Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Linda Packard, welcomed everyone to the meeting and confirmed that Item 9 (Chippenham Campus Development) would now be considered at the next meeting of the Board scheduled for 7 October 2013.  This decision was made to ensure adequate time was given to the item, noting that limited attention was possible following consideration of Item 8 (Chippenham Skatepark Task Group Report).

The order of proceedings in relation to public participation during Item 8 would be clarified in more detail once the Board reached this item for discussion.

The answers to questions received would also be addressed during the item to which they related with those wishing to speak given the opportunity to do so. 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Howard Greenman.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2013.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2013 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.

To include the following:

i)             Core Strategy

ii)            Review of Bus Services in North West Wiltshire

iii)           Community Area JSA

The Chairman drew the Board’s attention to the announcements as detailed on the agenda and highlighted the following information:

·         Core Strategy – the consultation as detailed within the announcement ran from Tuesday 27 August to Wednesday 8 October 2013.

·         Review of Bus Services in North West Wiltshire – the consultation would finish on 7 October with any changes expected to be implemented April 2014.

·         Community Area Joint Strategic Assessment – the Community Area JSAs are expected to be published in the Chippenham area at an event to be held on 18 February 2014.

·         Farmers Market – Wiltshire Farmers Market Association was launching a new market in the High Street on 13 October.  This would run on the second Sunday of each month from 10am to 2pm thereafter.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public at Area Board meetings.

With this in mind, and noting that the Chairman is keen to allow for a fair representation of views from the community as a whole, questions should be submitted in writing to the Senior Democratic Services Officer named above no later than 5pm Thursday 5 September 2013 to allow for appropriate responses to be provided at the meeting.  Details of the questions received will be circulated to Area Board Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

Questions received will be put forward during the item to which they refer.

Members of the public who wish to speak in relation to the Skatepark item are asked to register in person no later than 6:45pm on the day of the meeting.  The Chairman will allow for up to 6 speakers per item with each speaker given no more than 3 minutes to speak.  Please note that a maximum of 3 speakers will be allowed to speak in favour and 3 against any proposals contained within the report. 

Attendees were drawn to the information provided on the agenda relating to public participation.

The item had been included to ensure a fair representation of views as a whole.  The Board as always welcomed contributions from the public at all Board meetings.  In order to facilitate this within the time available questions were invited by 5pm on Thursday 5 September to allow time for appropriate responses to be provided.

Details of the questions were circulated to area board councillors prior to the meeting and made available on the Council’s website.  All questions received would be put forward during the item to which they referred.

Members of the public wishing to speak were asked to register before the meeting.  Up to 6 members of the public in total would be given the opportunity to speak.  This would be divided with 3 in favour and 3 against the proposals made within the related item given 3 minutes each to address the Board.

Town and Parish Councils would also be given the opportunity to speak in favour and in objection with a maximum of 2 in favour and 2 against.

In all cases this would take place during the Skatepark item.

a)    To consider the following applications:

·         Kington St Michael Parish Council – £4,662

·         Sheldon Road Methodist Church – £500

·         The Salvation Army – £500

b)   To note the following, under delegated authority:

·         £650 paid for Skatepark consultation meetings

·         £250 paid for the Chippenham Area Board Community Awards

The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2013/14:

       i.        Kington St Michael Parish Council

The sum of £4,662 was requested towards the Tor Hill Footpath, conditional upon the balance of funding being in place.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £4,662 to Kington St Michael Parish Council.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14 and has been classified as a capital project by Wiltshire Council’s finance department.

      ii.        Sheldon Road Methodist Church

The sum of £500 was requested for the purchase of a projector for the Computer Assist project.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £500 from the Digital Literacy fund to Sheldon Road Methodist Church.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14 and has been classified as a capital project by Wiltshire Council’s finance department.

    iii.        The Salvation Army

The sum of £500 was requested towards the Computer Assist project.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £500 to The Salvation Army

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2013/14 and has been classified as a capital project by Wiltshire Council’s finance department.

The following expenses paid under delegated authority were also noted:

·         £650 paid for Skatepark consultation meetings.

·         £250 for the Chippenham Area Board Community Awards.

To consider the Skatepark Task Group report and recommendations contained within.

The Chairman drew the Boards attention to Appendix 5 of the report.  Unfortunately the key was missing from the map.  Copies, inclusive of the key, had therefore been circulated and were placed on the seats at the meeting for reference.

Before introducing the Chairman of the Task Group to present the report the Chairman of the Board confirmed the order of proceedings and asked that all those in attendance listen to the debate and extend the same courtesy in the room whether in agreement or disagreement to any comments received.

In presenting the report the Chairman of the Task Group, Cllr Peter Hutton, wished to express formal thanks to the Community Area Manager for her time and support in the work of the Task Group.

The Task Group had considered a variety of sites details of which were contained within the report.  Consultation had taken place from online surveys to a number of public meetings for local residents and the wider community.

The Group had undertaken it’s work under instruction from the Area Board.  Both Stanley Park and Bristol Road had been considered as alternative sites but were not considered to be as suitable as Monkton Park.  The site of the former Police Station was also identified as a potential site but it was understood that this was expected to be released for sale shortly.

Feedback received both in support and against the location of Monkton Park were taken into consideration in the preparation of the report.

Attendees were also reminded that should the Area Board be in favour of the recommendations made that further consultation would be undertaken at the Planning stage.

The Chairman of the Board thanked all involved in the Task Group for their hard work and moved to address the questions received which would be taken as read due to time.  The answers to the questions were read out by the Chairman in order of receipt.  Copies of these can be found on the Council’s website and are attached to the minutes.

In response to a request for clarification on the number of meetings undertaken by the Task Group in 2012.  Reference was given to page 72 of the agenda pack where details were noted.

The Task Group Chairman moved the following motion which was seconded as follows:

To approve proceeding to the next step namely the preparation and lodging of a Planning Application for the installation of a concrete construction Skatepark in Monkton Park, Chippenham next to the Olympiad Leisure Centre and Multi Use Games Area (MUGA).

In noting the motion proposed Cllr Caswill requested an amendment which was duly seconded as follows:

Recalling its January 2012 decision that at least one site other than Monkton Park should be considered in parallel with it, the board resolves to approve proceeding to the next step towards the preparation and lodging of a planning application, namely further work on both the Monkton Park and Bristol Road locations, which should give additional attention to community views, design and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The next agenda planning meeting will take place at 10am on Thursday 26 September 2013 at Brookfield Room, Monkton Park, Chippenham. Any parish or town council representative interested in attending should contact the Community Area manager or the Chairman.

The meeting is asked to note the future meeting dates below and is reminded to complete the evaluation forms in the packs.

The Forward Plan is attached for information.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting and invited them to complete an evaluation form.

The next meeting of the Chippenham Area Board would take place on 7 October 2013.

The next agenda planning meeting would take place on Thursday 26 September at 10:00am at Monkton Park offices, Chippenham. Any parish or town council representative interested in attending should contact the Community Area Manager or the Chairman.