Agenda item

Written Updates attached are:

·       Police – Neighbourhood Team Update

·       Fire & Rescue Service

·       NHS

·       Wiltshire Council Updates – Universal Credit

·       Wiltshire Council - Delivering a Legacy for Wiltshire

·       Southern Wiltshire Issues System

·       Any other comments or reports

Police – Inspector David Minty

The overall figures were pleasing. Victim based crime was down 20% but violence against the person was up 12%, so work was underway to bring that figures down.

During a recent operation called Midas, forces in different areas joined together to work with local farmers to catch people poaching and stealing from farms and across rural areas. Thirty vehicles were stopped and three poachers were removed from the county.

Fire – Cllr Chris Devine

The proposals for a combined Fire Service with Dorset had now been through Parliament and signed off. It was hoped that by 1 April 2016 the combined services would be functioning as a single Fire and Rescue Service for Wiltshire and Dorset. A new Chief Fire Officer had been appointed, this was Darren Gunter.

WFRS - Mike Franklin

On 12 March there had been a significant fire in Redlynch. 19 Fire vehicles, including some from across the border attended the scene. Mike urged anyone with a thatched roofed property to have a home safety check carried out.

Questions and comments:

·       John Martin, Landford PC – We were all aware of the fire in Redlych, the Wiltshire Fire Service was supported by engines from Romsey. Would the current arrangements with the Hampshire Fire Service continue once the combination was in effect? Answer: Yes all arrangements would remain the same.

Wiltshire Council Updates – Universal Credit

The Board noted the written update attached to the agenda.

Wiltshire Council – Delivering a Legacy for Wiltshire

Karen Linaker, Community Area Manager gave information on the proposals for an event scheduled to celebrate the 800^th Anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. The event would take place on Monday 15^th June at 6pm  and would include a pageant and a parade from the market place to the Salisbury Cathedral.

Local representatives from arts and crafts groups would be sought in the Southern Wiltshire community area to work together on decorating a wooden baron which would then be part of the parade.

Southern Wiltshire Issues System

The Board noted the report attached to the agenda. Issues continued to come in, the majority of them were Highways and CATG themed issued.

Comments and questions:

·       Cllr Randall noted that there was an issue at Stock Lane in Landford Wood, where the narrow road goes round in a loop. The parish council had initially objected to its inclusion in the 40mph limit but were told that nothing could be changed. Local residents would like the 40mph limit to be removed.

Cllr John Thomson advised the Board to take the issue to the CATG who could then consider a sensible scheme to resolve the issue.

Answer: Cllr McLennan felt that the CATG budget for Southern Wilts should not be affected by any scheme to rectify the issue arising from the implementation of a 40mph speed limit.

Action: Area Board to ask Cabinet member to review and reverse the decision relating to the 40mph Stock Lane issue.

Other comments or reports:

·       The Parish Clerks Liaison Meeting in February was well attended and useful. Another meeting was planned for August.

·       It had been advertised in the Salisbury Journal that the rubbish tip in Salisbury would be closed for 2 days each week and that opening hours would be altered, to make £300,000 of savings. There had been no consultation on the decision to charge £40 for a green waste service. Which two days would the tip be closing and how would the new hours be published? Answer: Tracey Carter, Associate Director for Waste and Environment explained that there was a proposal to review the opening hours of household recycling centres. Proposals were being worked on with Hills at present. Information on the current footfall at the centres was available and would be used in the decision making of which days it would be best to close the facilities. There would be at least one site (out of the four in the county) open on any particular day. The decision to charge £40 for green waste collection was one of the proposals considered as part of the Budget process. The proposed decision would be published for all to see.

·       The litter along the A36 was an absolute disgrace, and not good for welcoming tourists for the Magna Carta event. Answer: Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways and Streetscene South, explained that the Highways Agency used to litter pick when cutting the grass verges, as this was now carried out by Balfour Beatty. Hopefully this task would commence in the next couple of weeks.