Agenda item

To receive any updates from partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Community First

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

In addition to the written updates within the agenda pack and supplement, the Area Board received a verbal update from Inspector Kevin Harmsworth, which included the following points:

·       Following anti-social behaviour in the town centre, the police had been working alongside agencies which had seen a consequent decline in such crime.

·       There has been a rise in non-dwelling burglaries to sheds and outbuildings, however an arrest recently took place including two males with some stolen items recovered. Inspector Harmsworth spoke about the use of Select DNA (SelectaDNA Forensic Coding | SelectaDNA) in order to prevent such crime. Across the county there had also been an increase in car key thefts.

·       It was stated that there had been incidents of anti-social motorcycling in the Oldfield Park area and that residents were encouraged to report such incidents to the police to enable them to target future patrols.

·       Inspector Harmsworth outlined the new structure of the Westbury policing team, with reference drawn to the new Chief Constable Catherine Roper, who had set out new strategic priorities for the police to focus on.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

• The Area Board congratulated Inspector Harmsworth for his recent promotion.
• It was clarified that there had been 4 dwelling burglaries in Westbury recently.
• Regarding the PCSOs listed within the team structure, it was clarified that PCSO Stewart Hunt would be located in the town and PCSO Alice Moore would be located in rural areas however they would generally gravitate towards the centre.
• Regarding anti-social motorcycling, it was suggested that residents report such incidents by calling 999.
• Feedback was provided regarding the Road Safety report, with it noted that it had been difficult to distinguish the colours used within the Community Speedwatch data due to the size.
• The Area Board thanked the local Community Speedwatch teams and agreed that the Chairman would write to them to show gratitude for their efforts.
• It was referenced that a pilot using SIDs was currently taking place in Wiltshire, which included Edington.
• Feedback was provided, that it was unclear how the figures showed within the Overview of Hate Crime related to each other and that Inspector Harmsworth would look to clarify this with the OPCC.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

In addition to the written updated within the agenda supplement, the Area Board received a verbal update from Station Manager Pete Eastland, which included the following points:

• It was outlined that the Westbury Fire Station was an on-call fire station, meaning that all staff live in the local area and are expected to respond to alerts within 5 minutes whilst at home or from working locally.
• A key objective for the fire service is prevention, with free Safe and Well visits available to the community via the phone number within the report. Such visits allow for fire and smoke alarms to be fitted as well as discussing fire concerns within households.
• Regarding recruitment, there had recently been a recruitment drive which had led to 7 applications being received.
• From January to February the service attended 14 incidents in the local area: including 0 deliberate fires, 2 accidental dwelling fires, 3 automatic fire alarm triggers in domestic properties and 4 non-domestic alarm triggers as well as 5 road traffic collisions in the local area.
• Reference was made to a significant fire in Netheravon, which had been caused by a disposable vape which had been attempted to be recharged.
• It was noted that a fire had taken place on 22 March in Westbury at a scrap yard on the trading estate at 12am, which was extinguished at 4.30am.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

• The Area Board thanked Pete Eastland for attending the meeting as well as for his work efforts.
• It was suggested that if the Fire Station were interested in holding an open day event, the Area Board would be happy to promote and support it.
• It was queried whether Salamander courses would be taking place, to which it was clarified that the budget for Salamander courses had been cut however a new service wide initiative named Spectre Courses would be taking place.

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

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

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

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

·       Community First

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

·       Town and Parish Councils

The Area Board received an update from Sheila Kimmins on behalf of Westbury Town Council. The update covered the following points:

·       It was noted that though the report from the planning officer confirmed that the incinerator would now be going ahead, the Town Council was looking to find reasons to either delay the incinerator or make it difficult for the incinerator to be ran. The Town Council was working alongside people and taking on legal advice, which had suggested that scope was running out for judicial review with a meeting set to take place on Monday 27 March for further discussions.

·       Cllr Dean noted that Wiltshire Council had several planning policies to be reviewed and would be inviting Town and Parish Councils to contribute.

The Area Board received an update from John Pollard on behalf of Edington Parish Council. The update covered the following points:

• It was stated that the Pollinator Project had been progressing, the village now had a 20mph speed limit on many of its roads and that additionally no post had been received for almost a week.
• Cllr Wickham stated that she had contacted Local MP Andrew Murrison about the post issue and the Chairman stated that he would contact the Westbury Depot Manager regarding the issue.

An update was received from a resident of Bratton who stated that the village now had a 20mph speed limit, that the Bratton Week would be resurrected with events set to take place at the end of June and that work had been taking place for the King’s Coronation.

The Area Board received an update from James Clack on behalf of Heywood Parish Council. The update covered the following points:

·       The Pollinator Programme had been progressing and that it would be positive to have a safe cycle route from Heywood to Westbury train station.

·       The Chairman also stated that he was pushing for a condition survey to be completed for the bus shelters in the Westbury Area.