Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the South West Wiltshire Area Board. He thanked everyone for attending this meeting which had been rearranged due to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Bridget Wayman and Cllr Pauline Church

·       Stuart Honeyball, Assistant Director for Transformation and Business Change

·       Inspector Al Lumley and Inspector Tina Osborne

·       Compton Chamberlayne Parish Council representative

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Declarations of interest were received from the following:

·       Cllr George Jeans – noted that his business was located in the same vicinity as the Mere electric car club. Cllr Jeans indicated that he had no business interest associated with the car club and therefore he would speak and vote on agenda item 8.

·       Cllr Nabil Najjar noted that in his role as Portfolio Holder for Arts, Heritage and Tourism at Wiltshire Council, he was involved in an annual grant to the Wiltshire Music Centre. Cllr Najjar did not feel that this prevented him from voting on the current grant application by the Music Centre at agenda item 12.

To confirm as a correct record and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 29 June 2022.

Decision:

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 June 2022 as a true and correct record.

To receive announcements through the Chairman including:

·         Director Attending Area Boards – Stuart Honeyball, Assistant Director for Transformation and Business Change.

·         Engagement and Partnerships Team Update.

·         Annual Canvas to ensure the accuracy of the electoral register.

·         Building Bridges Project – helping people over 15 back into employment or formal education. 

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

·       Director attending Area Boards going forward – Stuart Honeyball, Assistant Director for Transformation and Business Change

·       Engagement and Partnerships Team update

·       Annual canvas to ensure the accuracy of the electoral register

·       Building Bridges Project – helping people over 15 back into employment or formal education

·       Community First update

·       Climate Strategy delivery plans

To receive updates from Partners and Community Groups present, such as:

·       Police – Neighbourhood Teams

·       Fire & Rescue

·       Youth – LYN

·       BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

·       Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living

·       Town and Parish Councils

·       Health and Wellbeing Group

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Integrated Care Board

·       Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living

A verbal update was also provided by Cllr Nic Errington for the South West Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Group. Cllr Errington reported that the last meeting on 14 September 2022 was well attended by many organisations. The main issues considered during the meeting included the cost of living crisis, the role of Food Banks, community fridges, the Warm Place Initiative, the help from Wiltshire Citizen Advice and grant application for Celebrating Age.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Errington for his update.

To receive an update from the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, Karen Linaker, on the Community Area Work Plan.

The Area Board considered a report of the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM), Karen Linaker, which summarised the progress made towards the Area Board priorities since June 2022.

The SEPM and lead Councillors commented on the action taken and issues considered, including:

·       Update on the food and activity programme (FUEL)

·       Event at the Nadder Centre on 29 July 2022

·       To partner with the Cranborne Chase ANOB to deliver a joint environment themed Area Board event in the coming year.

·       Consideration to forming a South West Wilts Area Business Chamber

·       Enhancing town centres

·       Celebrating Age events

·       Ongoing conversations about a jobs fair to be held at Wiltshire College in early 2023.

The Area Board will be invited to:

1.    To approve the terms of and authorise entry into the Grant Agreement between Wiltshire Council and Co Cars for the Mere Car Club project.

2.    To delegate to the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, after consultation with the local unitary councillor, authority to extend the date of the project launch (capped at a 6 month extension), should delays occur to the estimated timetable above.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM) Karen Linaker provided an update on the Mere Electric Car Club. The SEPM explained that Co Cars, a not-for-profit cooperative social enterprise that already successfully runs a network of shared, low and zero-emission cars across the South West. It was noted that £10,000 has been approved for the Club to be located and operate in Mere.

The Area Board were asked to approve the legal agreement for the delivery of electric cars from early 2023.

Resolved:

1.    To approve the terms of and authorise entry into the Grant Agreement between Wiltshire Council and Co Cars for the Mere Car Club project, as detailed in the report.

2.    To delegate to the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, after consultation with the local unitary councillor, authority to extend the date of the project launch (capped at a 6 month extension), should delays occur to the estimated timetable above

To note the brief subsequent update from the June meeting.  

The Area Board received an update from the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM) Karen Linaker following concerns raised at the last Area Board meeting about energy efficiency in privately rented homes in south west Wiltshire and how to seek advice and support.

The briefing note acknowledged that private landlords required support, guidance and ideally funding assistance to help bring their properties up to the required standard. The note provided links to help and advice for tenants and landlords in relation to private housing, Council housing and other social housing.

The Director of Assets and Community Development, Simon Hendey, confirmed that there was financial support for renters and landlords from a community interest company and detail is available at this link – https://www.lendology.org.uk/about/.

To receive an update about the Area Board’s Community Safety Group meeting held on 31 August 2022.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM), Karen Linaker, provided a brief update of the work of the Group.  The SEPM explained that the Group had been operating for the last 18 months and reminded the Area Board that the Group met with the Police to discuss community safety issues, mainly surrounding concerns about speeding. It was suggested that other areas of interest could be discussed at future meetings, including anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse.

To note the actions and recommendations as set out in the report from the last meeting of LHFIG held on 31 August 2022, as detailed in the attached papers. A summary of the items requiring a funding decision are:

·       4c - £1,875.00 (anti-speeding measures on B3089)

·       4f - £1,318.12 (footpath improvement in Fovant)

·       5r - £1,633.50 (blind summit sign and slow marking in Chilmark)

·       5s - £1,408.50 (HGV signs in Chilmark)

The Area Board received the notes of the LHFIG meeting held on 31 August 2022, with the recommendations being presented by the Chairman.

Resolved:

1.    To approve the allocation of £1,875 towards issue No. 14-22-13 (anti-speeding measures on B3089) to allow the work to be undertaken.

2.    To approve the allocation of £1,318 towards issue No. 14-22-16 (Improvements to Right of Way) to allow the work to be undertaken.

3.    To approve the allocation of £1,633 towards issue No. 14-22-04 (blind summit sign and slow marking in Chilmark) to allow the work to be undertaken.

4.    To approve the allocation of £1,408.50 towards issue No. 14-22-05 (Unsuitable for HGV signs - Chilmark) to allow the work to be undertaken.

Community Area Grants

The Board members will consider the funding applications as set out in the attached report and summarised below:

CAG = Community Area Grant

O&V = Older and Vulnerable People’s funding.

Th Area Board considered an application for Community Area Grant and one for Older and Vulnerable Adults Area Grant funding. The Chairman invited a representative of each applicant to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

Resolved:

1.    To approve the request from Barford St Martin Community Fund for £3,500 towards Barford St Martin Community Playground.

2.    To approve the request from Wiltshire Music Centre for £1,500 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

The next meeting of the Board is on Wednesday 14 December, at 6.30pm

The next meeting of the South west Wiltshire Area Board will be held on Wednesday 14 December 2022 at a venue to be decided.