Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Wiltshire Councillors.  She handed the meeting to William Harmer, Hullavington Parish Council, who presented Major Vicky Reid, Buckley Barracks, with a cheque for £300.  This was collected from the residents of Hullavington to thank the soldiers of the barracks for their hard work in cleaning up Hullavington cemetery during November 2009.

Apologies for absence were received from Christopher Dash, Yatton Keynell Parish Council and Maurice Dixson, Kington Langley Parish Council.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2009.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting on 2 November 2009 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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 made the following announcements:

Pot Holes

Following the recent cold weather, Wiltshire Council’s highways team had been working round the clock to repair damaged roads in the county.

The damage had been caused by the prolonged cold weather following a very wet November and early December, the council did anticipate this and has its largest ever stock of a new highly durable pothole repair material.

Town centres had already been patrolled, and the most serious potholes were being filled. This process would be repeated on A and B roads and then minor roads.

Green Flag Award

Wiltshire Council has been commended for leading new work to encourage local people to take part in decision making.  A green flag was awarded for the exceptional work being done to involve people in decisions that affected their communities.

Allington Bar Cross Roads

Wiltshire Council had appointed ‘Mouchel’ to undertake a feasibility study to examine the identified problems at Allington Bar cross roads; engineers gave a presentation to the Parish Council and residents of Allington village outlining the proposed junction improvements.  The scheme is provisionally programmed for implementation during 2010/11.

The Digital Switchover

The BBC Switchover Help Scheme is available to help eligible older and disabled people make the switch to digital TV.  The switchover was only 3 months away; those more vulnerable residents not be able to cope on their own would benefit from the practical help and aftercare support of the Scheme.

NHS Health Fair

A Health Fair would be held in Chippenham Town Hall on Friday 26 February 2010 from 10am to– midday, followed by a Health Workshop with NHS Wiltshire from midday – 1.30pm.

In accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 having regard to the special circumstances pertaining in this matter – namely, the expiry of the consultation period and the need to feed the views of the Area Board into the report to be received by the Cabinet on 11 February 2010, the matter of the Budget Setting Consultation should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency despite its non-inclusion on the Agenda.

Parvis Khansari, Service Director, outlined how Wiltshire Council currently spent its budget and the budget setting process for 2010 – 2011.

Attendees were requested to partake in an interactive ballet box session which gave them an opportunity to say in which areas they would like to see the Council’s budget spent; the results of the questionnaires that attendees had completed would be announced at the end of the meeting.

To receive an update from any partners who wish to contribute:

a.    Parishes

b.    Wiltshire Police

c.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

d.    NHS Wiltshire

e.    Community Area Young People’s Issues Group

f.      Chippenham Area Partnership

g.    Chippenham Vision.

Sue Webb - Kington Langley Parish Council

Thanked the Area Board for the grant of £2,500 which had been spent on the Church Bend footpath.  Work included new gates and access over Wessex Water owned land as well as legal fees.  £5,080 was spent in total on this project that had been well used by local residents.  An official opening was planned in the spring.

Christian Malford Parish Council

Wessex Water had completed work on a sewerage pumping station and had now started work on a second pumping station.  The parish council said they were unhappy with the support given to them by Wiltshire Council on this issue.

B4069 – The village was still experiencing issues with waste lorries using this road, the Parish Council would like an update on this matter.

Decision

Councillor Howard Greenman to investigate issue and respond to Christian Malford Parish Council.

Jane Clark - Seagry Parish Council

Seagry Parish Council planned to borrow £100,000 from the public work fund to finance a new village hall.  The village had also expressed an interest in managing their allotments and asked for an update on the proposed allotment review under the community asset transfer scheme.

Decision

The Community Area Manager to investigate the scheme and respond to Seagry Parish Council.

Lesley Palmer - Grittleton Parish Council

The ‘rural access to play’ project work had been delayed until the end of February 2010.

Damaged pavements that were first reported in 2005 were still an issue and it appeared that repairs to rural pavements were a low priority for Wiltshire Council.  The parish council requested that the Area Board support their application for repairs.

Decision

The Community Area Manager to investigate the issue.

Alison Butler - Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council

The parish council advised that Slaughterford would have issues going into the digital switchover.

Litter problems with Chinese wish lanterns were reported with wires from downed lanterns becoming a health hazard for farm stock and wildlife.

Adrian Bishop - Castle Combe Parish Council

Night time gatherings of young people in cars were creating a disturbance and damaging residents’ cars at Castle Combe car park.

Sherry Meadows - Stanton-St-Quintin Parish Council

The burger bar had returned to the lay-by near the M4 junction, causing traffic and refuse issues.

Cllr Jane Scott advised that a licensing review of such mobile catering establishments was ongoing county wide and that she would discuss the issue with the Community Area Manager.

Decision

Councillor Jane Scott to advise the Community Area Manager.

Wiltshire Police 

Inspector Kate Pain updated the meeting on current policing activities in the Chippenham community area.

Night Time Economy:

The Inspector highlighted the good work carried out by local police supported by Wiltshire Council licensing officers in tackling problems connected with drinking establishments; police and licensing officers would now be targeting late night takeaways.

Hardenhuish Lane - parking issues:

Joint working between police and Wiltshire Council led by PC Rachel Webb now means that significant funding was in place to implement traffic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Pippa McVeigh, Head of Crime Reduction, will present a report on the Night Time Economy and the Taxi Marshall Scheme

Pippa McVeigh, Head of Crime Reduction, presented a report updating the Area Board on the actions agreed at the meeting of September 14 2009.

Actions

·        To update the Area Board on the action agreed at the meeting of September 142009.

• To present the Area Board with a ‘Night Time Economy’ Action Plan and to seek the Board’s endorsement of the recommendations of the task and finish group outlined within the report.

Background

At the September meeting of the Chippenham Area Board, it was agreed that a task and finish group should be convened to look at the issues that related to late night crime and disorder in Chippenham Town Centre (the Night Time

Economy).  The group’s task was to identify key actions and interventions, to address the issues, and to agree and present recommendations back to the board.

Points made included:

• Ensure Security Services (responsible for the taxi marshalls) were disappointed to read in the newspaper that the scheme had been ended without any formal notice.

• The Head of Crime Reduction pointed out that contrary to the report in the paper, the scheme had not been terminated as no decision had been taken.  Wiltshire Council had spoken with Ensure and assured them that one month’s notice would be given, as and when the decision to cease the scheme was taken - in accordance with the contractual obligations.

• A taxi driver expressed the view that taxi marshalls were needed on a Saturday night.

• Local business who benefited from the Chippenham night time economy could perhaps contribute to the costs of running the service.

• Chippenham Area Board and Chippenham Town Council should consider making a contribution towards future funding of the taxi marshall scheme.

Decision

• The Chippenham Area Board endorsed the implementation of the Task & Finish Groups Night Time Economy Action Plan.  The Head of Crime Reduction and Inspector Pain to enact the plan.

• The Chippenham Area Board did not accept the Task & Finish Group recommendation that the scheme should cease as they were persuaded that the Taxi Marshall scheme was perceived to be a valuable service by the public and the Taxi Drivers.

• The officers to seek funding, in conjunction with partners, to continue the service on Saturday nights only.

Youth Development Co-ordinator, Richard Williams, will present the youth strategy and request that the Area Board elects one councillor to act as representative on the Task and Finish Group.

Richard Williams, Youth Development Co-ordinator, presented a brief update on the Youth Strategy and requested that the Area Board elect one councillor to act as representative on the Task and Finish Group.

Decision

• The Chippenham Area Board endorsed the Youth Strategy.

• Councillor Paul Darby was appointed to represent Chippenham Area Board on the Youth Strategy Task & Finish Group.

a.    To consider 5 applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

i)     Sheldon Road Methodist Church – A Beacon project to build a new Community Centre, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place

ii)    Hullavington Parish Council – The installation of Bus Stop Hard standing, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place

iii)   Westinghouse Cricket Club – Cricket Coaching for under 21s

iv)   Doorway – Structured Music and IT activity sessions for homeless and marginalised adults attending Doorway

v)    Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal Trust – To restore a spillweir, repair canal bed and stream diversion.

Grant application packs for the Community Area Grants Scheme areavailable from the Community Area Manager or electronically at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboardscommunitygrantsscheme.htm.

b)    To consider two Expressions of Interest for Performance Reward Grant Scheme, as follows:

i)     Chippenham Riverside Improvements

ii)    Chippenham Skate Park.

Community Area Grant Scheme

Wiltshire Council members were asked to consider five applications seeking 2009/10 community area grant funding.

Mr William Harmer addressed the Area Board on behalf of Hullavington Parish Council.

Decision

Sheldon Road Methodist Church was awarded £5000 towards The Beacon project to build a new Community Centre, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant criteria and the project related to Wiltshire Council priorities through encouraging participation in positive activities and the promotion of ideas about safe, cohesive and resilient communities.

Decision

Hullavington Parish Council was awarded £495 for the installation of Bus Stop hard standing, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant criteria and the project related to Wiltshire Council priorities to reduce carbon emissions from transport.

Decision

Westinghouse Cricket Club was awarded £500 for Cricket Coaching for under 21s.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant criteria and the project related to Wiltshire Council priorities encouraging positive lifestyle changes, young people’s participation in positive activities and the promotion of ideas about safe, cohesive and resilient communities.

Decision

Doorway was awarded £990 for structured Music and IT activity sessions for homeless and marginalised adults attending Doorway.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant criteria and the project related to Wiltshire Council priorities encouraging positive lifestyle changes, create stronger and more inclusive communities, in positive activities and the promotion of ideas about safe, cohesive and resilient communities.

Decision

Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal Trust was awarded £4,292 to restore a spill weir, repair canal bed and stream diversion, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant criteria and the project related to Wiltshire Council priorities to work with communities to improve their natural environment.

Performance Reward Grant Scheme

Mr John Clark, Chippenham Vision Board, outlined two Expressions of Interest for Performance Reward Grants as follows:

• Chippenham Riverside Improvements

• Chippenham Skate Park.

Decision

• The Chippenham Area Board endorsed the two proposed Expressions of Interest by the Chippenham Vision Board.  The Community Area Manager to forward the applications to the Performance Reward Scheme Panel for consideration.

An update will be given on the process and progress so far in the Chippenham area.

Inspector Kate Pain advised the meeting that the implementation of Community Speed Watch and the use of speed indication devices was part of an overall strategy and would potentially lead to casualty reduction by engaging the community in addressing speed related offending.

The main objectives of community speed watch were:

• To secure a reduction in vehicle speeds
• Reduce the numbers of collisions and casualties
• Improve quality of life for all
• Reduce noise and pollution
• Raising public awareness to inappropriate speed.

Community Speed Watch would help local people reduce speeding traffic through their local community.  The scheme enabled volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and to help control the problem with direct action using approved speed monitoring equipment.

Those interested in being considered for Community Speed Watch should register a Community Issue providing details of the road concerned

Andrew Osborn, Programme Manager – Day Services, and Councillor Jemima Milton, Portfolio Holder – Adult Care, will give a brief presentation on the centre’s move from Middlefield to the Olympiad Centre, Chippenham, and will respond to any questions.

Andrew Osborn, Programme Manager - Day Services, and

Councillor Jemima Milton, Portfolio Holder - Adult Care, gave a brief presentation on the centre’s move from Middlefield to the Olympiad Centre, Chippenham.

Points made included:

• Looking to share the building with other groups

• The building will be a joint project for both youth & adults with learning difficulties

• There will be minimum disruption to users of the Olympiad Centre

• Day time respite care will still continue.

The Chairman thanked Andrew Osborn and Jemima Milton for their presentation.

Parvis Khansari, Service Director, will provide an update on issues received and actions taken since the previous Area Board meeting on 2 November 2009.

Victoria Welsh and Parvis Khansari gave a brief update on the issues received and actions taken since the previous Area Board meeting on 2 November 2009.

Parvis Khansari gave the results of the meeting’s earlier vote on how the attendees viewed the Council’s spending priorities.

Highest Priorities:

1. Maintenance of existing roads

2. Youth services

3. Adult social care for older people.

Lowest Priorities:

1. New road management and improvements

2. Archives

3. Planning.

The Chairman thanked everyone for taking part.

The Chairman will invite any remaining questions from the floor.    The meeting is reminded that the arrangements for future meetings are set out below and that the Forward Work Plan is attached.

Councillor Allen thanked all those who had attended and asked that the evaluation sheets be completed. The next Area Board meeting would be held on Monday 1 March at Wiltshire Council, Monkton Park, Chippenham.