Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from the following:

• Cllr James Keith – Parish Forum
• Cllr Alan Phizacklea – Aldbourne Parish Council
• Cllr Clare FitzPatrick – Broad Hinton Parish Council
• Claire Perry MP

a.            To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 28 May 2013. (Copy attached)

b.            Update on actions and outcomes arising.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 July 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online.  If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak to the Community Area Manager, or the Democratic Services Officer.

(a)          Draft Public Safety Plan

The Chairman made the following announcement:

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service draft Public Safety Plan 2013-16 “Have your say”

The new draft Public Safety Plan 2013-16 (Integrated Risk Management Plan) was now available to view on the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service website.  The plan showed what the service had been doing and how it intended to build on that for the future.  Part of this was around how they operated as an emergency service, utilising personnel differently to have greatest impact on local communities.

The service would very much welcome the public’s thoughts and opinions on its plans for the future. The consultation period was running from 10 June until 1 August.  Any comments or feedback should be sent to consultation@wiltsfire.gov.uk.  or Sarah Hargreaves, Wilts FRS HQ, Manor House, Potterne, SN10 5PP.

To view the plan please use the following link below or for a paper copy contact Sarah Hargreaves as above.

http://www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/About_Us/Publications/publications.htm

The Chief Fire Officer explained that the Service had to find savings of £2 million and it was necessary for the contents of the new draft Plan to reflect this.  The aim of the new Plan was to be proactive rather than reactive in its approach, it being noted that the number of incidents was decreasing; there had been a 30% reduction in call outs over the last three years.  Cuts were being managed wherever possible through vacancies and retirements   He stressed that there were no plans to close any stations.  It was noted that the retained duty system was now beginning to show signs of creaking and the Chief Fire Officer explained that he was looking into the possibility of replacing it with a salary scheme and redistributing full time staff. 

Mike Wilmott, Area Development Manager, will give a presentation and answer questions on the planning process.

The Chairman introduced Mike Wilmott, Area Development Manager and Sally Canter, Head of Customer & Technical Support, Development Services  and welcomed them to the meeting.  She explained that they would be making a presentation on the planning process and then answer any questions.

Mike Wilmott started by informing the meeting that Wiltshire processed the third largest amount of planning applications in the country, being exceeded only by Westminster and Cornwall.  He then proceeded to make his presentation which:-

·                       Explained the development management process

·                       Set out the Development Control Scheme of Delegation

·                       Provided the Development Services Customer Charter

·                       Explained Planning Enforcement with a guide to the service available

·                       Provided staffing structure charts for the various service areas

(A copy of the presentation is attached as Appendix 1)

Mr Wilmott stated that as an aid to transparency, copies of planning committee reports and the minutes of meetings were available to view on the Council’s website.

It was noted that it was now possible for local communities and parish & town councils to request Wiltshire Council to consider the listing of a building as an asset of community value, e.g. public houses.  Once listed, if the owner of the property wished to sell it, it would be necessary to give the community an opportunity to purchase the building.  Further information on the process can be found on Wiltshire Council’s website at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment/planningcommunityrighttobid.htm (the pdf document Wiltshire Ownership of Community Assets Toolkit 

 referred to might well be of particular interest).

On behalf of those present, the Chairman thanked Mike Wilmott and Sally Canter for their presentation. 

1. Wiltshire Police  Inspector Mark Thompson presented his report from which it was noted that there had been a 5.9% reduction in crime within the Marlborough area.  He explained that emphasis was being given to the prevention of crime.

2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue  Mike Franklin introduced his report and informed the meeting that although there had been three fires in the Marlborough area in June, there had generally been no significant increase or decrease in call outs.  Nationally there had been a 48% reduction in call outs.

He explained that the Home Fire Safety Unit would supply and fit free of charge fire detectors in private residences upon request.

He introduced Marlborough Station Manager David Geddes to the meeting.

3. NHS Wiltshire  The submitted letter dated 27 June 2013 from the NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group was received and noted.

4. Parish Forum   there was no update. 

5. Town / Parish Councils There were no updates.

6. MADT (Marlborough Area Development Trust)  It was noted that the Board had just been appointed and that a report would be made at the next meeting.

7. Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG)/Youth Advisory Group (YAG)  Jan Bowra reported that the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) was being developed and it was planned to start the introduction of the new Youth Service in September 2013.  The YAG was looking for adults to help and support the service.

8. Transition Marlborough  It was reported that Marlborough Town Council’s Planning Committee the previous evening had approved new proposals for the provision of improved cycle racks in High Street as follows (taken from the minutes of the Town Council’s Planning Committee meeting):-

·           There are two stands for two bikes by the Town Hall near the zebra crossing (current provision)

§ The existing cycle parking attached to the planter on “the bulge” on the High St would be replaced with a cluster of five cycle racks with a provision for up to ten bikes (new provision)

§ The large brick build-out near the new Morrison’s would accommodate two new racks, one at each edge of the crossing area, enough for a maximum of four bikes (new provision)

§ Two central, paid for car parking spaces would be exchanged for cycle parking, enough for two cycle racks at a site identified by Highways to be the safest option where there are minimal potential conflicts with turning vehicles and pedestrians (new provision)

§ Outside the library there is provision for a maximum of five bikes using existing cast iron bollards. These would be repainted and signed to be more visible for cyclists (current provision). No more than this can be done at this site at the moment due to the restrictions brought by BT’s installation of a fibre optic box.

§ Appropriate signs would be installed at all cycle parking areas (new provision)

The Community Area Manager will make a report at the meeting.

An update report by the Community Area Manager was circulated at the meeting. (Appendix 2 to these minutes)

After some discussion,

Decision

(1)          To approve the submission of a bid to the Substantive Fund for £3,000 match funding from Baydon Parish Council for the development of a physical traffic management feature for Ermin Street, Baydon through the village.

(2)          To approve the installation of new cycle parking at the Bulge and Nationwide in High Street, Marlborough and also to support the implementation of the experimental Traffic Order allowing a central car parking space to be used for new cycle parking.     

To note that the next meeting of the Area Board is due to be held on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at Marlborough Town Hall, 5 High Street, Marlborough, starting at 7.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Board would be held on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at Marlborough Town Hall, High Street, Marlborough, staring at 7.00pm.