Agenda item

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

• Wiltshire Police
• Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
• Healthwatch Wiltshire
• Transition Marlborough
• Town / Parish Councils
  • Marlborough Town Council
• Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan

Written updates were available in the agenda pack from the Police, the Fire Service and Healthwatch Wiltshire.

In addition to the written updates, the following verbal updates were given by partners present:

·         Wiltshire Police

The Chairman introduced Emily Grigor, Community Coordinator, East Sector, who was in attendance in place of Acting Inspector Pete Foster. Emily referred the meeting to the written report in the agenda pack and invited questions from the audience. In response to a question regarding what the “others” referred to in the pie chart on page 19 which gave a breakdown of different crime types, Emily stated that it would be a variety of crimes, for example Anti-Social Behaviour. Emily explained the style of the report had been changed and was still being refined. She would feed back that it may be useful to have more details or further breakdowns.

It was also stated that the police would be able to give crime detection rates at the next meeting. These had been requested at the previous Area Board meeting and had just been received by Inspector Foster, he would feed them back at the next meeting.

Cllr Alison Edmonds, Chair of Aldbourne Parish Council stated that she found the reports from the local PCSO extremely useful. However, the Cllr stated that some people in her village did not like calling 111 to report problems. In response Emily stated that people could now report issues online, she would encourage the PSCO’s to get the link out to people, alternatively you could report problems directly to the PCSO. It was stressed that the police need intelligence in order to effectively target their resources.

·         Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

Dave Adamson, Station Manager - East Sector was in attendance, accompanied by Justin who was the Marlborough officer.

Mr Adamson directed people to the agenda report and advised that the fire service was on a recruitment drive. They would appreciate any help they could get with publicity. The Marlborough fire station was understaffed so it was hoped that people could spread the word that on call fire fighters were required. All information regarding this could be found on the DWFRS website or people could pop in to see Justin. Cllr Alison Edmonds, Chair of Aldbourne Parish Council stated that the parish council may be able to advertise the drive in their magazine. Marlborough Town Council stated they could put details on their website.

In response to a question from the audience regarding what the upper age limit was for fire fighters it was stated that there was no upper age limit. However, applicants had to be able to pass a fitness test and had to have GCSE qualifications etcetera.

Cllr Andrew George-Perutz of Berwick Bassett & Winterbourne Monkton Parish Council expressed shock that 66% of the calls received by the fire service were false alarms. Mr Adamson stated that it was very hard to do anything about the issue. If they could verify an alarm was false then they would not attend, but often this was impossible. If the service found they were repeatedly attending false alarms at a location then they would work with those people to try to resolve any issues.

The Chairman thanked Mr Adamson and emphasised that it would be good if the parishes could help to publicise that DWFRS were recruiting.

·         Town and Parish Councils

Cllr Mervyn Hall, Mayor of Marlborough, gave an update for Marlborough Town Council. Cllr Hall was glad to hear that the NAFD tapestry was coming to Marlborough. He had given a lecture to the arts group about WW2 history and some of this had been incorporated into the tapestry.

The battle of Marl went really well. The Living History in Priory Gardens was popular and there were over 700 visitors to The Merchants House. The Area Board was thanked for the grant they had awarded to the history society.

The Annual Civic Service took place on 28 July and was attended by Mayors and other dignitaries from across Wiltshire, many of whom stayed on for the Battle of Marlborough event.

The Town Council hosted a successful Skate Park Community Workshop for young people on 21 August.  It was run by professionals from King Ramps and was very well received. It was hoped that this could become an annual event.

Marlborough in Bloom and the Town Council met the South West in Bloom judges on 23 July.  Everything  looked good for the awards ceremony on 11 October in Newquay.

This year’s ‘Mop’ Fairs would take place on Saturday, 5 October and Saturday, 12 October, there would be road closures in place from the Friday at midday until the Sunday at 8am over both weekends

The Christmas Lights Switch-on would take place on Friday, 22 November and there would also be a Christmas Market running too.  Anyone wanting a stall could book it through Clare Harris at charris@marlborough-tc.gov.uk.

The Town Council was now working towards taking on services from WC in 2020/21, but WC was not able to start discussions until May 2020 – this made budget setting difficult.

MTC had reviewed its 4 year Action Plan for projects, taking the Council to the end of its term in May 2021.

·         Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan

Cllr Mervyn Hall, Mayor of Marlborough, also updated on the MANP. Informal Consultations had been taking place and 968 comments had been received so far, which were being analysed and would influence the drafting of the plan. A possible replacement site may have been identified for Prechute school. A Strategic Environmental Assessment would be taking place as Marlborough was in an AONB.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their contributions.

Cllr Jane Davies arrived at 7.34pm. The Chairman welcomed her and gave a brief synopsis of proceedings so far.