Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Royal Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board and the councillors and officers introduced themselves. The Chairman thanked everyone for coming out in the bad weather.

Apologies for absence were received from Mike Bell (Purton Parish Council), Ian Cambrook (Military Civilian Integration Partnership), David Line (), Ruth Scob (), Andrea Smith (Extended Schools Services), Jenny Stratton (Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council) and Ruth Szybiak (Cricklade Town Council).   

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 28 November 2012.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2012 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman, with an amendment on item 13iv, to read ‘Lack of rural bus services – Councillor Roberts reported that he had received a comment that a free bus service to ASDA in West Swindon would be useful’.

Councillors are requested to declare any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

Councillor Mollie Groom declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of Lydiard Millicent Parish Council in

Recommendation

That in respect of urgent matters that may arise from time to time between meetings of an Area Board, the Community Area Manager, in consultation with the unitary councillors on the Area Board, be granted delegated authority to make any necessary financial decisions.  A report explaining the decision and the reasons why it was considered to be urgent shall be reported to the next ordinary meeting of the area board to ensure that such decisions are subject to public examination. 

Reason for Recommendation

To facilitate the smooth and efficient running of Area Board business and to reduce the need for unnecessary extraordinary meetings.

The Chairman asked the councillors to consider a recommendation to delegate certain authority over the pre-elections period in order to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of Area Board business.

Decision

That in respect of urgent matters that may arise from time to time between meetings of an Area Board, the Community Area Manager, in consultation with the unitary councillors on the Area Board, be granted delegated authority to make any necessary financial decisions.  A report explaining the decision and the reasons why it was considered to be urgent shall be reported to the next ordinary meeting of the Area Board to ensure that such decisions are subject to public examination.

News and information on what’s going on in your local community and across the county:

       i.          Youth Service Update (attached)

      ii.          Wiltshire Online: Connectivity and Provision (attached)

    iii.          Legacy for Wiltshire (attached)

    iv.          Joint Strategic Assessment for Health and Wellbeing 2012-13 (attached)

     v.          Welfare Reform in Wiltshire (attached)

    vi.          Area Board Review 2009 – 2013 (attached).

The Chairman provided information about the topics below, as in the agenda pack.

i.                 Youth Service Update – including the formation of Youth Advisory Groups in each community area, led by young people.

ii.                Wiltshire Online: Connectivity and Provision – the Wiltshire Online Programme would bring availability of standard and superfast broadband to homes and businesses across the county.

iii.              Legacy for Wiltshire – a series of evening events were being held to focus on what could be done in 2013 to help communities come together and celebrate, as in 2012.

iv.              Joint Strategic Assessment for Health and Wellbeing 2012-13 – this document was now available and could be downloaded from the Wiltshire Intelligence Network website.

v.               Welfare Reform in Wiltshire – The Welfare Reform Act 2012 would bring about Government change to welfare intended to simplify the benefits system and encourage people to work. Those affected would be contacted and further information was available on the Wiltshire Council website.

vi.              Area Board Review 2009-2013 – a review of the achievements of the Area Board over the last four years was provided.   

To receive written updates from our key partners, including:

       i.          Wiltshire Police (attached)

      ii.          Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (attached)

    iii.          Military Civilian Integration Partnership (attached)

    iv.          Defence Technical Training (see item 9)

     v.          NHS Wiltshire (attached)

    vi.          Parish and Town Councils (attached)

  vii.          Neighbourhood Planning Working Group

 viii.          Community-Led Planning Steering Groups (NEW-V)

    ix.          Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations

     x.          Community Groups

    xi.          Housing Associations.

Updates from partners were received as follows:

       i.          Wiltshire Police

The written update was noted. Inspector Mark Thomson introduced himself and gave a short summary of his 18 years of policing experience.

      ii.          Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The written update was noted. Mike Franklin highlighted there had been six fires in December, with most being accidental fires. The Partnership had 30,000 reflective armbands. These were mostly for young people, however 10,000 had been retained for walkers and dog owners to make them safer at night. If you would like a reflective armband, the fire station at Cricklade was open to the public between 7 and 9 pm on a Monday and Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade was open between 7.30 and 9.30 pm. Cold weather could affect smoke alarms, so please do check them. Please also check drains for blockages in this time of high flood risk and if there was an issue on a public space, contact Clarence on 0800 23 23 23.

    iii.          Military Civilian Integration Partnership.

The written update was noted. Please direct any questions through the Community Area Manager. 

    iv.          Defence Technical Training

Please find the update provided as item 9.

     v.          NHS Wiltshire

The written updates were noted. There were no further updates.

    vi.          Parish and Town Councils

The Neighbourhood Plan area consultations were ongoing and co-operation between the parishes was encouraged. Councillor Colmer reported that Cricklade Town Council were losing their Town Clerk, Shelley Parker, and thanked Shelley for her tremendous contribution to the community area. This was endorsed by all councillors.

  vii.          Neighbourhood Planning Working Group

Ray Thomas reported that consultation was now available for the community.

 viii.          Community-Led Planning Steering Groups (NEW-V)

There were no further updates.

    ix.          Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations

Visit Wiltshire was starting work on an Area Board project, which they hoped to publish for Easter. 

     x.          Community Groups

Royal Wootton Bassett Sports Association had exchanged contracts to relocate from its current site to a site by the Malmesbury Road and opposite the Ballards Ash sports ground. The aim was to build on site by the end of the year. The Association would continue to work with the Area Board and provide regular updates. The Chairman thanked Paul Harrison for all his efforts.  

To consider reports from the following task groups and make any necessary decisions:

1.     Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board

2.     Royal Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board

3.     Dog Fouling Task Group

4.     Recommendations from Community Area Transport Group (CATG), as follows:

At the meeting of the CATG on Thursday 10 January 2013, the CATG considered assessments of substantive schemes from the Highways Engineer, and decided to make the following recommendations to the Area Board:

4a.To allocate the sum of approximately £1,500 from the remaining CATG budget to introduce additional ‘SLOW’ markings including rumble strips on both approaches to Bremhill Bridge, Purton.

4b.To allocate the remaining sum of approximately £1,300 from the CATG budget, plus up to £15,000 from the Area Board’s budget (subject to availability), to the development of a new footway at the C28, Lydiard Green.

Updates were received as follows:

       i.          Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board

The Shadow Community Operations Board had agreed to appoint Graham Blunden as a representative from the wider community.

     ii.          Royal Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board

There was no further update.

   iii.          Dog Fouling Task Group

Councillor Lay reported the task group had met prior to Christmas and had come up with a number of ideas to improve the situation. Councillor Lay felt these ideas would be useful to circulate to Town and Parish Councils and to bring findings back to the Area Board. A toolkit had been produced to guide people through getting involved with the dog warden and this would be circulated as well.  

   iv.          Recommendations from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

Notes from the CATG meeting on Thursday 10 January 2013 were available at the meeting.

Decision

To allocate the sum of approximately £1,500 from the remaining CATG budget to introduce additional ‘SLOW’ markings including rumble strips on both approaches to Bremhill Bridge, Purton.

Decision

To allocate the remaining sum of approximately £1,300 from the CATG budget, plus up to £15,000 from the Area Board’s budget (subject to availability), to the development of a new footway at the C28, Lydiard Green.

An opportunity to hear from Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, about the future of policing in Wiltshire and the role of the Commissioner. There will then be an opportunity to ask questions of the Commissioner.  

Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, presented information about the future of policing in Wiltshire.

This included:

·       The role of the Commissioner – this was a commissioning role to ensure a policing service fit for purpose in Wiltshire.

·       Angus had a budget of £100 million and five support staff.

·       He was at present writing a five year Police and Crime Plan to set the strategic direction of policing in Wiltshire and Swindon.

·       The plan was available for comment from 18 February until 10 March, with the intention to publish the plan on 28 March. You can read and give views on the plan via the Police and Crime Commissioner’s website – www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk.

·       In short, the aim of the plan was for community-based policing, protecting the most vulnerable, putting victims and witnesses first, reducing reoffending, improving quality of life, customer service, ensuring a timely response and unlocking resources.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session, which covered the following main issues:

·       Visible policing on the streets and whether Angus would consider raising the precept – Angus had committed to not raise the precept this year, but this issue was part of the consultation process. The precept would not be raised without tangible outcomes.

·       Two workshops had been held for the voluntary and community sector in Wiltshire and Swindon – as places were limited, the workshops had been by invitation to voluntary and community groups, however there had been the opportunity to ask to be involved.

·       In the past year there had been a third of a cut in community policing with the withdrawal of the MOD – this would be taken into account in the plan.

·       The issue of speeding in the community area and 20 and 30 mph speeding limits – 20 mph limits were not enforced at the moment, but views on this could be input into the consultation on the plan.

·       The Police and Crime Panel – this was made up of councillors from Swindon and Wiltshire and two appointed independent members.             

To receive pre-application details of the planning application to be submitted by the MOD for the delivery of Defence Technical Training at Lyneham.

Pre-application information was provided about the planning application to be submitted by the MOD for the delivery of Defence Technical Training at Lyneham. This included feedback on the website consultation, an update on development proposals and the master plan and next steps to be taken.

The website consultation had been launched in November 2012 and received responses from over 100 people. 95% were in support of an ongoing military presence. The consultation had also identified issues to be addressed in the planning process, such as proposals for access and the impact of traffic.

Images were shown of the existing site and of proposals for development in the future. Proposals encompassed a shift in the building footprint from 170,000 to 200,000 square metres, in the building floorspace from 200,000 square metres to having an additional 150,000 square metres, with a refurbishment and 20 % new build, and an increase in personnel from 3,000-4,000 to 5,500 in its end state.

There would be a public exhibition of proposals on 12 and 13 March 2013, with the planning application to be submitted in May 2013.

There was then a short opportunity for questions to be taken from the floor:

·       Certain areas of the site would not be used for tank exercises due to the ancient woodland and natural species present.

·       Lime trees and other memorial features would be taken into consideration in the application.

·       The intention was to complete the project in 2015 with the intention for trainees to be on site from then.

·       Facilities would be open to the public where possible.

·       Dialogue with Wiltshire Council officers was ongoing regarding minimising the impact of construction traffic.

The Chairman gave his thanks for the item and asked the councillors to endorse the next steps of the project (completing technical assessments, the public exhibition and submission of the application).

Decision

Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board would endorse and support the programme of work, as presented, for the Defence College of Technical Training.            

Information will be provided about the process to decide on school governance arrangements and appointment of a governing body in advance of delivering a new primary school linked to the Ridgeway Farm development.

Information was provided about the process to decide on school governance arrangements and appointment of a governing body in advance of delivering a new primary school linked to the Ridgeway Farm development. A workshop was being held on 6 February at 6.30 pm at Purton Village Hall, please contact the Community Area Manager, Penny Bell, if you would like to attend the workshop, on 01249 706613 or penny.bell@wiltshire.gov.uk.

The Chairman explained that questions and comments would be taken on the process outlined, rather than the Ridgeway Farm development itself, which was controversial. Questions and comments covered the following main points:

·       There was a general move towards multi-academy trusts.

·       Comment was made that the majority of people in Purton would like a community school to open, funded by Wiltshire Council.

·       Consultation was taking place on the characteristics people would like to see in the provider.

·       The form of the multi-academy trust was very much down to proposals that were put forward.   

·       A concern was the proximity of the site to Swindon and the number of children who may end up attending the school from outside the parish.     

An open, public question and answer session to raise issues with your local representative (please note that if answers cannot be provided on the night, written responses will be provided after the meeting).

The Chairman explained there was now a chance for members of the public to raise any outstanding issues with local councillors. A question was asked regarding the review of C class roads and it was confirmed that when a road was reviewed for a speed limit, the full length of the road was under consideration.   

To consider the transfer of land at Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council (report to follow).

The Chairman explained that a late report had been received regarding the Community Asset Transfer of land at Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett. Hard copies of the report were available at the meeting. The Chairman asked the councillors to consider an application submitted by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council for the transfer of land at Swindon Road.

Decision

The Community Asset Transfer of land at Swindon Road, Royal Wootton Bassett, from Wiltshire Council to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council was approved by the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board.   

The Chairman will invite any remaining questions from the floor.

The meeting is asked to note the future meeting dates below and complete the evaluation.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. The next meeting of the Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board would be held on Wednesday 27 February 2013 at 6.30 pm at Lyneham Primary School. This would be an extraordinary meeting for the consideration of funding applications received.