Agenda item

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Community Policing Team and PPC precept consultation.

b.    Fire and Rescue Service

c.    Health Services and pharmacy video

d.    Devizes Community Area Partnership

e.    Schools updates

f.     Town and Parish Councils

g.    Devizes Community Area Wellbeing Group

h.    Community Engagement Manager

·         Devizes’ JSA event

·         Great British Spring Clean

Sergeant Mark Andrews spoke to the written update from the Police in the agenda pack, it was highlighted that recent efforts to crack down on burglaries in Pewsey had been very effective and were to now be directed to Devizes.

A video from the Police and Crime Commissioner introduced his precept proposals for 2017/2018 and the priority areas this funding would be invested in. The Chairman expressed disappointment about the lack of Police resource to enforce speed limits and advised he would contact the Police and Crime Commissioner about this as part of the precept consultation. Sergeant Andrews advised that the Police were willing to undertake speed checks where speeding was reported.

A written update from the Fire and Rescue Service was available in the agenda pack.

Written updates from HealthWatch Wiltshire and the Clinical Commissioning Group were available in the agenda pack. A video was shown which encouraged people to use their local pharmacy to receive treatment for minor ailments, rather than going to A&E. Feedback on the video included the comment that it could be dangerous for people to postpone seeking medical advice if they weren’t sure whether an ailment or injury was serious.

 Cllr Judy Rose, Devizes Community Area Partnership, advised that there were shocking numbers of missed GP appointments in Wiltshire and an information campaign would take place to encourage people to cancel unwanted appointments.

Simon Fisher, Devizes Town Council updated that Devizes and Roundway councils would soon be merging and the new Devizes and Roundway Council would be meeting as one body ahead this to ensure it ran smoothly. The council would operate by a Committee system and there would be 21 members on the council.

Potterne Parish Council thanked Wiltshire Council planning officers for their assistance in developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the village.

Cllr Jonik, Erlestoke Parish Council, advised that new signage was needed in the village to prevent accidents and was advised to formally log this as a request on the ‘Issues System’ to be addressed by the Community Area Transport Group.

Mike Challinor provided an update on behalf of the Devizes Community Area Wellbeing Group and introduced an application from the Devizes’ ‘Men’s Shed’ project. It was noted that the group recommended this to the Area board on the condition that adequate governance arrangements for the club were in place, the Wellbeing Group had since received confirmation that these requirements had been met.

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, advised the meeting that Devizes’ ‘Our Community Matters Conference’, or ‘JSA event’ was to be held on Tuesday 13 February, anyone who wished to attend could register this with Graeme. It was also explained that a volunteering forum for Devizes was to be held immediately before the next Area Board meeting on 7 March. A video was shown to highlight the community events that had been organised across Wiltshire since 2012 to continue the legacy from this Olympic and Jubilee year. The officer also gave details of the ‘Great British Spring Clean’ event which would take place from March, and during which local communities were encouraged to litter pick