Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Inspector Louise Oakley (Wiltshire Police), who arranged for Sergeant Joe Sadowski to attend the meeting in her absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 30 May 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 May 2024 were presented for consideration. After which, it was;

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 30 May 2024.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First Update

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire Update

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System) Update

·       Update on the Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Family Help Project

·       Update on FACT Transitional Safeguarding Project

·       Overview of Wiltshire Youth Council

·       Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Consultation

The Chairman made the following announcements as per the agenda pack:

• Community First Update
• Healthwatch Wiltshire Update
• BSW Together (Integrated Care System) Update
• Update on the Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Family Help Project
• Update on FACT Transitional Safeguarding Project
• Overview of Wiltshire Youth Council
• Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Consultation

In addition, the Chairman noted that a letter had been received from the Editor of the Maiden Bradley Parish Newsletter which expressed gratitude towards the Area Board following a grant which they had received.

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Remaining Budgets:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found here.

The Area Board considered the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

Bishopstrow Village Hall – £2,000 towards Solar power and battery storage.

Decision

Bishopstrow Village Hall was awarded £2,000 towards Solar power and battery storage.

Moved – Cllr Bill Parks

Seconded – Cllr Andrew Davis

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24.

Warminster Bowling Club - £494.41- towards Purchase adaptive equipment for Warminster Bowling Club.

Decision

Warminster Bowling Club was awarded £494.41 towards the purchase of adaptive equipment for Warminster Bowling Club.

Moved – Cllr Andrew Davis

Seconded – Cllr Pip Ridout

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24.

Older and Vulnerable Grants:

Wiltshire Music Centre - £1,500 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

Decision

Wiltshire Music Centre was awarded £1,500 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

Moved – Cllr Tony Jackson

Seconded – Cllr Andrew Davis

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Grants Criteria 2023/24.

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the following:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Warminster Garrison

·       Warminster Health and Wellbeing Forum

·       Warminster and Villages Community Partnership (WVCP)

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board noted written updates attached to the agenda. In addition, Sergeant Joe Sadowski provided a verbal update which covered the following points:

·       Over the next months Inspector Oakley has a number of commitments, therefore Sergeant Sadowski would be fulfilling her roles until the end of October.

·       An outline of the Warminster Neighbourhood Policing area was provided, with it noted that this was the largest area covered in Wiltshire including over 50 Parish Councils.

·       Clarity was provided that the Neighbourhood Policing Team do not respond to 999 calls but rather this is the Response Team based in Trowbridge who ensure that at least one response unit is based at Warminster Police Station for faster response times.

·       It was outlined that following the Uplift Programme, staffing levels had increased, however as funding levels begin to tighten recruitment pace would slow with new intakes who were due to start next year pushed further back.

·       Details of school visits and youth engagements were provided.

·       The Neighbourhood Policing Pillars of Engaging Communities, Solving Problems and Targeting Activity were discussed as well as the work which had taken place in each of these areas.

·       Local priorities for Warminster were discussed as per the report with the agenda pack, with a focus on shoplifting and youth anti-social behaviour. Other priority areas were also identified as burglaries and drugs.

·       A Cadet Unit in Warminster was set to be set up with it hoped that this would be running by November and would be held at the Garrison Community Centre for those 13-16 years on Tuesday evenings.

·       Detail was provided about new mobile Police stations which had been acquired and would allow the Police to be more visible and conduct drop-in sessions in the rural villages with such sessions set to take place in early October.

·       A Local Parish Forum had been set up by Chief Inspector James Brain which would run four times a year providing residents a chance to hold the Neighbourhood Policing Team to account.

After the verbal update, there was time for the following questions and points to be made:

·       A point was raised about the benefits of social media posts by the Police being shared by communities and how this wasn’t consistently possible on Facebook potentially due to permissions. It was highlighted that, when possible, this provided great community benefit.

·       Further detail was requested in relation to the Cadets, to which it was stated that there had been a meeting last week between the Police and Cadet Group which had been positive. It was suggested that this meeting was positive although there was potentially an issue identified with transport to and from, the outlying villages, though it was envisaged this wouldn’t be a problem to resolve for the military.

·       Warminster Garrison

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda. In addition, Cllr Tony Jackson noted that the Health and Wellbeing event which was set to be ran by the Garrison  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive an update form the Warminster Business Network.

The Area Board received an update from Warminster Business Network Chairman, Matt Towl. The update covered the following matters:

• An overview of the Warminster Business Network was provided including that this was a revamped Chamber of Commerce and a dedicated body for the business community.
• The Business Network had a vision to support business growth, champion key issues and to rive a sustainable economic growth in the Warminster District.
• The mission statement of the Network was outlined, with a dedication to regional business and community prosperity through the following four pillars:
  • Grow – Open the door to new business opportunities and growth
  • Support – Local businesses to achieve their goals
  • Develop – Increase knowledge and skills to create a bigger, brighter and better future.
  • Influence – Campaigns to widen Warminster’s exposure and have a voice in local decisions.
• An overview of what had been achieved under each pillar was provided, including but not limited to:
  • Grow – Started the Warminster independent Market with three businesses attracted to the town.
  • Support – Assisted with grant applications and introduced opportunities for Government funded apprenticeships.
  • Develop – Created network opportunities and helped to develop member skills.
  • Influence – Ran a Clean Up, Smarten Up Campaign as well as 3 businesses winning awards and 6 businesses reaching the finals of county and national awards.
• The benefits of having a Business Network were outlined.
• The next steps for the Business Network were provided for the future.

After the update, there was time for the following questions and points to be made:

• A point was made that local elected Members tend to receive a lot of negativities regarding the opening of businesses in the area such as barbershops and McDonalds with it stressed that such ventures did not need planning permission.
• It was outlined that the Business Network was aiming to create a database of businesses wanting to come to Warminster as well as discussing issues about how Grade II listed buildings might be able to be used.
• It was stated that the Business Network would like to assist in the reinvigoration of the cycling tracks to link the villages with the town as well as Centre Parcs.
• Congratulations were placed towards the Business Network for their work and that there had clearly been some results, with litter bins tidied, the improvement of heritage signs, name plates and bunting.
• It was suggested that the Business Network investigate the Explore Wiltshire App with it cited that there were already some town trails on the app linking businesses.
• It was agreed that a written update for each Area Board meeting would be welcomed, with it suggested that the Business Network looked to include the villages.

To receive an update on the work being completed in relation to footpaths and bridleways in the villages.

The Area Board received updates from community groups from local villages in relation to work being completed on footpaths and bridleways. The following updates were received:

Adam Oakley, Chapmanslade:

• An overview of the Rights of Way network in Chapmanslade was provided, which included circa 34 footpaths, 3 bridleways, 1 by-way, 30 stiles and more than 20 kissing gates and 1 bridle gate.
• The maintenance and care of the network was outlined, with it noted that there was an informal group within Chapmanslade where villages adopt a path they regularly use, reporting problems through word of mouth, Facebook or the MyWilts App.
• There is a group of Secret Stile Fixers to resolve issues quickly as well as working with local landowners to get issues resolved.
• A detailed map of the current kissing gates was provided, with it noted that installation would lead to greater footfall and increased accessibility for older people.
• It was outlined that volunteer labour, community spirit, and parish council funding had been used to make improvements.
• The challenges experienced in Chapmanslade were outlined, including that Byway (CHAP31) and Bridleway (CHAP37) had experienced water erosion to the point where many users were now unable to pass. It was hoped these could be restored and open for all users.
• Another challenge was that the in summer USCU4, CORY20 and WARM4 could be used to travel to Warminster however in winter these became too wet. It was hoped that a hard surface could be installed for use all year round.

Cllr Neil Carpenter, Corsley:

• An overview of the Corsley area was provided, including that it was made up of 7 hamlets with a combined total of 28 miles of roads. Furthermore, there were 49 Rights of Way in the area with some running along Longleat Estate and others connecting to Warminster.
• It was outlined that though there was a total of 14 equestrian locations within the village, however a lot of riders tended to put their horses in boxes to travel elsewhere because of safety concerns.
• The concept of improving the Health and Wellbeing of residents was discussed, with it noted that footpaths and horse related matters were covered at each Parish Council meeting.
• It was stated that there was a large road transecting the village which was dangerous and was used by circa 8000 trucks a day.
• The way of working in Corsley was outlined, with it noted that there was an approach to address issues from the bottom up, as well as having template letters which could be sent to landowners to escalate issues.
• It was outlined that there were areas in which Corsley needed help, including a number of public Rights of Way that need Wiltshire Council to sort out before a deadline, work to ensure that CORY20 was usable to connect Corsley to Warminster and also to find a way to enable users to get across the A362 in the centre of the village carefully.
• It was stated that Corsley Parish Council was set to create  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive any updates on the following local Area Board priorities:

·       Improving outcomes and positive activities for Young people – Cllr Andrew Davis

·       Health and Wellbeing – Cllr Pip Ridout

·       Environment, Biodiversity, and sustainability – Cllr Tony Jackson

·       Transport and Access – Cllr Bill Parks

The Area Board received the following updates on local Area Board priorities:

• Improving outcomes and positive activities for Young people – Cllr Andrew Davis

It was noted that last week a successful event took place at Warminster Skate Park and that a successful youth meeting had taken place with those involved working very well together.

• Health and Wellbeing – Cllr Pip Ridout

Reference was drawn to the earlier verbal partner update in the agenda and that Cllr Ridout had provided the Health and Wellbeing Forum with a variety of documents from the Health Select Committee. It was also noted that there was a drive from Wiltshire Council to promote the Dementia Strategy.

• Environment, Biodiversity, and sustainability – Cllr Tony Jackson

Reference was drawn to the conservation update provided by Warminster Garrison, which outlined some of the work taking place on Salisbury Plain. In addition, it was noted that the possibility of a toad patrol protection organisation remained under investigation.

• Transport and Access – Cllr Bill Parks

It was agreed that this topic area had been thoroughly covered in the Local Community Footpaths Update item.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 4 September 2024, as set out in the attached report.

Cllr Bill Parks introduced the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 4 September 2024. 

After which, it was;

Resolved:

The minutes of the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 4 September 2024 were agreed as a correct record as well as approving the spending recommendations within.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

The Chairman thanked all attendees and speakers for their contributions.

The next meetings of the Warminster Area Board will be on 10 December 2024.

The date of the next meeting was10 December 2024.