Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2019.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting 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.

The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting:

·         Cllr Carole King declared a personal interest in agenda item 11 – Community Area Grants and the grant for the BA13+ Partnership in her capacity as Chair of the Partnership.

·         Cllr Gordon King declared a personal interest in agenda item 11 – Community Area Grants and (i) the grant for the BA13+ Partnership in his capacity as a member of the Partnership and (ii) Westbury Heritage Society as he was a member of the Society.

To receive a presentation from Cllr Richard Clewer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Heritage, Arts, Tourism, Housing, Climate Change and Military-Civilian Integration, about Wiltshire Councils response to the Climate Emergency and the target of Wiltshire becoming Carbon Neutral by 2030.

The Area Board received a presentation from Cllr Richard Clewer – Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Heritage, Arts, Tourism, Housing, Climate Change and Military-Civilian Integration. outlining Wiltshire Council’s climate emergency response.

Cllr Clewer made the following points during his presentation:

·         Climate Emergency

o   That in February 2019 Wiltshire Council resolved to:

§  Acknowledge that there is a climate emergency

§  Seek to make the county of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030

§  Establish carbon baseline and renewables baseline

§  That Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet was committed to make Wiltshire

§  Council carbon neutral by 2030

·         That Wiltshire Council had:

o   Invested in energy efficiency and energy generation on the council’s estate of £5.2m

o   Investment of £3.5m for canopy based solar panels

o   Investment of £12m to convert street lights to LED lighting

o   Reduction in waste to landfill from 56% in 2008-09 to 16% in 2018-19

o   Reduced greenhouse gas emissions from council’s estate and operations from 26k tCO2e in 2014-15 to 16k tCO2e in 2018-19

o   Carbon neutrality is now the goal within a suite of related strategy documents –

§  the Carbon Reduction Strategy; Local Plan Review; Local Transport Plan

§  Review; Air Quality Strategy; and the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise

§  Partnership’s Local Industrial Strategy and Local Energy Strategy.

·         Friends of the Earth found Wiltshire Council to be the best performing local authority in England and Wales.

·         The Council is encouraging residents to make a “Green Pledge” by way of a simple everyday actions, sign up here http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/greeneconomy-climate-emergency

o   Leave the car at home and walk more

o   Take shorter showers and turn off taps when brushing teeth

o   Try and use as little single-use plastic as possible

o   Use a reusable cup

o   Use bags for life

o   Recycle as much as you can

o   Turn off lights when not using them

o   Install a smart meter to help you manage energy use

For more information visit:

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/green-economy-climate-emergency

Cllr Clewer responded to a number of comments and questions, in particular the monitoring of air quality in Warminster Road, the impact on Westbury of the weight restrictions to Cleveland Bridge in Bath and previous examples of Energy Companies achievements. 

The Chairman thanked Cllr Clewer for his presentation.

The Area Board received a presentation from Jessica Thimbleby, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust about how the Trust are developing sustainable ways of working.

Jessica spoke about the following issues:

·         How Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reduces it carbon footprint

·         The appointment of a Sustainability Officer

·         The development and implementation of a sustainability plan

·         Rebranding Waste Education through social media and Community engagement

The Chairman thanked Jessica for the presentation.

A round table discussion to identify local action to ensure Westbury contributes towards Wiltshire’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The Community Engagement Manager (CEM) introduced the round table discussion about Climate Change and encouraged those attending to identify types of local action to ensure Westbury contributes towards Wiltshire’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

In addition to the round table discussion, the Area Board heard from Margaret Cavarina about the impact of the gasification plant on the Westbury community and how the plant would significantly add to the carbon footprint of Wiltshire.

The attendees discussed action that could easily be undertaken locally and shared their views between the groups.  The CEM agreed to compile the ideas raised for further discussion at a future meeting of the Area Board.

The Chairman will make the following announcements:

·       Motiv8 Children and Young People Service

·       Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

The Chairman drew attention to the following written announcements included in the agenda pack:

·         Motiv8 Children and Young People Service

·         Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

To receive any updates from partners including:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       BA13+ Community Area Partnership

·       Town and Parish Councils

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

·         Wiltshire Police – Sgt Kevin Harmsworth presented a verbal report to the Area Board. Sgt Harmsworth commented on changes to the local force structure and was pleased to report that there would be an increase in officers and resources for the area neighbourhood policing team.

·         Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – The written report was received and noted.

·         BA13+ Community Area Partnership – The written report was received and noted.

·         Town and Parish Councils –

o   Westbury Town Council – The written report was received and noted.

o   Bratton Parish Council – A verbal update was received.  In particular comments were made about the Parish Council’s use of a speed indicator device, pre-school re-opening in February and the number of houses allocated to Bratton as part of the overall Housing Sites Allocation for Wiltshire.

To receive a presentation about the changes to waste and recycling collections planned to take effect in February 2020.

The Chairman welcomed Julie Anderson Hill – Head of Service, who made a presentation detailing the changes to kerbside collections. Key points of the presentation focused on:

·         Blue lidded bins currently took plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, cardboard boxes, food cartons and drink cartons. The changes to collections meant that the blue lidded bins would also be taking paper, food cans, drink cans, aerosols and foil.

·         Black boxes would continue to collect glass and textiles.

·         Implementing the changes meant that recycling would be easier for residents and reduce the number of collection vehicles as they could empty the black box and blue lidded bin at the same time.

·         A new materials recovery facility to sort through mixed recycling was currently being built.

·         The collections would remain fortnightly and residents could sign up online for email updates and order larger/ additional blue lidded bins here: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling-collection-changes

·         If Town/ Parish Councils or community groups required more information in the form of an article, information for websites of social media pages, posters or for officers to attend local meetings, then they should email wasteandrecycling@wiltshire.gov.uk

·         Wiltshire Council was a signatory to the End Destination Charter and published an annual return on its website: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/what-happens-to-recycling

In response to questions asked it was noted that:

·         A label would be sent to every household confirming which materials could go into the blue lidded bins with notification of their new collection day. In addition, electronic calendars of collection dates would be available.

·         Currently there were no plans to recycle plastic film, although once a viable solution was available it would be considered.

·         The council’s approach to food waste was to focus on minimising and reducing amounts of food through planning portion sizes, freezing meals, composting etc. The government planned to pass a bill for all local authorities to collect food waste although a previous consultation suggested that residents did not want a separate food bin.

·         The collection of spare black boxes and the impact of the Environment Bill

The Chairman thanked Julie Anderson Hill for the presentation and responding to questions raised.

To receive a presentation from the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner – Jerry Herbert on the Police and Crime Commissioner Precept.

The Chairman welcomed Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC), Jerry Herbert.

The DPCC gave a presentation on the current precept consultation and commented on the following main points:

·         The role of the PCC was to represent the residents of Wiltshire and Swindon, hold the Chief Constable and Force to account and to cut crime while delivering effective and efficient policing.

·         In 2019, 41 police officers had been recruited, it currently took 3 years to recruit, train and post new officers; the PCC has been working on building stronger links with communities; and, built a cyber-crime team to tackle the growing threat with particular focus on child sexual exploitation.

·         The proposed precept increase was for residents to pay an extra 84p per month. This would maintain the current services, enable more officers to be recruited and to meet increased costs such as inflation.

·         The consultation could be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8NQQJFW

·         A meeting of the PCC had met earlier in the day and had agreed to set the precept as proposed by the Commissioner.

The DPCC responded to a question about the recruitment of police officers and how the numbers compared to the number of police officers in 2010. The DPCC explained that in real terms the force was still down by 200 police officers compared to 2010.

The Chairman thanked the DPCC for his very informative presentation.

Members considered seven applications for the Community Area Grants Scheme funding as detailed in the agenda pack. A number of applicants gave a brief statement about the reasons for their grant request.

Resolved:

1.     That the following Community Area Grant applications be agreed:

a.     Bratton Jubilee Hall Management Committee – Request for £5,000 towards Bratton Jubilee Hall

b.    Bratton Parish Council – Request for £2,100 towards a speed indicator device

c.     Westbury Parochial Church Council – Request for 1337.50 towards Saints Alive

d.    Westbury Heritage Society – Request for £991 towards the Westbury Heritage Centre Relocation Project

e.     The Laverton Institute – Request for £755 towards the Abraham’s Kitchen

f.      BA13 Community Area Partnership – Request for £350.11 towards catering equipment for community use

g.    Westbury Town Council – Request for £1,424.50 towards a defibrillator at Station Road, Westbury

2.     That the following grant applications, agreed by the Community Engagement Manager under delegated powers be noted:

a.     Westbury Town Council – Request for £412.65 towards the Community Fridge

b.    Westbury Walking Netball Group – Request for £100 towards Volunteer host training course

c.     The Independent Living Centre – Request for £3,000 towards ILC – Benefits Advice Service.

To consider any recommendations arising from the CATG meeting held on 24 January 2020.

The Area Board received the notes of the Westbury Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 24 January 2020.

Resolved:      Notes the discussions and updates outlined in the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2020, in particular:

·         Priority 4b) Issues 6667, 6939 and 6562 – B3098 Bratton Road – to note the update and item removed

·         Priority 4c) White lining issues – Edington - to note the update and item removed

·         Priority 5a) Bus Layover – B3097 – Hawkeridge Road and Link Road – To note

·         Priority 5c) 18-19 1 Oldfield Road, Westbury - to note the update and item removed

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 23 April 2020 at The Laverton, Westbury BA13 3EN

Future Meeting Dates

Thursday 4 June 2020, venue to be confirmed.

Thursday 23 July 2020, venue to be confirmed.

Thursday 8 October 2020, venue to be confirmed.

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on 23 April 2020 at The Laverton, Westbury BA13 3EN.

Future Meeting Dates:

Thursday 4 June 2020, venue to be confirmed.

Thursday 23 July 2020, venue to be confirmed.

Thursday 8 October 2020, venue to be confirmed.