Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from:

-       Dawn Wilson

-       Anna Patterson

-       Catherine Roper – Chief Constable

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2024.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board:

·       Vaccine Confidence Training Session

·       EV Chargers

The following written Chairman’s updates were received and noted:

·       Details about the Draft Local Transport Plan 4 Consultation

·       Vaccine Confidence Training Session

·       EV Chargers

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Cost of Living Update

The following written updates and information items were received and noted:

·       Community First

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Cost of Living Update

To receive a presentation from Perry Payne, Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership about road safety matters.

The Area Board received a presentation from Perry Payne, Wiltshire Road Safety Partnership, which included detail about the members of the Partnership, Vision Zero, the three main workstreams – engineering, education and enforcement, traffic surveys, community speed watch – including statistical data and traffic survey information for the Pewsey area, speed indicator devices, Operation Snap, CSEO activity both county wide and in the Pewsey area, the Road Policing Unit and emerging issues.

The Partnership representative responded to the following comments and questions:

·       The apparent lack of action or engineering measures taken at accident blackspots in particular along the Devizes Road from Rushall to Devizes. The Partnership representative reported that accident blackspots are analysed and if an engineering solution is required to improve the safety of the road this would be forwarded onto Wiltshire Council for action.  He indicated that maybe on the occasions when accidents have occurred along Devizes Road that the threshold for action had not been reached. The Area Board noted that the Department for Transport retained statistical data about road accidents and the current Stats19 road accident injury statistics reporting was soon to be updated with an improved Stats20 statistical reporting method.

·       Operation Snap and the impact of GDPR on members of the public uploading CCTV footage of traffic offence allegations.

·       The use and effectiveness of AI to combat driving offences.

The Chairman thanked Perry Payne, Partnership Representative for his very informative presentation.

To welcome a Social Prescriber and receive a presentation exploring areas of engagement and working together.

This item was deferred until the next Area Board meeting as the Social Prescriber was unable to attend this meeting.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

•       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

•       Health & Wellbeing

•       Youth

•       Parish Councils

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

•       Neighbourhood Policing Team – to follow

•       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – Quarterly update - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHP0Q6ToS2s

•       Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership - Update to follow

The Area Board received a number of updates from Partners and community organisations as detailed below:

1. Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP)

The Area Board received an update from the PCAP representative Susie Brew and Colin Gale as follows:

-       PCAP celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Memory Café and the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership.

-       Cost of living food vouchers were still available, and residents were encouraged to apply for them.

-       Wilton Windmill and necessary repairs to the sails.

-       A successful grant application to provide a number of kissing gates and replacement stiles in the Pewsey area.

-       Residents were encouraged to read the draft Local Transport Plan 4

-       The expansion of the Connect Bus Service to the Collingbournes, Tidworth and Avebury.

-       Additional funding received for the Bus Improvement Plan, and electric buses are being introduced by Salisbury Reds.

-       The Network Rail Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study has been published and the Pewsey Vale Rail User Group and Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group have been working with TransWilts on the Strategy. There were concerns that the change in government may stifle the improvements as nationalisation may take up funds and resources.

-       Winter railway works were starting on Christmas eve with some extensive works along the west railway line would continue until 27 January 2025.

-       The Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership had expressed concern about the impact of the Government’s recent budget on the local economy in particular pubs and farmers.

-       Hopeful that the direct services from Great Bedwyn to Paddington would be reinstated 

2. Health & Wellbeing

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager circulated a number of information sheet that provided details about support for older people, children’s and families and financial support. He would be meeting with the local Social Prescriber to discuss help and support for vulnerable people and will set up a working group to look at what additional support can be offered.

3. Youth

-       The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager provided an update on the recent Area Board initiative for free swimming at Pewsey Leisure Centre, which would help in the region of 25 young people and their carers. He highlighted that about £3,000 of funding that had been agreed to help young people and also provide 2 events for Oxenwood remained unspent and suggested that this is added to the free swimming fund. He also agreed to speak to the Pewsey Vale Leisure Centre to see if carers can also be accommodated by the initiative.

-       Cllr Wheeler reported on an exciting presentation received by Shalbourne Parish Council about the upgrade and modernisation works at Oxenwood outdoor education centre, which would also provide improved facilities for disabled people.

Decision:

That the remainder of the unspent Oxenwood grant fund of £3,000 be diverted to the free swimming fund.

4. Environment

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager reported that he had acquired two new air quality monitors that can be used to check the air quality outside schools during the drop off and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152.

To receive updates on the Area Board priorities.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager provided updates to the Area Board about the work undertaken in each of the Board’s priority areas, detailed below, as reported under partner updates:

•                Priority 1 – To help provide positive activities for young people

•                Priority 2 – To help protect the environment and reduce carbon footprint

•                Priority 3 – To improve the health and wellbeing of older and vulnerable adults

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Remaining Budgets if all grants are agreed:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

The Board is asked to note any funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

• None

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found here.

The Area Board considered two applications for Community Area Grant funding.  The Chairman invited a representative of each application to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

Decision:

To approve the following grant funding:

1.    Community Area Grant funding

·       Pewsey Vale Bowls Club - to award £1,650 towards a new electric mower.

·       Stanton St Bernard Village Hall Committee – to award £677.22 towards Joyce Hale memorial bench.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 9 October 2024, as set out below:

Recommendations

·       To add the following Issues (with funding) to the Priority Schemes List:

o   10-23-4 Rushall Pewsey Road Footway (£5,000),

o   10-23-7 Burbage Stibb Green Footway (£5,000),

o   10-24-04 Great Bedwyn Granary Lane over-run area (£1320),

o   10-24-05 East Grafton Wilton Road lining (£250) and Pewsey Broomcroft Road warning sign (£250).

·       To allocate funding to Issues currently on the Priority Schemes List:

o   10-23-9 A345 Sunnyhill Lane Bus Stop infrastructure (£5,000)

o   10-24-10 Great Bedwyn Browns Lane  Gateway (an additional £1,200).

·       To close the following Issue:

o   10-22-12 Upavon High Street Footway  

The Area Board received the minutes and considered the recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 9 October 2024, as detailed in the report.

On the proposal of Cllr Oatway QPM and seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved:

Decision:

1.    To add the following Issues (with funding) to the Priority Schemes List:

a.    10-23-4 Rushall Pewsey Road Footway (£3750)

b.    10-23-7 Burbage Stibb Green Footway (£3750)

c.    10-24-04 Great Bedwyn Granary Lane over-run area (£1320)

d.    10-24-05 East Grafton Wilton Road lining (£250) and Pewsey Broomcroft Road warning sign (£250)

2.    To allocate funding to Issues currently on the Priority Schemes List:

a.    10-23-9 A345 Sunnyhill Lane Bus Stop infrastructure (£5,000)

b.    10-24-10 Great Bedwyn Browns Lane Gateway (an additional £1,200)

3.    To close the following Issue:

a.    10-22-12 Upavon High Street Footway

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

·       The Area Board noted the sad loss of Richard Youens, Life President of Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

·       The Area Board were informed of an opportunity to re-align and repaint the junction of Old Hospital Road and Vale Road following its recent resurfacing. The Chairman agreed to raise the matter with the Pewsey LHFIG Engineer - Mark Stansby.

Future Meeting Dates (7.00-9.00pm):

• 3 March 2025
• 20 May 2025
• 9 June 2025

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Engagement and  Partnership Lead, Caroline.LeQuesne@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Area Board noted the following future meeting dates (7.00-9.00pm):

• 3 February 2025 (brought forward from 3 March 2025 due to the pre-election period)
• 20 May 2025
• 9 June 2025

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.