Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Westbury Area Board.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Inspector Al Lumley, Wiltshire Police.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 23 March 2021 and 18 May 2021.

The minutes of the meetings held on 23 March 2021 and 18 May 2021 were presented for consideration and it was;

Resolved

To approve the minutes as a correct record.

Councillor Matt Dean abstained from the vote concerning the minutes respective to 23 March.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

·       Area Board Model May 2021

The chairman gave the following updates:

·       Area Board Model May 2021

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, outlined the new annual Area Board model of four Area Board Business meetings, with multiple Area Board engagements at other times of the year focused on specific Area Board priorities for example, Youth or Health and Wellbeing. Additionally, the announcement informed that working groups of the Area Board such as youth networks, health and wellbeing groups and community area transport groups will continue to meet and link with the Area Board.

To receive any updates from partners:

Ø  Wiltshire Police

Ø  Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Ø  BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

Ø  Healthwatch

Ø  Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Some written updates have been received and are included in this agenda.

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board received a verbal update from Sergeant Kevin Harmsworth. The update covered the following issues:

·       Sergeant Harmsworth updated that Inspector Al Lumley, a new inspector to the Westbury Area and will be attending the Area Board going forward.

• A suspected arson took place at Coach Road Farm on 6 May. An investigation has been led by the CID team and a 13-year old male is set to be seen through the youth restorative justice panel to determine whether the matter should be dealt with in court.
• On 28 and 29 June a spate of tyre slashings took place in the town area. Police are appealing for witnesses, dashcam and doorbell footage.
• The Police have been aware of community tension regarding the Westbury incinerator protests. Patrols have been taking place as well as working with Hills Waste. The public were encouraged to bring to Police attention if they have any knowledge of protests.
• Speedwatch has taken place 6 times over the past month and a half. A new online training package has also been made available for those wanting to partake. A 2-week national speed enforcement event will be taking place.
• There has been a drive on E-scooter education, as there has been an increase in numbers locally. These can be used on private land but are illegal to be used on the road unless part of a rental scheme.

Following the verbal update there was time for the following questions and points to be raised:

• It was clarified that there was a small rally relating to the Westbury incinerator in the Market Square at 9:30am. This was peacefully attended with social distancing.
• It was queried whether the police would be supporting or endorsing the use of Auto Speedwatch. Sergeant Harmsworth stated that the Police aren’t currently supporting it due to a lack of clarity with data protection and how data is shared.
• It was questioned what happens when the Police see an E-scooter on the road. Sergeant Harmsworth clarified that the pursuit policy doesn’t contain information on how to deal with E-scooters if they don’t stop. In the majority of cases users have stopped. To note there has been an incident where an E-scooter took off, however this was caught and taken.
• It was brought to Sergeant Harmsworth’s attention that a number of people in Oldfield park have experienced car tyres slashed and catapults used, as well as wildlife reported to have been injured. Sergeant Harmsworth stressed that such issues should be reported as the Police can then work from the collected data.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board received a verbal update from Ray Bridgman, Station Manager.  The update covered the following issues:

• Regarding fire prevention, Safe and Well visits have taken place recently and can be requested through the Fire Service website.
• Westbury Station has been three members short of a full workforce, however proactive recruitment has been taking place to fill  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To agree the memberships and representatives for Outside Bodies and Working Groups for 2021/2022.

The following appointments to outside bodies and working groups for the forthcoming year were made:

·       Westbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King, Matt Dean

·       Westbury Local Youth Network (LYN) – Councillor Carole King

·       Westbury Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) – Councillor Gordon King

·       Westbury Ham Community Project (Eden Vale Youth Centre Project) – Councillor Gordon King

·       Warminster and Westbury CCTV – Councillor Suzanne Wickham

The following appointments of Area Board Lead Councillors for the forthcoming year were made:

·       Highways and Transport, including Community Area Transport Group (CATG) – Councillor Matt Dean

·       Children and Young People, including Local Youth Network – Councillor Carole King

·       Health and Wellbeing, including the Health and Wellbeing Group – Councillor Gordon King

·       Economy and Employment – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King, Matt Dean

·       Environment – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King, Matt Dean

·       Older People – Councillor Carole King

·       Arts, Culture and Leisure – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King

·       Community Safety – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King

·       Housing and Development – Councillors Suzanne Wickham, Gordon King, Carole King, Matt Dean

To agree and adopt the Delegated Powers to the Community Engagement Manager proposals.

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, referred to the document attached to the agenda regarding Community Engagement Manager Delegated Decisions which included the following proposal:

In order to expedite the work of the Area Board and to deal with urgent matters that may arise between meetings, the Community Engagement Manager, following consultation with the Chairman (or in their absence, the Vice-Chairman) of the Area Board, may authorise expenditure to support community projects (including youth, health and wellbeing and community area transport) from the delegated budget of up to £5,500 per application between meetings of the Area Board. The Community Engagement Manager should seek the views of all Area Board members to obtain a majority in support, prior to the expenditure being agreed and should only use this authority in the event that it is not practical to organize a special meeting of the area board to formally consider and approve any such applications.

Decisions taken between meetings will be reported in the funding report to the next meeting of the Area Board explaining why the matter was considered urgent or necessary to expedite the work of the Board. Where a significant number of urgent matters arise between meetings, a special meeting may be called, following consultation with the Chairman to determine such matters.

Resolved

The Area Board agreed to move and voted to accept the proposal.

To discuss the findings, recommendations and next steps. The report sets out the full set of actions the board can agree up to five as priorities for Westbury.

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, provided an overview of the Community Area Status Report to the Area Board. It was referenced that the Local Area Status Report was presented to the Area Board at the previous meeting and a copy had been attached to the agenda. There is set to be an open event on Wednesday 21 July, where the four themes (young people, older people, working age people and families, local business) that the Community Area Status report was based on will be spoken about. Additionally, up to five community area priorities would then be identified to be taken forward. It was hoped that in the future organisations and individuals will take responsibility for the achieving the chosen priorities.

To consider the notes and actions log of the previous meeting of the Community Area Transport Group held on 11 June 2021.

Councillor Suzanne Wickham introduced the minutes and recommendations from the CATG meeting held on 11 June 2021.

Resolved:

The minutes of the Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 11 June 2021 were agreed as a correct record and the Area Board agreed to move the recommendations of the meeting.

To consider applications for funding.

Local Youth Network Funding Application:

·       Westbury and Warminster Youth Club - £3,345 towards Westbury Youth Club.

·       POPCAN - £6,250 towards Summer Holiday Club.

Area Board Initiatives:

·       The Friends of Victoria Garden - £1,000 towards Victoria Garden New Shed.

The Area Board considered the following as detailed in the reports attached to the agenda.

Local Youth Network Funding Application:

1)    The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club - £3,345 towards Westbury Youth Club.

Decision

The Westbury and Warminster Youth Club was awarded £2,200 towards Westbury Youth Club.

2)    POPCAN - £6,250 towards Summer Holiday Club

Decision

POPCAN was awarded £3,125 towards Summer Holiday Club.

Area Board Initiative:

1)    The Friends of Victoria Garden - £1,000 towards Victoria Garden New Shed.

Decision

The Friends of Victoria Garden was awarded £1,000 towards Victoria Garden New Shed.

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

Graeme Morrison, Community Engagement Manager, encouraged anyone who had not previously been involved in the Community Area Status Report meetings, to get in touch if they would like to be invited to the event on Wednesday 21 July 2021.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on Thursday 2 September 2021, 7:00pm.

The date of the next meeting is Thursday 2 September at 7.00pm.