Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present and introduce the Area Board Committee to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting and the Committee introduced themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor James Sheppard, who was substituted for the meeting by Councillor Jerry Kunkler.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 10 October 2023.

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2023 as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online.

a)    Wiltshire Council Children’s Services Outstanding Ofsted Report:
Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children's services (youtube.com)

b)    FACT Family Help Programme Update - November 2023

c)    Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter 2023

d)    Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Monthly Newsletter

e)    Cost of Living Update

f)      Independent Visitor Scheme Update

The Chair noted the following briefing notes that were included in the agenda pack, highlighting that information regarding the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site was available on their website.

a)    Wiltshire Council Children’s Services Outstanding Ofsted Report

b)    FACT Family Help Programme Update - November 2023

c)    Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter 2023

d)    Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Monthly Newsletter
(information at www.stonehengeandaveburywhs.org)

e)    Cost of Living Update

Independent Visitor Scheme Update

To note the following information items included in the agenda pack:

1. Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office
2. Healthwatch Wiltshire
3. BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
4. Community First
5. Wiltshire AGE UK

The Chair noted the following information items in the agenda pack.

1. Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office (Perry Payne)
2. Healthwatch Wiltshire
3. BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
4. Community First
5. Wiltshire AGE UK
   
   

To note any attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
3. Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership
4. Jubilee Centre

1. Wiltshire Police
   
   The Chair noted that the recent report for Marlborough from Wiltshire Police was included in the agenda pack, and that their road safety update would be circulated within the minutes of the meeting.
   
   
2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
   
   Station Manager Terry Crawford spoke on the recent flooding in the area. He acknowledged that the station in Marlborough had moved out of their normal building due to the flooding and were temporarily based with one of their partner organisations and continued to serve the area as usual, albeit with response times somewhat affected. As the Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene and Flooding, Councillor Caroline Thomas also spoke on the issue of flooding, highlighting different support packages available to residents and businesses.

3. Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership (KAMP)
   
   Suzy Deering from the Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership (KAMP) updated the Area Board on the work being done at KAMP and presented various statistics to demonstrate their impact on the community, ranging from patient satisfaction to staff diversification, with full details are included in the agenda pack.
   
   

4. Jubilee Centre
   
   Sally Wolfenden remarked that the Jubilee Centre costs were rising, causing no small degree of angst amongst the staff there, who are keen to avoid putting off prospective members by raising prices.

To receive any updates from the local Town and Parish Councils.

There were no updates from the town and parish councils.

To discuss how local people from a wide range of backgrounds can best be helped by the different organisations already working in the area and what the Area Board can do to coordinate and support this.

Introducing the next item, the Chair explained that while there were several working groups and organisations active in the Marlborough Community Area, there was no central hub to aid in prospective collaboration and signposting, adding that her aspiration was either to establish one or build the Area Board into one. With this in mind, those in attendance representing working groups and charitable organisations introduced themselves to the Area Board and explained what they do and where they felt they could do more.

The organisations in attendance included the following:

• Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group
• Marlborough Area Youth Forum
• Marlborough Sports Forum
• Love Marlborough Kids Meals
• Marlborough Town Council
• Marlborough Area Poverty Action Group
• Ramsbury Parish Council
• Second Marlborough Scout Group
• Jubilee Centre
• Rethink Mental Illness
• MAPAG
• Aldbourne Parish Council
• Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership
• Minal Parish Council

Some recurring issues raised included the difficulties in engaging with isolated individuals who might need support, a lack of recreation or enrichment opportunities for local youth, and an absence of transport links into the town centre from the nearby villages.

The Chair suggested the possibility of establishing a central point in Marlborough, accessible to the villages, that would be capable of directing people towards whatever group would benefit them most. It was also agreed that a lack of universal digital literacy proved a significant barrier to outreach and engagement. The Chair noted that Marlborough Library was a valuable resource to that end, but that not everyone felt a desire to get online or had the ability to get to the library due to the aforementioned transport link problems. It was also pointed out that paper distribution, while less ecologically favourable, remained an effective tool. It was discussed that Rethink Mental Illness have a database of different towns and volunteer groups that could be utilised, and that other Area Boards like Chippenham have established village forums to better liaise with more rural areas and consider the different methodologies parish councils employ.

To receive updates on the Area Board’s three priorities and from their associated working groups.

Updates were provided on the Area Board’s three priorities and their associated working groups, including the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG).

·       To receive an update from Lead Councillor Caroline Thomas on the work being done towards the Area Board’s priority of children and young people.

·       To receive an update on the establishment of the Marlborough Youth Network.

Councillor Thomas highlighted Marlborough Town Council’s decision to agree to fund an apprentice youth worker with the town clerk acting as a supervisor. She also noted that ongoing recruitment drive for a replacement youth worker and the progress being made in the establishment of a youth network.

·       To receive an update from Lead Councillor Jane Davies on the work being done towards the Area Board’s priority of older and vulnerable people.

·       To receive an update from Jill Turner, Chair of the Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group.

Jill Turner of the Health and Wellbeing Group noted the positive response to a recent networking event, and also described the Group’s high hopes for their 2024 Summer Fair.

·       To receive an update on the work being done towards the Area Board’s priority of road safety.

·       To ratify the funding recommendations from the Marlborough Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting from 19 October 2023.

It was noted that a Marlborough Traffic Survey would soon be undertaken to study congestion problems in the town, funded by both the Town and County Council.

Councillor Thomas moved to approve the funding recommendations from the Marlborough Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting on 19 October 2023. This was seconded by the Chair. 

Resolved:

To approve the funding recommendations arising from the Marlborough Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting from 19 October 2023.

To consider and determine the following applications for Area Board grant funding:

The Committee then considered and determined the applications for Area Board grant funding as laid out in the report included in the agenda pack.

Area Board Initiatives:

Andrew Jack explained that The Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group were granted £500 under delegated authority towards their 2023 Autumn Networking Event. The Chair moved to ratify the Area Board Initiative and was seconded by Councillor Thomas.

Resolved:

To ratify the grant of £500 under delegated authority to the Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group towards their 2023 Autumn Networking Event.

Community Area Grants:

Minal Sports and Social Club requested £500 for replacement gazebos. Councillor Thomas moved to grant the funding and the Chair seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant Minal Sports and Social Club £500 for replacement gazebos.

The Merchant’s House Marlborough Trust requested £3,000 towards their ongoing roof restoration project. The Chair moved the grant the funding and Councillor Thomas seconded.

Resolved:

To Grant The Merchant’s House Marlborough Trust £3,000 towards The Merchant’s House roof project Phase 2b.

Aldbourne Community Heritage Group CIO Heritage Centre requested £1,700 towards an environment-controlled display cabinet. Councillor Thomas moved to grant the funding and the Chair seconded.

Resolved:

To grant Albourne Community Heritage Group CIO Heritage Centre £1,700 towards an environment-controlled display cabinet.

In a separate application, The Merchant’s House Marlborough Trust also requested £500 towards visitor experience improvements.  Councillor Kunkler moved to grant the funding and Councillor Thomas seconded.

Resolved:

To grant The Merchant’s House Marlborough Trust £500 towards visitor experience improvements.  

Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants:

Sing-Along and Social requested £500 towards Sing-Along and Social classes. Andrew Jack explained that the funding would go to an as-yet-undetermined Accountable Body rather than directly to Ms Peacock’s personal bank account. The Chair moved to grant the funding and Councillor Thomas seconded.

Resolved:

To grant Sing-Along and Social £500 towards Sing-Along and Social classes.

Youth Grants:

Marlborough Sports Forum requested £2,530 towards their Marlborough Sports and Physical Activity Festival for Young People. Councillor Thomas moved to grant the funding and was seconded by the Chair.

Resolved:

To grant Marlborough Sports Forum £2,530 towards their Marlborough Sports and Physical Activity Festival for Young People.

There were no other questions.

Any other items of business which the Chair agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

To confirm the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board will be held on 19 March 2024 at 7:00pm.

The Chair thanked those present for their attendance and confirmed that the date of the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board would be 19 March 2024 at 7:00pm.