Agenda item

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

The following Partner updates were given:

Wiltshire Police – Inspector Matt Armstrong

Points made included:

·       That performance was stable with a slight increase in violence against persons and Anti-social behaviour.

·       That a number of burglaries had been carried out in the local area, but arrests had been made.

·       There had been a couple of village burglaries.

·       That valuables should not be left on display in cars when left unattended.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Mike Franklin

Points made included:

·       The need to be careful when lighting fireworks and bonfires.

·       A fire at two thatched cottages at Codford highlighted once again the need to regularly sweep chimneys.

·       That a meeting to discuss the proposed merger of Wiltshire and Dorset Fire & Rescue Services would be held at 2pm on Tuesday 11^th November at the Fire & Rescue Training Centre at Hopton Industrial Estate, Devizes. The public were welcome to attend.

A question was raised as to fire fighter vacancies at Pewsey Fire Station, Mike Franklin advised that he would investigate and report back.

Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP) – Susie Brew

Points made included:

·       That the Spice Time Credits scheme would soon be implemented in the Pewsey community area.

·       That the PCAP web site and Facebook page were now up and running.

·       That a local business directory had been set up on the PCAP web site.

·       That PCAP were looking to set up a Tourism theme group, interested parties should contact Susie Brew.

·       That the Pewsey Vale Dementia Group was now up and running, details could be found on the PCAP web site.

·       PCAP had recently held a very useful Flood Planning meeting.

Parish Councils

·       Charlton St Peter & Wilsford Parish Council – the written report was noted.

The continued opposition to the Friends of the Ridgeway promoting the Great Stones Way was again noted.

·       North Newnton Parish Council – the written report was noted.

·       Woodborough Parish Council – the written report was noted.

Army Rebasing

·       The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)’s Masterplan for development around Salisbury Plain has been finalised, which was noted by Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) on 22 October 2014.  Areas which required further work relating to water abstraction, sewage discharge and the impact on habitats caused by increased recreational use of the Plain, have been satisfactorily completed by DIO.  Site specific and detailed issues will be fully addressed during consideration of the planning applications.

·       The Master Plan will remain a critical background document, which will inform each application by defining the wider context and assessing the cumulative impacts, and so demonstrate in the broadest terms how and where development can, and cannot, take place.  It follows that it will be a material consideration, providing contextual understanding and consistency for decision-making.

·       In addition, the DIO is compiling an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which will set out the range of community infrastructure that will be provided by, or funded through financial contribution from, the MOD and the specific funding channels.  It is hoped that this will be available for Wiltshire Council’s review by mid-December 2014.

·       DIO’s consultants have provided an indicative schedule for all the planning applications relating to development within the military camps.  Some 18 applications are anticipated, 14 of which will be for “advanced” works that will get underway during the first half of 2015, thereby enabling the main development in the camps to proceed by 2016.  The first application is for the provision of four Junior Rates Single living Accommodation blocks at Perham Down.  Development is scheduled to continue until 2019.  Service Family Accommodation is due to be provided by mid-2018 to allow relocation of the final Army units currently based in Germany.

·       In the meantime, Wiltshire Council continues to facilitate good liaison between Wiltshire schools and the Army.  A workshop entitled “Aspiring to Achieve the Best Educational Outcomes for Service Children” was held in Tidworth Garrison Theatre on 4 November to share ideas and best practice for achieving the best education for Wiltshire service children.  The Wiltshire Council-run event was attended by more than 20 local schools alongside representatives from Germany and Cyprus schools, the MOD, educational providers, Wiltshire Council officers and military staff. A head and deputy from Episkopi Primary School, Cyprus, rated outstanding by Ofsted, shared their expertise working with pupils from military backgrounds and what can be done to best support them while they are at school.

·       Good working relationships between the various health care commissioners, the Army and Defence Primary Health Care services continue to be fostered. Information on military relocations and health facility demands are being exchanged and planning is in progress.

·       Wiltshire Council continues to address the range of additional facilities and services required to meet the needs of the additional troops and their families.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.