Issue - meetings

To note the written reports and receive any verbal updates from the following:

a.    Key Partners including Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Wiltshire, Community Area Partnership, Parishes, Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG), Chambers of Commerce and Westlea Housing Association

b.    Outside Bodies

c.    Community Groups.

The Chairman welcomed updates from partners, which were received as follows:

Wiltshire Police

The written update report from Wiltshire Police was noted. Inspector Steve Cox commented on the increase in domestic and non-domestic burglaries and announced that a male was arrested last week who had been linked to a number of local incidents. Inspector Cox reiterated the importance of ensuring that homes were kept as securely as possible.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update report from the Fire and Rescue Service was noted. Mike Franklin reiterated the advice within the report regarding chimney fires and the importance of having chimneys swept properly. Mike introduced his colleagues Peter Price and Perry Payne, who provided an update on the Cricklade Fire Cadets.

Fire Cadets

Since the Fire Authority announced in April that it intended to close both Cricklade and Ludgershall Fire Cadet units, the support to keep both the units going had been overwhelming. The Fire Authority met on 23 September and agreed a set of recommendations (attached at Appendix A).

Councillor Peter Colmer welcomed the statement from the Fire Authority and proposed the following:

      i.        That Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board works closely with Tidworth Area Board to ensure that a consistent approach to funding is achieved for the remainder of this year.

    ii.        That alternative sources of funding be investigated to sustain the Fire Cadets in subsequent years.

The Chairman asked for a show of hands in support of Councillor Colmer’s proposals; to which the large majority of the public present showed support. The proposals also received unanimous support from the Area Board.

Decision

The Area Board agreed:

      i.        That Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board works closely with Tidworth Area Board to ensure that a consistent approach to funding is achieved for the remainder of this year.

    ii.        That alternative sources of funding be investigated to sustain the Fire Cadets in subsequent years.

NHS Wiltshire

The written update report from NHS Wiltshire was noted.

Chambers of Commerce

Bob Jones, Chairman of the Cricklade Business Association, expressed disappointment that recent applications to the Performance Reward Grant Scheme were not successful, and also at the proposed car parking charges which posed a real threat to Cricklade, with the risk that local shoppers would choose to shop at West Swindon instead.

Bob also announced Cricklade’s success in being awarded Gold Standard at the Britain in Bloom finals, making Cricklade the top achieving town in Wiltshire in this competition.

Town and Parish Councils

Written updates were received and noted from Wootton Bassett Town Council and Cricklade Town Council Further verbal updates were received as follows:

Purton Parish Council – Mike Bell expressed concern at the amount of information being received through the Area Board, and particularly the very short notice that the councils were given to provide informed responses, and requested that consideration be given to this in the future. He also stated that he was pleased to see Cross Lanes in Purton being one of the preferred options  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6