Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from: Cllr Fred Westmoreland and Cllr John Smale

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2014.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2014.

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

Cllr West declared a pecuniary interest in Winterbourne Stoke events Committee, when a funding application for this organisation was considered he would not participate in the debate or vote.

Cllr Wright declared he was a member of Durrington Parish Council, when funding applications for this organisation were considered he would participate in debate and vote with an open mind.

The Chairman will introduce the announcements and invite any questions.

·         The Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan

·         Integrated Performance Management Report

·         Dementia in Wiltshire - the role of Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Chairman drew attention to the announcements in the agenda pack detailing a public consultation on the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site Management Plan, a performance management report from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and an update from Healthwatch Wilshire.

Members updated that the CCG was working to ensure a care package for those admitted to hospital through joined-up working between acute hospitals and social care provision; mental health care provision was also a focus for Wiltshire. Tom Cox, Age UK, commented the charity was keen to work hard to reduce the gap between hospital and social care services.

To highlight the key changes arising from the Act.

An update on the Care Act was deferred to the next ordinary meeting of the Area Board.

To consult on the proposed increase to the precept.

Clive Barker, Chief Finance officer (PCC), explained there would be an increase to the precept from 2015 of 1.9% as the Police Service would receive a 5% cash reduction in its funding from central government. Strategic alliances, the sharing of buildings and reductions in back-office funding would cover the outstanding funding. The consultation on the precept increase would be running until 4 February 2015.

During a question and answer session it was confirmed crime was low in Amesbury however there was no provision in the budget to provide officers for the 7,600 service personnel expected to relocate to the area in coming years. There would be no reductions in PCSOs and police officers in 2015. The officer confirmed much of the funding reserves held were earmarked for investment in IT and that traffic policing in Wiltshire would be a tri-service involving three counties. 

Cllr John Noeken explained the location of the rebasing of 7,600 additional personnel to the area; some new housing would be built however some market properties would also be purchased  by the Ministry of Defence. A full written update was available in the agenda pack.

The Councillor highlighted it would be essential that infrastructure be upgraded to accommodate the increase in population and the Area Board should support this.  Members considered that, with the arrival of new personnel, it could be the ideal time to develop a community campus to expand leisure provision.

A consultation would be held in Amesbury on 2 February 2015.

The Chairman referred to the updates set out in the agenda and invited further updates from Town/Parish Councils and other Partners.

Inspector Christian Lange, Police, highlighted that victim based crime was down, domestic burglary had seen a high percentage increase but this was small in real terms. Amesbury had suffered anti-social behaviour during the summer of 2014 and a suspect had been identified for graffiti in the town. Thanks were given to the PCSOs in the area, to PCSO Atkinson in particular.

Dave Roberts, Community Area Manager, introduced himself and encouraged partners who were supporting community area and area board priorities to update the Area Board on their work.

Jan Tidd, Good Neighbour Coordinator, was working to combat social isolation amongst the elderly in the local area by organising lunches for elderly people. Her contact details were on the Community First website and she could be contacted confidentially.

It was noted there had been Community days in the area with volunteers clearing up rubbish in Amesbury.

Larkhill Community Partnership had produced a booklet to reveal the hidden history of Larkhill’s Horse Hospital, approximately 150 children took park in work on the site. Thanks were given to the Area Board for part-funding the project.

To receive updates from the community plan working group.

Updates from the Community Facilities, Health & Wellbeing Panel and Sport, Culture & Leisure Panel were available in the agenda pack.

Safe Places were planned to be launched on 11 February 2015 from 10am until 2pm at Flowers Walk, Amesbury.

The Sport, Culture & Leisure Panel had begun to produce an interactive map indicatingwhere play areas and sports fields were within theAmesbury Community Area, parish councils were encouraged to submit information.

It was noted the Environment Panel had identified snow wardens in the local area.

To consider an update and any recommendations from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) in relation to the funding available towards Local Transport Projects.

To consider the proposed list of schemes from the Local Highways Investment Fund for 2015/2016.

The Minutes of the CATG meeting on the 10 December 2014 and the special meeting held on 15 January 2015 are attached for information

Members considered recommendations arising from the CATG meetings on 10 December 2014 and 15 January 2015. It was commented that many HGVs had been travelling through Shrewton and the CATG could possibly examine this.

It was confirmed a reference to ‘repeater signs’ in Durrington, Bulford, Shrewton and Larkhill in the minutes of the meeting on 15 January was intended to mean permanent speed indication devises. It was agreed that work to reduce traffic in Church Street would also be added to the list of requested works.

A report from Highways and Transport was considered and it was agreed good progress had been made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15.

Resolved:

To note the update from CATG and minutes from the CATG meeting on 10 December 2014.

To grant £600 for a Pedestrian Crossing Survey, with a 10% contribution from Bulford Parish Council in response to a request for pedestrian facilities on Bulford Road between the Canadian Estate and Churchill Avenue.

To note the minutes of the special CATG meeting 15 January 2015 and ask WC highways officers to look at the requests contained in the minutes, with the inclusion of work on Church Street, and report back with regard to the feasibility and legality of the schemes.

To note the progress made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15 outlined in the Highways investment fund report.

To agree the list of proposed highway maintenance schemes in the Amesbury area for 2015/16.

i.                 Updates

ii.                Grant Applications

The Community Youth Officer, Jenny Bowley, updated that the LYN consisted of a variety of members and had met twice. Cllr Wright volunteered to substitute for Cllr Westmoreland on the LYN whilst he was unwell.

The Area Board considered a funding request for positive activities for young people.

Resolved:

To grant Durrington Town Council £864 for the Amesbury Community Bridging Project.

To determine the applications for Community Area Grant funding.

The Community Area Manager introduced applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme which were considered:

Applicants had the opportunity to speak to their application.

Resolved:

To grant St Michaels Primary School Figheldean £500 for an early years topic project.

To grant  Stonehenge School £2,974 towards a total project cost of £7,889 for a series of music workshops.

To grant Winterborne Stoke Events Committee £990 to purchase a generator.

To grant Figheldean Parish Council £550 towards a total project cost of £1,100 to purchase new goalposts.

To grant Durrington Town Council £1,500 towards a total project cost of £3,103 to purchase and install a new boiler.

To grant Langford Tennis Club £2,544 towards a total project cost of £5.088 to renew playing surface and fence.

To grant Amesbury Community Group £999.80 to purchase new equipment for community facility.

To grant Wyvern Hall Committee £1,497 towards a total project cost of £2,995 to purchase and install new industrial grade dishwasher.

To grant D of E Open Award Centre  £992.93 to purchase new computers.

The Community Area Manager confirmed he would release details of remaining revenue funding shortly.

The next meeting of the Amesbury Area Board will be held on 26 March 2015 at the Durrington Village Hall, High St, Durrington SP4 8AD.

The next meeting of Amesbury Area Board would be held on 26 March 2015 at Durrington Village Hall.