Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Phil McMullan, BA13+ Area Partnership.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 15 June and 21 September 2017.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 15 June and 21 September 2017.

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

Cllr Gordon King declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a trustee of Crosspoint (Westbury), a funding application for which would be considered later in the meeting.

To note the following items of information:-

·         Housing Site Allocations

·         Emergency Plans

·         Household Recycling Centres

·         Assertive Outreach with Rough Sleepers

The Chairman drew attention to the following Chairman’s announcements, details of which were included in the agenda papers:-

·         Housing Site Allocations

·         Emergency Plans

·         Household Recycling Centres

·         Assertive Outreach with Rough Sleepers

·         Westbury Hub – It was noted that Laurie Bell, Associate Director, Communities & Communications had written to the Chairman advising that a feasibility study into the use of the building occupied by Westbury Library had taken place, particularly the upper floors for either private accommodation or commercial use, alongside the refurbishment of the ground floor to include an extension to the rear of the building.  

The feasibility study highlighted a number of issues. Given the constraints of the building, the use of the upper floors for either private dwelling or commercial use would be cost prohibitive based on the need for a new external and separate access and that the market place value for either option would not cover the cost.  This would mean that any ground floor refurbishment would require additional investment.

The Council was very much aware of the need to deliver a community hub for Westbury and was continuing to explore possible options to achieve this.

It was agreed that an update be printed in The White Horse News.    

To receive any updates from partners.  Some reports have been received and are included in the pack.

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·         Westbury LYN – To receive feedback from young people who have participated in the Salamander Project organised by the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·         Healthwatch Wiltshire

·         Westbury Town Council

The Area Board received and noted the following updates from key partners:-

(a)          Wiltshire Police The Chairman introduced and welcomed Inspector Andy Fee, Sector Inspector, to his first meeting of the Area Board who then presented his report.

Reference was made to incidents whereby young people had taken and sent nude photographs via social media, which had subsequently been forwarded to other persons. Each of these incidents had been dealt with and relevant partner agencies had been notified. Inspector Fee confirmed that prosecutions did take place depending on the severity of the incident but the less severe cases were often dealt by a multi-disciplinary approach.    

(b)          Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service  The written report was presented by Guy  Tedman, Temporary District Commander and noted.

Members were very pleased to note the success of the new Fire Cadet programme and requested that it should be publicised, especially in The White Horse News.

(c)          Westbury LYN  Members received a feedback from young people who had participated in the Salamander Project which had been organised by Christine Sharma, Youth Intervention Coordinator, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.  14 young people had attended this first project session, which explained and demonstrated the work of the Fire & Rescue Service and members were informed how much they had enjoyed and learned from the experience. It was planned to arrange further projects in the future.

(d)          BA13+ Community Area Partnership The written report was received and noted.  

Members noted with pleasure the success of Phil McMullan in achieving a ‘gold’ distance in his chosen activity of using his car less and walking more in the Big Pledge Challenge held earlier this year. He was awarded a top prize for his efforts and was presented with a Fitbit.

(e)          Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group  The written report was  received and noted. Dr Peter Biggs requested that the CCG be asked for information about the work they were currently undertaking concerning the local community. It was agreed to invite the new Chairman of CCG to attend the next meeting and explain plans to overcome the perceived inadequacy of the dementia service.   

(f)           Healthwatch Wiltshire  The written report was received and noted.

(g)          Westbury Town Council  Cllr Ian Cunningham gave a brief verbal report on recent activities of Westbury Town Council and referred members to the Town Council’s website for full details.

Tracy Carter, Associate Director, Waste & Environment, will make a presentation on a new Waste Management Strategy for Wiltshire.  

Tracy Carter, Associate Director, Waste & Environment, made a presentation on a new Waste Management Strategy for Wiltshire for the period 2017 - 2027.

The Area Board was informed that the Council needed to develop a new waste management strategy in order to shape how household waste and recycling in Wiltshire was collected and managed. This strategy needed to take into account Wiltshire’s current challenges and also major developments in waste services.

Approximately 700,000 bins and boxes were emptied every fortnight from over 215,000 households. Last year, the Council managed 243,000 tonnes of waste and recycling; this having decreased significantly since 2014/15. Wiltshire residents produced 566 kg of non-recycled waste per household, an analysis showing that much of this could be recycled using kerbside collection services

44% of waste collected in Wiltshire was sent for recycling and composting, this being a reduction from 46.5% in 2014/15. The amount of waste that was sent to landfill had decreased significantly from 78% in 2003 to 21% in 2016/17.

It was noted that the Council paid to collect and dispose of each tonne of waste and recycling managed. The Council was charged a tax of £86.10 per tonne for all waste sent to landfill.

In 2014-15 the council’s net spend on waste was £35.221m

In 2016-17 our net spend on waste was £31.241m

Ø  We reduced opening hours at HRCs

Ø  We introduced charges for garden waste collection

Ø  We introduced permits for vans and trailers at HRCs

Ø  We limited access to and charged charities using HRCs

Ø   

In 2017-18 our budget is £31.88m

Ø  We will introduce charges for non-household waste items at HRCs

Ø  We will ensure that where we charge for waste collection services the charges enable us to recover the reasonable costs of collection

Tracy Carter reminded the meeting that the Council collected the following items at the kerbside:

Ø  Plastic bottles and cardboard from blue lidded recycling bins

Ø  Paper, glass, cans, aerosols, foil and textiles from black recycling boxes

Ø  Garden waste (chargeable) from green lidded recycling bins

Ø  Household waste from grey lidded wheeled bins

Following the award of a collection contract to Hills Waste, kerbside services would change from 30 July 2018. These changes would make it easier for residents to recycle more at home.

It was now necessary to look at how to manage Wiltshire’s waste over the next 10 years. The Council was currently undertaking a public consultation to ascertain the views of residents which will help to develop a new waste management strategy. The questions in the consultation were based on the outcome of workshops held with Wiltshire Council elected members in July 2017

.

Members present were then asked a few questions, the responses to which would be included in the consultation results.

In conclusion, Tracy Carter encouraged as many residents as possible to have their say and requested help by promoting this consultation wherever possible.

A presentation will be given by Jessica Thimblebee, Engagement Officer, Waste Team.  

A presentation was given by Jessica Thimblebee, Engagement Officer, Waste Team, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on the Recycle for Wiltshire Joint Venture Westbury Campaign Plan.

She explained that Wiltshire Council funded Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to educate and encourage school children and communities throughout Wiltshire to reduce, reuse and recycle more of their household rubbish.   Currently the project was working in Royal Wootton Bassett & Cricklade, Westbury, and Tidworth & Ludgershall.  It was noted that a ‘Drop the Rubbish Attitude’ Litter Campaign was being carried out with a student group from Matravers School and other awareness initiatives were being aimed at other school groups, including Waste Watcher Reward Cards, Staff Waste Awareness Training and a Wiltshire Waste Watchers Setting Award Scheme. Work was also being undertaken with the general community including a Sovereign Housing Day of Action which was held on 26 July 2017, a similar event with the local Housing Association and a white goods workshop.

She reminded everyone what items could be recycled and explained which should be placed in blue lidded bins and black boxes.

The Community Engagement Manager will provide an update at the meeting.

The Community Engagement Manager provided an update.  He reminded the   meeting that the aim of the project was to deliver a legacy to mark the centenary of the end of World War 1, by inviting communities to plant trees across Wiltshire and encouraging schools, community groups and organisations to participate in the initiative.

He reported that whilst 10,000 soldiers from Wiltshire lost their lives during this war, many more returned home and carried on with their lives. The aim of the scheme was to create a legacy to remember everyone who served during this war and plant as many trees as possible to create a legacy to remember everyone that served during the War.

Local communities and organisations were being asked to identify suitable sites for planning in their areas. The sites needed to be accessible to the community they served, e.g. children, parents, grandparents and visitors to the school. The Community Engagement Manager explained that any further advice needed would be available from the Woodland Trust.

To consider applications for funding from the Youth Grants Scheme.

Consideration was given to a report by Jan Bowra, Locality Youth Facilitator, in which councillors were asked to consider funding for an application.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To approve a grant of £4,266.50 towards a young person’s counselling service in the Westbury area to take place in the Crosspoint (Westbury) premises in Market Place, Westbury.  

To receive the notes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 22 September 2017 and to consider the recommendations set out in the notes.

The Area Board received notes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 22 September 2017.  Cllr Jerry Wickham challenged the accuracy of the notes, stating that CATG had recommended that  £5,000.00 be allocated towards a new footway near The Ham Cottages, provided that Westbury Town Council underwrote half the amount.

Resolved:

(1) To allocate £150.00 towards the provision of white lines on White Horse Way, Westbury.

(2) To allocate £5,000.00 towards the provision of a new footway near The Ham Cottages to serve a relocated bus stop, subject to Westbury Town Council underwriting half the amount.

(3)  To allocate £2,000.00 towards a Metrocount in Coulston to help provide statistical information for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.  

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

Provision of Defibrillators in Westbury

It was reported that defibrillators had now been provided and were located at:-

·         The Laverton, Bratton Road

·         The Library, Edward Street

·         Leigh Park Community Centre, Leigh Park Way

·         Tesco Express, Fore Street

·         One Stop Shop, Queens Square

Although formal training was not required, Westbury Town Council had arranged some awareness training sessions with Heartsafe and would be inviting members of the public to attend these sessions at The Laverton on the following dates:-

Saturday 14 October                       10 - 11.30am and 11.30am – 1pm

Tuesday 24 October                        6.30 – 8.30pm

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will take place on:

Thursday 7 December 2017 at The Laverton, Westbury, BA13 3EN.

Future Meeting Dates

Thursday 1 February 2018 at The Laverton, Westbury BA13 3EN.

Thursday 12 April 2018 at The Laverton, Westbury, BA13 3EN.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board would be held on Thursday 7 December 2017 at The Laverton, Westbury.