Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Melksham Area Board.

To discuss the following themes with a facilitator as part of a place shaping information workshop:

·       Neighbourhood Plan

·       Town Centre Master Plan

·       Other Projects and Identity

Those in attendance partook in a Place Shaping Information Workshop. The workshop covered the following themes over the course of 15-minute intervals, led by respective facilitators:

·       Neighbourhood Plan – Teresa Strange, Melksham Without Parish Council Clerk

The purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan was outlined as well as the designation of local greenspaces and how the plan would impact on any future planning applications in the Melksham area. Feedback was welcomed, with it noted that a consultation was currently open and would close on Sunday 19 March 2023.

·       Town Centre Master Plan – Linda Roberts, Melksham Town Council

It was outlined that the Town Centre Masterplan was now ready to be put out for consultation, with regeneration opportunity sites highlighted as well as the need to enhance green and nature spaces with the purpose of encouraging residents to stay in Melksham. The Consultation would close on Sunday 19 March 2023.

·       Other Projects and Identity – Richard Rogers, Strategic Engagement Partnerships Manager

It was outlined that an environmental project in Melksham would be taking place to restore Clackers Brook to enhance the environmental value of the area in consultation with Wiltshire Council, Selwood Housing and Melksham Town Council. Further information could be found via the following link:Restoring the Clackers Brook | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

Those in attendance were encouraged to get in touch with Richard Rogers (SEPM), should they be interested in tree planting on Wiltshire Council land. Further discussions also took place regarding the identity of Melksham as well as future place shaping in the area, with it suggested that the river and park were key local selling points. It was also suggested that it would be positive to have a location for small businesses to exist and that further reference should be drawn to the heritage of the town. Weight was also placed on the link between employment and making Melksham an attractive place to want to live.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Nick Holder as well as Becky Lee (Community Trustee, 4Youth Southwest).

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2022 were presented for consideration and it was;

Resolved

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2022.

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

·       Cllr Phil Alford declared an Other Registerable Interest in the grant application submitted by Melksham Without Parish Council in conjunction with Melksham Town Council, by virtue of being a member of Melksham Town Council. Cllr Alford received a dispensation from the Standards Committee to remain in the room and vote on the application.

·       Cllr Jack Oatley declared an Other Registerable Interest in the grant application submitted by Melksham Without Parish Council in conjunction with Melksham Town Council, by virtue of being a member of Melksham Town Council. Cllr Oatley received a dispensation from the Standards Committee to remain in the room and vote on the application. In addition, Cllr Oatley declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in the grant application submitted by 4Youth Southwest and that though he would speak on the application, he would not vote on the application.

·       Cllr Jon Hubbard declared an Other Registerable Interest in the grant application submitted by Melksham Without Parish Council in conjunction with Melksham Town Council, by virtue of being a member of Melksham Town Council. Cllr Hubbard received a dispensation from the Standards Committee to remain in the room and vote on the application. In addition, Cllr Hubbard declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in the grant application submitted by 4Youth Southwest and that though he would speak on the application, he would not vote on the application. Furthermore, Cllr Hubbard declared an Other Registrable Interest that he was a Trustee of the Riverside Centre, who had placed an application and would therefore speak but not vote on the application.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       King Charles III Coronation - Community Celebrations

·       Cost of Living Update

·       National Apprenticeship Week 2023

·       Family Help Hubs

·       Wiltshire Families and Children’s Transformation (FACT) Partnership Family Help Project Background Briefing

The Chairman made the following announcements, which were available as written briefing notes contained in the agenda pack:

·       King Charles III Coronation - Community Celebrations

·       Cost of Living Update

·       National Apprenticeship Week 2023

·       Family Help Hubs

·       Wiltshire Families and Children’s Transformation (FACT) Partnership Family Help Project Background Briefing

To receive any updates from Councillors.

Updates were received from the following Councillors:

·       Cllr Jon Hubbard stated that he was delighted to announce that 4Youth Southwest had received a £250,000 National Lottery grant to support their work, with £50,000 to be spread over the next 5 years to develop core youth work.

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Town and Parish Councils

The Chairman drew attention to the following partner updates, which were available in written form within the agenda pack:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Town and Parish Councils

To discuss the following Community Asset Transfers:

·       Avon Bowls Club

·       Melksham Cricket Club

The Area Board discussed the following Community Asset Transfers:

Avon Bowls Club

The Chairman and Secretary of Avon Bowls Club spoke regarding the request that had been placed, with it noted that the request had been 5 years in the making and that points raised had been included in the report within the agenda pack.

Resolved:

The Area Board agreed to approve the transfer subject to the matters referred to in paragraph 9 of the report (Only transfers to town and parish councils are made by freehold transfers. All others are by 125-year leases. As this application is from a sports club a 125-year lease will be granted).

Melksham Cricket Club

The Chairman and Secretary of Melksham Cricket Club spoke regarding the request, with it noted that the Club had occupied its current pavilion since 2018 after the previous one had been lost to a fire in 2016. It was noted that the Club has continued to grow with plans for further growth and facilities outlined.

Following the introduction, it was questioned whether there was a long-term intention to rope off the pitch, to which it was clarified that this had only been done as a short-term decision in order to protect the outfield, with the rope set to be removed in due course.

Cllr Mike Sankey thanked Melksham Cricket Club for hosting the memorial bench in memory of Councillor Roy While.

Resolved:

The Area Board agreed to approve the transfer subject to the matters referred to in paragraph 9 of the report (Only transfers to town and parish councils are made by freehold transfers. All others are by 125-year leases. As this application is from a sports club a 125-year lease will be granted).

Following the discussion regarding the Community Asset Transfers, some questions were raised regarding the leasing arrangements of Melksham Tennis Club, to which it was stated that the Cabinet Member for Leisure was sympathetic to concerns which had been raised and that it was hoped that there would be a resolution by the time of the next Area Board meeting.

To receive updates from the following officers about local highways improvements:

·       Chris Clark (Head of Local Highways) – Plans for new lines, potholes, and other issues.

·       Andy Thompson (Technician) – The new roundabout, traffic lights and road works around the Spa.

The Area Board received the following updates from the respective officers about local highways improvements:

Chris Clark (Head of Local Highways & Countryside Access) – Plans for new lines, potholes, and other issues.

• There had been a 400% (4,000 reports) increase in January 2023 for the number of potholes reported across the Highways Network when compared to the previous month, however this had since dropped to 1,000 reports in February 2023.
• It was outlined that methods of mitigation for potholes had been used such as redeploying Parish Stewards and Masonry Gangs.
• Through February 2023 control of the numbers of reported potholes has now been regained with repairs now in excess of the numbers reported with teams proactively looking to fill potholes if they find them.
• The Council has now changed its Highways contract from Ringway to Milestone Infrastructure, who have a positive track record in the Somerset, Oxford and Hampshire local authorities.
• Changes to pothole service delivery were outlined including planning and the use of static hotboxes to allow greater efficiency.
• Regarding drainage, funding and capacity had been increased to supporting cleansing through additional jetting capacity, with circa 85,000 gullies to be maintained in Wiltshire.
• Regarding white lining as the summer was dry, more work was able to be completed and additional money had been allocated.

Following the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Concern was raised relating to the road leading to Holt, where there had been increased subsidence over a period. It was stated that this was a structural problem due to the foundation of the road having dropped away and that work was being done to consider how to undertake the repair.

·       Common Hill, Steeple Ashton was referenced as having a drainage issue, with it outlined that edge deterioration was a big problem for Wiltshire as a rural county due to use of agricultural equipment and HGVs. Additionally, a programme of verge reinforcement was set to take place with it recommend that this site be referred to the team.

Andy Thompson (Technician) – The new roundabout, traffic lights and road works around the Spa.

·       The roundabout structure for Pathfinder Way (Taylor Wimpey Development) was displayed to those in attendance, with it stated that work had been going for a number of years. This had been due to the pandemic as well as Scottish Southern Electricity struggling to get the jointing and streetlighting completed, as well as failures between Taylor Wimpey and their contractors. The project now has a new manager and there has been improvements and hope for there to be a Stage 3 Safety Audit certificate awarded in April.

·       Roadworks around the Spa roundabout were outlined, with discussed that difficulties had been encountered with BT, who had been working to their programme with delays caused in waiting for BT to complete their costings. Phase 1 is complete; however, it was hoped that Phases 2 and 3 would have been completed at the end of 2022, which did not happen. There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Area Board will be asked to consider the recommendations from the 2 February 2023 Melksham Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting outlined in the report.

The minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 2 February 2023 were introduced by Cllr Jonathon Seed. After which, it was;

Resolved:

The minutes and recommendations of the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 2 February 2023 were agreed as a correct record and approved.

To consider the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

·       Riverside Club - £4,000 towards Riverside Centre Replacement Windows.

Older and Vulnerable Adults Funding:

·       Melksham Without Parish Council - £5,000 towards Melksham Community Support Senior Project Worker (NB name of service may chance from MCS).

Local Youth Network Funding:

·       Broughton Gifford and Holt Youthwork Project - £500 towards Youth Club Projects.

·       2385 Melksham Squadron ATC - £1,600 towards Learning materials for increased Sqn size.

·       4Youth South-West - £5,000 towards No Limits SEND Youth Club.

The Area Board considered the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

·       Riverside Centre - £4,000 towards Riverside Centre Replacement Windows

Cllr Jon Hubbard abstained from the vote.

Resolved:

Riverside Centre was awarded £4,000 towards Riverside Centre Replacement Windows.

Older and Vulnerable Adults Funding:

• Melksham Without Parish Council - £5,000 towards Melksham Community Support Senior Project Worker (NB name of service may change from MCS).

Resolved:

Melksham Without Parish Council was awarded £5,000 towards Melksham Community Support Senior Project Worker (NB name of service may change from MCS).

Youth Grants:

• Broughton Gifford and Holt Youthwork Project - £500 towards Youth Club Projects.

Resolved:

Broughton Gifford and Holt Youthwork Project was awarded £500 towards Youth Club Projects.

• 2385 Melksham Squadron ATC - £1,600 towards Learning materials for increased Sqn size.

Resolved:

2385 Melksham Squadron ATC was awarded £1,600 towards Learning materials for increased Sqn size.

• 4Youth South-West - £5,000 towards No Limits SEND Youth Club

Cllr Jon Hubbard and Cllr Jack Oatley abstained from the vote.

Resolved:

4Youth South-West was awarded £5,000 towards No Limits SEND Youth Club.

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

There were no urgent items.