Agenda and minutes

(reports in pack where appropriate)

 

• Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire
• Reducing unnecessary street lighting
• Annual programme of Highway Works
• Update on lorry park

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Seend Community Centre.

 

The Chairman advised that following the Annual Council meeting of Wiltshire Council on the 18 June, he had been re-elected as the Chairman of the Melksham Area Board, Cllr Rod Eaton was also re-elected as the Vice-chairman.

 

 

Chairman’s Announcements

 

Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire.

 

The Environment Act 1995 placed a duty on local authorities to monitor air quality within their areas having regard to national and European air quality objectives.

Wiltshire is a high quality environment, however we have a number of locations where air quality objectives are not being met. These failures are in general associated with vehicle emissions and congestion and have health implications.

We would welcome your views on the Air Quality Strategy, which has been developed as an over arching document detailing our approach to air quality. Consultation on the document remains open until 18^th June 2010.

If you would like to contribute your views, please contact Gary Tomsett, Environmental Protection Specialist Team Manager, on 01722 434340 or gary.tomsett@wiltshire gov.uk.

 

 

Reducing Unnecessary Street Lighting in Wiltshire.

 

Wiltshire Council had been approached by a number of communities seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, reduce light pollution of the night sky and reduce energy costs. Street lighting and illuminated signs have been identified as a major use of energy by the Council in a recent review.

 

A start had been made with a project to replace the lighting units in the county’s 1,600 illuminated bollards with new low energy units. Dimming and turning off unnecessary lighting for part of the night have already been successfully introduced in trial sites at Urchfont and Tidworth.

 

The Council had set aside £5,000 for each Area Board to introduce schemes in their areas this year. The Area Board is asked to solicit interest from Town and Parish Councils and other interested parties to take part in the scheme. The Area Board would then decide on which submissions would go ahead in their area.

 

The Area Board was also asked to nominate an individual to act as Project Leader, to liaise with the community and resolve any issues with the public (the Project Leader should be appointed by the Board, but does not need to be a member of the Board). The Council’s staff and specialists would be available to advise on technical aspects, including the viability of the proposals, and would arrange the installation of the schemes. If successful more cash will be made available for schemes next year.

 

If you are interested in becoming involved in the scheme, please contact a member of your Area Board or the Community Area Manager. 

 

 

Highways Programme for 2010-11.

 

The annual programme of highway maintenance and improvement schemes for 2010/11 had been approved. This information was presented on an individual community area basis and is available on the Council’s website under Community Area Highway Information.

The information includes lists of proposed highway and related works for 2010/11 with facts and figures about the roads in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Apologies were received from Cllr Toby Strugis and Inspector David Cullop.

 

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

Name	Item	Type of Interest	Nature of Interest	Action
Councillor Steve Petty	Agenda Item No.8 Community Area Grant – (a) Party in the Park.	Personal	Helps out at this event.	Would view the application with an open mind.

 

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th March 2010.

 

Decision

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2010 were agreed as a correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chairman with the following amendment.

 

Attendance - That R.Dalton was not a representative of Melksham Without Parish Council at the meeting.

 

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

 

a. MCAP (Melksham Community Area Partnership)

b. CAYPIG (Young People’s Issue Group)

c. Wiltshire Police - David Hobman

d. NHS Wiltshire – Jo Howes

e. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

f. Melksham Town Council

g. Parish Council Nominated Representatives

 

Melksham Community Area Partnership: Chris Holden gave the MCAP update.

 

Points made included:

 

• MCAP Website which was expected to go on-line on the 1 June 2010.On line on June 1^st. The website would contain links to online consultations, links to village websites and minutes and agendas of the various theme groups.

 

• Wilts & Berks Waterways consultation would be running throughout May and June.

 

• Melksham Carnival and local area summer fetes. The following were planned , a float at the Melksham Carnival on July 18, a stand at Party in the Park, wide consultation through leaflets including the same display at village summer fetes with an aim to reach the whole community area.

 

 

 

Sarah Howes (Youth Co-ordinator, Melksham) gave the CAYPIG (Young People’s Issue Group) update.

 

Points made included:

 

• Melksham rail service - Concerns over lack of routes that young people would choose to use.

 

• Bus times and fares - the group were putting together a letter to local bus companies requesting an improved service for young people with a more realistic fare structure.

 

• Local Parks – art work by local young people illustrating why we need to respect local park land.

 

• Next CAYPIG meeting Wednesday 9 June 2010.

 

 

 

Wiltshire Police: Dave Hobman updated the meeting on current policing activities in the Melksham community area.

 

The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

 

Points made included:

 

• A breakdown of the crime figures would be welcomed for future Area Board meetings.

 

 

 

 

NHS Wiltshire: The written update distributed with the agenda was noted.

 

 

 

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service:  The written update distributed with the agenda pack was noted.

 

 

 

The Town Council, Parish Councils and partners were given the opportunity to give any updates,

 

 

Melksham Town Council:  Cllr Rod Eaton was welcomed as the new Mayor of Melksham.

 

The Town Council were concerned at the amount of weeds and vegetation that had grown up through the hard areas in and around the Melksham’s roads, the A350 near the Wiltshire Farmers roundabout was highlighted as a particularly unsightly area.

 

 

Melksham Without Parish Council: A survey carried out by Melksham Without Parish Council had received an excellent response from the residents of the Bowerhill area with the vast majority of residents wanting to keep the Bowerhill sports fields for recreational use, a petition was handed over to the Chairman requesting this.

 

MelkshamWithout Parish Council also requested that the Melksham Area Board supports them in trying to buy the sports fields from Wiltshire Council for a nominal fee.

 

It was agreed that the Melksham Area Board would look at this request at the next meeting, after Area Board members had read the survey report.

 

 

Seend Parish Council: thanked everybody for attending the meeting, the first to be held at the Community centre.

 

The Chairman thanked all partners for their respective updates.

a.      Speeding and Road Safety Issues including Community Speed Watch – David Bullock (Highways, Wiltshire Council)

 

b. Residential moorings on the Kennet & Avon Canal – Ken Oliver (Wiltshire Council)

 

Any Other Urgent Questions of Public Concern

 

 

a. Speeding and Road Safety Issues including Community Speed Watch – David Bullock (Highways, Wiltshire Council)

 

Points covered included:

 

Road Safety: casualty reduction

 

• EDUCATION (Training & Publicity) : including BIKEABILITY - cycle training in schools.

 

• Walking Buses.

 

• Safe Drive Stay Alive – young driver training.

 

• BIKESAFE – motorcyclist training.

 

• Driver Improvement courses.

 

 

Enforcement 

     

•         Community Speed Watch.

 

•         Safety Cameras operated by Wiltshire Police, located at high risk sites.

 

•         Community Speed Watch run by the Police and Wiltshire Council, set up to address community issues operated by local volunteers.

 

 

Engineering

     

•         Temporary and permanent indicator signs.

 

•         Traffic Management schemes.

 

•         Maintenance Schemes – skid resistance, precautionary salting.

      

•         Traffic Management schemes.

 

•         Permanent indicator signs erected at sites at appropriate sites commonly as warning of road hazard.

 

•         Temporary indicator signs, a rolling programme of locating at sites with record speeding problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Points made from the floor included:

 

• Many Parishes would prefer speed indication devices not hand held speed guns on a rolling programme.

 

• The young driver training is an excellent and beneficial scheme for all young drivers.

 

• Residents would welcome a 20mph speed limit within urban areas.

 

 

 

 

b. Residential moorings on the Kennet & Avon Canal – Ken Oliver (Wiltshire Council)

 

Points made included:

 

•         British Waterways had recently carried out a consultation on how canal moorings should be managed locally and nationally. 

 

•         They would be presenting their recommendations following this consultation at the Devizes Corn Exchange on Tuesday 1st June 2010.

 

•         Anybody wishing to attend this event should contact Margaret Tipper either by emailing  areaboardscentral@wiltshire.gov.uk or calling 01225 718441.

 

 

 

The Chairman thanked everybody for their presentations.

 

 

There were no urgent questions of public concern.

 

 

 

a. Health workshop (JSNA) – Jo Howes & Peter Thomas (NHS Wiltshire)

 

b. Wiltshire 2026 (Future of housing and employment land in Melksham community area) – Anna Lee (Spatial Planning, Wiltshire Council)

 

c. Future public service delivery in Melksham - Neil Ward (Strategic Property, Wiltshire Council)

 

a.Health workshop (JSNA) – Maggie Rae (NHS Wiltshire)

 

Maggie Rae gave brief update on the feedback received from the Heath Workshop that had been held on the 28 January 2010.January.

 

Points made included:

 

• Excellent feedback had been received on the day about this event.

 

• The workshop by NHS Wiltshire had launched the new “NHS health priorities”, which look at how towns across Wiltshire compare in health related matters.

 

• The participants at the workshop prioritised the need for opportunities

         for children to be healthy to tackle levels of childhood obesity in the

            community area.

 

• Good partnership working, getting children involved in sport, healthy eating and life style awareness.

 

 

 

b. Wiltshire 2026 (Future of housing and employment land in the Melksham community area) – Anna Lee (Spatial Planning, Wiltshire Council)

 

The Wiltshire 2026 consultation formed an important step towards the development of the Wiltshire Core Strategy,this strategy would eventually replace elements of the existing local plans which planning decisions are currently set against.

 

Points made included:

 

The Wiltshire 2026 consultation, launched during October 2009, outlined;

 

• A vision for Wiltshire.

 

• The opportunities and issues within each community area.

 

• Proposals for how that area will change over time, including;

an outline of the suggested scale and location of housing and employment development where identified.

 

 

Issues raised in the Melksham Community Area.

 

•         Town centre is in need of regeneration.

 

•         Need to improve existing infrastructure, facilities and services.

 

 

•         Melksham should not be restricted because it is identified as a market town rather than a strategically significant town.

 

•         Support for economic growth in Melksham.

 

•         Support for limited affordable housing in larger villages.

 

•         Concern over number of houses proposed in Melksham.

 

•         Objections to development between Melksham and Bowerhill.

 

•         Desire to protect the historic setting of the Spa.

 

•         Objections to employment development south of Berryfield.

 

 

Proposed actions to issues raised.

 

•         Consider appropriate policy approach to regeneration of town centre.

 

•         Identify facilities and services needed to support development, and consider appropriate policy approach to ensure timely provision.

 

•         Review proposed housing allocation for Melksham.

 

•         Reconsider proposed land for housing between Melksham and Bowerhill in light of concerns raised.

 

•         Consider appropriate policy approach to protect historic setting of the Spa.

 

•         Reconsider proposed employment site south of Berryfield in light of concerns raised.

 

 

A full report on the consultation outcome will be available in early June.The report will be available to view on the council’s website and at offices.

 

 

 

c. Future public service delivery in Melksham - Neil Ward (Strategic Property, Wiltshire Council)

 

Feedback from the 24 March meeting.

 

 

Points made included:

 

What services would you like to see offered from a service campus.

 

• Sports facilities.

 

• Library with areas for youth & scouts etc.

 

• Involve all public agencies.

 

• Youth Centres.

 

• Scouts and guides.

 

• Drop-in for OAP advice and club.

 

• All of the current services retained.

 

• Theatre.

 

• Arts & Crafts.

 

• Museum.

 

• Multi screen cinema.

 

• Bowling.

 

 

 

What do you think is important  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

1.             Grants & Area Board Budget

The Chairman to provide an update on the Area Board budget.

 

Community Area Grants

Councillors will be asked to consider the Community Grant Report (attached) and vote on the following applications:

·        Party in the Park

·        Activities for children and young people

·        Street based youth worker

 

Performance Reward Grants Scheme

The Chairman to provide an update of applications submitted so far.

·        SPLASH

·        Semington Football Club

·        Steeple Ashton Pavilion

 

To ask Councillors to consider three applications seeking 2009/10 Community

Area Grant Funding:

 

 

Melksham Party in the Park awarded £1931 towards the purchase of electrical equipment, lighting Improvements and safety matting.

 

 

Cllr Jon Hubbard awarded £1962 towards holiday activities for children and young people aged 5 – 13yrs.

 

 

Cllr Jon Hubbard awarded £600 towards a street based youth worker on

Friday evenings in King George V Playing Fields.

 

 

 

Performance Reward Grants Scheme.

 

The Chairman to provide an update of applications submitted so far.

 

 

• SPLASH - Performance reward grant of £29,700 awarded.

 

• Semington Football Club – Application to be considered on the 5 July 2010.

 

• Steeple Ashton Pavilion - Application to be considered on the 5 July 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Waste, Property and Environment to introduce his portfolio and take any questions.

 

Cllr Toby Strugis was unable to attend the meeting due to ill health.

Wednesday 28 July – Shaw School

Wednesday 8^th Sept – Melksham Oak School (tbc)

 

The dates of the future Melksham Area Board would be:

 

Tuesday 15 May 2010 – Melksham Town Hall, (Special Meeting to discuss the Lorry Park proposals).

 

Wednesday 28 July 2010 – Shaw School.

 

Wednesday 8 September 2010 – Melksham Oak School

 

The chairman will make a request for the completion of evaluation forms and will set out the arrangements for the next meeting.

 

The Chairman thanked everybody for attending and the officers for their continued support of the board.