Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer will open the meeting and call for nominations for a Chairman for 2023/24.

Councillor Dominic Muns nominated Councillor Iain Wallis for the role of Chairman and was seconded by Councillor Tamara Reay.

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Iain Wallis as Chairman for the year 2023/24.

The Chairman expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Councillor Kelvin Nash, for his work across the previous two years.

To elect a Vice-Chairman for 2023/24.

Councillor Philip Whitehead nominated Councillor Muns for the role of Vice-Chairman and was seconded by Councillor Nash.

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Dominic Muns as Vice-Chairman for the year 2023/24.

To welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed those in attendance to the meeting and the rest of the Area Board introduced themselves.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received by Councillor Simon Jacobs and Councillor Laura Mayes.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2023.

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2023 as a true and correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the Area Board representatives to Outside Bodies and Memberships of Working Groups as detailed in the attached reports.

Resolved:

·       To appoint Members as Lead Representatives to the Outside Bodies and Working Groups as set out in Appendix A.

·       To note the Terms of Reference for the LHFIG and AQST as set out in Appendices B and C, respectively.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

a)    Cost of Living update

b)    Wiltshire Libraries update

c)    Independent Visitor scheme

The Chairman noted and summarised the written updates included in the agenda pack, including updates on the cost-of-living crisis, the work being done Page 3 of 6 by Wiltshire Libraries to keep local residents online, and the Independent Visitor Scheme.

To receive updates from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Community First

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Schools updates

·       Town and Parish Council

·       Sustainable Devizes

·       Opendoors

·       Devizes and District Foodbank

The Chairman then invited the Area Board’s partner organisations to provide any verbal updates in addition to the written ones included in the agenda pack.

·       Wiltshire Police

Inspector Ben Huggins and PS Chris Wickham provided an overview of the neighbourhood policing team structure and highlighted stop-and-search and proportionality data. They mentioned a slight spike in criminal damages in Devizes town centre and a continuation of rural thefts. They highlighted the work being done by community speed enforcement officers to counter speeding offences, and stated that youth violence remained a priority when dealing with anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Reay raised the issues recently encountered by several Seend residents in getting through via 101 phone calls. Inspector Huggins reassured the Councillor that Wiltshire Police was in the midst of an active recruitment drive to address shortages in staff at call centres. Councillor Nash also pointed out that there were other ways of reporting crimes such as through the website. The Chairman raised problems with street drinking in the marketplace, to which Inspector Huggins stated that Wiltshire Police were liaising with Wiltshire Council to install a Public Space Protection Order. Noel Woolrych from Opendoors promoted the Safer Streets project currently being undertaken alongside Wiltshire Police, advising that online sessions were being run on 9 and 18 July 2023 via Facebook.

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS)

Watch Manager Philip Flowers and Michael Cleaver provided an update from DWFRS. They promoted their ‘safe and well’ initiative and advised that the service offered protection for commercial properties with fire safety visits. Councillor Nash added that statistics would be available following an upcoming Fire Authority meeting.

·       Devizes Town Council

Simon Fisher, Devizes Town Council clerk, stated that the council were in the process of addressing anti-social behaviour in the town, with consultation likely and evidence required to progress with Wiltshire Council. He noted that a significant concern was the possibility of displacement. Councillor Whitehead and Councillor Nash sought clarity over the size and scope of the ASB order and the likely need for collaboration with Bishop Cannings council.

·       Sustainable Devizes

Graham Martin highlighted the recent Sustainability Fair as part of a twinning weekend themed around sustainability, noting the contributions from Nursteed and Devizes Schools. Councillor Reay thanked Mr Martin and the other volunteers for their work putting on the event.

·       Opendoors

Noel Woolrych provided a brief update from that morning, involving a range of statistics about the demographic of individuals making use of the service and their number. He expressed his thanks to the local supermarkets for their contributions.

·       Devizes and District Foodbank

Alex Montegriffo, community organiser and campaigns manager for Devizes and District Foodbank, provided an update on the work they had been doing. They noted that more people were being supported by the foodbank than at any point since data began, while also highlighting the new project at the St. James Centre, the work of Wiltshire Food, the recent push for affordable school uniform and the Household Support Fund’s move to public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To receive a presentation from the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM) Richard Rogers and Cllr Dominic Muns on the status of projects undertaken and grants awarded by the Area Board across the previous year.

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager (SEPM) Richard Rogers and Councillor Muns delivered a pair of presentations on the status of recent community area and youth projects that had been fully or partially funded by Area Board grants over the last two years. Youth Adventure Trust also presented a video highlighting one of their recent success stories and spoke briefly about the work they had been doing with youth people from difficult backgrounds around Devizes.

To receive a presentation from the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM) Richard Rogers on deprivation in the Devizes community area.

Richard Rogers then delivered a presentation on deprivation in the Devizes community area. The presentation drew attention to Indices of Multiple Deprivation, which outlined how deprivation involved more than just income. When summarising the presentation, the SEPM emphasised that Aea Boards were being encouraged to spend money where it was needed most.

To review the Area Board priorities for 2023/2024.

The Area Board considered their priority areas for the forthcoming year.

Resolved:

To appoint the following Members as Lead Representatives to the following priority areas:

·       Councillor Dominic Muns to children and young people

·       Councillor Tamara Reay to climate change and the environment

·       Councillor Simon Jacobs to vulnerable and older people

·       Councillor Iain Wallis to local economy

·       Councillor Kelvin Nash to community safety.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 18 April 2023, as set out in the attached report.

New Schemes for Approval:

·       Devizes Bath Road - Request for dropped kerbs - £1,500

·       Devizes Downlands Road - Request for dropped kerbs - £1,500

·       Devizes Hopton Road – Waiting restrictions – N/A

·       Easterton – Bus stop improvements – N/A

·       SeendBollands Hill – Signage alterations – N/A

·       Urchfont – Request for dropped kerbs - £1,125

Recommendations:

·       Devizes Area Board to note the discussions from the LHFIG meeting of 18th April 2023

·       To confirm the progress of the high priority schemes agreed by LHFIG

·       To confirm LHFIG’s contribution to the six new schemes (detailed above) at a total cost of £4,125 (75% of total project cost of £5,500)

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Area Board then considered the funding recommendations that arose from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting on 18 April 2023 as described by Councillor Muns.

The Chairman proposed that the Area Board note the discussions from the LHFIG meeting on 18 April 2023, confirm the progress of the high priority schemes agreed by the LHFIG and confirm the LHFIG’s contribution to the six new schemes at a total cost of £4,125. Councillor Nash seconded the proposal.

Resolved:

1)    To note the discussions from the LHFIG meeting on 18 April 2023

2)    To confirm the progress of the high priority schemes agreed by the LHFIG

3)    To confirm the LHFIG’s contribution to the six new schemes at a total cost of £4,125.

To receive any updates and consider any recommendations from the Devizes Air Quality and Sustainable Transport Group.

Councillor Reay provided an update from the Air Quality and Sustainable Transport meeting on 8 June 2023.

Councillor Nash updated the Area Board on the work he had been involved in regarding school transport plans and the positive prospects of moving towards ‘active transport’.

Residents are invited to ask questions of their Area Board councillors.

The Chairman then invited those in attendance to ask questions of the Area Board.

One attendee asked about why Wiltshire Council had been unable to evidence a 5-year housing land supply. Councillor Whitehead explained how due to inevitable peaks and troughs in the housing land supply, the Council was occasionally vulnerable to unwanted development as they could not factor in certain existing but unfinished developments. Councillor Whitehead asserted that the system currently used focused too much on land supply and not enough on delivery, also stating that the system was unsuitable for a county as large as Wiltshire.

Another attendee posited that proposed social housing in Devizes was being built in the wrong place, too far out from the town centre and connected to the dangerously fast Caen Hill dual carriageway. The Chairman explained that the Area Board was unable to discuss the application to avoid pre-determination, Councillor Whitehead assured the attendee that even though the Council was proposing the development, the process for applying was no different to anyone else and would be scrutinised by Planning Officers like any other application. He encouraged the public to attend the Planning Committee meeting and make their views known, estimating that it would likely appear before a Committee in the Autumn.

Paul Stevens, Chairman of Great Cheverel Parish Council, raised a highways issue with the Area Board, stating that the high street had been badly damaged but did not know who would pay for the repairs. Councillor Muns suggested that Mr Stevens speak to Councillor Muns outside the meeting to gather evidence and also advised on a Wiltshire Council webinar on potholes available on YouTube.

Lastly, an attendee raised the issue of a resident parking scheme, which recently failed to be instated due to a lack of consultation responses. The attendee explained that it was only a small area that was affected and so many residents did not reply as parking issues did not affect them. He requested that the Council re-open the report, to which the Chairman suggested a conversation outside the meeting that involved Devizes Town Council. Councillor Whitehead advised that many resident parking scheme requests fail for the same reason.

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

Remaining Budgets:

Community Area Grants:

Young People Grants:

Community Area Grants:

·       Bulkington Recreational Ground - £3,000 towards ground regeneration

Councillor Reay moved to grant Bulkington Recreational Ground £3,000 towards their ground regeneration project. Councillor Whitehead seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant Bulkington Recreational Ground £3,000 towards their ground regeneration project.

·       Bishops Cannings Cricket Club - £4,850 towards the replacement of their three-lane coaching facility

Councillor Whitehead moved to grant Bishops Cannings Cricket Club £4,850 towards the replacement of their three-lane coaching facility. Councillor Reay seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant Bishops Cannings Cricket Club £4,850 towards the replacement of their three-lane coaching facility.

·       Wharf Theatre - £5,000 towards technical upgrades

The Chairman moved to grant the Wharf Theatre £5,000 towards technical upgrades. Councillor Nash seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant the Wharf Theatre £5,000 towards technical upgrades.

Youth Grants:

·       Youth Adventure Trust - £4,100 towards supporting vulnerable young people from Devizes through the cost-of-living crisis

Councillor Muns moved to grant Youth Adventure Trust £4,100 towards supporting vulnerable young people from Devizes through the cost-of-living crisis. Councillor Whitehead seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant Youth Adventure Trust £4,100 towards supporting vulnerable young people from Devizes through the cost-of-living crisis.

·       Found Outdoors - £500 towards Be You day retreat

Councillor Whitehead moved to grant Found Outdoors £500 towards their Be You day retreat. Councillor Muns seconded the motion.

Resolved:

To grant Found Outdoors £500 towards their Be You day retreat.