Agenda and minutes

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

It was announced that the Chairman, Councillor Graham Payne, had informed the Board that owing to ill health he would be standing down as Chairman with immediate effect.

Therefore, the Board undertook a vote in accordance with constitutional procedure to elect a Chairman for remainder of the municipal year.

Resolved:

To elect Councillor Horace Prickett as Chairman of Trowbridge Area Board for the remainder of the municipal year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Graham Payne.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2019 were presented for consideration and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on xx were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

In relation to the grant funding requests from Friends of Castle Mead School and Castle Mead School Councillor Edward Kirk drew attention to his published register of interests in relation to school contracts.

To include the following:

a)    New proposals to build on successful community model for children’s centre services

b)    Electoral Review

Announcements were received in relation to the consultation on children’s centres and the ongoing electoral review of Wiltshire Council.

The new Community Engagement Manager, Liam Cripps, was also formally presented to the Board.

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the

following:

a)    Wiltshire Police

b)    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - apologies

c)    Town and Parish Councils

d)    Trowbridge Community Area Future

e)    Trowbridge Wellbeing Centre Development Group

f)     Safer and Supportive Communities Group

g)    Health and Wellbeing Group

Updates from partners were received as follows:

     i.        Wiltshire Police

The written update was noted. Inspector James Williams provided detailed update on knife crime in Wiltshire, which had reduced by 18% since September 2017, although there had been increases in Trowbridge. He explained that arrests had been made in relation to each incident, and detailed the work to identify vulnerable young people who might be persuaded into activities which involved carrying knives, drop in sessions and amnesties as well as work with the community to deal with the problem. He emphasised that the police alone could not deal with the wider issue of knife crime without assistance of the community. After discussion and questions, the Board thanked Inspector Williams for his report.

    ii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

An apology was received.

  iii.        Town and Parish Councils

The written update from Trowbridge Town Council was noted. A further update was received from North Bradley Parish Council from Councillor Roger Evans that they were collating replies to the Regulation 14 consultation of their Neighbourhood Plan, were working on housing site allocations with discussion had with Trowbridge Town Council, and noted that the Electoral Review of Wiltshire Council had large implications for North Bradley and a response would be going in soon.

  iv.        Trowbridge Community Area Future (TCAF)

The written update was noted.

    v.        Trowbridge Wellbeing Centre Development Group

Colin Kay stated that a meeting had been due with Tim Martienssen at Wiltshire Council on 18 March 2019 to discuss the East Wing site but that this had been cancelled as the outline planning application for the site was still stalled as a result of concerns of the Environment Agency. He noted that the NHS had been award funds for use on the site, but he expressed concerns that if the delays on planning permission continued that funding might be lost.

  vi.        Safer and Supportive Communities Group

The group had not yet met since the new Community Engagement Manager started their post, but work was being undertaken to combine various groups to provide more efficient support.

 vii.        Health and Wellbeing Group

The group had met within the last two weeks although there was no budget remaining for the year. There had been an update from Carers Support Wiltshire. It was stated further work was needed to ensure true community involvement with the group rather than just networking professionals.

To receive a presentation on the Local Coordination service to provide short term support, information, advice or connections to local resources for individuals and families

Vicki Lofts and Gemma Novis from the Local Area Coordination team were in attendance to provide a presentation on the work of the team, which was a new programme that had been trialled in 14 other local authority areas, with the aim of connecting on an individual and collective basis with communities to help increase self-reliance, reduce dependency on council services, or just provide support for personal community involvement.

It was stated that Gemma Novis was the coordinator for the Adcroft, Seymore and Paxcroft areas of Trowbridge along with Hilperton. Coordinators were assigned to areas of around 10,000 people, and were highly targeted. At present there were only nine coordinators so not all areas were covered, however if the results were shown to be effective further funding and partner support would enable cover to other areas.

The Board discussed the presentation, seeking details of the number of people to be supported by such coordinators. It was stated hundreds were spoken to and it was anticipated that each coordinator would when fully operational and embedded in the communities’ direct support to 40-60 individuals, some with very complex needs, with associated support arising from that for many more. Further details were sought about the types of work that would be undertaken.

The Board thanked Vicki and Gemma for their update.

To receive a presentation from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust in relation to projects being undertaken in the Trowbridge area.

Notice had been received that the presenter for the item Jessica Thimbleby was unwell and unable to attend. The item would therefore be deferred until a future meeting.

To receive a presentation from the Employment and Skills team.

Information on National Apprenticeship Week is also included below.

Wiltshire Council employment and skills service and Wiltshire Careerswill be hosting various ‘drop ins' throughout National Apprenticeship Week (4 to 8 March). They will be on hand to provide vital information on apprenticeships and the Wiltshire Council apprenticeship programme. There is no need to book, just pop along. Stands will be manned from 10am to 4:30pm. However, all materials will be available, should you choose to visit outside of these hours.

Although National Apprenticeship Week ends Friday 8^th March you can contact Employment and Skills team via Work Wiltshire – www.workwiltshrie.co.uk or email workwilts@wiltshire.gov.uk

The Board expressed its dissatisfaction that no officer had attended to present the item.

To receive any updates on these development sites in the community area.

Mr Lance Allan, Chief Executive and Town Clerk to Trowbridge Town Council provided an update that he had along with councillors held meetings to discuss progress with the Bowyers site with the Innox Mill developers. Although he was unable to share confidential details of the discussion, he stated that he was informed progress was being made and future updates would be forthcoming.

In relation to County Hall East Wing the previous update from Colin Kay was noted.

To consider the propsoed highway maintenance scheme list for 2019/20

The Board received a report from the Corporate Director on the Road Resurfacing Programme and after discussion, during which it was agreed that it was felt the level of funding proposed by the Council was inadequate, it was,

Resolved:

The Area Board:

Notes the highway maintenance scheme list for 2019/20 prepared for the Area Board and the new provisional five-year programme.

However, the Area Board also expresses its dissatisfaction at the level of funding allocated for maintenance in the Trowbridge Community Area, which it believes to be inadequate to the level of need and disproportionate as compared to other areas boards.

The Area Board considered the following applications:

The Big Community Grow

The sum of £996.20 was requested bor equipment for the Trowbridge Apple Festival including an apple press and tables. An amendment to fund only the amount for the new apple press from Councillors Ernie Clark and Edward Kirk was defeated. On the motion of Councillor Deborah Halik, seconded by Councillor Steve Oldrieve, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £996.20 to the Big Community Grow

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

Friends of Southwick Country Park

The sum of £800.00 was requested for various improvements to the park including new benches. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Peter Fuller, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £800.00 to Friends of Southwick County Park

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

Trowbridge Town Hall

The sum of £950.79 was requested for a new electrical screen. On the motion of Councillor Steve Oldrieve, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £950.79 to the Trowbridge Town Hall.

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

Friends of Castle Mead School

The sum of £1134.00 was requested for a new shed. On the motion of Councillor Steve Oldrieve, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £1134.00 to the Friends of Castle Mead School

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

Castle Mead School

The sum of £990.80 was requested for the Wildlife Garden project. On the motion of Councillor Steve Oldrieve, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £990.90 to Castle Mead School

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

Councillor Ernie Clark requested that his vote in objection to the proposal be recorded. Councillor Deborah Halik requested her vote in abstention to the proposal be recorded.

Wiltshire Mighty Girls

The sum of £2975.00 was requested for a body positivity project to be run at John of Gaunt School. The project had been recommened for approval by members of the Local Youth Network. On the motion of Councillor Deborah Halik, seconded by Councilor Stewart Palmen, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £2975.00 to Wiltshire Mighty Girls.

Reason

The application met the Youth Grant Criteria

Wiltshire Youth for Christ

The sum of £2500.00 was requested for a summer pop up event which had also been held in previous years. The project had been recommened for approval by members of the Local Youth Network, however the full amount could not be awarded in the current financial year. On the motion of Councillor Deborah Halik, seconded by Councilor Ernie Clark, it was,

Resolved

To award the sum of £2500 to Wiltshire Youth for Christ, with £1343.44 to be provided now, and £1,156.56 on 1 April 2019.

Reason

The application met the Youth Grant Criteria