Agenda and minutes

To receive a presentation covering the following topics:

·       Strategic Business Plan Priorities

·       Maintenance

·       Local Transport Plan

·       Congestion

·       Public Transport

·       Air Quality

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Area Board meeting and introduced officers and members. 

Cllr Caroline Thomas – Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene and Flooding introduced the event highlighting that Wiltshire was a large rural county and roads were an integral part of the county infrastructure and economy.

Sam Howell – Director of Highways and Transport explained that roads in the county represented the Council’s largest and most valuable public asset with a replacement value of over £5 billion. She noted that it was difficult to mitigate some of the more adverse factors in rural areas compared to urban areas with greater availability of public transport.

The Cabinet member and officers presentation highlighted the Wiltshire Context and in particular the following more detailed areas:

·       Asset Management – some numbers

·       Investment in the network

·       The Local Transport Plan

·       Public Transport Review – consultation

·       Local Issues to Chippenham

·       Highways Maintenance - inc. benchmarking

·       Reasons for the number of potholes and how these are repaired

·       Innovation and the defect dashboard

·       Flood prevention

·       The Local Highway & Footway Improvement Group

·       Parish Steward Scheme

·       Verge and litter clearance – extra funds

The Cabinet Member and Director of Highways and Transport – Sam Howells referred generally to investment in the Wiltshire network and funding for highway maintenance, the additional funding received for potholes, bus service improvements, an amount to improve electric vehicle charging, all topped up by resources from Wiltshire Council. It was noted that in 2023 there was an additional £5m to replace signs, £5m towards litter picking along rural highways, cleansing car parks, removal of flyposting and in 2024 an additional £10m for preventative maintenance and resurfacing.

The Area Board noted that the additional sums highlighted during the presentation would help to alleviate some maintenance backlogs and general degradation.

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member and officers for their informative presentation and welcomed comments and questions from the public and Area Board members.

An opportunity to ask any highways questions.

The Chairman then invited questions and comments from those present. It was noted that questions submitted in advance of the meeting would receive written responses in a document attached to the minutes.

The following questions were raised during the meeting with responses provided by the Panel:

1.    How schools who were interested in school streets should investigate their feasibility in the first instance.

Response – Schools that are interested in School Streets would need to update their Travel Plan to include the reasons for a School Street, explaining the benefits that will be derived, and demonstrating that some consultation with affected parties such as local residents and businesses to gauge support for the scheme has taken place.  Help is available from the Council's Road Safety Team and School Travel Plan officer.

2.    Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) – a representative of Cycle Chippenham thanked Council officer Kirsty Rose for the support and advice given to the Chippenham and Villages LHFIG but understood her ability to complete all the requests approved by the LHFIG in a timely fashion was near impossible without the additional resourcing of officer time and increases in budgets. Residents asked if there was a criteria for prioritising and undertaking a risk assessment of LHFIG schemes. 

Response – The Cabinet member agreed to reflect further on the request and consider where improvements could be implemented further. It was acknowledged that on occasions processes needed to be update in order to increase output and this would also be considered further. Area Board members explained that Cycle Chippenham had undertaken some excellent work and referred to the ongoing consultation for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP) process in Chippenham. LHFIG Schemes were prioritised by the LHFIG membership using agreed criteria.

3.    Traffic Congestion – the residents of Rowden were concerned and frustrated about the number of housing developments in and around Chippenham both existing and future and the associated increase in traffic congestion impacting Chippenham. They also highlighted the knock on effect of changes to traffic lights phasing and particularly referred to Station Road, Chippenham and the need to improve road signage especially merging onto the M4.

Response – The Cabinet Member and Officers explained that traffic flows were a balancing act that had to be achieved for all road users, with investment being undertaken along the A350 as it is a strategic route. Officers acknowledged that the traffic lights in Station Road were controversial due to the phasing allowing pedestrian priority. They confirmed that the traffic lights were monitored, and they needed to be managed effectively, whilst moving traffic efficiently through Chippenham. It was noted that developers were required to mitigate the impacts of their developments. The M4 junction design initiated a Stage 3 safety audit for the roundabout and the junction from Chippenham to assess the current arrangements, with all associated costs being part of the scheme cost.  Officers explained that the chief safety concern related to the potential for the build up of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To consider the next steps arising from the presentation and subsequent discussions.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their questions and comments during the meeting and officers for attending and responding to resident concerns and issues.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Adrian Foster and Cllr Dr Nick Murry.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2023.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 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.

Declarations of interest were made by the following Councillors in relation to agenda item10 - Area Board Funding:

·       Cllr Nic Puntis – Yatton Keynell Recreation Association – as a resident of Yatton Keynell

·       Cllr Liz Alstrom – Community Area Grant for Chippenham Pride CIC – as a Non-Executive Committee Member for Chippenham Pride. Cllr Alstrom did not vote on this application.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Independent Visitor Scheme Update

·       Police and Crime Commissioner Annual Report

The Chairman drew attention to the following written announcements which were noted by the Area Board:

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Independent Visitor Scheme Update

·       Police and Crime Commissioner Annual Report

To note the following information items:

·       Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care Board)

·       Community First

·       Wiltshire AGE UK

·       Wiltshire FACT Programme

The Chairman drew attention to the following information items which were noted by the Area Board:

·       Archaeology Service Annual Newsletter

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care Board)

·       Community First

·       Wiltshire AGE UK

·       Wiltshire FACT Programme

A request has been received for a Member of the Area Board to be appointed as a representative on Chippenham Pride.

The Area Board are asked to consider this request and make an appointment as necessary.

The Area Board considered a request to appoint a representative to Chippenham Pride.

Resolved:

To appoint Cllr Liz Alstrom as the Area Board representative on Chippenham Pride for the year 2023/24.

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

Remaining Budgets if all grants are agreed:

Community Area Grants:

Older and Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

There have been two grants awarded under delegated powers since the last meeting, detailed below:

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

The Area Board considered a number of applications for Community Area Grant funding, Older and Vulnerable Grants, Young People Grants and those agreed under delegated authority.  The Chairman invited a representative of each application to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

Decision:

To approve the following grant funding:

1. Community Area Grant funding:

a)    Chippenham Pride CIC – to award £5,000 towards advertising events

b)    Yatton Keynell Recreation Association – to award £5,000 towards Solar PV and storage for Yatton Keynell Village Hall to improve resilience and reduce emissions.

c)    Chippenham Sports Club – to award £3,900 towards facilities heating provision and public walkway and drive lighting for public safety.

2. Older and Vulnerable Grant Funding

a)    Sheldon Road Methodist Church – To award £500 towards Community Meals.

b)    Doorway Wiltshire – To award £1,745.50 towards Football project.

c)    Chippenham Rugby Football Club – To award £5,000 towards Chippenham RFC mixed ability team Cavailiers.

3. Young People Grants

a)    Art Bytes managed by Dot Art Services – To award £936 towards Art Bytes championing creativity in Chippenham.

b)    Sheldon Road Methodist Church – To award £2,313 towards Heals and Sheldon Road Methodist Church summer and autumn youth programme.

c)    Chippenham Sports Partnership – To award £2,500 towards Chippenham Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Games.

4. Grants Awarded under Delegated Authority

a)    Chippenham Men’s Shed – agreed £895 towards a planer Thicknesser for the new workshop.

b)    Heritage Trail Project – agreed £415.60 towards Heritage Trail Walking Leaflets.

c)    Chippenham Men’s Shed – agreed £478.98 towards a Rotavator and strimmer for Chippenham Men’s Shed allotment under delegated authority.

d)    Ivy Wildlife Garden – agreed £500 towards Ivy Wildlife Garden repairs and improvement under delegated authority

e)    Chippenham Uniform Exchange – agreed £500 towards equipment for new premises under delegated authority.

To consider the report and recommendations arising from the last meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 6 July 2023.

The Area Board received the notes of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group held on 6 July 2023.

Resolved:

1.    To receive the notes of the meeting held on 6 July 2023.

2.    To receive the notes and consider any recommendations of the meeting held on 3 October 2023 at the next Area Board meeting.

Future Meeting Dates (6.30-8.30pm):

·       11 March 2024

·       10 June 2024

·       2 September 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 Area Board noted the following future meeting dates (6.30-8.30pm):

·       11 March 2024

·       10 June 2024

·       2 September 2024

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.