Agenda item

To receive a report from the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager about the progress that the Area Board has made towards its priorities over the past year.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, gave an update about the progress that the Area Board has made towards its priorities over the past year. Points included:

·       Through its Community Area, Young People’s and Older and Vulnerable People’s grant schemes, Area Board had provided over £52,000 in funding towards local projects. Area Board funding had helped to unlock match funding from the community, as the projects contributed to had a total cost of over £173,000.

·       The SEPM provided a breakdown of the value, and number, of grants awarded to different parts of the Area Board. The areas were split into quintiles based on their levels of deprivation. It was noted that the Area Board had awarded the largest number of grants to the quintile with the greatest level of deprivation; however, the quintile with the lowest level of deprivation had received the most overall funding.

·       The Area Board had helped to develop activity days for young people in Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade. The event in Cricklade was attended by around 250 people and the one in Royal Wootton Bassett featured professional skaters. Other highlights included assisting with the refurbishment of Cricklade’s youth building and helping young people to stay safe online. The Area Board had also worked closely with the Army Welfare Service in Lyneham to fund an Easter residential trip.

·       The new solar panels on Lydiard Millicent’s parish hall had been part funded by the Area Board.

·       A self-help group for carers in Lyneham and Bradenstoke had been set up as a result of the work of the Area Board’s Community Care Group.

·       The Community Care Group, together with Celebrating Age Wiltshire, had played a role in organising events that had benefitted hundreds of people.

·       Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club had been financially supported to provide walking rugby sessions for older and less mobile members.

·       Councillors from the Area Board played a key role in helping to set up the new banking hub in Royal Wootton Bassett.

·       154 people had attended the Area Board’s four business meetings held during the last financial year.

·       The Area Board had completed 11 projects through the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG).

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·       Angela Jensen, Vice-Chairman of Cricklade Town Council, stated that she would be keen for a representative from the Spurgeons Charity to attend the Area Board now that they had taken on the Family Hub contract. She noted that there were expected to be engagement opportunities in towns and parishes outside of the three main hubs. The Vice-Chairman of the Area Board noted that the contract with Spurgeons had started in April and that she had visited one of the hubs in Chippenham. She noted that Wiltshire Council’s Children’s Select Committee was monitoring the implementation of the programme.

·       Further information was sought about the methodology used to calculate the level of deprivation between different quintiles, as well as what more could be done to ensure that funding was targeted towards the least affluent areas.

·       The SEPM explained that each applicant was asked to provide a postcode and that this was used to calculate the quintile in which the project would be based. However, he did note that people living outside of the quintile that a project was located in would benefit and that it was often the case that less affluent areas lacked community assets, such as village halls, in which to invest.

·       The Chairman noted that outside organisations were often targeting work in areas of higher deprivation. She explained that 2023/24 was the first year in which Wiltshire Council had been recording how funding was distributed in this way and that the Area Board would study this information to help inform its future decisions.

·       Referencing the environmental project at Lydiard Millicent Parish Hall, Cllr Steve Bucknell highlighted that there were often obstacles in the planning system making it difficult to install solar panels on community halls and stated that he would welcome a more streamlined process.

·       The great work done by the Community Care Group was recognised. It was noted that people were welcome to attend, especially representatives from parish councils.

·       The Area Board said that they looked forward to working with Alexa Davies, who had recently been appointed to become their new Engagement and Partnerships Lead.