Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2024 were presented for consideration and it was;

 

Resolved:

 

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2024.

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

Cllr Carole King noted that she occasionally assisted with the foodbank (Westbury Area Network) at Christmas.

To receive the following announcements and briefing notes from the Chairman:

 

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - Link to Youtube video update.

·       Devolution to Wessex – Update

·       Wiltshire Local Elections 2025

·       School Appeal Panel Member Recruitment

·       Cost of Living – Update

·       Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24

·       Community First – Update

The Chairman of the Area Board drew attention to the following information items, which were contained in the agenda pack:

 

• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Devolution to Wessex – Update
• Wiltshire Local Elections 2025
• School Appeal Panel Member Recruitment
• Cost of Living – Update
• Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24
• Community First – Update

 

It was noted that since the publication of the agenda for the meeting, there had since been a development regarding the Devolution to Wessex, that the devolution bid for the Wessex region had not been selected for the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme.

To receive any written and verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Wiltshire Police.

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives.

Updates were received from the following partners:

 

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board noted written updates attached to the agenda. In addition, Inspector Lou Oakley provided a verbal update which covered the following points:

·       An overview of the Neighbourhood Team was provided as well as how staffing was split across the geographical area.

·       The Neighbourhood Policing Pillars set by the Chief Constable were outlined as follows: Engaging Communities, Solving Problems, Targeting Activity.

·       Detail was provided regarding the following local priorities:

o   Retail Crime – Following a national increase since 2023 there was now a delivery plan in place from the Chief Constable and PCC. At a local level the Police were looking to improve engagement, with it noted that the two local Tesco stores had experienced £100k of thefts which had gone unreported. A county wide offender intervention panel had also been set up to attempt to tackle the root causes of problems. Improvements had also been made to CCTV submission processes.

o   Rural Crime – PCSOs and PCs have been reaching out to build rapports with farmers and landowners in harder to reach areas with a push on reporting hare coursing and poaching. It is hope that some operations would run in March.

·       It was noted that the PCC had granted funding for Westbury and Warminster to run a five-day Synergy Course (similar to Salamander) working with 8 prolific local youths to combat low level anti-social behaviour. This would take place in conjunction with partner organisations.

·       A community drop in was set to take place in Morrisons Carpark, Westbury and that the mobile Police van would be present in rural locations (to be confirmed) in early March.

 

After the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Cllr Dean suggested that he had not seen PCSOs Moore and Revers patrolling in Westbury for an extended period of time, to which assurance was provided that PSCO Moore covered rural areas and that PCSO Revers had been partaking in Pub watch and was often out patrolling central Westbury with PC Hamel. It was suggested that officers would be happy to visit Cllr Dean and patrol in central Westbury.

 

·       Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Jeff Ligo on behalf of Bratton Parish Council. The update covered the following matters:

·       The Parish Council recently submitted their Neighbourhood Plan which had been a huge amount of work for a small parish to have done.

·       A major development is set to take place in the area with the Parish Council considering what to do with the CIL.

 

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Sheila Kimmins on behalf of Westbury town council. The update covered the following matters:

·       The Town Council had been busy over the past year with delegated services from Wiltshire Council with it hoped that everything would be up and running in April.

·       Reference was made to the elections taking place in May.

 

The Area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive presentations from the following local organizations in relation to cost of living and winter preparedness:

·       Crosspoint Westbury

·       Westbury Area Network

The Area Board received presentations from the following local organizations in relation to cost of living and winter preparedness:

 

Crosspoint Westbury

·       During 2024 the welcome centre had received 850 visits providing face to face contact for various services, which was a 20% increase on the previous year.

·       It was outlined that the complexity of the issues being faced had increased, with people now tending to bring multiple rather than single issues.

·       Detail was provided that in 2024 over 75 people had received counselling with it noted that in January 2025 there had been 20 active counselling clients and a further 23 on the waiting list with an average waiting time of 51 days spread across a wide age demographic.

·       It was noted that each year Crosspoint took on two placement Counsellors from Wiltshire College, with a view to recruiting them at the end.

·       An overview of the organisations in which Crosspoint was referred from and then referred to was provided.

·       Detail was provided on how following an approach by Wiltshire Community Foundation, Crosspoint has been distributing the Household Fund in the Westbury Area with 133 grants totalling £13,923 given out in 2024. The main reasons for grant provision included energy costs, access to food and transport, with the majority given to families with young children or households with a disabled person.

 

After the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Gratitude was placed towards Crosspoint with it noted that they were celebrating 14 years of existence in 2025.

·       The positive work of Ruksak was referenced and how they distributed donated goods.

·       Clarity was sought regarding the 850 visitors, to which it was noted that a quarter of these were repeat visitors.

 

Westbury Area Network

·       An overview of Westbury Area Network was provided, including that it was formed as a charity in 2021 and operated a number of services, including Foodbank, Community Fridge (on behalf of WTC), Abraham’s Kitchen (on behalf of WTC), Warm Parcels and Signposting.

·       Data was provided in relation to food parcel numbers in comparison to previous years with 2024 showing an increase from the past. Specific data was provided in relation to winter distribution with it suggested that the numbers were levelling out.

·       Information was provided about the foodbank with it noted that there had been 106 referrals from April 2024 – January 2025 which had included the distribution of 50 food parcels on Christmas Eve. It was also noted that through funding received form grants and donations, the foodbank was able to print off vouchers to be used in Aldi.

·       Detail was provided on the Community Fridge, with it outlined that this operated alongside the foodbank as a way of reducing food waste and was available to everyone with approximately 300 users per month.

·       An overview of other initiatives provided by the Westbury Area Network was outlined as well as some feedback from a foodbank user.

 

After the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive an update from Leigh Park Community Centre.

The Area Board received an update from Leigh Park Community Centre, which covered the following points:

• It was outlined that on the first Tuesday of each Monday from 5pm-6.30pm there is a free Youth Club which takes place at Leigh Park Community Centre.
• It was stated that the Youth Club was predominantly attended by home-schooled young people and that over time it has been positive to see attendees’ confidence improve.
• A successful Youth Pottery session took place on 11 November 2024, which enabled the young people to be creative whilst having conversations.
• The Youth Club regularly asks for feedback from the young people in order to provide them with the sessions and topics that they want to discuss. Such topics have included emergency first aid, mental health, alcohol, sexual awareness and positive body image.
• Some of the success stories from the Youth Club were detailed, including that one of the young people had now started mainstream school, positive feedback has been received from a young girl who is now able to mix with young boys as well as a young achiever who has been entered into the Westbury Young People’s Awards.

To receive an update from 4Youth.

The Area Board received an update from 4Youth Detached Youth Work, which covered the following points:

·       An overview of the detached youth work offered by 4Youth was provided, with it noted that teams had started working in Westbury two evenings a week in January 2021, however reductions in funding had left to a reduction in service in 2023 and 2024.

·       Since this period the Teen Talk service had been retained and was working with All Saints Church to deliver a weekly Friday Fun Club session.

·       Detail was provided for 2024 that 10 sessions had been delivered, 60 young people had been worked with, and 176 contacts had been made.

·       The impact of such sessions had been positive and had enabled relationships to be built in order to discuss difficult subjects.

·       Examples of positive feedback from the young people involved was provided as well as the future work, plans and aspirations.

·       An overview of the Teen talk counselling service was provided, which was a free service for children and young people aged 10-25 over a course of 6 one-hour sessions delivered either face to face, on the phone or on Teams.

·       Local data was provided to show how many sessions had been delivered to young people within the Westbury area.

·       Data was provided to demonstrate the impacts and outcomes from Teen talk counselling based on feedback from 49 reviews.

·       Examples of positive feedback from the young people involved was provided as well as the future work, plans and aspirations for Teen talk.

 

After the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

·       Detail was provided that there tends to be an overlap of young people who attend the Friday Fun Club being the same people that are spoken to on the streets due to positive relationships being formed.

To receive updates from Lead Councillors for the local Area Board priorities:

·       Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Our Community – Cllr Gordon King

·       Wellbeing for Young People and Positive Activities – Cllr Carole King

·       Local Environmental Action – Cllr Matthew Dean

·       Combatting Child Poverty – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

The Area Board received updates from Lead Councillors in relation to the following local Area Board Priorities:

 

Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Our Community (Cllr Gordon King)

• Work had taken place with the ICB towards a neighbourhood collaborative in the Westbury Area.
• The next big event would be a community get together focused on providing benefit through volunteering.

Wellbeing for Young People and Positive Activities (Cllr Carole King)

• The three youth clubs in the Westbury area were thriving and doing well.
• Congratulations were placed towards the Town Council on the installation of a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) at Grassacres Park, which had been popular with young people.

Local Environmental Action (Cllr Matthew Dean)

• A lot of time has been spent trying to progress enforcement action against Persimmon Homes against planting on Dartmoor Road, Westbury with it believed that action would progress through the courts on Monday.
• A meeting is set to take place with Westbury Junior School to follow up on a £20,000 tree planting grant that they had received.
• New Rangers have been employed by Westbury Town Council with a meeting set to take place with them to discuss environmental actions.
• Individual Town and Parish Councils will be contacted to discuss what Cllr Dean can assist them with.

Combatting Child Poverty (Cllr Suzanne Wickham)

·       Some cookery lessons had taken place for parents and children in Grassacres hall, which had been successful but not was well attended as had been wanted. Therefore, it is hoped that these can be ran again but in a school setting in order to cause less demand on parents.

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

 

Remaining Budgets:

 

Community Area Grant	Older & Vulnerable	Young People
£6,533.20	£4,430.00	£898.68

 

Area Board Initiatives:

 

Ref/Link	Grant Details	Amount Requested
ABG2168	Westbury Area Board - Storage container for the Tidy Bratton group	£772.50
ABG2170	Westbury Area Board – Tea Dance Programme	£2000.00
ABG2173	Westbury Area Board - Westbury Environment Town Fete event	£1200.00

 

Community Area Grants:

 

Ref/Link	Grant Details	Amount Requested
ABG2069	Westbury Leigh Community Hall - Westbury Leigh Community Hall car park repairs	£3000.00
ABG2133	Bratton Recreation Ground Management Committee - Bratton Recreation Ground New Mower	£500.00
ABG2161	Edington Parish Hall - Lighter Weight chairs	£1500.00

 

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

 

Ref/Link	Grant Details	Amount Requested
ABG1982	Westbury Lions Club - Raising prostate health awareness	£1500.00
ABG2126	Crosspoint Westbury - Improving mental health and resilience for older people	£4000.00
ABG2160	Westbury Festival - Westbury Festival Putting on the Ritz Afternoon Tea and Music	£1100.00

 

Young People Grants:

 

Ref/Link	Grant Details	Amount Requested
ABG2167	4Youth South West - Detached Youth Work and Counselling support in Westbury	£5000.00

 

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

The Area Board considered the following applications for funding:

 

Area Board Initiatives:

 

Westbury Area Board – £772.50 towards Storage container for the Tidy Bratton group.

 

Decision

 

Westbury Area Board was awarded £772.50 towards Storage container for the Tidy Bratton group.

 

Moved – Cllr Carole King

Seconded – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

 

Westbury Area Board – £2,000 towards Tea Dance Programme.

 

Decision

 

Westbury Area Board agreed to defer the grant application towards the Tea Dance Programme until the next financial year.

 

Westbury Area Board – £1,200 towards Westbury Environment Town Fete event.

 

Decision

 

Westbury Area Board was awarded £600 towards Westbury Environment Town Fete event with the funding to be split equally between the Older & Vulnerable and Youth Grant funding pots.

 

Moved – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

Seconded – Cllr Matthew Dean

 

Community Area Grants:

 

Westbury Leigh Community Hall - £3,000 towards Westbury Leigh Community Hall car park repairs.

 

Decision

 

Westbury Leigh Community Hall was awarded £3,000 towards Westbury Leigh Community Hall car park repairs.

 

Moved – Cllr Carole King

Seconded – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

 

Bratton Recreation Ground Management Committee – £500 towards Bratton Recreation Ground New Mower.

 

Decision

 

Bratton Recreation Ground Management Committee was awarded £500 towardsBratton Recreation Ground New Mower.

 

Moved – Cllr Carole King

Seconded – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

 

Edington Parish Hall - £1,500 towards Lighter Weight chairs.

 

Decision

 

Edington Parish Hall was awarded £1,500 towards Lighter Weight chairs.

 

Moved – Cllr Carole King

Seconded – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

 

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

 

Westbury Lions Club - £1,500 towards prostate health awareness.

 

Decision

 

Westbury Lions Club was awarded £1,500 towards prostate health awareness.

 

Moved – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

Seconded – Cllr Matthew Dean

 

Crosspoint Westbury – £4,000 towards Improving mental health and resilience for older people.

 

Decision

 

Crosspoint Westbury was awarded £2,330 towards Improving mental health and resilience for older people. Crosspoint Westbury were invited to reapply for further funding in the next financial year.

 

Moved – Cllr Suzanne Wickham

Seconded – Cllr Matthew Dean

 

Westbury Festival - £1,100 towards Westbury Festival Putting on the Ritz Afternoon Tea and Music.

 

Decision

 

It was agreed that the Westbury Festival grant application for Westbury Festival Putting on the Ritz Afternoon Tea and Music would be deferred until the next financial year.

 

Youth Grants:

 

4Youth Southwest - £5,000 towards Detached Youth Work and Counselling support in Westbury.

 

Decision

 

4Youth Southwest was awarded £1,059.18 towards Detached Youth Work and Counselling support in Westbury with the money to be split £298.68 from the Youth Grant funding pot and £760.50 from the Community Area Grants funding pot. 4Youth Southwest were invited to reapply for further funding in the next financial year.

 

Moved – Cllr Carole King

Seconded – Cllr Gordon King

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 23 January 2025, as set out in the attached report.

 

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Chairman introduced the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 23 January 2025.

 

After which, it was;

 

Resolved:

 

The minutes of the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 23 January 2025 were agreed as a correct record as well as approving the spending recommendations within.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

It was noted that the Westbury Young People Awards was back for 2025 and would be hosted by the Westbury Area Board with the awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 18th June at Matravers School. It was outlined that further details were available via the following White Horse News article: Westbury Young People Awards is back for 2025 - White Horse News

 

Cllr Suzanne Wickham stated that she would not be standing in the upcoming election and that this would be her last Area Board meeting as a Wiltshire Councillor. She therefore acknowledged Dominic Argar, Graeme Morrison, Karlene Jammeh and Ben Fielding for their work towards Area Board meetings.

Future Meeting Dates:

 

·       11 June 2025

·       1 October 2025

·       3 December 2025

·       11 March 2026

 

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Lead: karlene.jammeh@wiltshire.gov.uk

The date of the next meeting was 11 June 2025.