Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Simon Jacobs, Cllr Philip Whitehead was to act as Chairman for the meeting, and Philip Bevan (Headteacher at Devizes School).

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st November 2016.  

Resolved:

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2016.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following announcements from the Chairman:

·         Rural Crime Partnership

·         Update on Hobbit House- Esland

The Chairman drew attention to a written announcement in the agenda pack from Wiltshire and Swindon Rural Crime Partnership and encouraged victims of rural crime to report these cases.

Cllr Whitehead also updated on Esland’s use of ‘Hobbit House’ as a residential children’s home, he explained that this was permitted by their ‘Certificate of Lawful Use’ and did not require planning permission since the building was still being used as a residence.

Members of the public were encouraged to get in touch if they were aware of another potential store facility Devizes Foodbank could use to keep their stock; the current store would be unavailable from 31 March 2017.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Community Policing Team and PPC precept consultation.

b.    Fire and Rescue Service

c.    Health Services and pharmacy video

d.    Devizes Community Area Partnership

e.    Schools updates

f.     Town and Parish Councils

g.    Devizes Community Area Wellbeing Group

h.    Community Engagement Manager

·         Devizes’ JSA event

·         Great British Spring Clean

Sergeant Mark Andrews spoke to the written update from the Police in the agenda pack, it was highlighted that recent efforts to crack down on burglaries in Pewsey had been very effective and were to now be directed to Devizes.

A video from the Police and Crime Commissioner introduced his precept proposals for 2017/2018 and the priority areas this funding would be invested in. The Chairman expressed disappointment about the lack of Police resource to enforce speed limits and advised he would contact the Police and Crime Commissioner about this as part of the precept consultation. Sergeant Andrews advised that the Police were willing to undertake speed checks where speeding was reported.

A written update from the Fire and Rescue Service was available in the agenda pack.

Written updates from HealthWatch Wiltshire and the Clinical Commissioning Group were available in the agenda pack. A video was shown which encouraged people to use their local pharmacy to receive treatment for minor ailments, rather than going to A&E. Feedback on the video included the comment that it could be dangerous for people to postpone seeking medical advice if they weren’t sure whether an ailment or injury was serious.

 Cllr Judy Rose, Devizes Community Area Partnership, advised that there were shocking numbers of missed GP appointments in Wiltshire and an information campaign would take place to encourage people to cancel unwanted appointments.

Simon Fisher, Devizes Town Council updated that Devizes and Roundway councils would soon be merging and the new Devizes and Roundway Council would be meeting as one body ahead this to ensure it ran smoothly. The council would operate by a Committee system and there would be 21 members on the council.

Potterne Parish Council thanked Wiltshire Council planning officers for their assistance in developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the village.

Cllr Jonik, Erlestoke Parish Council, advised that new signage was needed in the village to prevent accidents and was advised to formally log this as a request on the ‘Issues System’ to be addressed by the Community Area Transport Group.

Mike Challinor provided an update on behalf of the Devizes Community Area Wellbeing Group and introduced an application from the Devizes’ ‘Men’s Shed’ project. It was noted that the group recommended this to the Area board on the condition that adequate governance arrangements for the club were in place, the Wellbeing Group had since received confirmation that these requirements had been met.

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, advised the meeting that Devizes’ ‘Our Community Matters Conference’, or ‘JSA event’ was to be held on Tuesday 13 February, anyone who wished to attend could register this with Graeme. It was also explained that a volunteering forum for Devizes was to be held immediately before the next Area Board meeting on 7 March. A video was shown to highlight the community events that had been organised across Wiltshire since 2012 to continue the legacy from this Olympic and Jubilee year. The officer also gave details of the ‘Great British Spring Clean’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To hear the latest news from the Local Youth Network and consider the following applications for funding:

·         Potterne Youth Club £4,912 for trips and resources;

·         Wiltshire YFC £2,500 for a summer programme;

·         Wiltshire Wildlife Trust- £2,450 for a holiday club;

·         Potterne Cricket Club - £3,882 for refurbishment and improvement of cricket nets.

Helen Bradley, Locality Youth Facilitator, updated the Board that her Apprentice Youth Worker, Jack Oatley, was leaving the Council since his apprenticeship had come to an end. The Area Board gave its thanks to Jack for all of his hard work in the community area to support young people.

Applications for youth grant funding were introduced, Cllr Anna Cuthbert spoke in support of the Youth For Christ funding application towards a summer programme, the programme had run in 2016 and had been exceptionally well-received. It was also commented that the school holidays were an ideal time for activities since young people had more free time. Councillors also spoke in support of the applications from Potterne Youth Club, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Potterne Cricket Club.

Representatives from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust advised that the holiday club they had planned would build skills and confidence for young people at risk of isolation, these young people would be identified by youth clubs or through SPLASH.

It was explained that the application from Potterne Cricket Club would refurbish the club’s nets to enclose the facility and ensure safety, to the benefit over 120 young people who were involved in the club. The grant was a capital application and could be funded from the community area grant budget in exchange for making revenue available to those grant applicants.

Resolved:

To grant Potterne Youth Club £4,912 for trips and resources;

To grant Wiltshire Youth For Christ, £2,500 for a summer programme;

To grant Wiltshire Wildlife Trust £2,450 for a holiday club;

To grant Potterne Cricket Club £3,882 for refurbishment and improvement of cricket nets.

The opportunity to ask questions of your local councillors.

The public were invited to ask questions of their local councillors.

Sue Buxton, Devizes Labour Party, presented a petition to the Board opposing Government proposals to introduce grammar schools. Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services advised that it was not a priority for Wiltshire Council to provide grammar schools and that Wiltshire’s schools were performing very well. It was noted that this policy was not yet being developed and that, as and when these policies were brought forward, councillors would represent the concern about the impact this could have in Wiltshire.

A question was raised about reporting street lights which had gone out, Cllr Whitehead confirmed this should be reported on the My Wiltshire site, however if no action had been taken he could be contacted directly. It was also confirmed that fly tipping should be reported to the Council, however if it was on private land, the Council would be unable to act.

Resolved:

To note the petition received in respect of grammar schools.

Cllr Cuthbert to update on work led by Devizes Air Quality and Transport Strategy Group to improve air quality in the area.

To consider a recommendation to proceed with an improvement scheme to the Windsor Drive/London Road Junction (report attached).

Cllr Anna Cuthbert updated on the work of the Devizes Air Quality and Transport Strategy Group and thanked the officers and local people who supported it, including: Kate Freeman, Philippa Morgan and Nigel Carter. The group had recently supported better signage around the town and resurfacing the canal towpath. Other areas of the canal towpath were soon to be improved, with resurfacing expected to be complete by Easter.

The group had investigated two road junctions causing poor air quality: Shane’s Castle and Windsor Drive/London Rd junctions. The group had commissioned research into possible improvements at both locations, work at Shane’s Castle would be expensive, approximately £630,000, and would only bring in moderate improvements, by contrast works at Windsor drive would be cheaper at £347,000 and should being significant improvements to traffic flow. It was explained that the funding available for this project was ‘Section 106 money’ that had been paid by developers to compensate for bringing increased traffic to the area.

Following questions from the floor it was confirmed that modelling had been undertaken to ensure that the traffic problem would not just be moved from this junction to another area. It was understood that the traffic situation should be improved, however there was no quick fix.  The Councillor also confirmed that, although research has been commissioned about traffic flow in this location before, current figures were required to allow for the traffic modelling. It was noted that there was a pedestrian crossing near to the junction and this would need to be synced to the lights on the new junction to allow traffic flow. Representatives from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust offered to help plant up green areas around the junctions.

Resolved:

To proceed with an improvement scheme to the Windsor Drive/London Road Junction at a cost of £347,000 from Section 106 funding.

Richard Jaggs, President of Devizes Chamber of Commerce, will present on how the Chamber supports local business.

Richard Jaggs, Devizes Chamber of Commerce, updated the meeting that the Chamber in the town currently had 60 members and was looking to attract more with a competitively priced membership cost. The Chamber hosted different business events in the town, such as breakfast networking and social events, and sponsored local festivals such as the Devizes Carnival. It was noted that the Chamber was currently developing a new website.

Resolved:

To thank Richard Jaggs for the informative presentation.

Julia Acklam from Wiltshire College will be in attendance to explain about the courses the College offers, and specialist support it provides, to help students to move into employment.

Julia Acklam, Wiltshire College, presented on the courses and specialist support the college offered to its students and the development of new campuses across the county. The officer explained that there were currently four campuses in Wiltshire, offering a variety of college and degree-level qualifications, alongside apprenticeships. The college could also offer a ‘Foundation Programme’ for students with learning disabilities. It was highlighted that all the courses offered were vocational and the College worked with businesses to train the type of worker needed in the local economy. It was noted that there was not a university in Wiltshire and therefore the College was essential to providing more highly skilled workers for the local economy.

The meeting heard that the College worked with local employers to assist them in offering apprenticeships and advertised local apprenticeships on its website. Members of the public were pleased to hear about the good work the college was doing and the facilities it had, such as a working farm campus at Lackham and access to the race track at Castle Coombe.

Resolved:

To thank Julia for the informative presentation.

To receive the following applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme:

·         Potterne Village Hall £2,836 for replacement fire doors;

·         Bishops Cannings Cricket Club £5000 for a new mower;

·         Wiltshire Wildlife Trust £1,312.31 for recreational improvements to Devizes and Roundway Orchard;

·         St James Church Bellringers £800 for the refurbishment of the bells;

·         Lions Club of Devizes £2,000 towards a coaching weekend.

To consider a Councillor-led initiative from Cllr Simon Jacobs:

·         £2,400 to facilitate disabled access and purchase new strimmers for the Drew’s Pond Wood Project.

To consider an application for Health and Wellbeing Funding:

·         £2,590 for towards a Men’s Shed Club in Devizes.

Members were invited to consider applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

A representative from Potterne Village Hall spoke in support of the application or funding to upgrade the Hall’s fire doors to be in line with current regulations. The Board heard that Bishops Cannings Cricket Club required funding towards a replacement mower, the club hosted over 80 games a season, for which a mower was essential. The Board supported the application however noted it was a significant amount of funding and discussed funding a slightly smaller amount of £4,500.

A representative from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust explained that their funding application would allow the Trust to make recreational improvements to Devizes and Roundway Orchard which they used to work with adults who had mental health issues. St James Church Bellringers had applied for funding to refurbish the church bells which were used for bellringing and as a tourist attraction. Devizes Lions Club spoke in support of their application for £2,000 towards a coaching weekend which would be offered to around 500 young people between school years 4 -8, the event had been running for many years and been extremely successful.

The Chairman introduced an application from Cllr Simon Jacobs for funding to facilitate disabled access and purchase new strimmers for Drew’s Pond Wood, the project team update that work on the wood was making good progress.

An application for Health and Wellbeing funding for a ‘Men’s Shed’ was introduced, it was a place in which people could carry out their hobbies and pass skills on to others. It was confirmed that ladies were also welcome to use the club.

Resolved:

To grant Potterne Village Hall £2,836 for replacement fire doors;

To grant Bishops Cannings Cricket Club £4,500 for a new mower;

To grant Wiltshire Wildlife Trust £1,312.31 for recreational improvements to Devizes and Roundway Orchard;

To grant St James Church Bellringers £800 for the refurbishment of the bells;

To grant Lions Club of Devizes £2,000 towards a coaching weekend.

To grant £2,400 to facilitate disabled access and purchase new strimmers for the Drew’s Pond Wood Project.

To grant £2,590 for towards a Men’s Shed Club in Devizes.

To consider the update and any recommendations arising from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 11 January 2017.  

Cllr Whitehead introduced recommendations arising from the Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 11 January:

Resolved:

To fund £3,000 towards a bus stop hardstanding at Windsor Drive, subject to a £1,000 contribution from the Parish Council.

To fund £1,000 towards a dropped kerb at Minty’s Top Bromham, subject to a 25% project contribution from the Parish Council.

To fund £300 for playground warning signs in Etchilhampton, subject to a 25% project contribution from the Parish Council.

To retain the existing two priorities for freight management: c40 High St Great Cheverell and B3098 Market Lavington/Wedhampton.

To note the progress of other actions by the CATG.

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

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of Devizes Area Board is to be held on 7 March 2017 at Devizes School.

The next meeting was to be held on 7 March 2017 at Devizes School, this was to be a Tuesday.