These resources had been provided by Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust through the Recycle for Wiltshire Joint Venture.  A programme would run from February 2015 and would focus on community events and activities and working with local schools.

Two fully qualified education officers would work with some local schools to deliver fun waste and recycling workshops and assemblies, including making recycled paper, scrap crafts, waste free lunch, composting creatures and litter picks. Schools could learn more about what happened to waste in Wiltshire by visiting Wiltshire’s recycling facilities and landfill site. Events were also being held in the schools to waste less, including swap shops.

It was noted that two community waste officers would be working with the community to help people recycle as much as possible and hold fun events to help reduce the waste produced. These would include family play events, fun litter picks, recycling doctor drop in sessions and clothes swishes. They would be organised to give people the skills to reduce their waste, including repair cafes and cookery workshops.

Cllr Wickham referred to the recent public consultation on proposed changes to the kerbside garden waste collection service and reported that the Council had regrettably decided to introduce a charge of £40.00 per annum to householders wishing to avail themselves of this service, due to changes in the financial situation.  Further information would be provided shortly regarding the implementation of this change.  

To receive a report by the Community Area Manager, together with the minutes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 16 January 2015 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 (CATG) dated 16 January 2015.

DECISION:

(1)       To allocate £1,000 to fund Haynes Road/Station Road signage.

(2)       To allocate £5,000 towards Tower Hill improvement project, Dilton Marsh.

(3)       To allocate £300 for warning chevrons at Newtown.

(4)       To allocate an additional £800 for the alterations to Hawkeridge junction, this need having arisen as the estimate for the work had proved to be higher than expected rising from £1,600 to £2,400.  

To receive notes of the Air Quality Group held on 16 January 2015.

The notes of the Air Quality Group meeting held on 16 January 2015 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, all of which met the grants criteria for 2014/15.

(a)       Bratton History Society

Decision

To approve a grant of £450 towards the development of a new website.

(b)      West Wilts Model Society

Decision

To approve a grant of £1,000 for the purchase of a mower.

(c)       Bratton Parish Council

Decision

To approve a grant of £200 towards the purchase of a PA system.

(d)      Coulston and Erlestoke Cricket Club

Decision

To approve a grant of £3,000 towards the purchase of new nets.

(e)       Bratton Community Orchard

Decision

To approve a grant of £300 towards the purchase of roof joists for shed.

(f)        Replacement of styles and kissing gates – second tranche – Led by Cllr Russell Hawker

Decision

To approve a grant of £3,000 for the replacement of styles and kissing gates to improve rights of way in and around Westbury and the surrounding villages.

(g)      Installation of footpath at the Mead lakes – Led by Cllr David Jenkins

Decision

To approve a grant of £3,000 for the provision of a footpath around the Mead lakes area, Westbury.

(h)      Pupils Voice Conference – Led by Cllr Gordon King

Decision

To approve a grant of £115 revenue to fund a Pupils Voice Conference.

The Community Area Manager reported that following approval for the above-mentioned grants there remained a balance of £589 capital which would be rolled over for use in the new financial year.

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

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

Future Meeting Dates

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

Thursday 6 August 2015 at Heywood & Hawkeridge Village Hall, Church Road, Heywood, BA13 4LP

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on Thursday 9 April 2015 at Bratton Jubilee Hall, Melbourne Street, Bratton, BA13 4RW, starting at 7.00pm.