Agenda item

Opportunity to look back at the achievements of the Area Board over the last four years, including some feedback from recipients of grant funding.

Marianna Dodd, Community Area Manager presented information and statistics detailing work and projects supported by the Salisbury Area Board over the past four years. A copy of the slides are attached to  these minutes.

• £543,275 had been allocated by the Board to 99 local community projects.
• £62,228 of funding had been invested in projects for young people.

£81,758 had been invested in small scale local transport schemes, most recently towards a pedestrian puffin crossing in Harnham Funding awarded by Salisbury Area Board during the last four years had helped to leverage  in £2.7 million of external funding.

• 150 community issues referred to the Board with 75% resolved
• Over 2,720 people attended 43 public meetings/events to have their say

Responding to national events at a local level, the Area Board threw its full support behind the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations, The Olympics and the Paralympics.  A double jousting tent showcasing Salisbury’s Art, History and Cultural Heritage was centre stage in Salisbury Cathedral Close for the Queen’s visit, an event that attracted over 25,000 people.

Bemerton Heath Centre Extension Project

Edward Callaghan, Bemerton Heath Centre Manager, gave an update on the success of the Bemerton Heath Centre extension project 2012, as detailed on pages 23 – 26 of the agenda.

In May 2010, the Centre had submitted a bid to the Wiltshire Council Performance Reward Grant Scheme (PRGS) for funding of £129,035 to extend the current facilities at 58 – 60 Pinewood Way, Bemerton Heath, owned by Salisbury City Council.

In December 2010, the Salisbury Area Board supported the bid so that it could be considered by the PRGS Panel. The Panel then awarded the project full funding of £129.035, the project was completed in September 2011.

Edward thanked the Salisbury Area Board, adding that without their support, the project would never have happened.

Salisbury Campus Project

Work was underway behind the scenes on designs for the Campus project in Salisbury. The aim of the Campus is to bring many services together under one roof.Marianna summed up by saying that the Area Board had worked hard to listen to the views of local people across the community, particularly in tackling some of the big issues facing the area.  A major example of this was the consultation on the refurbishment of the Market Place.  Initially  responding to community concerns of plans to cut down trees as part of the Market Place refurbishment, the Board asked local people for their views on the issues.  

• Over 1,500  people responded to the first on-line survey covering trees, disabled parking & the war memorial
• Over 100 local people formed a working group which shaped a new Market Place design which was presented and approved at an Extra-ordinary Board meeting on 1 August, 2012
• Further on-line surveys took place on paving, seating & lighting.

As a result the Market Place design and refurbishment, currently underway, has been shaped by local people, something the Board is proud to have achieved. Future aims of the Board will include helping local people to get more involved in the design and delivery of our local services.