Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

• Cllr Caroline Thomas – substituted by Cllr Jerry Kunkler
• Suzy Deering – Kennet and Avon Medical Practice
• Sheila Glass – Chairman of Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2024 as a true and correct record.

The Chairman read out an amendment to the draft minutes suggested by Cllr Ian Blair Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure and Libraries.

On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Jerry Kunkler, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 June 2024, as a true and correct record, subject to the following amendment to Minute Item 36 changing:

The Marlborough Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment identified that there was an under provision of gym facilities in the town.

To

Wiltshire Council’s market intelligence data showed that there was an under provision of gym facilities in the town. 

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive announcements through the Chairman, including:

·       Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Consultation – open until Friday 4 October.

·       Challenging Poverty Event – 3 October

·       All Things Policing Area Board – 3 December

The Chairman gave the following updates:

·       She encouraged the public to take part in Wiltshire Council’s Gypsies and Travellers Development Plan Consultation, which was open until 4 October.

·       A Challenging Poverty event would be help at 7pm, on 3 October, in Marlborough Town Hall. Speakers would include local MP Danny Kruger and the CEO of Wiltshire Citizens Advice, Suzanne Wigmore.

·       She was pleased to report that Alexa Davies had been appointed as the Area Board’s new Engagement and Partnerships Lead and said that the Area Board looked forward to working with her.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·         Community First

·         Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·         Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal

·         Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   FACT Family Help Project

o   FACT Transitional Safeguarding

o   Wiltshire Youth Council

o   Cost of Living Update

The Area Board noted the information items in the agenda pack, these were:

·       FACT Family Help Project, pg. 17-18

·       FACT Transitional Safeguarding, pg. 19-20

·       Wiltshire Youth Council, pg. 21-22

·       Cost of Living Update, pg. 23-24

The Chairman welcomed the extension of the Household Support Fund scheme and highlighted that Wiltshire Council was able to provide advice about cost-of-living challenges and signpost people to the agencies that were best placed to help.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Wiltshire Police – Acting Inspector Chris Wickham

·       Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership – Suzie Deering

·       Town / Parish Councils

·       Grant Recipients

Written and Online Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire Annual Report, The Value of Listening - online

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue – online

·       Community First

·       BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3-minute slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager.

The Chairman agreed to take feedback from grant recipients in advance of Items 4 and 5 on the agenda.

Marlborough Sing-Along Social

Representatives thanked the Area Board for a £500 grant to support a sing along in St Mary’s Church, which helped older and isolated people and those with additional needs. The Area Board the enjoyed a song played by members of the band.

Marlborough Sports Forum

Dominique from Marlborough Sports Forum gave a presentation about the Marlborough Sports and Activity Festival held on 6 May 2024. She explained that they had run 12 different activities for the 161 young people that had attended. A survey, asking for the event to be ranked between one and 10, had been handed out to the young people after the event and had had around 60 responses. The majority of the young people that had attended had ranked the event as being 10 out of 10, although the organisers sought more detailed feedback to help them encourage participation in sport. The young people had identified that not having people to go with and membership fees were the biggest obstacles to the participating. Efforts to improve engagement included providing details about local sports clubs and giving out free vouchers.  Climbing had been the most popular activity, and the Sports Forum were working with Marlborough College on running a new community climbing session. Thanks were given to the Area Board for part funding the event.

Aldbourne Youth Council

Peter Hogan, a trustee of Aldbourne Youth Council, explained that they were lucky to be able to use a local building called The Junction, rent free. He reported that 70 young people had registered with the group and confirmed that they did not charge subscription fees. They ran a programme of activities over the summer holidays, with six sessions per week organised between two different age groups. Activities included cooking and financial management. He thanked the Area Board for their financial support and invited them to attend an event on Sunday when the young people would be baking cakes.

MantonFest

Roger Grant from MantonFest explained that they were a community and family friendly festival that were celebrating their fifteenth anniversary in 2024. He reported that they had been able to offer young people from local schools the opportunity to perform, or support, activities. He then gave examples of the way in which some young people had benefitted, such as a young man who had gained experience of stage and lighting management and was due to complete a related apprenticeship next year. Another young student had become involved in amateur dramatics after attending MantonFest and was able to perform in French. Mr Grant thanked the Area Board for their support and was pleased to report that MantonFest planned to run festivals in other areas, including in Devizes next year.

Merchant’s House

Thanks were given to the Area Board for providing £3,000 towards roof repairs and £500 towards museum display exhibits. The representative explained that the £500 was invested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To receive updates on the Area Board’s three priorities.

The Area Board received updates on the progress made towards its priority areas.

To agree an updated action plan for the community area.

Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, Andrew Jack, outlined the Area Board’s workplan for 2024/25. He reminded the Area Board that he had provided an update at their previous meeting about the Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (CAJSNA). The Area Board had then used the findings of the CAJSNA, and a public survey, to inform their priorities for the forthcoming year. He then outlined some of the specific targets across the Area Board’s three priority areas.

He explained that Cllr Caroline Thomas and he had been working to try to reestablish the Marlborough Local Youth Network. He also noted that Marlborough Town Council had recently employed a full-time youth worker.

Efforts were ongoing to tackle isolation in older people. Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group had held a very successful event in the Autumn. They were considering holding similar events in future, possibly hosted in Marlborough’s recently refurbished leisure centre. Other events planned included hosting a Techie Tea Party to help older people improve their IT skills.

The Area Board would continue to work closely with local councils to progress projects through the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group. They also aimed to work closely with local parishes and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to make the most of the data obtained by Community Speed Watch teams and Speed Indicator Devices. Furthermore, the Area Board would encourage people to use active transport, such as working with local schools to take up Bikeability training.

To receive an update from the lead councillor, Caroline Thomas, on the work being done towards the Area Board’s priority of children and young people.

The Area Board’s lead member for children and young people, Cllr Caroline Thomas, was unable to attend the meeting, but provided the following written update:

Marlborough Area Youth Forum Summer Events

• With funding from the Area Board, Wiltshire Community Foundation, Marlborough College and the National Lottery, our amazing trustees and volunteers, led by Lisa Farrell, ran two summer afternoon events in August at Marlborough's Community and Youth Centre with scooter tuition and games on the skatepark, football and cricket coaching on the Rec, a climbing wall, music and karaoke. Burgers and hot dogs were provided through the afternoon. All at no charge. 

• The Forum is looking for a part time youth worker. We are offering £15 per hour for 15 hours per week but can be flexible.

Marlborough Town Council Youth Worker Apprentice

• With Marlborough's Town Clerk and Councillor support, I led the initiative to recruit a Youth Worker Apprentice offering a level 6 (degree) qualification to the successful candidate, Matt Powell, who is joining MTC today; 1 October. As well as being a hands-on role with local young people, the job will entail working across partners and stakeholders to expand what's on offer to young people - as a volunteer or recipient - through a wide range existing organisations.

Local Youth Network

• We'd like to re-ignite the 'Local Youth Network' of organisations supporting young people across the Community Area - quarterly meetings (face to face or via Microsoft Teams) to help support one another, share expertise and awareness of what is on offer and maybe plan new initiatives and events. Ideally, this group would involve Matt any anyone involved with young people across clubs and organisations in the area, including schools and the police, as well as local young people themselves and could help plan the use of Area Board's Youth Grant funding to maximise the benefits funding can bring.

To receive an update from Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group.

Jill Turner, Chair of Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group, provided further information about the networking event that they had held in July. She explained that a street artist had provided advanced publicity to attract people to the event. The event had been well attended and there were displays from a wide range of statutory and non-statutory organisations. She thanked the Area Board for their financial support and highlighted that they had only spent £700 of the £1,000 contribution. The next meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Group would be on 3 October and it was planned to have 27 different organisations represented in the room.

The Chairman stated that she really enjoyed attending the event and thanked Jill for her hard work.

To ratify the funding recommendations from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group on 11 July 2024, as set out in the attached report.

Further information about the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Vice-Chairman was pleased to report that the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) had held a well-attended meeting on 11 July. He explained that the group was a useful forum to discuss issues with town and parish councils that helped to move forward important projects. He then provided further detail about some of the applications discussed, including Issue 8-22-17, where the Area Board were seeking to find a solution alongside the neighbouring authority of West Berkshire. He also noted that it might not be possible to take on any further projects until April, as there was a need to focus projects already in the pipeline.

In response to a query about the timeframe to deliver application 8-23-2 in Mildenhall, the Vice-Chairman explained that negotiations were ongoing with landowners, and they hoped to reach an agreement by the next meeting.

On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To progress and/or allocate funding towards the following issues:

• 8-21-8 – Aldbourne Virtual Paths – to take forward the £20,500 scheme. To allocate £15,375 subject to the agreement of £5,125 from Aldbourne Parish Council and to progress an advert for the 20mph limit. 

• 8-19-10 – Marlborough Frees Avenue 40mph limit extension – to take forward the scheme as amended, whilst querying readvertisement. To allocate £3,525 (subject to £1,175 from Marlborough Town Council).

• 8-22-17 - Chilton Foliat HGV Issues – to request a revised scheme from West Berkshire Council.  LHFIG ringfencing £3,750 (subject to a £1,250 contribution from Chilton Foliat Parish Council).

• 8-23-2 – Mildenhall Proposed Footway – to allocate £10,000 towards the proposal for a substantive project.

• 8-23-15 – Ramsbury, Isles Road - to progress the scheme, estimated at between £8,000 and £9,000 (subject to legal agreements and the agreement of a £2,500 from Ramsbury Parish Council). 

To add the following issues to the priority list:

• 8-24-03 - Marlborough Town Boundary A4 Manton

• 8-24-04 - A346 Postern Hill

• 8-24-05 - A346 Port Hill

• 8-24-06 - A345 Granham Hill

To close the following issue:

• 8-23-3 – Chilton Foliat Bollard – total cost £1,200

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:

Older and Vulnerable Grants:

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

The Area Board noted the budgets remaining for allocation at the meeting and heard from representatives in attendance who gave a brief overview of, and answered questions about, their projects.

Community Area Grants:

Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club Requesting £1,017 Towards a Sprayer and Equipment Storage

Mr Martin Smith, a committee member of the club, spoke in support of the project. He explained that the club were spending £7,000 per year on maintaining their green and that a sprayer would allow them to do this themselves, rather than paying a company to do it.

During the discussion, the Area Board sought assurances that checks were undertaken to ensure that the person who would be operating the sprayer had the appropriate licence to use the equipment. Mr Smith stated that they would investigate the issue and ensure that the appropriate licence was in place.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, it was resolved to make the.

Decision

To award Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club £1,017 towards a sprayer and equipment storage on the condition that they ensured that any required licences to use the equipment were in place.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2024/25.

St Peter’s and St Paul’s Marlborough Trust Ltd., Requesting £3,000 Towards Roof Restoration

Ann Marie Newbigin, Chair of Trustees at St Peter’s and St Paul’s, spoke in support of their application. She gave a detailed overview of the history of the trust, outlining some of the challenges they had faced to putting it on a sustainable footing and in maintaining their historic building. She explained that they had spent over half a million pounds on repairs over the past 20 years and noted that a number of local charities had held events at the venue. Over recent years they had built up their reserves so that they had £400,000, but they were keen to receive support form the community, to attract more visitors and host a greater range of events. She reported that they had recently had a leak under their café which had forced it to shut for 10 weeks. They needed to spend £30,000 to £40,000 replacing guttering and also needed to complete repairs to masonry to prevent future leaks.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To award St Peter’s and St Paul’s £3,000 towards roof restoration.

Reason - The application met Community Area Grant Criteria 2024/25.

Older and Vulnerable People’s Grants:

Monday Club Requesting £1,600

The Chairman noted that the Monday Club were unable to attend as they were on their annual trip to Weymouth.

On the proposal of the Vice-Chairman, seconded by Cllr Jerry Kunkler, it was resolved to make the:

Decision

To award the Monday Club £1,600.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable People’s Grant Criteria 2024/25.

Information links: Area Board Grants and Grants Criteria

Jill Turner, from University of the Third Age, suggested that they collaborate with the Area Board in planning Techie Tea sessions for older people. The Chairman agreed that this would be a good idea.

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

There were no urgent items.

Future meeting dates (starting at 7.00pm):

·       3 December 2024 (All Things Policing) – Marlborough Town Hall

·       18 March 2025 - Minal Village Hall, SN8 2LR

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, please contact andrew.jack@wiltshire.gov.uk or alexa.davies@wiltshire.gov.uk.

7:00 – 9:00pm with networking from 6.30pm

·       3 December 2024

·       18 March 2025 - Minal Village Hall, SN8 2LR

·       20 May 2025 – County Hall, Trowbridge

·       3 June 2025

·       30 September 2025

·       18 November 2025

Meeting details, agendas and minutes can be viewed here.