Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed all those present to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Inspector Chris Chammings of Wiltshire Police.

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

There were no declarations.

·       To approve and sign as the correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting held on 12 November. 

·       To approve and sign as the correct record the minutes of the Local Youth Network Management Group held on 1 December.  

·       To approve and sign as the correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 8 December.   

The minutes of the Area Board meeting held on 12 November, the minutes of the Local Youth Management Group meeting held on 1 December, and the minutes of the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 8 December were presented for consideration.

It was,

Resolved:

That subject to an amendment to Minute 9 of the Area Board minutes o 12 November, to APPROVE and sign all the listed minutes as true and correct records.

The Chairman would also discuss the detail of the CATG minutes with Councillor Martin Newman following the meeting.

Announcements:

·       Car Parking Review.

·       Campus Update.

Updates:

·       Wiltshire Police.

·       Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

·       Youth Advisory Group.

Through the Chair there were the following announcements and updates:

Announcements

1)    Car Parking Consultation - The Wiltshire Council consultation was due to conclude on 16 January 2015, with all encouraged to submit their views. The Area Board voted to support applications for the community asset transfer of car parks at Budbury Place and Newtown made by the Hillside Action Group and supported comments made by David Maude on the need to preserve car parks for community use particularly where there are no off-street parking facilities such as on the hillsides above the town.

2)    Campus Update - Cllr Jonathan Brown (Bradford on Avon Town Council) reported on progress with the proposed Bradford on Avon Campus project. Although the project had not been included in the capital programme, the Community Operations Board (COB) were keen to move forward and were seeking further clarification from senior officers and members of Wiltshire Council on the next steps.

3)    Clinical Commissioning Group: Integrated Performance Management Report - It was stated an announcement would be attached to these minutes.

4)    Dementia in Wiltshire: The Role of Healthwatch Wiltshire - It was stated an announcement would be attached to these minutes.

Partner Updates

1)    Wiltshire Police - The written report was noted.

2)    Bradford on Avon Local Youth Network (LYN) - Young people Cherry Riley and Skye May delivered an update on the continuing work of the LYN to engage with schools and Towns and Parish councils, including an outreach day on 6 December at Bradford on Avon Development Centre which included a questionnaire to help identify the needs and views of local young people.

The Wiltshire Councillors were then asked to consider one application seeking 2014/15 Local Youth Network grant funding.

Decision

To award Broughton Gifford and Holt Youth Work Project £3,524 towards running costs for the Holt Youth Club, subject to clarification of costs, details delegated to officers to confirm.

Angus Macpherson - Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon

To consult on the proposed increase to the precept.

Kieran Kilgallen, Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), delivered a presentation on the consultation to the PCC Angus MacPherson’s proposals for the policing and crime element of the Council Tax., which was due to conclude on 4 February 2015.

It was emphasised that HM Inspector of Constabulary had rated Wiltshire Police as Good in all categories, and that in line with national trends overall crime levels were down in Wiltshire. However, increases in costs in combination with a 5.1% cash grant reduction would result in an increasing budget spending gap in future years.

As a result the PCC was seeking a 1.9% increase in its portion of the council tax, which would result in an increase of £3.06 a year for Band D properties currently charged a total of £160 annually. It was highlighted however that this would not result in increased police services, but instead mitigated the scale of the financial challenges facing the service. Without the proposed increase the funding gap over the next 3 years would amount to £13 million, but with the proposed increase it was forecasted at £11 million. This was after the level of savings already achieved had been taken into account.

The Area Board discussed the proposals, and all those present were urged to add their views to the consultation.

http://www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk/Events-and-Engagement/Policeandcrimeelementofcounciltax2015-16.aspx

Ariane Crampton and Clare Langdon - Green Economy Team, Wiltshire Council

To encourage Area Boards to promote further public engagement on fuel poverty and carbon technologies.

Clare Langdon, Green Economy Team Manager at Wiltshire Council, delivered a presentation on the Climate Local Initiative which had been signed up to by 92 Local Authorities including Wiltshire to reaffirm commitment to taking action against Carbon Emissions and assist efforts to understand and reduce energy use in Wiltshire, including through an energy resilience plan.

Through a question and answer session, it was noted how micro and small businesses paid 50% more for electricity, which amounted to 97.4% of all businesses in Wiltshire, 17 out of 48 electric vehicle charge points in the county were Council owned, 29% of the council’s carbon emissions came from street lighting and other streetscene lighting and that it was possible to save up to £133 annually on energy bills through the ‘Collective Switching Scheme’.

It was stated Wiltshire Council had reduced its energy use 21% in 4 years through measures such as upgrading the lighting in Bradford on Avon Library for savings of £1400 a year on energy costs and 7 tonnes of carbon emissions, and the installation of a Combined Heat and Power generator in the Leisure centre it was estimated would save £6200 a year.

Although many schools were now academies and under less influence from Wiltshire Council, schools such as Holt Primary were taking part in the Low Carbon School Initiative in an effort to reduce emissions and energy costs. The work of local groups such as Community First through an oil buying club and Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon bulk buying Solar AV panels and installing improved insulation in homes was praised.

The Area Board thanked the officer for the presentation, and discussed the development of the Energy Resilience Plan, to focus on Sustainable Transport, Energy Efficiency, Affordable Warmth and Renewable Energies, and the need to encourage and support business investment in these areas.

Warm and Safe Wiltshire - 0300 003 4575

Ready to Switch - 0800 088 5007

Representatives of the Historic Core Zone Working Group

To report on preparations for an exhibition and public meetings ahead of a Town Poll.

Cllr Simon Fisher and David Moss from the Historic Core Zone Working Group delivered a presentation on the proposals for the centre of Bradford on Avon to be made more pedestrian friendly through the creation of an Historic Core Zone which would see improvements such as widening pavements and creating more crossings.

The proposals had been the result of several years work assessing the impacts to the area, and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene had requested a Town Poll to confirm the proposals had widespread support before moving forward. The question would be “Should the Historic Core Zone be implemented?” A date would be set by the Head of Electoral Services at Wiltshire Council in late January or early February, and two further public meetings were planned for the town to exhibit the proposals further, in addition to the four already held and the standing exhibition in the Swan Hotel Coach House.

The Area Board discussed the proposals, with some concern that leaflets had not yet been delivered to all electors, and some exhibition locations not being accessible for disabled users, with it being stated those issues would be looked into further with every effort made to accommodate all persons.

Concern was also raised at the legal status of the courtesy crossings, as in relation to the existing zebra crossings, should an accident arise.

Representatives of the Bradford on Avon Air Quality Alliance

To invite comment on the county-wide plan and final contributions towards an action plan for Bradford on Avon. 

Peter Dunford, Community Area Manager, and David Moss and Shay Parsons, Bradford on Avon Air Quality Alliance Steering Group, delivered a presentation on the draft Air Quality Action Plan for Bradford on Avon as part of the consultation into the Wiltshire Air Quality Strategy which was out for consultation until 16 January.

It was stated the Air Quality Alliance (AQA) was formed for the community area in 2012, with goals of achieving legal air quality by 2015 and the town to be declared a Clean Air Town by 2020. The AQA had helped deliver new Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Signage, emissions analysers, real time monitoring of air quality and assisted in development of proposals such as the Historic Core Zone, traffic studies and a website and text alert system to warn of polluted air.

While the Wiltshire Core Strategy contained strategic policies in relation to air quality, a more community focused action plan was needed to address local concerns, and the endorsement of the Area Board was sought for the draft plan.

The draft plan and associated work was discussed, and it was stated that detailed traffic studies had indicated that ‘through traffic, traffic without a starting or destination point in Bradford on Avon, accounted for only 16% of traffic moving through the town on weekdays. More detailed analysis would be necessary to identify the types of journeys making up the rest of the traffic, and therefore how best to encourage less traffic in the town centre contributing to the air quality issues.

The Area Board welcomed the draft plan and encouraged as many as possible to contribute to the consultation.

Community Area Grant applications:

·       The Hub @ BA15 Trust requesting £5,000 for refurbishment and furniture for the former HSBC bank premises in Church Street.

·       Holt Parish Council requesting £1,455 towards kerbs at Ham Green to   protect from further erosion.

Local Youth Network grant application:

·       Broughton Gifford and Holt Youth Work Project requesting £3,524 towards running costs for the Holt Youth Club.

The Wiltshire Councillors were asked to consider two Community Area Grant applications for 2014/15 funding.

Decision

To award The Hub @ BA15 Trust £5,000 for refurbishment and furniture for the former HSBC bank premises in Church Street.

To award Holt Parish Council £1,455 towards kerbs at Ham Green to protect from further erosion.

The Local Youth Network grant application was considered under Minute 5.

Wednesday 11^th March 2015 – venue to be confirmed.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 11 March 2015, and would take place at the United Reform Church in Holt at 7.00pm.