Agenda item

The Chairman will provide information about:

a.    Youth Activity Update

b.    Gleeson’s appeal – letter from Cllr Jane Scott OBE to Eric Pickles MP

c.    Changes to Electoral Registration System

d.    Garden Waste Consultation

e.    Emergency Planning Workshop

f.     Computer Basics Club

The Chairman and Area Board made the following announcements:

a.       Youth Activity Update: 

Cllr Thomson explained that in May 2014 the Cabinet had agreed to adopt a community-led model for the provision of positive activities for young people.

Community Youth Officers had been appointed to 15 of the 18 Area Board areas. The CYO will be accountable to the Area Board for the delivery of agreed local priorities and the Area Board will be the responsible body for youth activities at a local level. Cllr Thomson was pleased to announce that Ollie Phipps had been appointed as the Community Youth Officer for Malmesbury Community Area. Cllr Thomson explained that they had their first meeting and discussion with the secondary school.

Each Area Board was stated to have a delegated authority, a devolved budget and dedicated Community Youth Officer (CYO) to support the implementation of the new model in its area.

Cllr Thomson stated that each Area Board will establish and maintain a Local Youth Network (LYN), to understand local needs and make recommendations to the Area Board on how funding for positive activities should be deployed. The LYN would be supported by a smaller coordination group facilitated by the Community Youth Officer. To enable Area Boards to satisfy themselves and the local community that budgets are being targeted appropriately, a new system for monitoring the impact of youth activities will be introduced with regular reports to the LYN and Area Board.

Cllr Thomson announced that a number of workshops focusing on: Leader’s Guidance, Local Youth Network Terms of Reference and ‘Positive Activities Toolkit’, had been organised for Area Board members, Community Youth Officers and Community Area Managers. Area Boards were encouraged to nominate one or more members to attend one of the sessions.

Decision

The Board agreed to nominate Cllr Simon Killane as their youth champion. He would attend the meeting.

b.       Gleeson’s Appeal – letter from Cllr Jane Scott OBE to Eric Pickles MP:

Cllr Sturgis explained that planning regulations in the county had been through numerous changes, and that the planning application mentioned in the Gleeson’s appeal letter would be up for review in 6 weeks. Cllr Killane added that there had been fantastic support and that it was a great demonstration of ordinary people having direct contact with government and that it showed how people can have an influence if they work together.

c.       Changes to Electoral Registration System:

Cllr Killane explained that over the summer, all Wiltshire residents had received a letter telling them about the biggest change to the electoral registration system in nearly 100 years.

A new, more secure, system of Individual Electoral Registration had been introduced where each individual will be responsible for registering themselves. Many Wiltshire residents were automatically moved onto the new electoral register. However, Cllr Killane stated that some needed to take action to join or remain on the register. It was explained that this was possible to do quickly and easily online. People were stated that they needed to provide their National Insurance Number and date of birth when registering.

Cllr Killane stated that those who have not yet responded would be sent a reminder and urged to complete the process.

More information can be found at www.gov.uk/yourvotematters

d.       Emergency Planning Workshop:

Cllr Thomson announced that Malmesbury Area Board is hosting an Emergency Planning Workshop for Town and Parish Councils on Wednesday 15 October from 6.00pm to 9.00pm in Sherston Village Hall.

It was explained that Wiltshire council’s Head of Public Protection (Emergency Planning) will work with parish/town councils to create robust local emergency planning strategies which not only include risks such as snow and flooding but other issues such as chemical spillages or major health threats. Those who had made a start already on their plans were strongly advised to attend the session.

It was also explained that due to the anticipation of good attendance that numbers will be limited to two representatives per town or parish council.

Cllr Thomson stated that the programme would not be offered again in the near future as the rolling out of this intensive support across Wiltshire will take a number of years to complete.

For further information or to book places contact Miranda Gilmour by email: miranda.gilmour@wiltshire.gov.uk

e.       Garden Waste Consultation:

Cllr Sturgis informed the Area Board that the public consultation exercise to gain residents’ views on potential future changes to the current kerbside garden waste collection service had been extended until 1 October and residents were presented with three proposals for changes to the service. 

The proposed changes were:

1. A three month suspension of the non-chargeable kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in December, January and February.
2. A five month suspension of the non-chargeable kerbside garden waste service with no collections taking place in November, December, January, February and March.
3. To introduce a chargeable kerbside garden waste collection service instead of the current non-chargeable service.

Cllr Sturgis stated that as of Friday 5 September the consultation had received 13,627 responses, the highest level ever received in Wiltshire. Cllr Sturgis praised the consultation and spoke from experience referencing the effectiveness of subsidised compost bins.

Residents were asked to pick the one option which best meets their needs and informed that they could find more information and contribute to the consultation by:

• Visiting the Council’s website and following the link to public consultations.
• Going online at your local library.
• Picking up a leaflet from your local library, leisure centre, council office or town council office.

Further information was said to be available by contacting the council by emailing gardenwasteconsultation@wiltshire.gov.uk, or telephoning 0300 456 0102.

f.        Computer Basics Club:

Cllr Killane announced that a monthly computer club would start on 16 September 2014, meeting in Malmesbury Library every third Tuesday of the month between 2-4pm.

It was explained that the club is being provided by Wiltshire Online’s local Digital Champion volunteers and will provide basic help to people new to computers or lacking confidence to use them.

Cllr Killane urged those present to make the most of the free and friendly support and to pass on this information to anyone who might value this help.  

It was stated that people can take along their own PC or tablet or use one of the computers at the library.

It is possible to register by telephone: 01225 793349 or email: digitalinclusion@wiltshire.gov.uk

g.       Campus Consultation:

Cllr Thomson explained that he had been asked by the Chairman of the Malmesbury Shadow Campus Operation Board (SCOB) to give advance warning to our town and parish councils that they will shortly be receiving a consultation request about the community needs of their parish. 

Cllr Thomson stated that this would form the first opportunity to feed in their ideas and that it was requested that this item was placed as a matter of priority on their next Parish Council agenda and a response be provided to the SCOB as soon as possible.