Agenda and minutes

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Apologies for absence were received from Phil McMullen – BH13+ Partnership and Darren Nixon – Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st February 2018.

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1^st February 2018.

Wiltshire Council’s response to an online petition about air quality and the proposed Thermal Treatment Facility in Westbury.

The Area Board considered the Council’s response to an online petition about air quality and the proposed Thermal Treatment Facility in Westbury.

The letter referred to waste management, planning and public health issues in relation to the Facility.

The following issues were raised during the meeting:

·         The number of objections to the original planning application in 2015.

·         Concern that Westbury is one of the most polluted towns in Wiltshire.

·         The role of Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency in determining planning permission and e3nvironmental permits.

·         The impact of Wiltshire Council Waste Policy and its impact on the use of the thermal treatment facility.

·         Consideration of the planning application by Westbury Town Council and Wiltshire Council.

·         Impact of the thermal treatment facility on resident’s health.

·         Integrity issues and endorsement of Hills as a responsible waste service provider.

·         Impact of vehicular traffic using the A350 on air quality in Westbury.

Resolved:     That the response to the online petition be noted.

To consider a briefing note on air quality in the Westbury area from John Carter, Head of Public Protection.

The Area Board received an update report from the Head of Public Protection about air quality in Westbury and how this is monitored, following a request from a ward Councillor.

Members noted that concerns had been raised about the recent increase in the use of wood burners and how this could be contributing towards reduced air quality. Reference was also made about the need to monitor fine particulate matter below 2.5 microns as this has been implicated under new research to have an impact on bad health. 

The report confirmed that there was no evidence to support this theory. It was noted that the main contributor towards poor air quality in Westbury remained road traffic emissions along the A350 and this would only be alleviated following the construction of a bypass around Westbury.

Resolved:     The report on air quality in Westbury be noted and the Head of Public Protection to confirm if particulate matter below 2.5 microns is monitored.

The Area Board will be asked to consider and agree a proposed local road resurfacing and maintenance programme for 2018/19.

The Area Board received a report of the Cabinet Memberfor Highways, Transport and Waste about the Road Surfacing Programme 2018/19.

The report provided information on the progress made in improving the condition of the County’s roads, and advised on the road surfacing schemes to be undertaken in 2018/19, including the schemes for Westbury.

Resolved:     The 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 the Westbury area in 2018/19; and

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.

The Community Engagement Manager explained that the ‘Big Pledge 2018’ would be launching on Monday 16^th April 2018, with a start date of 14^th May and goes on until 18^th July 2018. He explained that this year’s event differed from previous events in as much as it is linked to the Commonwealth Games on the Goldcoast, Australia and those taking part would be logging the amount of time they were exercising rather than the distance covered. 

The Area Board noted that schools were being encouraged to take part with the first 50 to sign up receiving a free kit bag.

To receive any updates from partners including:

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·         Westbury LYN

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·         Healthwatch Wiltshire

·         NHS Wiltshire Clinical Comissioning Group

·         Town and Parish Councils

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

(a)  Wiltshire Police      Inspector Andy Fee presented his report from which referred to a number of operational staffing matters, the introduction of daily crime updates for the local community available via email, outcome of recent speed checks in Bitham Park, Westbury, and updates on reported crime in the Westbury area.

(b)  Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service  The written report was received and noted.

(c)  Westbury LYN        Jan Bowra, Locality Youth Facilitator, presented a report requesting the Area Board to consider three applications for Youth Grant Funding as detailed in the agenda pack.

The Community Engagement Manager explained that the LYN budget for 2018/19 had not been released and therefore it would be difficult for the Area Board to consider grant applications at this stage.  It was expected that the LYN budget allocation for 2018/19 would be reduced.

A number of applicants gave brief statements about the reasons for their grant requests.

Resolved:

i)             That the following Youth Grant application be agreed:

·         KP Garage and Body Shop for teaching skills in the motor trade to local young people - £2,000, with the outstanding amount of £3,000 to be considered at the next meeting of the Area Board, once the LYN budget has been allocated.

ii)            That the following Youth Grant applications be deferred to the next meeting of the Area Board, once the LYN budget has been allocated:

·         Matraver’s School for a combined cadet force corps of drums for £4,900.

·         Youth Adventure Trust for vulnerable young people 2018 Forest Camps for £3,000;

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

Carole King (Chairman of the BA13+ Partnership) presented the report and highlighted that Dementia Action Week was taking place between 21^st – 27^th May 2018.  

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

(f)   Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)The written report was received and noted.

(g)  Westbury Town Council        The Deputy Mayor, Westbury Town Council, reported that a litter pick with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust had taken place on 12^th April 2018, a Town Councillor vacancy had arisen following a recent resignation, an art exhibition would be taking place at the Laverton Hall on 21^st April 2018 and the Annual Town Meeting was taking place on 23^rd April 2018, again at the Laverton Hall.

(h)  Eddington Parish Council     The Chairman of Eddington parish Council reported that the final version of the Parish Development Plan had now been launched and was available on the Parish council website. He also commented on a Parish Clean Up day taking place on 14^th April 2018.

(i)    Community Engagement ManagerThe Community Engagement Manager (CEM) reported that 130 applications had been received for the upcoming Young People Awards evening on 19^th June 2018, at Matravers School. He explained that the deadline for the awards would be extended and encouraged the Area Board to consider making nominations. The CEM also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Board will invite previous grant recipients to feedback on the progress of their projects.

There were no updates from representatives who had received grant funding from the Area Board at previous meetings.

To consider applications for funding from the Community Area Grants Scheme:

·        Leigh Park Community Centre - £979 towards a bouncy castle.

·        Westbury Rugby Football Club - £5,000 towards the internal refurbishment of the club house.

·        Edington PCC Parish hall - £5,000 towards the provision of disabled toilet facilities.

·        Heywood Parish Council - £288 towards a new parish council noticeboard.

·        Westbury United Football Club - £4.000 towards equipment.

·        Larkrise Community Farm - £1,875 towards a sensory classroom project.

·        Coulston Village Hall - £4,800 towards the village hall refurbishment.

Members considered applications for the Community Area Grants Scheme funding as detailed in the agenda pack, some of which had been deferred from the previous meeting. A number of applicants gave brief statements about the reasons for their grant requests.

Resolved:

That the following grant applications be agreed:

a.    Leigh Park Community Centre towards a bouncy castle - £494.50 and a requirement that the bouncy castle is free to use by the public at the proposed 2 open days this year. Money to be transferred once dates are confirmed and advertised.

b.    Westbury Rugby Football Club towards the internal refurbishment of the club house - £1000 and a requirement of a free entry rugby fair / festival in the summer offering taster sessions to the Westbury community

c.    Edington PCC Parish hall towards the provision of disabled toilet facilities - £2,500

d.    Heywood Parish Council towards a new parish council noticeboard - £288

e.    Westbury United Football Club towards equipment - £1000 on the condition that the club offers free entry for U16’s to one home game this season.

f.     Larkrise Community Farm towards a sensory classroom project - £937.50 (The Board noted that Melksham had awarded £1,500 towards the Project and Trowbridge Area Board awarded the Project the full amount requested of £3,875 on condition that Westbury area board awards the full amount requested from them as well. The Chairman was asked to write to the Trowbridge Area Board to express the concerns of this Area Board about the conditions for grant funding placed on the project)

g.    Coulston Village Hall towards the village hall refurbishment - £1,852.

To consider any recommendations arising from the CATG meeting held on 23^rd March 2018.

The Area Board received the notes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 23^rd March 2018.

Cllr Francis Morland, Heywood Parish Council, commented on a letter from the Parish Council to the Community Engagement Manager about the withdrawal of the bus services that operate in the Westbury Railway Station area, in particular the Station Road railway overbridge, Slag lane and The Ham, and along Hawkeridge Road.  He explained that the Parish Council had not received a response from Wiltshire Council officers dealing with the highway structures and the ability of the overbridge to take a certain weight of vehicle. The Chair referred to the comments received from the Wiltshire Councils Principal Engineer on the matter at the CATG meeting held on 23^rd March 2018.  Further, more detailed advice, was received from the Principal Engineer and was referred to at the meeting. 

The Area Board noted that Wiltshire Council are currently undertaking a feasibility study in conjunction with Network Rail to see if it is achievable to increase the overall capacity of the bridge to 40 tonnes. This would not be a quick process and would involve some temporary disruption whilst investigations were undertaken on the condition of the structure below road level. This work will be ongoing over the next 6 months.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Morland for his comments and the issues raised. Cllr Morland was asked to forward his technical questions directly to the Principal Engineer for a response at the next CATG meeting, with a copy to Area Board members.

Resolved: That the matter be considered further at the next CATG meeting in light of the advice received from the Principal Engineer and that Cllr Morland be invited to attend the meeting.

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

There were no urgent items.

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

Thursday 7^th June 2018 at The Laverton Hall, Bratton Road, Westbury, BA13 3EN.

Future Meeting Dates:

Thursday 26^th July 2018 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN

Thursday 18^th October 2018 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on 7^th June 2018 at the Laverton, Westbury, BA13 3EN