Agenda item

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Health & Wellbeing

·       Parish Councils

·       Wiltshire Intelligence – Bringing Evidence Together - Wiltshire Intelligence - Bringing Evidence Together

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Age UK Update

The Area Board received a number of updates from Partners and community organisations as detailed below:

1.    Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP)

The Area Board received an update from the PCAP representatives, Colin Gale, Dawn Wilson and Susie Brew as follows:

Colin Gale – Buses and Trains

·       The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) - Wiltshire Council have been awarded £2.1m per annum for the next 2 years, with a condition of the funding award that the bus service cannot be reduced during the period.

·       Colin attended the on-line GWR Stakeholders meeting on 27th February 2024, which was co-run by Mark Hopwood (GWR) and Marcus Jones (Network Rail).

·       The government published the draft Railway Reform Bill although there are unlikely to be any changes within the current parliament.

·       GWR acknowledged the poor level of service currently being experienced. Hitachi have not been delivering the right number of trains each day due a combination of damage from weather and vandalism. Network Rail also acknowledged that they were not providing the level of performance required.

·       Industrial Action - A deal had been reached with the RMT but still no deal with ASLEF and there was little chance of reaching a settlement with ASLEF within the current mandate.

·       GWR were looking at further electrification, however, there are no current published plans or long term strategy due to funding constraints.

·       It is likely that some proposals like the 4th platform at Westbury may have to go backwards and there is likely to be more bus/rail links.

Susie Brew – Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership

·       Commented on the work of the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership, the establishment of footpath walking groups,  grant applications to GWR, various trails in the Pewsey area and continued worked on newsletters.

Dawn Wilson/Susie Brew

·       Commented on the removal of funding from VisitWiltshire from Wiltshire Council without consultation, and referred to a letter from the Leader of the Council which she had several concerns about the accuracy of the letters content. Susie reported that a tender exercise would be undertaken for the work of VisitWiltshire, although it was noted that there were no other organisations with the knowledge and skills required to undertake this role.

2.    Health & Wellbeing

There was no update.

3.    Parish Councils

The Area Board received updates from the following Parish Councils:

Rushall Parish Council

·       Flooding issues during the storms in January 2024 – worst for 30 years resulted in the need for sand bagging the house next to the River Avon by the Rushall Flood Group and moving a car under 10inches of water from its garage.

·       Flooding made worse by a combination of drains having not been cleared along with blocked ditches. Concern at the ongoing lack of Wiltshire Council maintenance despite the issues being reported on the MyWilts app.

·       Rushall along with other local parishes have not had a Parish Steward for 5 months.

Wootton Rivers Parish Council

·       Flooding issues due to block drains and the need for leaf sweepers to undertake regular maintenance. (The Chairman confirmed that A and B road gullies were emptied on an annual basis).

4.    Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – Wiltshire Intelligence Bringing Evidence Together

Richard Rogers – Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager (SEPM) introduced a presentation highlighting a range of useful information from a range of sources providing insight into how Wiltshire and its 18 community areas are performing.

The SEPM explained that the JSNA was completed by the Council’s Public Health Intelligence Team in 2022. It was recognised that COVID had a great impact on the way people live and the economy. The JSNA identified 3 priorities – Ageing population, mental and emotional wellbeing and the cost of living. A detailed breakdown of the information gathered is available at this website - Wiltshire Intelligence - Bringing Evidence Together.

The Area Board were encourage to become involved in sharing views about the Pewsey community area by completing a short survey, available at the above website link.

5.    Neighbourhood Policing Team

The Area Board received a written update and presentation from Sgt Chris Wickham, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team, Wiltshire Police performance to December 2023, hate crime overview and burglary overview, statistics for Pewsey (January/February 2024), community speed enforcement updates, and local priorities and updates in relation to the Pewsey area. 

Members and Area Board representatives commented on the lack of neighbourhood Police ‘walking the beat’ in Pewsey. Sgt Wickham explained that Pewsey was a large rural area for officers to cover and he would welcome more officers to provide an increase in foot patrols in Pewsey.

The Chairman thanked Sgt Wickham for attending the Area Board meeting and responding to questions.

6.    Age UK Update

The written report attached to the agenda pack was noted.

7.    Pewsey Fire Station

Cllr Oatway commented on rumours about Pewsey Fire Station closing. As Vice-Chair of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority, Cllr Oatway categorically refuted the rumours and confirmed that no discussions had taken place about this.