Agenda item

To receive updates from Lead Councillors for the local Area Board priorities.

·       Combatting Social Isolation and Loneliness (encompassing the previous priority from 2021/22 of Digital Inclusion) (Cllr Gordon King)

·       Wellbeing for Young People and Positive Activities (Cllr Carole King)

·       Local Environmental Action (Cllr Suzanne Wickham)

·       Child Poverty (Cllr Matt Dean)

The Area Board received the following updates from Lead Councillors on the local Area Board Priorities:

Combatting Social Isolation and Loneliness(encompassing the previous priority from 2021/22 ofDigital Inclusion)(Cllr Gordon King)

·       Cllr King outlined that there was a standing project which sought to alleviate social isolation and to include older people in communities through the provision of laptops and data packages to enable them to set up contact lists and video calls.

·       It was stated that a Health and Wellbeing Event was set to take place on Sunday 25^th June 2023 in partnership with Westbury Town Council as part of their Sunday Brunch event. This would be in the gardens near the library and would include live entertainment and would provide an opportunity for stalls to show case to residents. So far the Link, ShopMobility, Ramblers and a show by Dogs for Health had been confirmed to attend with people encouraged to get in touch with Karlene Jammeh (karlene.jammeh@wiltshire.gov.uk) should they be interested in setting up a stall.

Wellbeing for Young People and Positive Activities(CllrCarole King)

• Cllr King stated that the Local Youth Network (LYN) had re-established and had met on 8 February at the Hub, which was attended by ten organisations. Discussions included what would be expected from such a strategic group, how often the group would meet and what organisations wanted to achieve through the LYN.
• After the LYN meeting, Cllr King visited the Youth Club and conducted a Slido consultation with those in attendance using phones and QR codes.
• It was noted that the Westbury Young People Awards would take place this year in partnership with Matravers School in June, with a date to be announced in the future. Nominations for possible award recipients were welcomed.

Local Environmental Action(Cllr Suzanne Wickham)

·       Cllr Wickham outlined that she had been regularly updating residents through her Facebook page regarding the Pollinator Corridor programme, to introduce pollinator friendly areas across the local area. It was noted that wildflower seeds had been ordered and each area had nominated an area for sewing, with Bratton Primary School and Fairfield Farm College also involved.

·       It was outlined that a footpaths and cycleway meeting took place at the Laverton, which was attended by a large group of volunteers from Warminster, who had recently helped to upgrade local Warminster footpaths and had been funded by the Warminster Area Board.

·       It was stated that there was a desire for the footpaths and cycleways in Westbury to be upgraded, particularly from the villages to the train station and that it would be positive to establish a similar group of volunteers.

 Child Poverty(Cllr Matt Dean)

·       It was outlined that Cllr Dean had set up several initiatives over the past year and that he was currently working on setting up a free concert in the marketplace for the benefit of young people, on the day of the King’s Coronation. It was hoped that the day would include local bands, a tea party for older residents as well as a professional singer.