Agenda item

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·       The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Precept Consultation – Presentation By the Deputy PCC – Jerry Herbert

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·       Older People’s Champion and Partnership for Older People (POPP)

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Town and Parish Councils

a)    The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Precept Consultation

The Chairman welcomed the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC), Jerry Herbert.

The DPCC gave a presentation on the current precept consultation and commented on the following main points:

·       The role of the PCC was to represent the residents of Wiltshire and Swindon, hold the Chief Constable and Force to account and to cut crime while delivering effective and efficient policing.

·       What the PCC has delivered during 2020 in relation to rural crime, recruitment of officers and investigations into cybercrime.

·       The proposed precept increase was for residents to pay an extra £1.25 per month.

The Chairman thanked the DPCC for his very informative presentation.

b)    Wiltshire Police

Insp Tina Osborn provided an update from Wiltshire Police, which included detail about COVID-19 lockdowns, the structure of Devizes Community Policing Team, crime and incident data and updates on priorities for the community area. Insp Osborn responded to questions about data associated with attacks on the person and criminal and incident data being made available for inclusion in parish newsletters.   

c)    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

Dave Adamson, Station Manager provided an update from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, which included detail about reducing the level of risk and harm from fire, interaction between the Protection Team and Local authorities, private landlords and tenants, on call recruitment, recent news and events and total number of calls for Pewsey Fire station. He also mentioned a project to provide a drop off facility for people to drop off laptops for those school children unable to access the due to lack of equipment.

Cllr Oatway commented on the additional work being undertaken by the emergency services to help during the pandemic and felt that sometimes this work went unrecognised.  He thanked all service men and women for their efforts during this difficult time.   

d)    Healthwatch Wiltshire

The written update was noted.

e)    NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

The written update was noted.

f)      Older People’s Champion and Partnership for Older People (POPP)

The Community Engagement Manager reported that he had met with Susie Brew and Dawn Wilson to discuss a number of grant applications which would be submitted for consideration at the Area Boards March 2021 meeting.

g)    Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Dawn Wilson provided an update on the Health & Wellbeing Group and raised the following points:

·       Dawn reported that the Green Machine (who recycle technology) had a number of desktop PC’s to be gifted to the local school for children who needed equipment at home.

·      The Memory Café is waiting for when they were able to meet again in the Bouverie Hall and the client group being able to go out again.

·      PCAP still has ring-fenced funding for a canal boat trip which hasn’t been able to run yet.

Susie Brew provided an update on in relation to Economy and Tourism and raised the following points:

·       Itineraries Project – had secured grant from the Co-op Community Fund towards the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership Itineraries Project. The project would be rolled out during the course of 2021.

·       Details of the ‘Walkers Are Welcome’ project would be available at the next Area Board meeting.

Colin Gale provided an update about transport issues, especially the following areas:

·       Both Pewsey and Bedwyn Rail User Groups were keeping in contact with GWR on timetables.

·       He was now linked up with the Devizes Gateway Team for the new station – it is one of a number of projects currently in performing feasibility. The station would open in 2025. The survey currently being designing will capture how people will use the station and will be analysed by Dave Philips at Wiltshire Council.

h)    Town and Parish Councils

There were no Town and Parish updates.