Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

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

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 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 6 June 2022.

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

Cllr Carole King declared an interest in the grant application from Westbury Heritage Society as she was the treasurer of the organisation.

To receive the following announcements through the Chair:

·       Annual Canvass

·       Update on behalf of Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living

·       Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Team

·       Building Bridges

·       Temporary Events Notices

·       Local Successes

The Chairman made the following announcements, which were contained in the agenda pack:

·       Annual Canvass

The Chairman stated that each year the statutory Annual Canvass process takes place between June – November to act as an audit to ensure the electoral register is accurate and all those people entitled to vote are registered. In addition, forms had been sent to all properties in July, with residents encouraged to check that the information is correct or to update their details using the form appropriately. Further information regarding the Annual Canvass could be found within the briefing note.

·       Update on behalf of the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living 

It was noted that within the agenda pack was a partner update from the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living. It was outlined that the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living is a Disabled People’s user led organization with the aim to ensure that all people in Wiltshire can live the life they choose as valued members of their community. The update included information about the main activities conducted by the centre in order to support people to live independently and to have a voice.

Cllr Gordon King updated that at the Cabinet meeting that had taken place earlier that day, a strategy had been adopted based upon the CIL Survey.

·       Strategic Engagement  and Partnerships Briefing Note

The Chairman informed that a new staffing structure had come into place for the Engagement and Partnerships team, which has introduced three officer levels of support to local communities and Area Boards. The service would work with communities in an innovative and proactive way to empower them to do even more for themselves and to deliver to the Wiltshire Council Business Plan. Attached to the agenda pack was a brief overview of the respective duties.

Following this, Graeme Morrison, Strategic Engagement Partnerships Manager for the Westbury Area, provided an overview of his new role in relation to the Area Board. In addition, the Area Board also welcomed Claire Edgar, Director of Wholelife Pathway and Adult Social Services, to the Area Board who had been allocated as a member of the extended leadership team to attend meetings.

·       Building Bridges

Attention was drawn to the Building Bridges Briefing note within the agenda pack. It was outlined that the project continues to support those furthest from the workplace or with multiple barriers back towards the world of work, education or training. The team offer bespoke 1:1 support to help identify what barriers a person might have which are preventing them progressing and help plan ways to address these. They could even offer up to 12 weeks support once someone has entered employment or education to ensure they have settled in and aid with transition. The chairman stated that referrals can be made by a professional or self-referral and can be made via the website:www.buildingbridgessw.org.uk

·       Temporary Events Notices

The Chairman noted that  a briefing note had been attached to the agenda pack to raise member and public awareness around the use and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive any updates from partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

·       POPCAN

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda pack.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda pack.

·       Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda pack.

·       POPCAN (Penleigh Park Group)

The Area Board received an update from Sheila Kimmins on behalf of POPCAN. Sheila updated that though POPCAN is currently short of volunteers, it is speaking with the 4Youth team to find a way forward.

·       Town and Parish Councils

The Area Board received an update from Sheila Kimmins on behalf of Westbury Town Council. The update covered the following points:

• It was stated how the recent passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had affected the Town Council.
• A week of celebration towards 100 years of the Laverton had recently taken place. Celebrations included a new stone that was made as well as events being held each day including lunches, children’s activities and a quiz night.
• The Chili Festival also took place on 24 September and was very well attended having attracted visitors from such places as Newcastle and America.

Cllr Gordon King updated that a mini draft of the content for the Westbury Neighbourhood Plan had now been produced as part of the Section 14 notice for statutory consultation period. It was stressed that people have until 23 November to make comments on the plan and there is a survey available for completion online.

Cllr Dean reiterated the points made by Cllr Gordon King as well as adding the importance of having a plan which engenders wide spread community support that can be successfully adopted as planning policy.

The Area Board will be asked to consider the recommendations from the 9 August 2022 Westbury Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting outlined in the report.

The Chairman introduced the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 9 August 2022.

Resolved:

The minutes of the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 9 August 2022 were agreed as a correct record as well as the recommendations within.

To consider the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants

·       Westbury Heritage Society - £400 towards Westbury Museum and Westbury Heritage Society Artefact conservation and storage project.

·       Bratton Jubilee Hall Management Committee - £5,000 towards New heating and lighting for Bratton Jubilee Hall.

Youth Grants

·       Westbury Youth Club - £3,519.50 towards Westbury Youth Club.

·       Crosspoint Westbury - £2,000 towards Counselling for Young People.

The Area Board considered the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

• Westbury Heritage Society - £400 towards Westbury Museum and Westbury Heritage Society Artefact conservation and storage project.

Resolved:

Westbury Heritage Society was awarded £400 towards Westbury Museum and Westbury Heritage Society Artefact conservation and storage project.

• Bratton Jubilee Hall Management Committee - £5,000towards new heating and lighting for Bratton Jubilee Hall.

Resolved:

Bratton Jubilee Hall Management Committee was awarded £3,000 towards new heating and lighting for Bratton Jubilee Hall, with the applicant invited to make a second application for funding to be discussed at final Area Board meeting of the financial year. It was also noted that the Area Board would be mindful of this application when considering others that are received.

Youth Grants:

·       Westbury Youth Club - £3,519.50 towards Westbury Youth Club.

Resolved:

Westbury Youth Club was awarded £3,519.50 towards Westbury Youth Club.

·       Crosspoint Westbury - £2,000 towards Counselling for Young People.

Resolved:

Crosspoint Westbury was awarded £2,000 towards Counselling for Young People.

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

Cllr Dean updated that he had taken some time to speak to the case officer for Wiltshire Council, who was preparing for the public enquiry against the Westbury incinerator and that he was impressed with the resource and competence of the barrister and two expert witnesses.

Cllr Wickham provided an update on the Westbury Pollinator project, with it noted that though there had been delays due to changes in Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Officers, an officer had now been around to villages and the town for consultation on sites to be considered. Reports are now being put together and would be published in due course. Cllr Wickham thanked those who had volunteered and looked forward to spring when preparation for planting could take place.

Graeme Morrison informed grant applicant that there could potentially be a delay in payment due to the administrator being on holiday.

In the absence of Inspector Al Lumley, it was requested that if any attendees had questions for the Police that they be sent to Graeme Morrison, who could then pass them on to Inspector Lumley.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on 24 November 2022.

The date of the next meeting is 24 November 2022.