Agenda item

Part I – Looking Back

·       To receive the Area Board End of Year Report as well as to report on progress made in addressing the Area Board priorities selected for 2022/23:

·       Positive activities for young people – Cllr Gavin Grant

·       Green Issues – Cllr Martin Smith

·       Reducing loneliness and social isolation – Cllr Chuck Berry

·       Highway Safety – Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall

·       Community resilience – Cllr Gavin Grant

Part II – Looking Forward

·       To highlight potential priorities for the Area Board to consider for 2023/24.

·       To appoint Members as Lead representatives to Outside Bodies and any new Non-Priority Working Groups as set out at Appendix A;

·       To appoint a Lead representative to the LHFIG (listed on Appendix A) and to note the Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix B.

·       Appoint a Health and Wellbeing Champion for the Area Board.

Part I – Looking Back

The Board received the Area Board End of Year Report from Andrew Jack (Strategic Engagement Partnerships Manager). The full report was attached to the agenda pack.

It was noted that Malmesbury Area Board had worked well with the town council, 19 parish councils and numerous community groups and organisations that serve the community area and had often joined together to work collectively on key local priorities, significantly influenced by dialogue and action facilitated by the Malmesbury Area Board. Additionally, small investments by the board had often become part of a large project amounting to large sums of money being invested into the community.

Each of the following Local Priorities were covered:

Youth Engagement

The Board had supported summer activities and worked with Rise Trust to deliver Safe Spaces youth club & outreach work. There had also been work with students & parents to keep people safe online with Stay Safe Initiative

Climate Change and the environment

The Board had worked to deliver new EV charging points in Malmesbury & Sherston and supported eco awareness events, such as Sherston Apple Day. Assistance was provided by the board in promoting and establishing an environmental hub at RENEW Via the LHFIG and the board had helped create new cycle & active travel routes into town. Other activities included funding a Community Fridge to help cut food waste and supporting allotments.

Reducing Isolation and Loneliness

Through the Health & Wellbeing Forum, the Board had been reducing Isolation and Loneliness by supporting services and events, like the Carers’ Café & the “Malmesbury Chinwag” and bringing Celebrating Age events to older people across the area. The board had also supported The Riverside Centre and the events and activities there.

Highway Safety

The Board had continued to improve Highway Safety through the Local Highway Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG).

Six LHFIG projects have been completed including:

• Malmesbury Bristol Street – Introducing a 20mph limit.
• Malmesbury Cross Hayes car park erecting a ‘no entry’ sign and placing road markings.
• Malmesbury Mill Lane – Converting to a 2-way cycle track.
• Ashton Keynes – Happyland/ Waterhay Lane - erecting warning signs and placing road markings.

Community Resilience

The Board had coordinated work across the area to establish Warm Spaces and other services which had helped to ease cost of living pressures and contributed through putting funding into those venues to help with their own increased costs and helping to fund advice sessions. The board has also supported the ‘Creative Conversation’ and ‘Noticing Nature’ sessions from Caerbladon Gallery.

Cllr Gavin Grant proposed, and Cllr Chuck Berry seconded accepting the recommendations after which it was:

Resolved:

The Area Board noted the achievements over the last two years.

The Area Board agreed to adopt the five priorities and appoint Members as lead representatives to each priority as detailed below.

Part II – Looking Forward

The Board received a report which covered the Outside Bodies concerned with the Area Board. As part of this item, The Chairman, Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall moved the following motion, which was seconded by Cllr Gavin Grant:

1)             That the following priorities be re-adopted by the Malmesbury Area Board

for 2023/2024 as well as the respective Lead Councillors:

Youth engagement, improving school attendance and positive activity opportunities. – Cllr Gavin Grant

Addressing climate change, improving active travel and reversing biodiversity loss. – Cllr Martin Smith

Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing and reducing social isolation. – Cllr Chuck Berry

Improving transport and access, including rights of way and promoting active travel. – Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall

Community Resilience. – Cllr Gavin Grant

2)             That the following Councillors be re-allocated the respective Outside Bodies for 2023/2024:

·       Malmesbury Area Parishes Alliance (MAPA) - Cllr Martin Smith

·       Malmesbury Local Youth Network (LYN) - Cllr Gavin Grant

·       Malmesbury Health and Wellbeing Forum (HWB) - Cllr Chuck Berry

·       Malmesbury Community Safety Partnership - Cllr Gavin Grant

3)             That Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall be re-appointed as Councillor Representative for the Malmesbury Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG), with it noted that all other members were welcome to attend meetings.

4)             That the Malmesbury Area Board notes the Terms of Reference for the LHFIG as set out in Appendix B, attached to the agenda.

5)             That Julie Dart be re-appointed as the Health and Wellbeing Champion for the Malmesbury Area Board.

Resolved:

To accept the motion and the appointments within.

During debate, it was clarified that the term “active travelling” was used to describe the aim of promoting walking/cycling etc and reducing the use of cars where possible. It was further stated that this didn’t mean less priority was being afforded to bus travel, and funding and initiatives were being shared with Gloucestershire due to some bus journeys travelling across the border between them.

The Board reiterated its desire to ensure that it is aligned with parishes with regards to funding goals. Buses and cycling routes are at the forefront of this and emphasis was given to the need to understand geographical challenges and that projects should reflect them.