Agenda and minutes

To elect a chairman for the forthcoming year.

Resolved:

To appoint Cllr Johnny Kidney as Chairman of Bradford on Avon Area Board for the forthcoming year.

To elect a vice-chairman for the forthcoming year.

Resolved:

To appoint Cllr Tim Trimble as Vice-Chairman of Bradford on Avon Area Board for the forthcoming year.

There were no apologies.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2023.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2023 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.

There were no Chairman’s updates.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Moving Traffic Enforcement

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Wiltshire Libraries Supporting to Stay Online

o   National Numeracy Day

o   Cost of Living Update

The Chairman drew attention to the following information items which were noted by the Area Board:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Moving Traffic Enforcement

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Wiltshire Libraries Supporting to Stay Online

o   National Numeracy Day

·       Cost of Living Update

To appoint representatives to outside bodies, to reconstitute and appoint Working Groups for the year 2023/24.

The Area Board received a report requesting appointments of Councillor representatives to outside bodies, the reconstitution of and appointment to non-priority working groups for the Year 2023/24.

Cllr Gibson and Cllr Kidney reported that Streets Ahead and the Air Quality Alliance no longer operated as outside bodies and that discussions should take place about merging them with Climate Friendly Bradford.

Resolved:

1.    That Cllr Sarah Gibson be asked to discuss the merging of Streets Ahead and the Air Quality Alliance with Climate Friendly Bradford.

2.    To appoint Cllr Tim Trimble as Lead Representative to the LHFIG, as set out in Appendix A.

3.    To note the LHFIG Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix B.

To receive a presentation from Mel Grace and Helen Robertson, Scottish and Southern Electricity Network about registration for their priority service and resilient community’s fund.

The Area Board received a presentation from Mel Grace, Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) about how the public can register for their priority service and resilient community’s fund.

The SSEN representative spoke about customer vulnerability during incidents such as power cuts during bad weather, and the benefits of registering for their priority service register. She also commented on how organisations could make applications to their Resilient Community Fund to support resilience and vulnerability.

In response to questions from the Area Board the SSEN representative confirmed that SSEN would welcome the opportunity to attend the Area Board Health and Wellbeing meetings to discuss their activities further.

The Area Board noted that the Fund is now open to bids until 31 July 2023.

The Chairman thanked the SSEN representative for attending the meeting and the very informative presentation.  

To receive a report from the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager and Area Board Delivery Officer.

The Area Board received a presentation from the Caroline LeQuesne - Area Board Delivery Officer (ABDO) about the end of year report for May 2021-March 2023.

The presentation provided information about the Bradford on Avon Area Board community Area engagements, investment in the community, current local priorities with key achievements.

The ABDO thanked the Bradford on Avon community for their contribution in making the activities for the period very successful.

The Chairman thanked the ABDO for a very informative presentation.   

To receive a presentation from the Area Board Delivery Officer.

The Area Board received a presentation from Caroline LeQuesne - Area Board Delivery Officer (ABDO) about deprivation indices for the Bradford on Avon community area and Area Board priorities for the coming year.

The presentation provided detail about the deprivation indices and the how information on the following areas formed the indices:

·       Income

·       Employment

·       Crime

·       barriers to housing and services

·       education, skills and training

·       living environment; and

·       health and disability

The Area Board noted that they were being encouraged to focus investment, both in terms of money and time into their most deprived areas, this could include targeted grant funding and pro-active initiatives being set-up to tackle key issues.

In support of the deprivation indices the Area Board considered and expressed support for the proposed priorities for the coming year as detailed below:

1.    Positive activities for young people – Lead member Cllr Trevor Carbin

2.    Loneliness and isolation – Lead member Cllr Johnny Kidney

3.    Supporting the local economy focussing upon the Local Plan – Lead member Cllr Sarah Gibson

4.    Improving access and transport – Lead member Cllr Tim Trimble

5.    Addressing climate change – all Cllrs as this area should be embedded in the 4 priorities above.

Decision:

That the priorities for 2023/24 as detailed above be agreed.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Parish and Town Councils

·       Climate Friendly Bradford

·       Wiltshire Music Centre

·       Health and Wellbeing

·       Local Youth Network

Written Updates

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

·       Bradford on Avon Town Council

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Fire & Rescue

Verbal Updates

·       Bradford on Avon Town Council

The Area Board received an update from Cllr Katie Vigar, Mayor of Bradford on Avon Town Council, which included detail about the construction of the skate park, due for completion at the end of August 2023, results of the traffic modelling report were expected in the autumn, the coronation weekend was very successful and the music festival during the first week of June 2023 was also very successful.

·       Winsley Parish Council

The Chairman thanked the Area Board for a recent grant towards play equipment In the village park.

·       Climate Friendly Bradford - there was no report.

·       Wiltshire Music Centre - there was no report

·       Health and Wellbeing

The Chairman reported that a meeting is due to be held shortly and he thanked Jenny Parker for her help and support with this group.

·       Local Youth Network - there was no report.

Written Updates:

·       Bradford on Avon Town Council – see above

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

The Area Board received a written update from Neighbourhood Sgt Gemma Rutter, which included detail about crime data year on year and crime exceptions, performance, activities during since the last Area Board meeting, local priorities and updates and an update on road safety.

It was noted that the Police representative was unable to attend the Area Board meeting due to other activities associated with the Summer Solstice.

·       Fire & Rescue – there was no written report.

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

Remaining Budgets:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

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

The Area Board considered 3 applications for Community Area Grants and heard from the applicants.

Resolved:

To approve the following Community Area Grants:

1.    West Wilts Radio – £1,250 towards the WWR DAB Project

2.    Winsley Village Hall - £2,000 towards new heating

3.    Saxon Group Riding for the Disabled Association - £440 towards suitable seating

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 17 April 2023, as set out in the attached report.

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Area Board received the notes of the LHFIG meeting held on 17 April 2023.

Resolved:

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 17 April 2023.

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

There were no urgent items.

Future Meeting Dates (7.00-9.00pm):

·       13 September 2023

·       1 November 2023

·       21 February 2024

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Area Board Delivery Officer, Caroline.LeQuesne@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Area Board noted the dates of future meetings to be held at St Margarets Hall, Bradford on Avon between 7.00pm and 9.00pm as follows:

•                13 September 2023

•                1 November 2023

•                21 February 2024