Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Richard Clewer welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Salisbury Area Board and invited the members of the Board to introduce themselves.

To receive any apologies in addition to those listed below:

·       Inspector Pete Sparrow - Police

·       Steve Godwin – Salisbury BID

Apologies for absence had been received from:

·       Steve Godwin – Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID)

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 14 July 2016.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 14 July 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising from the last meeting included:

• Cllr Walsh asked whether there had been a response from Cllr Whitehead regarding the question relating to paper permits for immobile residents with no car. Answer: The Board had not received any feedback and would seek a response from the Cabinet member.

Action: CEM to contact Cllr Whitehead

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

Board members made the following declarations:

Cllr Ian Tomes declared a non prejudicial interest in item 10, Community Area Grants – Harnham Football Club, as he knew the manager and several of the players. He took part in the discussion but did not vote.

Cllr Atiqul Hoque declared a prejudicial interest in item 10, Community Area Grants – Indian Community of Salisbury, as his business was due to supply some food for the event. He did not take part in the discussion or vote.

Cllr Brian Dalton declared a non prejudicial interest in item 10, Community Area Grants – The Royal British Legion, as he was a member. He took part in the discussion but did not vote.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

There were no updates from the Chairman.

a)    Helping Wiltshire Council meet the challenges ahead

b)    Healthwatch

c)     Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Newslink

d)    Mental Health Awareness Raising

The Board noted the following information items attached to the agenda:

a)    Helping Wiltshire Council meet the challenges ahead

b)    Healthwatch

c)     Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Newslink

d)    Mental Health Awareness Raising

Mike Leonard from Transition City will give an introduction to the Group and its work.

Mike Leonard gave a presentation on Transition City which was a non-profit non-political or non-sectarian organisation which had 125 members which aimed to provide a focus and catalyst for local action.

The Groups aim was that through transition, Salisbury would emerge as a sustainable, happy and socially integrated community with thriving local industry, a substantial source of self generated energy and a self sufficient food supply. This carbon neutral environment would be complemented by greater social equality and opportunity

The six working groups and projects were:

·       Energy

The planting of wild flower gardens, herbs in car park boxes, nursery beds for wild flowers and a local tree planting initiative.

·       Local Economy

Formation of a Help Hub, assisting with new business start ups, vocational apprenticeships and the Salisbury Craft Guild.

·       Environment

Ideas for energy conservation, a ‘10 easy things to do’ initiative, a ‘Compact Champion’ who was a representative for the ‘Wiltshire Compact’.

·       Food and Water

‘Grow Your Own’ initiatives and Community Orchards. Practical tips on water conservation, composting, organic vegetable growing and maintaining water quality.

·       Hearts and Minds

Workshop programmes, mindful walking, newsletters, school visits, local events and discussion groups and presentations to local community and government organisations.

·       Waste and Recycling

Pursuing food recycling, and “Street bins”. Investigating market place collections, recycling of commercial waste and white goods. Working on feasibility studies for a repair and recycling facility and biogas digesters for the collection of food waste.

The Group was working with Salisbury City Council on energy conservation and with Wiltshire Council on a county wide energy plan – ‘Green Team’. which was a feasibility study for local hydro energy projects and investigating the viability of district heating.

A ‘Sustainable Salisbury’ event was planned for 8 October 2016 in the Market Square, everyone was welcome to attend.

Comments and questions included:

• The planned changes to the refuse site meant that charities taking stuff to the tip will be charged. The men there would also go through bags of rubbish to see if they contained anything which could be recycled instead of going to landfill. Charging charities to have recycling taken away would push them to put things in the rubbish. Answer: This was a National policy, so it was not possible to solve that issue locally. The Waste & Recycling Group had produced a leaflet which gave suggestions of other places to take recycling. There were also many  forms of recycling.

·       David Burton Laverstock & Ford PC – the parish was interested in the mission to become self sufficient in food. You could measure the amount of food coming off the land. A number of parishes would be interested in what you are doing, would you be contacting parish councils?  Answer: The best way to find out more would be to come to our event on 8 October.

·       Heat recycling was taking place in buildings now, much like it was at the Health & Wellbeing centre, which was a fairly new building. Swimming pools and sports places were a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To note the report from the last meeting of the LYM held on Thursday 8 September, and to consider any recommendations for funding arising from that meeting.

Note: Papers to be circulated at the meeting

Two grants to be considered by the LYN on 8 September:

1.     The Sound Emporium: Snare Drum Construction Course £2,295

2.     Transition City CIC: Sustainable Salisbury Event £1,100

The Community Engagement Manager gave feedback from the last LYN management meeting held on Thursday 8 September, as detailed in the paper circulated at the meeting.

The group met to consider a number of applications and matters arising since its last meeting. The matters arising included:

(a)   A suggestion to update the list of positive activities on offer in Salisbury for young people that was compiled a year before.  The group agreed that this would be a useful thing to do

(b)   that the local youth network should be involved in the 1^st December event being organised to look at refreshed data from the Joint Strategic Assessment for Salisbury

(c)   The need to recruit some younger members onto the Local Youth Network Management Group

The group’s main points and recommendations arising from discussion of the grant applications included:

1.     Snare Drum Construction Course by The Sound Emporium

We noted that this application had been withdrawn

2.     Sustainable Salisbury Event by Transition City

We thought this to be a very interesting application, and in particular liked the idea that this would help to raise the profile of sustainability in Salisbury with young people in mind.  However, we also felt that as the event was one for all ages, and that it was difficult to quantify just how many 11-19 year olds would be actively and positively engaged, that we could only really justify a recommendation of £600 for the event.

We were very interested to hear of the plans to set up a youth group or team as part of the Transition City CIC, and we welcome further information on this when these plans have been shaped a little more

3.     Harnham Junior Football Club

We felt it appropriate to contribute to this application, despite the fact that it would not be open to 11-19 year olds when it first sets up.  We note that the applicant intends to open up the membership to over 10 year olds in the future and welcome these plans. We recommend a contribution of £564 from Youth Budget.

4.     Diwali Function 15 Oct – Indian Community of Salisbury

Again, the group is very much in support of this application, but felt that as only 40 – 50    11-19 year olds were estimated to attend and benefit from the positive activities offered at this event (out of an overall estimate of 220), the contribution from the Youth Budget should reflect that by recommending £500.

5.     Upcycling@Alabare

This was felt to be a very worthwhile project, particularly bearing in mind its emphasis on using the project to help people struggling to engage in society, work and positive activities to build practical skills, social skills and experience with accreditation that could help them secure a more positive future.  Again however, the group felt that as the project was not entirely designed to benefit 16-19 year olds but other older age groups also, the recommendation to the board is to grant £2,450 from the Youth Fund.

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To note the written updates attached to the agenda and to receive any verbal updates from representatives present.

a)    Salisbury City Council (SCC)

b)    Laverstock and Ford Parish Council

c)     Fire

d)    Community Engagement Manager

e)    H & WB Centre

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3 minutes slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Chairman.

Salisbury City Council

City Clerk, Reg Williams gave an update which included:

·       The asset transfer was proceeding, it was hoped to be signed off in the next few weeks.

·       Two Heritage Days had taken place on Thursday and Friday the previous week where various buildings were opened to the public for tours. These included St Clements Church yard, Devizes Road Chapel and areas in the Guild Hall. This event saw over 200 people visit the usually closed sites.

·       The deadline for carnival entries was the end of the month.

·       The Harnham bunker project had now begun and would continue over the next few months.

·       On 23 September the Adlam Stone would be laid at a ceremony from 9.30 – 12noon.

·       The Salisbury Flood Plan was due to be adopted on 26 September, after some final work to complete it next week. This had attracted some national interest, as Salisbury was the only city of its size that had a formal flood plan.

Questions and comments were then taken, these included:

·       Could local residents participate in the flood plan? Answer: Yes as well as Councillors, there would be a number of residents who would be trained as wardens, if anyone was interested they could contact Reg.

·       The Chairman added that at some point Salisbury would flood, so the more wardens the better. Some integration work with Laverstock & Ford around transportation was also required.

·       Who owned the CCTV for Salisbury, and who managed it? Answer: CCTV did not exist at present. Wiltshire Council had appointed a new contractor to implement a new system. Installation of new cameras would begin soon, each one would go live as soon as it was installed, it was thought that there would be a service from about 6 weeks time.

·       Could the duties of a Flood Warden be made available so that people understood what was entailed with the role? Answer: Wiltshire Council did have a job description but it is not onerous, it could be added to the minutes for reference. The SCC website had the job specification also.

Laverstock & Ford Parish Council (L&F)

David Burton gave an update which included:

·       A Flood Plan and Wardens were place. The parish was available to liaise with WC on this.

·       A former proposal from the developers regarding dumped spoil had been successfully been turned back which would result in the green space being released on the 150 person moving in.

·       Wiltshire Council Cabinet had approved L&F as the nominee for the new Country Park. Negotiations would take place to make sure they get the best deal for the community.

·       A showcase event would be put on for members moving from Salisbury to the L&F parish.

Questions and comments were then taken, these included:

·       When did you expect to see the Country Park up and running? Answer: This would depend on negotiations but it was hoped that we would take ownership late autumn. Part of the spoil on the other site meant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Councillor Initiatives

At the meeting on 12 May 2016, the Board earmarked £5,000 of funding to the Market Square Toilet Painting Initiative, applying three conditions, which were:

1.     Consultation with the public on the design was undertaken.

2.     The final design is presented to the Area Board for approval.

3.     The ownership of the toilets be clarified and permission sought.

A public consultation survey was carried out. This indicated a lack of public support for the toilets to be painted and instead to be left as they were. The Board is asked to consider and vote on a way forward with this initiative.

Community Area Grants

To consider 4 applications for funding from the Community Area Grants Scheme for 2016/17, as detailed in the attached report and listed below:

Councillor Initiatives

The Chairman explained that the Board had previously considered an initiative for painting the market place toilets. A public consultation survey had been carried out. This indicated a lack of public support for the toilets to be painted and instead showed that preference was for them to be left as they were.

The Chairman asked the Board to consider a way forward with this initiative.

Questions and comments included:

·       If the public have indicated they did not want the toilets painted then we should listen.

·       Who owned the toilets? Answer: The toilets were part of an asset transfer of buildings to be taken on by SCC.

·       Cllr Dalton noted that he had brought this initiative to the Board on 12 May. He was disappointed that this was now being reconsidered, and asked whether every future project would be subject to a public consultation? Answer: The original decision mad on 12 May was subject to a set of conditions which is why the public survey was carried out in this instance. 

The Chairman put forward the motion to withdraw the funding from this initiative due to public feedback arising from the consultation, which had indicated the painting of the toilets was not supported by those who responded. This was seconded by Cllr Douglas.

Decision

Salisbury Area Boardagreed to withdraw the funding awarded to the Market Square toilet painting initiative at the May meeting due to the public feedback.

Community Area Grants

The Board considered 4 Community Area Grant applications as attached to the agenda. Applicants present were invited to speak in support of their application. Following debate the Councillors voted on each application.

Decision

Harnham FC was awarded £360 (in addition to £564 awarded from the LYN budget) towards new goal posts.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2016/17.

Decision

The Indian Community of Salisbury was awarded £1,000 (in addition to £500 awarded from the LYN budget) towards Diwali function on 15.10.16.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2016/17.

Decision

Alabare was awarded £2,450 (in addition to £2,450 awarded from the LYN budget)  towards Upcycling@Alabareinitaitive.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2016/17.

Decision

The application from the Royal British Legionwas refused.

Reason – The Board felt that the Health & Wellbeing budget could not be used to support this project.

NB: The CEM would work with the organisers to contact the Journal and Spire FM to ask if they would promote it free of charge.

To consider the following recommendation:

In order to expedite the work of the Area Board and to deal with urgent matters that may arise between meetings, the Community Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Chairman (or in their absence, the Vice-Chairman) of the Area Board, may authorise expenditure to support community projects from the delegated community grants budget of up to £5,000 in total, youth projects of up to £5,000 in total, and health and wellbeing projects of up to £1,000 in total, between meetings of the Area Board.

Decisions taken between meetings will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board explaining why the matter was considered urgent or necessary to expedite the work of the Board and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards and Broadband will also be kept informed of any such decisions.

The Board considered the recommendation of delegation to Community Engagement Manager as detailed in the agenda.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board agreed that in order to expedite the work of the Area Board and to deal with urgent matters that may arise between meetings, the Community Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Chairman (or in their absence, the Vice-Chairman) of the Area Board, may authorise expenditure to support community projects from the delegated community grants budget of up to £5,000 in total, youth projects of up to £5,000 in total, and health and wellbeing projects of up to £1,000 in total, between meetings of the Area Board.

Decisions taken between meetings would be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board explaining why the matter was considered urgent or necessary to expedite the work of the Board and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Campuses, Area Boards and Broadband would also be kept informed of any such decisions.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday, 10 November 2016, 7pm at Salisbury City Hall.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and noted that the next meeting of the Salisbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 10 November 2016, 7.00pm at City Hall Salisbury.