Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Inspector Peter Foster, (Sgt Mike Tripp attended as substitute),

Louise Young,

Fiona Slevin-Brown,

Emma Legg,

Cllr Helen Belcher OBE,

Cllr Derek Walters, who attended remotely but not in an official capacity.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2023.

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2023.

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:

·       Five to Thrive

The Chair gave an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board:

·       Five To Thrive Corsham

The chair also informed those in attendance that the meeting was not officially quorate and therefore the Board could not make any formal decisions at this meeting.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Special School Developments

o   Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter

o   PCCs across the Southwest launch new rural crime survey and quarterly newsletter

o   Update on the Council's activity and progress on the Climate Emergency

o   Multiply - Online Courses

o   Local Plan

The Board received and noted the following announcements:

• Community First
• Healthwatch Wiltshire
• Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
• Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal
• Wiltshire Council Information Items:
  • Special School Developments
  • Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter
  • PCCs across the Southwest launch new rural crime survey and quarterly newsletter
  • Update on the Council's activity and progress on the Climate Emergency – YouTube Link https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw
  • Multiply - Online Courses
  • Local Plan

Full details can be found in the agenda pack.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

a)    Wiltshire Police – Inspector Pete Foster

b)    Fire & Rescue – Station Manager Dean Hoskins

c)    Town & Parish Council Nominated Representatives

d)    Corsham Climate Action – Adam Walton

e)    Pound Arts

Written Updates

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

·       PC Updates

·       Campus Update – Implementation of parking restrictions and EV chargers

The Board received a verbal update from representatives, including:

a)    Wiltshire Police – Sgt Mike Tripp

b)    Town & Parish Council Nominated Representatives

c)    Pound Arts

The Board received and noted the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

• PC Updates
• Campus Update
• Climate Action

Fiona Slevin-Brown

Wiltshire Integrated Care Alliance Director, and BSW ICB Executive Lead for Primary Care  NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)

The Board received a presentation on Corsham Health Centre

Over the last year and a half, opportunities to reopen the site had been explored. No interest was received to re-opening the Corsham Health Centre in a clinical capacity. There was however interest in opening for Primary Care and ongoing discussions over the next two months will take place.

If there is no defined opportunity, then the centre will be up for disposal with government institutions having the first opportunity to absorb the site.

An opportunity was highlighted to apply for the Corsham Health Centre to be designated as a community asset which would give more time for the community to make use of the site.

Clarification was sought and given that the NHS does technically own the site and local commissioners ultimately decide what action is taken.

To receive a presentation on Greensquare from Clare Cotterill and David Loon.

The Board received a presentation from Clare Cotterill and David Loon on the Green Square Accord.

Green Square Accord provide affordable homes and care and support services for those in need. More locally in Wiltshire, there are 4 officers who cover the local area. Officers had engaged in the local community to establish an understanding of issues that are faced and to answer queries. Green Square also engaged with and encouraged residents to get involved by becoming panel members.

Green Square highlighted their determination to be different to large national organisations who are often criticised for not understanding the areas where they own properties.

The Board praised Green Square for providing specialist tenancy support where it hadn’t been as readily available before. The Board emphasised the opportunity to hold an engagement with the residents of Rudloe, one of the most deprived areas in Wiltshire where there are major issues with accessibility and transport infrastructure. Cllr Derek Walters was especially keen to work with Green Square regarding Rudloe.

It was clarified that the Green Square Panel has an application process and regularly meets through Microsoft Teams.

Update on our Priority Areas:

·       Youth engagement and positive activity opportunities (Cllr Helen Belcher)

·       Addressing climate change (Cllr Derek Walters)

·       Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Brian Mathew)

·       Supporting the local economy (Cllr Ruth Hopkinson)

The Board received an update on some of its Priority Areas:

·       Promoting wellbeing and reducing social isolation in older and vulnerable people (Cllr Dr Brian Mathew)

Cllr Brian Mathew invited two organisations that work with Corsham Area Board under Priority Areas to speak.

SHED – described their work as an Alzheimer’s and Dementia support group that aims to work with larger organisations in the area to help those living with the conditions to regain practical skills.

Corsham Community Club - thanked Corsham Area Board for the grant awarded at the last area board meeting and described their work to help those who are isolated or lonely. The importance that their work demonstrates to encourage those who attend to branch out and live their life as fully as possible was highlighted.

·       Supporting the local economy (Cllr Ruth Hopkinson)

Cllr Ruth Hopkinson, Chair, praised the work being driven by Corsham Town Council with good local knowledge to begin work with local businesses to improve the local area and economy.

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

Officer: Ros Griffiths, Strategic Engagement & Partnerships
Manager

Remaining Budgets:

Community Area 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.

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

Due to the meeting not being quorate, each application was deferred to Corsham Area Board’s next meeting.

Applications under £1000 will be considered and can potentially be awarded under delegated authority.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 19 July, as set out in the attached report.

Report to follow.

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

LHFIG had its most recent meeting on 19 July 2023 and the Board noted the minutes.

The Chair referred to the opportunity to make a substantive bid for significant extra funding for LHFIG projects and noted it’s success last financial year.

The next meeting of Corsham Area Board will be on 23 October 2023.