Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011.

Decision

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2011 subject to the following amendment:

Update on Community Campus Project - Page 11, second bullet point add the words “It was noted that the offer would not necessarily be free of charge to other community areas”.

ACTION: Marie Todd

The Chairman made the following announcements:

(a)          Emergency Evacuation Procedures

The Chairman outlined the emergency evacuation procedures for the venue.

(b)          Venues

The Area Board was looking to hold more of its meetings in different parts of the community area next year and would be grateful for suggestions of any suitable venues.  If anyone has any ideas they should inform Marie Todd or Dave Roberts.

(c)          Win Money for a Local Project

NatWest is offering three community projects the chance to win awards of £6,000 each under the Nat West CommunityForce scheme.  Local people will decide on the winners based on which projects will benefit the community most. 

Groups can also ask for help in the shape of volunteering time and expertise from local people via the website.

If a local charity, organisation or group are interested in this opportunity they should register at http://communityforce.natwest.com/ by 4 September 2011.

      (d)       Post Box at Katherine Park

The Chairman was pleased to announce that he had now received confirmation from Persimmon, the landowner of the Katherine Park development, that a post box could  be located on the estate.

To receive any updates from the following partners:

(a)   Wiltshire Police

(b)  Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

(c)  NHS Wiltshire

(d)  Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives

(e)  Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN)

(f)   Chamber of Commerce

(a)          Wiltshire Police

A written report was circulated with the agenda papers.

(b)          Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

A written report was circulated with the agenda papers.

(c)          NHS Wiltshire

A written report was circulated with the agenda papers.

(d)          Box Parish Council

Box Parish Council had just elected Pauline Lyons as Chairman and David Murray as Vice Chairman.  The community plan was currently being finalised.  The Council thanked Wiltshire Council and the MoD for resolving the parking problems in Westwells Road so quickly.

(e)          Colerne Parish Council

The Parish Council was soon to produce its neighbourhood plan.  The Council would appreciate any advice or guidance on this task.

(f)           Corsham Town Council

·         The Town Council hoped to take over responsibility for play areas from Wiltshire Council.  There were plans to improve the Westwells and Coppershell Play Areas. 

·         The results of the Corsham in Bloom competition would be available on 15 September.  Litter in Springfield Park had been cleared and Wiltshire Council was thanked for carrying out repairs to the infrastructure. 

·         The Copenacre site had now been sold.

·         It was hoped that the cycle network would soon be extended.

·         It was likely that an event would be held to promote commercial activities in the town.

(g)          Corsham Community Area Network (CCAN)

Two events were planned:

·         Annual General Meeting on 29 September.  Jane Scott would be attending to talk about the future of Corsham.  The venue would be confirmed.

·         A day aimed at older people.  The would be held on 20 October from 11am to 3pm at the Corsham Community Centre.  The event was aimed at the over 60’s and would provide both information and entertainment.  Different organisations would be represented giving information on health, wellbeing, sport and leisure.  There would also be a consultation regarding gaps in provision in the community area.  The event would then be followed by the Area Board meeting which would commence at 4pm.

·         Adam Walton reported on work being undertaken to provide a travel plan for the Corsham Community Campus.  The workplan and transport principles had been agreed.  The group was currently waiting for an officer from Wiltshire Council to be allocated to advise on technical issues.  It was confirmed that the travel principles had been agreed and had been sent to the relevant Council officer.  These would be brought to the next meeting of the Shadow Community Operations Board.

(h)          Chamber of Commerce

Ian Storey reported as follows:

·         The Chamber was supporting the High Street retailers.  A parking refund scheme was being introduced which encouraged people to spend a minimum amount in local shops.

·         An objection had been lodged regarding the Focus DIY application.

·         An objection had been lodged regarding the Hartham Park application to run a Saturday farmers’ market.  This was due to a clash with the monthly market held in Corsham Town Centre.

·         A formal submission had been made to the core strategy consultation and this included mention of a railway station for Corsham.

·         A meeting of the Corsham Area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider the following applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme:

(a)  Potley Youth Group - £2,660

(b)  Infusion Dance Group - £716

The area board considered two applications for 2011/12 community area grant funding.

Decision

(1)  To award £2,660 to Potley Youth Group to enable the group to provide meaningful activities for young people in the catchment area.  To ask the Youth Group to attend a future Area Board meeting to report back on how the money had been spent.

Reason: The application demonstrates a link to the Corsham Area Community Plan “Activities for Young People”.

(2)  To award £716 to the Infusion Dance Project to enable the group to purchase video recording equipment  to document a dance project looking at life in Box for young people.  To ask Infusion to attend a future meeting of the Area Board to show the DVD they plan to make.

Reason: The application demonstrates links to the Corsham Area Community Plan – education and lifelong learning and culture, recreation, heritage and arts.

ACTION: Dave Roberts

To find out more about the forthcoming changes to the waste and recycling collection service.

The Chairman introduced Andy Conn, Head of Waste Management, who gave a presentation outlining the new waste and recycling collection service.

The changes were based on the belief that all Wiltshire residents deserve the same level of service, regardless of where they live in the County.  As a local area, Wiltshire needs to recycle more and landfill less, the waste disposal costs are rapidly increasing and landfill tax will be £80 per tonne by 2014.  In this context there was an opportunity to offer additional recycling services to all respondents, something which would support the aims of the council.

Details of the new services are set out below:

A public consultation was completed during summer 2010 and concluded that 72% of residents were in favour of the proposed new service.

There would be a non-chargeable garden waste collection.  Residents who already have a garden waste collection would keep the same bin and would not have to sign up again. 

The new blue lidded plastic bottles and cardboard recycling bins would be delivered in September 2011 and the service would start in October 2011.

If people wanted a green-lidded bin they should sign up by 30 September 2011.  Residents can sign up via the council website www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gardenbin or by phoning 0300 456 0102 or by filling in the application form and returning it to the freepost address.   The new bins would be delivered in February 2012.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control, will give a brief update relating to his portfolio and respond to any questions.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control gave a brief update relating to his portfolio as follows:

• The waste rollout was one of the largest projects undertaken in the new Council.  There were currently four different methods of collection in each of the former District Council areas.  Landfill tax was one of the main drivers.  It was important to unify the system across Wiltshire.
• The Council had inherited a large number of properties and it had taken time to find out the details of the various covenants etc.  A large number of the properties would now be sold.  Some of the older properties were very inefficient and their sale would assist with carbon reduction. 
• There would be changes to the way in which the development control system operated.

A number of questions were asked relating to the following issues:

• Compost was available from household recycling centres but only large quantities could be delivered due to the cost of transportation.
• The recycling facilities located around the county would remain open for the foreseeable future.
• The response to the questionnaire regarding the waste and collection services was over 11,000 out of 200,000 households.  Of those who responded 72% had been in favour of the proposed changes to the services.
• Although there were currently no plans to introduce food recycling at the present time this could be considered in the future once the technology had improved.
• It was noted that the Council did subsidise the provision of Green Cone food recycling digesters.  Concern was expressed that this was not very well publicised and that a resident had not received a reply from the generic email address waste@wiltshire.  Officers agreed to look into this matter and to ensure that the Green Cone website was updated to reflect the Wiltshire Council subsidy.

ACTION: Andy Conn to investigate issues raised re Green Cone digesters and response from the generic email address.

To discuss the sale and future use of the Mansion House, Corsham, to include the sale of Corsham Library.

It was noted that Wiltshire Council had received an offer and proposal for the Mansion House in Corsham.  This was a favourable offer which the Council had to consider and the sale was subsequently agreed subject to officers being satisfied that the proposals are fully funded.  Another proposal had now been received and this would also be considered. 

Bill Hall then addressed the Area Board regarding his proposals for the Mansion House.  The following issues were raised:

·         The Mansion House was an important building for Corsham and should be protected and treated sensitively.

·         He had been surprised by the speed of the decision to sell the property and had put another bid on the table for consideration and would now like to view the property.

·         Mr Hall outlined his proposals to divide the Mansion House into residential units which he felt would benefit the community.

The following issues were then discussed:

·         It was confirmed that the confidentiality clause in the agreement was standard practice.

·         It was confirmed that the library would have to move if the campus proposals were agreed.  It was noted that some people were still opposed to moving the library.

·         A Heritage Open Day had been arranged by the Corsham Civic Society which included the opportunity to visit the Mansion House building.  Would it be possible for Wiltshire Council to arrange something similar?  Officers agreed to look into this suggestion.

·         Whoever finally purchased the Mansion House would still need to apply for planning consent before converting the building.

ACTION: Neil Ward to investigate the possibility of arranging a visit to the Mansion House.

To receive a petition from the Corsham Community Centre regarding the Corsham Community Campus.

To receive an update from the Shadow Corsham Community Campus Operations Board and to consider a recommendation regarding the site for the proposed campus.

The Chairman welcomed the work undertaken by the Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB).  He felt that the group were representing the community well and praised their enthusiasm and commitment.

The Chairman of the SCOB, Allan Bosley then presented an update of the work undertaken since the last meeting along with a proposal for a preferred site option.  Plans detailing each option considered had been made available for the Area Board to view immediately prior to the meeting.  Mr Bosley covered the following points:

·         The SCOB operated under guidelines set by Wiltshire Council.

·         The SCOB recognised that there were likely to be conflicting views.

·         The “givens” were the disposal of the Mansion House and The Library and that the youth service would be located in the campus building.

·         Consultations had taken place regarding the campus project and there was support for the principle of a campus.

·         All views had been taken into account and the SCOB was aware of the petition from a group of community centre members.

·         The ambition of the SCOB was that they “want the campus to be fantastic”.

·         The architect had brought forward a number of ideas and some of these had been reworked at the request of the SCOB.

·         It was important to secure continuity of service for the leisure centre and community centre.

The following issues were then discussed:

·         It is important that enough car parking spaces are provided for the campus to ensure sufficient spaces are available for both staff and visitors.  The parking should also be free. 

A working group had been set up to consider travel arrangements in the area and would consider all comments regarding travel and parking.

·         It would be helpful to have an idea of the size of the present facilities in relation to the proposed campus building. 

·         It was suggested that the final design could form part of a competition.

·         Details of the actual design were not yet available and no architects had yet been formally appointed.  The plans available at the meeting were simply to provide a feasibility study.

·         At this stage the cost of the project was confidential.  The capital cost would come forward as a business case to Cabinet in October.

·         It was confirmed that staff at the Doctors’ Surgery near the Springfield Centre had been involved in discussions regarding car parking.

·         The SCOB was aware that the site provided long stay coach parking and this would be taken into account.

·         A shuttle service was suggested and it was confirmed that all ideas would be taken into account.

There was concern by some Councillors that they had not had the opportunity to view the plans in advance of the meeting.  This was an important development for Corsham and they wished to make their recommendation after considering all the relevant information. 

The Chairman moved that Option 3B be the preferred option put forward to Cabinet.  However Cllrs Davis and Parker felt that although they supported the campus project in principle they did not have sufficient information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To note that future meeting dates will take place on:

Thursday 20 October 2011 – Corsham Community Centre – 4pm

Thursday 1 December 2011 – The Pavilion, Box – 7pm

Thursday 2 February 2011 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

Thursday 22 March 2011 – Corsham Town Hall – 7pm

A forward work plan for the Area Board is attached for information.