Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Richard Britton, welcomed everyone to the Southern Wiltshire Area Board Meeting and introduced Councillor Dick Tonge (Cabinet Member for Highways), and Tracy Carter (Service Director for Operations).

Apologies were received from Ian Rennie – Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, and Jo Howes – NHS Wiltshire.

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

There were none.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 17 December 2009 (Copy attached).

Decision

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  

a)     To consider the Speed Limit Review, with Councillor Dick Tonge (Cabinet member for Transport and Highways) in attendance.

b)     To receive an introduction and a demonstration from the Community Speed Watch Coordinator Elizabeth Ngero.

a)                 Speed Limit Review

Councillor Dick Tonge explained the background to the Speed Limit Review. Some of the points raised were:

·        In August 2006 the Department of Transport (DoT) issued new guidance to Highways Authorities regarding the setting of speed limits.

·        All Highways Authorities were requested to complete an assessment of existing speed limits on A and B Class roads, in line with revised guidance, and implement any amendments arising from this process by 2011.

·        A review had been carried out and a set of recommendations had been compiled, and distributed in the form of a CD to all Parish Councils for consultation.

·        All comments and suggestions received during consultation would be taken into consideration.

·        Any suggestion which Wiltshire Council felt was contentious would be discussed with the Parish Council who had raised it.

·        Consultation ends 5 February 2010.

Some points and questions raised from those present were:

·        Some Parishes were not supportive of the recommendations set out in the report, and asked what criteria had been used to arrive at them.

·        The criteria used had been set out by Government.

·        There was some concern over a lack of communication with other Authorities along Wiltshire Council’s borders.

·        In some instances where local conditions went against the Government recommendations, local knowledge/comments would need to be given consideration.

·        The Review would consider all suggestions and comments submitted by Parishes, any disputed issues would be discussed with the Parish concerned.

Councillor Tonge also spoke about the recent weather conditions where Wiltshire had experienced heavy snow and ice causing complications on roads and to services such as schools. He gave an update on how Wiltshire Council had set about relieving the situation. Some points covered were:

• Every effort was made where possible to ensure that carers, medicine and food was accessible for the elderly and vulnerable.
• Grit Trucks had driven in front of some ambulances on stretches of road where ice had caused incidents. 
• Schools where exams were being held had been kept open.
• Gritting had been prioritised to A and B, and to some C Class roads. After they had been cleared, the grit trucks had started on the smaller roads.
• Pre-ordered salt from Cheshire had been diverted by the Government during the shortages in January, but the pre-ordered salt from Spain had arrived, preventing stocks from running out in Wiltshire.
• In some areas it was established that grit bins were being raided for private resale, soon after they had been replenished.
• Wiltshire Council would approach all Parish Councils in April 2010 to explain what processes had taken place during the winter, and to ask what could be changed to improve the situation next time.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Tonge for attending the meeting, and urged any Parish who had not yet replied to the Speed Limit consultation, to do so.

b)     Community Speed Watch

Community Speed Watch (CSW) Co-ordinator Elizabeth Ngero gave an overview on the scheme. Points covered were:

• A potential speeding issue should be first raised with the local Area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the report and to receive an update from Tim Martienssen - Interim Head of Regeneration (Report attached).

Tim Martienssen (Regeneration Manager) gave an update on the Rural Broadband Review. Some of the aims of the project were to:

• Provide a comprehensive picture of broadband speeds throughout the county
• Map existing infrastructure which currently delivered broadband, or which could potentially be upgraded to improve broadband delivery
• Provide a database to permit Wiltshire Council to effectively deliver its own programmes, and for the council and local partners to lobby government, and other groups and providers to continually improve broadband provision throughout the county.

At present there was a lack of understanding about the exact extent of broadband supply problems but also very little information on the level of demand from consumers.

The author of the review had recently launched a Broadband Speed check questionnaire on the website where people could measure and submit their broadband speed. This was vital evidence in getting a broader picture with regard to supply problems in the rural areas.

The tool questionnaire can be found here: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/onlinebroadbandspeedcheck.htm. The closing date for reporting your broadband speed is 31 March 2010.

Further to this, anecdotal evidence of poor coverage would be welcomed in order to help Wiltshire Council understand more about the problem in hand.

To report specific evidence please raise an issue on the issue system or write to the Community Area Manger.

To receive an update from the Group, following its inaugural meeting held on 18 January 2010.  

Tony Reynolds Chairman of the Community Plan Steering Group, gave an update to the Board, and informed them that the inaugural meeting on 18 January 2010 had been well attended by local organisations and Parish Councils. Attendees had been asked to consider a number of issues:

• Whether part of the content of the existing Community Plan could be retained and used within the new document.
• The level of involvement people were willing to contribute to the Steering Group.
• The costings for the year, for meetings and paperwork etc.
• Proposed meeting dates with an aim of producing a new draft Community Plan by 31 December 2010.

A skeleton document had been sent out to Parishes and organisations for consultation, with a deadline for comments of Sunday 28 February 2010.

On 4 March 2010, Tony Reynolds, Mick Brown (Vice Chairman of Steering Group), and Tom Bray would meet to collate the feedback from the consultation, and to produce a draft review version of the Community Plan, in preparation for the next meeting of the Group on 16 March 2010, at 7.00pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Salisbury.

All interested parties were invited to attend. For further details please contact Tom Bray 01722 434252 or tom.bray@wiltshire.gov.uk

To receive an update from Tom Bray – Community Area Manager (Report attached).

Tom Bray (Community Area Manager) gave an update on the progress of some Issues since the previous meeting, these were:

• School traffic at peak times in Laverstock.
• Dangerous parking at the junction in Morgans Vale.
• School Transport at Pitton Primary School.
• Delay to building works at the School at Old Sarum.

Councillor Ian McLennan circulated a report and gave an update on the issue of school traffic in Laverstock, which incorporated a ten point plan of action. He asked the Board to support the plan.

People were reminded that the Issue system was a good way to get their voices heard, and ensured that issues were documented and easily directed to the correct service providers.

The issues sheet is available on line at: https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/report_issue.php?area_board=Southern%20Wiltshire

Decision

That the Area Board would support the school traffic element of the ten point plan of action, as outlined below, produced by Councillor McLennan.

The ten points from Councillor McLennan’s Plan were:

1. Investigate other councils’ solutions to preventing access to localities where

    Schools are present.

2. Investigate how a ‘No Stopping order’ is enacted.

3. Reconnoitre the London Road Park & Ride site to determine the feasibility of new pedestrian/cycle exit and Drop off/Pick up zone.

4. Investigate 20 MPH school zone feasibility.

5. Additional/Enhanced crossing points feasibility.

6. Explore Residents/Schools/WC officers/Police enforcement capabilities.

7. Detailed fact finding of existing bus pass scheme to determine whether

    money saved could be transferred to fund yellow Bus routes.

8. Yellow Bus exploration in general.

9. Investigate other transport possibilities from Park and Ride to Road Train/cycles.

10. Gather evidence & concerns from all partners including parents.

Board Members to consider seven grant applications, and the release of funds to the Community Plan Steering Group, details as follows (Report attached):

• Winterslow First Responder - £1,534
• Winterslow Youth Club (Barry’s Fields Sports Ground) - £4,000
• Odstock and Nunton Parochial Church Council - £1,000
• River Bourne Farm - £2,300
• Odstock Parish Council - £3,000
• Salisbury International Arts Festival, (projects in Laverstock) – £4,030
• Southern Wiltshire Development Centre for Young People - £5,000
• Community Plan Steering Group support costs - £100

The Board considered seven applications for funding from the Community Area Grant Scheme, and one request for the funding of operational costs from the Community Plan Steering Group.

Decision

Winterslow First Responders were awarded £1,534 towards their project to purchase equipment.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10 and would benefit the local community.

Decision

Winterslow Youth Club (Barry’s Fields Sports Ground) were awarded £3,850 towards their project to purchase play equipment.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10 and would benefit the local community.

Decision

That the application from Odstock and Nunton Parochial Church Council be refused.

Reason

Due to lack of wider community benefit.

Decision

River Bourne Community Farm was awarded £2,300 towards their project.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10 and would benefit the local community.

Decision

Odstock Parish Council were awarded £3,000 towards the kitchen refurbishment project for the recreation field pavilion.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10 and would benefit the local community.

Decision

That the application from Salisbury International Arts Festival be refused.

Reason

Further information on project consultation with the relevant stakeholders (ie Parish Council, residents and landowners) was required to satisfy the Board that the project would be a good use of the Community Grant funding.

Decision

Southern Wiltshire Development Centre for Young People was awarded £5,000 towards their Leisure Credit project.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10 and would provide an opportunity for young people to be a part of the community by give something back and in turn receive credits for activities.

Decision

Southern Wiltshire Community Plan Steering Group was awarded £100 of funding to cover the cost of two meetings, scheduled to take place before 31 March 2010.

Reason

To support the running costs of the Community Plan Steering Group.

Draft Forward Plan attached for information.

The Chairman informed those present that some funds were still available for small grants, and urged anyone who wished to apply to do so before 23 February 2010.

Grant applications are available on line by following the link below:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/areaboards/areaboardscommunitygrantsscheme.htm

or by contacting Tom Bray on 01722 434252 tom.bray@wiltshire.gov.uk

Future Meeting Dates:

Health Fair - Thursday 11 March 2010, 3.00 – 6.30pm

Area Board Meetings

Thursday 15 April 2010, 7.00pm at Winterslow Village Hall

Thursday 17 June 2010, 7.00pm at Coombe Bissett Village Hall

Thursday 19 August 2010, 7.00pm at Alderbury Village Hall