Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Chuck Berry, welcomed those present to the meeting and invited members of the board to introduce themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 2 March 2021 and 18 May 2021.

The minutes of the meetings held on 2 March 2021 and 18 May 2021 were presented for consideration and it was;

Resolved

To approve the minutes as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       Area Board Model May 2021

The chairman gave the following updates:

·       Area Board Model May 2021

The announcement outlined the new annual Area Board model of four Area Board Business meetings, with multiple Area Board engagements at other times of the year focused on specific Area Board priorities. Additionally, the announcement informed that working groups of the Area Board such as youth networks, health and wellbeing groups and community area transport groups will continue to meet and link with the Area Board. Councillor Chuck Berry encouraged the people of Malmesbury and local villages to attend such working groups.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.     Wiltshire Police

b.     Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c.     Healthwatch Wiltshire

d.     Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

e.     Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership (MVCAP)

f.       Riverside Centre

g.     Health & Wellbeing Champion

h.     Highways Community Co-ordinator

i.       Town and Parish Councils

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

Councillors Berry and Grant updated the Area Board that a Community Safety Forum has been formed and was attended by the police as well as Alexa Davies (CEM), the town and parish councils. The forum got off to a good start and those interested in public safety were encouraged to attend.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

In addition to the written update, Darren Nixon, Station Manager, updated the Area Board that there has not been anything particularly impactful in the area other than a number of deliberate fires which had been started. A potential individual has now been identified.

Councillor Berry questioned how the service is working under the combination of both Dorset and Wiltshire counties. In response, Darren Nixon stated that the merge happened between a period in 2016-2018 and though there is still some aligning work, hopefully other than a badge change there has been little change from a public perspective.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       Health & Wellbeing Champion

Ellen Blacker updated the Area Board that she has continued in the role of Health and Wellbeing Champion. Though it has been difficult to visit groups and clubs, those who are aware are getting in touch over the phone. Over the past weeks people have received help but a quiet summer period is expected.

·       Highways Community Co-ordinator

Councillor Berry encouraged those present and concerned about safety issues to attend the Community Area Transport Group (CATG). The meeting is on the council website and has successfully dealt with issues in the past.

To agree the memberships and representatives for the Outside Bodies and Working Groups for 2021/22.

The following appointments to outside bodies and working groups for the forthcoming year were made:

·       Malmesbury Area Community Trust – Councillor Chuck Berry.

·       Malmesbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – Councillor Chuck Berry, Councillor Gavin Grant, Councillor Elizabeth Threlfall and Councillor Martin Smith.

·       Malmesbury Local Youth Network (LYN) – Councillor Gavin Grant.

·       Malmesbury Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) – Councillor Chuck Berry.

The following appointments of Area Board Lead Councillors for the forthcoming year were made:

·       Highways and Transport, including Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – Councillor Elizabeth Threlfall

·       Children and Young People, including Local Youth Network – Councillor Gavin Grant.

·       Health and Wellbeing, including the Health and Wellbeing Group – Councillor Chuck Berry.

·       Economy and Employment – Councillor Gavin Grant.

·       Environment – Councillor Martin Smith.

·       Older People – Councillor Chuck Berry.

·       Arts, Culture and Leisure – Councillor Elizabeth Threlfall.

·       Community Safety – Councillor Gavin Grant.

·       Housing and Development – Councillor Martin Smith.

Additionally, the Area Board agreed that these should be revisited in order to conduct business meetings around these specific issues. The role of a Parish Council Co-ordinator was also discussed would be considered at a future meeting.

To agree and adopt the Delegated Powers to the Community Engagement Manager proposals.

The Area Board referred to the document attached to the agenda regarding Community Engagement Manager Delegated Decisions which included the following proposal:

In order to expedite the work of the Area Board and to deal with urgent matters that may arise between meetings, the Community Engagement Manager, following consultation with the Chairman (or in their absence, the Vice-Chairman) of the Area Board, may authorise expenditure to support community projects (including youth, health and wellbeing and community area transport) from the delegated budget of up to £2,500 per application between meetings of the Area Board. The Community Engagement Manager should seek the views of all Area Board members to obtain a majority in support, prior to the expenditure being agreed.

Decisions taken between meetings will be reported in the funding report to the next meeting of the Area Board explaining why the matter was considered urgent or necessary to expedite the work of the Board. Where a significant number of urgent matters arise between meetings, a special meeting may be called, following consultation with the Chairman to determine such matters.

Resolved

The Area Board agreed to move and voted to accept the proposal; however, members amended the delegated budget to be up to £2,500 rather than £5,000 as per the report.

To discuss the findings, recommendations and next steps. The report sets out the full set of actions the board can agree up to five as priorities for Malmesbury.

Alexa Davies (Community Engagement Manager) provided an overview of the Community Area Status Report to the Area Board. The Community Area Status Report combined local data from sources including Wiltshire Police and the Wiltshire Council Public Health team in order to form an evidence base to therefore identify priorities from. The report is a live document and included the feedback of over 600 local people as well as from young people from Malmesbury School.

The Area Board agreed upon the following priorities for Malmesbury for the forthcoming year:

·       Highway Safety

·       Loneliness

·       Positive Activities for Young People

·       Green Issues

·       Recovery of the Local Economy

The chosen priorities would be fed into an action plan to be later presented at the next Area Board in September.

To consider applications for funding from the Community Area Grants Scheme.

• Great Somerford Parish Council - £500 for Great Somerford Footpath Gates.
• Ashton Keynes Playing Fields - £5,000 for Ashton Keynes playing fields and fitness equipment scheme.
• Lea & Garsdon School Association - £5,000 for Lea Garsdon Playground Project.
• Malmesbury Town Team - £1,500 for Malmesbury and Malmesbury Area Visitor Guide.

To consider applications for funding from the Community Area Youth Grants Scheme.

·       The Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team CIC - £3,200 for Malmesbury Multi Venue Activity Treasure Hunt.

The Area Board considered the following as detailed in the reports attached to the agenda.

a)    Community Area Grants

1)    Great Somerford Parish Council - £500 for Great Somerford Footpath Gates.

Decision

Great Somerford Parish Council was awarded £500 towards Great Somerford Footpath Gates.

2)    Ashton Keynes Playing Fields - £5,000 for Ashton Keynes playing fields and fitness equipment scheme.

Decision

Ashton Keynes Playing Fields was awarded £2,500 towards Ashton Keynes playing fields and fitness equipment scheme.

3)    Lea & Garsdon School Association - £5,000 for Lea Garsdon Playground Project.

Decision

Lea & Gardson School Association was awarded £2,500 towards Lea Garsdon Playground Project.

4)    Malmesbury Town Team - £1,500 for Malmesbury and Malmesbury Area Visitor Guide

Decision

Malmesbury Town Team was awarded £1,500 towards Malmesbury and Malmesbury Area Visitor Guide.

5)    Continuation of the funding for Health and Wellbeing Champion, Ellen Blacker, for the next 4 months up until September. Pro rata per month basis, totalling £2,567.

Decision

The Area Board agreed upon the continuation of funding for Health and Wellbeing Champion, Ellen Blacker, for a total of £2,567.

b)  Community Area Youth Grants

1)    The Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team CIC - £3,200 for Malmesbury Multi Venue Activity Treasure Hunt.

Decision

The Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team CIC was awarded £2,500 towards Malmesbury Multi Venue Activity Treasure Hunt.

The Area Board will be asked to consider the recommendations from the 9 March 2021 Malmesbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting outlined in the report.

Councillor Chuck Berry introduced the minutes and recommendations from the CATG meeting held on 9 March 2021.

Resolved:

To note the minutes from the CATG meeting which took place 9 March

2021 and approve the following included recommendations within the report:

3. Southside Cottage to Radnor Close Corston - Footway link Cost £8,000 CATG £3000, S.106 £5000).

4.Mill Lane - Conversion to ‘2 way’ Cycle Track (Cycle Tracks Act 1984) Cost £2000 (CATG £1500, Malmesbury £500 TBC).

5. B4014 Filands, west of Snell Avenue- Ped Refuge & footway link Cost £9000 (CATG £6300, Malmesbury St Pauls without PC £2700).

6. B4040 Leigh Speed Limit repeater post. Cost £300 (CATG £210, Leigh PC £90).

7. Happyland / Waterhay Lane Ashton Keynes warning Signs / chevrons Cost £2500, (CATG £1750, Ashton Keynes PC £750.00) – It was also noted that a weight restriction sign is still required.

8. Gloucester Road / Station Road Drop kerbs (x 5) Cost £4000, (CATG £2800, Malmesbury TC £1200).

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

Councillor Chuck Berry welcomed Councillor Elizabeth Threlfall and Councillor Martin Smith to the Area Board as well as welcoming back Councillor Gavin Grant. It was also proposed that the Area Board would formally write to former Councillors Toby Sturgis and John Thomson in gratitude for the services that they provided.

The next meeting of the Malmesbury Area Board will be held on Wednesday, 21 September 2021, 7.00 pm.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 21 September at 7.00pm.