Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chair, Cllr Ruth Hopkinson, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Cllr Derek Walters joined the meeting remotely and so would not vote on any matters.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024 were presented for consideration and it was:

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024.

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 the following items:

·       Update from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - Service Update December 2024

The Chair updated the Board on the following item:

Update from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24

·       Highways Repairs Report

·       Devolution to Wessex Update

·       Wiltshire Local Elections

·       Cost of Living Update

• Community First

• Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24

• Highways Repairs Report

• Devolution to Wessex Update

• Wiltshire Local Elections

• Cost of Living Update

Written Updates

The Board will note any written updates attached to the agenda.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

a) Wiltshire Police – Inspector Pete Foster

b) Town & Parish Council Nominated Representatives

c) Corsham Climate Action – Adam Walton

The following written updates were noted as attached to the agenda:

Lacock Parish Council

Wiltshire Police

Inspector Pete Foster gave a presentation, which was attached to the agenda, highlighting recent actions of the policing team and crime statistics for Corsham.

It was decorated that Wiltshire has the lowest crime rate in the country.

The Chief Constable, Catherine Roper, was present virtually and echoed the positive points raised by Inspector Foster.

The Chief Constable specifically wished to comment on the rumours regarding police funding, and that although headlines stated an increase in funding, the net result would mean a loss given an increase in costs. £6.8 million of savings needed to be found in order to balance the budgets.

Wiltshire received the 3^rd least funding in the country and were the 2^nd smallest force. Any savings would not mean a reduction in the overall number of police officers or a closure of any police stations where there is a public access point. The current fleet of vehicles would be scrutinised and although the Chief Constable was reluctant to look at staffing cuts, she stated that this could be possible.

Councillors thanked both Inspector Foster and the Chief Constable for their work, attributing the excellent crime rates and a noticeable improvement in policing in Corsham to the personnel employed by Wiltshire Police and the high level of communication and collaboration with local and county policing teams.

During questions the following was clarified:

·       The police were having to absorb the National Insurance and wage rises.

·       The community commitments were standard and would continue regardless of cuts. An increase in visibility was anticipated.

·       Early releases by central Government had not led to any identifiable risks or issues.

·       Any further releases ordered by central Government would follow an ever-improving process.

Colerne Parish Council

• There had been a large number of biodiversity actions and events recently
• The Parish Council was focusing on securing community assets

Box Parish Council

• The Parish Council’s Clerk is closing in on retirement after nearly 50 years.
• Sought to engage with Corsham AB on a number of issues including continued issues with pavements

Corsham Town Council

• Corsham was now an accredited age friendly town and lots of projects are being worked on to support the elderly
• Management of the Youth Club in Corsham had just been taken over by the RISE Trust

The Blue Bus had been in Corsham on Wednesdays, providing a warm space for young people.

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)

LYN

Youth engagement and positive activity opportunities (Cllr

Helen Belcher)

A Local Youth Network Meeting had been held, although was poorly attended and any reasons for this would be considered, such as the notice period given.

The minutes of the recent Local Youth Network were also noted.

A short film will be shown to highlight Area Board achievements 2021-2025 including engagements, events, partnership working and investment into community projects.

A short film was presented by Ros Griffiths, the Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager to highlight Corsham Area Board’s achievements between 2021-2025 including engagements, events, partnership working and investment into community projects.

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 Adults Grants:

Young People Grants:

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

The Board’s budget was summarised to attendees and the following grants were considered:

Peacock WI Corsham requested £447.74 towards a Corsham Poppy Display for November 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew MP and seconded by Cllr Helen Belcher OBE

It was:

Resolved

To award Peacock WI Corsham £447.74 towards a Corsham Poppy Display for November 2025.

Reason – The application met the Older & Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2024/25.

Inclusive Intergenerational Dance requested £580 towards their Age Without Limits Day 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew MP and seconded by Cllr Helen Belcher OBE

It was:

Resolved

To award Inclusive Intergenerational Dance £580 towards their Age Without Limits Day 2025.

Reason – The application met the Older & Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2024/25.

Corsham Town Council requested £1300 towards a Peacock Arts Trail Community Activity 2025

Proposed by Cllr Helen Belcher OBE and seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew MP

It was:

Resolved

To award Corsham Town Council £1300 towards a Peacock Arts Trail Community Activity 2025

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2024/25.

The following delegated authority funding was also approved:

Rewired Counselling were awarded £850 towards Spark 6^th.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 15 January 2025, as set out in the attached report.

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 15 January 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson and seconded by Cllr Helen Belcher OBE it was:

Resolved

To approve the recommendations from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 15 January 2025.

The date of the next meeting of Corsham Area Board is 12 June 2025.

The date of the next meeting is 12 June 2025.