Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence from Area Board Cllrs.

There were apologies for absence from the following attendees:

·       Durrington Town Council

·       Kev Taylor, MOD Boscombe Down

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2024. 

The minutes of the last meeting were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2024 as a true and correct record.

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

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling declared for clarity and transparency that due to his role as Cabinet Member for Communities and Area Boards, he had made a personal decision to abstain from any votes for funding applications considered by the Stonehenge Area Board.

The Chairman will give any updates on outcomes and non-priority actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

·       The consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning and Policy Framework, closes at 11.45pm on 24 September. For more information please see: Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

·       A303 Stonehenge Tunnel update

The Chairman announced the following:

·       Proposed reforms to the National Planning and Policy Framework. The government had been consulting on proposed reforms to the National Planning and Policy Framework. Further information regarding this could be seen at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system. Whilst the consultation on this had now closed it was still open when the agenda was published. The Chairman wanted to highlight that this important framework had proposed changes that would affect planning and development in Wiltshire and across the country and further updates would be given at future meetings.

·       A303 Stonehenge Tunnel update

The Chairman stated that in July the government cancelled the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project due to the unavailability of the funding required to deliver the scheme. This decision was extremely disappointing given the many years of working with our partners and key stakeholders to make the case for A303 improvements, and to have reached the point where the main construction work was almost ready to begin following the successful delivery of an extensive piece of advance works along the A360 route north of Salisbury.

The Chancellor’s statement did not recognise the huge investment and amount of work that has already taken place to deliver this much-needed scheme to ease traffic congestion and provide opportunity for significant economic growth along the A303 corridor and within the region.

The cancellation also meant that local road network improvements, which were part of the wider project, would now not be delivered.

The project was now being closed down by National Highways. Once Wiltshire Council had details of this and the implications for the council, there would be a paper for consideration by Cabinet later this year.

The council would be considering the next steps to take, both in terms of continuing to press for improvements to the A303 corridor and for local communities, and the potential for alternative solutions to mitigate the impacts of the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge scheme.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site: https://www.stonehengeandaveburywhs.org/

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan consultation (closes 5pm on 4 October)

o   Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

o   Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Transitional Safeguarding Project

o   Families Children's Transformation (FACT) Family Help Project

o   Overview of Wiltshire Youth Council

o   Cost of Living update

The Chairman referred the meeting to the information items contained in the agenda pack, these were:

• Community First (pages 13 – 26)
• Healthwatch Wiltshire (pages 27 – 54)
• Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System) (pages 55 – 57)
• Stonehenge & Avebury World Heritage Site (website link): https://www.stonehengeandaveburywhs.org/
• Wiltshire Council Information Items:
  • Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan consultation (closes 5pm on 4 October) (pages 59 -60)
    • For more information people could look at https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/9854/Overview and people could comment using the link to the consultation portal.
  • Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal (website link)
  • Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Transitional Safeguarding Project (pages 61 – 62)
  • Families Children's Transformation (FACT) Family Help Project (pages 63 – 64)
  • Overview of Wiltshire Youth Council (pages 65 – 66)
  • Cost of Living update (pages 67 – 68)

Open floor session with updates from partners, parishes and free flow discussion.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Wiltshire Police – Inspector Ricky Lee

·       Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership – Perry Payne

·       MOD Boscombe Down – Kev Taylor

·       Town and Parish Council’s

At the Chairman’s invitation, updates were received from the following:

·       Wiltshire Police – Inspector Ricky Lee, Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT)

The Inspector stated that Wiltshire Police had received a better grading from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and was therefore moving out of the engage process (similar to special measures). There was however still room for improvement, especially in regard to answering 999 and 101 calls, however calls were being answered in the designated time period. Recruitment had been going well with most vacancies filled. For Amesbury and Tidworth, the teams were fully staffed. Crime statistics were in a good place, with a 15-20% reduction in crime in the last 3 months. According to the statistics Wiltshire was a safe place to live and was the safest county in the UK. Burglaries were a concern, and numbers had not reduced. The Afghan community relocation project had been coming up a lot on social media and the Inspector wanted to reassure people in relation to that. There had been no substantive offences committed by this community. Lots of partner organisations were working together to help integrate them into the community. The Afghans were those that had supported the British in Afghanistan, and were often highly skilled such as doctors, nurses and interpreters along with their families.   

Cllrs highlighted that there had been some difficult public perceptions around this, and that the Inspector had handled it very well.

An audience member from Shrewton detailed an incident where the A303 had been shut and traffic diverted through Shrewton. This included a large truck/trailer which had got stuck in Shrewton, causing issues and resulting in the driver having to reverse his way out. It was queried why the traffic was diverted through Shrewton.

The Inspector responded that he could not speak to this incident as had not been there. The A303 caused a lot of headaches for the police. He felt it would be helpful if National Highways could patrol the A303 as they did other large roads such as the M4. However, he offered apologies for the incident.

·       Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership – Perry Payne

Mr Payne gave a presentation which is appended to these minutes, there was also a written road safety update included within the agenda pack.

Mr Payne then took questions from the Area Board Members and the audience.

Cllr Robert Yuill stated that he was disappointed that STATS 19, the mechanism that the police used to report Road Traffic Collisions (RTC’s) which resulted in personal injury did not include all serious collisions, and queried whether data was collected for RTC’s which did not result in injury.

Mr Payne explained that STATS 19 was a national standard that everyone had to adhere to. Furthermore, the police did not necessarily attend RTC’s where there had been no personal injury, and there was no requirement for people to even inform the police, so it would be very hard to gather the data. It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

To receive updates from lead councillors for the local Area Board priorities (where not covered by other agenda items):

The Stonehenge Area Board priorities are:

·       Youth Engagement – Cllr Mark Verbinnen (covered under Youth Updates)

·       Environment – Cllr Kevin Daley and Cllr Rob Yuill

·       Improving the health and wellbeing of our community– Cllr Monica Devendran and Cllr Graham Wright (covered under the HWB Group)

·       Community Engagement – Cllrs Graham Wright and Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling

Updates were given as follows:

·       Environment – Cllr Kevin Daley and Cllr Rob Yuill

Cllrs had written to the Head of Natural and Historic Environment for Wiltshire Council in relation to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) (https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/local-nature-recovery-strategy). The LNRS was currently being developed to guide nature recovery initiatives throughout Wiltshire. The Board hoped to get involved with that and undertake a local event to support the strategy.

·       Community Engagement – Cllrs Graham Wright and Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling

Details were given regarding the increased Afghan population in Larkhill, as touched on by Inspector Ricky Lee earlier in the meeting. It was stated that the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme provided relocation or other assistance to Afghan nationals who worked for or alongside the UK forces in support of the UK’s mission in Afghanistan. These people, and their families were known as Entitled People (EPs), who had the legal right to remain in the UK and were not asylum seekers or refugees. Being housed in Larkhill was a temporary, short term, part of the relocation programme. This was a military led scheme called Op Lazurite. However, there had been some issues finding long term locations and housing for the families, meaning that the EPs had been in Larkhill for longer than expected.

Therefore, efforts were now being made to integrate the EPs into the community and support them. A very positive ‘Town Hall’ meeting had been held on 12 August 2024 which Cllrs Wright and Blair-Pilling had been involved with. This helped to diffuse any issues and start the integration process.

It was noted that the Youth Engagement and Improving the Health and Wellbeing of our community priorities were coved under other agenda items.        

To receive an update on youth activities and consider any applications for youth grants.

Remaining Budget:

Young People Grants:

For more details, please see the grant report at agenda item 11.

Cllr Mark Verbinnen, as lead Member for Youth Engagement gave an update to the meeting.

The regular Local Youth Network (LYN) meetings had been taking place and there had been various pop-up youth events between Shrewton and Durrington, these had been going well.

The Afghan EPs had been discussed at the LYN along with how they could help with integration. One way was to engage with young EPs. As a result, the idea to hold a Youth Fair came about and this was due to take place on Sunday 29 September 2024 at 2.00pm, on Durrington Recreation Ground. There would be details available of youth organisations and activities in the area and a variety of free refreshments and activities available on the day. The event was for everyone, and Cllr Verbinnen encouraged people to attend.

Cllr Verbinnen highlighted that there was money still available in the Youth Grant budget and encouraged anyone running a youth group to get in touch and apply for grants. Cllr Verbinnen then introduced the following Youth Grant.

Youth Grant Applications:

·       Amesbury Junior Football Club requested £3,510 towards winter training.

A representative of the Amesbury Junior Football Club spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Verbinnen, seconded by Cllr Monica Devendran, proposed that the grant be awarded in full.

Decision:

Amesbury Junior Football Club were awarded £3,510 towards winter training.

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2024/25.

To receive an update on the Health and Wellbeing group and consider any applications for Older and Vulnerable Adults grants.

Remaining Budgets:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

For more details, please see the grant report at agenda item 11.

At the Chairman’s invitation Cllr Monica Devendran as lead Member for Improving the health and wellbeing of our community, gave an update on the Health and Wellbeing Group (HWBG).

Cllr Devendran stated that there had been a HWBG meeting held on 20 September 2024 and there had also been a tea party organised at the Amesbury Tesco.

There would be a Celebrating Age Wiltshire Christmas Concert held at Antrobus House on 9 December. People would need to book to attend the event. Further details would be advertised soon.

Cllr Devendran then introduced the application for an Older People and Vulnerable Adults Grant. 

Older People and Vulnerable Adults Grant:

·       Wiltshire Music Centre requested £1,500 towards their Celebrating Age Wiltshire project.

A representative spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Devendran proposed to award the full amount of £1,500, which was seconded by Cllr Graham Wright.

Decision:

Wiltshire Music Centre were awarded £1,500 towards their Celebrating Age Wiltshire project.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Grants Criteria 2024/25.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 3 July 2024, as set out in the attached report.

Recommendations: (Amount to be approved in bold text)

·       1-22-16 Figheldean 20mph speed limit implementation £10,000 (LHFIG £7,500. FPC £2,500)

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Area Board considered the report and funding recommendations arising from the latest LHFIG meeting held on 3 July 2024.

On the proposal of Cllr Robert Yuill, seconded by Cllr Mark Verbinnen, it was resolved to make the following decision.

Decision:

·       To note the discussions from the Stonehenge LHFIG meeting on 3 July 2024.

·       To approve the funding recommendation as follows:

o   1-22-16 Figheldean 20mph speed limit implementation £7,500.

It was announced that the next Stonehenge LHFIG meeting would be held on 2 October 2024 at 10.00am on Microsoft Teams.

To determine the applications for Community Area Grant funding.

Remaining Budgets:

Community Area Grants:

Delegated Funding

The Board is asked to note the following funding awards already made under the Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

·       ABG1981– Area Board Initiative, English lessons for Afghan women from EP families, £500 (Older and Vulnerable budget)

·       ABG1983 – Area Board Initiative, refreshments and transport to and from the Youth Fair on Durrington Rec on Sunday 29 September (Youth budget)

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 at the Chairman’s invitation Cllr Mark Verbinnen as lead Member for grants introduced the Community Area Grant applications.

Community Area Grants:

·       God Unlimited (GUL) Outdoor Therapy requested £5,000 towards a GUL riverside classroom installation.

Ruth Freeman of GUL spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Mark Verbinnen proposed to award the full amount of £5,000, this was seconded by Cllr Kevin Daley.

Decision:

God Unlimited (GUL) Outdoor Therapy was awarded £5,000 towards a GUL riverside classroom installation.

Reason – the application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

·       Woodford Village Hall requested £1,493 towards a new PA system.

Chris Stanning of Woodford Village Hall spoke in support of the application.

Cllr Mark Verbinnen proposed to award the full amount of £1,493, this was seconded by Cllr Graham Wright.

Decision:

Woodford Village Hall was awarded £1,493 towards a new PA system.

Reason – the application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

Delegated Funding:

Cllr Verbinnen then drew attention to some grants already awarded under the Delegated Funding Process by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency. He proposed that the Board note the grants, this was seconded by Cllr Kevin Daley.

Decision:

To note the following grants awarded under the Delegated Funding Process by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

·       ABG1981– Area Board Initiative, English lessons for Afghan women from EP families, £500 (Older and Vulnerable budget)

·       ABG1983 – Area Board Initiative, refreshments and transport to and from the Youth Fair on Durrington Rec on Sunday 29 September, £400 (Youth budget)

The Chairman announced the dates of the next area boards, and the meeting was closed. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.