Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Westbury Area Board.

In addition, the Chairman welcomed Cllr Suzanne Wickham to her first meeting of the Area Board as the recently elected Wiltshire Councillor for Ethandune.

Apologies for absence were received from Phil McMullen representing BA13+ Partnership.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2019.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 July 2019 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.

1.    Cllr Carole King declared a personal interest in the partner update from BA13+ Partnership in her capacity as Chair of the Partnership.

2.    The following declarations of interests were made in relation to agenda item no. 8 – Community Area Grants:

a.    Cllr Russell Hawker declared a personal interest in the following applications, as his brother is Chairman of Westbury and District Cricket Club:

                                               i.     The application made by Bratton Recreation Ground Management Committee as the Cricket Club used the Recreation Ground facilities; and

                                              ii.     The application by the Westbury and District Cricket Club.

b.    Cllr Gordon King declared a personal interest in the grant application made by Crosspoint (Westbury) as he was a founding Director of Crosspoint (Westbury). He did not speak or vote on the application.

The Chairman will make the following announcements:

·         Your Local Area Priorities

The Chairman drew attention to the following written announcement included in the agenda pack:

·       Your Local Area Priorities

Allan Creedy - Head of Service: Sustainable Transport at Wiltshire Council will update the Area Board on the long term strategy for the improvements to the A350 in Wiltshire

The Area Board received a presentation from Allan Creedy - Head of Service: Sustainable Transport at Wiltshire Council about the long-term strategy for the improvements to the A350 in Wiltshire.

Mr Creedy commented on the work of the Western gateway Sub-national Transport Body (STB) and how it had replaced the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in providing strategic leadership on strategic transport issues. The STB consisted of ten local authorities, including Wiltshire Council, and Chaired by Cllr Bridget Wayman – Wiltshire Council Cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Waste. 

Mr Creedy reported on the following issues during the presentation:

·       The national context

·       STB’s in the South West

·       STB’ first challenge of the national roads fund

·       The roads detailed in the major road network

·       The type of schemes to be funded

·       The prioritisation process

·       Scheme priorities

·       Improving the north/south connectivity

Mr Creedy responded to a number of questions and comments from the Area Board on the following:

·       Previous discussions with the LEP about the same issues and how the funding available to the LEP did not allow for major schemes to be implemented. The STB’s now allow for the funding of major schemes costing in the region of £20m plus.

·       A number of schemes had been developed for improving the north/south connectivity, including the M4 Junction 17 improvements, A350 Chippenham bypass improvements, A350 Melksham bypass.  It was not known at this stage when any proposals for works on the Westbury A350 would be scheduled, although if the suggested schemes receive approval from the Government and are implemented, then a route for Westbury bypass would be considered.

·       The funding period would be every 5 years with the first phase being 2020 to 2025.      

·       There were no proposals for a route from Westbury to Bristol via Bath.

·       Details of any future routes for a bypass should be included in the Local Plan for public consultation.

·       The use of previous bypass schemes for Westbury could be resurrected and local opinion sought. These would be compared to current thinking, the existing framework and environmental issues.

The Chairman thanked Mr Creedy for his presentation.

To receive any updates from partners including:

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Town and Parish Councils

The Area Board received and noted the following updates from key partners:

·       Wiltshire Police – There was no report.

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – The written report was received and noted.

·       BA13+ Community Area Partnership – The written report was received and noted.  Cllr Carole King encouraged everyone to attend the next public Partnership meeting on 6 November 2019.

·       Town and Parish Councils –

o   Westbury Town Council – The written update from Mike Sutton, Chair of Westbury Town Council was received and noted. Mr Sutton commented generally about air quality in Westbury

o   Westbury Town Council – The written update from Deborah Urch, Town Clerk was received and noted.

o   Bratton Parish Council – The written update from Jeff Ligo, Chair of the Parish Council, was received and noted.  Mr Ligo commented generally on attendance at Area Board meetings and proposals for a pre-school opening in Bratton.

o   Dilton Marsh Parish Council – The written update (minutes of their meeting held on 26 September 2019) circulated at the meeting, was received and noted.

o   Edington Parish Council - John Pollard, Chair of the Parish Council, provided a verbal update.  He commented on traffic surveys and proposed 20mph zones along the B3098.

Members considered a number of grants applications as detailed below:

Community Area Grants

Members considered four applications for the Community Area Grants Scheme funding as detailed in the agenda pack. A number of applicants gave a brief statement about the reasons for their grant request.

Resolved: That the following grant applications be agreed:

1.    Crosspoint (Westbury) – Request for £995 for the refurbishment of a counselling room

2.    Bratton Recreation Ground Management Committee – Request for £1,550 for further recreation ground improvements

3.    Westbury & District Cricket Club – Request for £980 towards the women’s and girl’s section of the Club

4.    Cygnets Pre School – Request for £1,000 towards Bratton new early years setting

Health and Wellbeing Funding

Members considered two applications for the Health and Wellbeing funding as detailed in the agenda pack. A number of applicants gave a brief statement about the reasons for their grant request.

Resolved: That the following grant applications be agreed:

• Westbury Group Practice – Patient Participation Group – Request for £420 towards voluntary hearing aid repair clinic Westbury Group Practice

• 100 years of social housing group – Request for £500 towards 100 years of social housing in Westbury

Community Youth Grants

Members considered two applications for the Community Youth Grant funding as detailed in the agenda pack. A number of applicants gave a brief statement about the reasons for their grant request. The Community Engagement Manager suggested that as the grant request for the Football Club was all capital, that it be subject to the Community Area Grant funding rather than Community Youth Grant funding.    

Resolved: That the following grant applications be agreed and the Football Club grant request be funded from the Community Area Grant fund:

•      Westbury Youth Football Club - Request for £4,500 towards Redland improvements Phase 2

•      Westbury and Warminster Youth Club – Request for £1,900 towards the setting up of a new combined youth club for Westbury and Warminster

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

The Chairman agreed to consider an urgent item about the White lining issues and 30 MPH roundels in Edington, that was considered by CATG after the agenda had been published. 

The CATG recommended that, in addition to the previously agreed lining works, Edington Parish Council have requested 6no 30mph carriageway roundels are included as part of the road marking works. An additional £938 is required to undertake these extra works.

Resolved:

That, subject to Edington Parish Council agreeing to additional funding for the roundels, delegated authority be given to the Community Engagement Manager for the approval of an additional £938 for 6x30mph carriageway roundels.   

Reason for urgency – To allow the installation of 30mph carriageway roundels prior to the next meeting of the Area Board on 5 December 2019.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will take place on:

Thursday, 5 December 2019 at Matravers School, Westbury

Future Meeting Dates

• Thursday, 6 February 2020 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury, BA13 3EN

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on:

Thursday, 5 December 2019 at Matravers School, Westbury

Future Meeting Dates

• Thursday, 6 February 2020 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury, BA13 3EN
• Thursday, 23 April 2020 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury, BA13 3EN