Agenda item

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – priorities and precept consultation

c.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

d.    Health Services

e.    Schools updates

f.     Town and Parish Councils

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from Wiltshire Police, The OPCC, Healthwatch Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

In addition to the written updates, the following verbal updates were given by

partners present:

·         Wiltshire Police

Inspector Chris Martin stated that there had been some positive prevention work undertaken involving targeting drink and drug drivers and preventing drug deals. Purse chains had been handed out to help prevent theft. The board queried negative media coverage of a police Tweet and Facebook post, which had allegedly asked users to let them know which village they should patrol. This was perceived negatively by the public as it was felt that everywhere should be patrolled and that if a village was identified as the one being patrolled criminal activity would move to other locations. The Inspector was unaware of the posts but accepted the point. PCSO’s would patrol all villages. He felt possibly the posts had been worded badly, however the intention was for people to  report any issues in particular locations so that they could be addressed.

·         Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – priorities and precept consultation

A video from the OPCC was shown to the meeting explaining the reasoning behind proposed increased to the PCC precept. This would mean that for an average household the precept would increase by around £2.00 per month. The extra funds raised were to be spent on increasing community policing and tackling cyber-crime. The consultation deadline was midday on 31 January 2019. The Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson then invited questions.

The board pointed out that using the figures provided this was an increase of 13% which seemed excessive in today’s difficult financial environment. The PCC confirmed that it was 13%, however this equated to £2 per month for an average household. The board queried the large numbers of non-operational staff employed by the PCC and whether the PCC were looking at ways to reduce their non-operational spend. The PCC responded, stating that the tax payers alliance had named his office as one of the cheapest in the country. Funds raised from the increased precept would go to frontline services, for example new cyber-crime teams. The board also questioned the property estate of the police. There were particular concerns regarding the Devizes estate as there was an opportunity for the whole community to work together to redevelop the area and the police station would be a very important part of this. The PCC stated that they were working through the estate, with some facilities being closed and others redeveloped. However this was a long process that would take time.

Cllr Richard Slack of Worton Parish Council stated that Worton Parish Council were unhappy with the increase in precept and that some OPCC non-frontline staff salaries had gone up by 11% or even 13%, which were very large increases and against the public norm. He queried what assurances the PCC could give that the precept increases would go to frontline services and stated that he had not received a reply to a letter sent to the PCC. The PCC apologised that they did not receive a reply. He confirmed that the increases would go to frontline staff. Individual’s salaries were not set internally and were subject to national agreement. However he would take back the comments raised.

The PCC was thanked by the chair and the PCC encouraged the meeting to complete the online consultation.

·         Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

A video from DWFRS was shown to the meeting. Station Manager Darren Masini gave an update on Fire Safety Protection. Nationally the fire service had gone back to a regime that was administered by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). There had been some bad reviews in the first tranche of inspections. However, DWFRS would be inspected in the second tranche and so far feedback was positive. Fire services had been hit hard by austerity and more funding was needed towards protection. The protection teams size had been reduced, however there had not been a large reduction in the number of audits undertaken. The service prioritised audits in places with the highest risk to life. All 181 high rise buildings in the area had been audited, none of them had the cladding which was used on Grenfell Towers. The protection department was currently being restructured to make it more effective. If an issue was highlighted to the service they would target and prioritise that property.

·         Health Services

·         Schools updates

Mr Phil Bevan, Headteacher, Devizes School and Sarah Lowkis, Headteacher, Lavington School gave a brief update. The combined Sixth Form bid had been submitted to the Department for Education and was being heard on 21 January 2019. It was hoped that the bid would be successful as they had already been working in collaboration for 2 terms and so far the scheme was working well. Ms Lowkis stated that a multi academy trust, involving seven local schools had permission to form. There would be joint central services across the schools, and the trust would improve student outcomes, bring financial efficiency and tackle deprivation. The aim was to grow the trust to include church schools so that no one was isolated. Lavington School was hoping to become a pilot school for National Citizens Service.

·         Town and Parish Councils

Simon Fisher, Devizes Town Council Clerk, updated the meeting regarding the transfer of assets to Devizes Town Council from Wiltshire Council, which was being debated at Cabinet on 15 January 2019. They were hoping that this would mean services such as grass cutting and street scene would be managed by Devizes Town Council rather than Wiltshire Council. DTC were also hoping to take on the Market and the Shambles. The intention was to work to improve the retail offer and make Devizes a destination of choice.