Agenda and minutes

To welcome those present to the meeting.  

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2015.

Resolved:

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2015.

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

Cllrs Sue Evans and Peter Evans declared an interest in the Caenhill Countryside centre grant application, they would not debate or vote on this item.

·       Children’s centre re-design

·       School Place Planning

·       Local boundary changes

The Chairman welcomed Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, to Devizes and thanked his predecessor, Richard Rogers, for his hard work for the area.

Attention was drawn to updates in the agenda pack. The Chairman provided further updates that the Devizes Steering Group for ‘Safe Places’ was re-launching its campaign which involved 31 local businesses The meeting also heard that an Extra Care Scheme on Victoria Road, Devizes, had received planning permission earlier in the year and the contractor was expected to move on site in October 2015.

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Angus MacPherson- Police and Crime Commissioner

c.    Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

d.    Health Services

e.    Devizes Community Area Partnership

f.     Schools updates

g.    Town and Parish Councils

Councillors expressed disappointment that no updates had been received from Wiltshire Police, Fire and Rescue Services and the Clinical Commissioning Group, the Board would be putting these complaints in writing to these partners.

Angus MacPherson, Police and Crime Commissioner, presented on the Annual Report for 2014/15 and the Police and Crime Plan 2015/17. Key achievements over the previous year had been the prioritisation of neighbourhood policing, a ‘Good’ rating for Wiltshire Police and the commissioning of a single care unit for victims of crime. A refreshed Police and Crime Plan was necessary for 2015-17 as the service had to continue to make efficiencies and new criminal threats, such as cybercrime, were emerging. An outline of the new plan was provided and it was stressed that Neighbourhood policing would be protected. During a question and answer session it was confirmed that the Victim Support organisation would be involved in the new care unit for victims.

Philip Mackie, Devizes Community Area Partnership, updated that the organisation was undertaking the town benchmarking survey. Wiltshire Council was urged to produce a workable timetable for the Connect 2 bus service which had been changed by the Passenger Transport Unit. Cllr Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, explained the service was currently heavily subsidized by the Council and needed to become more efficient, he encouraged residents to become involved in the consultation on public transport that was planned for later in the year.

Sue Marshall, Acting Headteacher at Devizes School, advised the meeting the school had recently been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted and had pleasing A Level results however would be working hard to improve further. A process for appointing a permanent Headteacher would begin in November.

The Chairman commended parish councils for developing a Neighbourhood Plan for Roundway, Devizes and Bishops Cannings, and also Potterne for its draft plan now at consultation stage.

To receive the notes from the last LYN Management Group meeting and to note the delegated decision of the Community Youth Officer to grant £399 funding to support young people in sports activities at Braeside centre.

To receive an update from the LYN on recent activities and view a short film, part-funded by the Area Board, to support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Sally Willox, Community Youth Officer, introduced a film produced to support young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability. The Chairman thanked those involved in the filming and other members commended the film, it was explained that the film was to be launched at an employers event later in the year. 

The officer updated on projects in the pipeline, including a leadership programme at local schools and a project with Dorothy House. Cllr Mayes congratulated Sally on her work over the last year, from which over 550 young people had directly benefitted.

Resolved:

To note the minutes of the last LYN Management Group meeting and to ratify the delegated decision of the Community Youth Officer to grant £399 funding to support young people in sports activities at Braeside centre.

To hear feedback from Devizes’ participation in the Magna Carta event and projects the Area Board has funded.

To consider the following applications to the Community Area Grants scheme:

·         Bromham Parish Council, £5,000 for play equipment;

·         Devizes School, £4,904 for disabled toilet facility;

·         Bromham Social Centre, £5,000 for solar panels;

·         Caenhill Countryside Centre, £5,000 for workshop facilities;

·         Rowde Community Shop, £850 for a new computer system;

·         West Lavington Village Hall, £2,350 for new wall panelling.

Cllr Richard Gamble presented photos of the Devizes Magna Carta celebrations, a special thanks was given to Sally Willox and Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts for leading workshops with young people to produce a banner and baron for the parade in Salisbury.

Members considered applications to the community area grants scheme. Cllr Anna Cuthbert spoke in support of applications from Bromham and Rowde and Cllr Gamble on the application from West Lavington Village Hall. Members commented how the Caenhill Countryside Centre was a fantastic facility and heard the funding applied for would allow more time to be dedicated to workshop facilities in rural craft. Cllr Laura Mayes expressed disappointment with Devizes’ School previous level of engagement with the Area Board and hoped this would improve in future. Alex Eaves, School Bursar, explained a further disabled toilet at the school would be used by community groups using the hall and the school had funded the ramps and curbing necessary for disabled access.

In was questioned whether funding was available elsewhere to support refurbishment of parish halls. Community halls within 10 miles of the Veridor site were eligible for generous grants. Local groups were encouraged to apply soon if interested.

Resolved:

To grant Bromham Parish Council £5,000 for play equipment;

To grant Devizes School £4,904 for a disabled toilet facility;

To grant Bromham Social Centre £5,000 for solar panels;

To grant Caenhill Countryside Centre £5,000 for workshop facilities;

To grant Rowde Community Shop £850 for a new computer system;

To grant West Lavington Village Hall £2,350 for new wall panelling.

To discuss a local Champion for older people and carers in Devizes following the workshop held at the Area Board in May.

The Chairman advised that following a discussion on a Champion for older people and carers at the Area Board in May, Andrew Osborn, Care Specialist, would return to the Board in the next six months to report back on progress. Members of the public were encouraged to get in touch if they were interested in volunteering as a Champion.

The meeting is invited to participate in a session on being Dementia aware in the local community.

Liz Starling, Alzheimer’s Society, ran a session on how to be Dementia aware in the community.

The Board thanked Liz for her session and resources supplied by the Alzheimer’s Society to assist the Area Board in promoting Dementia awareness.

To vote on the priorities you want the Area Board to address.

Cllr Simon Jacobs provided an overview of the Area Board’s achievements in 2014-15, including the ‘Beat the Street’ initiative and funding successes such as helping Potterne Cricket Club to add extra playing pitches, to the benefit of about 200 members.

The meeting was asked to vote on its priorities for the 2015-16 which the Area Board would take forward. The top priorities were ‘Children and Young People’, ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and the ‘Countryside and Environment’.

To note the update and consider recommendations arising from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 17 September.

To receive an update from the Air Quality and Transport Strategy group.

Cllr Philip Whitehead advised new guidance on the issuing of Speed Indicator Devices would be published in the following weeks and introduced recommendations arising from the last CATG meeting.

Questions were raised over the CATG prioritising of projects; prioritisation would help officers to target their time and resource more effectively and deliver each project in 2-3 months. Cllr Nigel Carter, Devizes Town Council, raised a question over a ‘keep left’ sign in the town, he was advised to log the complaint or send Cllr Whitehead the log number. During a question and answer session it was also confirmed that unless cars were parking on double yellow lines or causing an obstruction on the pavement there was nothing the Council or Police could do to stop parking. It was noted that there was still a manual road sweeper in Devizes and it was the responsibility of event organisers to clean the streets after events in the Town.

Resolved:

To note the updates from the CATG and endorse recommendations for issues to be closed.

To approve that a metrocount be undertaken for the road by Lodge Cottage, Nursteed.

The Councillor also spoke on behalf of the Air Quality and Transport Strategy Group updating that currently projects were held back to investigate whether funding for them could be sourced elsewhere.

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 the Area Board will be held on 23 November 2015.

The next ordinary meeting of Devizes Area Board was to be held on 23 November 2015.