Agenda item

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Health

·       Older People’s Champion and Health & Wellbeing

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Parish Councils

(a)           Wiltshire Police

The Area Board received a written and verbal update from Insp Al Lumley, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team, Wiltshire Police performance to March 2022, hate crime overview and local priorities and updates in relation to the Pewsey area. 

Insp Lumley, along with PCSO Jon Mills and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Philip Wilkinson responded to questions about the provision of PCSO’s dedicated to the Pewsey area. Insp Lumley confirmed his comment at the previous Area Board meeting that the number of PCSO’s is not increasing and there were no dedicated units for Pewsey. Peter Deck expressed surprise that in recent years the Police precept had been increased to support the appointment of additional Police officers, although he felt this was not materialising on the ground.  The PCC confirmed that the Wiltshire Police was recruiting new officers and the force would be increasing from 940 to 1100 officers. This would result in additional officers supporting Neighbourhood Teams, including the team in Pewsey within ten months time, cyber crime teams and traffic police. 

The PCC also responded to claims that the public’s faith in the Police was at it’s lowest. He commented on the work being undertaken by the Police, with new training programmes, improvements to IT, and making sure very high professional standards are in place. The PCC confirmed that he was working with Chief Constable to address these issues.

The Area Board noted that recruitment to the Police force in Wiltshire was not an issue, as 200 applicants recently applied for 20 positions. The force was actively considering the blend of new recruits which included the recruitment of ex-military.

The PCC spoke on operations undertaken by the Police and encouraged the public to continue reporting any suspicious activity to the neighbourhood team or Crimestoppers to enhance the collection of intelligence to enable a coordinated approach to tackling crime in the South West.

(b)           Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board received a written update from Simon Todd, District Commander for East Wiltshire, which included detail about the Community Safety Plan, reducing the level of risk and harm from fire, interaction between the Protection Team and Local authorities, on call recruitment and recent news about first national biker down safety campaign, bonfires and garden safety, support for Ukraine, water safety and support for Pride.

Cllr Oatway, as Vice-Chair of the Fire Authority, highlighted the developing crisis across the fire service in relation to finances. He explained that the Fire Service were unable to raise their level of precept to cover increasing costs and this would have a dramatic impact on the service within the next 3 years. He referred to the outstanding work undertaken by the Fire Service, in particular, the speedy response (6 minutes from receiving the first call out to arriving on scene) to a fire at Woodborough CE VA Primary School towards the end of 2021.   

(c)           Health

The written report was noted. 

(d)           Older People’s Champion and Health & Wellbeing

Susie Brew, on behalf of Dawn Wilson reported that the Memory Café and Movement to Music continued to run in the Bouverie Hall and various projects were being undertaken in the villages.

(e)           Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Susie Brew provided a summary of the PCAP Annual Report 2021/22, which included detail about the work of the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership, PCAP, youth activities and the Health & Wellbeing group.

In Particular Susie commented on the delivery of the Itineraries and Walkers are Welcome projects, a revamp of the walking leaflets along with a reprint, the work of PCAP in supporting small local community groups with insurance and banking facilities, enabling the groups to apply for grant funding, the condition of the canal towpath and ongoing discussions with the Canal and River Trust, continued contact with Malmesbury Neighbourhood Planning team, administering grants by the Health and Wellbeing Group, Movement to Music Together exercise class and the Memory Café reopened in April 2021.

Colin Gale reported on the DfT Rural Mobility Scheme and the £1.2m secured for the Pewsey service improvements. He confirmed that Paul Sanders, Rural Buses project manager, had been appointed by Wiltshire Council to manage the service improvements. Colin also reported on Pewsey Station being nominated by GWR for accessibility improvements under a DfT scheme and GWR had requested letters of support from local organisations. All appropriate organisations had responded to the request. It was noted that Bedwyn would loose its direct service into Paddington for off-peak travel and the proposed connections had been identified as poor. Discussions with GWR are continuing to restore the service. In response to a question about support for two stations, Colin confirmed that support for stations at Pewsey and Devizes from the Bedwyn and Pewsey Groups was necessary in order to improve services going west.

The Chairman thanked Susie, Dawn and Colin for all their hard work and the work of PCAP.

(f)             Parish Councils

North Newnton Parish Council – Tom Ellen reported that the Parish Council, at their meeting held on 3 May 2022 had agreed to paint the North Newnton and Bottlesford phone boxes purple and silver to commemorate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Youth – Kat reported on an event being held at Coopers Field on 6 August 2022 to include BBQ, music and food.

Shalbourne Classic Car Show – The Area Board noted that the Classic car show would be held during the summer 2022.