Agenda item

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

      i.        Town and Parish Councils

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

    v.        Chippenham and Villages Community Area Partnership

   vi.        Chippenham Vision Board

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

viii.        Children’s Parliament

   ix.        Westlea Housing Association.

The Chairman thanked John Scragg of Chippenham Town Council for bringing to the Area Board’s attention the results of the recent Streetpride Audit, carried out by the Civic Society and the Town Council.

Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways and Streetscene, reported that a member of his team would be assigned to this issue, who would work with the Town Council and the Civic Society to assess the issues and determine the next steps.

Action: John Scragg to contact Adrian Hampton to arrange a mutually convenient date for a member of the streetscene team to accompany him on a joint assessment of the sites identified in the streetpride audit.

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Town and Parish Councils

Written update reports had been received and were noted from Chippenham Town Council, Christian Malford Parish Council, Grittleton Parish Council, Kington Langley Parish Council and Kington St Michael Parish Council. Further verbal updates were received as follows:

Grittleton Parish Council

Some concern was raised regarding the schedule of pavement repairs, which had been put back by a month. Parvis Khansari, Service Director to the Area Board, undertook to investigate this matter.

Biddestone & Slaughterford Parish Council

The Parish Council highlighted the benefits of producing a community plan. It was highly recommended as a way of bringing the community together and realising the aspirations of local residents.

Some concern was expressed regarding SatNavs, and the number of large lorries being directed down small, rural lanes. Sergeant Allan George undertook to investigate this matter and it was recommended that contact be made with Wedmore in Somerset, where the parish had recently dealt with a similar issue. Parvis Khansari also announced that the Department for Transport was also looking into this matter.

    ii.        Wiltshire Police

The written update report was noted. Sergeant Allan George commented on the decrease in crime in the Chippenham area, particularly overall crime, and also highlighted the current focus on working with partners and neighbourhood watch groups. Another current priority was working with vulnerable people within the community, to positively identify who they were and to work on preventative measures.

Sergeant George congratulated the representatives of the Chippenham Children’s Parliament for their presentation and requested a copy of the DVD for the Road Safety Unit.

Action: Judy Edwards to provide a copy of the DVD for Sgt George.

   iii.        Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

The written update report was noted. A briefing note was also circulated which highlighted the importance of fire safety with regards to thatched houses.

   iv.        NHS Wiltshire

The written update reports for February and March were noted.

    v.        Chippenham & Villages Area Partnership

The written update report was noted.

   vi.        Chippenham Vision Board

The written update report, including the results of the recent consultation exercise, was noted. Tim Martienssen, Vision Board Director, brought the meeting’s attention to the results of the recent consultation event, which highlighted a particular wish from local people to have better retail provision in the town centre and more leisure use of the River Avon.