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Agenda item

Updates from Partners, the Community Area and Wiltshire Council

To receive any verbal updates including:

 

·       Job Clubs

·       Community Asset Transfer

·       VDS West Dean

 

To note the attached written updates from:

 

·       Police

·       Fire

·       NHS

·       Wiltshire Council – Help to Live at Home

 

Minutes:

Job Clubs

There had been a great start to the Downton Job Club, three volunteers had come forward and were now helping run the club by sharing their knowledge and experience. More volunteers were sought for the Old Sarum Job Club, to help run this and make it a success like in Downton. Any one interested should contact Tom Bray, Community Area Manager by email at tom.bray@wiltshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01722 434252.

 

Community Asset Transfer (CAT)

At the last meeting of the Board, a CAT application made by Redlynch Parish Council had been deferred pending a further meeting between Redlynch and Downton Parish Councils. An initial meeting between representatives from each parish council and the local Wiltshire Council members had taken place. Further discussion at each parish’s next council meeting was planned; following this an update would be brought back to the next Area Board meeting.

 

Village Design Statement (VDS) West Dean

The audit report carried out by the Chairman, Councillor Britton had been missed off the agenda. The Community Area Manager agreed to circulate the document to the Board members the following day for their comments.

 

Councillor Britton added that the VDS document appeared to be a genuine reflection of residents’ views.

 

Decision

The Southern Wiltshire Area Board approved the West Dean VDS document as having been produced through an all-inclusive consultation process. Subject to any comments from members over the next five days the Audit report could be forwarded to Wiltshire Council to support the adoption of the VDS.

 

At the previous Board meeting the Chairman had requested that the Cabinet member provide a formal statement on what was happening with VDS documents. He had since been informed that Wiltshire Council would be appointing an officer to look at VDS’s and to process them for adoption.

 

Young People

Councillor Randall had attended the first meeting of the Southern Wiltshire Youth Advisory Group (YAG), which was part of a pilot scheme.. This would be a forum for young people to debate issues and bring things to the area board. Councillor Randall and Tom Bray, would work towards developing a link between the YAG and the Area Board. Councillor Randall added that it would be beneficial in the future for the YAB to advise the Board on their views on topical issues, such as funding applications.

 

Police

Inspector Andy Noble urged people planning Silver Jubilee and Olympic events to use the toolkit which had been produced by the Council. The police had limited capacity to assist in such events due to wider commitments to the official large scale events planned around the county. He also gave the following updates:

 

·       Wiltshire Police Authority was conducting a consultation to gather views and concerns relating to the transition in November from a Police Authority to an elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

 

·       Neighbourhood Policing Teams - New PCSO Rachel Gunn, in Alderbury had nearly completed her training, and would soon be  starting her role in the area. PCSO Kim Weston would be leaving soon to become a full time police officer.

 

·       There had been an upturn of acquisitive crimes such as cars being broken into, rural crimes involving outbuildings and metal thefts. The Police were targeting two families and had made 5 arrests this week.

 

·       The Police had seized over £100,000 of stolen metal and £50,000 of cash during raids which had been aided by close working with various partner organisations including Wiltshire Council.

 

·       Attempts had been made to tackle ongoing antisocial behaviour (ASB) problems at Spider Island with the assistance of a tasking group involving the local residents, parish council, local councillor, the ASB reduction officer and housing officers. An update on the progress of this would be provided at the next Board meeting.

 

Councillor McLennan asked if the long standing issue of cars driving on the verges and pavements of Church Road at school pick up time could be revisited by the police, as he had not seen officers in the area for some time. Answer: Inspector Noble agreed to feed the comment back to the Neighbourhood Policing Team for Laverstock and to liaise with the Council’s parking enforcement team.

 

Wiltshire Fire Authority

Councillor Devine had attended a pre-budget meeting the previous week. He added that it was unlikely there would be an increase to the precept this year.

 

Written updates attached to the agenda were noted.

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