Agenda and minutes

The Chairman, Cllr Rich Rogers welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Southern Wiltshire Area Board.

Apologies for absence were received from:

• Chris Wood - Fire & Rescue

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting which was adjourned on Thursday 8 September and recommenced on 12 October 2022.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting which was opened and adjourned on Thursday 8 September and recommenced on 12 October 2022, 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 none.

To receive Chairman’s Announcements including:

·         Underground Studios

Cost of Living

Since last Area Board at a full council meeting members across the county affirmed their commitment to offer support to the cost-of-living challenges many will face over the coming months and to focus towards helping residents, businesses, schools and council staff.

Already there had been the establishment of the Cost-of-living support hub, providing a one stop resources available, and the creation of an online interactive community directory to help people find the warm spaces and community food providers in the county. Both can be accessed through the council website – supporting you through the rising cost of living.

The Chairman was keen for the Board to play a part in supporting its communities and had met to discuss how best to do so. Funds would be made available to support community led initiatives, with applications invited from parish councils, volunteer groups and individuals.

Youth Outreach

The Board had held another pop-up youth event in Winterslow. There was now a volunteer committee to take on the running of the Youth Zone Thanks were given to Katrina and Sam from Community First for their assistance.

Underground Studios

The Chairman had visited the Underground Studios at the Harnham Bunker, which had previously been awarded funding to support the creative activities, including music, computer coding and 3D printing.

·         Wiltshire Council Update - Wiltshire Council Grants for Electric Vehicle Chargers

·         Healthwatch Wiltshire

·         Integrated Care Board

·         Current consultations: https://wiltshire.objective.co.uk/portal/

The Board noted the written information items, which included:

• Wiltshire Council Update - Wiltshire Council Grants for Electric Vehicle Chargers
• Healthwatch Wiltshire
• Integrated Care Board
• Current consultations: https://wiltshire.objective.co.uk/portal/

Cllr R Clewer noted that Integrated Care System’s Draft Strategy was being developed and was expected to be circulated in December for public feedback.

To receive a presentation from Rebecca Seymour, Creative Producer of the Celebrating Age Programme, as funded by the area board in October 2022.

Presenter: Rebecca Seymour

Rebecca Seymour, Creative Producer of the Celebrating Age Programme, gave a presentation on the project, which had been funded by the Area Board in October 2022.

With funding awarded by the Area board, Rebecca hoped to bring some creative events and support to the more vulnerable and isolated residents in the Southern Wiltshire community area.

A video was shown which detailed some of the work across the county with different projects.

A ‘Creative Conversations’ initiative which had begun on the telephone had recently progressed to include working with people who were house bound, to connect them up with support to be creative and build on their wellbeing.

A ‘Noticing Nature’ initiative was also available for those with an interest in nature and the outdoors, which would tie in with visual art.

Rebecca welcomed the support of the Area Board to guide her to those that were most in need of support.

The first planned event would take place in Downton Memorial Hall on 15 December, from 2.00 – 4.00pm.

To receive the final report on the Southern Wiltshire Area Board Healthy Schools Project, and to present plaques to the qualifying schools.

The Area Board has helped 7 new primary schools engage with Wiltshire’s Healthy Schools Programme. These were, Coombe Bissett, Longford, Old Sarum, St Andrews (Laverstock), St Nicholas (Porton), The New Forest, Winterslow.

The project supported health eating, exercise, emotional literacy, mental health support and more.

The Board noted the update on the Southern Wiltshire Area Board Healthy Schools Project and presented plaques to the qualifying schools, the New Forest School and St Nicholas School, Porton.

To receive an update on Wiltshire’s collective response to the cost of living crisis and to hear from community led settings that have declared themselves Warm Spaces in the Southern Wiltshire Community Area.

The Board receive an update on Wiltshire’s collective response to the cost-of-living crisis and heard from community led settings that had declared themselves Warm Spaces in the Southern Wiltshire Community Area.

Interactive Directory

The council has created a new online interactive community directory to help people find the warm spaces and community food providers in the county www.wiltshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Those who have set up warm spaces or community food provider services were invited to fill out a short survey, so that their details can be included.

People were urged to share the directory within their communities, as the resource contained a range of information and guidance on a variety of cost-of-living related topics such as energy, council tax and benefits, housing information, the support of local partner agencies, and advice on mental health.

There was also a section dedicated to support and advice for businesses.

Warm spaces within the community area

Downton library would be providing a warm and friendly space throughout the winter offering energy and cost of living advice, and additional activities

The Glebe Hall, Winterbourne Earls, had run a drop in café every other Wednesday afternoon since August 2021 for local residents to meet and chat, providing support to a lot of people who were quite lonely.  Cakes and drinks were provided free, with voluntary donations to the Glebe Hall. 

Alderbury would also open its church hall one day a week and Pitton and Farley would extend the length of time they heat their church after toddlers group for people to make use of a warm space.

Woodfalls ran a community café. They would be offering coffee and cake and soup and also an after school offer for parents to visit.

Downton library would have warm drinks available and the Club Friday in Idmiston would be extending its current offer

It was recognised that many clubs may need to recruit more volunteers as a consequence of offering out these facilities for extra periods or days.

The Chairman welcomed new ideas for initiatives and urged people to come and engage with the Board.

Cllr R Clewer noted how quickly the initiative was evolving, adding that Libraries would also be opening for longer for people to use. The ideas around bringing people together for coffee, were just one way to provide support, acknowledging that people would be motivated to set up what worked best for them.

Comments and questions:

·       Whilst warm spaces were needed there were also many people that could not leave their home, who may be feeling alone and cold. How would they be reached?

Answer: It takes a lot of volunteer activity – attention was need to the link schemes which could be of use for those not able to leave their homes.

·       Peter Castle, Pastor in Landford – We are due to discuss the warm space initiative, who should we contact if we need further information?

Answer: karen.linaker@wiltshire.gov.uk

a) Parish Councils and Community groups

b) Community Policing – local issues and priorities - In attendance, Inspector Tina Osborn.

c) Fire & Rescue

Parish Councils and Community groups

There were no updates at this meeting.

Community Policing – local issues and priorities

In addition to the written update provided as Supplement 1 to the agenda, Inspector Tina Osborn gave a verbal update, some of the main points included:

There had been a successful implementation of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in Downton, aimed to reduce the use of catapults. Since implementation, no further reports had been logged there for that type of offence, during the last two months.

There had been reports relating to catapult use in Laverstock and Odstock, however tis was believed to have been by a different group. Pulse Patrols were being carried out in specific areas where issues we are happening. Police would stop and speak to people believed to be connected to the offenses. Ongoing work with partners to try and identify the culprits.

During a successful late-night operation carried out in October, one individual had been arrested and sent to prison. As a result of the intelligence collected through the operation, 2 males had been arrested for a series of burglaries, and had been charged and remanded, awaiting sentence.

There had been three arrests in relation to the theft of high value motor vehicles. These individuals were currently on bail whilst the matter was investigated by CID.

Preventative work included the bike making events, which would continue around the community areas, and increased talks at schools on knife crime.  

Comments and questions:

·       Cllr Z Clewer – Thanked the Police for their work in Redlynch following a spate of rural crimes. She also urged communities to report all incidents, noted the youth version of Crime Stoppers called Fearless and the recruitment event aimed at school leavers which was due to take place later in the week.

·       Cllr R Clewer stated that if there was evidence to support a PSPO for other areas then he supported this.  

·       Downton PC – There had been recent attendance of a Police Officer to the parish meeting, however that Officer was due to retire. Would he be replaced?  

Answer: Recruitment was underway to recruit two more Officers to the Neighbourhood Police Team.

Fire & Rescue

In addition to the written update provided as Supplement 2 to the agenda, Jim Weston, Group Manager introduced himself and provided a verbal update, which included:

·       Community Safety Plan link was provided in the report

·       Prevention activity – keen to be involved with the warm spaces project and could identify people who need the assistance

·       Safe and Well visits continued to be provided, these were free visit to those who were in need to assess the need for safety features at home.

·       Expanding the Team with recruitment across the Wiltshire area, to ensure frontline services were robust and strong for communities.

·       Experiencing some difficulties due to the recent weather, however the call rate for fires had dropped.

·       There had been recent road traffic collisions which had resulted in life changing injuries and a fatality.

·       High  ...  view the full minutes text for item 96.

To discuss how the Community Speed Watch scheme is working in the Southern Wiltshire Community Area, and to hear from Kaylie Griffiths, Community Speed Watch Officer, Wiltshire Police.

The Board received a presentation by Kaylie Griffiths and Sarah Holden, Community Speed Watch Officers, Wiltshire Police on how the Community Speed Watch scheme was working in the Southern Wiltshire Community Area.

The presentation slides are attached to these minutes.

Some of the points raised were:

·       There were over 1000 volunteers across Wiltshire

·       Data for the last 2 years showed 5875 first offence letters were sent out, 492 second letters and 129 third letters.

·       The data collated and input by the CSW volunteers created a Heatmap, which built a bigger picture for communities, both with and without the volunteer groups.

·       Duty sheets were completed by volunteers

·       Police were able to make visits to volunteer groups to provide a visual support

·       Kaylie Griffiths – Community Road Safety Officer had been in post since June, carrying out a range of work and working with other sections of the force.

·       Recent online drop-in sessions were held, these would be repeated over the course of the year.

·       Gearing up for the drink drive campaign with 100 new breathalysers available to most of the patrol cars.

·       3 new Speed Enforcement Officers joined the team

Comments and questions:

·       The PCC did recently keep his promise to send Speed Enforcement Officers down to the Ridge in Redlynch where 11 tickets were enforced.

·       Did the force have a position on the automatic speed devices?

Answer: That was a matter for the OPCC. The Police did not endorse one product and we are unable to accept the heatmap data from those devices.

·       Jim Weston – The Fire Service is involved with partnership work on the Stay Alive initiative. This has Hotspots and data. If you are not linked in with our road safety partnership team, get in touch as we are developing a new model working on data. 

·       Alderbury PC regularly uses the shared device, was there scope for more devices?

Answer: That is a matter for the OPCC. They were currently carrying out research to establish how active teams were. That may enable them to take a decision on whether to invest in more equipment.

·       Winterslow had previously set up traffic surveys at various places, prior to the pandemic. One road met the threshold for speed watch. Nothing had happened since, who would take that up?

Answer: The data needs to be less than 2 years old

An update from Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager.

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager (SEPM) provided an update to the Board.

Addressing environmental issues – Cllr Andy Oliver 

·       Working towards an engagement event in 2023

·       Looking at how to encourage solar panels into community owned buildings and electrical charging points and green initiatives for schools

Youth engagement and rural youth outreach -Cllrs Ian McLennan and Zoe Clewer

·       Rural Youth Outreach Project (RYOP) – year 2 commenced in September

·       Winterslow Youth Club re-starting with new volunteer team supported by RYOP

·       Youth Pop Up events in October, November and December

·       Streetwatch schemes and PSPO ongoing

·       2023 youth employment and volunteering events being planned

·       19 May – target date for Youth Employment event

·       PCC recruitment event this weekend

Supporting older people and vulnerable adults health and wellbeing - Cllr Rich Rogers

·       Small area board grant facilitated successful Downton Full of Life event in October to mark International Day of Older Persons

·       Make A Friend Be A Friend initiative has started in Downton and Redlynch

·       Silver Salisbury Outreach successfully delivered

·       Reviewing local data from South Wiltshire Memory Service

·       7 warm spaces so far supporting cost of living crisis

To note the funding requests which have been awarded under the SEPM Delegated Powers process. Applications are set out in the attached report and summarised below:

Officer: Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager

The Board noted two funding requests detailed in the attached report, which had been awarded under the SEPM Delegated Powers process.

Decision

To note the following funding awards which had been allocated under the SEPM Delegated Decision process:

1.     Winterslow Youth Club was awarded £200 towards the Tea-Time Po Up Toasties project.

2.     Celebrating Age Project was awarded £750 towards the sessions

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations for funding arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on Wednesday 2 November 2022, as detailed in the attached report.

Recommendations:

·         4a – £2022.50 – Petersfinger Road/Milford Mill Road, HGV prevention

·         4b – £6228.72 – Extension of 20mph zone Laverstock

·         4c – £750 – Porton improved footway/drop kerb works

·         4e – £627 – Firs Rd Nameplates

·         4f – £2130 – Cholderton, Installation of NAL sockets for SID device

·         4i – £432 – Access improvements to FIRS5

·         4m – £3375 – Riverside Rd crossing upgrade

The Board noted the report and considered the recommendations for funding arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 2 November 2022.

Cllr R Clewer queried whether a response had been received from Clarendon PM in relation to the extension of the 20mph scheme as detailed in 4b.

It was noted that Clarendon PM were supportive of the scheme, but not of the proposal for them to provide some element of financial contribution due to the small nature of the parish and limited funds available

The Board discussed the options to award funding pending confirmation of Clarendon’s support for the scheme.

Decision

The Southern Wiltshire Area Board allocated LHFIG funding to the following projects, in line with the LHFIG recommendations with the condition that funding for 4b, only be released once confirmation of support was received by Clarendon PM :

·       4a – £2022.50 – Petersfinger Road/Milford Mill Road, HGV prevention

·       4b – £6228.72 – Extension of 20mph zone Laverstock

·       4c – £750 – Porton improved footway/drop kerb works

·       4e – £627 – Firs Rd Nameplates

·       4f – £2130 – Cholderton, Installation of NAL sockets for SID device

·       4i – £432 – Access improvements to FIRS5

·       4m – £3375 – Riverside Rd crossing upgrade

Future meeting dates (7-9pm):

·         23 February 2023

·         25 May 2023

·         7 September 2023

·         7 December 2023

·         22 February 2024

Area Board Funding deadlines are 4 weeks prior to the meeting date. Contact karen.linaker@wiltshire.gov.uk for further information.

Future meeting dates (7-9pm):

· 23 February 2023
· 25 May 2023
· 7 September 2023
· 7 December 2023
· 22 February 2024

Area Board Funding deadlines are 4 weeks prior to the meeting
date. Contact karen.linaker@wiltshire.gov.uk for further information.