Agenda item

1. Wiltshire Police

Inspector Ron Peach spoke to the written update which was set out in the agenda pack.

·         The Police Authority was currently writing the Policing Plan for 2012/13.  This would be the last Plan before the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon in November.  Consultation would be undertaken in as many places as possible, (in addition to the public survey, meeting with MPs, Councillors and Youth Parliament), and feedback from Area Boards was key to understanding the issues that affect communities.  If people wanted to raise an issue of concern suitable for a strategic approach through the plan they could do so via the Police Authority on 01380 734022 or by emailing angus.macpherson@wiltshire.pnn.gov.uk

·         Christmas had been quiet in the Marlborough community area and the new response policing hub was working well.

·         The main areas of concern were rural thefts and non-dwelling burglaries.

·         The British Crime Survey now showed that Wiltshire is the safest County in the Country.

·         It was noted that some people had recently received phone calls and emails stating that their bank owed them money and asking for bank details.  People should not disclose personal information but should delete or ignore these emails and calls.

2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

A written update was circulated with the agenda.

3. NHS Wiltshire

A written update was circulated with the agenda.

4. Parish Forum

The main issue considered by the Parish Forum at its last meeting was the reclamation of villages from traffic.  Ben Hamilton Baillie, a nationally renowned traffic consultant, would be giving a talk on this issue at a seminar to be held on 13 March at 7pm at Kennet Valley Hall, Lockeridge.  He would be helping parish councils throughout the community area look at how they might reduce speed, tackle parking problems and better manage their traffic. .Copies of the Hamilton Baillie brochures would be made available to all Parishes. 

The seminar would be open to the public, and anyone interested in coming along to listen and discuss the problems of rural village traffic is invited to participate.  For further information people should contact their local Parish Council, Mary Spender, Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council, email mary@spender.org, or Andrew Jack Community Area Manager email Andrew.jack@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Area Board was pleased to hear that the Avebury Traffic Group was now up and running. 

5. Town/Parish Councils

6. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)

MADT had been consulting on and producing the Marlborough Area Plan for 2012-17.  A first draft was now complete and example pages were shown at the meeting so that those present could see the layout.  Copies would now be sent out for the next round of consultation.

The consultation on the plan so far had gathered information through:

·         On-line surveys

·         Public consultation events

·         Open evenings

·         Business lunch

The plan highlighted key issues raised, gave the current position and then set out actions and recommendations to address the issues.  Aspirations were clearly identified and prioritised.  Representatives from the whole community area had been involved and not just those living in the town of Marlborough.  The next round of consultation would begin on Monday 13 February and close on 9 March.  Results would then feed into the Joint Strategic Assessment meeting.

At the last Annual General Meeting of MADT Martin Cook had stood down as Chairman and Richard Clark had been appointed.  The Area Board thanked Martin Cook for all the work that he had undertaken as Chairman and also thanked MADT for the hard work they had undertaken on behalf of the community to produce the community plan.

It was noted that the community plan could link to neighbourhood plans where appropriate.