Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Samantha Howell and Suzy Deering.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 13 June 2023.

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2023 as a true and correct record.

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

Councillor Sheppard noted that he had a strictly non-pecuniary interest in the tennis club that would have no bearing on his decision-making.

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online. 

a)    Wiltshire Local Plan Review

b)    Polling District and Polling Place Review 2023 - Consultation

c)    Update on the Council’s activity and progress on the Climate Emergency - https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw

d)    Cost of Living update

e)    Wiltshire Life Awards 2024

If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak to the Community Engagement Manager, or the Democratic Services Officer.

The Chair noted and summarised the following announcements:

a)    Polling District and Polling Place Review 2023 - Consultation

b)    Update on the Council’s activity and progress on the Climate Emergency

c)    Cost of Living update

d)    Wiltshire Life Awards 2024

Councillor Thomas added that a bus policy consultation was currently underway and recommended those in attendance check out Wiltshire Connect. The Chair further noted that for any carers, there was an upcoming event.

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police with Chief Constable Catherine Roper
2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. Healthwatch Wiltshire
4. BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
5. Community First
6. Wiltshire AGE UK
7. Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership
8. Jubilee Centre
9. Transition Marlborough
10. Town / Parish Councils

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a three-minute slot unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager.

The Chair noted the written partner updates from BSW Together, Healthwatch Wiltshire and Community First that were included in the agenda pack. The Area Board then received verbal updates from the following partner organisations:

1. Wiltshire Police
   
   

Neighbourhood Sergeant Chris Wickham presented an update from Wiltshire Police, taking those in attendance through the information included in the agenda pack. Sergeant Wickham noted the area’s recent crime statistics, focusing particularly on burglary, one of Wiltshire Police’s new operational priorities. He also presented the work being undertaken by the Speed Enforcement Officer and the Rural Crime team. He also highlighted their operational priority of increased visibility, noting that there had been a concerted effort to improve police presence in rural villages. Finally, Sergeant Wickham promoted the Community Messaging Service as a means to keep up to date with the latest local news and alerts.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper then provided an update on the state of Wiltshire Police as a whole. She announced that since her last visit, Wiltshire Police had been recognised as making notable improvements as part of the Engage process. She highlighted the website as a valuable source of information for Wiltshire Police’s improvement plans and recent activity. Chief Constable Roper noted the work being done towards better tackling rural crime, including an increase in intelligence sharing across the South West, and expressed optimism about the future. She discussed Operation Scorpion, the Police’s work to tackle County Lines criminality by identifying and educating at-risk young people.

Councillor Thomas sought clarity on the status of Wiltshire Police’s efforts to address 111 call delays and control room issues. Chief Constable Roper noted that the situation was improving, but still behind where it needed to be. Councillor Thomas added that it was disappointing not to see drugs, specifically related to young people, addressed as a local priority. Sergeant Wickham stated that while not a local priority, work was still being done towards it, but noted that he would take that feedback back. Councillor Sheppard echoed Councillor Thomas’ concerns about young people in his division, speculating that it could be partly as a result of a lack of police visibility and education. Chief Constable Roper noted the work being done in schools. Councillor Sheppard asked if it would be possible to utilise Parish clerks to disseminate information amongst parishes. Sergeant Wickham acknowledged that the local Parish Councils had been neglected in the past and that they now had a single point of contact within his team and efforts would be undertaken to improve matters. Andrew Jack enquired whether if those Parish Councils were encouraged to plan events with Wiltshire Police in mind, rather than Wiltshire Police trying to attend sporadic Parish Council meetings, would be a more effective strategy.

The Chair also promoted the local Community Speed Watch team as a worthwhile use of time for any prospective volunteers.

2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
   
   Station Manager Terry Crawford introduced himself to the Area Board as the new area representative from DWFRS. He highlighted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

To receive an update from Andrew Jack, the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager, on indices of multiple deprivation in the Marlborough community area.

This Item was brought forward to after the Partner Updates Item, having earlier been deferred at the previous Area Board meeting.

Andrew Jack presented a report on Indices of Multiple Deprivation (2019) in the Marlborough community area. The report was included in the agenda pack, and highlighted the breakdown of areas of deprivation locally, the different types of deprivation and the steps that Area Boards can do to tackle it. It was noted that the data used was from 2019, with some of the data even older, so Andrew Jack explained that they would look out for any updated statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which they had committed to provide at some point in the near future. It was also noted from the floor that Marlborough was lacking in clothes shops that catered to working class families with young children, and that especially for children’s clothes, online shopping was less viable and so having an affordable clothes shop was all the more important.

To receive updates from Lead Councillors for the local Area Board priorities.

The Chair noted that Items 8 (HWG) and 9 (Youth) would be covered in this Item as part of their respective priority updates.

·       Children and Young People

Councillor Thomas updated the Area Boad on the progress of the establishment of a youth network and the positive feedback towards it from providers and schools, the work being done by Youth for Christ, the local Youth Club and the Sports Forum Sports Festival 2024.

·       Older and Vulnerable People

Jill Turner updated the Area Board on the work of the Health and Wellbeing Group. She noted that the main focus was on their Spring event and highlighted the reports of their last meeting, which were included in the agenda pack. Andrew Jack also provided an update on the Senior Games, which were the result of a successful pilot scheme, the Household Support Fund, and the efforts being undertaken to prepare for Winter this year.

·       Road Safety

Counillor Sheppard stated that the Town Council was recruiting community speed watch volunteers and noted that following the event in Marlborough in February, ‘Highways Matters’ was being rolled out across the county. He further noted that additional 20mph zones were to be implemented in Marlborough including Hyde Lane.

The Area Board will be asked to ratify the funding recommendations from the Marlborough Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting of the 13 July 2023.

This Item was brought forward to follow on from Councillor Sheppard’s priority update on road safety. He presented the recommendations from the LHFIG’s 13 July 2023 meeting for Area Board approval.

Councillor Sheppard then moved to approve the following recommendations and was seconded by Councillor Sheppard:

Resolved:

• To note the discussions of the LHFIG meeting from 13 July 2023.
• To note the listed ongoing issues, progress, and priority actions for 2023/24.
• To note the completion of the listed 2022/23 priority schemes.
• To note the listed new requests under Consideration for 2023/24.

To consider any applications for Area Board funding.

Area Board Current Financial Position

Area Board Grant Funding Application Summary

The Area Board considered the following applications for Community Area, Older and Vulnerable Adults, and Youth Grant funding:

Marlborough Tennis requested a £3,000 Community Area grant towards a new tennis pavilion. After discussing the application, Councillor Thomas moved to grant £3,000 and was seconded by the Chair.

Resolved:

To grant Marlborough Tennis £3,000 towards a new tennis pavilion.

Lockeridge Traffic Group requested £884.95 towards a Speed Indicator Device. After discussing the application, the Chair moved to grant the funding and seconded by Councillor Thomas.

Resolved:

To grant Lockeridge Traffic Group £884.95 towards a Speed Indicator Device.

Kennett Valley Amateur Dramatics Society requested £2,560.50 for new stage lightning bars. After discussing the application, during which it was suggested that the Parish Council be encouraged to take speeding and road safety matters into their own hands going forward, Councillor Sheppard moved to grant the funding, and was seconded by Councillor Thomas.

Resolved:

To grant Kennett Valley Amateur Dramatics Society £2,560.50 towards new stage lighting bars.

Carer Support Wiltshire requested £2,800 towards a Bereavement Help Point in Marlborough. After discussing the application, Councillor Thomas moved to grant funding and was seconded by Councillor Sheppard.

Resolved:

To grant Carer Support Wiltshire £2,800 towards a Bereavement Help Point in Marlborough.

Aldbourne Youth Council provided feedback following their Summer Programme, which was partially funded by the Area Board. The Area Board then voted to ratify the funding provided.

Resolved:

To ratify the £1,000 in Area Board grant funding provided to Aldbourne Youth Council towards their Summer Programme.

Aldbourne Youth Council then requested £3,000 towards a series of Independent Life Cooking Skills classes. After discussing the application, during which Councillor Thomas raised concerns about the deliverability of the project, the Chair moved to grant funding and was seconded by Councillor Sheppard.

Resolved:

To grant Aldbourne Youth Council £3,000 towards Independent Life Cooking Skills classes.

Manton Fest requested £5,000 towards Manton Fest 2024. After discussing the application, during which it was noted that the maximum amount of grant funding available in a single application was now £3,000, Councillor Sheppard moved to grant £3,000 in grant funding and was seconded by the Chair.

Resolved:

To grant Manton Fest £3,000 towards Manton Fest 2024.

Aldbourne Beating the Bounds requested £500 towards their Beating the Bounds Diamond Celebration. After discussing the application, during which it was discussed whether the application fulfilled the criteria to be considered for a youth grant, Councillor Thomas moved to grant funding, and was seconded by the Chair.

Resolved:

To grant Aldbourne Beating the Bounds £500 towards their Diamond Celebration.

There were no other questions.

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

There were no urgent items.

To confirm the date of the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board as 9 January 2024 at 7:00pm.

The Chair thanked those present for attending and confirmed that the date of the next meeting of the Marlborough Area Board would be 9 January 2024 at 7:00 pm.