Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr David Bowler

·       Vona Wagner – Memory Café representative

·       Pat Farrow – Mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett

·       Alexa Davies – Engagement and Partnerships Lead

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024 as a true and correct record.

On the proposal of Cllr Nick Dye, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2024 as a true and correct record.

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

In relation to grant application ABG2226, the Chairman noted for openness that she had, in the past, done some fundraising for Wiltshire Hope and Harmony, but did not have any current connection to the organisation. As this did not constitute a disclosable interest the Chairman remained in the room, took part in the discussion and voted on the application.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

There were no updates.

·       Community First

·       Neighbourhood Crime Figures Search by Police Team

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Cost of living update

o   Local elections – May 2025

o   Devolution developments – Heart of Wessex

o   Family and Community Learning impact report

The Area Board noted the information items as set out in the agenda pack and online, these were:

·       Community First, pg. 13-17

·       Neighbourhood Crime Figures Search by Police Team - online

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal - online

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

Ø  Cost of living update, pg.11

Ø  Local elections – May 2025, pg. 19-20

Ø  Devolution developments – Heart of Wessex, pg. 21-22

Ø  Family and Community Learning impact report, pg. 23-47

Diana Kirby, Chairman of Tockenham Parish Council, highlighted that it had been challenging to download nomination papers for the forthcoming elections. In response, the Chairman noted that most councils opened nominations on 25 March, but Wiltshire had brought the date forward to 11 March to allow more time for candidates.

The Chairman also highlighted that Wiltshire Council had consulted with neighbouring authorities to develop a proposal in response to government plans to introduce strategic authorities led by elected mayors. Although a proposal for a ‘Heart of Wessex’ authority had been submitted by Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole councils there was insufficient funding available for it to be included in the government’s priority programme.

Cllr Nic Puntis, Portfolio Holder for Flooding, will provide an update on the Operational Flood Working Group. The session will include:

1. A reminder of householder / Wiltshire Council’s duties regarding flooding

2. Areas affected within our Area Board

3. What has been done to date

4. Future plans

5. Q&A

Cllr Nic Puntis, Portfolio Holder for Flooding at Wiltshire Council, gave a brief update about his role and the responsibilities of the council’s drainage team before explaining how local residents could report issues. Points included:

·       Cllr Puntis’ job was to help communities mitigate the impact of flooding and, as such, he had spent the last two days helping people in his four-wheel drive. He also chaired the operational flood working group that covered the north of the county.

·       Wiltshire had a saturated rainfall catchment area, so significant rainfall had an almost immediate impact.

·       Wiltshire Council had increased the number of machines that it used to maintain drains from three to nine, which had enabled them to more proactively tackle issues. The tripling of machine capacity had coincided with a significant increase in rainfall, so the benefits of the investment had not been immediately obvious, but the portfolio holder was confident that the public would notice the improvement in the longer term.

·       Lots of the drains in Wiltshire are very old but Wiltshire Council had agreed an increase in investment in its highway infrastructure.

·       Drainage issues could be reported via the MyWilts App. Residents could also report issues to their local town and parish councils as local councils often attended the operational flood working group.

·       Operational flood working groups bought together different agencies, including Wiltshire Council, National Highways and the Environment Agency. The meeting in the north of the county was extremely popular and well attended, so the length of their meetings had had to be extended by half an hour.

·       Cases were prioritised by officers, but Cllr Puntis worked closely with them to ensure that issues were resolved in a timely manner.

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·       The Area Board thanked Cllr Puntis for his update.

·       Marion Sweet, from Royal Wootton Bassett, explained that there were safety issues caused by flooding on the roundabout between the A3102 and the B1409. In response, the Chairman noted that she had reported the issue. Wiltshire Council were in discussions with the company that operated from the adjoining land about how water could be trapped before it spread to the highway. 

The update will include:

1.    To receive a presentation on progress towards repairing the B4069 at Lyneham Banks.

2.    A written update about active travel.

3.    A written update about highway maintenance.

A link to further information about the Royal Wootton Bassett to Swindon Cycleway can be found here.

Highways Engineer Jack Francis, from Wiltshire Council, gave a presentation about the progress being made towards repairing the B4069 at Lyneham Banks. Points included:

·       Lyneham Banks had been closed since February 2022, when a 120-metre section of the B4069 suffered a catastrophic failure caused by a major landslip.

·       Ground investigations were made in 2022 to monitor the slippage and establish the best way to repair the site.

·       A significant drainage network had been installed in the surrounding fields to help to stabilise the slopes. 

·       The road was being reinstated on the same alignment as the original damaged section. In July 2024 the old road along the 120-metre stretch was cleared and the route for the replacement road was carved down to a depth of three metres.

·       In August and September, the foundations for the new road, known as the pile mat, were installed.

·       600mm diameter piles, going 12 metres deep, started being installed in October to create a 108-metre retaining wall along the length of the road failure. The piles were installed very quickly with concrete being poured around reinforcing steel bars. Nodes were installed into the concrete to make sure that it had cured correctly.

·       Concrete anchors were then installed at 45-degree angles to the retaining wall to provide additional strength.

·       In December, additional drainage works were carried out and a capping beam was placed on top of the 12-metre-deep piles, which would be the only part of the retaining piles that would be visible above ground.

·       The capping beams were waterproofed in January 2025 and the kerb lines and gullies were installed. As of February 2025, tarmac had started to be laid, and the structure was beginning to look like a road.

·       A number of patching repairs had been completed to other sections of the road that suffered lower levels of damage.

·       Octavius, the contractor for the works, had also undertaken a number of community projects to add social value, such as organising litter picks and attending a careers fair.

·       It was anticipated that the road would reopen in April 2025, although further communications would be released via the newsletter.

·       Work on surrounding roads that had seen an increase in traffic, due to the closure of the B4069, would be undertaken once Lyneham Banks had reopened.

·       The priority for the project was reopening the road at Lyneham Banks, although further work on the slope below the B4069 would take place after the road had reopened.

During the discussion, points included:

·       The Area Board thanked the engineer for his update and welcomed the progress that had been made towards reopening the road.

·       In response to queries about whether there would be a weight limit imposed on the road, the engineer explained that there was previously an 18.5-ton limit and that a limit would be reinstated. A signing study for the wider area was underway, considering the route and the weight limits. It would not be possible to implement a 7.5-ton limit as there were no weak bridges on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive updates from our key partners, including:

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Parish and Town Councils

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - video

c.     Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council

d.    Cricklade Town Council

The Area Board noted the written updates available in the agenda pack from:

·       Wiltshire Police, pg. 63-71

·       Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, pg. 73-76

·       Cricklade Town Council, pg.77-79

The following partner also provided verbal updates:

Wiltshire Police – Neighbourhood Police Team

Inspecter Scott Anger and Seargent Kate Isaac gave an update on behalf of the neighbourhood team. Points included:

·       There had been a focus on speed awareness throughout January and February and efforts were underway to establish a Community Speed Watch (CSW) in Royal Wootton Bassett. 18 vehicles had been caught speeding on Cricklade High Street in January.

·       The police had worked closely with trading standards to complete enforcement activity on a premises selling tobacco and vapes on Royal Wootton Bassett High Street. 

·       The police were working with local taverns to reform the pub watch scheme.

·       A talk about knife crime had been give to Scouts in Lyneham.

·       Three suspects arrested in relation to vehicle thefts in Royal Wootton Bassett had been released on bail and the police were seeking prosecutions from the Crown Prosecution Service.

·       Chief Constable Catherine Roper had joined a patrol in the Purton and Cricklade areas on Christmas Eve.

·       A family had been served a Community Protection Notice in relation to antisocial behaviour in Cowleaze.

·       A series of community consultation events had taken place over the Christmas period and early part of 2025, including a recent consultation event in Latton. These events were opportunities to meet the neighbourhood team and to share priorities.

·       There had been no robberies over the latest quarter in the neighbourhood team’s area. Violence and burglary were also down on the previous quarter. 

·       Several reports had been made about mud being dumped on the B4696 by vehicles entering a construction site, in breach of planning permission. It had not been possible to identify the owner of the site as plots had been sold off individually to members of the traveller community. The issue had been raised with the Environment Agency and the police had made multiple visits to the site. They had also held discussions with the planning officers at Wiltshire Council

·       The police had met with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council and local residents about car meets in Whitehill Industrial Estate.

During the discussion the following points were made:

·       The Area Board thanked Inspector Anger and Seargent Isaac for their updates and the work they did in helping to ensure that Wiltshire was one of the safest places to live in the country.

·       The Chairman explained that she would welcome a clear role description for a volunteer CSW coordinator in Lyneham.

·       Marion Sweet, from Royal Wootton Bassett, stated that she would welcome further detail about the number of offences and prosecution rates. In response, Inspector Anger explained that specific information could be provided if it was requested in advance and that data was available on Wiltshire Police’s website. He also highlighted that all data needed to be put in context, explaining that crime categorised as ‘violence against the person’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Updates from Area Board members on the Community Area Action Plan, including the following priorities.

Updates were provided by lead members and the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager.

RWB and Cricklade Youth Forum update

Cllr Allison Bucknell

The Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, reported that the youth forum had met shortly before Christmas to hold discussions with providers, such as the Rise Trust and Wiltshire Connect.

The SEPM encouraged any groups that had applications for youth funding to contact him, as there would be funding remaining for allocation for the 2024/25 financial year until 11 March.

RWB and Cricklade Environmental Forum update

Cllr Jacqui Lay

It was highlighted by the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, that February was Library Lover’s month.

The Vice-Chairman stated that she was a member of Wiltshire Council’s Climate Emergency Task Group, and Environment Select Committee. As the end of the 2021-25 council term was approaching, these groups were taking the opportunity to review the scrutiny activity that they had undertaken over the past four years and suggest areas of focus for the forthcoming council.

She also noted that an operator had been found to run demand responsive transport in the local area, with two minibuses to be used locally and one in Malmesbury. 

In addition, she reported that there were plans to create an 11 square mile solar park at Lime Down, near Sherston. The proposals would include significant battery storage infrastructure. As the project was designated as a nationally significant infrastructure project, Wiltshire Council would not be the authority determining the application but was a statutory consultee. A public consultation was open until 19 March 2025, so that residents could give their views about the proposals. 

Cllr Steve Bucknell observed that the plans would be for an industrial style development, containing tall rotating panels that were able to face the sun for longer.

The Chairman noted that Bradenstoke Solar Farm Community Benefit Fund money had been earmarked to invest in local footpaths. The Vice-Chairman emphasised that local communities should be engaged in how Section 106 funding provided by developers should be used.

To receive an update from the last meeting of the Community Care Group held on 12 February 2025.

Cllr Mary Champion and Cllr David Bowler

The Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, provided an update. Points included:

·       He was pleased to report that there had been lots of new faces attending the meeting of the Area Board’s Community Care Group at its latest meeting on 12 February.

·       It was planned to replicate an event, held in October, to provide information to carers. The new event would be held in Memorial Hall in Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday 31 May.

·       The Area Board’s community directory was being updated and reprinted.

·       Techie tea parties had been successfully run to help people improve their IT literacy. A popular IT roadshow was run by a care provider called Home Instead. Discussions were being held about the possibility of volunteers running a programme based on the roadshow to expand availability.

Stevie Palmer from the Community Care Group thanked the Area Board and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council for their support. She explained that the Bobby Van was due to attend their next event, as well as representatives from Wiltshire Council’s demand responsive transport scheme and the LINK scheme. Publicity about forthcoming events would be sent to parish councils at the end of April.

Career Advice for Young People – Cllr Allison Bucknell

Business Advice – Cllr Nick Dye

Household Economy – Cllr Mary Champion

It was explained by the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, that Wiltshire Council’s engagement team were helping to roll out the latest round of Household Support Funding. He also noted that advice and support for local business was available.

It was also highlighted that Wiltshire Council were asking their contractors to add social value by contributing to community projects, such as decorating village halls. He encouraged local community groups to come forward if they had any projects that could be supported.

To recap the key achievements of the Area Board over the past four years, including looking back at the projects supported in the community.

Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), Andrew Jack, gave an overview of the key achievements of the Area Board over the past four years, including looking back at the projects supported in the community. Points included:

·       The Area Board had invested £168,016 in local community projects since May 2021, which had helped to unlock £635,884 in community funding.

·       There was a focus on trying to invest a greater share of Area Board funding into areas with a higher level of deprivation.

·       The Area Board had set priority goals in consultation with local communities.

·       Over the last council term, 481 people had attended the Area Board’s business meetings, 621 people had attended its working groups and 1,216 people had attended to engagement events supported by the Area Board.

To receive updates from the recent meetings of the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Community Safety Forum.

The Chairman explained that the Community Safety Forum had held one meeting so far in 2025. She also highlighted that the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Youth Commission would be in attendance at the next meeting on 14 March.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the latest LHFIG meeting held on 12 February 2025, as set out in the attached report.

Recommendations:

- 11-24-01 Noremarsh Primary School and St Bartholomew’s Primary School (The Rosary) Parking controls. Allocate £4,000 with a 25 percent contribution from RWBTC (£1,000) Note - Sites at Downs View and Widham bridge (11-24-07) to be advertised at the same time to reduce overall Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) costs.

- 11-24-07 Cricklade Road / Widham bridge, Purton – Traffic management measures – Allocate £5,500 with a 25 percent contribution from

Purton Parish Council (£1,375)

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Area Board considered the recommendations arising from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 12 February 2025. On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Mary Champion, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To approve the following:

- 11-24-01 Noremarsh Primary School and St Bartholomew’s Primary School (The Rosary) Parking controls. Allocate £4,000 with a 25 percent contribution from RWBTC (£1,000) Note - Sites at Downs View and Widham bridge (11-24-07) to be advertised at the same time to reduce overall Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) costs.

- 11-24-07 Cricklade Road / Widham bridge, Purton – Traffic management measures – Allocate £5,500 with a 25 percent contribution from Purton Parish Council (£1,375).

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 Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

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

The Area Board noted the budgets remaining for allocation at the meeting and heard from representatives in attendance who gave a brief overview of, and were questioned about, their projects.

It was noted that there was insufficient funding remaining to award the Community Area Grants in full, so both applicants were invited to introduce their applications before they were voted on.

Community Area Grants

Royal Wootton Bassett Petanque Club Requesting £1,870.90 Towards Canopy Provision with Drainage

Marion Sweet explained that Pentanque was a French version of lawn bowls. The club had 70 members between the ages of eight and 86. The club required a larger canopy that their existing one due to their growing membership, particularly for older members and those with disabilities.

When asked about the percentage of younger people that had joined the club, it was noted that this was relatively small. However, the club had invited the local Scout group and had a visit from Year 9 students from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.

White Horse Cricket Club Requesting £500 Towards a Community Storage Container

Chris Ladd, chairman of the cricket club, explained that the storage would be a community asset that could be used by community groups and the local primary school.

During the discussion, the Area Board praised the applications and regretted that they were unable to support both of them in full.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Mary Champion, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To award £1,219.50 to Royal Wootton Bassett Petanque Club and £400 towards White Horse Cricket Club.

Reason: The applications met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2024/25. There was insufficient funding to award both applications in full.

Older and Vulnerable People’s Grants

It was noted that there was insufficient funding remaining to award the Older and Vulnerable People’s Grants in full, so both applicants were invited to introduce their applications before they were voted on.

Wiltshire Hope and Harmony Requesting £4,000 Royal Wootton Bassett Dementia Choir and Café

Music therapist Lisa Williams explained that the group had 10 volunteers that delivered high quality care to people with dementia to help reduce isolation. They were based on Royal Wootton Bassett but happy to visit other locations.

Cricklade Memory Café Requesting £500 Towards Afternoon Tea

Stevie Palmer explained that the group was self-funding and received visits from Alzheimer’s Support. The money would go towards a trip to take older residents out for afternoon tea. Angela Jensen from Cricklade Town Council mentioned that they group was normally attended by 30 to 40 people. 

During the discussion, the Area Board praised both applications for the support that they provided for older people and regretted that they were unable to support both in full.

Benson Miyoba highlighted that community funding may also be available from other sources to make up the shortfall.

On the proposal of Cllr Champion, seconded by Cllr Steve Bucknell, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To award Wiltshire Hope and Harmony £3,625 towards Royal Wootton Bassett  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

An open, public question and answer session to raise issues with your local representative (please note that if answers cannot be provided on the night, written responses will be provided after the meeting).

No issues were raised by the public. The Chaiman took the opportunity to thank everyone that had supported the Area Board over the past four years.

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

There were no urgent items.

Future Meeting Dates (6:30-8:30pm):

·       20 May 2025 (extraordinary meeting on the rising of Full Council)

·       18 June 2025

·       24 September 2025

·       26 November 2025

·       4 March 2026

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, please contact the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager andrew.jack@wiltshire.gov.uk or

Engagement and Partnerships Lead alexa.davies@wiltshire.gov.uk

Future meetings were confirmed as:

6:30 – 8:30pm with networking from 6.00pm

• 20 May 2025 (extraordinary meeting on the rising of Full Council)
• 18 June 2025
• 24 September 2025
• 26 November 2025
• 4 March 2026

Meeting details, Agendas and minutes can be viewed here.