Agenda and minutes

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

Councillor Jerry Kunkler, Portfolio holder for Leisure and Sport was in attendance for item 9, the Chairman thanked him for coming.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

·       Laverstock & Ford parish Council – David Law

·       James Cawley - Associate Director for Adult Care Commission & Housing (Item 11).

To confirm the minutes of the last Area Board meeting held on Thursday 8 January 2015, as attached to the agenda.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 8 January 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

·       Campus Update - Cllr Clewer was not the Chairman of the COB, it was Patricia Fagan.

·       LYN Membership - Cllr Douglas had asked for the details about which schools the LYN members attended to be added to the list.

·       Climate Change - Cllr Douglas asked for it to be noted that she had remarked how lovely it was that someone was doing something about such a big issue.

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

For openness, Cllr noted the following connections to items; these did not however constitute having a disclosable interest.

·       Cllr Douglass knew people from The Shak and The SalisburyAssembliesofGod Church – item 8 Community Youth Grants.

·       Cllr Rogers was a lifelong football fan and supporter – item 9 The Future of Salisbury Football Club.

·       Cllr Douglass knew people from the Trussell Trust and Salisbury City Church – item 16 Community Area Grants.

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

The Chairman had no announcements. He received one question from the floor.

Trustees of Salisbury Arts Centre – Peter Williams

Last week Wiltshire Council advised us of the effect of the cuts to their arts budget. The full reduction was to fall upon Salisbury Arts Centre by removing its grant completely.

Please would each Board Member state if they agreed that a single organisation should carry the full burden and that people from the local community (especially young people, families and disabled people) should be disproportionally affected.

Comments from the Board

·       Cllr Rogers - We knew about the £89,000 cuts to the arts budget, however it was thought that those cuts would be across the county, not solely on the Arts Centre. There will be some affects, we will ask the Cabinet member to come to the next Board meeting to explain the cuts.

·       Cllr Clewer - The Council has had significant budget cuts from Central Government, we had made all of the back office cuts we could, it was now time to move to cuts that people can actually see. We decided not to put council tax up but if we continue to make cuts, I would say that we should protect other services before the Arts.

·       Cllr Douglas – I was not aware that the cuts would fall on one organisation. There are other areas of provision for the groups of people you have listed, which you would not chose to cut.

·       Cllr Dalton – Back in 1995 the Arts budget was cut and as a result the Art Centre was closed, I hope that this does not happen again.

·       Cllr Walsh – I did not vote for this. There should be more fairness, the cut should have been split three ways. I am totally against what had happened, especially as I am involved with the disabled community which go there.

·       Cllr Tomes – I sit on the Festival Arts Board as an Observer. The suggestion of a cut was brought to us for discussion, where it was felt that it would be fair to make a cut of 20% to all across the county.

Action: CAM to liaise with Cabinet to request an update on the situation at the next meeting.

·       Wiltshire Council - Universal Credit

·       Information on the following consultations can be found via the following link:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm

·       Current Issues on the online Community Area Issues System:

http://portal.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboard_issues_search.php

To log a new Issue, follow the link:

https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/index.php

The Board noted the following information items attached and detailed in the agenda:

·       Wiltshire Council - Universal Credit

·       Information on the following consultations can be found via the following link:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm

·       Current Issues on the online Community Area Issues System:

http://portal.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/areaboard_issues_search.php

To log a new Issue, follow the link:

https://forms.wiltshire.gov.uk/area_board/index.php

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)     Police

d)    Fire

e)    Air Quality Group

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda and received the following verbal updates:

Salisbury City Council (SCC) – Andrew Roberts

·       The Council was about to finish the financial year in fairly good health. The budget for Arts and public events would be increased next year.

·       It had been reported in the Journal that there was a question as to whether there would be fireworks this year or not, following the incident last year. The issue of fireworks would be discussed by Full Council on Monday, where a decision would be taken.

·       SCC continued to work well with Wiltshire Council on several projects.

Police – Inspector Dave Minty

·       The level of violence against the person reported crimes in the city centre was coming down. This was helped by the work of the Purple Flag scheme.

·       Non domestic burglary was down 52%.

·       Two new PCSO’s would be starting next week.

·       The new Police market stall was working well.

Fire – Mike Franklin

·       It had been agreed that the precept would go up 1.98% next year.

·       The proposals for a combined fire service for Wiltshire and Dorset fire services had been submitted to the Secretary of State.

·       A new Shadow combined Fire Authority had been formed.

·       Darren Gunter had been appointed as the new Chief Fire Officer for that Authority.

Air Quality Group – Cllr Clewer

·       There had been two further tree planting sessions since the last Board meeting, one at Fountain Way and the other along the river near to Waitrose.

·       Since the Area Board there had also been another session planting trees for a contemplation glade in fountain way of birch.

·       It was hoped that green space map planning would be looked at for new sites.

·       The last air quality reading for the Pirate Play area was recorded at 35, and was more than 10 meters from the road. The reading would need to be above 45 in areas where people lived and 235 in other areas for the site to be considered a low quality by Officers.

The Board will consider the recommendations for Youth funding for 2014/15, arising from the last meeting of the Local Youth Network meeting, as detailed in the attached report.

Officer: Winnie Manning, Community Youth Officer

Tom Bostock, Chairman of the LYN Management Group gave an overview of the three bids for funding from the Community Youth Grant Scheme, as detailed below:

Comments and Questions included:

·       Churches Together was already holding an election husting, it would be better if the two could be combined. Answer: The young people felt that to have their own election husting was less daunting than having to go up against experienced adults, which could be intimidating. They believed that no one husting would take anything away from the other.

·       If the City Hall gave a discount to TALK for the husting, then other groups should also receive a discount, as they would like to use the venue but it was too expensive. Answer: Members of TALK had negotiated their own discount with the City Hall, it had not been an arrangement made through the LYN.

·       Had we checked to see which faith the Friary Youth followed? Answer: The LYN had asked the applicant whether the youth club would be about religion and the answer was no.

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

To hear from the Chairman of Salisbury FC and to consider the following draft motion:

That the Salisbury Area Board recognizes the importance and identity of Salisbury as a Football Club in the local community. We regret the decline of the former Salisbury City Football Club, however, the Area Board calls upon the Trustees of the Raymond McEnhill Trust to grant a lease to the newly formed Salisbury FC.

The Chairman welcomed the Consortium and the Chairman of the newly formed Salisbury Football Club who were in attendance for the item, adding that it was nice to see such strong support.

David Phillips from the Consortium introduced the other members, Ian Ridley, Steve Claridge and Jeremy Hardy. (one more?)

The old club had come to a grinding halt in September 2014 when it went into receivership. The five men had formed a Consortium in December 2014, and had since then been trying to get back into the club.

Discussions had been taking place with the trustees to arrange a new lease. Support had been received from local politicians and the Salisbury MP John Glenn.

A written petition had been available to sign in the market square at the weekend and an online petition had also been greatly supported with over 6,000 signatures. The petition was presented to the Board for submission.

The Consortium had heard only that day from the trustees that they were willing to meet to discuss getting back into the stadium.

Councillor Jerry Kunkler, portfolio holder for Leisure and Sport, was in attendance to show his support for the club, as a huge football fan and supporter of local clubs.

Cllr Kunkler had been in talks with the Leader of the Council Cllr Jane Scott who had also offered her support. The Board would write a letter showing its support and all councillors would be invited to join in support.

The Salisbury Area Board considered the motion as detailed in the agenda.

Salisbury City Council would also be considering a similar motion of support at its meeting on Monday.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board recognized the importance and identity of Salisbury as a Football Club in the local community. It regrets the decline of the former Salisbury City Football Club, however, the Area Board called upon the Trustees of the Raymond McEnhill Trust to grant a lease to the newly formed Salisbury FC.

The Salisbury Area Board accepted the petition and agreed to take it to the Solicitors of the Trustees.

To hear from Kate Greatrix from Quantum Group about the proposals for the Old Manor site.

Kate Greatrix from Quantum Group outlined the proposals for the Old Manor site in Salisbury.

The Old Manor site was part conservation area and had two listed buildings.

The proposals were for the entire site to be developed into an assisted living community which would incorporate five character zones. The aim would be to try and replicate an historic courtyard, public greens, formal squares, a greenhouse, shops and other services.

Some of the semi derelict buildings would be removed along with some vegetation. The main barrier wall along the Wilton Road would be retained.

There would be five phases to the project, phase one would create 72 apartments which would be age restricted to 55 and over. Some or all of those would be double occupancy so phase one could accommodate up to 144 people.

Comments and questions were then received, these included:

·       How many accommodation places would there be in total? Answer: The whole of the five phases could accommodate up to around 500, but at this stage it was impossible to tell.

·       Would there be walking and cycling routes through this site, as this would bring passing trade to the retail outlets and access from the train station to the new college on Wilton Road? Answer: Cycling and walking routes would be looked at. The old link from the laundry site would remain.

·       Assisted Living can be lots of things, who would you cater for? Answer: The accommodation would be for residents of 55 years and over, they would be obliged to pay for at least 2 hours of care a week. Anything above the 2 hours would be paid for on a drawdown basis. All of the homes would be adaptable, to move with the changing care needs of the residents.

·       It is already difficult to exit that site in a car onto Wilton Road, increasing the number of people using that junction would increase the problem. Answer: We are talking to traffic planners now.

·       Having just over 55’s may not be the best idea, it might be better to have a mixed community.

·       Having an inward facing development and keeping the boundary wall along Wilton Road raises concerns, I urge you to be porous and more integrated.

·       What are the timescales? Answer: A detailed planning application for phase 1 would be submitted in May/June 2015, with an aim of being on site by the end of 2015. Then overlapping rolling submission for other phases after that.

·       It is good to see some plans for the Old Manor site, I hope that this time the project can actually get off the ground and something positive can be done with the site.

The Chairman thanked Kate for the presentation.

To discuss the services needed by the elderly in Salisbury and ask the Area Board to consider nominating an Elderly Persons Champion and a Carers Champion.

Officer: James Cawley, Associate Director, Adult Care Commissioning & Housing.

Due to the unavailability of the speaker, this item was postponed until a future Area Board meeting.

To receive a short update on the progress of the Salisbury Campus.

Over the next few meetings, the Board would receive an update with highlights of where we were at with the Five Rivers Campus.

·       All weather changing rooms were now complete and funding for an all weather pitch had been secured.

·       The new dance studios were nearly complete; the old dance studio would become the walkthrough whilst further work was carried out.

·       Work was underway with young people to create some nice visual displays to show users what was available inside.

·       The crèche would be intermittently closed during some aspects of the development.

·       Plans for the new climbing wall would be looked at next week.

·       On Saturday 9 May 2015, the Cycle Wiltshire Event would take place.

Questions:

·       Parking had become a real issue at the site, how would this be improved once the Campus was open? Answer: We were looking at a number of options, but the parking at the rear of the building was not used much and that could be incorporated. There would be a shuttle bus and the Park and Ride route would also be adapted to access the site.

·       Was there a provisional completion date? Answer: It was hoped that if all went to plan then the majority of the major building work would be complete by the end of 2015.

·       Would the Citizens Advice Bureau be moving to the Campus, because if so could the Salisbury City Council be informed as the building they currently used was owned by them?

To hear from the Community Area Manager about the plans for celebrating the 800^th Anniversary of the Magna Carta.

The Community Area Manager informed the Board about the plans for celebrating the 800^th Anniversary of the Magna Carta.

Over the next few months, the Council and the Salisbury Cathedral would come together with community groups and young people to plan and hold a Community Pageant to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, this event would take place on the evening of Monday 15 June 2015.

Each Area Board had been invited to showcase their community area by taking part in the pageant.

The Community area Manage would be liaising with local groups over the next few weeks to start planning for the event.

To ratify the list of Highways Major Maintenance schemes for 2015/16 as proposed by the Board following their meeting with Officers on 11 February 2015.

The Board considered the list of Highways Major Maintenance schemes 2015/16, as proposed by the Board following their meeting with Officers on 11 February 2015.

Decision:

Salisbury Area Board approved the list of Highways Schemes for 2015/16 as below:

Salisbury Footway resurfacing Programme 2015/2016

To note the minutes form the last meeting of the Community Area Transport Group held on 6 February 2015 and to consider the recommendations for funding for 2014/15, detailed in the report.

The Board noted the minutes form the last meeting of the Community Area Transport Group held on 6 February 2015 and considered the recommendations for funding for 2014/15, as detailed in the report.

Comments included:

·         Would it be possible to have some of the ‘z-bright lights’ for the zebra crossing on Wilton Road? Answer: It would cost around £6,500 for a set of those lights.

·         Cllr Douglas asked for the CATG minutes to be amended to include her attendance, as she had been at the last meeting.

·         Cllr Douglass reported that the white lines had been repainted that day on the junction of Stratford Road/Castle Road, it was now clear that there was no left turn at that junction.

Action: CAM to amend CATG minutes.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board noted the minutes of the last CATG meeting and approved the recommendations for funding from the CATG budget for 2014/15, as listed in the report.

To consider the applications for funding from the Community Area Grant scheme for 2014/15 as detailed in the report attached to the agenda.

The Board considered 8 applications for funding from the Community Area Grant Scheme for 2014/15, as detailed in the report attached to the agenda.  Applicants present were invited to speak in support of their projects. Following discussion the Board members then voted on each application.

Decision

South Wiltshire Agenda 21was awarded £1,000 towards their Walking Map Project.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

Wessex Community Circus CICwas awarded £5,000 towards the Salisbury Action Roadshow Project.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

The Trussell Trust was awarded £5,000 towards the Barons' Charter project, Salisbury.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnershipwas awarded £2,860 towards the Digital Greenspace Asset Mapping Project.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

The Salisbury Museum was awarded £5,000 towards Turners Wessex - Architecture and Ambition. Salisbury Museum exhibition.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

Baby Basics Salisburywas awarded £1,917 towards the Start Up costs of Baby Basics Salisbury.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

St. George’s 2015 Celebrations was awarded £850 towards the St. George’s 2015 Celebrations.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

Decision

Victoria Bowls Club was awarded £1,000 towards the refurbishment of the clubhouse, with the condition that the funding would not be spent on works on the grounds, which would be the responsibility of the land owner; SCC.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2014/15.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 14 May 2015, 7pm at City Hall, Salisbury.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and noted that the next meeting of the Salisbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 14 May 2015 at 7.00pm in the Salisbury City Hall.