Minutes:
a. Melksham Community Area Partnership – request for funding
MCAP had requested a sum of £5,500 in order to fund future activity for the 2009/10 financial year. A debate ensued as to the amount of core funding that the Melksham Area Board would allocate to the Melksham Community Area Partnership, It was also pointed out that Wiltshire Council had offered to make up the difference between the £3333 pro rata funding allocation suggested and the £5500 requested by the CAP.
Decision
That the Melksham Area Board would allocate £3,333 to the Melksham Community Area Partnership in request for funding this sum of money was a pro rata amount for the remaining period of the 2009/10 financial year and that it was noted that Wiltshire Council would allocate a further £2167 to make up the £5500 requested by the CAP.
It was noted, the importance of the Melksham Community Area Partnership moving forward with the support and funding from the Melksham Area Board.
b. Community Area Grant Scheme
Board members were asked to consider ten applications seeking 2009/10 community area grant funding.
Cllr Richard Wiltshire addressed the Area Board on behalf of Melksham and District French Twinning Association.
Peter Bates addressed the Area Board on behalf of the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics.
Mrs J.Savage addressed the Area Board on behalf of Seend Trust and Community Centre.
Mrs King addressed the Area Board on behalf of Atworth village hall and recreation ground.
Cllr Jerry Wickham addressed the Area Board on behalf of Keevil Parish Council.
Decision
1. Melksham and District French Twinning Association - Had applied for a grant of £970 towards the cost of promotional material to advertise events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the twinning of the association. This application was deferred until the 24 March 2010, Melksham Area Board meeting.
2. Seend Parish Council - Had applied for a grant of £1250 towards the cost of a speed indication device (SID) to reduce speeding through their village. The Board members voted to defer the decision until the parish council can ensure the board that all options have been considered, and that a permanent VAS would offer the best solution.
3. Melksham Trust - Had applied for a grant of £1000 to plant 9 large specimen trees in town centre sites. This application was favourably deferred until the 24 March 2010, Melksham Area Board meeting to enable Melksham Trust to provide the board with further information.
4. Melksham Forrest Activity Centre Group - Award £5000 for the widening of a road leading to a football field in Melksham Forrest.
5. Wiltshire School of Gymnastics - Award £4800 for the training and qualification of gymnastics staff as coaches and judges.
6. Seend Trust and Community Centre - Award£1,200 for the refurbishment of the stage area and replacement of fire escape doors.
7. Semington Parish Council – Award £249 for the purchase and installation of a litter bin in Littlemarsh. Noted that Cllr Roy While abstained from this vote.
8. Atworth Village Hall and Recreation Ground - Award £930.00 for the purchase and installation of 2 junior and 2 senior football goals.
9. Keevil Parish Council – Award £1,369 for the purchase and installation of a baby swing on the Banfield Recreation Ground.
10.Melksham Area Community Safety Group - Award £500 for raffle prizes and refreshments for Bluz n Zuz, a social event for 12 to 16 year olds organised by Melksham Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team.
c. Performance Reward Grant Scheme
The Chairman updated the meeting on the Melksham town CCTV application which had been refused by the Public Service Panel pending a Wiltshire wide CCTV initiative.
He was hopeful of some progress on this application in the New Year, and that the Melksham Area Board would continue to pursue this worthwhile application as the Board considered it to be a special case and would try to get the grant application reconsidered.