Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the forthcoming year 2022/23

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson was elected as Chairman for the forthcoming year 2022/23.

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year 2022/23

Cllr Helen Belcher was elected as Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year 2022/23.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson thanked Cllr Brian Mathew for his chairmanship during a difficult period, and that she looked forward to good engagement with the town and parish councils.

To receive the following chairman’s announcements:

·         Family and Community Learning information sharing

·         Solar Together Wiltshire

·         Queens Jubilee celebrations

·         Recruitment of hackney carriage private hire drivers

·         Foster Care Fortnight

The following chairman’s announcements contained in the agenda pack were noted:

·         Solar Together Wiltshire

·         Queens Jubilee celebrations

·         Recruitment of hackney carriage private hire drivers

·         Foster Care Fortnight

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 27 January 2022.

Decision

·         The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 27 January 2022

 were approved as the correct record

It was noted that Helen Belcher was the Vice-Chairman and not Cllr Ruth Hopkinson.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To appoint Area Board representatives to Outside Bodies and Working Groups

• Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) – Cllr Ruth Hopkinson

·         Pound Arts – Cllr Helen Belcher

The Area Board was asked to appoint Area Board representatives to Outside Bodies and Working Groups:

·         Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) –Cllr Ruth Hopkinson

·         Pound Arts – Cllr Helen Belcher

To receive an update on 2021/22 Priorities from the Community Engagement Manager and agree Priorities going forward.

To reconstitute and appoint Priority Working Groups for the year 2022/23

·         Health and Wellbeing Group – Cllr Brian Mathew

·         Local Youth Network – Cllr Helen Belcher

·         Climate – Cllr Derek Walters

·         Economy – Cllr Ruth Hopkinson

Ros Griffiths – Community Engagement Manager gave a brief overview of the highlights of 2021/22 Priorities.

The Area Board members then gave a brief overview of their priority working groups:

Health & Wellbeing – That good work had been carried out by Cllr Brian Mathew and Kevin Gaskin.

Local Youth Network – That the past couple of years had been hard for our young people and their mental health.

Climate – That good engagement from the town and parishes and other local climate groups had been beneficial in moving the group forward.

That the group had become a critical friend to Wiltshire Council and a conduit between Wiltshire Council and the Parish Councils.

Economy – Trying to keep things going, that grants were accessible, and that there had been great strides in digital engagement during the pandemic period.

The Area Board members were asked to reconstitute and appoint Priority Working Groups for the year 2022/23:

·         Health and Wellbeing Group – Cllr Brian Mathew

·         Local Youth Network – Cllr Helen Belcher

·         Climate – Cllr Derek Walters

·         Economy – Cllr Ruth Hopkinson

Philip Wilkinson - Police and Crime Commissioner

John Derryman - Community Speed Watch Co-Ordinator

Inspector James Brain – Wiltshire Police

Russell Holland – Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner

Outlined the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Inspector James Brain – Wiltshire Police

Outlined the local outcomes – as per the written report

John Derryman - Community Speed Watch County Co-Ordinator, Wiltshire Police

Points made included:

That his role was very much a conduit between the Police and Community Speedwatch groups.

Looking to build stronger relationships with the Community Speedwatch groups.

Looking to make better use of the data that the Police receive from the groups across the county.

Always looking for new Community Speedwatch volunteers.

That there were around 115 Community Speedwatch schemes across the county.

Points made by the Area Board members and Parish representatives included:

Cllr Helen Belcher – That the Pickwick Community Speedwatch volunteers were keen to reactivate the group – John Derryman to discuss with Cllr Belcher.

Cllr Brian Mathew – Auto Speedwatch – Parishes had concerns that the Police would not use data taken from Speedwatch cameras. John Derryman – Wiltshire Police would now use Auto Speedwatch data. That any area/village could buy a camara, Wiltshire Police would be happy to work with them.

Cllr Derek Walters – Gastard residents had concerns re speeding. The need to identify hot spots and the importance of using SID data that was gathered.

Lacock Parish Council had bought an Auto Speedwatch device, but were having issues with Wiltshire Council who wouldn’t let them mount it on any street furniture – John Derryman - this issue was now being progressed with Wiltshire Council.

Corsham Town Council Were keen to discuss the Streetwatch initiate – Russell Holland to follow up with Corsham Town Council representatives.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson gave thanks for the good policing that the Corsham community area received from its local officers, and stressed the importance of a local police representative at Area Board meetings.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson thanked Russell Holland, John Derryman and Insp Brain for attending the meeting.

To receive any updates from the following partners:

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Corsham Climate Action

Town & Parish Councils

·         Corsham Town Council

·         Box Parish Council

·         Colerne Parish Council

·         Lacock Parish Council

CCG/Healthwatch

The following updates from the Area Board partners were noted:

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – written update

Corsham Climate Action – written update

Corsham Town Council – written update

Box Parish Council – written update

·         Annual general meeting – That a big divide between the parishes of Box and Rudloe was apparent, a working group was to be set up to look at any issues in order to form closer ties between the two parishes.

Colerne Parish Council

·         New defibrillator installed – thanks for the Corsham Area Board this funding.

·         An ongoing issue with a Wiltshire Council play area that was currently closed due to safety issues – looking for funding to get this operational again.

·         Currently reviewing the Parish Council working groups.

Lacock Parish Council

·         That the Community orchard woodland continued to flourish.

·         That the replacement tree planting was going well.

·         That the Jubilee celebrations had gone well.

·         Some incidents of graffiti in and around the village.

·         Looking to set up a Lorrywatch group.

CCG & Healthwatch – written update

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider any applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme

There were no grant funding applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme for the Area Board to consider.

To consider recommendations arising from the LHFIGs meeting held on 13 April 2022

The recommendations arising from the LHFIGs meeting held on 13 April 2022 were agreed.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson & Ros Griffiths – Community Engagement Manager

 Ros Griffiths – Community Engagement Manager outlined the Area Board review and the changes in the grants criteria.

Area Board Review

That the Area Board model was introduced in 2009 and had delivered significant progress to develop stronger, more resilient and connected communities since its inception.

That the overall objectives of the Area Boards remain consistent today however, in an operating model more than 12 years old it was natural that certain elements were subject of review and refresh to ensure they were meeting the current needs of local communities.

That the aspiration of the review was to build on the excellent practice and evident success of the Area Boards and to address areas where there was inconsistency in practice and approach.

That the number of boards, overall format, structure and local autonomy were not part of the review.

That a period of research, analysis and review of data between the Cabinet Member, Portfolio Holder and key Officers had been carried out.

That an Overview and Scrutiny process followed between January – March 2022, had resulted in 24 recommendations.

These were adopted into a single member decision paper on Area Board arrangements which was ratified on the 6 May 2022.

See below, weblink for the 2022 Area Board handbook

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/9182/Area-Board-Handbook-2022/pdf/Area_Boards_Handbook_2022.pdf?m=637878906465170000

Changes in the Grants Criteria

That funding was available to voluntary and community sector organisations that could show a need for financial support up to a total of £5,000. Town and Parish councils were eligible to apply for revenue funding, in respect of Youth Grants or Older and Vulnerable AdultGrants, where they were able to show a need for financial support.

Matched funding requirement had reduced from £1,000 to £500.

That applications must be received at least four weeks before an Area Board.

That applications must highlight how they were meeting two aims of WC Business Plan andan Area Board local priority – grant system would reflect this.

That an organisation could apply for a maximum of two projects/ bids per annum across all eighteen boards. Each project/ bid couldrequest funding from up to three boards.

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson felt that the Corsham Area Board was working well,

that the work of the Area Board was to get out and engage the local community.

There was none.