Agenda and minutes

·       Melksham Skate Park

·       Wilts Air Ambulance HQ in Semington

·       Community Toilet Scheme

·       Melksham JSA – Wednesday 18^th January 2018

The Chairman welcomed everyone to a special older persons themed meeting of the Area Board.

The Chairman thanked Wiltshire Fine Foods for providing the excellent hot food prior to the meeting, and welcomed representatives of Wiltshire Air Ambulance to the meeting.

The following Chairman’s Announcements were noted:

·       Melksham Skate Park – That work was expected to commence during Spring 2017, with completion of work, May 2017.

·       Wilts Air Ambulance HQ in Semington - That work on this exciting project would start in February 2017.

·       Community Toilet Scheme – That Area Board funding allocated for this scheme would used to fund a public toilet at Melksham Railway Station.

·       Melksham JSA – That this important event would be held on Wednesday 18January 2017.

Wiltshire Police Update – Inspector James Brain

·       The written report was noted.

Melksham Rotary Club – Norman Drake

Points made included:

·       Lots of community use going on at the Riverside Club, with users including 60+ club, Slimming world, Womans Institute and various singing and dancing groups.

·       A big thank you to the Area Board for the grant for work on the reroofing and new kitchen for the Riverside Club.

·       That the art House Café had been successfully run by the Rotary Club for over five years.

·       That the Art House Café were looking for volunteers to help staff the café.

·       That the Rotary Club continued to tackle the issue of polio worldwide.

·       That the Rotary Club were always looking for new members to join them.

The Chairman thanked Inspector Brain and Norman Drake for their updates.

Apologies were received from Cllr Terry Chivers and Cllr Roy While.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 September 2016.

Decision

·       The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 September 2016 were agreed as the correct record.

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

Cllr Jon Hubbard – Chairman of Young Melksham, would not vote on the Community Area Grant submitted by Young Melksham for £800 Disco equipment.

·       Children and Young people including Local Youth Network

           (LYN)

·       Health and Wellbeing

·       Business and Economy

·       Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

·       Read Easy

·       Older Persons Champion

Children and Young people including Local Youth Network (LYN)

Cllr Jon Hubbard advised that:

·       The LYN had not met since the last Area Board meeting, at the next meeting the LYN would be looking at strengthening communications with young people.

Health and Wellbeing

Cllr Pat Aves advised that:

·       The Group was planning to meet on Tuesday 22 November 2016, and would give a full report at the February 2017 Area Board meeting.

Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

·       The Melksham Area Board noted all updates and issue closures contained in the CATG notes dated 27 October 2016.

Read Easy

Cllr David Pollitt advised that:

·       The group now had four trained readers, and were looking for a person to join the management committee.

Older Persons Champion

Chris Pickett advised that:

·       That concerns were raised re the removal of Dog Fouling signage around Melksham.

·       That concerns were raised re vehicles parking irresponsible on pavements around Melksham.

·       That the local Melksham asian community had approached the Older Persons Champion highlighting the lack of burial provision in Melksham.

          It was agreed that Cllr Jonathon Seed would raise this issue with officers at Wiltshire Council and report back to the Area Board.

The Chairman thanked all members for their updates.

Jason Salter - Head of Service, Passenger Transport Unit, Wiltshire Council.

Jason Salter - Head of Wiltshire Council’s Passenger Transport Unit gave a presentation that highlighted the responses from Melksham to the Wiltshire Council review of public transport services.

Points made included:

Who answered the consultation?

·       11,093 responses (581 (5.24%)).

·       42% are male 57% female (48% male, 51% female).

·       58% of respondents are over 65 years old (59%).

·       28% of respondents say they have mobility problems (27%).

·       62% (69%) of respondents have access to a car etc but 38% (31%) do no.

·       64% (66%) have a concessionary bus pass.

October Cabinet decision

·       Review all passenger trip subsidies above the thresholds set out in the Local Transport Plan and together with other measures achieve £500,000 savings in the passenger transport budget.

·       Wiltshire Council works more closely with the Health Authority to the mutual benefit of both organisations, particularly around the integration of NEPTS with SEND and Social Care transport and the development of the Public Transport Strategy.

How are we going to achieve the £500k saving?

·       Focusing on services where the subsidy per passenger exceeds the recommended £3.50 per trip.

·       Considering bus services where there is a viable alternative.

·       Changing the way a service is delivered e.g. from a fixed timetable to a more Demand Responsive type service.

·       Agreeing more realistic joint funding arrangements with neighbouring Councils.

·       Agreeing contract reductions with suppliers that have minimal affect on services.

The Chairman thanked Jason Salter for his presentation.

Paul Johnson - Chairman TransWilts CIC.

Paul Johnson - Chairman TransWilts CIC gave a presentation that outlined TransWilts Proposals to Melksham Town Council, Melksham Without Parish Council, Wiltshire Council, GWR and Network Rail.

Points made included:

·       Facilitates a Station Community Office/Café/Toilet facility.

·       Operation by Community Rail volunteers and Melksham Rail Users Group with minimal operating cost.

·       Does not interfere with Melksham Tyre relocation.

·       Available for station improvement grants to refurbish and enhances the station facilities and image.

·       Provides a station facilities fit for future passenger volumes.

·       Provides passenger information using GWR displays.

·       Links with community businesses.

·       Litter collection and station tidying.

·       Provides additional 6-8 car parking places behind the building.

·       Remainder of land still available for lease or interim car parking.

It was agreed by the Area Board that £1,000 funding allocated for the Community Toilet Scheme would used to fund a public toilet at Melksham Railway Station.

The Chairman thanked Paul Johnson for his presentation.

Presentation from the Melksham Wellbeing group outlining the work completed to date and the proposed projects.

Rhys Shell – Community Engagement Manager gave a presentation that outlined the work completed to date and the proposed projects, along with Cllr Pat Aves and Martin Elson, representatives of the Melksham Wellbeing group.

Points made included:

·       Wiltshire Council devolved £6,700 to the Melksham Area Board.

·       This funding was to be used to establish health and wellbeing priorities for the area and to help isolated and vulnerable people within the community.

·       The Melksham Wellbeing Group was proposed and agreed at the April 2016 Area Board.

Key Findings

·       Looked at data from the JSA, previous older persons Area Board, Market position statements and data from partners.

·       Very high level of social isolation in comparison to other areas of Wiltshire.

·       Lack of printed information, publicity and communication.

·       Insufficient access to revenue funding for organisations.

·       Transport and access to activity providers.

Proposed projects so far

·       Support funding to launch the Melksham Leg Club.

·       Revenue funding support to Melksham Seniors, who engage and transport socially isolated individuals.

·       Promotional support to Contact the Elderly.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Pat Aves and Martin Elson for their presentation.

Presentation from Olly Spence - Adult Care commissioner on the importance of active ageing and the role of local activity providers.

Olly Spence - Adult Care commissioner, Wiltshire Council gave a presentation on the importance of active ageing and the role of local activity providers.

Points made included:

Prevention

·       The Care Act (2014) introduces a general statutory duty to “Prevent, Reduce and Delay Eligible Needs Arising” for everyone living within a community area.

·       The duty to prevent needs is closely linked to the duty to promote wellbeing for people living with a community area.

The Cost of ‘failing’ to prevent need

·       6630 People living in the Melksham area board over the age of 65.

·       Approximately 250 older adults receiving funded care at home services

That’s only 4% (It is fair to assume a similar number of adults pay for  care themselves).

·       Projected total Gross spend over 1 million pounds.

·       Average cost of a care home £38,000 per annum (Gross cost).

The Impact Social Isolation

·       The effect of loneliness and isolation on mortality exceeds the impact of well-known risk factors such as obesity, and has a similar influence as cigarette smoking.

·       Loneliness increases the risk of high blood pressure.

·       Lonely individuals are also at higher risk of the onset of disability.

·       Visit their GP, have higher use of medication, higher incidence of falls and increased risk factors for long term care.

·       Undergo early entry into residential or nursing care.

The Chairman thanked Olly Spence for his presentation.

What type of support does your club, group or organisation need?

Attendees at the meeting were given the opportunity to discuss in small group, what type of support does your club, group or organisation need?

The results of this exercise would be collated by the Community Engagement Manager and presented at a future Area Board meeting.

The Chairman thanked everybody for taking part in the exercise.

To receive any written updates from the following partners:

·       Community Area Partnership

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       NHS Wiltshire/Clinical Commissioning Group

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Melksham Town Council

·       Parish Council Nominated Representatives

·       Melksham Chambers of Commerce

·       Melksham Senior People’s Forum

·       Older Persons Champion

·       Trans Wilts Cic

The following written partner updates were noted:

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

·       NHS Wiltshire.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire.

·       Melksham Community Area Partnership.

·       Melksham Seniors.

·       Trans Wilts Cic.

·       Young Melksham.

The Area Board members are asked to consider eight applications to the Community Area Grants scheme:

·       Keevil Community Shed requesting £1,750 towards a mower for Keevil Playing Field.

·       Larkrise Riding for Disabled Group requesting £1,500 towards equine handling area roof construction.

·       Broughton Gifford Safer Access Group requesting £390 towards safety railings.

·       Parents and Friends of Shaw School requesting £5,000 towards an outdoor shelter.

·       Melksham and District 55+ Forum requesting £931.20 towards new office equipment

·       Melksham and District 55+ Forum requesting £623.75 towards their Film Club community programme.

·       Young Melksham requesting £800 towards new disco equipment.

·       Great Hinton Memorial Hall requesting £468 towards kitchen heating.

The Wiltshire Councillors considered the following Grant Applications:

Decision

Keevil Community Shed awarded £1,750 towards a mower for Keevil Playing Field.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Decision

Larkrise Riding for Disabled Group awarded £1,500 towards equine handling area roof construction.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Decision

Broughton Gifford Safer Access Group awarded £390 towards safety railings.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Decision

Parents and Friends of Shaw School awarded £1,500 towards an outdoor shelter.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria and that the Area Board recognised the community value of this grant.

Decision

Melksham and District 55+ Forum awarded £931.20 towards new office equipment.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Decision

Melksham and District 55+ Forum awarded £623.75 towards their Film Club community programme.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Decision

Young Melksham awarded £800 towards new disco equipment.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Note: Cllr Jon Hubbard declared an interest in this grant and did not vote on it.

Decision

Great Hinton Memorial Hall awarded £468 towards kitchen heating.

The grant meets the 2016/17 grants criteria.

Concerns were raised re the lack of lighting around Melksham House and the bowls lawn. This was noted by the Area Board.