Agenda item

To receive updates from our key partners, such as:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue – watch their latest video here: Fire Authority Update June 2022 - YouTube

c.     Army Welfare Service

d.    BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

e.    Jubilee Gardens

f.      Purton Community Fridge

g.    Horizon’s College

h.    Community Liaison Committee for Hills Group

i.      Parish and Town Council

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from:

• Wiltshire Police (pgs. 25-31)

• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue (Agenda Supplement 1)

• BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (pgs. 33-34)

• Hills Purton Liaison Committee (pgs. 35-36)

• Purton Community Fridge (pgs. 37-40)

• Horizons College (pg. 41)

• Broad Hinton and Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council (pg.43)

• Cricklade Town Council (Agenda Supplement 1)

Verbal updates were provided by the following partners:

Wiltshire Police

Inspector James Brain and Sergeant Jamie Ball gave an update about recent crime figures across Wiltshire as well as details of incidents in the local area. Key points included:

• The Police and Crime Commissioner had updated his crime plan to reflect the findings of a recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

• Crime had increased since the previous year, partly due to the easing of Covid restrictions, although Wiltshire’s crime rate was still below the national average.

• Crime in June-August 2022 was lower than the equivalent period in 2021.

• Four suspects had admitted responsibility for graffiti in Royal Wootton Bassett. The suspects, all young people, had written letters of apology to the victims. The officers praised the parents of the children involved for supporting the investigation and noted that the young people had received assistance from their youth offending team. They spoke about the importance of rehabilitation and the impact of criminalising individuals at a young age.

• A weekly meeting was being held to discuss illegal car meets.

During the discussion the following points were made:

• The Area Board thanked the officers for the update and praised the police for the sensitive way in which they had handled the graffiti investigation.

• A contextual safeguarding meeting was due to be held to discuss restorative justice.

• The police praised the work of the Rise Trust in supporting young people, including those that had committed criminal offences.

• The Vice-Chairman of Cricklade Town Council praised the work of police community support officers in the town.

• Inspector Brain noted that there were 27 Speed Watch teams in his area of jurisdiction and spoke about the importance of education and the Road Safety Strategy. He also noted that stopping vehicles for speeding offences often yielded information about other crimes.

• The Area Board’s Vice-Chairman thanked the police for stopping 33 vehicles for speeding on Calcutt Street in Cricklade on 27 September. The police noted that seven of the individuals stopped were residents from the town. Cllr Steve Bucknell asked about the age profile of the offenders stopped on the 27th and the police noted that they would be able to confirm that information.

The Chairman informed those present that PCSO Andy Singfield was leaving the police after 16 years of working in our Community Area and the Area Board asked the Chairman to write a letter of thanks to him for his work.

Broad Hinton and Winterbourne Bassett

The Chairman of Broad Hinton and Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council, Cllr Alex LaRoche, thanked the Area Board Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) for its help with a local footpath and for its support in getting signs added to the A4361.

Horizons College

The Chairman noted that the college had relocated from Swindon and that they were looking for opportunities for local engagement.

Community Fridges

Cllr Lay reported that Purton Community Fridge was due to open on 5 October. The Chairman also noted that a community fridge was due to open at Little Ducklings Nursey in Lyneham.