Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. He thanked Councillor Killane for chairing the last area board meeting and the wider area board team for handling issues in his absence.

Apologies had been received from Mark Allen (MVCAP), John Cull (Lea and Cleverton Parish Council), Mike Franklin (Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service), Owen Gibbs (Brinkworth Parish Council), Chloe Harris-Alba (young people), George Lynham (Luckington Parish Council), Ian Mackay (Crudwell Parish Council), Terry Mockler (Hankerton Parish Council) and Bob Tallon (Brokenborough Parish Council).  

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2012 were approved and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman will provide information about:

a.     Substantive highways funding scheme 2012/13 (attached)

b.     Special housing event (attached)

c.     Results of mini recycling sites review (attached)

d.     Hands on help for community matters blogsite (attached)

e.     Answers raised to questions at previous area board meeting about redoubling of line between Swindon and Kemble (attached)

f.      Supermarket update (attached)

g.     Street lighting savings (attached)

h.     State of environment report (attached)

i.       Wiltshire and Swindon Local Nature Partnership (attached)

j.       Minerals sites in Wiltshire and Swindon (attached)

k.     Barrier busting proposals (attached). 

The Chairman explained that in part due to the summer recess, there were a lot of Chairman’s announcements at this meeting. From now on they would be read out by all area board members.

Information was provided about the substantive highways funding scheme 2012/13, a special housing event on Wednesday 3 October from 7.00-9.00 pm in Malmesbury Secondary School, the results of mini recycling sites review, hands on help for community matters blogsite, answers raised to questions about redoubling of line between Swindon and Kemble, an update on the supermarket situation, street lighting savings, the state of the environment report, Wiltshire and Swindon Local Nature Partnership, minerals sites and barrier busting proposals. Written information on all of the above is included in the agenda pack.

In addition to the agenda pack, Councillor Sturgis showed a special recycling bag for collection of plastic and cardboard that could be requested if a property did not have room for a recycling bin. Regarding Network Rail and the footpath at Minety, further clarity was sought once ground plans and crossing orders had been submitted for consultation.   

Decision

Network Rail would be asked to keep Malmesbury Area Board informed of developments in the community area.  

There was also a late Chairman’s announcement regarding a flood event. Flood wardens, community emergency volunteers and parish representatives were invited from the Malmesbury community area to a Wiltshire Council flood event on 17 October 2012 in Warminster Civic Hall between 10.00 am-3.00 pm. Please book your place before the end of September by contacting: Renate Malton email: renate.malton@wiltshire.gov.uk or tel: 07827 954856.       

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.     Wiltshire Police (attached)

b.     Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (attached)

c.     NHS Wiltshire (attached)

d.     Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership (attached)

e.     Town and Parish Councils

f.      Young people

g.     Malmesbury and District Chamber of Commerce.

Before the regular partner updates item, two young people, Charlie Harris and Rob Hinwood from Norton and Foxley gave a fantastic presentation with photographs about their stone Jubilee egg sculpture project.

The project had been successfully completed with great input from the local community. The young people involved had learnt a lot about wildlife and dry stone walling and taken part in a series of art workshops. There had been a picnic to celebrate the opening of the sculpture and as the group had £500 left over from the project, they were hoping to build a bench next to the sculpture with the sculptor they had worked with on the egg.  

The project had received a grant from Malmesbury Area Board and the members were thanked for their input into the project.

a.     The written update from Wiltshire Police was noted. Sergeant Martin Alvis added that over the last few weeks there had been an increase in daytime dwelling break-ins. Please be careful and secure your property. He reported that the Farm Watch Scheme was now in operation and please get in touch on the 101 number if you would like to sign up to text reports on suspicious behaviour in your area.

b.     The written update from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was noted.

c.     The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted.

d.     The written update from Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership was noted. Their annual general meeting would take place on 26 September at Malmesbury Victoria FC’s clubhouse at 7.00 pm.

e.     There was no update from Town and Parish Councils.

f.      There was no update from young people.

g.     There was no update from Malmesbury and District Chamber of Commerce.      

Matthew Woolford, Communications Account Manager, will provide information about a new community blog site.

Matthew Woolford, Communications Account Manager, provided information about a new community blog site for Malmesbury and its surrounding villages.

The proposal was for each area board to have a blog site to communicate with the community at a local level. The blog site would be open to all members of the community as well as to Wiltshire Council and its partners. The intention was for a fully interactive digital notice board that would link with existing sites. The site would be used to circulate news, share comments and ideas, publicise upcoming events and showcase local business and employment opportunities.  

The pilot site had been successfully launched in Salisbury two months ago and the Malmesbury site would be launched in the next two weeks.

Matthew invited the public to get involved by contributing to the site (for example if you have an event coming up), providing a link if you have an existing website and coming along to the ‘hands on’ introduction to the site on Monday 17 September between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm at Malmesbury library.   

Matthew briefly answered questions raised at the meeting. He confirmed that the blog site would have a search facility and the facility for a simple poll that could be used to gather feedback.    

Julie Locks will give a presentation about the work of Victim Support and ask for help in raising the profile of the organisation in the community.

Julie Locks gave an overview of the national charity Victim Support and how it could support people living in the Malmesbury community area. Victim Support offered a free and confidential service to all victims of crime. In Wiltshire between October 2011 and March 2012 Victim Support contacted approximately 1306 victims of crime.

Julie explained that although the majority of referrals came from the police, there were a significant number of people who did not report a crime or who said no to support initially. Support could be provided to anyone affected by crime, even if they were not the victim. Support could also be provided to a victim of a historic crime.

Julie asked for help from members of the public to encourage community groups to invite Victim Support representatives to give talks at their meetings. She also asked for suggestions on how to raise the profile of the charity and identify and communicate her message. Suggestions made at the meeting were for information to be put in parish newsletters and for a link to the Victim Support website from the new blog site. Please contact the local Victim Support office on 01380 738878 or Wiltshire@victimsupport.org.uk and ask for Julie Locks or Katie Maclean.    

Councillor Soden will provide information about the role of the new Police and Crime Commissioners.

Councillor Soden provided information about the role of the new Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs would be elected for every force area in England and Wales outside London. Elections would take place on 15 November, with PCCs taking office on 22 November. The new PCC would replace Wiltshire Police Authority (WPA). PCCs were being introduced by central Government to increase the accountability of the police.

The Chief Constable would remain responsible for operational matters. A Police and Crime Panel would be set up by local authorities to support the PCC. Please see the Wiltshire Police Authority PCC section of the website for further information: www.wiltshire-pa.gov.uk/pcc.

Councillor Soden then answered questions from those present at the meeting. She explained that a Police and Crime Commissioner would be elected for in general a four year period and could not be elected more than twice. A Police and Crime Panel were required by law. The changes should not impact on policing at ground level.

Councillor Soden underlined the importance of going to vote on 15 November to chose who would be best to support our excellent police force area.       

The Community Area Manager will provide a summary of current community issues and the area board will agree those to be closed.

Members of the area board were invited to close seven issues, reopen one issue and refer three issues to Malmesbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG). 

The area board shortly discussed issue 2172 – Hyams parking at the Cross Hayes car park. The Chairman stated this had been considered and the legal costs related to taking the issue to court were too high. Another solution to the issue was being worked upon.   

Decision

The area board would close the following issues:

Issue 562 – crossing needed on Tetbury Hill Road near Filands. While investigations undertaken by Malmesbury CATG did not warrant a crossing, a 30mph entry sign was being considered together with improving the crossing island.

Issue 1863 – cars blocking dropped kerbs in Parliament Row and Barley Close. White bar markings at the dropped kerbs had been installed which should improve access.

Issue 1948 and 2092 – persistent speeding through Startley. This issue was now being managed by Malmesbury CATG with a 6 monthly trial of a Speed Indicator Device (SID) and painting of white lines; options preferred by local residents.

Issue 1955 – lack of and poor condition of pavements in Minety. This scheme was a recipient of 2012/13 substantive highways funding and would be resolved by Malmesbury CATG.

Issue 2131 – shrubs or fence required round recycling bins at Station Yard. Cardboard and plastic bins were to be removed following the introduction of kerbside recycling plus public consultation earlier in the year. As a result of this change litter was likely to be very much reduced.

Issue 2417 – the need for traffic calming measures on A429 Burton Hill, Malmesbury. Vehicle monitoring indicated that speed was perceived rather than it being a significant issue.

Decision

The area board would reopen the following issue:

Issue 1608 – speeding vehicles and HGVs on Wood Lane Brinkworth.  A request had been made to reopen this issue from residents of Wood Lane, Brinkworth, relating to their objection to a recent application for changes to a local Goods Vehicle Operators Licence.

Decision

The area board would refer the following three issues to the Community Area Transport Group (CATG). 

Issue 2453 - related to vehicles blocking Pool Gastons and Burnham Road Junction.

Issue 2466 – related to concern for road safety at the junction of Blicks Hill and Holloway.

Issue 2503 – concerning vehicular problems related to Dark Lane, Malmesbury.

Councillors will be asked to consider the Community Area Grants report and make recommendations on the applications received:

a.     Ashton Keynes pre-school - seeking £2,316 towards new flooring for an outdoor play area, conditional on the balance of funding being in place

b.     Minety Village Hall - seeking up to £5,000 towards driveway, height limiting barrier, hearing loop and flooring, conditional on their Awards for All funding application being unsuccessful and the balance of funding being in place. The sum should be negotiated in consultation with the Chairman of the area board.

The area board will also be asked to endorse officer delegated authority of £500 awarded to a councillor led project towards Malmesbury Town benchmarking.

Councillors were asked to consider the Community Area Grants report and make recommendations on the applications received.

Decision

Ashton Keynes pre-school were awarded £2,316 towards new flooring for an outdoor play area, conditional on the balance of funding being in place.

Reason

The application did meet the core 2012/13 grant criteria and would improve village hall facilities.

Decision

Minety Village Hall were awarded up to £5,000 towards driveway, height limiting barrier, hearing loop and flooring, conditional on their Awards for All funding application being unsuccessful and the balance of funding being in place. The sum should be negotiated in consultation with the Chairman of the area board and the Community Area Manager.

Reason

The application did meet the core 2012/13 grant criteria and would improve village hall facilities.

Decision

The area board endorsed officer delegated authority of £500 awarded to a councillor led project towards Malmesbury Town benchmarking.

The Chairman thanked those at the meeting and reminded all that the next meeting would take place on Wednesday 7 November at 7.00 pm, with refreshments available from 6.30 pm, at Malmesbury Secondary School.