Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting, including a delegation of visitors from Cambridge who were interested in the work of the Area Board.

Apologies of absence were received from John Cull (Lea and Cleverton Parish Council), Warren Hateley (Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce), Ted Palmer (Malmesbury Residents Association), Tony Pooley (Little Somerford Parish Council), and John Tremayne (Easton Grey Parish Council).

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillor Killane declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item number fourteen, in the application from Malmesbury Town Council seeking funding from the Performance Reward Grant Scheme towards a multi-use games area at St Aldhelms Mead, as a Malmesbury Town Councillor. Councillor Killane did not speak or vote and left the meeting for this item of business.

The Chairman will provide information, as in the agenda pack.

The Chairman drew attention to the written announcements included in the agenda pack. Councillor Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire Council, would be attending the next Malmesbury Area Board meeting on Wednesday 10 November 2010. Please submit any questions to Councillor Scott in advance to Alexa Smith, Democratic Services Officer, on 01249 706612 or alexa.smith@wiltshire.gov.uk by Wednesday 27 October.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a)    Wiltshire Police

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c)    NHS Wiltshire

d)    Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership

e)    Town and Parish Councils.

The Chairman noted the written updates from partners included with the agenda pack and invited partners to add any further information if appropriate.

a)    The written update from Wiltshire Police was noted. It was underlined that the closure of the Wiltshire Camera Road Safety Unit would not change any of the processes around Community Speed Watch and the Community Area would still have the enforcement options of the Wiltshire Roads Policing Unit and Wiltshire Police Area Officers. There had been an outstanding Community Speed Watch scheme in Dauntsey. Over recent weeks five drivers were monitored on three separate occasions exceeding the speed limit. The vehicle details were passed to the Wiltshire Police Roads Policing Unit who targeted these drivers. This resulted in three individuals being caught speeding and issued with fines and penalty points on their driving licenses. .

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

c)    The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted.

d)    Sid Jevons went through the written update from Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership. The Partnership had formed a team to lead a consultation on reduced street lighting. The first phase of consultation, identifying the parishes that would like to be involved, was nearly complete and the next phase would be to look into which street lights to affect. A speed bump survey for Malmesbury was being undertaken jointly by Malmesbury Town Council and the Partnership. Questionnaires were being distributed within the local area to be returned by 1 October. The Chairman expressed concern that the survey had not been received by a proportion of the meeting. Ray Sanderson commented that only those living in Malmesbury town had been targeted by the survey, however there were locations where people were able to collect a survey, including the health centre and the BP garage. In an amendment to the agenda papers, the next Community Safety Forum meeting would be held on 30 September at Sherston Village Hall at 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start.

Chairman’s Statement

The partner updates at the meeting were followed by a Chairman’s statement regarding proposed development in Malmesbury. There had been a Malmesbury Town Council public meeting on 14 September. The Wiltshire 2026 consultation at the end of last year had identified a preferred housing option for Malmesbury of 200 dwellings located to the north of Malmesbury. Gleeson Strategic Land were promoting this site and intending to hold a public exhibition at the Town Hall in November. The public response from the Malmesbury Community Area to the Wiltshire 2026 consultation showed a mixed response to the level of growth for the town, although the majority did oppose growth. A key aspect of the opposition was that infrastructure in the town was currently at capacity. The abolition of the Regional Spatial Strategy and the advance of the Localism Bill potentially offered greater flexibility in plan making and the opportunity for Malmesbury Community Area to have more influence on future housing development in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

A short update on school numbers in the Malmesbury Community Area.

Nigel Hunt, Head of School Buildings and Places, gave a short update on school numbers in the Malmesbury Community Area. He explained a document provided at the meeting showing the number of children in the primary schools and the secondary school in each year group. This was derived from a census that was undertaken every term. Pupil numbers for primary school children in Malmesbury were very close to the physical capacity. Eight pupils were being transported in total from the town to village schools because of pressure in the town at primary school age.

This update was followed by a question and answer session which covered the following issues:

·         If preference patterns for the schools remain the same (some parents in the town always choose to send their children to village schools), there were sufficient places for children coming up to primary school age in town.

·         School provision was linked to the planning process in that the relevant department was consulted at a strategic level on an ongoing basis and again when a planning application was received. Contributions were also sought with new development for provision of school places.

·         Primary school places in the town had been filled quickly as the number of parents who chose to send their children to village schools from the town had reduced markedly in recent years. There had also been movement into the town in the last eighteen months of families with primary school age children. 

·         It has been made clear that with future housing development, a child coming into the area could not be guaranteed a place in a Malmesbury primary school.

·         National Government policy was clear that if a parent chose to send their child to a school outside their catchment area, they were responsible for transport costs. If transport was required for a child travelling more than 2.5 miles to a school not of their choosing, the local authority was responsible for transport provision.

·         There was no capacity to extend Malmesbury Primary School. St Joseph’s school were investigating whether the school could be extended.

Decision

Nigel Hunt would update on school numbers in the Malmesbury Community Area at a future Area Board meeting when results from the St Joseph’s school investigation into extending were available.

A presentation and consultation on the review of leisure services in Wiltshire.

Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Representative for Leisure, Sport and Culture, gave a presentation on the future of leisure facilities in Wiltshire. There was an excellent facility in Malmesbury and Wiltshire Council was not proposing to change this in a great way. The Activity Zone would continue to be managed by DC Leisure and their contract had been extended to 2015 to allow for time for all Council-owned leisure facilities to be reviewed.

Wiltshire Council had inherited a form of financial responsibility for 23 facilities around the county, including many facilities which were out of date and inefficient. The situation was unsustainable, with £93 million required over the next 25 years to sustain the existing stock, excluding any investment to improve the buildings.

As such, proposals had been developed on the basis of £117 million investment over 25 years, to deliver a high quality, efficient and sustainable service. This would also go some way to meeting carbon reduction targets, with leisure facilities currently accounting for 21% of the Council’s carbon emissions.

The proposals would see four new facilities within campuses, with another two existing facilities being significantly enhanced and retained. The remaining facilities would also receive significant capital investment, before being made available for transfer to community management arrangements, as part of a robust process including support and identification of suitable business models, phased financial support resulting in independency and potentially the transfer of freehold. It was acknowledged that different mechanisms and solutions would suit different facilities, and so a report on options had been commissioned to give examples of arrangements which had been established in other areas.

It was noted that no decisions would be made by Wiltshire Council until consultation had been completed. Consultation on the proposals was taking place up to 29 October 2010, with details available on the Wiltshire Council website, at libraries, leisure facilities and offices. A report on the outcome of the consultation would be submitted to the Cabinet in December, and the Council would consider the results in February 2011.

The presentation was followed by a short question and answer session. This covered the following main points:

·         The Activity Zone was working well with local schools

·         Malmesbury Marlins expressed satisfaction with the Activity Zone pool, its management and its provision for disabled individuals

·         Free swimming for those aged 60+ would not continue after September 2010 as funding for this scheme was no longer available from central Government.

A question was also raised about the capacity of The Activity Zone. Although the relevant Officer did not have the information to hand, since the Area Board meeting, Wiltshire Council leisure representatives had discussed capacity levels with the operator DC Leisure Management Limited (DCL) and could report that the facility was operating within comfortable capacity limits and that there was sufficient spare capacity to cater for growth in all areas of the business. This translated as between approximately 20-25% growth in the fitness area, 25% growth in swimming and around 15% capacity left available for casual sports  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Councillor Keith Humphries will provide a short overview of Health, Community Safety, Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing and Emergency Planning in the Community Area. There will then be the opportunity to ask Councillor Humphries questions.

Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Representative for Health and Wellbeing, provided a short overview of his responsibility. This included Health, Community Safety, Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing and Emergency Planning in the Community Area.

Health and Wellbeing in general terms encompassed trying to keep the people of Wiltshire safe and protected largely by working with Wiltshire Council partners to deliver the best possible service. Last year Consumer Direct had received 82 reports of scam telephone callers from people in Wiltshire. Nearly all of these had been received by elderly and vulnerable people. Councillor Humphries asked for people to continue to report scam telephone calls. He also provided information about a new county wide initiative to prevent dog fouling, starting with a programme of education in schools.

Councillor Humphries could be contacted directly on 01985 218255 or keith.humphries@wiltshire.gov.uk  

Achievements since 1 April 2010.

Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways and Streetscene, gave a short presentation on work undertaken by the Highways department in the Community Area since 1 April 2010, please find a list of completed works attached. The presentation included completed minor carriageway repair sites, programmed sites and repairs to be scheduled. The department was also working to improve communication with the back office and developing links with the Area Board to set local priorities.

The Community Area Manager will provide feedback from recent meetings held with parish councils and the Area Board will be invited to consider a number of recommendations.

The Community Area Manager provided feedback from two successful ‘Tea and Talk’ meetings held with town/parish councils within the Community Area. She aimed to repeat these meetings on an annual basis. The Councillors were asked to consider eleven recommendations from the meetings, contained in the report.

Decision

The Area Board would accept the following recommendations from the ‘Tea and Talk’ meetings:

Information about the community issues process and how issues are handled is sent to parish councils

Community issues are forwarded to parish/town councils to gauge whether they are collective/community issues or individual issue more appropriate as ward work for councillors

Parish councils be invited to ask their councillors to sign up individually to the Community Area Network to ensure the speedy delivery of Malmesbury Area Board information

M&VCAP are encouraged to revitalise their contact with parishes/parish councils

M&VCAP are encouraged to re-present their Partner Update for the Area Board, to concentrate on punchy information about their current projects and inviting specific community involvement

The divisional highways team is requested to produce an annual plan for the Malmesbury Community Area of work to be carried out and provide email alerts to the parish clerk where it conflicts with the monthly plan already circulated to parish councils.

There was the need for further discussion regarding the remaining recommendations in the report. Sid Jevons thanked Miranda Gilmour for her work on improving parish involvement with Malmesbury Area Board. These would be discussed further by the Area Board.

NB

Subsequent to the meeting, the Area Board decided that:

Community issues would be placed higher on the agenda when possible

The public would be reminded through the Community Area Network they can go online to submit and track their community issues

The Area Board would continue to arrange round table meetings with partners when appropriate, such as for the Local Transport Plan

The Area Board would consider issues from M&VCAP’s parish forum as items for future debate/consideration

The Area Board would continue to work towards limiting the number of items on future agendas.

A short presentation will be given on the new proposals to provide face to face contact with Wiltshire Council customers. This will be followed by time to discuss preferred face to face access point locations and for a question and answer session.

This item was postponed and removed from the agenda.

The Community Area Manager will provide a summary of current community issues and the Area Board will agree next steps for a number of issues.

The Community Area Manager introduced the report and invited Councillors to agree the next steps for a number of issues.

Decision

Issues 656 (St Joseph’s Primary School governors wished to renegotiate their School Travel Plans) and issues 1130 and 1134 (though speeding was not the issue, but people not stopping at the zebra crossing) would be kept open in amended form.

The Community Area Manager was awaiting responses from four town/parish councils with respects to participating in Community Speedwatch schemes.

Decision

The Community Area Manager would close issues 748 and 749 (flooding related issues in Dauntsey that were being addressed through legal proceedings) and issue 1024 (a replacement finger post at Willesley T junction that was now in place).

Decision

Issues 334 (safety at North End crossroads, Ashton Keynes), 562 (crossing needed on Tetbury Hill Road near Filands) and 620 (footpath required in Dauntsey) were referred to the Malmesbury Area Board Local Transport Plan Allocation Group.

Decision

Issues 406 (residents parking in Malmesbury) and 655 (St Joseph’s seek parking permits for Cross Hayes) would be picked up at the November meeting when Councillor Tonge and parking officers would attend to provide information about Wiltshire Council’s parking strategy consultation.

Decision

The results of the joint survey by Malmesbury Town Council and Malmesbury & Villages Community Area Partnership relating to the speed bumps in town, dropped kerbs and other highways issues would be presented at the January 2011 Area Board meeting. This would address issues 438 and 440.

The Community Area Manager felt that it would be helpful if people could inform her when an issue had been addressed, so that an accurate record could be kept, accepting that it was the responsibility of Officers and partners to keep her updated. Please contact Miranda Gilmour on 01672 515742 or miranda.gilmour@wiltshire .gov.uk.

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

a)    Malmesbury Netball Club, seeking £1,000 to cover set up costs of establishing a netball club in Malmesbury serving the whole community.

b)    Crudwell Short Mat Bowls Club, seeking £802 to purchase bowls equipment suitable for older and less able players.

c)    Kings Day Nursery School, Malmesbury, seeking £651 to purchase a range of equipment for use by children attending new breakfast and afterschool clubs at the nursery.

Consideration was given to the three funding allocations made to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

Decision

Malmesbury Netball Club were awarded £1,000 to cover set up costs of establishing a netball club in Malmesbury serving the whole community.

Reason

The application meets the 2010/11 grant criteria and the emerging ‘People, Places and Promises – Wiltshire Community Plan 2011-2026’ recognises the need for people to take responsibility for their own health through exercise and other factors. 

Decision

Crudwell Short Mat Bowls Club were awarded £802 to purchase bowls equipment suitable for older and less able players.

Reason

The application meets the 2010/11 grant criteria and would help the club to expand membership further as well as retain current members. It would encourage older and less able members through the provision of lighter woods as well as some younger players who might also value using lighter equipment.

Decision

Kings Day Nursey School were awarded £651 to purchase a range of equipment for use by children attending new breakfast and afterschool clubs at the nursery.  

Reason

The application meets the 2010/11 grant criteria and the application demonstrates links to the Malmesbury & Villages Community Plan 2009-2013, which refers to the need to support early years, toddler groups and pre-schools in villages.

Expressions of interest have been received from:

St Aldhelm’s Mead, Malmesbury Play Area Enhancement Scheme.

Malmesbury Town Council is seeking to create a multi-use games area, including an all weather sports pitch at St Aldhelms Mead, for use by mainly older children and adults. Currently there is play equipment suitable for younger children at this site and the open space is used for ad hoc games of football. The multi-use games area will encourage involvement in a wide range of sport such as football, hockey, tennis, netball, volley ball and basketball.  Providing such a facility will fill a gap in the local provision which in recent years has concentrated on improving play facilities for younger children up to the age of eleven. While this facility would benefit residents of Malmesbury, it will also be accessible to everyone in the wider Community Area.

Malmesbury Boxing Club

Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club’s Headquarters are seeking £20,000 towards a £28,200 project to stop flood damage which results in club closures due to flooding damage. The project will raise their building by 1.3 metres in order to provide flooding protection and will replace/reinstall equipment and paint external walls.  The club was established in 1977, is a voluntary organisation charging no joining fees or subscriptions and caters for 20-30 members plus young people from across the Community Area. The objective of the club is to promote boxing as an alternative sport, which requires determination and discipline in young people and to provide a facility on an uninterrupted basis.

It was decided at the Malmesbury Area Board meeting on 7 July 2010 that Councillors would take up the offer to visit the Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club’s Headquarters before the September Area Board meeting. 

Eilmer Bridge

This project which comes from the Gloucester Road Community Group is to build a memorial bridge linking Brooky Lane with the Old Station Yard Car Park. This project will (primarily) provide easy access for local residents of the Westport area of Malmesbury to the available parking in the long stay car park in Old Station Yard so reducing the current car parking/congestion difficulties in the Westport area. Further benefits sighted in the application include increased revenue from car park season tickets, increased revenue for local businesses in the area, improved safety in the evening in the car park (associated with its increase in use), and a convenient and safe route for pedestrians and a lasting memorial to Eilmer’s 1000th year celebration.

Wiltshire Is Saving Energy (WISE) Initiative

Councillors will be asked to consider an expression of interest received by all 18 Area Boards from the Wiltshire Climate Change Officer seeking £12,566 towards energy monitors available for free hire in all libraries across Wiltshire.

The energy monitor allows the user to see clearly how much energy their appliances use and how their behaviour impacts on their energy use. The householder/user can then make simple changes to their behaviour to reduce their energy consumption. Reducing energy will save money off their energy bills  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

The Area Board considered five applications to go forward under the Performance Reward Grant Scheme.

St Aldhelm’s Mead, Malmesbury Play Area Enhancement Scheme

Malmesbury Town Council were seeking £73,656 to create a multi-use games area, including an all weather sports pitch, at St Aldhelm’s Mead for use by mainly older children and adults. Councillors were supportive of the scheme, however expressed concern regarding the management and maintenance of the play area. They advised that the applicant contact the Community Area Manager to improve the application with regards to providing evidence that the application would meet certain Performance Reward Grant Scheme criteria.

Councillors suggested Malmesbury Town Council contributed some funding and suggested £30,000. Evidence needed to be provided to support the statements in their application. Questions were raised as to whether the facility was lockable and how it would be managed and maintained.   

Decision

To endorse the bid for Performance Reward Grant Scheme funding from Malmesbury Town Council for St Aldhelm’s Mead to go forward for consideration.    

Malmesbury Boxing Club

Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club’s Headquarters were seeking £20,000 towards a £28,200 project to stop flood damage which results in club closures due to flooding damage. The project would raise their building by 1.3 metres in order to provide flooding protection and would replace/reinstall equipment and paint external walls. After the Malmesbury Area Board meeting on 7 July 2010, the Councillors visited the Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club’s Headquarters. Councillor Soden commented that while the club was clearly doing good work, its facilities could be made more welcoming and inclusive, particularly to young females and disabled individuals looking to take up boxing. 

Councillors suggested that if they were to be fully inclusive and encourage young women to join the club, that toilet and showering facilities needed to be improved and disabled access should be considered. Since the Town Council owned the property, Councillors suggested that the applicant should also contact the Town Council for funding.

Decision

To endorse the bid for Performance Reward Grant Scheme funding from Malmesbury Amateur Boxing Club to go forward for consideration.    

Eilmer Bridge

Gloucester Road Community Group were seeking £58,580 to build a memorial bridge linking Brooky Lane with the Old Station Yard Car Park. This project would (primarily) provide easy access for local residents of the Westport area of Malmesbury to the available parking in the long stay car park in Old Station Yard so reducing the current car parking/congestion difficulties in the Westport area. The Area Board expressed concern about the relatively high cost of lighting for the project and its maintenance. The meeting was assured the preferred local contractor had a type of build that would meet the requirement from highways for the bridge to have a 125 year maintenance free period to be adopted by Wiltshire Council.  

Councillors applauded the thoroughness of this community application. Concerns were expressed about the high costs of lighting and it was suggested that further discussion with the planning department might be helpful.

Decision

To endorse the bid for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The Chairman then invited those present to indicate their views about the meeting, by means of the electronic voting handsets provided. Overall the meeting was judged to be very good.