Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2011, and those of the Extraordinary meeting held on 10 October 2011.

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

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

The Chairman referred to the written update on actions and outcomes from previous meetings, as set out on page 35 of the agenda.

Alistair Cunningham, Service Director for Economy and Enterprise, gave an update on the outstanding matters which had been raised at the meeting on 10 October.

·         In terms of the contract with Letts Wheeler, it had been established that there had been no contractual failure on the part of the architects.  It was also confirmed that Letts Wheeler would continue to work on the project, and would produce another design based on a revised design brief as agreed by the Area Board, following the public consultation.

·         As regards the costs so far, this could be broken down into the costs of the design competition (£55,761.34) and the costs since then involving the design fees, and investigatory work on trees and drains (£189,100.25).  This gave a total of £244,861.59.  It was noted that, as Letts Wheeler would be producing the revised design, none of the costs so far would be wasted and all the information gained would inform the final design.  The full breakdown of these costs is attached as an appendix to these minutes.

The Chairman also referred to page 37 in the agenda, which showed the advertisment for Salisbury and the Park and Ride scheme (aimed at people living outside the county), under the project agreed and funding by the Area Board at its meeting on 15 September 2011.

Angie Carmichael, Director of Sparring Partners Productions Limited (disability training, research and consultancy), gave a presentation about the Equality Act 2010, which sought to protect individuals from unfair treatment and to promote a more fair and more equal society.

The Act offered protection to people in nine key areas (including disability) and applies to anyone supplying a service to the public, either paid or free.  This included public bodies, private organisations and voluntary sector groups.

The Act prohibited direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on grounds relating to the nine protected characteristics.  In addition, a duty was placed on Public Sector bodies to have regard to:

1.    Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation

2.    Advancement of equality of opportunity between people from different equality groups.

3.    Foster good relationships between people from different equality groups.

Angie set out a number of practical implications for disabled people, including employers and suppliers of goods/services having to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, and public bodies being obliged to proactively encourage inclusion and participation.

The Chairman thanked Angie for the presentation and invited Helen Farmer, of Salisbury Wheelchair Users Group, to speak about the practicalities of access for disabled people in Salisbury.

Helen commented that there were 10.9 million disabled people in Great Britain, of which 6.2 million had a mobility disability.  It was estimated that 14% of the population of the country had a mobility disability affecting day to day activities.  Disability was also closely related to age, and this would see numbers of disabled people increase in line with anticipated rises in numbers of older people (50% rise in over-65s and 100% rise in over-85s by 2025).

Transport and travel was a major barrier preventing disabled people from accessing the city.  It was estimated that only 16% of taxis were wheelchair accessible, and most buses could only carry one wheelchair user at a time.  In addition, spaces on buses were on a “first come first served” basis, and were shared with pushchair users; as a result many wheelchair users had been refused entry onto buses, even during bad weather.

Around 4% of the UK population were entitled to a blue badge, which was designed for those with severe mobility difficulties.  There were almost 25,000 in Wiltshire and over 6,300 in the SP post code area.

In terms of the provision of disabled car parking spaces, the Local Transport Plan set out a number of minimum standards in terms of how close parking spaces should be to services.  Further standards were also set out in national parking guidelines.  However, a number of concerns had been raised regarding disabled parking provision in Salisbury, including inadequate provision of spaces, lack of dropped kerbs, and adverse camber. 

Shopmobility was considered to be a great service, offering hire of electric scooters, power chairs, manual wheelchairs and shopper walkers for only £2 a day hire, with a £5 joining fee.  However, there were a number of limitations as the service was only available from 9.30 to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Further to the Extraordinary meeting on 10 October, the Chairman will give an update on the community working group to consider new proposals for the refurbishment of the Marketplace.

The Area Board will ratify the Terms of Reference of the group.

The Chairman referred to the Working Group which had been set up by the Area Board following the 10 October meeting.  The outcomes from discussions at the three meetings of the working group had been summarised in a document which was tabled.  This also summarised the feedback from the Area Board’s survey which had received 1545 responses, and the views expressed in the petitions which related to the proposed refurbishment of the Marketplace.

The views expressed in the survey and through the working group meetings were broadly consistent in terms of supporting the majority views expressed at Area Board meetings and through the petitions.  These supported retaining the healthy trees, maintaining the two distinct spaces of the Guildhall square and the Market square, leaving the war memorial in its current location, and removing all parking from the square, with replacement disabled spaces being provided nearby.

One issue where no consensus had been reached was on the four large London Plane Trees at the Western edge of the square.  The Area Board was asked to decide on whether these should be retained and managed, or replaced.

Questions and comments were raised as follows:

·         The view was expressed that the four large London Plane trees were too big and blocked out sunlight and the view of the old buildings, along with causing damage to gutters, drains and foundations.  As such, some people considered that these trees should be removed and replaced with trees more appropriately sized to the location.

·         However, the view was also put that these trees were extremely healthy and formed an essential part of the character of the marketplace.  It was also considered that the size of the trees could be managed by pollarding rather than replacement.

·         In response to questions the Chairman confirmed that advice from Salisbury City Council, and from Wiltshire Council’s Tree Officer, would form part of the design brief.

·         Concern was raised that a number of people were unable to view the Remembrance Day ceremony due to the current location of the War Memorial.  However, it was noted that the survey and straw polls at previous Area Board meetings had shown a majority support for not moving the War Memorial.  The Area Board supported the proposal to add the missing names to the memorial.

·         It was noted that Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet had agreed to fund the maintenance of the trees in February 2012, and annually thereafter.

·         The Area Board welcomed the proposal to test the surfacing materials for suitability in terms of use by wheelchair users, and durability with traffic for the market and fair(s).

·         It was noted that the Salisbury Vision continued to work on other projects such as the Maltings and the Central Car Park.

Decision

1.    The Salisbury Area Board notes and endorses the views captured by the process of the working group, the survey and the petitions which have been submitted in relation to the Marketplace.

2.    The Area Board supports the view that the four large London Plane trees should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Su Thorpe, Leader of Salisbury City Council, updated the meeting on the work of the City Council:

·         A number of events had been held recently, including the pleasure fair, the Carnival, and the Homecoming of 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.

·         The Christmas lights switch on would be at 6pm on Thursday 24 November.

·         Tenders were due in for the first stage of the crematorium redevelopment.  It was anticipated that site work would start in 2012.

·         Plans were underway for events to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.

David Law, of Laverstock and Ford Parish Council reported that he had no update, but commented that the War Memorial at the Laverstock Church had been updated with some missing names and had been rededicated at a ceremony in October.

Inspector Andy Noble was due to give a presentation on the new Operational Policing Model, but offered to defer this to the next meeting, due to the lateness of the hour.  However, he did introduce Sheila and Eve, coordinators of the successful Streetwatch trial in Bemerton Heath.

Both Sheila and Eve had been victims of criminal damage about six months ago, and had been asked to join the streetwatch initiative.  This sought to promote good citizenship and to encourage the community to talk to each other and build community spirit.  The Bemerton group now consisted of 10-15 members and operated patrols at all times of the day and night.

The Chairman congratulated Sheila and Eve to a round of applause, and encouraged similar schemes to be set up elsewhere.

Laurie Bell, Service Director for Communications, gave a brief presentation on the opportunties that 2012 would offer Wiltshire as a year of celebration, specifically the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Toch route coming through the county.

It was considered that these events would present a chance to reinvigorate the local economy, showcase what Wiltshire has to offer, and to promote the county’s strong and vibrant community spirit.

The Olympic Torch route had recently been announced and would be coming through Wiltshire on two separate occasions, on 22-23 May in the North of the County, and then again in the South of the county as follows:

·         Wednesday 11 July (afternoon and evening)

o   Ludgershall

o   Tidworth

o   Amesbury

o   The Winterbournes

o   Salisury – including evening event at Hudson’s Field

·         Thursday 12 July (morning)

o   Wilton

o   Barford St Martin

o   Fovant

o   Ludwell

Following a high-profile campaign for local people to be nominated as torch bearers, all the torch-bearers in Wiltshire would be local, and would be selected from the nominees by LOCOG (the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games).  The torch relay itself would consist of a convoy of buses, promotional vehicles, security, media, and celebrities, and it was anticipated that there would be a high level of media activity – local, national and international.

Local people were encouraged to get involved and to animate the torch route by showcasing the community, local talents, local history and diversity. This was particularly important in Salisbury where an evening event was planned for 11 July to celebrate the torch procession’s arrival.

For those who wished to get involved with organising events, “toolkit” folders were available at the back of the room containing advice, guidance and contact details.

In response to questions Laurie confirmed that the torch woud process through the city on the day after the evening event.  The event was expected to attract 20,000-30,000 people and arrangments were in hand for a transport plan and to provide transport from other parts of the county.

The Area Board noted that it would welcome applications for funding to support projects to mark the Olympic torch route, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  Although there was no extra central funding available for this, the Area Board was anticipating to focus a significant proportion of its budget on projects for these two events.

Decision

1.    The Salisbury Area Board actively encourages bids for funding to support local community projects in celebration of the Olympic torch relay through Salisbury, the evening event on 11 July, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

2.    Officers be requested to publicise the Area Board’s invitation for funding bids through the local media.

3.    A working group be established to oversee the arrangements for the Olympic Torch celebrations on 11-12 July, to include representatives from neighbouring Area Boards, Salisbury City Council and community representatives.  Councillor Chris Cochrane was appointed as the Area Board’s representative.

ACTION: Laurie Bell

To receive an update from the Community Area Partnership, including an update on the community plan and a date for when it will be delivered.

Owing to a technical issue with the presentation and the lateness of the hour, this presentation was deferred to the next meeting of the Area Board.

The Area Board reiterated its appreciation for the work of SCCAP and gave an assurance that this item would be near the start of the agenda for the next meeting.

Tracey Carter, Service Director for Waste Management Services, gave a presentation on the future of waste and recycling collection in Wiltshire.

As previously reported to the Area Board, the service was being harmonised to provide the same level of service to all residents, to improve recycling services, and to minimise the waste sent to landfill.  A public consultation over the summer of 2010 had shown 72% of residents were in favour of the proposed new service.

The fortnightly collection of household waste (i.e. non-recyclable) would start in March 2012.  Collection calendars and information leaflets would be sent to all residents in early March, and additional bin capacity was being made available to some residents with large families, or those with medical conditions which meant additional waste was produced.

In addition, it was recognised that some exceptions would be needed for some properties with insufficient storage space for bins, large bags or boxes.  Officers were currently using local knowledge to identify such properties and Councillors were being consulted (the locations which had been identified so far are set out in Appendix B to these minutes).  These locations would continue to receive weekly bin collections.

Anyone wishing to raise a comment or concern on this process was invited to call 0300 456 0102 or email wasteandrecycling@wiltshire.gov.uk.

The Chairman referred to the recent announcement that parking prices in the city would be reduced by 10p.  This was in response to the review of parking charges across the county and following the reintroduction of the 1 hour parking charge as discussed at previous meetings of the Area Board.

To consider community grants with the opportunity for questions from the public.

The Chairman invited a representative from each of the grant applicants to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.  After each of the applicants had spoken the Chairman invited questions and discussion, then asked for a show of hands from those present to reflect public opinion. The Area Board members then voted on each application.

Decision

Salisbury Trust for the Homeless was awarded £5,000 towards the restoration of an important Grade II listed Victorian building in the centre of Salisbury and the refurbishment of its 12 single flats.  This grant is subject to the confirmation of sufficient funds from other sources to enable to the project to proceed.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would allow this project to proceed, providing 12 flats for people who have been homeless and are ready to leave supported housing.

Decision

South Wiltshire Agenda 21 was awarded £1,500 towards updating the Salisbury and Wilton Walking Map, promoting local walking routes.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would support this project to promote healthy living and sustainable transport.

Decision

Sarum Counselling was awarded £1,000 towards providing a reduced fee and subsidised counselling for people on limited means.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2011/12 and would support this project to provide counselling for people on lower incomes.

ACTION: Marianna Dodd

To consider the attached report requesting funding to improve existing finger posts in the city.

A vote of thanks was offered to the Community Area Manager, Marianna Dodd, and the Chairman, Councillor Richard Clewer, for their work in undertaking the survey in relation to the Marketplace, and for setting up and running the related working group.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and noted that the next meeting of the Salisbury Area Board would be held on 12 January 2012, 7pm at Salisbury City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7TU.