Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Holt village hall.

The Chairman then introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the boardand also introduced Toby Sturgis, (Wiltshire Council cabinet member) who was in attendance for this meeting.

The Community Area Manager and Democratic Services Officer were also introduced.

All town, parish and partner representatives in attendance were welcomed by the Chairman.

Apologies were received from Councillors Rosemary Brown and Isabel Martindale (Bradford on Avon Town Council).

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2009 – (copy attached).

Decision

The minutes of the meeting on 11 November 2009 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Points members of the community would like to raise

A question was asked by Cllr Gwen Allison, (Bradford on Avon Town Council), regarding Health & Social Care Teams.

Would representatives of the Health & Social Care teams attend a future Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting to discuss local health service issues in and around Bradford on Avon?

Cllr Hewson invited suggestions as to how the Board moved this topic forward. It was agreed that it would feature on a future agenda.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Allison for the question.

A question was asked by Mr Gerald Milward-Oliver, regarding the Performance Reward Grant application that had been submitted by the Bradford on Avon & District Community Development Trust at the 11 November 2009, Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting.

Would the Bradford on Avon Area Board challenge the grants panel decision to turn down the Bradford on Avon & District Community Development Trust’s application for it’s sustainable town plan, and would the Bradford on Avon Area Board continue to work in partnership with Bradford on Avon Town Council to bring this project to fruition?

Cllr Hewson reported that there was no formal appeals procedure to challenge a refused grant but that he would be attending a meeting with representatives from Bradford on Avon Town Council to discuss the project.

Decision

It was agreed that Cllr Toby Sturgis would report back to the Cabinet of Wiltshire Council on the concerns raised by the Bradford on Avon Area Board following the refusal of the grant application.

A short DVD presentation by Wiltshire Council Officer Richard Parker followed by a public participation session to identify areas of priority spending in the community area.

Richard Parker (Service Director for the Bradford on Avon Area Board), gave a brief video presentation which outlined how Wiltshire Council currently spent it’s budget and the budget setting process for 2010 – 2011.

Attendees were requested to partake in an interactive ballot box session which gave them an opportunity to say in which areas they would like to see the Council’s budget spent. The results of the questionnaires that attendees had completed would be announced at the end of the meeting.

Cllr Malcolm Hewson will report on a proposal to hold a Health Fair on the 6 March 2010.

The Chairman advised that this event would be held in St Margaret’s hall on Saturday 6 March from 10am. Various public health related stalls were planned, followed by an NHS Wiltshire health consultation event.

Cabinet Member Cllr Toby Sturgis will give an update on his portfolio area which includes Waste, Property and the Environment.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, (Wiltshire Council cabinet member for Waste, Property and Environment) gave the meeting an update of current developments within his portfolio.

Waste.

Points made included:

• With land fill taxes continuing to rise, it was essential that Wiltshire recycled as much of its waste as possible.

•  Wiltshire Council was looking to work with other partner Authorities to investigate joint recycling ventures.

• Wiltshire Council has a commitment to reduce all waste going into land fill.

• A Recycling consultation exercise is planned over a twelve week period to investigate savings and good practices across the County.

• We need to find a balance that gives a good waste/recycling service without raising Council taxes to our customers.

• Households still needed to be educated as to the importance of recycling.

Property.

Points made included:

• A large number of properties inherited from the District Councils will eventually be disposed of as the property market improves.

Environmental.

Points made included:

• Wiltshire Council has gained funding from the Carbon Trust after proving that it is lowering its carbon emissions and that Wiltshire Schools are now being encouraged to sign up to the scheme.

• A green infrastructure map is to be drawn up.

• Wiltshire Council continues to support low carbon business development across Wiltshire.

• Wiltshire Council recognises the importance of the Bradford on Avon Historic Core Zone.

• Wiltshire Council is looking to establish a Bradford on Avon cycle network.

Representatives of Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon thanked Cllr Sturgis for the partnership working that had so far been achieved.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Sturgis for his informative update.

Presentation by Damian Kemp, Project Officer from British Waterways, followed by open discussion on the proposals.

The Chairman advised the meeting that Damian Kemp, (Project Officer, British Waterways) had been unable to attend the meeting at the last minute due to personal circumstances.

Panda Smith, spokesperson for the local boating community outlined why boaters were against the revised mooring policy proposed by British Waterways.

Points made included:

• British Waterways were threatening to terminate boaters licences if they did not comply with the proposed new regulations.

• The proposed regulations, if they came into effect would have a serious impact on the boaters way of life, with many boater families using local schools and working in and around Bradford on Avon. 

• The boating community is a well established part of the local community, helping with the canal side economy and helping to reduce canal side crime.

• Various traditional boating crafts and services continue to be kept alive by local boaters.

• Boaters are a show case community for a low carbon life style.

• The local boating community felt that the would not be effectively represented on the local steering groups proposed by British Waterways

• The local boating community was keen to engage with British Waterways to discuss the way forward.

Decision

• That the Area Board will write to British Waterways inviting them to meet with the local boating community to discuss this matter.

• That the Area Board will write formally to Cllr Toby Sturgis requesting that he takes up this matter as a county wide issue.

The Chairman thanked the Panda Smith and the boating community for their impressive turn out and informative presentation.

1. Hollyhocks Kindergarten - £1,600 requested to create a garden for Hollyhocks and Seedlings children, so that they grow and learn through a productive educational context.

2. Bradford on Avon Tourist Information Centre - £1,050 requested to reprint and distribute the Bradford on Avon Guide to other tourist information centres and tour operators to attract new visitors to the Bradford on Avon Community Centre.

3. Limpley Stoke Parish Council - £5,000 requested to introduce measures to reduce intimidation of traffic in the village.

Board members considered the following applications seeking 2009/10 Community Area Grant Funding.

Decision

Hollyhocks Kindergarten and Seedlings was awarded £1,600 to create a garden for Hollyhocks and Seedlings children with the condition that all matched funding should be in place before the money was released.

Reason 

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Decision

Bradford on Avon Tourist Information Centre was awarded £1050 to reprint and distribute the Bradford on Avon Town Guide to other tourist information centres and tour operators to attract new visitors to the Bradford on Avon Community Area.

Reason 

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria for 2009/10.

Decision

Limpley Stoke Parish Council was awarded £5000 to introduce measures to reduce intimidation of traffic in the village with the condition that the grant award of £5,000 would be returned to the Bradford on Avon Area Board if agreement could not be reached between Wiltshire Council Highways Department and Limpley Stoke Parish Council over the measures needed within 12 months.

Reason 

It was decided that community feeling was so strong on this issue that the grant should be awarded even though the application did not meet all of the 2009/10 criteria.

Holt Parish Council to present on a future bid they would like to make for the construction of a footpath in the village.

Martin Moyes gave a short presentation on bid that Holt Parish Council would like to make for the construction of a footpath in the village at the next Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting.

Decision

It was agreed that the Community Area Manager would work with Holt Parish Council to prepare the bid.

Safer Community Action Group: Martin Moyes gave an update on the meeting held with Wiltshire Council Officers at the beginning of December.

Concern was expressed by several members of the audience of the way in which the Highways Department had responded to traffic issues raised by the community.

Bradford on Avon Historic Core Zone Project Group: David Moss advised the meeting that the group were disappointed by the reluctance of Wiltshire Council to discuss ongoing matters with both consultants and the action group, who were due to meet on the 25 January.

A public meeting was planned for the spring of 2010 to discuss the emerging core zone.

Wiltshire Police: Inspector David Cullop updated the meeting on current policing activities in the Bradford on Avon community area. The Inspector highlighted to the meeting of a number of house burglaries over the Christmas period and of the “Lock it or lose it” campaign which offered good practical advice on home security. Parish and Town Councillors were encouraged to take copies of this leaflet for distribution at local meetings.

The written update distributed with the agenda pack was noted.

Richard Parker will update the meeting on feedback received on the night from the public participation session.

Richard Parker gave the results of the meeting’s earlier vote on how the attendees viewed the Council’s spending priorities.

Top 3

1. Older People.

2. Bus Services.

3. Traffic management /Youth services.

Bottom 3

1. New road management and building.

2. Planning.

3. Archives/Town Centre Improvements.

Wednesday 17 March 2010 – St Lawrence School, Bradford on Avon.

The date of the next Bradford on Avon Area Board would be

Wednesday 17 March 2010 – St Laurence School, Bradford on Avon.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending, and encouraged all parties present at the meeting to give feedback on the way that the Bradford on Avon Area Board should develop and evolve as it moved into its second year of operation.