Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Democratic Services Officer sought nominations for the position of Chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the 2024/25 municipal year.

 

Decision

Councillor Ruth Hopkinson was elected Chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the 2024/25 municipal year.

 

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The newly elected Chairman sought nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the 2024/25 municipal year.

Decision

Councillor Derek Walters was elected Vice-Chairman of the Corsham Area Board for the 2024/25 municipal year.

 

The Chair will welcome those present to the meeting and make introductions.

The Chairman, Cllr Ruth Hopkinson, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Helen Belcher OBE

 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024 were presented for consideration and it was:

 

Resolved:

 

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024.

 

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

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

The Chairman will give an update on the following items:

 

·       Local Area Nature Recovery Strategy

·       Draft Licensing Policy 2024-2029

·       Highways Matters Q&A

·       Area Board Delivery Officer

·       Five to Thrive

 

The Chairman provided information about:

 

·  Local Area Nature Recovery Strategy

·  Draft Licensing Policy 2024-2029

·  Highways Matters Q&A

·  Area Board Delivery Officer

·  Five to Thrive

 

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

 

·       Multiply

·       AGE UK

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       BSW Together

·       Community First

The Board noted the following information items:

·  Multiply

·  AGE UK

·  Healthwatch Wiltshire

·  BSW Together

·  Community First

 

To receive any verbal updates and note any written updates from representatives, including:

 

a)    Wiltshire Police – Inspector Pete Foster

b)    Town & Parish Council Nominated Representatives

c)    Corsham Climate Action – Adam Walton

 

 

The Board noted the Road Safety update attached to the agenda.

Police - A PowerPoint was noted, with input from Inspector Pete Foster, and is attached to the minutes.

Box Parish Council – A written update was presented by Tim Walton and is attached to the minutes.

Colerne – A written update was presented and is attached to the minutes.

 

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for
funding.

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found
here.

Community Area Grants

Cotswolds National Landscapes Voluntary Wardens requested £2000 towards Colerne Rights of Way Improvements.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Cotswolds National Landscapes Voluntary Wardens £2000 towards Colerne Rights of Way Improvements.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

Box Preschool Group requested £2000 towards playground resurfacing.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Box Preschool Group £2000 towards Rights of Way Improvements.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

Box Tennis Working Group requested £5000 towards Tennis Court resurfacing.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Box Tennis Working Group a reduced amount of £2500 towards Tennis Court Resurfacing on the provision of further investigation.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

Box Public Rights of Way Network requested £2500 towards phase 3 of improving the rights of way network.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Derek Walters

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Box Public Rights of Way Network £2500 towards Rights of Way Improvements.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

1^st Neston and Box Scout Group requested £3619.17 towards Scout Group activity equipment.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award 1st Neston and Box Scout Group £3619.17 towards Scout Group activity equipment.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

The Pound Arts Trust Ltd requested £5000 towards new toilets.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award The Pound Arts Trust Ltd requested £5000 towards new toilets.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants

Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre requested £4765.80 towards volunteer placements for older people.

 

 Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre a reduced amount of £2500 towards volunteer placements for older people.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

Youth Grants

Corsham Running Club requested £1040 towards their Youth Section.

Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew

 

It was:

 

Resolved

To award Corsham Running Club £1040 towards their Youth Section

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2024/25.

 

To receive the Area Board’s End of Year Report from the Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager (SEPM) Ros Griffiths.

The Board received the Area Board End of Year Report and presentation from Ros Griffiths (Strategic Engagement Partnerships Manager). The full report was attached to the agenda pack.

 

Resolved:

 

To note the achievements of the Area Board over the last year

 

To discuss the Community Area Join Strategic Needs Assessment and highlight any potential priorities for the Area Board to consider for 2024/25.

 

To appoint Members as Lead representatives to Outside Bodies and any new Non-Priority Working Groups.

 

To appoint a Lead representative to the LHFIG

The Board received a report from Ros Griffiths (SEPM) which looked ahead to the coming municipal year and beyond. As part of this item, The Chairman, Cllr Ruth Hopkinson moved the following motion, which was seconded by Cllr Derek Walters:

 

1)             That the following priorities be adopted by the Corsham Area Board for 2024/2025 as well as the respective Lead Councillors:

 

• Youth engagement and positive activity opportunities (Cllr Helen Belcher)
• Addressing climate change (Cllr Derek Walters)
• Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Dr Brian Mathew)
• Supporting the local economy (Cllr Ruth Hopkinson)

 

 

2)             That Cllr Ruth Hopkinson be re-appointed as Councillor Representative for the Corsham Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG), with it noted that all other members were welcome to attend meetings.

 

Resolved:

 

To accept the motion and the appointments within.

 

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 24 April 2024, as set out in the attached report.

 

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

 

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 24 April 2024.

 

Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew it was:

 

Resolved

 

To approve the recommendations from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 24 April 2024.

 

The next meeting will be held on 10 October 2024.

The next meeting will take place on 10 October 2024.