Agenda item

To receive any updates from partners:

a)                 Wiltshire Police;

b)                 Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service;

c)                  NHS Wiltshire;

d)                 Pewsey Community Area Partnership;

e)                 Parish Councils; and

f)                    MOD

(a)            Wiltshire Police

Inspector Andy Peach commented that a detailed written update was included within the agenda pack.  The Pewsey Community Area had not experienced any significant problems over the Christmas / New Year Period with only three isolated incidents of violence or antisocial behaviour.

(b)            Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

            In the absence of a written update, or a representative in attendance, Councillor Robert Hall gave an update, in his role as Chairman of Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority.  The Authority was in the process of setting the budget for 2010/11 and was hoping to keep its element of the Council Tax precept to a minimal increase.

            Responding to a question regarding a proposed Central Communications Centre in Exeter, Councillor Hall commented that the current Regional Control Centre for the Fire Service was in Taunton, one of nine across the country.  In addition there was a tri-service communications centre in Devizes.

            Thanks was expressed to the two members of Wiltshire Fire Service who had travelled to Haiti to help with the response to the recent earthquake.

(c)        NHS Wiltshire

            The written update from NHS Wiltshire was noted.

(d)            Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Peter Deck, Chairman of the Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP) gave an update on the work of PCAP and the thematic groups.

The Chamber of Commerce were planning an event on 4 March regarding tourism, in advance of the 2012 Olympics and the opportunity this would bring for developing tourism in Wiltshire.

PCAP had responded to Wiltshire Council’s draft Core Strategy (part of the Local Development Framework), and noted that levels of development in Pewsey remained within guidelines.

Peter referred to Wiltshire Council’s recent consultation on the Review of Speed Limits. Concern had been raised that the consultation with the Police had only been undertaken through the traffic officers only, and not through the Neighbourhood Policing Teams.  In addition, Stan Bagwell, Chairman of the PCAP Transport Sub-group, read out a statement raising concerns that Parish Councils had only been consulted on the results after the completion of the review.  In addition, the Sub-group was disappointed that previous correspondence from Parish Councils regarding speeding issues did not appear to have been considered as part of the review.

Councillor Thomson explained that the process for the review had been set out by the government.  He encouraged Parish Councils to bring their concerns over speeding to the Area Boards.

(e)       Parish Councils

Rushall Parish Council requested the support of the Area Board to a proposed way forward following a study into pedestrian safety.  It was noted that Councillor Brigadier Robert Hall had responded as the local member.

Decision

The Pewsey Area Board endorsed the response submitted by Councillor Hall, supporting the conclusions and recommendations of Rushall Parish Council’s “Study into Safe Pedestrian Access in Rushall”.

(f)         MOD

Bill Dowling of 43 Wessex Brigade and Lieutenant Colonel Mick Cotton, Upavon Garrison Commander, were in attendance to update on proposed developments to the garrisons around Salisbury Plain. 

Bill Dowling commented that the number of military personnel based around the plain would increase from 10,000 to 12,500, with a similar 25% increase in dependents.  The MOD was putting plans in place to ensure a level of community integration. 

Despite earlier plans to move the Upavon garrison to Andover, it was  confirmed that the Upavon garrison would now remain.  In addition there were plans for an HGV route on the plain, to take some MOD traffic off local roads.

Lieutenant Colonel Cotton reported that troop and civilian movements at the Upavon Garrison were likely to increase as a result of the plans to remain at the site.  In addition, activity on the airfield would increase, with plans to refurbish three hangers.  The 161 existing married quarters would be refurbished and it was likely that the mothballed school would be brought back into operation as the troops coming in would have young families.

As Upavon was a relatively isolated site, Lieutenant Colonel Cotton hoped to engage more with the Area Board in the future.

Councillor Thomson requested that new troops be encouraged to register their names on the Electoral Register.  In addition to the Council welcoming the democratic involvement, this would maximise the level of funding which Wiltshire Council receives from the government.