Agenda item

To note the written reports and receive updates from any partners who wish to contribute:

      i.        Children’s Parliament

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

    v.        Parish and Town Councils

   vi.        Chippenham and Villages Area Partnership (ChAP)

  vii.        Chippenham Vision

viii.        Community Area Young People’s Issues Group (CAYPIG)

   ix.        Lyneham Steering Group

    x.        Westlea Housing Association.

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Children’s Parliament

The Children’s Parliament announced that 13 schools in the Chippenham area had teamed up with Bristol Zoo to launch the ‘Wow! Gorillas’ project to celebrate the Zoo’s 175^th anniversary. The project involved 13 3-foot gorilla sculptures that each school had decorated and these would be placed in sites around the town.

Children from Monkton Park School presented their gorilla, named Jungle Jim, to the Area Board and this would go on display in the Monkton Park Offices of Wiltshire Council. Children from Ivy Lane Primary School presented their gorilla, named Gordon, to Chippenham Town Council and this would go on display in the Town Hall.

The 13 gorillas would form part of a ‘trail’, and maps were available in all civic buildings around the town.

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

The written report from Wiltshire Police was noted. Inspector Steve Cox reported that recent changes to the beat teams and neighbourhood policing teams had resulted in a more efficient service and the number of police officers had not decreased.

Inspector Cox commented on the improving detection rates, which were actually higher than reported due to the local resolution figures not being included. Total crime levels had reduced, with particular reductions in criminal damage and violence against the person.

It had been reported recently that the Police would be concentrating more efforts on the enforcement of the Designated Public Place Orders around the town centre. Although this power had been in force since 2008, and the Police had utilised their powers as and when required, the particular focus on this issue now was in response to a higher level of anti-social behaviour that had been experienced recently.

Wiltshire Police Authority

Councillor Chris Caswill provided an update on the recent public consultation carried out by the Wiltshire Police Authority. The consultation had identified three main priorities which were now embedded in the Policing Plan, these were; frontline policing, Neighbourhood Policing Teams/Police Community Support Officers, and response times.

The Authority was required to make savings of £15million over four years, and savings of £4million had already been achieved in year one. This had been achieved by a freeze in recruitment, and redundancies amongst support staff. There was also a single-command unit in Wiltshire now, and direct communications technology had improved significantly.

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

The written report was noted. Mike Franklin reported that the total number of fires had reduced, particularly deliberate fires. Fire Safety Checks were also continuing to be carried out in people’s homes.

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

The written report for July was tabled at the meeting and noted. There was no further update.

    v.        Parish and Town Councils

Written updates were received and noted from Castle Combe Parish Council, Christian Malford Parish Council, Grittleton Parish Council and Kington Langley Parish Council. Further updates were received as follows:

Seagry Parish Council

The asset transfer of Seagry parish allotments had now been successfully completed. Parish Clerks were now required to be registered as employees of the council, and thanks were paid to Wiltshire Council for the efforts to attempt to minimise this additional burden on parish councils.

Chippenham Town Council

Work was continuing on the Streetpride audit and a tour of Chippenham town centre had taken place on Thursday 30 June. A list had been established of sites that could be improved, and a further update would be provided at the next Area Board meeting.

Thanks were paid to all who attended and helped to organise the Battle re-enactment in Chippenham over the weekend; the event had been a great success.

Grittleton Parish Council

The pavements in the parish which had been repaired recently were now breaking up and required further work to be done. This issue was currently with the Council’s contractor, Mouchel, and an update would be available in a fortnight’s time.

Action: Adrian Hampton to keep the Parish Council informed.

Biddestone and Slaughterford Parish Council

The trial of a 20mph speed limit in Biddestone was underway and a reduction in traffic speed was being detected, and the potholes in Slaughterford had been repaired. Rural crimes such as poaching and theft of stone from walls were both a problem and were being monitored.

   vi.        Chippenham & Villages Area Partnership (ChAP)

Jane Clark, Chairman, distributed the recently published ChAP newsletter, and reported that the main focus was on partnership working, including with the Area Board on its selected priorities, and with the young people at this year’s River Festival.

 vii.        Chippenham Vision

The written update was noted. John Clark, Chairman, reported that the Vision was currently looking at the Core Strategy which was out to consultation. The Core Strategy was a very large and complex document, but the most pertinent section to Chippenham Community Area was ‘Applying the Spatial Strategy to Chippenham Community Area’.

A range of proposals for Langley Park were being considered, and the detailed assessment should be complete by mid-July. In response to a question from Cllr Rooke, John confirmed that the results of the Langley Park review would be available on the Vision website once complete.

viii.        Community Area Young Peoples’ Issues Group

The written update was noted. Richard Williams, Youth Development Coordinator, reported that a Youth Outreach Team had been set-up around key areas in Chippenham on Tuesday to Friday evenings. Work was also continuing on ‘Abuse Free Zones’ and the CAYPIG would like to present ideas for this at the November Area Board meeting.

   ix.        Lyneham Steering Group

Councillor Mark Packard reported that the MOD was yet to make a decision on the future of the RAF site at Lyneham.

    x.        Westlea Housing Association

The written update was noted. Concern was expressed regarding the private sector being asked to determine ‘affordable rents’. The Chairman recommended that anybody with concerns about this should pass them on to Councillor John Thomson, Cabinet member for Adult Care, Communities and Housing.