Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Area Board Members.

Apologies have been received from Cllr Robert Hall.  Cllr Mark Connolly will substitute.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Robert Hall.  Cllr Mark Connolly substituted.

Apologies were also received from Peter Deck (Pewsey Parish Council) and Hew Helps (Easton Parish Council).

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no announcements.

The Pewsey Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) was formed by the Area Board on 9 May 2011 to examine the opportunities of ‘localising’ and maximising on time-sharing of some council services.

The SCOB members were appointed on 4 July and subsequently undertook a consultation to seek the views of local residents.

A report providing further detail of the work undertaken by the SCOB and working proposals for the next stage of the consultation was circulated prior to the meeting.  The Programme Director was in attendance to present the report and provided the following information.

·         That a campus was a building or a collection of buildings decided by the community area and with the support of the community that was intended to remove approximately 300 operational buildings currently in existence to be replaced with a much lower figure of approximately 30.

·         There was a potential to co-locate with partners and voluntary organisations with the support of the police authority.

·         That the campus initiative formed part of the Council’s long term ambition for greater community engagement in line with national policy.

·         That the core criteria for all campus buildings included a shared reception, community space, accessible IT provision, personal care and catering facilities.

·         There were several pilot areas across the county, including Corsham, Melksham, Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Salisbury and Calne in addition to Pewsey.

·         All funding decisions in relation to the final campuses would be decided by Cabinet but would be based on the plan steered by the area boards views and those of the SCOB.

Upon questioning it was confirmed that Corsham, Melksham and Salisbury were at the forefront of progress made to date.  Corsham and Melksham had completed business cases which were due to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration in November.

The Programme Director handed over further presentations to The Chairman of the Pewsey Area SCOB who confirmed that although the library facilities were fit for the future, leisure and youth centre facilities were not.

The consultation process that had been undertaken included the despatch of 6,000 questionnaires with an additional 100 plus sent to targeted groups including parish councils, primary and secondary schools, churches, identified sports groups and youth groups.

The responses received were fairly well spread across the Pewsey area with 1,063 responses received equating to approximately 18%.

Several key areas were indentified, including:

·         71% favoured a Campus which included several council services

·         75% in favour of a modern Leisure Centre

·         64% in favour of a library

·         62% favoured a provision for youth services

·         37% in favour of a playgroup

·         34% in favour of a skateboard park

·         28% in favour of a luncheon club

Of the 1,063 responses, 600 individual comments had been received in relation to the top three services required.

Approximately one third of respondents lived east of the Pewsey area.  With this in mind it was recognised that these residents may in some instances, consider Hungerford as their local service provider and, as such, may benefit from a satellite facility for services.

The key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report on the application to transfer the former playing field at Grafton School to Grafton Parish Council in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy.

A report was presented to the Board requesting that an application submitted for the transfer of the former playing field at the former Grafton School to Grafton Parish Council in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy be considered.

Concern was raised as to whether the pre-school, who were expected to use the facilities of the School, would still have access to the former playing fields upon its transfer.  Clarification was provided that this would remain the case although approval would instead need to be sought from the Parish Council themselves rather than Wiltshire Council.

Upon vote all were in favour of the transfer.

Decision:

To approve the transfer of the former playing field at Grafton School to Grafton Parish Council in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy.

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board is scheduled for Monday 7 November 2011, 7pm at Bouverie Hall, North Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5EQ.

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board was scheduled for Monday 7 November 2010 2010, 7pm at Bouverie Hall, North Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5EQ.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.

There were no urgent items.