Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Councillor Jose Green welcomed everyone to the meeting of the South West Wiltshire Area Board.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Cllr Pauline Church

·       Cllr Bridget Wayman

·       Tim Martin – Ansty PC

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

There were none.

To confirm as a correct record and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 19 September 2018.

To note any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 19 September 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

- Towns and Parishes affected by changing military population

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·        I attended the presentation of the Banner to the Tisbury Cadets which was a lovely group of young people who were so enthusiastic. More under eighteens should be encouraged to join up

·       The Tisbury Link Scheme had made a cry for help, for more volunteer drivers.

·       The WWI Tree planting scheme, was moving forward, all that had registered their villages to take part had now had their trees delivered.

·       A Library Home Service has been rolled out, this was a new scheme for those unable to make the journey to the Library.

·       Parking on Sundays in Wiltshire Council owned car parks to be free from this weekend

·        Highways maintenance works were due to take place on potholes and white lining.

·        The release of Chinese lanterns and sky balloons have been banned from Wiltshire Council land.

·        There would be a real ice rink in market square in Salisbury over Christmas.

To receive any verbal updates from Partners and Community Groups present, including:

·       Police – Neighbourhood Teams

To note the following written updates attached to the agenda:

a)    Police

b)    Fire

b) Wiltshire Council Items for Information

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

The Board noted the following written updates attached to the agenda and circulated at the meeting:

·       Neighbourhood Police Team

·       Fire Service

·       Wiltshire Council

In additional the following verbal partner updates were received:

Police - Inspector Hutchings gave a verbal update, noting that he represented the South Team, and would take back any queries regarding the West to Inspector Fee’s team. Some of the points from the update included:

• Work of our Special Constables – Wiltshire Police had invested heavily in recruiting more Specials and were now reaping the rewards of that investment. So far, the Specials had provided 63,000 hours of voluntary service, and were a fantastic asset. They are fully operational Police Officers and could be used for all aspects of our work.
• Visibility commitment & Pulse patrols – At this time of year there could often be an increase in theft at this time of year. We run pulse patrols, where we get the team together for 20 – 30 mins and put them all on patrol in a specific area. It works to deter criminals from this type of activity.
• I have made a commitment to all Area Boards in the South, if you would like a Police Officer to attend an event in the community, if you contact me, I will endeavour to get someone there where possible.

Questions

• Tisbury would like to invite you to send Police presence to the Tisbury Christmas Fair on 8^th December – Answer: I will feed this back.
• On page 16 of the agenda, it details a lot of PCSO’s are they now doing most of the Policing? – Answer: No, these are the people that make up the Community Policing Team, the eyes and the ears on the ground. Whilst every Police Officer is allocated an area, the demand on an Officer means they are sometimes not able to do a foot patrol in that area, so the PCSO are there to support them.
• We would also like a Police presence on 30^th November at the Mere Christmas fair. – Answer: I will feed that back.
• In Donhead St Andrew I have not seen a Police Officer patrolling in many years. Answer: We have had many Offices patrolling. We cannot commit to the types of patrols we had many years ago. We have to move our resources where the crime reports to be. We are a demand led service. We have to be proportionate to requests.
• Years ago, we had Dickson of Dock Green, were Officers went around alone, now we often see the Police in pairs, and they tend to be talking together, and not looking around as much. Answer: Most of our crew are single crew. It is not a given that our Officers go out in pairs. What we do have is an Officer and a PCSO, sometimes in training.
• There was a plan to introduce Special Constables based in a set area. Can you introduce that back into an area?  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

There will be presentations from local groups looking at what has and hasn’t worked in the parishes, including 20 mph schemes and Community Speed Watch, before the debate is opened up to the floor.

Cllr Deane introduced this themed item, which was focused on the attempt to slow traffic in the villages.  The Board received presentations from local groups looking at what had and had not worked in the parishes, including 20 mph schemes and Community Speed Watch.

He explained that the CATG has a limited budget, which was spent on small initiatives. We are here to discuss the matter of speeding through the villages. There is an element of perception, but not in all cases. The local Highways Officer had put together a presentation. The slides are attached to these minutes.

The Board then heard from the following community groups:

Hindon – Frank

Speeding Hotspots have been identified in many areas across our communities.

20 years ago, things were different, Police would visit an area and they would book people and charged them. Now we need to look to the three E’s, education, engineering and enforcement.

There are examples to be seen where the implementation of mini roundabouts, chicanes and humps can be effective.

Police have conducted speed checks in Hindon twice this year, we would like to see them more often. The ratio of tickets to words of advice has improved.

There are hurdles to go through to get a Speedwatch team up and running.

In Hindon, we share our device with two other villages. Once you have your team trained by the Police in Devizes, you then agree a programme with the other villages. We do two weeks on and four weeks off.

We input the data into a spreadsheet for submission to the local Police team.

There is quite a lot of effort involved with this.

Speed Indicator Devices (SIDS) – This is another option, where you do not deal with the Police, you deal with the Highways Team. The solar panel SID has run for most of the summer. During winter months the battery will need to be charged.

In our village we made two scarecrows with fake speed guns, and there was a dramatic impact.

Questions and comments –

·         The Speedwatch training has changed now, and can be undertaken more locally, it takes about 6 weeks.

·         The CSW is effective for the period of time they are there. The figures for speeding does come right down, but when the high-vis jackets go away the speeding goes back up. There was also a personal verbal attack on our volunteers, and they no longer take part. Answer: We do get abuse verbally but there has never been a physical attack. The reaction is on the whole supportive.

·         If someone is reported by us for speeding they can expect to receive a letter from the Police. Some can receive a visit from a Police Officer.

·         In Sedgehill and Semely we share a device, what about maintenance, long term?

·         Cllr Jeans - the one we have just bought in Mere was £1300.

Presentation 2 - Quidhampton – Clare Churchill

Quidhampton is a rat run to Salisbury. We have always had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To note the written updates for Sub-Groups, and consider any funding recommendations, as detailed in the papers and listed below:

CATG - To note the report and recommendations for funding from the last meeting as set out in the report attached to the agenda.

Health and Wellbeing Group – To note the report from the last meeting and recommendation for funding to ring-fence £6,000 for local community projects to combat social isolation and loneliness. Further information to be circulated at the meeting.

LYN Management Group - To note the report and recommendation for funding from the last meeting as set out in the report attached to the agenda.  

                                 
To consider the LYN recommendation that £4,312 of funding be allocated to extend the Monday evening activities session for young people at the Nadder Centre until the end of the academic year in 2019.

The Board noted the written updates from the Sub-Groups attached to the agenda, and considered funding recommendations as detailed in the reports.

Further information on the proposals of the Health and Wellbeing Initiative was circulated at the meeting and is attached to these minutes.

Decision

The Board approved the recommendations of the CATG as detailed in the report.

Decision

The Board approved the recommendation to ringfence £6,000 for local community projects to combat social isolation and loneliness.

Decision

The Board approved the recommendation for LYN funding as detailed in the report.

Community Area Grants

The Board is asked to:

·       Ratify the grant awarded to Quidhampton PC under delegated powers, as detailed in the attached report.

·       Consider a request from the Cranbourne Chase AONB for an extension to a grant previously awarded.

·       Consider the proposal that for future applications, ‘all grant applications will require the support of the local town/parish council and a meaningful contribution to be considered by South West Wiltshire Area Board.’

The Board considered the three proposals as set out in the agenda.

Decision

The Board ratified the Community Area Grant of £3,500 to Quidhampton Parish Council, for new play equipment, which had been awarded under delegated powers by the Community Engagement Manager, in consultation with the Board Members, as detailed in the report.

Cllr Deane abstained from voting on the next grant from Cranbourne Chase AONB, and Cllr Jeans asked the CEM to check that the funds would   be spent on the same project as detailed in the original award.

Decision

The Board approved the request of Cranbourne Chase AONB for an extension to the grant previously awarded.

Decision

The Board Approved the proposal that for all future applications, applicants would require the support of the Town or Parish Council and a meaningful contribution to be considered by the South West Wiltshire Area Board.

The next meeting of the Board is on Wednesday 30 January 2019, at 6.30pm