Browse

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Online Meeting

Contact: Stuart Figini  (Democratic Services Officer)

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Chairman's Welcome and Introductions

Minutes:

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

2.

Chairman's Announcements

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·       Covid-19

·       Area Board Boundary Review

·       Connect 5

 

 

3.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Humphrey – Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

4.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

5.

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2020.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 June 2020 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a later date, subject to minute 7 being amended as follows:

 

·       To confirm Cllr Suzanne Wickham as the Area Board representatives on the Warminster and Westbury CCTV Committee.

 

 

 

6.

Partner and Community Updates

To receive any updates from partners – Parish and Town Councils, Police, Fire and Rescue Service, NHS, Chamber of Commerce, the BA13 Community Area Partnership and the Penleigh and old field park community action network

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

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

 

·       Wiltshire Police – the Area Board noted the update attached to the agenda pack and that the update received from the Police was a joint report with Warminster Area Board, as this included the new neighbourhood areas of Warminster, Westbury, Mere and Tisbury.

 

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – the Area Board noted the update attached to the agenda supplement 2.

 

·       BA13+ Community Area Partnership – There were no updates from the Partnership as no meetings were held since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation.

 

·       Dilton Marsh Parish Council – the report of the Parish Council is attached at the appendix to the minutes.

 

·       Westbury Town Council – The Area Board received an update from Shiela Kimmins on behalf of the Town Council.  Shiela reported on the following matters:

 

o   The Town Council officers were closed in March and staff were working from home

o   Phone lines were very busy with many people were contacting the Town Council with their concerns and seeking help

o   Working with Westbury Link and set up a neighbourhood helpline, which was latterly manned by Crosspoint and church volunteers

o   Working with the Foodbank to deliver many food parcels

o   Supplied shops and businesses with over 400 signs and footprint signs to help with the re-opening of their businesses.

o   In contact with pub watch on a regular basis

o   The Town Council members continued to meet on a regular basis via virtual meetings.

o   Play areas are re-opening, although Penleigh Park was recently severely vandalised.

 

·       Penleigh and Oldfield Park Community Action Network (POPCAN) – The Area Board received an update from Tina Devereux about the following matters:

o   Many challenges due to Covid-19 but still connecting virtually and at a sociable distance to keep engaged with the local community and partners in Westbury and beyond.

o   Food parcels have continued to be delivered by Sam Shaw over the last couple of months to the community and helping out with Abrahams kitchen.

o   POPCAN and Sovereign Housing have donated £500 towards Abrahams kitchen to help supply food and ingredients for families

o   A uniform hand it on event was organised for 28 August 2020 and 30 families were helped during the day.  This event would be repeated in the future.

o   VE day was celebrated with the community earlier in the year.

o   Working closely with WCP to organise pop in sessions for the community on first Tuesday of every month.

o   Team 10 – a local group of school children from Westbury Junior school – had recently been nominated for an ‘Inspirational Young Tenants’ award at the national TPAS awards. Great achievement to be nominated for this award.

o   Future projects included funding a container and CCTV to cover the Penleigh Park following the recent spate of vandalism in the Park; and objections were submitted to the planning application for the Westbury Incinerator.

 

 

 

7.

Community Engagement Manager Update

To receive updates on:

 

Local Youth Network

Health & Wellbeing Board

General Updates

Minutes:

The Community Engagement Manager provided the following updates:

 

  • Local Youth Network
    • Reminded the Area Board of a youth themed Area Board meeting held at Matravers School towards the end of 2019. The aim of the meeting was to establish a set of priorities for a local youth network to provide positive activities for young people in the Westbury Community Area.
    • A local Youth Survey was undertaken and received 150-200 responses.  From this a virtual mtg was held with a number of local organisations connected with arranging youth activities. Activities were arranged and social media engagement was positive, although actual participation levels were slightly lower than anticipated.
    • Further meetings would be held to discuss how the activities could be developed over the coming months.
    • Discussions were being held with POPCAN about a detached youth work proposal.
    • Westbury Young People Awards delayed until summer 2021.

 

  • Climate Change Themed Area Board
    • The themed Area Board meeting was held in February 2020 where a number of priorities and themes were identified.
    • The aim of this meeting was to set up a working group to create local action plan and priorities. However, Covid-19 developed and work on the project had ceased during this time.  It was anticipated that the first meeting would be held in January 21.

 

  • Health & Wellbeing
    • The Area Board noted that a Health & Wellbeing Group had not been in operation for some time in Westbury and it was suggested that Group could be established with the aim of improving access to Health & Wellbeing services, improving the health of the Westbury population and reduce social isolation and loneliness.
    • A wider Group would consider the objectives and agree on the first project for the Health & Wellbeing Group to support.
    • Wiltshire Walking Group restarted in October 2020.
    • Westbury Library now open for order and collect. 

 

  • Covid-19
    • The Area Board noted that that all Community Engagement Managers were being asked to prepare a Community Area Reports about the emerging themes and impact of COVID 19.  A report would be prepared for Westbury and ideas on how local actions can be supported to respond to the themes and impacts, would be undertaken in consultation with many partners

 

8.

Westbury Communnity Project

To receive an update.

Minutes:

The Area Board received an update from Richard Hatt, Chair of Trustees and Headteacher of Westbury Junior School and Kevin Down provided an update on the Westbury Community Project. They commented on the project and how it was formed and showed videos demonstrating refurbishment and repairs undertaken following recent vandalism at the site.

 

 

The following comments were made on the Project:

·       Original costs indicated that the project to refurbish the site would amount to £250,000, although the Trustees of the project were looking to spend £50,000 due to lack of funds.

·       Support for the project was received from the local community

·       Kevin Down was appointed as the development manager and although challenges arose due to increasing vandalism, he managed to complete an outstanding refurbishment.

·       The first phase of the refurbishment consisted of new windows and doors, new commercial boiler, new fire alarm system, new CCTV system and new intercom system.

·       The facility was being opened up for local groups and the community to use, along with office space for hire.

·       Fairfield Farm would be helping to run the Café, which would open at the beginning of November 2020.

·       Adult education course would be run by Wiltshire College in the first-floor rooms.

·       An online booking facility would be available shortly to make use of the facilities.

 

The Area Board thanked all involved, especially Richard and Kevin for driving the project forward and congratulated them on such a fantastic achievement.

 

9.

Local School Update

To receive an update.

Minutes:

The Area Board received an update from Richard Hatt, on behalf of Westbury Headteachers about COVID-19 and its impact on schools in the Westbury area.

 

Videos from Westbury Leigh CE Primary School and Fairfield Farm College were shown to demonstrate how pupils dealt with the new ways of working at their places of education following the implementation of restrictions during this time.

 

Comments made during the presentations included:

·       Notifications that school would be closing were received on the Thursday, with closures starting the following Monday.

·       Headteachers from across Westbury met to discuss a plan of action and it was agreed that each school would implement their own plan of action due to the different nature of how each school operated.

·       Government guidelines developed over time including social distancing, so schools adapted their individual practices and policies to coincide with the guidelines.

·       Year 6 and 10 children return to school first, followed by other years.

·       Westbury parents had responding magnificently to the new ways of approaching the return to schools with new practices and procedures and support for the headteacher and teaching staff decisions.

·       Pupils welcomed the return to school in September 2020.

·       The six month timescale that children were away from school has had an impact on routines and the ‘habit’ of learning, and it is felt that children regressed about a year in their education.

·       Recovery plans being put in place to help children feel secure and motivated, and return to their expected age appropriate education.

·       Expectation that the school year group ‘bubbles’ would extend past Christmas 2020.

 

The Area Board also heard from Tina Paget from Fairfield Farm College, who spoke about the impact of Covid-19 on the college’s young people, especially on their mental health. The College stayed open for all young people as they were all classed as vulnerable. 

 

The Chair thanked Richard for his update and felt that it was upsetting to hear that children could be a year behind in their education due to Covid-19. It was also felt that the impact of the pandemic would be wide ranging. The Headteachers, and all teaching staff were thanked for their hard work to implement the new procedures.

 

 

 

10.

Community Area Transport Group

To consider CATG applications.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Area Board received the minutes of the Community Area Transport Group of their meeting held on 4 September 2020 and 25 September 2020.

 

Resolved:

To adopt the recommendations of the Community Area Transport Group meetings held on 4 and 25 September 2020 as outlined in the report.

11.

Community Area Grants

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

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to one application made to the Community Area Grants Scheme.

 

 

Resolved:

 

To award Leigh Park Community Centre £4097.41 towards the Lounge Outside inclusive area.

 

12.

Urgent items

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

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

13.

Future Meeting Dates, Forward Plan, Evaluation and Close

The next meeting of the Westbury Area Board will take place on 10 December 2020.

 

Minutes:

The next virtual meeting of the Westbury Area Board will be held on 10 December 2020.