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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Coronation Hall, East Grafton SN8 3DB

Contact: Sharon Smith  (Democratic Services Officer)

Items
Note No. Item

7:00 pm

1.

Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

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

2.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from:

 

Carolyn Whistler – North Newnton Parish Council

Dee Nix - Wilcot and Huish Parish Council

3.

Minutes

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March and special meeting held on 27 March 2014.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March and special meeting held on 27 March were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

4.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

5.

Chairman's Announcements

a.    Dementia Friendly Community

b.    No Cold Calling Zone

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman drew the Boards attention to the Announcements within the agenda pack as detailed below.

 

·         Dementia Friendly Community – The Dementia Strategy consultation which was due to end on 19 May 2014 was highlighted.  All were encouraged to take part in the consultation, noting that the Board had resolved to work towards becoming a dementia friendly community and that Wiltshire Council was launching a campaign to raise awareness of dementia called ‘before I forget’.  The campaign was expected to be launched in Pewsey in June.

 

A short film on dementia was also shown during the networking session.  A fuller version could be found online at:

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxoocCWU_VY

 

·         No Cold Calling Zone – A pilot initiative was being launched in the Chippenham area. 

 

For those interested in setting up a zone in their community, they should contact the Community Area Manager, Caroline Brailey, who had a guide and toolkit to assist.

 

·         Mini Recycling Sites –Mini recycling sites were being withdrawn due to the success of kerbside recycling around the county.  Further details were provided on the tables and can be found online with the minutes.

 

·         Public Health and Wellbeing Grant - A public health and wellbeing grant was available to those projects that supported the Council’s objective of building healthy and resilient communities – further details of the grant criteria could be found in the announcement circulated at the meeting and would also be available online with the minutes.

 

Applicants could apply for up to £4k but were required to register their interest online before 5 June.

7:05 pm

6.

Partner Updates

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 (a)      Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

 

            Mike Franklin, of Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, read out a statement relating to the potential merger of Wiltshire and Dorset Fire and Rescue Services.

 

            Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was facing an annual budget shortfall of between £3.1m and £3.9m in the context of an annual budget of £25m which would need to addressed by 2017/18.

 

            An options appraisal was undertaken with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and a business case would be developed to consider the amalgamation of the Services.  No decisions would be made until September when the business case would be submitted following consultation (expected to run from 16 June to 24 August).  Further details would be provided in due course.

 

            Concern was raised that sharing services with partner organisations locally was not being considered as an option to address the cost savings, which would benefit the County. 

 

            The Chairman thanked Mike Franklyn for the information provided and welcomed Paul Egan (HR Partner) and Jason Underwood (Station Manager) to give an update on recruitment.

 

            Since their last presentation to the Board, a recruitment evening had taken place on 24 March resulting in 8 applications being added to the system.  The total number of applicants on the system at present was 98 with one expected to undertake training in June.

 

            Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were working with Dorset Fire Service on best practice and hoped to work with an outside agency to develop online testing.

 

            The Service hoped to hold another recruitment evening in late Summer.  The fire and rescue service website was expected to be relaunched from mid May and would hopefully attract more candidates.

 

            Travel times were looked at as part of the selection process with boundaries stretched as far as possible to accommodate most requests.

 

(b)       Wiltshire Police

 

The updated on pages 21 and 22 of the agenda were noted.

 

(c)        Parish Councils

 

The updates provided by North Newnton, Wilcot & Huish and Woodborough Parish Councils were noted.

 

(d)       Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

 

            A verbal update was provided at the meeting which included a question about what facilities would be available for young people in between the SHAK closing in September and the opening of the new Campus.  The Chairman of the Campus Group confirmed that this was being considered and was at the top of the agenda at the last meeting. Although no solution had yet been found the Group would continue to work towards finding a solution.

 

The ‘Have a Go at Carnival’ would not take place this year over a 3 week period (rather than 2) with a different activity taking place on each day to allow people to enjoy more than one activity.

 

The Value of Churches Youth Group announced their recent move to the Scout Hut where they met once a fortnight and confirmed that all youths were welcome to attend.

 

(e)       Campus Development Team

 

            The Chairman of the Area Board announced that Bob Woodward would be standing down as Chairman of the Campus  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7:45 pm

7.

Review of Local Bus Services

A consultation is currently taking place with regards to bus services within the Pewsey community area and is due to close on 14 May.  Further details on the consultation are provided for the Boards consideration and response.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman addressed the Board confirming that there was a consultation currently taking place regarding bus services within the Pewsey community area.  Further details were provided within pages 35 to 36 of the agenda.

 

Noting that the consultation was due to finish on 14 May, the Chairman asked for the views of the Board to allow for a response to be provided on the consultation.  This included the following comments.

 

A consultation meeting had been held at Woodborough Social Club on 7 May by the Passenger Transport team to seek the views of local community representatives.

 

Pewsey Area Youth Council (PAYC) had discussed the proposed changes and had prepared a response which would also be submitted to the press.  This included:

 

·         That the proposed revised service would affect the service used by the youth of Wiltshire most, noting that the night bus service was significantly used by the youth of Pewsey to access other services, such as the SHAK.

·         That the emphasis on community led voluntary services to replace some of the current services would require reliable volunteers and that these should be in place before the existing service was replaced.

·         Confusion over whether the call centre was to be removed, noting that reference was made to a bookable service within future proposed services which had raised question over whether the cost saving of £70k was accurate.

·         The proposed Campus in the Pewsey area would be reliant on an effective bus service to ensure the community were able to benefit from the facilities it had to offer. Some of these services would be used in the evening.

 

Discussion took place on the usage of the 3 lines under review and the implications any cuts on each would have. This included concern on the night bus service which provided an important link to Devizes and leisure facilities (which were the potential site of the future Campus).

 

Line 3 was discussed and although recognised as being poorly used was also the only service that travelled East of Pewsey. 

 

Cllr Oatway expressed his concern over the potential removal of the night bus service and the implications this could have for the younger population of the community who used the service to access both the SHAK and existing leisure facilities in Pewsey. 

 

In noting the importance of the night bus, Cllr Oatway proposed that the Board express its desire for its retention which was fully supported by all Board members.

 

Attendees were concerned that a decision had already been made in relation to future services even though the consultation was still underway.  The Board were informed that it was understood an ITT (Invitation to Tender) had been issued and that this emphasised the concerns raised.  The attending Service Director was unaware of the ITT but would seek further clarity on the consultation process being undertaken by the Transport team which would be provided to the Chairman of the Board.

 

The Chairman concluded discussion and clarified the disappointment of the Board on the proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8:05 pm

8.

Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

To receive an update from the CATG following its meeting held on 23 April and consider any recommendations arising.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The notes of the CATG meeting held on 23 April were attached on pages 37 to 40 of the agenda and included recommendations for the Board’s approval.

 

Decision:

The Board:

1)    Noted the recommendation of the CATG to agree the list of proposed highway schemes for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1 to the Local Highways Investment Fund report (agenda item 9); and

 

2)    Agrees to the removal of the issues as outlined within the CATG report.

8:10 pm

9.

Local Highways Priorities

An officer will present the list of highways repair priorities identified within the Pewsey Community Area for the Board’s approval.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Peter Binley, Head of Highways Asset Management, was welcomed to the meeting to present the report on local highways priorities.

 

In making the presentation Peter Binley confirmed that expenditure on local highways had declined during the 1990s and did not change until 2000/2001 when the local government increased funding. 

 

Councillors in Wiltshire had identified highways as a high priority and the Business Plan has continued to increase expenditure resulting in a reduction in the overall list of works of approx 2% per year.

 

A series of bad winters over the past few years had increased problems with the impact of freezing and thawing conditions causing further damage to roads as well as the continued flooding earlier in the year.

 

Wiltshire Council had recognised the amount of work required to remedy the roads and had increased investment accordingly, with a spend this year and thereafter for the next 6 years of £21m per annum on road resurfacing. 

 

This was a significant investment, noting that monies received from central government equated to £9m per annum

 

The Team had now developed a list of schemes for work in2014/15 which could be found in Appendix 1 of the report.  Those highlighted in yellow were roads identified as problematic in terms of skid resistance. Appendix 2 of the report mapped out where these schemes were in the community.

 

Appendix 4 highlighted the areas that the team had identified as repairs needing work over the next 6 years with Appendix 3 providing an actual list of places.

 

As a result a programme of work was being developed over the next 6 years and the Board was being consulted to ensure the local priorities were considered within the final decision.

 

A map based system had been rolled out approximately one month previous showing when the team expected to undertake the reports and also detailed other providers (such as gas services) where known.

 

Wiltshire Council worked closely with partner organisations and tried to ensure a coordinated approach to repairs wherever possible.  Where works are undertaken independently by partners, a temporary reinstatement order can be issued but 6 months are legally allowed for final works to be fully repaired. 

 

In terms of identifying a future programme of work the Team took into consideration the condition of the highways network across the whole of the County from the computer system.

 

In order to minimise future damage, kerbside work was also being undertaken and durable materials used.

 

The Board welcomed the presentation made and, noting the recommendations of the CATG, voted to approve the list of schemes as detailed in Appendix 1 for 2014/15.

 

Decision:

The Board endorses the list of proposed highway maintenance schemes for 2014/15 as highlighted in Appendix 1 of the report.

8:30 pm

10.

Community Area Grants

To determine any applications for Community Area Grants.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Area Board considered a number of applications for Community Area Grant funding.  The Chairman invited the local Councillor to introduce each application, following which a representative of the applicant was given an opportunity to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

 

Decision

Bouverie Hall Management Committee was awarded £1,475 towards electrical works to the hall.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

Burbage & Easton Royal Cricket Club was awarded £435 towards the purchase of replacement parts for the gang mower.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

Easton Royal Village Hall Committee was awarded £1,388 towards car park improvements.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

Wilcot Village Hall was awarded £5,000 towards the purchase of new play equipment, conditional upon the remaining funding being in place.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

Great Bedwyn Playgroup and Toddlers was awarded £1,450 towards the purchase and installation of an outdoor shelter.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

Burbage Village Hall was awarded £998 to provide security fencing around the oil tank.

Reason The application met the Community Area Grants criteria for 201415.

 

Decision

To ring fence £5,187 revenue funding for the Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP)

8:40 pm

11.

Urgent Business

Time permitting, the Chairman will invite questions and comments on issues not covered elsewhere in the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items considered.

12.

Future Meeting Dates and Close

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board is scheduled for 7 July 2014, 7pm at Bouverie Hall, North St, Pewsey SN9 5EQ.

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board was scheduled for Monday 7 July 2014, 7:00pm at Bouverie Hall.

 

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.