Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Deborah Halik and Steve Oldrieve

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2018 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Decision

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2018.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair, including the following:

1)    The Scouts and Larkrise Community Farm – Correspondence has been received regarding traffic issues around the new road impacting upon these bodies. The matter has been referred to officers with the request that reports be prepared for the meeting of CATG in April.

2)    Provision of Information to Division Members – To update members and to seek information regarding adherence to Protocol 1 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to division members being informed of matters affecting their division.

Through the Chair there were the following announcements:

1)    The Scouts and Larkrise Community Farm - A report would be taken to the meeting of the Community Area Transport Group in April 2018 in relation to traffic issues from the new road. John Cox from the Scouts and Susan Bradbrooke from Larkrsie Community Farm made statements to the Board.

2)    Provision of Information – The Chairman announcement he had written to the Monitoring Officer explaining that Division Members had not been kept informed of relevant information within their Divisions. He had been assured that Directors would be reminded of the requirement to do so under Protocol 1 of the Constitution.

3)    A question had been submitted for the meeting from Councillor Edward Kirk, with a response provided as follows:

Question

Please can it be confirmed if there are procedures in place regarding the transfer of funds to another party by the named recipient of an area board grant, and can details be provided of what those procedures are? Please can clarity also be provided on what timescales, if any, exist with regard to by when awarded grants should be spent?

Response

Area Board grants should be spent within one year under the relevant criteria. For Youth Grants, this may differ depending on the project and what was agreed with the Local Youth Network

Information and advice is being sought on these points, and a further written response will be provided to clarify the position as soon as is practicable.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

As an urgent item, the Board considered Agenda Supplement 2 and the planned Road Surfacing Programme for 2018/19 from the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste.

Following a motion from Councillor Horace Prickett, seconded by Councillor Ernie Clark, it was,

Decision

That the Trowbridge Area Board:

i)     Acknowledges that there has been a substantial improvement in the overall condition of Wiltshire’s roads in recent years, but further investment is still required.

ii)   Approves the highway maintenance scheme list for this community area in 2018/19 prepared for the Area Board, with the addition of ‘Wyke Road (part only, between Elizabeth Way and Marsh Road), Hilperton’ in the Reserve or Future Years’ table.

iii)  Notes that a new five-year programme will be developed shortly, making use of the Council’s new Highways Infrastructure Asset Management System (HIAMS), to ensure best value for money and whole life costing for the highways asset

Reason for Proposals

The highway network forms the Council’s largest asset, and it is important that it is maintained in the most cost-effective way that demonstrates value for money. This includes the use of asset management and whole life costing approaches to inform investment decisions.

Asset management principles have been applied for many years in Wiltshire to ensure that there is appropriate investment with longer term planning for the management of the highways assets.

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the following partners or Outside Bodies:

      i.        Wiltshire Police

    ii.        Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

   iii.        NHS and CCG

   iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

    v.        Town and Parish Councils

   vi.        Local Youth Network

Other Bodies

  vii.        Campus Working Group

 viii.        Safer and Supportive Communities Group

Updates from partners were received as follows:

     i.        Wiltshire Police

The written update was noted. Inspector Andy Fee provided an update in relation to the incident in Salisbury, as well as local updates in relation to car key burglaries, overall crime statistics, and the appointment of the new Chief Constable, Kier Pritchard.

    ii.        Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update was noted. There were no further updates.

  iii.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

The written update was noted, along with further details provided at the meeting.

  iv.        Town and Parish Councils

The written update from Trowbridge Town Council was noted. Further updates were received West Ashton Parish Council, Southwick Parish Council and Hilperton Parish Council. The Hilperton Local Plan would undergo examination in April. West Ashton raised the issue of effluent running off the Traveller site into the main road causing safety issues, with the issue had been submitted in August 2017. It was stated at the meeting a notice had been served to determine current ownership, and enforce action once this was determined. Concerns were also raised in relation to narrowing of the road into the Larkrise Community Farm. Southwick Parish Council also reported difficulties in receiving grants for the progression of their Local Plan.

    v.        Local Youth Network

It was announced that the Local Youth Facilitator, Emma Drage, had left the Council. The Chairman on behalf of the Board had expressed its thanks for all Emma’s work.

  vi.        Campus Working Group

With the agreement of the Board the name of the group was changed to the Trowbridge Wellbeing Centre Development Group. The written update was noted and following discussion it was resolved that:

The Trowbridge Area Board welcomes the proposals for the redevelopment of County Hall East at Bythesea Road, incorporating a health facility, retail and residential elements, new footways and bridges linking the site to the town centre and proposals for a new indoor active leisure facility providing gym, activity spaces and youth facilities as well supporting the inclusion of a swimming pool within the development, and will work with Wiltshire Council and others to realise the opportunity and ensure that once developed the facility is managed for the benefit of the local community in conjunction with other local leisure facilities, both indoor and outdoor.

 vii.        Community Engagement Manager Update

Details were provided on recent events, including supporting the community hub in The Shires, work with Dementia friends and survey of carers. An evaluation of Community Grants awarded in the last financial year was provided to members

Mr Peter Mundy, local resident, following communication with the Area Board, opened discussion on the inadequacy of the parking situation at Trowbridge Railway Station, and the possibilities for improvements, including whether land on the Bowyers site could be utilised.

During discussion, it was stated that following discussion with Network Rail the process for all day parking in the Railway station car park had been increased, which would remove some incentive for non-users to park there as it was now the same price as council car parks in the town. It was reported that the owners of the Bowyers site, Innox Mills, had had discussions with Network rail but that these had not been very fruitful.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Decision

For the Chairman to write to Network Rail, copying in the Portfolio Holder for Transport (who would contact Great Western Railways) to express the concerns of the Board in relation to lack of capacity on the site, and the impact to their business as well as the town.

An update from the Economic Regeneration team Is attached

The written update was noted. It was reported that the owners of the site, Innox Mills, had stated they might have something to present to the May meeting of the area board, or shortly after.

It was noted that similar statements had been made in 2017, but that if possible the Board would receive an update at its May meeting.

a.    Community Area Grants

To consider the following applications:

                      i.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF) - Town Hall Arts Café and Community Space - £2504.80

                    ii.        West Wilts Multi Faith Forum - Computers for Growing English Classes and Expansion of Project - £900.00

                   iii.        Friends of John of Gaunt School - John of Gaunt, Forest School - £950.00

                   iv.        Larkrise Community Farm - Sesory Classroom Project - £3875.00

                    v.        1^st Hilperton Scout Group - Hilperton Community Garden - £617.50

                   vi.        Bethesda Baptist Church - Bethesda Church Community Project - £3415.00

                  vii.        Hope Nature Centre - Community Learning Bus in the Animal Park - £2000.00

i.              North Bradley WW1 Commemoration Group – North Bradley WW1 Commemoration Group - £544.00

ii.            Member project - Cllr David Halik – Neighbourhood Watch Signs – 500.00

Details of each application can be accessed via the links in the report.

b.    Health and Wellbeing Grants

To consider the following applications:

                      i.        Celebrating Age – programme of arts activities - £1500.00

                    ii.        Arts Together – extension of arts activities with vulnerable older people - £2000.00

                   iii.        Carers Support Wiltshire Connecting Communities – Campaign to reach isolated lonely older people and link into services with support for carers - £3230.00

                   iv.        Trowbridge Town Council – Programme of walking sports for older people - £4140.00

                    v.        Member project – Cllr Deborah Halik – Training community minibus drivers - £500.00

                   vi.        Community Engagement Manager – 2 outing for older people - £770.00

c.    Community Area Transport Grants

                    i.          Issue 5589 The Halve – Increase allocation by £320.00

                   ii.          Issue 5677 Crossing Point British Row - £400.00

                 iii.          Issue 5272 Frome Road/Manor Road/Westfield Road - £2000.00

                 iv.          Issue 5657 St Michael’s Close Hilperton - £9212.00 subject to Parish contribution

                  v.          Issue 5837 Dropped Kerbs Riverway/Hill Street, Trowbridge - £667.00 subject to town council contribution

                 vi.          Issue 5859 Green Lane/Paxcroft Way - £2000.00 subject to town council contribution.

A)   The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2017/18:

       i.        Trowbridge Arts

The sum of £2504.80 was requested for Town Hall Arts Café and Community Space. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £2504.80 to Trowbridge Arts.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

      ii.        West Wilts Multi Faith Forum

The sum of £900.00 was requested for Computers for growing English classes. On the motion of Councillor Peter Fuller, seconded by Councillor David Halik, it was,

Decision

To defer the application.

     iii.        Friends of John of Gaunt School

The sum of £950.00 was requested for John of Gaunt – Forest School project. On the motion of David Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £950.00 to Friends of John of Gaunt School.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

    iv.        Larkrise Community Farm

The sum of £3875.00 was requested for Sensory Classroom Project. On the motion of Councillor Ernie Clark, seconded by Councillor Horace Prickett, it was

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £3875.00 to Larkrise Community Farm, subject to Westbury Area Board awarding the amount requested of them by Larkrise Community Farm.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

      v.        1^st Hilperton Scout Group

The sum of £617.50 was requested for Hilperton Community Garden. On the motion of Councillor Ernie Clark, seconded by Councillor Edward Kirk, it was,

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £617.50 to 1^st Hilperton Scout Group.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

    vi.        Bethesda Baptist Church

The sum of £3415.00 was requested for the Bethesda Church Community Church. On the motion of Councillor Ernie Clark, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £3415.00 to Bethesda Baptist Church.

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

   vii.        Hope Nature Centre

The sum of £2000.00 was requested for Community learning bus in the animal park. On the motion of Councillor Edward Kirk, seconded by Councillor Peter Fuller.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £2000.00 to Hope Nature Centre

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

Member projects

i)             North Bradley WW1 Commemoration Group

The sum of £544.00 was requested for group activities. A motion was moved to award the full amount by Councillor Horace Prickett, seconded by Councillor Edward Kirk. An amendment was moved, and approved, by Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Ernie Clark, to award £444.00 subject to the Parish Council awarding £100.00.

Decision

The Area Board awarded the sum of £444.00 to North Bradley WW1 Commemoration Group subject to the parish council awarding £100.00

Reason: The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2017/18.

ii)            Neighbourhood Watch SIgns

The sum of £500.00 was requested for production of Neighbourhood Watch Signs.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

A written update will be provided in a supplement. Attached is a copy of a briefing note on the register.

The written update was noted, with concerns still raised over why certain land was not included in the register, and the negative impact this was having on the town as a result. It was agreed to invite the relevant Cabinet Member to attend the Area Board at its May meeting to address the concerns of the Board and local residents.