Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome Councillor Lionel Grundy OBE, Cabinet Representative for Children’s Services.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to Calne Area Board and introduced the Councillors and Officers present. Richard Aylen (Calne Without Parish Council) welcomed Calne Area Board to Lansdowne Hall in Derry Hill.

Apologies were received from Councillor Christine Crisp (Vice Chairman, Calne Rural) and Inspector Kate Pain (Wiltshire Police).

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2010.

The Chairman approved and signed as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2010.

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman will provide information about the Local Transport Plan funding allocation scheme, the Local Transport Plan car parking strategy, the Community Payback call for ‘Grot Spots’ and the consultation on initial site options for the aggregate minerals site allocations.   

The Chairman drew attention to the written announcements included in the agenda pack. The Chairman highlighted that the Area Board had been asked to identify schemes they wish to progress under the Local Transport Plan Funding Allocation Scheme using the discretionary highway budget.

Decision

To set up a working group led by Councillor Crisp to identify schemes in the Calne Community Area for the Local Transport Plan Funding Allocation Scheme.

Wiltshire Council’s car parking strategy was under review to reflect the move to a unitary Council and to ensure that parking charges and standards were broadly consistent across the whole county. Consultation was open from 12 July to 3 September 2010 and the preferred method of communitcation was for comments to be submitted online at: http://consult.wiltshire.gov.uk/portal. Paper copies of the consultation were also available from libraries and the community hub in Calne.

Calne Area Board had been asked to call for ‘Grot Spots’, local areas which need clearing or community facilities which need decorating, litter picking or graffiti removal. These could be referred to the Community Payback Scheme through the leaflets available at the meeting or via submitting an issues sheet marked ‘Grot Spots’. Issues sheets were available online at: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/areaboards/calneareaboard.htm, from Calne Library and the community hub.

Consultation on potential sites for sand and gravel extraction had commenced on 5 August 2010 to run for a period of eight weeks. The Chairman explained that the only site in the Community Area referred to was the existing site at Lower Comption. He had been assured there were no plans for major changes to be made at this site.      

To receive an update from the partners listed below:

a)    Wiltshire Police

b)    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c)    NHS Wiltshire

d)    Calne Community Area Partnership – including progress on the community hub and the Abberd Brook project

e)    Calne CAYPIG (Community Area Young People’s Issues Group)

f)     Town and Parish Councils.

a)    The written report from Wiltshire Police was noted.

b)    The written report from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was noted.

c)    The written report from NHS Wiltshire was noted. A representative would be invited to the Area Board meeting on Tuesday 7 December 2010 to explain the full range of services in the Community Area.

d)    Malcolm Gull provided an update on the Calne Community Area Partnership. Arrangements for the lease of the community hub were being finalised. The hub was closed for refurbishment and would be open by 27 August 2010. 13,000 copies of the community plan were about to be delivered to households in the Community Area. The Partnership were involved in an energy efficiency campaign to promote practical measures and behavioural changes to make energy savings. The Partnership had been important to bringing Moviola to Calne at Beversbrook Community Hall in an extension of the provision of up-to-date films for the Community Area. Friends of Abberd Brook had decided that the best way forward would be to commission specialist assistance as and when it was needed. Links between Abberd Brook and the community via schools were being developed and the next step would be to start work on the pond.

e)    Will Kay, Youth Development Co-Ordinator, explained there was little to report because the schools were on holiday, although the summer programme of events was underway.

f)     Cherhill Parish Council thanked Wiltshire Council for the signs being put up regarding parking at the school. Their energy forum was working with a Government consultant with success.

A question was asked regarding highways work on the A4 and how far notification to households affected extended. The consultant Mouchel notified only those households immediately affected who would have to move their cars for the road to be resurfaced. Wiltshire Council’s policy was to put up signs well in advance rather than letter box drop. The work was due to commence on 6 September 2010.             

The Chairman will provide an update on the alternative sports hub application and introduce the ‘Wiltshire Voices’ initiative.

Councillors will be asked to consider an expression of interest received by all 18 Area Boards from the Wiltshire Climate Change Officer seeking £12,566 towards energy monitors available for free hire in all libraries across Wiltshire.

The energy monitor allows the user to see clearly how much energy their appliances use and how their behaviour impacts on their energy use. The householder/user can then make simple changes to their behaviour to reduce their energy consumption. Reducing energy will save money off their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Chairman set out that unfortunately the application for Calne to become an alternative sports hub had been turned down, however there was the potential to modify the application and reapply.

Councillors had been asked to approve a Wiltshire Voices initiative aiming to involve more of the hard to reach groups in the Area Board process. This was a county wide bid that would go to all 18 Area Boards. A project was already in progress in Calne to improve the accessibility of Area Board meetings for all.

An expression of interest had been received by all 18 Area Boards from the Wiltshire Climate Change Officer seeking £12,566 towards energy monitors available for free hire in all libraries across Wiltshire. The energy monitor allows the user to see clearly how much energy their appliances use and how their behaviour impacts on their energy use. The householder/user can then make simple changes to their behaviour to reduce their energy consumption. Reducing energy will save money off their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Decision

Calne Area Board would endorse the Performance Reward Grant Scheme bid from the Wiltshire Climate Change Officer seeking £12,566 from all 18 Area Boards towards energy monitors available for free hire in all libraries across Wiltshire.   

Will Kay, Youth Development Co-Ordinator, will provide an update on the kite project after a grant was received by Calne Community Area Young People’s Issues Group. There will be a display available to look at before the meeting.  

Will Kay, Youth Development Co-Ordinator, provided an update on the kite project after a grant was received by Calne Community Area Young People’s Issues Group. The kite project was one part of the beginnings of an alternative sports hub, with parkour, climbing and mountain biking taking place. Funding had been spent on a range of top end kites. The project was being staffed by Youth Services and managed by a core group of young people. There was a display available to look at before the meeting.    

To consider three applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

a)    Calne Community Area Partnership, seeking £2,328 towards the design, print and distribution of a community focussed publication of a revised community area plan for each household in the Community Area

b)    Calne Tennis Club, seeking £983 towards providing indoor mini tennis coaching for junior beginners and junior improvers

c)    Calne First Responders, seeking £2,450 towards the provision of equipment for volunteers to extend the reach of the project to a wider part of the Calne Community Area.

Consideration was given to three applications made to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

Decision

Calne Community Area Partnership were awarded £2,328 towards the design, print and distribution of a community focussed publication of a revised community area plan for each household in the Community Area.

Decision

Calne Tennis Club were awarded £983 towards providing indoor mini tennis coaching for junior beginners and junior improvers.

Decision

Calne First Responders were awarded £2,450 towards the provision of equipment for volunteers to extend the reach of the project to a wider part of the Calne Community Area.

The following comment regarding the Calne First Responders was read by the Chairman after it had been received via the Community Area Networkfrom a local person who was unable to attend the meeting: “Having recently had the misfortune to call upon their services, I think that every assistance we can give them to expand their services would be money well spent. It is not until you require the assistance of the First Responders do you realise what a first class voluntary job they do and one should never think that you will never need them. I did and I was amazed by their professionalism.”  

The Chairman reminded the meeting that the deadline for the next round of funding applications was 20 September 2010. Please contact Jane Vaughan (Calne Community Area Manager), on 01247 721447 or jane.vaughan@wiltshire.gov.uk, if you would like to submit an application to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

Councillors will provide an update on community issues and progress on Area Board working groups. This will include:

a)    Skate Board Park working group – Councillor Marshall

b)    Cycle Network working group – Councillor Berry

c)    Curzon Street congestion issue – Councillor Hill

d)    Hilmarton A3102 and Derry Hill A4 issues – response from Highways Officers to the community discussion held at the Calne Area Board meeting on 27 April 2010 at Hilmarton Community Hall.

Councillors provided an update on community issues and progress on Calne Area Board working groups.

a)    Councillor Marshall had been involved in several meetings regarding the skate board park working group. The group had visited skate parks in Salisbury and Trowbridge and had been particularly impressed with the Trowbridge site. A local company were looking into the problem of paint on the current skate bowl.

b)    Councillor Berry and the cycle network working group had been working on establishing key routes for cyclists on maps and good places for shared cycle paths with the general agreement of users. This was hoped for on the A3102 too.

c)    Councillor Hill expressed his hope that the Curzon Street congestion issue would be considered by the new Local Transport Plan working group. The best option appeared to be diverting traffic away from the area using signage and a review of signage was taking place. Councillor Tonge explained that £15,000 was available to the Area Board for small highways projects. He emphasised that the highways budget was limited and had recently been reduced. The department had a list of 600 projects in Wiltshire to be completed and funding available for approximately 60 of these projects. The Local Transport Plan scheme would work to prioritise highways projects in the Community Area.

d)    Highways Officers responded to the community discussion held at the Calne Area Board meeting on 27 April 2010 regarding the A3102 at Hilmarton and the A4 at Derry Hill. Martin Cook, Area Highways Engineer, stated that using the highways prioritising system, Studley Crossroads was deemed to be a low priority. There had been no major incident since changes were made to the crossroads approximately four years ago. The Chairman had received the following comment via the Community Area Network from a local person who was unable to attend the meeting: “I believe the road has become safer since the road changes were made as part of the Bowood housing development, the islands have certainly made the road much safer to cross and the turnings into Derry Hill and Studley have been significantly improved. My main issue is with the speed of the vehicles, and would like to see a reduction in the speed to say 40mph 100 yards or so before and after the new pedestrian crossing islands. This not only benefits pedestrians (who are often forgotten about when discussing road safety at such cross roads), but also a lower speed limit would help to reduce accidents.” A resident from Derry Hill expressed concerns about crossing the road at Studley crossroads and the pedestrian island. Mr Broadhead asked Councillor Tonge about the cost of the speed limit review report and the number of speed limits recommended to be reduced in the report.

Decision

The cost of the speed limit review report and the number of speed limits recommended to be reduced in the report would be reported back to Mr Broadhead by Councillor Tonge.     

In Hilmarton there was scope for a traffic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

There will be the opportunity to ask Councillor Lionel Grundy OBE general questions regarding his Cabinet responsibility for Children’s Services.

The Cabinet Representative Councillor Lionel Grundy OBE was unable to attend the meeting and the item was subsequently withdrawn from the agenda.

The Chairman will address any questions and comments from the floor.

A question was raised asking how many speed limits were changed by Wiltshire Council after the speed limit review. Councillor Tonge clarified that the speed limit review was mandatory and a requirement from the Government.

Decision

Councillor Tonge would provide an answer on how many speed limits were changed by Wiltshire Council after the speed limit review. 

James Gray MP was asked if he would feed back the highways issues raised at the meeting and pertinent to many rural communities to Government. He commented that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had made clear that as rural communities were very different, highways decisions such as the ones discussed at the meeting were best made by listening to local people through forums such as the Area Board.  

The Chairman will set out arrangements for the next meeting.

The next Area Board meeting would be held at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 26 October at Calne Town Hall, with refreshments available from 6.30 pm. Councillor Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Representative for Leisure, Sport and Culture would attend this meeting to discuss the leisure review that was taking place, with consultation open until 31 October. If you would like to feed into the review, information was available in leisure centres, libraries, Council offices and online from the Wiltshire Council website: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisureandculture/leisureandsportscentres/leisure.htm.