Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from:

• Councillor xxxx

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Richard Clewer

Perry Payne, Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5 September 2024.

The minutes of the last meeting were presented.

It was;

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 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.

To receive presentations from Wiltshire Council’s Flood Resilience Officer and from parish councils working on flood plans.

The Board received a presentation from Renate Malton, Flood Resilience Officer, who’s role included:

•        Work with town and parish councils to encourage them to make flood plans offering help and information.

•        Developing online resources for town and parishes to help with flood plans

•        Input to Neighbourhood Plans

•        Land Drainage & Ordinary Watercourses

•        Operational Flood Working Group (OFWG) meetings

•        Responding to enquires around flooding/drainage

Questions and comments included:

·       In Alderbury there were issues with groundwater flooding. The current issues as they stand today need to be included in consideration in planning matters when Wessex Water & the Environment Agency were consulted. The data used was from the 1970s and since that time, water levels had changed considerably.

Answer: The Council, as the planning authority has a responsibility to consider groundwater, however if an application is refused permission, the applicant can go to appeal where the decision can be overruled by the inspectorate. We cannot stop an application if it goes to appeal. It is important that the parishes record the areas of known flooding, by taking pictures and logging evidence to be used when a planning application comes up.

·       Winterbourne PC had difficulty with the Environment Agency (EA) not protecting the river through the parish. There had been incidents where residents had extended structures into the water and the removal of those had not been enforced by the EA. Was there a definitive map of where the ditches were?

Answer: That class of river remains the responsibility of the EA. Attend the next OFWG meeting where there will be a representative from the EA to answer questions. Also, keep a report of any issues and take to the working group. I use google maps and we have historic maps to view. When we have a query, we go back to the old maps to check. I can request an AO map and you could then carry out the work to edit accordingly.

·       The OWFG are online and always very informative. Landford have worked hard on their plan. What help was available for places with prior history of flooding and what was PEAS?

Answer: PEAS was the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme, which was set up a few years ago to provide gel sacks, signage and fluorescent tabards etc for flood wardens. Town and parish councils could apply to PEAS for these items and each year all clerks were contacted and asked if any top ups were required. A note of caution, was that if distributing gel sacks, these should be done so in a fair way, so it was recommended that parishes had a fair policy set out to ensure that provision was available to all in need and to prevent repeat requests from the same households who after an initial flood, should be encouraged to take preventative measures for future years.

·       Alderbury PC had experienced a number of persistent issues regarding a ditch along the road. It was highly dangerous as there was a blocked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To discuss ideas to strengthen local youth support, engagement and activities, including plans for a new youth music festival.

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager explained that the Area Board had a strong focus on strengthening youth activities as a priority.

Are Boards had a budget of delegated funding to support youth projects. The Area Board had previously allocated part of this funding to the provision of positive youth activities.

In collaboration with SCC, the Area Board had set up a youth club in Bishopdown Farm. The Board wished to look for more opportunities to collaborate youth activities. It was recognised that there were gaps in delivery and capacity which could result in pockets of antisocial behaviour.

It was known that transport and affordability were key barriers, especially for the more rural areas. Youth worker capacity was also an issue as Southern Wiltshire did not have a youth worker, which was why the Board looked to SCC to assist, however unfortunately, the SCC youth workers did not have the capacity to provide the level of accessibility to us across the community area.

Funding was always a challenge when looking at ideas to provide more cover.

Parent led youth clubs were often not well enough equipped to cater for challenging behaviour. Part of the solution in areas with pockets of antisocial behaviour was to have paid youth workers, who provide an added value in terms of the relationships they are able to build with the young people, developing a sense of trust and support to them with identifying and signposting them to training to support their needs and progression.

The Area Board also set up a Youth Partnership Forum.  - …..

Sarah Gregson from Salisbury City Council as lead for the Hampton Park Youth Club spoke about the set up at the youth club, explaining that it had been replicated from the Hang Out in the Friary.

Lola, Summer and Sophie were some of the young people in attendance who spoke on their experiences of attending the Hang Out and the Hampton Park Youth Clubs.

Young people aged 11 – 16 were able to attend and hang out, play games, have snacks and build better friendships. There had been trips to the playhouse, the cathedral light show and a silent disco.

The young people at Bishopdown Farm had expressed an interest in adding a sports element to the club to enable new starters to overcome the awkward nervousness when initially joining, as they felt that a group activity would be more welcoming.

Those present then participated in a round table exercise to brainstorm ideas in response to 4 questions:

•        What was good about local youth support and activities?

•        What needed to be improved?

•        What new activities need to be delivered?

•        If funds were raise to deliver a youth music festival, what should the festival include?

Karen Linaker would collate the responses and feedback at a future meeting.

A youth activity and support survey was also promoted. Access to the survey was available through the QR code:

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team – Inspector Tina Osborn

·       Parish Councils and Community groups

Written Updates

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

·       Police (to follow)

·       Fire & Rescue web link: https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news-incidents/

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda and received the following verbal updates:

Neighbourhood Police Team – Inspector Tina Osborn

In addition to the written update in supplement 1 to the agenda, Inspector Osborn noted the following points:

·       Colleague PC Kelvin Ramsey introduced.

·       Hare coursing had increased.

·       Off road bikes – some arrests and prosecutions.

·       Castlehill country park – investigation taking place after a female was attacked. Additional patrols and engagement with the schools to spread the word. Working with Country Park user group to highlight areas of vulnerability and in discussions with the Group and the PC to look at possibilities of cameras in the area – further update on this next time.

·       Tool thefts from vehicles – A national problem for a number of forces. Wiltshire had a dedicated team working on this area of crime. Alderbury was hit with 5/6 offences in one night, an investigation was ongoing. People were urged to increase security where possible, and not to leave tools in vans overnight where possible.  The force was focused on hot spot areas, distributing DNA marking kits. If anyone sees suspicious activity with several people in a dark vehicle in the early hours of the morning, please call the police and report it straight away.

·       New speedwatch team in Ford on sat.

·       A Community Engagement event was planned for 24 Nov at the New Forest Lodge. Come and discuss any issues and invited to email in specific questions in advance: tina.osborn@wiltshire.police.uk or kelvin.ramsey@wiltshire.police.uk

Questions and comments included:

·       Would you still be attending Whiteparish on 20November?

Answer: Yes that was still happening.

·       Was there a possibility to get ahead of the game by using FB groups and magazines to make sure local tradesmen can get hold of this DNA kit?

Answer: Because it’s a problem across the whole county there were only a set amount of the DNA marking kits at the moment so target areas were currently being offered the kits. As soon as more were available, we would be able to spread the word.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

Despite a fall in inflation, financial pressures remained for many, particularly as winter approached and with recent increases to the energy price cap. Wiltshire Council would continue to provide support with its libraries continuing to offer warm spaces and a place for advice and support. In addition, the excellent community partners were working to support older and vulnerable people in the Southern Wiltshire Area, and the Area Board were on hand to provide additional support where possible.

Celebrating Age would be hosting a live festive concert at the Glebe Hall, Winterbourne Earls from 1pm-3pm on 11 December 2024. This was a free to attend event, but those interested were advised to contact Karen.Linaker@wiltshire.gov.uk to book a place.

Leaflets circulated at the meeting included the Silver Salisbury brochure detailing the activities and provision over next 12 months. Thanks to Irene for her continued work on this.

For anyone wishing to apply for the Winter Fuel pension credits, assistance was available in libraries, with a deadline for applications of 21 December 2024.  

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Cost of Living Update

The Board noted the Information Items as set out in the agenda pack, these were:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Cost of Living Update

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

Remaining Budgets:

Officer: Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager

Area Board Initiatives:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

There have been no funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings.

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

The Board noted the budgets remaining for allocation at the meeting and heard from representatives in attendance who gave a brief overview of their project followed by any questions by the Board.

Budgets available at the meeting were:

Community Area Grants: £5,557.01

Older & Vulnerable Grants: £3,085

Young People Grants: £12,821

Older & Vulnerable Adults Grants:

Old Sarum & Longhedge CIO - Winter help for vulnerable & at-risk

people at Old Sarum & Longhedge Community Pantry requested £1,250

The Applicant Nina Cope spoke in support of the project.

In response to questions, the applicant confirmed that they would identify need through experience of their customers and from signposting from the Foodbank and Silver Salisbury.

Fire and safety notices would be provided with each blanket to ensure that users were aware of possible risks or hazards.  There would be approximately 50 people who would benefit from the service.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to award in full. This was seconded by Cllr Andrew Oliver.

Decision

Old Sarum & Longhedge CIO was awarded £1,250 towards Winter help for vulnerable & at-risk people at Old Sarum & Longhedge Community Pantry project.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24

The Silver Salisbury Group - Laverstock and Old Sarum

Intergenerational Reminiscence Project, requested £500

The Applicant Irene Kohler spoke in support of the project.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to award in full. This was seconded by Cllr Andrew Oliver.

Decision

The Silver Salisbury Group was awarded £500 towards Laverstock and Old Sarum Intergenerational Reminiscence Project.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25

Area Board Initiatives:

Allington Silent Disco – Requested £500

Karen Linaker spoke in support of the project.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to award in full.

This was seconded by Cllr Richard Britton.

Decision

The Area Board Initiative - Allington Silent Disco was awarded £500.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25

Young People Grants:

Apprenticeships in Salisbury trading under Supplytrain CIC - Salisbury 2025 Apprenticeships and Early Careers Directory, requested £500.

The Applicant Maggie Fowler spoke in support of the project.

In response to questions, the applicant clarified the document would be available electronically to all pupils via the schools in Downton and Laverstock as well as the sixth forms. Printed copies will be available at the apprenticeship fair.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to award in full. This was seconded by Cllr Zoe Clewer.

Decision

Apprenticeships in Salisbury trading under Supplytrain CIC was awarded £500 towards Salisbury 2025 Apprenticeships and Early Careers Directory.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24

Old Sarum Youth Club – New cooking and sports equipment, requested £500.

The Applicant Charlotte Windebank spoke in support of the project.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to award in full. This was seconded by Cllr Andrew Oliver.

Decision

Old Sarum Youth Club was awarded £500 towards New cooking and sports equipment.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24

Alderbury Explorer Scout Unit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 8 October 2024, as set out in the attached report.

Recommendations:

·       4c – Sycamore Drive, Laverstock & Ford PC – Additional bollards - £1187.50

·       4e – Hamptworth & Lyburn Road, Landford – Sign and line review - £2250

·       4o – Idmiston Road, Idmiston PC – Road narrows & lining - £1125

·       4v – A343 Lopcombe Corner, Winterslow – Speed limit assessment - £2325

·       4w – A338, Allington – Memorial Hall directional signage - £375

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Board considered the report and funding recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 8 October 2024.

Cllr Rich Rogers moved the motion to approve the recommendations. This was seconded by Cllr Zoe Clewer.

It was;

Resolved:

To approve the LHFIG funding recommendations to the following schemes:

·       4c – Sycamore Drive, Laverstock & Ford PC – Additional bollards - £1187.50

·       4e – Hamptworth & Lyburn Road, Landford – Sign and line review - £2250

·       4o – Gomeldon Road, Idmiston PC – Road narrows & lining - £1125

·       4v – A343 Lopcombe Corner, Winterslow – Speed limit assessment - £2325

·       4w – A338, Allington – Memorial Hall directional signage - £375