Agenda and minutes

Gypsy and travel site consultation – postponed.

Community flooding info – reminder to parishes.

Wiltshire LTP strategy consultation.

Feedback from community area transport group meeting (highways improvements).

Reports in pack where appropriate.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Melksham Divisional Police HQ.

The Chairman then introduced Chris Hoare, (Wiltshire Police Authority) who welcomed everybody to the Police HQ for the first meeting of the Area Board at this venue.

Chairman’s Announcements

Gypsy and Traveller Site Consultation

The consultation planned on possible new Gypsy and Traveller sites following on from the work carried out in April and June this year has now been put on hold.

Community Flooding Consultation

Any parishes who have yet to return their completed flood packs, are requested to do so as soon as possible.

Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026

Consultation on the draft Local Transport Plan will run from 4 October to 26 November 2010.

Community Area Transport Group

A group comprising Wiltshire councillors, officers and community representatives have met to investigate how to spend some £13,000 of funding on highways improvements.

Proposals put forward for areas for improvements were:

• Feasibility study for a pelican crossing on the A365, Melksham.

• Feasibility study for a pelican crossing, Pembroke Road/Queensway, Melksham.

• Pelican Crossing at Atworth, (A365) - Wiltshire Council are currently looking at this proposal.

• Layby at Spout Lane, Seend – local community looking to raise £8,000 to part fund this scheme.

• Pelican Crossing at Middle Lane, Atworth.

Proposals for dropped kerbs.

• Bath Road, Shurnhold , Melksham.

• Blackmore Road, Melksham.

• Shaw School, Whitley.

• Steeple Ashton.

Resolved:

• That the Melksham Area Board accepted the proposals put forward by the Melksham Community Area Transport Group.

It was agreed that the Community Area Transport Group would meet again in February 2011.

Apologies were received from Myra Link, (Keevil PC), Mary Jarvis, (Melksham Without PC) and Sarah Howes, (CAYPIG).

Councillors are requested to declare any personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Agenda Item No.8b – Melksham Town Council, window graphics.

Cllrs Rod Eaton, Mark Griffiths and Jon Hubbard – Personal/prejudicial interests, all are members of Melksham Town Council, would all leave the room when this item was discussed and voted on.

Agenda Item No.8aviii – Melksham Without PC, Allotments at Berryfield.

Cllr Steve Petty – Prejudicial interest, would leave the room when this item was discussed and voted on.

Agenda Item No.6b Your Local Issues – any other urgent questions of public concern – Minerals extraction as raised by Mike Mills, (Melksham Without PC)

Cllr Steve Petty – Personal interest, would abstain from the vote when this item was discussed and voted on.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8September 2010.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting on 8 September 2009 were approved and signed as a correct record.

Cllr Mark Griffiths requested that it be noted re item 66 – Any urgent items of public concern, Traffic lights on the junction near Shaw School, that as the local ward member, he was aware and was working to resolve this issue.

To receive updates from any of the following partners (report in pack where appropriate)

a. CAYPIG (Young People’s Issue Group)

b. MCAP (Melksham Community Area Partnership)

c. Wiltshire Police – Inspector David Cullop

d. NHS Wiltshire

e. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

f.  Melksham Town Council

g. Parish Council Nominated Representatives

a. CAYPIG, (Young People’s Issue Group)

There were no updates from the CAYPIG.

b. MCAP, (Melksham Community Area Partnership)

Chris Holden, (MCAP Chairman) advised that:

·        A neighbourhood watch event had been held at the Melksham assembly hall on Saturday 11 September, and that an area co-ordinator had now been appointed.

·        A working group was looking into improving communications with the Police.

·        Both the Transport and Waterway groups – works were ongoing.

·        Community Area Partnership AGM on 30 November 2010 at Melksham Assembly Hall discuss campus proposals.

c. Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire Police: Inspector David Cullop updated the meeting on current policing activities in the Melksham community area.

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

Points made included:

·        That the Police were unclear at the moment as to how the spending review would impact on policing in Wiltshire, Inspector Cullop advised that he would be happy to update the board in the new year as to any Wiltshire Police re-modelling that came out of the review.

d. NHS Wiltshire

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

e. Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

f. Melksham Town Council

There were no updates from the town council.

g. Parish Council Nominated Representatives

Mike Mills, (Melksham Without PC) – Mineral extraction, it was agreed that this update would be dealt with under agenda item no.6b – Any other questions of public concern.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

a.      Parking in Manor School area - Cllr Steve Petty.

b.      Any Other Urgent Questions of Public Concern.

a. Parking in Manor School area, Cllr Steve Petty

Residents in the area surrounding the Manor School in Melksham raised concerns about people parking in the surrounding streets in early 2010.  The main complaints were about shoppers, parents and people working in the town centre using the streets for parking. 

Points made included:

• Health and safety issues in Ruskin Avenue with lorries mounting kerbs and verges.

• Not enough parking spaces for Manor School staff.

• Cars parking on both sides of the road in many areas.

Alan Creedy, (Head of Service - Sustainable Transport, Wiltshire Council) advised that Wiltshire Council would take forward the board’s resolution and would be looking at the parking strategy at the cabinet meeting on 10 December 2010.

Resolved:  

• Having listened to the views of the residents in the area surrounding the Manor School, the Melksham area board recommends to the Cabinet of Wiltshire Council that this area is prioritised for a residents parking scheme.

• That ‘1 hour,’ free parking be introduced in the Lowbourne car park to allow parents to drop off and pick up their children at the Manor School. These ‘1 hour free,’ spaces to be funded from the 2 hour free spaces to be lost from the market square (on the basis of 2 X 1 hour spaces at Lowbourne for each 2 hour space lost in the town square)

b. Any Other Urgent Questions of Public Concern

Consultation on Initial Site Options for the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations.

Mike Mills, (Melksham Without PC) advised the meeting that there are in fact four potential sites within the Melksham community area, and that parishes may not be aware of this. The headings given for these sites are very confusing.

Resolved:

That the Melksham Area Board notes the concerns of the Parishes of Melksham Without in seeking to have site Calne area 6:C16 (land adjacent to Saraha sandpits),  deemed unsuitable for further consideration in Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Development Plan Documents and asks Wiltshire Council to have full regard to these points in the consultation process.

Note

Cllr Steve Petty abstained from the vote.

Bollands Hill Bridge.

Joan Savage, (Seend PC) requested that the board supports Seend parish council as it sought to highlight the dangers to road users of the Bollands Hill Bridge, A young man recently lost his life in a road traffic accident at this spot.

Resolved:

That the Melksham Area Board notes and supports the request of Seend parish council to ask Wiltshire Council Highways department for an urgent solution to the Bollands Hill hump back bridge danger.

Clackersbrook verges – drainage issues.

Cllr Seed advised that he would take up this issue.

1. Cabinet Member Stuart Wheeler and Lucy Murray-Brown, (Wiltshire Council) will be attending the area board to talk about the Review of Indoor Leisure Facilities being carried out by Wiltshire Council.

2. Car parking strategy – feedback from consultation, Chris Major, (Wiltshire Council).

3. Allocation of new grit bins - Abbi Gutierrez, (Community Area Manager).

a. Leisure review, Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

Stuart Wheeler, (Cabinet representative for Leisure, Sport and Culture) attended the area board to discuss the Review of Leisure Facilities being carried out by Wiltshire Council.

Points made by Cllr Wheeler included:

• Wiltshire Council could not continue to run all the Wiltshire leisure centres and sports facilities as it stood, savings needed to be made.

• Wiltshire Council were planning to provide this county with excellent leisure facilities over the next twenty five years.

• That it was proposed that the indoor bowling facility would re-locate from Christie Miller to Westbury.

• Indoor leisure facilities in Melksham are considered of strategic significance

• Proposed new indoor leisure facility within a community campus in the Melksham area to replace existing facilities at Christie Miller Sports Centre and Melksham Blue Pool

• Proposed facilities for the leisure aspect are high quality and include a 25m main pool, learner pool, sports hall, fitness suite, multi-activity rooms which will be delivered by the Workplace Transformation Team as part of a single campus

• Current indicative timeframe aims for completion in 2013

• Existing facilities would remain available for community use until new site opens

Points made from the floor included:

• That there would not be a replacement for the Christie Miller golf course.

• Christie Miller indoor bowlers do not want to lose indoor bowling facilities in Melksham and move to Westbury.

• The Indoor bowls club are a well supported and established club with a multi-age group membership.

• A move away from Melksham could mean that both young and old bowlers leave the sport.

Cllr Wheeler advised that he was actively looking at the Indoor bowls issue.

A short voting session on the review of leisure facilities in Wiltshire then took place with residents agreeing or disagreeing with statements about leisure services.

Cllr Wheeler then invited any questions on his portfolio, there were no questions raised.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Wheeler for his update and attending the meeting.

b. Car parking strategy – feedback from consultation.

Alan Creedy, (Head of Service - Sustainable Transport, Wiltshire Council) updated the meeting on the feed back of the results of the consultation on parking policy across the county.

Points made included:

• Move to one Council, lack of consistency between former districts.

• Parking is wider than just charging, important part of local transport policy (eg improving street scenes, reducing traffic conflicts and supporting bus services).

• Need to update strategy, changed picture since last review.

Melksham responses

•         Nine total respondents, seven comments made.

•         With 600 council employees transferring to Melksham, this is an ideal time to re-tune the system.

•         New developments in Melksham - Manor Park and Dauncey Gardens - have one bus a day, now is the time to run a half hourly bus.

•         Central car park, has a no right turn at the entrance. So traffic from the northern half of the town has to pass along the High Street, before turning in. This traffic causes jams and detracts from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

a. The Wiltshire Councillors will consider eightapplications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2010/11, as follows:

i. Poulshot Village Trust request £1489 towards a programme of planting large native species trees in the surrounding hedgerows. 

ii. Wiltshire Guild of Spinners request £1000 for the replacement of old wooden gates with metal security gates. 

iii. St Mary’s School Building management committee, Steeple Ashton request  £1370 towards improving the access to the site.

iv. Shaw and Whitley preschool request £4000 towards the creation of an outside classroom/play area.  This grant application was deferred at the area board on 3 February 2010.  Planning permission has now been obtained. 

v. Melksham town cricket club request £724 for youth equipment. 

vi. Steeple Ashton village hall management committee request £987 to relay the existing front path that is loose.

vii. Melksham community safety group request £1000 to provide free Touch2ID cards to 350 18-25 year olds in the Melksham area.

viii. Melksham Without PC request £3050 towards providing new allotments at Berryfield. 

Copies of the completed application forms and grant application packs for the Community Area Grants Scheme 2010/11 are available from the Community Area Manager or electronically at:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/areaboardscommunitygrantsscheme.htm

b. Change of use for previously awarded grant.

•  Melksham Town Council – window graphics.

c. Area Board Project.

• CCTV ducting - Cllr Eaton.

d. Melksham Community Area Partnership.

• Request for funding.

e. Performance Reward Grants Scheme

The Wiltshire Councillors will consider two bids to the Performance Reward Grant Scheme, as follows:

i. An application has been received by all area boards from Councillor Chris Williams, entitled Wiltshire Voices. This project is a two year initiative which will challenge our Area Boards to develop new and innovative approaches to community engagement and empowerment, particularly focused on engaging

with hard to reach and traditionally excluded groups.

ii. An application has been received by all area boards from the Climate Change Team who wish to provide free energy monitors for loan at all of Wiltshire’s libraries to help households reduce their energy consumption and fuel costs.

a. Councillors considered eight applications seeking 2010/2011 Community Area Grant Funding:

Decision

1.Poulshot Village Trust was awarded £1,489 towards a programme of planting large native species trees in the surrounding hedgerows. 

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2010/11 and meets locally agreed priorities in the Poulshot conservation area.

2.Wiltshire Guild of Spinners was awarded £1,000 for the replacement of old wooden gates with metal security gates.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant

criteria for 2010/11 and encourages access and use of the facility.

3.St Mary’s School Building management committee, Steeple Ashton was awarded £1,370 towards improving the access to the site.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant

criteria for 2010/11 and encourages improved access for the elderly and disabled.

4.Shaw and Whitley preschool was awarded £4,000 towards the creation of an outside classroom/play area.  This grant application was deferred at the area board on 3 February 2010.  Planning permission had now been obtained. 

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2010/11 and demonstrates a link to the community plan in terms of fulfilling young children’s potential.

5.Melksham town cricket club was awarded £724 for youth equipment.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2010/11 and demonstrates a link to the community plan in terms of providing the youth with sports facilities that are “free to learn”.

6.Steeple Ashton village hall management committee was awarded £987 to relay the existing front path that is loose.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2010/11 and improves access for the elderly and disabled.

7.Melksham community safety group was awarded £1,000 to provide free Touch2ID cards to 350 18-25 year olds in the Melksham area.

Reason

The above application met the Community Area Grant criteria for 2010/11 and demonstrates a link to the community plan in terms of improving community safety by reducing under age drinking.

Cllr Steve Petty leaves the room.

8.Melksham Without PC applied for £3,050 towards providing new allotments at Berryfield. 

The Board agreed not to award the funding as it felt Melksham Without Parish Council should fund the application through its precept as the provision of allotments was a statutory duty for parish councils.

Note

Cllr Steve Petty returns to the room.

Note

Cllrs Rod Eaton, Mark Griffiths and Jon Hubbard leave the room.

b. Change of use for previously awarded grant.

Melksham Town Council – window graphics.

This was a request to the Area Board to grant permission to Melksham Town Council to use the grant money awarded for window graphics to buy pop up banners and posters instead. The window graphics were expensive and it appeared they cannot be reused without damaging or resizing and to have them resized would mean an ongoing expense, this was not evident when the costs were originally investigated and used for the grant application. Investigations had shown that large posters and pop up banners would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture to introduce his portfolio and take any questions.

Cllr Wheeler had invited any questions on his portfolio when updating the meeting on the Leisure review, there were no questions raised.

Weds 1^st December  2010 – Semington village hall.

Weds 2^nd February 2011 – Melksham Oak school.

Weds 1 December 2010 – Semington village hall, it was noted that this venue was subject to change as the theme of the meeting would be the proposed Melksham campus, which may generate a larger attendance.

Weds 2 February 2011 – Melksham Oak school.

Area Board Issues Process:

Please see our online issues tracker for progress on all issues submitted to the Melksham area board to date. 

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityandliving/areaboards/areaboardsissuestracking.htm . 

You can also submit issues online for the area board to consider, or fill in an issues sheet by hand.  https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboards.php

The Chairman thanked all partners, parishes and officers for attending the meeting.