Agenda and minutes

Victim Support Wiltshire ran a stall to provide information to the public about the services their charity provides to victims of crime.

To welcome attendees to the meeting and receive announcements through the Chairman, including:

·       Post-16 Skills and Participation

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Family Help Hubs

The Chairman welcomed attendees to the meeting and introduced the councillors and officers present.

The Chairman then referred the Area Board to the following updates available in the agenda pack:

·       Post-16 Skills and Participation (pg.1)

·       Cost of Living Update (pg. 3-8)

·       Family Help Hubs (pg. 9-11)

Providing further information about cost of living issues, she noted that residents living in park homes were eligible for £400 from the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Jacqui Lay

·       Mark Hopkins – Clerk of Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council

·       Phil Peaple – Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

·       Angela Jensen – Vice-Chairman of Cricklade Town Council

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2023 as a true and correct record.

On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved to:

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 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 receive updates from our key partners, including:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c.     Army Welfare Service

d.    Community First

e.    Healthwatch Wiltshire

f.      BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Together – Integrated Care System

g.    Parish and Town Councils

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from:

·       Wiltshire Police (pg. 23-30)

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (Agenda Supplement 1)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire (pg. 31)

·       BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Together – Integrated Care System (pg.33-34)

·       Community First (pg.35-37)

Verbal updates were also provided by the following partners:

Victim Support Wiltshire

Ashley Hunt, Independent Victim Advocate, explained that they were a charity supporting the victims of crime. She confirmed that they supported the victims of both historic and recent crimes and were keen to raise awareness of the services on offer.

Wiltshire Police

Inspector Louis McCoy gave an overview of their key areas of focus in the local area.

·       Wiltshire Police had been working closely with local schools and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council to tackle the issues of parking near schools and graffiti in the town’s play parks.

·       They had also been supporting the family of a victim of a recent fatal road collision in Royal Wootton Bassett.

·       Work was being undertaken to tackle anti-social behaviour near the leisure centre in Cricklade with visible patrols by Police Community Support Officers and Neighbourhood Sergeant Kate Smith.

·       The road closure at Clack Hill was continuing to be enforced.

·       In efforts to improve visibility in the community they had held a ‘week of action’ in February and had carried out overt patrols on 27 days in January.

·       They were working closely with schools to tackle the issue of sexting.

During the discussion Jason from Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust suggested that looking at the broadband hub would help to identify people exploiting the open Wifi at the leisure centre in Cricklade.

In response to a question from Geoffrey Greenaway from Purton Parish Council about whether support would be on offer to tackle poor parking near schools in Purton, the inspector stated that his Police Community Support Officers would engage with the issue.

Further details from Wiltshire Police about road safety in the local area are attached to these minutes.

To receive an update from Highways England and Wiltshire Council’s Highways Team about the progress made towards the new cycle route.

Highway Project Engineer Jack Francis, from Wiltshire Council, delivered a presentation about the cycleway project. The engineer gave an overview of the background of the scheme, its proposed route, key aims and challenges before outlining the next steps in taking the project forward. Chris Hildrup and Zejaj Siddiqi from National Highways were also in attendance to answer queries.

During the presentation, key points included:

·       The aims of the project included providing a safe travel route and reducing traffic around Junction 16 of the M4.

·       The project to date had been funded by National Highways but would also require funding from Wiltshire Council to take the project forward.

·       Detailed design work was being undertaken with consultants from National Highways and it was hoped that design works would be completed by the summer of 2023.

·       The pathway would be three metres wide with space for both cyclists and walkers.

·       Plans for the route had been dictated by the topography of Lydiard Fields and the need to avoid an Esso pipeline.

·       Planning permission and agreements with landowners would have to be in place before the project could proceed. Work was also going on with contractors to provide cost estimates for the scheme.

·       The route would be segregated from the A3102. A fence and vegetation would shield the route when it passed close to the M4 slip road.

·       Wiltshire Council had bid for Active Travel (Tranche 4) funding from the Department for Transport.

·       Conversations would be held with property developers regarding the use of S106 money in the construction of the project.

·       Further public engagement events would take place once the designs had been finalised.

During the discussion the following points were made:

·       The Area Board thanked the project engineer for the update and said that they looked forward to further consultation events.

·       It was confirmed that there were no plans to light the route, but they would consider installing ducting so that lighting could be added in future. Cllr Steve Bucknell observed that lighting the route was likely to add complexity at the planning stage and raise environmental issues.

·       When asked about whether the route would connect with existing cycle paths in Swindon, the engineer confirmed that the route would terminate at Lydiard Fields near the Blagrove industrial area but could be extended with the agreement of Swindon Borough Council.

·       The proposed route was the result of an existing consultation, and any major changes could lead to a delay in the project.

·       In response to a suggestion that the path was located closer to Junction 16, Cllr Steve Bucknell highlighted that there would be difficulties in access due to the need to avoid utilities.

·       The engineer suggested that the route would be shared with landowners in the coming weeks and that their permission would be required to undertake topological surveys. Land was likely to be acquired on a long-term lease through a third-party agreement.

·       The owner of Spittleborough Farm, which was located along the proposed route, noted that he had first been notified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

To receive an update about the road closure.

Highway Project Engineer Jack Francis, then provided an update about the road closure at Lyneham Banks. He noted that there had a history of movement on the site dating back to at least the 1940s. A major landslip occurred in February 2022, with 100 metres of the road moving approximately 25 metres to the north, and movement did not settle until July 2022. Drone surveys took place between March and October 2022. Once they were confident that the site had settled, detailed ground investigations were carried out over a wide area in November and December. 31 boreholes and 21 trial pits were created, and long-term monitoring stations put in place.

He explained that a major change to the traffic management system had been implemented in November 2022 with a one-way system introduced on Clack Hill. Speed and weight limits were also updated on nearby roads, leading to a reduction in speeding in December when compared to the previous road management system. He reassured the Area Board that traffic data was being monitored closely and would be used to inform any future changes. A range of options were being considered for the designs of a new road. The engineer highlighted that they were releasing updates on a quarterly basis and planned to run a webinar in late April.  

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·       The Area Board thanked the engineer for the update and stated that they looked forward to the webinar.

·       It was confirmed that Wiltshire Council had a statutory obligation to keep the road open.

·       The exact route of the replacement road would be determined after the study but was anticipated to be in a similar location to the existing road.

·       Jenny Stratton, a trustee of Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal Trust asked about the signage relating to their pub, The Peterborough Arms, located off of the B4069. The engineer confirmed that a number of business open as usual signs had been installed in December and that there were no physical barriers preventing access to the pub.

Further information is available here.

To find out more about how to become a foster parent.

The SEPM explained that there were 468 Children Looked After in Wiltshire, 264 of which were living with foster carers. He noted that there was a shortage of foster carers in Wiltshire, so many children were having to be placed with independent fostering agencies. He reported that there were twenty four children in care in the Area Board’s area and that they were still short of sixteen fostering families. He then outlined the characteristics required to become a foster parent and encouraged people who were interested, or knew of a person who might be, to contact fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk or look at their website www.fosteringwiltshire.uk. He also suggested that communities could help to promote the scheme through local newsletters.

The Area Board thanked the SEPM for his presentation echoing his comments about asking volunteers to come forward. Three councillors spoke about their experiences of being foster parents, emphasising that the benefits of fostering went both ways, so could be hugely rewarding for fosterers as well as the young people being looked after. 

Updates from Area Board Members on the Community Area Action Plan.

Updates were provided by lead members.

RWB and Cricklade Youth Forum Update – Cllr Allison Bucknell

The Chairman referred the Area Board to the notes from the last Youth Forum meeting on 8 February, on pages 49 to 54 of the agenda pack. It was stated that the next meeting would be held on 26 April 2023.

RWB and Cricklade Environmental Forum Update – Cllr Steve Bucknell

Cllr Steve Bucknell stated that he would welcome feedback from parishes ahead of the next Environmental Forum. He explained that Wiltshire Council’s climate team issued a report every six months and their next report in May could also be discussed at their next meeting. He suggested that the next meeting could involve a site visit to make it more interactive.

Jason from Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust reported that the infrared camera, procured to identify areas of heat loss in buildings, had been a great success. The camera was purchased using Area Board grant funding and had been used on a diverse range of properties, including Purton Church. Jason suggested that the cameras could be used by local councils on their own buildings and would be available for use in villages.

The Chairman noted that Wiltshire Wildlife Trust had recently announced the purchase of Great Wood near Grittenham.

RWB and Cricklade Community Care Group – Cllr Mary Champion and Cllr David Bowler

Cllr Champion referred the Area Board to the report on pages 55 to 57 of the agenda pack.

High Street Update – Cllr Bob Jones MBE

Household Economy – Cllr Jacqui Lay

(including food banks)

Cllr Steve Bucknell reported that negotiations were ongoing with a property in Royal Wootton Bassett about setting up a banking hub. He also noted that Lloyds Bank were running services at Lime Kiln Leisure Centre on Thursdays, although these did not include cash transactions.

To receive updates from recent meetings of the RWB and Cricklade Community Safety Forum.

The Chairman reported that the Community Safety Forum had held a meeting on 10 March where Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue spoke about the recruitment and retention of firefighters. She noted that Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue also provided free defibrillator training.

To consider the recommendations arising from the LHFIG meeting of 22 February 2023.

The Vice-Chairman highlighted that there had been challenges in progressing projects due to the availability of engineers. However, he did welcome that LHFIG funding was able to be rolled over to the next financial year. On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman it was resolved:

Decision

To note the discussions and updates in the attached report from the LHFIG meeting of 22 February 2023.

To consider the following applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

·       Latton Jubilee Community Garden requesting £1,868.40 towards the community garden.

·       North Wiltshire Woodturners Association requesting £500 towards a Camvac Dust Extractor.

·       Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust requesting £480 towards trees and wildflower areas in the town’s green spaces.

·       Cricklade Bowls Club requesting £4,750 towards electrical fitting out and flooring.

The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme. The Chairman confirmed that there was insufficient funding remaining in the 2022/23 Community Area Grant budget to award the applications in full, so invited the applicants to speak in support of their applications before any formal proposal was made.

        i.         Latton Jubilee Community Garden requesting £1,868.40 towards their Community Garden

Jaqui from Latton spoke in favour of their application. She confirmed that they were requesting just under half of the funding and had applied for support from both Thatcher’s and the parish council.

       ii.         North Wiltshire Woodturners Association requesting £500 towards a Camvac Dust Extractor

Mike Crawshaw, Chairman of the association, spoke in favour of their application. He explained that their air conditioning system caused wood shavings to scatter throughout their hall, so the extractor was required to clean up in a timely fashion.

     iii.         Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust requesting £480 towards Trees and Wildflower Areas

Jason from Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust spoke in favour of their application explaining that it would improve biodiversity. A new cutter would help to reduce grass growth around new saplings.

     iv.         Cricklade Bowls Club requesting £4,750 towards Electrical Fitting Out and Flooring

Clive from Cricklade Bowls Club spoke in favour of their application confirming that around £800 would go towards flooring with the remainder going towards the wiring. He stated that membership fees were £85 per year but that club funds were low.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager confirmed that money was left over in the Older and Vulnerable People’s budget. It was noted that the applications from Latton Community Garden, North Wiltshire Woodturners and Cricklade Bowls Club would primarily benefit Older and Vulnerable People, so would also be eligible for grant funding from that budget.

On the proposal of Cllr Steve Bucknell, seconded by Cllr Champion, it was resolved:

Decision

i.               To award Latton Jubilee Community Garden £1,868.40 towards their Community Garden

ii.             To award North Wiltshire Woodturners Association £500 towards a Camvac Dust Extractor

iii.            To award Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust £480 towards Trees and Wildflower Areas

iv.            To award Cricklade Bowls Club £4,750 towards Electrical Fitting Out and Flooring

Reason: The applications met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2022/23. Three of the applications also met Older and Vulnerable People’s Grant Criteria 2022/23, so funding could be allocated from that budget so the applications could be awarded in full.

An open, public question and answer session to raise issues with your local representative (please note that if answers cannot be provided on the night, written responses will be provided after the meeting).

In response to a question about how to apply for grant funding, the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM) stated that guidance was available on Wiltshire Council’s website and potential applicants were welcome to contact him via andrew.jack@wiltshire.gov.uk. 

The Chairman of Cricklade Town Council highlighted that the Area Board had not spent its entire Youth Grant budget for 2022/23 and queried whether the Older and Vulnerable People’s budget could be used to support luncheon clubs.

In response, the Area Board Chairman explained that an aim of Youth funding was often to support one off events or get new schemes up and running so they could be self-sustaining. The SEPM reported that the Area Board Delivery Officer, Vice-Chairman and he had recently visited Cricklade Open Door.

When asked about how the overall grant budgets were calculated for each Area Board, the SEPM explained that the budgets were divided between the 18 Area Boards based on population, but also weighted according to the indices of multiple deprivation and rurality. The Older and Vulnerable People’s budget was divided equally between the 18 Area Boards with each receiving £7,700. It was confirmed that any unspent money would return to Wiltshire Council’s general budget.

It was highlighted that Wessex Community Action and the National Lottery were also good sources of community funding. Applicants had 12 months from the time the grant was awarded to start their project.

The Director for the Environment explained that comments about Area Boards in a recent Local Government Agency Corporate Peer Challenge had been positive and included recommendations about how they could play a greater role in Wiltshire Council’s place shaping agenda.

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

There were no urgent items.

To confirm the date of the next business meeting as 6:00pm on Thursday 22 June 2023, at Lyneham Primary School.

The date of the next meeting of the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board would be held on Thursday 22 June 2023 at 6:00pm in Lyneham Primary School.