Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman, Cllr Bridget Wayman, welcomed attendees to the Area Board. She noted that it was nice to see people in person after holding meetings online since the start of the pandemic. Members then introduced themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

• Cllr Pauline Church

• Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson, OBE, MPhil

• Inspector Tina Osborn (Salisbury Community Police Team)

• Jaki Farrell (Seeds4Success)

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

Cllr George Jeans noted that his wife was a leader at 1st Mere Brownies, so he would not vote or participate in the discussion on their grant application.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 15 December 2021.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting on 15 December 2021 as a true and correct record.

To receive announcements through the Chairman including:

·       Ask Angela Campaign.

·       The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations (2-5 June 2022)

·       Great British Spring Clean (25 March – 10 April)

The Chairman informed the Area Board that the Ask Angela campaign had been relaunched. The scheme helped to protect people in hospitality venues when they were with someone that was making them feel uncomfortable. If a person was feeling unsafe, they would be able to approach a member of staff so that they could assist them to a place of safety.

The Area Board were then provided with information about the celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Attendees were reminded that if they were planning events involving road closures, then they should contact Wiltshire Council’s Traffic Orders and Highways teams. The Chairman explained that every county in the United Kingdom was being encouraged to light 70 beacons, at 9:15pm on 2 June, one for every year of the Queen’s rein. She also drew attention to the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign encouraging people to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’. She advised that Cranbourne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty would be well placed to advise on what type of trees it was suitable to plant in certain locations.

The Chairman also encouraged local groups and organisations to take part in the Great British Spring Clean, held between 25 March and 10 April. She noted that litter picking equipment had been distributed to local town and parish councils in order to help groups wanting to host a clean-up event.

To receive an update from Philip Wilkinson, PCC for Swindon and Wiltshire, on his new Crime Plan.

The Chairman informed that Area Board that unfortunately the Police and Crime Commissioner was not able to attend the meeting. However, his crime plan had been published and was available to view online.

To receive any verbal updates from Partners and Community Groups present, including:

·       Police – Neighbourhood Teams

·       Fire & Rescue

·       Youth – LYN

·       Parish Councils

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Health and Wellbeing Group

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3 minutes slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Community Area Manager.

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from the following partners:

• Warminster Community Police Team

• Salisbury Community Police Team (Agenda Supplement 1)

• BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

• Healthwatch Wiltshire

• South West Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Group

Verbal updates were also provided by the following partners:

Warminster Community Police Team (CPT)

Inspector Al Lumley reported that there had been a personnel change within the team, as Sgt Kev Harmsworth had been promoted to a different role and replaced by Sgt Oakley. The inspector noted that Sgt Oakley hoped to attend a future Area Board.

It was explained that crime rates had risen slightly over the past year in the Warminster CPT area, including a spike in reports of hate crimes and bilkings (the theft of fuel). However, the inspector reassured the Area Board that the increase was primarily due to repeat offenders in Warminster rather than additional offences in the Area Board’s area. Crime figures in the Wiltshire also remained relatively low when compared to the national average. The inspector also took the opportunity to praise work across the emergency services to minimise the disruption caused by Storm Eunice.

It was noted that an in-house analysis tool had been developed to collect data from community speedwatch teams across the county, allowing the police to focus on the most prolific areas of speeding. A location to target would be identified within the team’s area at their fortnightly tasking meeting.  In response to a question from the Chairman of Fovant Parish Council, the inspector confirmed that villages were included in the data. Data was provided by speedwatch teams, but it was the intention of the Police and Crime Commissioner that information from speed indicator devices and metro cameras would also ultimately be included. The Area Board Chairman noted that Cllr John Derryman had been appointed as a volunteer coordinator to improve communication about speeding data within the county.

Cllr George Jeans thanked the police for apprehending a suspect in relation to the recent beak in at Mere Post Office.

Health and Wellbeing Group

Cllr Nick Errington provided an update about the discussions held at the Health and Wellbeing Group’s meeting held on 17 February. He reported that conversations had been held about how to promote the work of the link team of volunteer drivers. The Make a Friend, be a Friend project had also been talked about and was planned to be launched in April. Other items raised at the meeting included Carer Support Wiltshire starting a hotline and plans for a silent disco to be held at the Nadder Centre.

A working group had met on 3 March to help identify where support could be targeted to best help people living with dementia. Community Engagement Manager (CEM) Karen Linaker stated that they had been working with the Salisbury Dementia Group, as well as the Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Support, to share ideas. She also noted that a follow up meeting was planned. The CEM  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To find out more about the team offering a range of community-based and online learning opportunities designed to help +19 adults to gain a new skill, reconnect with learning and prepare to progress to formal courses. Further details are available here.

Lucinda Murray from the Family and Community Learning Service explained that they helped to upskill adults, often those who lacked formal qualifications or had previously had a negative experience in the education system. The aim of the team was to grow a lifelong love of learning and to help adults discover new opportunities that they felt might not have been available to them. She stated that the team worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to improve financial literacy as well as to promote careers in the care sector.

Although focusing on adults, the team also worked closely with schools in order to assist parents in delivering online learning to their children during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The team had worked with Wilton and Barford CE Primary School and had visited Mere Primary earlier on that day.

Members thanked the officer for the update and asked for further information about the work that had taken place with Mere Primary School. The officer explained that a team member had met with the English coordinator at the school and would talk to parents about the support that they would like to see on offer. She also praised the headteacher at Wilton and Barford CE Primary School for helping to direct parents towards their online courses.

In response to a question about whether the team would work in other areas within the Area Board, the officer stated that they worked wherever they were wanted in Wiltshire. She explained that most of their courses were delivered online but face to face opportunities were also available, subject to a minimum of six learners per course.

To receive an update from Wiltshire Council’s Housing Assets and New Developments Team.

Laura Young, Residential Development Manager from Wiltshire Council’s Estate and Development Team, provided an update about the development of affordable, sheltered and community led housing in the Area Broad. The manager explained that Wiltshire Council owned a large amount of housing stock in the south of the county and was looking to increase the stock through social rent and shared ownership schemes. As well as building new properties the council were planning to buy back former social houses that had been sold through the right to buy scheme. The team were also supporting the building of houses in rural areas by working closely with parish councils. The relatively recent completion of schemes in East Knoyle and Mere were given as examples of where additional social housing had been delivered.

The manager explained that a review of sheltered housing was underway to address the relatively poor energy efficiency of existing of existing properties and to ensure that they were suitable for modern living. Plans for improvement consisted of refurbishing property that was in a suitable location and seeking to build new development to replace stock that was not in a suitable location for residents. It was noted that conversations had taken place with residents at Lynch Close in Mere and Clays Orchard in Fovant to find out what residents liked about their accommodation and what they felt could be improved. The manager was keen to stress that proposals for a new sheltered scheme in Mere were detached from its review of existing sheltered housing.

An update was provided on the progress made towards the community led housing projects in Broad Chalke and Tisbury. The manager reported that White Horse Housing Association had been chosen as the designated provider for the six new houses being built in Broad Chalke and that the process of submitting planning was now underway. It was explained that Nadder Community Land Trust had acquired land from the council in Tisbury. It had been agreed with Stone Circle Development Company that six properties could be purchased for social housing use on the development and that they would also be run through White Horse Housing Association.

During the discussion the following points were made:

•       Members thanked the manager for the update.

•       It was noted that a number of affordable housing units had been delivered through private developments, with a total of 38 units delivered between April 2016 and March 2021.

•       The manager explained that it was beneficial for community projects to share their experiences to help project in other areas.

•       In response to a question about how many affordable units would be delivered at the Beaumont Business Centre development in Mere, it was explained that there were planned to be 21 units, but this was subject to review to ensure the viability of the project.

•       The manager confirmed that Wiltshire Council’s ambition to deliver an extra 1000 affordable homes across the county over the next decade was a net target.

•       When asked about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive an update about the Area Board’s Community Safety Group meeting held on 23 February 2022.

The Chairman informed the Area Board that the notes from the community safety meeting were available between pages 47 and 48 of the agenda pack.

To consider the progress to date.

The CEM explained that broadband provision was a key Area Board priority and that they had been working closely with the online programme board. During a well-attended meeting with Wessex Internet, organised by the Area Board, plans had been discussed with parish representatives. The Area Board was working with 17 parishes in the area, with strong progress made in a number of areas, including Donhead St Andrews and Bishopstone.

Cllr George Jeans reported that Kilmington were planning on using a voucher scheme but raised concerns about whether Wiltshire Council’s involvement in the scheme would mean that they were not eligible. The Vice-Chairman, Cllr Nabil Najjar, noted that Wiltshire Council’s Economic Development team were keen to promote broadband access and further investigations would be made.

To note the progress update on the setting up of this new club.

The CEM provided an update about the progress made towards setting up an electric car club in Mere in partnership with Co Cars. She explained that there was an opportunity to set up an eco-friendly project in partnership with the town council. Cllr Jeans noted that it was planned to allocate parking spaces in Salisbury Street carpark, next to the substation. The Area Board were then asked to confirm their decision to allocated £10,000 of the money that they had earmarked in March 2021 towards the setting up of a new car club in Mere.

Decision

1.  To confirm allocation of £10,000 for this project, subject to confirming the finer detail of the Grant Agreement with Co Cars.

2. To note that work is ongoing with Co Cars and Mere Town Council to decide how, when and where the Car Club will start up.

3. To note that a two percent engagement rate was achieved in Co Cars survey with Mere residents asking if they would like a car club, demonstrating sufficient support to proceed.

Reason

To confirm £10,000 of the grant funding allocated by the Area Board in March 2021 to the electric car club project.

To consider an update from the Nadder Centre Steering Group.

Cllr Nick Errington referred the Area Board to the summary of the latest meeting of the Nadder Centre Steering Group, located in Agenda Supplement 1. He reported that the centre’s manager was producing a business plan, which included longer opening hours. Efforts were being made to increase the membership of the centre to restore it towards pre-pandemic levels. He explained that the CEM was working closely with the centre’s manager to expand the level of children’s services on offer, particularly with St John’s CE Primary School. In order more children’s day activities to be delivered, the centre was reviewing whether to apply for Ofsted registration. Discussions were also underway about whether it was feasible to reopen the centre’s café.

An update from the Community Engagement Manager, Karen Linaker. 

The CEM explained that the Area Board had identified a total of 26 focus areas and were prioritising six at any time. She then went on to provide further information about some of the work undertaken towards the current top six priorities, as well as the activities taking place within the Area Board.

• In order to improve connectivity in rural areas work was being done to promote the link scheme, a scheme offering lifts to people with limited access to transport.

• An online event had been held to help to promote youth employment.

• The Make a Friend Be a Friend project was due to be rolled out in April in conjunction with Carer Support Wiltshire. Volunteers would take people along to participate in activities. The project would help to offer support to individuals working on schemes, such as the Men’s Shed. 

• The Area Board was looking at ways that it could better support vulnerable individuals by working with local organisations such as Mere Food Bank.

• A youth engagement event was planned to be held on 3 April to help to provide activities for 13- to 19-year-olds.

• The Area Board was hosting an eco-villages event, as well as running a Health and Wellbeing event in partnership with Cranbourne Chase.

• Celebrating Age events were also being run to provide music concerts, heritage and nature-based activities for older people.

In response to questions raised about what parish councils could do to help Ukrainian refugees, it was reported that the there was a refugee team working at Wiltshire Council and that ideas from parish councils were welcomed. Wiltshire Council had set up a dedicated email address in order for interested parties to get in touch refugees@wiltshire.gov.uk. The Chairman of Fovant Parish Council welcomed the information and encouraged the parishes within the Area Board to share ideas. The CEM explained that resettlement would involve contact with multiple agencies and that she could coordinate offers of help if required.

To note the actions and recommendations as set out in the report from the last meeting of CATG held on 23 February 2022, as detailed in the attached papers. A summary of the items requiring a funding decision are:

• 4d - £1500.00

• 6A - £1875.00

• 6B - £1595.25

Decision

To approve the recommendations as set out in the report:

• 4D - £1,500 - Tisbury Traffic Regulation Order – 20mph speed limit extension.

• 6A - £1,875 – Ansty – 20mph speed limit assessment.

• 6B - £1,595.25 – Barford St Martin - NAL retention sockets.

The Area Board is asked to consider the funding applications as set out in the attached report and summarised below:

CA = Community Area

H&W = Health and Wellbeing

ABI = Area Board Initiative

YG = Youth Grant

PC/TC = Parish Council/Town Council

The Area Board will be asked to note the following grant applications awarded via the delegated authority of the Community Engagement Manager:

The Area Board considered the funding applications as detailed in the reports pack. Applicants were invited to speak in support of their projects and to answer any questions that arose.

Health and Wellbeing Funding

Community Area Grants

The next meeting of the Board is on Wednesday 29 June 2022, at 6.30pm

The date of the next ordinary meeting of South West Wiltshire Area Board was confirmed as Wednesday 29 June 2022, at 6:30pm.