Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Kathryn Macdermid

·       Cllr Eric Wakeman

·       Cllr Matt Bragg

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2025.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2025 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The following declarations of interest were received in relation to agenda item 10 – Area Board Funding:

1. Cllr Liz Alstrom declared interest in the following grant applications, spoke on the projects but did not vote:
   1. Teen Takeover 2025 – as Chair of Teen Takeover 2025
   2. Chippenham Pride CIC – as co-chair of Pride in Chippenham CIC
   3. Public Art Chippenham – as a Trustee of Public Art Chippenham

2. Cllr Nick Murry declared an interest in the grant application from Zero North Wiltshire, as Chair of Zero North Wiltshire. Cllr Murry spoke about the project but did not vote.
3. Cllr Adrian Foster declared an interest in the grant application for Sheldon Road Methodist Church as a representative of the church that made the grant application. Cllr Foster spoke in detail about project but did not vote.

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

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

• Community First
• BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Wiltshire Council Framework
• Wiltshire Community Air Network
• Understanding Dementia Sessions
• Request for Governors

The Area Board noted the following information items:

• Community First
• BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) and Wiltshire Council Framework
• Wiltshire Community Air Network
• Understanding Dementia Sessions
• Request for Governors – this item was withdrawn as information about the request was not currently available, however, the Area Board noted the opportunities to become a school governor.

• Part 1: To receive a report from the Engagement and Partnerships Manager on the strategic and local work they are delivering and additional key resources for Councillors, partners and residents.

• Part 2: For each Councillor to briefly provide an overview of their division, and the key challenges and opportunities that they have identified that the Area Board can collectively support. 

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager provided a brief background on the Engagement and Partnership Service, upcoming local engagements, key Area Board information and further sources of information.

The Area Board commented on the need to engage with the youth and continue to raise their profile, engagement with Borough Lands and the community, invitations for organisation to apply for Household Support grants, the need to engage with Chippenham Town Council and Borough Lands to avoid duplication of work, the need to undertake a review of the community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to gain a greater understanding of the forward plan, to undertake a further youth survey in order to provide comparisons of emerging themes, the need for effective communications.

Each Area Board member then provided an overview of their division, and the key challenges and opportunities identified that the Area Board could support. The main themes arising included road safety and speeding, engaging and encouraging community cohesion in areas of new housing development, the future of Chippenham hospital, flooding resilience and climate change, the need for recreational facilities, car parking issues, improvements to the Olympiad Leisure Centre, the future development of parcels of empty/abandoned land, clean air, anti-social-behaviour in car parks, the removal and replacement of street/pavement trees, an extension of the Queens East Project to other areas in Chippenham, drug issues, pedestrian crossing safety, increase in youth provision and engagement, resident parking schemes, and High Street and Market Place bins.  

Decision

The Area Board noted the report, comments on issues from members and the reports use as a basis for shaping its future work.

To appoint lead members to Outside Bodies, note the LHFIG Terms of Reference and consider appointing a lead member to the role of Area Board Environment Lead and Youth Lead. 

The Area Board considered a report about the appointment of representatives to outside bodies for 2025/26 and the Terms of Reference for the Local Highways and Footpath’s Investment group.

In considering the appointments to outside bodies, the Area Board was conscious that following the recent local elections new members would need a period of time to settle into their role as a Councillor, and that there could be some changes in how Area Boards operate. It was therefore suggested, subject to the request from Cllr Paul Sample at Full Council on 20 May 2025 for the appointment of an Area Board Environment Lead and Youth Lead, that appointments should remain as they are and reconsidered at the Area Board meeting in September 2025.

Decision

1.    To appoint the following Lead representatives:

a.    Area Board Environment Lead – Cllr Nick Murry

b.    Area Board Youth Lead – Cllr Liz Alstrom and Cllr Ross Henning

2.    That the remaining appointments listed at Appendix A to the report be considered further at the Area Board meeting on 15 September 2025, and that existing appointments continue until the next Area Board meeting.

3.    To note the Terms of Reference for the LHFIG as set out in Appendix B of the report.

To receive a presentation from the Shared Lives Service raising awareness of the service, local issues and the need to recruit more carers. There will also be an opportunity for a question and answer session following the presentation.

The Area Board watched a video from the Shared Lives Service which highlighted the work undertaken by the Service and the need to recruit further carers.

Members noted the video and the need to reinforce the role of Shared Lives Services in the community and share information about the service more widely, in particular the Parish Forum.

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note any written and online updates attached

to the agenda from the following:

•       Neighbourhood Policing Team – to include Wiltshire Police VAWG Quarterly Update

•       Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter

•       Parish Forum Notes – copy attached for the meeting held on 26 February 2025 (Inc. Parish and Town Councils updates)

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

•       Other Community Groups

The Area Board received a number of updates from Partners and community organisations as detailed below:

1. Neighbourhood Policing Team

The Area Board received a written update and presentation from Insp Pete Foster, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team including upcoming changes in personnel, the Police community commitment, community engagements, Chippenham town and rural areas crime and incident statistics, operational priorities and how to get involved. The Area Board also received a written road safety update. 

Members commented on:

·       Shoplifting issues and engagement between the Police and shops

·       Town Council engagement with the Police about violence towards women and girls

·       Number of PCSO’s and changes in the Neighbourhood Police Team

·       Speeding on Plough Lane, Kington Langley and number of fines generated

·       The number of Community Speed Watches

·       Speeding along the A350

·       A number of 4x4’s being abandoned in fields and set on fire and notification to the Fire Service and Police

The Chairman thanked Insp Pete Foster for attending the Area Board meeting, responding to questions and to continue the great work in Chippenham.

2.    Wiltshire Police VAWG Quarterly Update – The written report was noted.

3. Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter – The written report was noted.

4. Parish Forum Notes – The written report was noted.

5. Parish and Town Councils updates – there were no update from the Town Council or Parish Councils.

6. Other Community Groups - Alison Butler, Carers Champion/Rural Representative commented on the use of inverters in solar panels.

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

Opening Budgets for 2025/26:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

The Board is asked to note any funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

• None

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

The Area Board considered a number of applications for an Area Board Initiative Grant, Community Area Grants, Young People Grants and heard from the applicants, and noted delegated funding.

Resolved:

1.    Area Board Initiative Grant:

·       Teen Takeover 2025 – to award £5,000

2.    Community Area Grants:

·       Zero North Wiltshire – to award £5,000 towards Zero North Wiltshire Community Energy website and promotional equipment.

·       Wilts and Berks Canal Trust – to award £3,947 towards Sewage treatment plant for Carpenters Workshop site at Pewsham Locks.

·       Sheldon Student Opportunity Fund – to award £4.305 towards the development of outdoor seating areas for local clubs and school community.

3.    Young People Grants

·       Sheldon Road Methodist Church – To award £1,850 towards disadvantaged Youth Support Programme.

4.    Delegated Funding

·       The Area Board noted the award of £447.55 towards Public Art Chippenham - Pride Pavement Rainbow under the delegated funding process by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager.

This item is for residents in the Chippenham and Villages Area Board community area to ask questions of the Area Board Councillors. A link to the Area Board web pages for more information is available here -  Area Boards Introduction – Area Boards

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager commented on the introduction of an ‘open floor’ agenda item for residents in the Chippenham and Villages Area Board community area to ask questions of the Area Board Councillors. Cllr Foster suggested that Area Board members could add future Area Board meeting dates to the literature circulated to residents in a bid to improve communications with communities.

The Area Board welcomed and noted this initiative to hear from residents in the community at future meetings.

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):

• 15 September 2025 - Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
• 10 November 2025 - Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
• 9 February 2026 - Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager (SEPM) – Ros Griffiths – email: Ros.Griffiths@wiltshire.gov.uk or the Engagement and Partnership Lead – Alexa Davies – email: alexa.davies@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Area Board noted that the future meeting dates:

• 15 September 2025 – Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre
• 10 November 2025 - Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre