Agenda and minutes

·       Melksham Community Campus.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Seend Community Centre, and then introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the area board as well as officers of Wiltshire Council who were in attendance.

The Chairman thanked the Town and Parish councillors in attendance.

Apologies were received from Chris Petty – Melksham Town Council and Niki Lewis – Service Director, Melksham Area Board.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 12 December 2012.

Decision

• The minutes of the 12 December 2012 meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The following Partner updates were noted:

Swindon and Wiltshire Police & Crime Commissioner – Angus Macpherson

Points made included:

·       That the Area Boards were considered very important by the Police & Crime Commissioner.

·       That the Police & Crime Commissioner would have a team presence at the Melksham Area Board.

·       That the Police & Crime plan was currently being put together, the views of the residents of Wiltshire were vital in the consultation process.

·       That the views of young people were important and would be incorporated into the plan.

Melksham Youth Advisory Group (YAG) – Carl Haughton

Points made included:

·       The YAG were expecting to have completed filming of the Mental Health DVD by the end of February 2013.

·       That more young people were joining the YAG.

·       The YAG were now working with Melksham Oak School.

Community Area Partnership Representative – Phil McMullen

Points made included:

·       Currently working on Action Plan priorities.

·       That the MCAP annual general meeting would be held on Tuesday 26 February at the Melksham Town Hall.

Wiltshire Police – Sgt Sean Brady

·       The written report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Questions raised from the floor included:

·       There were concerns from residents that there had been a spate of burglaries in the local area.

a.Sgt Brady advised that the Police were working hard and were targeting individuals for these offences.

·       How effective could the Seend Community Speedwatch be if it were set up?

a.A very highly visible speeding deterrent, that would provide positive results.

·       When is the Seend Community Speedwatch expected to be operational?

a.The Police & Crime Commissioner advised that it was his intention to get a robust and sustainable Community Speedwatch scheme back into the communities as soon as possible.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – Mike Franklin

The written report contained in the agenda pack was noted with the following point:

·       That the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service had produced 30,000 high viz arm bands which would be made available to schools throughout Wiltshire, the arm bands could also be obtained from local fire stations.

NHS Wiltshire

·       The written report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Melksham Town Council – Terri Welch

·       Nothing to report.

Parish Council Nominated Representatives

·       Nothing to report.

Melksham Chambers of Commerce

·       Not present at the meeting.

Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) – Cllr Roy While

Points made included:

·       The SCOB were now ready to interview architects who would then be  appointed as the campus architects, the SCOB would then be working with the architect to plan the Campus layout.

·       That local residents would be invited to several roadshow events during the summer to showcase the Campus plans.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

Donal Casey, (Senior Estates Officer, Wiltshire Council) to update the Area Board on proposals regarding King Georges Fields and various Leases to include Melksham Adventure Centre.

Donal Casey, (Senior Estates Officer, Wiltshire Council) updated the Area Board on proposals regarding King George’s Field and various leases to include Melksham Adventure Centre.

The Area Board were asked to consider an application submitted by Melksham Adventure Centre located at King George’s Field Melksham for a renewed lease of land and to consider other users of the King George’s Field and applications that may come forward in due course.

Decision

·       That the Melksham Area Board approves a new lease at a peppercorn rent for a term of 15 years without review.

 Cllr Jonathon Seed to introduce a short film featuring some of the achievements of the Melksham Area Board over past few years.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to discuss and prioritise future issues for consideration and to take part in an interactive debate and vote. 

Cllr Jonathon Seed introduced a short film featuring some of the achievements of the Melksham Area Board over the past four years which highlighted how the work of the Melksham Area Board had benefited the community area.

Attendees were then given the opportunity to discuss and prioritise future issues for consideration and to take part in an interactive debate and vote. 

The most popular priorities are listed below:

Children & Young People: Early intervention at pre school / early years to break the cycle of deprivation and lack of educational attainment.

Children & Young People: Provide recreational activities / spaces for young people (Whole family inclusion).

Children & Young People: Create employment and work experience opportunities.

Health & Well Being: Ensure efficient use of the NHS.

           Health & Well Being: Encourage men to go to the Doctors.

           Environment: Protect / Enhance parks and green spaces.

           Community Development & Inclusion: Involve people in local decisions.

           Community Development & Inclusion: Reach lonely people.

           Waterways: Support the Melksham Link from Kennet and Avon Canal.

           Transport: Improve train service through Melksham & local bus links.

           Transport: Link bus and trains & cycles.

Community Safety: Reduce dangerous roads (including villages, speed limit reviews 20 mph where parishes want them – this detail was added by group).

The Chairman thanked everybody for partaking in the debate, as well as Alison Sullivan (Community Area Manager) and Margaret Tipper (Administrative Support) for organizing the workshop.

A link is attached below for the film which was shown at the Area Board meeting, highlighting some of the achievements of the Melksham Area Board over the past four years.

http://melksham.ourcommunitymatters.org.uk/news/melksham-areaboard-achievements/

To ask Councillors to consider three small grant applications, one councillor led initiative and two community area grant applications:

Small grant applications

·       Bowerhill Toddler Group wish to apply for a grant of £350 to embrace different cultures.

·       Melksham Community Area Partnership, Community Safety group, wish to apply for a small grant of £286 to provide slow down stickers.

·       Atworth village hall committee wish to apply for a grant of £248 for specialised furniture for people with a disability

Councillor led initiative

·       Councillor Jon Hubbard seeks to support Queensway community with an event and seeks £500 towards that project.

Community Area Grants

·       Wilts and Berks Canal Trust wish to apply for a grant of £2,832 to help restore the towpath.

·       Melksham Forest Community Centre wish to apply for a grant of £3,841 to install sewer pumps in their community centre.

Update from Dawn Rossi - Atworth youth centre on the self defence course which was funded through the Community Area Grant Scheme.

 Councillors were asked to consider three small grant applications, one councillor led initiative and two community area grant applications:

Small grant applications:

Decision

Bowerhill Toddler Group awarded £350 to embrace different cultures.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan; Early intervention at preschool to break the cycle of deprivation and lack of educational attainment and increase parenting skills.

Decision

Melksham Community Area Partnership, Community Safety group awarded £286 to provide slow down stickers.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan with regard to road safety.

Decision

Atworth village hall committee awarded £248 for specialised furniture for people with a disability.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan: ensure inclusion of all and raise the community spirit.

Councillor led initiative:

Decision

Councillor Jon Hubbard awarded £500 to support Queensway community with an event.

Reason

This project will enable the community to get together and gather for an event to reduce fragmentation in the community.

Community Area Grants:

Decision

Wilts and Berks Canal Trust awarded £2,832 to help restore the towpath.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan; protect and enhance parks and green spaces, provide dog walking area where dogs can be off lead maintain and promote the Wilts and Berks canal, support the Melksham link and the restoration of the canal and Promote cycling. This part of the path was prioritised following a meeting with the Partnership and members of the community in July 2012.

Decision

Melksham Forest Community Centre awarded £1,752 to install sewer pumps in their community centre.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Community Plan; to remove barriers to participation in local sports or community activity for people on low incomes, and increase local volunteering.

Matt Hill - Atworth Youth Centre gave the Area Board an update on the self defence course which was funded through the Community Area Grant Scheme and how it had benefited the young people who had attended it.

The Chairman thanked Matt Hill for coming to the Area Board and giving the update.

Councillors were asked to agree to allocate from Community Area Transport Group Delegated budget the following:

·        Up to £2,000 for dropped kerbs.

·        To allocate up to £500 for sockets on Woodrow Road to enable SID deployment.

·        To allocate any remaining funds towards the high grip surface at Bank Street Melksham (carry over to 2013 /14).

Decision

·       That the Melksham Area Board agrees that the delegated budget is used for the above purposes.

Snowberry Lane – Sandridge link road – Complaints had been received about littering and dog fouling, it was advised that litter/dog foul bins would be installed along this road.

·       Wed 5 June – Melksham Assembly Hall.

·       Wed 7 August – Broughton Gifford Village Hall.

·       Wed 9 October – Melksham Assembly Hall.

The Chairman thanked everybody for making the Melksham Area Board such a success over the last four years, he also thanked the Area Board officers for their hard work and all partners for their willingness to engage with the Area Board.