Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman, Councillor Peter Hutton, welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the procedures for remote meetings.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Councillor Howard Greenman

·       Councillor Andy Phillips

·       Councillor Melody Thompson

To approve and sign as a true and correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2020.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 October 2020 were considered, and it was:

Resolved

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2020 as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillor Ross Henning declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 9, Community Hub Update, by virtue of being a Trustee of the project.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       Healthy Us Weight Management Programme

·       Chippenham Ambulance Station Update

·       Future Chippenham Consultation Update

·       COVID-19/Vaccine Update

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·       Healthy Us Weight Management Programme

o   It was noted that Healthy Us was a free 12-week course open to anyone living in Wiltshire, aged 18 or over, with a BMI of 28 or above. Courses would be held throughout the year and would be delivered virtually over Microsoft Teams. A plan to run face to face group courses across the County, when it was safe to do so and circumstances allowed, was noted. Referrals for the virtual courses starting in January 2021 were being accepted. Further information was attached to the agenda pack.

·       Chippenham Ambulance Station Update

o   Further information was attached to the agenda pack.

o   The Chairman noted that a representative from the Chippenham Hospital was due to attend and provide a brief update but reassured members that this would instead be delivered in the next meeting of the Area Board in February 2021.

·       Future Chippenham Consultation Update

o   Wiltshire Council officers, Chrissie Lamb (Programme Specialist in Major Project Services) and Simon Hendey (Director of Housing & Commercial), delivered a brief update on the next steps and noted that public consultation would begin on week commencing 11 January 2021. It was confirmed that the consultation would be undertaken virtually but that steps had been taken to ensure that it would be as interactive as possible in line with national COVID-19 restrictions. Please direct any further questions/comments to our colleagues via the following email address: FutureChippenham@wiltshire.gov.uk

·       COVID-19/Vaccine Update

o   An updated community pack of information to help support communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the current national restrictions was noted. Further information was attached to the agenda pack. Please see www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus#community-packfor further information, updates and the latest advice.

·       Morrisons Goodie Bags

o   The Chairman noted the work between the Community Engagement Manager (CEM), Ollie Phipps, members of the Area Board, local foodbanks and Morrisons on creating Christmas goodie bags. It was confirmed that over 130 bags had been donated to vulnerable residents in the Chippenham community area.

To receive an update from Danielle Blake on the Rise Trust youth work.

Danielle Blake provided an update for the Area Board on the work that The Rise Trust had been undertaking during the pandemic.

It was noted that the move to engage with young people online as a result of COVID-19 had not proved successful, therefore the team were instead meeting and interacting with young people wherever they were across the Chippenham community area. This meant that young people were still provided with a safe space to talk and a point of contact who would check in and signpost to other agencies if needed. The last lockdown had again brought engagement levels down, but it was noted that those who did attend sessions received lengthy contact time.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, The Rise Trust had lost their community spaces, but it was confirmed that Chippenham Borough Lands Charity had gifted and organised a new space for The Rise Trust to use in the future. It was noted that the space was not yet fully functional but that they hoped to have sessions back up and running by mid-January 2021. It was stated that they would be engaging with young people in the community area to gain their feedback on what the space should be used for and what they want to see in the future, as well as helping to decorate and creating a mural on site.

Thanks were given by both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on behalf of the Area Board.

To receive an update from Ollie Phipps on the Local Youth Network.

Ollie Phipps, CEM, provided an update for the Area Board on the Local Youth Network (LYN).

It was confirmed that meetings continued to be held virtually every two months and that the LYN were working on the delivery of four mental health awareness workshops; two of which had been fully signed up. It was noted that these would be held physically at the Stanley Park Sports Ground and that officers were working with the Chippenham Town Football Club to ensure the sessions were COVID-19 secure and in line with national restrictions. The project itself was discussed and it was noted that it had been delivered two years previously but had focussed on young football coaches, whereas these upcoming sessions focussed more broadly on young leaders within the community. The sessions would inform young people on how to spot and help people and how to signpost onto official bodies and sources.

Additional LYN projects were noted as being under the funding agenda item and it was highlighted that if members were minded to approve said grant applications then the total LYN budget would have been spent and distributed for the year. Thanks were given to the organisations working throughout the year in supporting young people and it was noted that the LYN funding had been a vital resource.

To receive an update from Ollie Phipps on the key findings from the survey of Area Board grant recipients during the 2019-20 financial year.

Ollie Phipps, CEM, provided an update on the key findings from a survey of Area Board grant recipients across the County during the 2019-20 financial year.

The overall number of volunteers and participants across the funded projects was highlighted and a funding overview across Wiltshire was discussed where it was noted that for every £1 invested, an additional £4.65 worth of community value was added; up from £3.49 in 2018-19. A breakdown of the categories that recipients’ projects were supporting in respect to capital, health and wellbeing and youth funding was discussed, with older people, social isolation and loneliness, and mental health and wellbeing highlighted as the key categories.

It was confirmed that a more Chippenham focused overview would be provided in the February 2021 meeting of the Area Board.

To consider a presentation by Sandie Webb on the Community Hub.

Councillor Sandie Webb, Chippenham Town Council, updated members of the public and Area Board on the work that had been made towards the creation of the Chippenham Community Eco Hub.

It was confirmed that one of the disused shops in the Borough Parade Shopping Centre, specifically the old Global West Travel Agent’s, would be repurposed into the Hub. It was emphasised that this was a community project for the community by the community, not by the Town Council.

The public benefits of the Hub were discussed alongside the logistics of opening the site such as the lease on the property, the registration of the charity, and the opening of a dedicated bank account. A list of organisations associated with the Hub was shown and funding through various grant opportunities was discussed. Councillor Ross Henning, as Trustee of the project, thanked Cllr Webb for her continued hard work and spoke to a set of photos showing the site itself.

Members of the public were given the opportunity to ask questions, to which Melanie Moden highlighted the use of the word “Eco” in the name of the Hub and asked how local environmental groups would be involved in the project. Cllr Webb noted the lack of expertise within the project group on sustainability and environmental responsibilities and encouraged any and all local environmental groups to attend meetings where possible to aid and support the project.

To consider the notes and actions log of the previous meeting of the Community Area Transport Group held on 17 November 2020.

Councillor Ross Henning, Chairman of the Chippenham CATG, provided a brief update and referred members to the notes attached to the agenda pack. It was highlighted that the notes stated that the next meeting of the CATG was due to take place on 16 December 2020, but it was clarified that it was an error and that the next meeting was 2 February 2021.

Both Councillor Ross Henning and the Chairman, on behalf of the Area Board, gave thanks and expressed appreciation to Martin Rose, the principal officer overseeing the Chippenham CATG, who was moving on from supporting the group.

Councillor Ross Henning proposed that the four high priority schemes as highlighted within the report and shown to the meeting were approved, which the Chairman seconded.

Following which, it was:

Resolved

The Chippenham Area Board noted the minutes of the previous CATG meeting held on 17 November 2020 and approved the recommendations as detailed within those minutes.

To note the written updates provided and answer any questions arising from the floor:

      i.         Parish and Town Councils

     ii.         Wiltshire Police

    iii.         Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iv.         Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

     v.         Healthwatch Wiltshire

   vi.         Chippenham and Villages Area Partnership (ChAP)

Some written updates had been received before the meeting and were included in the agenda pack. Verbal updates from Town and Parish Councils, and other Partners were received as follows:

1)    Wiltshire Police

o   Inspector James Brain spoke to the written update included within the agenda pack. It was confirmed that CCTV cameras had been installed at the Bath Road carpark which had already led to the identification of robbery suspects. An ongoing closure order for a premises related to drug use and links across the County lines was successful in court and it was confirmed that the premises would be closed for 3 months. It was noted that two people had been identified, interviewed and that officers were awaiting further advice from the CPS following the large disorder in the town centre at the end of October. Additionally, it was confirmed that the issue of street drinkers in the town centre was being mitigated, with the main individuals being supported, and that lots of work was being undertaken in the Youth Engagement team to help support the most vulnerable children in the community area.

o   The Chairman raised the issue of anti-social behaviour within the local carparks to which Inspector Brain highlighted the immediate success of the Bath Road carpark CCTV cameras and noted that this plan could inform any future strategies against anti-social behaviour.

o   Operation Uplift and the increase in police officer numbers was discussed and it was confirmed by both Inspector Brain and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, that there was a constant flow of new recruits continuing to join the wider Wiltshire service, with one new recruit having already joined the local Chippenham team. It was confirmed that the numbers of new police officers joining over the next six months was as a direct result of Operation Uplift and to replace the officers who had left the service.

o   Councillor Ross Henning questioned how regularly the Wiltshire Police social media pages were used and if there was a dedicated officer maintaining and updating the platforms. It was confirmed that there was not one dedicated officer but instead a group of officers and staff who had been trained on using the social media pages, and that the posts were sporadic but when appealing for witnesses or information, they were used more frequently due to their usefulness in engaging with communities.

o   The Chairman asked how many special constables there were in the Chippenham community area, to which it was confirmed that there were 22 serving specials. Inspector Brain noted that an appreciation evening was being held for the specials in his area due to their continued hard work and dedication, particularly during the pandemic. It was confirmed that 70% were fully qualified which was noted as being far above the average for the rest of Wiltshire.

To determine the following grant applications to the community area grants fund:

Community Area Grants

To consider the following applications for Community Area Grant funding:

·       Alabare Christian Care and Support, £562.80, towards making the most of food donations.

·       The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Paul Chippenham with Langley Burrell, £1,450, towards repairs to St Pauls Church Tower Clock.

·       Chippenham Angling Club, £2,500, towards fishing platforms around Town Bridge.

Youth Grant Applications

To consider the following applications for Youth Grant funding:

·       Thrive, £2,775, towards mental health awareness workshops.

·       The Photo Club, £2,075, towards the LYN social media account.

·       The Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team CIC, £1,300, towards the February half term axe throwing, archery and climbing.

·       Refashion My Town CIC, £3,492, towards the web development internship program.

The Area Board considered the applications for Community Area Grant and Youth Grant funding, as detailed in the report attached to the agenda pack and published as agenda supplements 1 and 2.

The Chairman invited representatives for each of the Community Area Grant applications to speak, to which the Area Board heard statements from Nicky Cushing for the Alabare Christian Care and Support; Adam Trigg for the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Pauls; Eddy Stiles for Chippenham Angling Club; Jane Boulton for Springboard Chippenham and Danielle Blake for The Rise Trust.

The Area Board voted on each of the grant applications, following which it was:

Resolved

Community Area Grant Applications:

1)    To grant the Alabare Christian Care and Support, £562.80, towards making the most of food donations.

2)    To grant the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Pauls Chippenham with Langley Burrell, £1,450, towards repairs to St Pauls Church Tower Clock.

3)    To grant the Chippenham Angling Club, £2,500, towards fishing platforms around Town Bridge.

4)    To grant Springboard Chippenham, £4,097.92 towards Springboard Chippenham Outdoor Classroom.

5)    To grant The Rise Trust Youth, £5,000, towards Chippenham Youth Club.

Youth Grant Applications:

6)    To grant Thrive, £2,775, toward mental health awareness workshops.

7)    To grant The Photo Club, £2,075 towards the LYN social media account.

8)    To grant the Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team CIC, £1,300, towards the February half term axe throwing, archery and climbing.

9)    To grant the Refashion My Town CIC, £3,492, towards the web development internship programme.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of the Chippenham Area Board will be held on 10 February 2021, 7.00pm.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. The next meeting of the Chippenham Area Board would be held on 10 February 2021, 7.00pm.