Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

Apologies were noted as the microphones were not working. It was requested by the Chairman that this be investigated so it did not recur at further meetings.

Apologies were received from:

Dave Wingrove – Ashton Keynes Parish Council

Matt Perrot - Highways

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2015.

Resolved

To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting as a true and accurate record

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

None.

The Chairman will provide information about:

a.    NHS Health Checks

The Chairman and Area Board made the following announcements:

a)    NHS Health Checks

The announcement in the agenda pack was referred to.

Those aged between the ages of 40 and 74 were invited to receive a free NHS Health Check every five years.

b)    Discover Malmesbury

Cllr Killane announced that a new tourism website had been launched for Malmesbury. The website listed upcoming events, top attractions, places to eat out, and places to stay in and around Malmesbury. People were invited to share the website with those interested and to sign up to the Discover Malmesbury newsletter.

The website was available by visiting www.discovermalmesbury.life. The site could also be followed on Twitter through @malmesburylife.

c)     Burnham House

An announcement was delivered on Burnham House and the development of independent living. The task group was led by Cllr Thomson which aimed to work out how the project could work best for the community.

The project would be put on the agenda for a future meeting of the Area Board.

To receive an update on the Local Youth Network (LYN) and for the Area Board to consider procurement purchases of positive activity providers using youth funding:

1.     Connecting Youth Wiltshire - £4500.

Recommendation: That this procurement purchase of a PAYP meets the youth funding criteria, meets the needs of young people identified in the recent needs assessment, and is approved for the amount of £4500.

Xina Hart was in attendance to deliver an update on the Local Youth Network (LYN).

There were currently four open vacancies on the LYN Management Group. Anyone interested or who knew someone interested was asked to contact Xina Hart. More information was available on the Malmesbury LYN’s Facebook page.

A total of £30,000 was left available to spend in LYN grants. The process was explained as moving away from telling young people what they want. Instead the process would allow them to direct the funding towards what they want.

Resolved

To approve the procurement purchase of positive activities for young people from Connecting Youth Wiltshire for £4500 for after school support and activities

The Area Board will receive a presentation on Reducing Child Poverty in Wiltshire and Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres.

Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant on Child Poverty, and Debbie Hirons, Project Manager on Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres, will be in attendance to deliver the presentation.

Justine Womack, Public Health Consultant on Child Poverty, and Debbie Hirons, Project Manager on Shaping the Future of Children’s Centres, were in attendance to provide a presentation.

There were many ways available to prevent child poverty and mitigate its impacts. Justine Womack had been visiting various areas across Wiltshire to provide information on how the issue related to their population and detail ways to work together and prevent and reduce the impact of child poverty.

Children defined as in poverty included those in households with less than 60 per cent of the national median income. The national median income was £26,500, and 60% of this was £15,900.

Wiltshire had a lower portion of child poverty in relation to the rest of the country. In 2012 a total of 10.6% of children in Wiltshire were recorded as in poverty.

Effects on children living in child poverty included bullying, negative effects on their sleep, study, and health. Children would also worry a lot about their family.

The local picture in Malmesbury regarding child poverty was outlined. A total of 290 children in the Malmesbury community area were in poverty, this was a 1.7% decrease since 2006 to 6.3%. Higher rates of child poverty were seen in older age groups: 11 to 15 and 16 to 19 year olds. 

Overall child poverty in Malmesbury was significantly lower than the Wiltshire average:

•         Children in poverty who were aged 0-4 28.1% (Wiltshire 35.1%)

•         Children in poverty who were aged 5-10 28.1% (Wiltshire 32.5%)

•         Children living in unemployed households 4.7% (Wiltshire 8.4%)

•         Children aged 0-9 living in socially rented homes 14.5% (20.3%)

•         Children aged 10-18 living in socially rented homes 12.6% (18.7%)

•         Unemployment rate, all families 4.7% (Wiltshire 7.1%)

•         Key Stage 2 free school meal attainment gap -1.3% (Wiltshire 20.7%)

Four factors which impacted on preventing and mitigating child poverty were described: employment and adult skills; financial support; house and neighbourhoods; education, health, and family. Education, health, and family was described as an especially important area.

Early intervention in the age range 0 to 5 years old was described as crucial. Family development in these years was critical to ensuring that children got the best start and healthy brain development.

The impact of smoking on children was noted. A total of 17.2 per cent of adults in Wiltshire were smokers compared to 25.9% of routine and manual workers and 14% of pregnant women.

Two actions that local areas could take to help improve the health and wellbeing of children were listed. Smoke-free playgrounds could be set up to reduce the impact of second-hand smoke and the normalisation of smoking. It was also advised that local areas could investigate the issue of fast-food locations near schools and the promotion of sugary sweets located by cash registers in shops.

Debbie Hirons explained that 30 Designated Sure Start Children's Centres had been created between 2006 and 2011. One was located in each community area with additional centres in areas with a higher  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Julia’s House charity will be building a children’s hospice for Wiltshire. Ian Wadley, Wiltshire Fundraising Manager for Julia’s House, will be in attendance to raise awareness of the charity and how it can be supported.

The charity will explain how the local community can support the project through volunteering, setting up supporter groups, fundraising and awareness raising.

Ian Wadley, Fundraising Manager for Julia’s House, was in attendance to provide a presentation on the development of a Julia’s House Hospice in Devizes.

Julia’s House provided care for life-limited children and their families. The scheme started in Dorset to provide respite to parents who were providing round-the-clock care for children. This included help with simple tasks such as, cleaning, dinner, and shopping.

The service was delivered to people for free, and was 94% community funded, the remaining 6% coming from government funding.

Julia’s House began in 2013 providing home care in south Wiltshire, and discovered that there was a high demand for such services. Director Guy Ritchie became a patron in 2014 and raised £1million through fundraising events. Actor Robert Downey Jr raised £925,000 in April 2015 also through fundraising events.

The hospice site in Devizes was announced in September 2015, with a scheduled opening in autumn 2017.

A need for community-based care was identified as two-thirds of care still took place within the family home. The hospice would be used primarily for daytime respite sessions and end of life care up until and after the end of a child’s life.

Help could be provided through clubs, events, activities, and volunteering. Currently there were 500 volunteers, but more were needed to help give talks to spread awareness.

The Area Board will receive feedback from Community Area Grant recipients.

Sheila Wade will be in attendance to deliver an update and feedback from Dauntsey Croquet Club who were awarded £500 for new equipment at the September 2015 Malmesbury Area Board meeting.

Representatives from Dauntsey Croquet Club and the Bradstone Playing Field were in attendance.

Dauntsey Croquet Club was awarded £500 for new equipment at the September 2015 Area Board meeting. Thanks were expressed to the Area Board for their help and support.

Bradstone Playing Field was awarded £960 at the July 2015 Area Board meeting towards the provision of a replacement oil tank. Thanks were expressed to the Area Board for the contribution. The park was explained as around 25 years old and had reached the end of its life at its current state. A total of 15 events had been held to help raise money. The playing field was opened in September with 100 children and their parents in attendance. Leftover money was used to provide refreshments and have Mickey Mouse in attendance to cut the ribbon.

Congratulations to both recipients were expressed from the Area Board for their work.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c.    Healthwatch Wiltshire

d.    Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

e.    Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership

f.     Good Neighbours

g.    Malmesbury Campus

h.    Highways Community Co-ordinator

i.      Town and Parish Councils

a)    Wiltshire Police

Inspector Ben Huggins and Sgt Phil Connor were in attendance.

Sgt Connor was introduced as the new officer for the Malmesbury community area.

Cllr Sturgis described an incident where a generator had been stolen in daylight hours during a horse event. Sgt Connor explained that this was an unusual experience but similar incidents had been experienced before. The police were dedicated to reducing crime in rural areas and were looking into how they can provide a more visible presence.

The community messaging scheme was being pushed forward by the Police and Crime Commissioner. Resources were being examined so that information could be uploaded quickly, as the system worked best once information was uploaded as soon as possible.

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

Mike Franklin explained that work was continuing on the combination of Wiltshire and Dorset services. A lease had been signed regarding the takeover of the Salisbury hub.

The Chief Fire Officer had written to all Area Board Chairs to inform them that he wished to provide a presentation prior to the combination date in April 2016.

c)    Healthwatch Wiltshire

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

d)    Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

e)    Malmesbury Villages and Community Area Partnership (MVCAP)

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

f)     Good Neighbours

A written update was included in the agenda pack.

g)    Malmesbury Campus

Kim Power and Peter Gilchriest from Friends of the Riverside were in attendance to deliver a presentation on the campus.

The new campus building would provide a community facility for the use of the whole Malmesbury community area.

The new design for the building aimed to make the space a more comfortable place to be. Work would be done on the outside of the building to improve lighting into the building through windows. A lobby area would be added along with a disabled toilet. Other additions would include: a café with a domestic-type kitchen; non-slip vinyl flooring; office space for Wiltshire Council workers; lighting, heating, and ventilation improvements; and a new toilet and separate entrance to the skatepark so that it can operate independently of the building.

A public presentation and open evening would take place in January 2016. People would be invited to look at the old building before its refurbishment and express any interests of use. A potential opening date was anticipated for midsummer 2016.

It was explained that Wiltshire Council had a commercial lease on the building, and as such it was worth spending the money to improve it so that the best use can be taken from it.

Capital funding was explained as being used for refurbishment. The exact amount could not be detailed as it would be going out to tender. Development had not yet been priced or gone out to tender.

h)   Highways

Bill Parks, Head of Local Highways North, was in attendance to deliver an update.

Major maintenance colleagues were now dealing directly with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

An update will be provided by Ollie Phipps, Community Engagement Officer (CEM) for the Malmesbury community area.

It was agreed that due to timing issues the videos that were going to be shown as updates under this item would be brought to the next meeting.

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

1.     Crudwell Village Hall have requested £1357.50 for new curtains.

Ollie Phipps, Community Engagement Manager, outlined the funding report.

Resolved

To award Crudwell Village Hall £1357.50 for new fire retardant curtains

The Area Board will be asked to consider the recommendations from the 13 October 2015 Malmesbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting outlined in the report.

Resolved

To note the actions and recommendations of the 13 October 2015 Malmesbury Community Area Transport Group

The Area Board will be asked to consider an application submitted by Minety Parish Council for the transfer of land at Sawyers Rise, Minety and St. Leonard’s Row, Upper Minety.

Resolved

Malmesbury Area Board agreed to formally support the transfer to Minety Parish Council in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy of the Land at Sawyers Rise, Minety and St. Leonard’s Row, Upper Minety.

The Area Board will be asked to consider the decision to list The Vale of the White Horse Inn, Minety, Wiltshire, SN16 9QY as an Asset of Community Value.

Resolved

Malmesbury Area Board agreed to formally support the nomination of The Vale of the White Horse Inn, Minety, Wiltshire, as an asset of community value

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

None

The next meeting of the Malmesbury Area Board will be held on Wednesday, 13th January 2016, 7.00 pm.

The next meeting of Malmesbury Area Board would be on Wednesday, 13th January 2016, 7.00 pm, at Malmesbury Town Hall - Assembly Rooms.