Agenda and minutes

Cllr Gordon King, Vice Chair in the Chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Westbury Area Board.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr David Jenkins – Chairman, Phil McMullin representing BA13+Community Area Partnership and Ian Cunningham representing Westbury Town Council.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st February 2019.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

There are no Chairman announcements.

The Chairman drew attention to the following announcements:

1.    Children’s Centres Consultation – The Area Board heard from Nadine Crook, resident of Warminster and user of a Children’s Centre in Westbury, about her campaign to save the Westbury Children’s Centre. 

2.    The Community Area Grant request from West Wiltshire Group of Ramblers for footpath improvements in Heywood had been withdrawn as the requested equipment could be provided without the need for a grant.

To consider a report about highways schemes for the coming year.

The Area Board received a presentation from Diane Ware, Highways Officer and a report of the Cabinet Memberfor Highways, Transport and Waste about the Road Surfacing Programme 2019/20.

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 2019/20, including the schemes for Westbury.

The Area Board noted that appendix 2 to the report detailed the provisional list of roads for treatment over the next five years.  The list was based on current road conditions and their anticipated deterioration of condition. The Highways Officer reported that the list would be reviewed annually to ensure that priority sites are treated to maintain road safety.  The Area Board were encouraged to identify any sites of local concern which may need to be prioritised over the five year timespan.

Resolved:     The Area Board:

i.             Welcomes the road surfacing work and repairs carried out in 2018/19 and notes the improvements in the overall condition of Wiltshire’s roads in recent years;

ii.            Approves the highway maintenance scheme list for the Westbury area in 2019/20; and

iii.          Notes the new five-year programme to be reviewed annually to ensure best value for money and whole life costing for the highways asset.

To receive a presentation from the Community Engagement Manager about promoting walking as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The Area Board received a presentation from the Community Engagement Manager about promoting walking as part of a healthy lifestyle. He indicated that the Get Wiltshire Walking Team held inclusive community walks for all abilities every Thursday morning from the Health Centre in Westbury. The walks could contribute towards an individuals or teams recorded activity linked to the Big pledge 2019 event.   

The Community Engagement Manager will report on this years Big Pledge.

The Area Board received a presentation from the Community Engagement Manager about the ‘Big Pledge 2019’.  He explained that the Big Pledge 2019 would be launched on 7 May 2019, with a start date of 3 June and goes on until 14 July 2018. He explained that this year’s event is linked to the cricket World Cup and those taking part would be logging the amount of time they were active, scoring virtual runs and attempting to make a century. 

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 an update report on the progress in adopting the unadopted part of the green open space at Penleigh Park Recreation Ground.

The Area Board received an update report on the progress in adopting a portion of the green space at Penleigh Park recreation Ground, Westbury.  It was noted that the Council’s legal team had recently contacted Persimmon seeking a response to queries about the S106 agreement. Updates would be provided at future Area Board meetings.

To receive a verbal update of the POPCAN activities during the summer 2019.

The Area Board received a presentation from Scott Jacobs Lange, Sovereign Housing Association, about a fun day to be held at Penleigh Recreation Ground on 9 June 2019.  Mr Jacobs Lange commented on the activities for the day and explained that the fun day would build on the work undertaken over the last year to encourage community volunteers to engage with and take forward new projects to improve the local area.   

To receive any updates from partners including:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Westbury LYN – One grant application received

·       BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·       Town and Parish Councils

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

(a)  Wiltshire Police      Insp James Williams presented his report which referred to (i) Wiltshire Police supporting the national week of action for Operation SCEPTRE (the Metropolitan Police’s response to knife crime, launched in 2015); (ii) the connection between knife crime and county lines; (iii) staffing update; (iv) crime exceptions data for Westbury; (v) community policing priorities in the Westbury area; and (vi) community speedwatch. Insp Williams responded to an issue raised at the meeting on the work being undertaken by the Police to work with public health and major partners to combat knife crime and its causes.  

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

(c)  Westbury LYN        The Area Board considered a Local Youth Network grant application from Sovereign Housing Association for £1,000, for a fun day. The Area Board were reminded that the Local Youth Network had allocated its budget for the current year, and therefore, there were no requests for funding.

Resolved:

That the Youth Grant application for Sovereign Housing Association for £1,000, towards a young people’s activity fun day be agreed.

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

Carole King (Chairman of the BA13+ Community Area Partnership) presented the report and commented on a recent litter pick along Frogmore Lane and Slag lane; and the resupply of safe location boxes.

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

The Chairman commented on the launch of a Community Cash Fund         by Healthwatch Wiltshire for local groups to apply for £2000 to start     projects in their local community.  Unfortunately, the deadline for grant        applications had passed a few days before this meeting.

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

(g)                Town and Parish Councils          The Area Board received an update from Dilton Marsh Parish Council.

The Area Board considered two applications for Community Area Grants Scheme funding as detailed in the agenda pack.  The applicants gave a brief statement about the reasons for the grant request.

The Area Board were reminded that the Community Area Grant request from West Wiltshire Group of Ramblers for footpath improvements in Heywood had been withdrawn as the requested equipment could be provided without the need for a grant.

Resolved:

1.            That the following grant applications be agreed:

a.    Leigh Park Community Centre - £5,000 towards the establishment of a pre-school at the Centre

b.    Edington parish Council - £1,100 towards a community defibrillator.

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 6^th June 2019 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN

Future Meeting Dates:

Thursday 25^th July 2019 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN

Thursday 10^th October 2019 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN

Thursday 5^th December 2019 at The Laverton Hall, Westbury BA13 3EN

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on Thursday 6 June 2019 – Venue to be agreed.