Agenda item

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

      i.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

    ii.        Parish and Town Councils

   iii.        Wiltshire Police

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

    v.        Chippenham and Villages Area Partnership (ChAP)

   vi.        Chippenham Vision

  vii.        Shadow Community Operations Board – Campus Developments

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

   ix.        Youth Strategy Update

    x.        Lyneham Steering Group

   xi.        Chippenham Partnership of Schools.

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Station Manager Scott Taylor provided an overview of the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s proposed changes that were required in order to deliver service efficiencies.

The following options were being proposed:

1.    To alter the way the Service employed fire-fighters on the Retained Duty System (on-call staff) to guarantee availability and to provide a sustainable system.

2.    To alter the way the Service crewed stations to relocate staff throughout the county to create communities of stations to manage increased risk presented by future developments.

3.    To alter the shift times of operational staff to occur outside of incident peak hours.

4.    To alter duty systems to provide enhanced cover (for example: Westlea would have an immediate response at night).

5.    To relocate specialist vehicles to provide suitable and sustainable arrangements.

A consultation on these proposals was being carried out for a 13-week period from Monday 5 March 2012. Comments and opinions were welcomed via the following methods:

Electronically: consultation@wiltsfire.gov.uk

Web: www.wiltsfire.gov.uk

Telephone:    01380731114

Post:   Scott Taylor (Public Consultation Lead) Manor House,   Potterne, Wiltshire SN10 5PP.

    ii.        Parish and Town Councils

The written reports from Chippenham Town Council, Christian Malford Parish Council, Kington Langley Parish Council and Kington St Michael Parish Council were noted. Further updates were received a follows:

Chippenham Town Council

Andrew Noblet of Chippenham Town Council reported that a Chippenham Town Centre Forum meeting had been held that morning to look at the opportunities around the Portas Review Pilot and to look at setting up a volunteer group. The meeting had been very successful, with approximately 80 people in attendance, and a group of volunteers had taken the decision to submit a bid to the Portas Pilot Project.

Sue Wilthew, Chippenham Town Council’s Chief Executive, thanked everyone who had got involved and reported that the group would continue, regardless of whether the bid was successful or not. More volunteers would be welcomed, and people should contact the Sue for more information.

Decision

The Area Board formally thanked Chippenham Town Council for its efforts to respond to the Portas Pilot Project, and committed its support to the project.

Action: the Chairman of the Area Board to write a letter of support for the project.

Kington Langley Parish Council

Maurice Dixson expressed concern at certain elements of the planning system which did not appear to be effective in terms of allowing local members to call-in applications when required.

The problem appeared to occur mainly when a decision was to be made under officer delegations, but if no indication was given to the parish or to the local member as to what the decision as likely to be, then it was difficult to determine whether call-in would be required.

Councillor Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control, suggested that good communication between the parish, the local member and the planning officer was the key to avoiding these issues.

Councillor Sturgis also reported that a transformation of planning services had just been approved and would be consulted on. Councillor Sturgis also undertook to take up the specific issues of this case with the local member concerned.

   iii.        Wiltshire Police

The written report from Wiltshire Police was noted. Inspector Martin Schorah reported that the Neighbourhood Policing Teams were now operating from the Monkton Park office and this was working very well. The response teams would relocate to Monkton Park at the end of March, and the Wood Lane office was due to close on Monday 26 March, at which point all face-to-face enquiries would be dealt with at Monkton Park.

Inspector Schorah reported that both violent crime and dwelling burglaries were down by 27%. Non-dwelling burglaries and theft from motor vehicles had both increased slightly, and people were urged to secure their valuables properly. Theft of motor vehicles was down by 43% which was mainly thought to be due to better manufacturing of the vehicles. Overall crime was down by 11%.

A reminder was also given that the public would elect a Police and Crime Commissioner on 15 November 2012. More information was available from Chris Caswill, Wiltshire Police Authority representative, on 01380 734022, or police.authority@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk .

Finally, some concern was raised regarding drug issues within and around the town, and it was suggested that this could be looked into at the 30 April Area Board meeting when the priorities from the Forward Together event would be considered.

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

The written reports were noted and there were no further updates.

    v.        Chippenham and Villages Area Partnership (ChAP)

The written report was noted. Jane Clark, Partnership Chairman, reported that the Forward Together event held on 29 February had been very successful. Other projects included the riverbank clear-ups and the Parish Forum, which was due to meet again soon.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra had also been to town on a couple of occasions recently and would be coming again on 22 April. Anyone wishing to be involved should contact Jane for further information.

   vi.        Chippenham Vision Board

Tim Martienssen, Vision Board Director, reported that a consultant had been selected for the Master Planning process. This was so hot off the press that the name of the consultant could not be released yet, but things were certainly progressing.

 vii.        Chippenham Shadow Community Operations Board (COB)

A written report was circulated at the meeting, which outlined the progress made by the Shadow COB in developing the Campus proposals. The Shadow COB was preparing for the first round of consultation shortly, and was also identifying and working with key partners. Further updates would be provided at future Area Board meetings.

viii.        Development Service for Young People

The written update and Development Service timetable were noted. Work on the Youth Strategy was ongoing.

It was also noted that Councillor Peter Hutton was taking on the role as the Area Board’s youth champion.

   ix.        Lyneham Steering Group

Councillor Packard reported that the RAF site at Lyneham had approximately 1000 people still based there, but this number would decrease in stages over the next few years, before being replenished again with new staff when the site became a Defence Technical Training Centre.

It was also noted that the Military Civilian Integration (MCI) Programme had been renamed as the MCI Partnership.

    x.        Chippenham Partnership of Schools

The written update was noted.