Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Richard Humphrey (Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service), Sheila Kimmins (Westbury Town Council) and John Pollard (Edington Parish Council).

There were no declarations of interest.

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

·       Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner – Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner, was unable to attend the meeting. Graeme Morrison therefore ran through the presentation provided. The presentation can be found as part of the agenda https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=13227&Ver=4. The presentation included the following key points:

o   The presentation included links to the Police and Crime Plan 2020 update and the Commissioner’s Annual Report 2019/2020.

o   Details were included regarding Operation Uplift, which is the national announcement of a further 20,000 police officers to be achieved by March 2023 along with details of recruitment intakes.

o   An update was provided regarding policing during the pandemic. Key points included that the government has provided the police service with additional powers. Wiltshire Police are aiming to engage with individuals, explain, encourage and then only enforce as a last result. All Fixed Penalty Notices issued have been scrutinised for correct use of legal powers and proportionality, with Wiltshire leading the way.

·       Wiltshire Police – The Area Board received an update from PC Kevin Harmsworth on behalf of Wiltshire Police. PC Harmsworth reported the following matters:

o   Inspector Simon Cowdrey was introduced to the Area Board and will be presenting Wiltshire Police reports going forward.

o   Two new PCSOs will be patrolling Westbury town and rural areas as of 20^th December.

o   Anti-social behaviour has been taking place in Westbury parks and play areas. The police are aware of this and are patrolling to disperse groups under Covid regulations.

o   Operation Elf is set to take place to combat a rise in shoplifting. PCSOs and PCs will be out offering advice to residents with the aim of prevention.

o   Covid care packs have been distributed to neighbourhood teams and work is taking place with Graeme Morrison towards the Local Area Status Report to learn how the Covid pandemic has affected the community.

o   Wiltshire Police are working with key health partners to adapt a patrol strategy as GP surgeries and hospitals could be a target for theft following the Covid vaccine roll out.

o   A campaign named “Act Early” can be found online (https://actearly.uk/) to target potential extremist behaviour, with people lonely in lockdown and potentially exposed to extremist material.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service – the Area Board noted the update attached to the agenda supplement 1.

On the Community Safety Plan, page 26 of the Supplement, supporting information was included about corporate targets in 2018/2019. The Area Board asked about the inclusion of corporate targets for 2019/2020.

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

o   A virtual Christmas lights switch on recently took place and a film was produced which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Cllr Gordon King updated and introduced the recommendations from the CATG meeting held on 20 November 2020.

Resolved:

To adopt the recommendations of the Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 20 November 2020.

The Board considered the funding requests as detailed in the report attached to the agenda.

a)    Community Area Grants

i)                 Westbury Parochial Church Council – Screen Projector for All Saints Church, requested £3000.00.

          Beth Thomas spoke in support of a grant for the installation of a           retractable screen and wall mounted screen within All Saints Church.

Decision

To award Westbury Parochial Church Council £3000 towards a screen projector for All Saints Church.

ii)               Wiltshire Wildlife Trust – Bitham Brook Habitat Improvement Project, requested £3000.00.

          Nick Wilson spoke in support of a grant to improve Bitham Brook           through Westbury for wildlife and people by introducing in-channel           habitat using woody material and creating formalised dog access           points.

Decision

To award Wiltshire Wildlife Trust £3000 towards Bitham Brook Habitat Improvement Project.

iii)              Westbury Town Council – Westbury Speed Activated Vehicle Signs, requested £5000.00.

     Ian Cunningham spoke in support of a grant to allow the purchase of two      speed activated signs, allowing for a total of four in the town in order to      alert drivers of speeding and collect data for the police and Wiltshire      Council.

Decision

To award Westbury Town Council £5000 towards a speed activated vehicle sign.

b)    Youth Funding

i)                 4Youth – Detached Youth Work and Teen Talk, requested £4950.00.

     Cllr Jon Hubbard spoke in support of a grant for a project that will deliver      12 months of detached youth work and 12 months teen talk counselling      for the young people of Westbury.

Decision

There were no urgent items.