Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Howard Greenman.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2023.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2023 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board:

·       Louisa Young –  Secondment Community Conversations

·       Chippenham Highways Matters

·       Five to Thrive Chippenham Community Project

The following Chairman’s updates were received and noted:

·       Louisa Young – The Area Board noted that Louisa Young had recently been Secondment to the Community Conversations team.  A temporary replacement was being sought.

·       Chippenham Highways Matters – The Area Board were reminded that they received a presentation from Highways officers in December 2023 where many questions were asked by community area residents. The Chairman confirmed that responses were being prepared by the Director of Highways, who apologised for the delay in responding. It was expected that the responses would be available shortly.

·       Five to Thrive Chippenham Community Project – The Area Board were informed of a recent presentation about the Community Project. All Area Board Members who attended commented on its value and impact on those attending.  

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Culture Strategy and Consultation

·       Local Nature Recovery Strategy Public Engagement – Video

·       FACT Family Help Programme Update

·       Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter 2023

·       Best Kept Village Competition

The following written updates and information items were received and noted:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Culture Strategy and Consultation

·       Local Nature Recovery Strategy Public Engagement

·       FACT Family Help Programme Update – intervention and joint working.

·       Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter 2023

·       Best Kept Village Competition

Written Updates

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

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Age UK Update

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Parish Forum

·       Parish and Town Councils

·       Other Community Groups

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

1.    Neighbourhood policing Team

The Area Board received a written update and presentation from Insp Pete Foster, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team, the Police community commitment, community engagements, Chippenham town and rural areas crime and incident statistics and operational priorities. 

Members commented on speeding traffic along the A350 especially at roundabouts and with road upgrades due in June 2024, parking on pavements and the legal viewpoint, where to report crimes and community messaging. Insp Foster explained that details about issues on the A350 would be passed onto colleagues, that it was not an offence to park on pavements and in these instances a conversation would normally suffice, if the vehicle was blocking the pavement or a residential driveway then tickets can be given and vehicles removed, the public should report crime through 101 or 999, or the Police facebook page foe non-urgent issues.

The Area Board also heard from Chief Inspector James Brain who commented on his new role in delivering the Policing Strategy.

The Chairman thanked Chief Insp James Brain and Insp Foster for attending the Area Board meeting, responding to questions and to continue the great work in Chippenham.

2.    Age UK Update

The written report attached to the agenda pack was noted.

3.    Parish Forum

The Chairman explained that the Forum met each quarter and that Cllr Greenman was the Forums Chair. It was noted that the Forum received an update on flooding issues from Cllr Puntis as Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Flooding and a member of the Operational Flood Working Group for North Chippenham Cepen Park and Derriads. The SEPM agreed to receive the Forum minutes and arrange for them to be circulated to the Area Board members.

4.    Parish and Town Councils

Hullavington Parish Council provided an update about work being undertaken to create a community hub and Café at the Old Stables next to the Hullavington Arms which had recently closed.

5.    Future Community Updates

The Chairman along with other Area Board members provided a short update about the derelict property in the vicinity of Chippenham Hospital. They responded to queries about the use of funds following the sale of the land and indicated that the property was an NHS asset and as such the proceeds would be used by the NHS in the most appropriate way. The Chairman agreed to keep the Area Bopard informed of progress.

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

·       Priority -      Youth engagement and supporting positive mental health and wellbeing in young people (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Peter Hutton, Cllr Liz Alstrom, Cllr Kathryn Macdermid, Cllr Adrian Foster)

·       Priority –      Addressing climate change (Cllr Nick Murry and Cllr Macdermid)

·       Priority –      Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Clare Cape)

·       Priority –      Supporting the local economy (Cllr Howard Greenman, Cllr Nick Murry)

·       Priority –      Reducing anti-social behaviour (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Liz Alstrom)

Lead Councillors provided updates to the Area Board about the work undertaken in each of the Board’s priority areas.

·       Priority -      Youth engagement and supporting positive mental health and wellbeing in young people (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Peter Hutton, Cllr Liz Alstrom, Cllr Kathryn Macdermid, Cllr Adrian Foster)

o   Local Youth Network meetings at Sheldon School update

o   Teen Takeover

·       Priority –      Addressing climate change (Cllr Nick Murry and Cllr Kathryn Macdermid)

o   Chippenham Climate & Ecological Emergency Forum meeting January 2024

o   Parish Engagement Project

o   Environment Directory

o   Area Board Environment Lead meeting

·       Priority –      Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Clare Cape and Cllr Ross Henning)

o   Chippenham Health and Wellbeing Group meetings – 6 weekly

o   Over 60s event at the Neeld

o   Chippenham Shed opening

o   Household support Funding for Foodbanks

·       Priority –      Supporting the local economy (Cllr Howard Greenman, Cllr Nick Murry, Ross Henning)

o   Town team update

o   Chippenham One Plan consultation update

·       Priority –      Reducing anti-social behaviour (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Liz Alstrom)

o   Supporting partner networks to tackle ASB

o   Community Safety Forum March 2024

o   Million Hours funding – round 2, success for the Rise Trust

The SEPM will provide an update on the JSNA consultation. A link to Wiltshire Intelligence is here - Wiltshire Intelligence - Bringing Evidence Together.

Ros Griffiths – Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager (SEPM) introduced a presentation providing an update about the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) which highlighting a range of information from various sources providing insight into how Wiltshire and its 18 community areas are performing.

The SEPM explained that the JSNA was last 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 recognised that the challenge for Councillors included working with and gathering knowledge of neighbouring community areas, especially as residents may wish to volunteer for other neighbouring community areas such as Calne and Corsham. The Chairman agreed to raise this matter further with the Area Board Chair’s for Calne and Corsham.

The Chairman thanked the SEPM for the presentation and welcomed the new online system and the level of detail available. The Area Board were encouraged to become involved in sharing views about the Chippenham community area by completing a short survey, with results being considered further by the Area Board at a future meeting.

To note the current remaining budgets and to consider any applications for funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Remaining Budgets:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found here.

The Area Board considered a number of applications for Area Board Initiatives, Community Area Grants and Young People Grants and heard from the applicants.

Resolved:

1.    To approve the following Area Board initiative:

·       Teen Takeover – to award £5,000 towards various activities and events during 2024.

(Note: It was suggested that if Grant funding of up to £2,000 remained available in the grant budgets for 2024 that this be ring fenced for Teen Takeover events during 2025. The SEPM confirmed that this could be agreed by the Area Board as a delegated decision up to £1,000 with the other £1,000 being made available from the Persimmon Homes allocation).  

2.    Community Area Grants:

·       Biddestone Cricket Club – to award £5,000 towards New Changing Rooms

·       Wilts and Berks Canal Trust – to award £1,175 towards a Tow Path Flail Mower

·       10^th Chippenham Guides – to award £875 towards Tents

(Note: The Area Board indicated support for an additional award of £625 towards additional tents, subject to the applicant achieving match funding).  

3.    Young People Grants:

·       Chippenham Cricket Club – to award £500 towards Junior Training Equipment

(Note: The Area Board asked if the applicant could arrange a community open day at the Club).

·       Chippenham Hockey Club – to award £450 towards Youth playing and protective equipment

·       Chippenham Youth Theatre – to award £1,000 towards Senior Class Bursaries

·       Chippenham Town Bowls Club – to award £500 towards Youth Equipment

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 3 October 2023 and 25 January 2024, as set out in the attached report.

The Area Board received the notes of the LHFIG meetings held on 3 October 2023 and 25 January 2024 and considered the recommendations arising from those meetings.

Resolved:

1.    To receive the notes of the meetings held on 3 October 2023 and 25 January 2024.

2.    To approve the following funding allocations for 3 October 2023:

·       Market Place Chippenham £1400 (£980 LHFIG/£420 CTC).

·       Seagry Road Sutton Benger £4500 (£3150 LHFIG/£1350 PC).

·       Fairfoot Close - £7000 from next year’s budget (subject to £3000 contribution from CTC)

·       Hill Rise 20mph speed limit - £11,000 total (£5500 from next year’s budget subject to match funding from CTC)

3.    To approve the following funding allocations for 25 January 2024:

·       Dropped Kerbs 2024 - £8000 LHFIG (seeking £4000 from CTC to bring budget to £12,000)

·       Fallowfield / Foxgrove Chippenham Barrier Removals - £650 (£455 LHFIG/£195 CTC – to be confirmed)

·       A420 Speed Limit Changes - £16000 (£8000 LHFIG/ Biddestone and Slaughterford PC - £2920, North Wraxall PC - £3880, Castle Combe PC – £600, Yatton Keynell PC - £600 – to be confirmed)

·       A420 The Shoe – topographic survey - £1500 (£1050 LHFIG, £450 NWPC to be confirmed

·       A420 Ford – 1no Informal Crossing - £6000 (£4200 LHFIG/£1800 NWPC to be confirmed)

·       Hill Rise Chippenham 20mph speed limit implementation - £11,000 (£5500 LHFIG/£5500 CTC to be confirmed)

·       Fairfoot Close to Gascelyn Close Chippenham - £30,000 – (£7000 LHFIG, £7000 CTC to be confirmed, £16,000 other sources via CTC).

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

Crime Stoppers Presentation - Alison Butler – Carers Champion / Rural Representative commented on a recent presentation at Chippenham Town Hall from Crime Stoppers. She suggested that this could be an item for a future Parish Forum or Area Board meeting. The SEPM indicated support for the proposal to be included in a future Parish Forum meeting.

Future Meeting Dates (6.30-8.30pm):

·       10 June 2024

·       2 September 2024

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Area Board Delivery Officer, louisa.young@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Area Board noted the following future meeting dates (6.30pm-8.30pm:

·       10 June 2024

·       2 September 2024