Agenda item

Reports and updates of interest across the Area; statements and questions on any topic relevant to the area as a whole.

Written Updates attached are:

•      Fire & Rescue Service

•      Police

•      NHS

•      Southern Wiltshire Issues System

•      Youth Service update to be tabled at the meeting

Any other verbal updates or comments.

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda. In addition the following verbal updates were received:

Fire & Rescue – Mike Franklin

There had been a reduction in the number of reported fires for the area compared to the figures for the same period the previous year. Updates for October and November are attached to the end of these minutes.

There had been a recent incident in the Salisbury Plain area where a family of 5 had been admitted to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, Mike advised anyone without a carbon monoxide detector in their home to get one fitted.

Question:

·         Mike was asked if there had been an increase in call outs over the bonfire period? Answer: Mike agreed to find out the level of calls attended over that period and to report back to the Board.

Action: Mike Franklin, WF&RS

Police – Inspector Andy Noble 

Dean Garvin’s acting Sergeant rank had now been made substantive and he would soon be leaving the community area to start in his new role within the Salisbury Custody team. Dean would be replaced by Sergeant David Lennane who would start in the new year.

The Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) were specifically working on targeting illegal moneylenders at Old Sarum, as well as Bemerton Heath and the Friary in Salisbury.

Comments received:

·         Cllr McLennan praised the response of all involved with improving the heavy traffic flow situation in Ford following the closure of Broken Cross Bridge. A meeting had been held between the parish council, residents, highways and the NPT to address concerns. As a result the police presence in Ford had been increased and two road buildouts had been introduced. introduced which had had a positive impact on the situation.

·         As a representative of WIN who had raised concerns over the new skate park in Downton, Phil Matthews noted that the Downton Skate park had now opened and was in use. There had been no reported incidents.

·         Cllr Devine reported a situation where villagers felt it was unsafe to walk along the road due to speeding traffic. Answer: The way to raise issues of this nature would be to log the matter on the online Issues System.

Southern Wiltshire Issue System

The Chairman drew Cllr Tonge’s attention to the long list of Highways related issues attached to the agenda on pages 29 – 30.

Tom Bray, Community Area Manager explained that he had been working with those who had logged the issues on the system to move them forward.

The Customer Lighting And Roads Enquiry Centre (CLARENCE) is a service centre set up to allow you to quickly and easily report road and lighting defects and hazards.

If you have spotted a defect or fault on a Wiltshire road or right of way or cycle lane, such as a pothole, a broken street light or a blocked route then you can report this directly through CLARENCE.

To report a defect you can either:

Report a highway problem online or by calling 0800 232323.

Please note: this method of reporting a defect should not be used to inform us of emergency issues, such as a fallen tree blocking a road.

The Chairman invited any other comments or updates relating to the Community Area.

At a previous meeting, Keith Rodger, Clarendon Park Parish Councillor had asked the Chairman to support his request that the personal details of those who submit an objection to a planning application be made anonymous when published online. The Chairman had considered the request in consultation with Area Board Councillors. The Chairman ruled that it was not a matter for the Area Board as it was an issue of county-wide council policy which did not affect our community area alone.

Mr Rodger asked the Chairman to reconsider, however the Chairman reiterated his decision and closed the matter.