Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Clare Cape

Gordon Olson

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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

·       Wiltshire Local Plan

·       All Things Roads Area Board meeting

·       Multiply – Online Courses

·       Update on the Council’s activity and progress on the Climate Emergency - https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw

The Chairman gave updates on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board, and notified attendees of upcoming events:

• Wiltshire Local Plan Review
• Transport/Highways Matters Area Board Event on 11 December at the Olympiad
• Multiply – Online Courses
• Update on the Council’s activity and progress on the Climate Emergency - https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System) – August 2023

The Board noted the following information items which can be found in the agenda pack:

• Community First
• Healthwatch Wiltshire
• Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

The Area Board will receive an update from the Chief Constable about Wiltshire Police and address any issues raised at the meeting.

The Board welcomed Chief Constable Catherine Roper, who gave a verbal update on Wiltshire Police.

The Chief Constable had been in post 6 months and described the work she had been doing since the force had been graded poorly and placed in special measures in June 2022. The reasons for this were described as:

·       Not recognising vulnerable persons and their challenges.

·       The response to incidents not being adequate.

·       The process from when members of the public first contacted the police to the conclusion of a case was described as having failings all throughout.

The Chief Constable was very conscious that the foundations of Wiltshire Police

needed to be rebuilt, and that as trust and confidence in the force had declined the morale within the force had declined as a result.

Rebuilding the fundamentals of Wiltshire Police would lead to being brought out of special measures. This included work already underway on the business-as-usual delivery plan, restructuring the senior management and performance frameworks and refocusing crime-tackling priorities.

The Chief Constable described the Control Room as simply not good enough and stated that serious work was being done to improve the service the public received.

Other areas of improvement included:

• Visibility on the roads to deter criminals.

• Recruitment activities, with emphasis given to opportunities for those in a gap

year.

• The Evolve programme, allowing those most involved in day-to-day activity to

give their views on where improvements can be made.

• An auditing and inspections regime, ensuring progress had been made through regular reports to the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Every 6 months the Chief Constable and PCC attend

Whitehall to face numerous questions and explain how improvements had been made. The most recent meeting on Monday 18 September had noted improvements in organising and prioritising areas of improvement.

• The speed at which calls are answered. The Chief Constable receives a daily

report on the number of calls and how quickly the needs of the caller had been understood and actioned. Teams have arrived quicker than national targets.

Inspector Pete Foster commented that he hadn’t seen as high a level of interest and drive for improvement in his 18 years in the Police. He was also pleased that more Police Officers were available to show a presence in public.

In response to a question about engagement and intervention, it was clarified that mobile police stations had been deployed to improve contact with the public. It was agreed that more patrols in local parks and hotspots was needed.

In response to a question about prevention and using an online report system, it was clarified that all crimes reported are logged and monitored and if certain locations are deemed hotspots or certain crime types are identified then the police response is adjusted accordingly.

It was highlighted that the Licensing Committee had not seen a police presence for a period of time and the Chief Constable agreed that this would be looked at.

Erratic driving around the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To receive updates from Lead Councillors for the local Area Board priorities.

·       Priority - Youth engagement and supporting positive mental health and wellbeing in young people (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Peter Hutton, Cllr Liz Alstrom, Cllr Kathryn Macdermid, Cllr Adrian Foster)

·       Priority – Addressing climate change (Cllr Nick Murry and Cllr Macdermid)

·       Priority –  Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Clare Cape)

·       Priority – Supporting the local economy (Cllr Howard Greenman, Cllr Nick Murry)

·       Priority – Reducing anti-social behaviour (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Liz Alstrom)

Lead Councillors updated the Board on work undertaken in each of the Area Board’s Priorities:

• Priority - Youth engagement and supporting positive mental health and wellbeing in young people (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Peter Hutton, Cllr Liz Alstrom, Cllr Kathryn Macdermid, Cllr Adrian Foster)

·       Youth activities supported by the Area Board over the summer holidays.

·       £10,000 of Million Hours funding awarded to youth projects in Chippenham Hardens and Central ward.

·       Local Youth Network meeting at Hardenhuish School September 2023.

·       Chippenham Teen Take Over April 2024.

·       Area Board funding to WOLT enabled the charge for the high ropes at River Park to be kept down.

·       Rise Trust delivered detached outreach work throughout the summer.

·       Rise Trust youth club sessions

Million Hours Funding

·       Tell Your Story – 3 sessions and a gig at the end.

·       Additional detached outreach work.

·       Friday lunch sessions.

·       Trips to the Arc climbing centre.

• Priority – Addressing climate change (Cllr Nick Murry and Cllr Kathryn Macdermid)

·       Chippenham Climate & Ecological Emergency Forum meeting 21 September 2023.

·       Focus for 2023/24 - Engaging the parishes, linking with WC Climate Team, Community Directory.

• Priority – Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Clare Cape)

·       Chippenham Health and Wellbeing group meeting 11 October 2023 (Integrated Care System / Rethink Mental Illness / Falls Prevention Resources)

·       Attendees were reminded that Older and Vulnerable adults funding is         available.

• Priority – Supporting the local economy (Cllr Howard Greenman, Cllr Nick Murry)

·       Household Support Funding for local foodbanks.

·       Chippenham One Plan consultation update.

·       Priority – Reducing anti-social behaviour (Cllr Ross Henning, Cllr Liz Alstrom)

·       Supporting partner networks to tackle ASB.

·       Community Safety forum and Purple Flag Breakfast 6 October 2023.

·       Rise Trust relocating to Olympiad – safe space and detached youth work from October.

The Board wished to congratulate Sandie Webb for her work tackling fraud in Wiltshire which gained national new coverage. Sandie founded Chippenham Community Hub in 2021 during the pandemic and today the hub's focus has shifted to the town's centre for fighting fraud.

Written Updates:

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Chippenham Area Parish Forum Meeting – 19 July 2023

Verbal Updates:

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Parish and Town Councils

·       Other Community Groups

The Board noted the following written and online updates, which can be found in the agenda pack:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team Road Safety Update

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Chippenham Area Parish Forum Meeting – 19 July 2023

·       Chippenham TC Update

To receive a presentation from Gordon Olson from Wilts & Berks Canal Trust  and Dave Maloney Chair of the Melksham, Chippenham and Calne branch about their current status and plans for the future.

Dave Maloney, Chair of the Melksham, Chippenham and Calne branch, gave a PowerPoint presentation which is attached to the minutes.

The main points included:

·       The Trust is a registered charity established in 1977 to restore 70 miles of abandoned canal and towpaths between Semington, Abingdon and Cricklade.

·       As of 2023 29% of towpaths and 6.5% of the navigable canal had been restored.

·       The Trust had been very active in Chippenham, particularly at their Pewsham learning and heritage restoration site and on the canal towpaths.

·       Within the presentation, maps were shown of the areas being restored.

·       Plans for 81 projects are in place which will cost over £300m and it was envisaged the public wellbeing and economic benefits will total over £250m per year upon completion.

The Board expressed their gratitude for the presentation and the work that the Trust does for the area and the need for spreading awareness to more Pewsham residents was emphasised.

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

Remaining Budgets:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

There have been no delegated funding awards since the last meeting.

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

The Board considered the following grant applications:

Older and Vulnerable Grants

Chippenham Day Centre & Friendship Group requested £2,581.98 towards running costs.

Proposed by Cllr Ross Henning and seconded by Cllr Liz Alstrom

It was:

Resolved

To award Chippenham Day Centre & Friendship Group £2,581.98 towards running costs.

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

Young People Grants

Rag and Bone Arts CIC requested £3,530 towards their Teen Drama Improvisation Workshop & Art Display.

Proposed by Cllr Ross Henning and seconded by Cllr Liz Alstrom

It was:

Resolved

To award Rag and Bone Arts CIC £3,530 for their Teen Drama Improvisation Workshop & Art Display.

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

The Stay Safe Initiative requested £2,175 towards their Digital Empowerment Programme.

Proposed by Cllr Ross Henning and seconded by Cllr Peter Hutton

It was:

Resolved

To award The Stay Safe Initiative £2,175 for their Digital Empowerment Programme.

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

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 6 July 2023, as set out in the attached report.

·       6846 - Road Safety at The Street B4039 Nettleton Road and Church Hill junction Burton and 4-20-4 B4039 Hillside Burton –£5025 LHFIG

(with £1675 PC = total cost £6700)

·       4-21-11 & 13 Upper Seagry - £9100 LHFIG

(with 3900 PC = total cost £13,000)

·       4-21-28 C164 Giddeahall to Upper Castle Combe & C179 West Yatton Lane from Yatton Keynell – £1960 LHFIG

(with £420 from each parish council = total cost £2800)

·       4-22-15 Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham – amendments to shared use path at junction - £3850 LHFIG (£1000 already allocated, with £1650 from CTC tbc = total cost £6500)

·       Various Bridleways signing, Chippenham - £1050 LHFIG

(with £450 CTC tbc = total cost £1500)

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 6 July 2023.

Proposed by Cllr Peter Hutton and seconded by Cllr Adrian Foster it was:

Resolved

To approve the recommendations from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 6 July.

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

There were no urgent items.

Future Meeting Dates (6.30-8.30pm):

·       11 December 2023

·       11 March 2024

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Area Board Delivery Officer, louisa.young@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. The next meeting of the Chippenham Area Board would take place on 11 December 2023.