Agenda item

To note written updates attached to the agenda and to receive verbal updates from representatives of partner organisations present:

a)    Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

b)    Salisbury City Community Area Partnership (SCCAP)

c)    Salisbury City Council

d)    Laverstock and Ford Parish Council

e)    Police

f)     Fire

g)    NHS

h)   Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

i)     Salisbury Area Board Issues – For up-to-date information and to log an Issue online, follow the link below.

https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/report_issue.php?area_board=South%20West%20Wiltshire

Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

Several young people were in attendance to speak about issues which affected them. These included:

Mark; a young carer explained that he helped to cared for his brother. He had recently started a course which gave him the opportunity to take time out from his caring duties to take part in activity days. During the school holidays in August he would be taking part in a mountain camping event, in May the following year there would be a Coastal camp and in September 2014 there would be a forest camp.

Dan was staying in accommodation at the Foyer in Salisbury. He and other young people renting rooms there were concerned about the high rent costs they were subjected to. He explained that the rooms were charged at £500 per month for people in full time employment, but lower for people in part time employment. This meant that most of the young people staying there could not afford to work full time as the rent was too high.

One young person felt that the Bemerton Heath half pipe skate ramp should be developed to include more ramps to enable greater use by both skaters and BMX riders, as at present it was too cramped.

Bea explained that there were too few ways for young people to display their art in public and had the idea of having a public art exhibition in the city centre.

A young dance student explained that dance classes were too expensive; she had recently had to drop one of her dance classes due to the high costs. She would like to see more affordable dance classes around the Salisbury area for young people.

Winnie Manning the Youth Coordinator thanked all of the young people for sharing their issues with the Board. The Chairman thanked them for coming to share their concerns and ideas.

Salisbury City Community Area Partnership (SCCAP)

Debrah Biggs provided an update to the Board, a written copy of this is attached to these minutes.

Salisbury City Council (SCC)

Cllr Andrew Roberts gave an update to the Board, this included:

·         Following the elections in May 2013, 15 new members had taken seats on the SCC.

·         Cllr Penny Brown would be Mayor of Salisbury for 2013/14.

·         Some members of SCC were currently on a trip to Salisbury’s twin city in Germany.

·         The redevelopment project in Queen Elizabeth Gardens was coming to the end; once the gardens had been fully planted they would be very impressive.

·         A review of the processes would be carried out to establish if improvements could be made for future projects.

·         Work on the skate park project would commence soon following a consultation on the design.

·         Work on the crematorium was going ahead without any problems, thanks were given to all at Holy Redeema Church and the City Council for their assistance.

·         Grass cutting schedule had been planned to allow wild flowers to grow.

·         The Armed Forces day would take place on Saturday 29 June 2013, starting with a parade at 10.00am followed by several activities.

·         A Summer Spectacular had been planned to take place on 24 August 2013 in Hudsons Field. This would be a free event including a fireworks display and a hot air balloon display.

Laverstock & Ford Parish Council

There was nothing to report.

Police

Inspector Any Noble drew attention to the written update attached to the agenda pack.

In addition to this Andy offered to provide an update and opportunity for questions and answers relating to the news release earlier that day surrounding the closure of the Wilton Road Police Station, for future use by the South Wiltshire University Technical College.

This update took place directly after the Board meeting so not to delay the other items on the agenda.

Fire

In addition to the written update attached to the agenda, Mike Franklin gave an update to the Board.

The Draft Public Safety Plan for 2013/16 had been published and was under consultation. To view a copy, click on the link: http://www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/

If you have any comments or views on the future plans, please send them to consultation@wiltsfire.gov.uk before 01 August 2013.

 If you would like to become a stakeholder to contribute to any future plans or ideas the Service has, please fill out a Stakeholder registration form found on our homepage under ‘Have your say’.

Over the last 10 years the number of fires attended had dropped by 48%. As many as 20 – 30% of homes do not have a smoke alarm fitted or in working order. Mike circulated referral cards for people to take away and complete if they wished to receive a free home safety check.

NHS

A written update was attached to the agenda.

Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

A table of current CATG schemes had been included in the agenda pack.

Salisbury Area Board Issues

A link to the online Issues system was included in the agenda pack.