Agenda and minutes

A minute’s silence was held in remembrance of Councillor Graham Payne, Trowbridge Drynham Division, who had passed away on 24 March 2019. Councillor Payne had served as Chairman of the Area Board on numerous occasions and had represented Trowbride at town, district, county and unitary level for many decades, being first elected to Wiltshire County Council in 1976.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Steve Oldrieve.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2019

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2019 were presented for consideration. For minute 14 the final two lines were deleted and the spelling of Trowbridge was corrected in Minute 19.

 

Resolved:

 

Subject to the amendments above, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2019 were approve and signed as a true and correct record.

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

 

Councillor Ernie Clark declared a non-pecuniary interest for Minute 31 in respect of a grant by virtue of being a member of the Community Centre. He declared he would speak but not vote on the application.

To include the following:

 

a)    Community Led Housing Project in Wiltshire

b)    Homelessness Strategy Constultation

c)    Extended Consultation on Vision for Special Schools Provision

d)    The Maltings and Central Car Park Masterplan Consultation

e)    The Big Pledge 2019

The announcements as detailed in the agenda pack were noted.

 

In respect of the consultation on Special Schools the Area Board resolved that the following view be communicated to the Cabinet of Wiltshire Council:

 

That Trowbridge Area Board are pleased to note that the Council have withdrwan the notices to close Larkrise, St Nicholas and Rowdeford Schools. The Area Board are anxious for the Larkrise Special School to be retained in Trowbridge and call upon the Cabinet to reconsider its previous view and meets the needs and concerns expressed by the parents of the town by extending the provision in Trowbridge. This can be easily achievedby using the Ashton Street site.

 

Attention was also drawn to the start of the annual ‘Big Pledge’ exercise event organised by the Council.

To note the written reports and receive any updates from the

following:

 

a)    Wiltshire Police

b)    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c)    Town and Parish Councils

d)    Local Youth Network

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 Andy Fee was in attendance and provied further updates on an increase in the number of community coordinators for Trowbridge specifically as well as West Wiltshire generally. He noted the coordinators were key to the Community Policing Teams’ engagement with local issues.

 

The Area Board discussed the updated and sought additional details, including on PCSO attendance at parish councils and enforcement of lower level criminal activity, and whether locally funded enforcement was a suitable approach given the focus of the police on higher priorities.

 

    ii.        Dorset Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update was noted.

 

   iii.        Town and Parish Councils

The written update from Trowbridge Town Council was noted, along with notice of the two vacancies on the Council. Updates were also received from Hilperton and North Bradley on matters such as progression of neighbourhood plans, attendance at the qnuiry into the housing sites allocations plan, and that a defibrilator had been installed at Hilperton village hall.

 

   iv.        Local Youth Network

It was stated that the Community Engagement Manager was now liaising with Trowbridge Community Area Future to attend youth sessions so that grant applications could be viewed and assessed directly by young people to make their views and priorities known.

 

    v.        Trowbridge Wellbeing Centre Development Group

Concerns were expressed by Colin Kay on behalf of the group that the principle contact at Wiltshire Council had now left the authority and they had not been communicated with by a new contact. The Community Engagement Manager stated they would discover who the best contact was and put them in communication.

 

Concerns were also expressed at continued delays on the East Wing site in obtaining planning permission, particularly as the NHS had obtained capital funding for the site but that without an application there was a risk the funds could be reallocated.

 

It was also stated an organisation called YouthZone had been contacted and they weree interested in potentially contributing funds to the leisure aspects of the site.

 

Resolved:

That the Area Board write to the Cabinet to request further details on progress with the East Wing site.

 

   vi.        Safer and Supportive Communities Group

It was stated the group had now met since the last meeting and feedback would be obtained.

 

  vii.        Health and Wellbeing Group

The Area Board agreed that Councillor Stewart Palmen would be the Board representative to the group in place of Councillo Deborah Halik.

To receive a presentation regarding proposals to establish a Weavers Market in Trowbridge.

A presentation was received as attached to these minutes by Giles Nicholson in relation to plans to develop a monthly market in Trowbridge town centre to be known as Trowbridge Weavers Market.

 

The Board was shown details of the planning that had been undertaken for the first even, planned for July 2019, including engagement with local businesses and other groups to secure quality stallholders and activities and coordinate with other events. The event was to be not for profit and after the first four events the organisers would review to see how things could be improved for next year. A wider communication plan would launch in June aimed at the public.

 

The Board discussed the presentation and sought additional details on engagment with local traders, with it stated that the intention was not to compete with existing offerings but to help spotlight local businesses. It was confirmed that while applications for stalls from many places were being considered, as long as the quality met the required standards priority would be for local businesses and traders. There were also questions on target demographics.

 

The Board thanked Mr Nicholson for his presentation and awaited further details as they emerged.

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

A presentation was received from Jessica Thimbleby of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on work being carried out in partnership with the Council on recycling initiatives and other activities in the communities, working with Area Boards, schools and businesses.  The presentation is attached to these minutes.

 

The Board was updated on events including working with the Friends of Biss Meadows, contact with Selwood Housing for projects in Longfield, and a planned ‘Waste-free’ picnic event for 30 May 2019 subject to town council approval. There were also details provided generally of waste production and recycling within the county.

 

The Board discussed the update and sought details of a Community Fridge project that had begun in Westbury and how this could be extended to other areas, and it was also raised that government consultation was underway on a scheme operating in some parts of the UK for machines which gave financial rewards for recycling materials.

 

The Board thanked Jessica Thimbleby for her presentation.

Applicant	Amount requested
Applicant: Alzheimer's Support Project Title: Mill Street Day Club Access View full application	£2500.00
Applicant: Bethesda Baptist Church Project Title: Bethesda Church Community Rooms View full application	£5000.00
Applicant: ruksak45218 Project Title: RUKSAK45218 View full application	£2500.00
Applicant: The Mead Primary School Project Title: Community Art Studio and Meeting Space View full application	£5000.00
Applicant: Southwick Baptist Church Project Title: Free Introductory Advice Service Southwick View full application	£500.00
Applicant: Sing a Longs Project Title: Sing a Long choral group Music Folders View full application	£180.00
Applicant: Paxcroft Mead Community Centre Project Title: Paxcroft Mead CC Toilet refurbishment View full application	£1532.50

 

Health and Wellbeing Applicataion

Applicant: Wiltshire Music Centre, £1500.00, Celebrating Age Wiltshire

The Area Board considered the following applications:

 

Alzheimer’s Support

The sum of £2500.00 was requested for building works to repair and make more accessible the access to the building. On the motion of Councillor Ernie Clark, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £2500.00 to the Alzheimer’s Support

 

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

 

Bethesda Baptist Church

The sum of £5000.00 was requested for various improvements community room used by local groups. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £5000.00 to Bethesda Baptist Church

 

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

 

Ruksak45218

The sum of £2500.00 was requested for a project to provide rucksacks of essential items for vulnerable families and young people. On the motion of Councillor Edward Kirk, seconded by Councillor David Halik, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £2500.00 to the Ruksak45218

 

Reason

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria

 

The Mead Primary School

The sum of £5000.00 was requested for construction of an art studio and meeting space. On the motion of Councillor Peter Fuller, seconded by Councillor Deborah Halik, it was,

 

Resolved

To not award the grant and to refer the application to Bradford-on-Avon Area Board

 

Reason

The application site was within the Bradford-on-Avon Community area.

 

Southwick Baptist Church

The sum of £500.00 was requested for a free introductory advice service based in Southwick in relation to debt and benefits advice. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £500.00 to Southwick Baptist Chuch

 

Reason

The application met the Community Grant Criteria

 

Sing a Longs

The sum of £180.00 was requested for improved music folders for the Sing a Longs group visiting nursing homes and hospices. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Peter Fuller, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £180.00 to Sing a Longs.

 

Reason

The application met the Community Grant Criteria

 

Paxcroft Mead Community Centre

The sum of £1532.80 was requested for refurbishment of the toilet facilities. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Peter Fuller, it was,

 

Resolved

To award the sum of £1532.80 to Paxcroft Mead Community Centre

 

Reason

The application met the Community Grant Criteria

 

Councillor Ernie Clark requested his abstention from voting be recorded.

 

Youth Grants

 

Trowbridge Community Area Future

The sum of £5000.00 was requested for the Brighter Aspirations Plus project. On the motion of Councillor Deborah Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

 

Resolved:

 

To approve £5000.00 to Trowbridge Community Area Future

 

Reason:

 

The application met the Youth Grant Criteria

 

LoVe Sounds Music

The sum of £1876.00 was requested for the Love Sounds Music Project. On the motion of Councillor David Halik, seconded by Councillor Stewart Palmen, it was,

 

Resolved:

 

To approve £1876.00 to LoVe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To receive notes from the CATG meeting, including

 

Issue 6452 Conversion FP TROW13 to allow cycling

Recommendation to area board to agree £1000 funding subject to £500 contribution from TTC.

 

The Board received the notes of the last meeting and would await notice from the town council if they would provide the matched funding for Issue 6452.

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

There were no urgent items.