Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Royal Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board and introduced the councillors and officers present.

The Chairman advised and requested that it was noted, that Alexa Smith – Democratic Services Officer, had moved on to a new role within Wiltshire Council, the Chairman thanked Alexa for the hard work that she had carried out for the Area Board.

The Chairman advised that the Bus Services, Rural Service Plan would soon be out to consultation.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Ruth Szybiak – Cricklade Town Council and Cllr Derek Bunney – Lyneham Parish Council.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2013.

Decision

·       The minutes of the meeting held on the 22 May 2013 were agreed 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.

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

The following points were raised by Cllr Jacqui Lay:

·         That a planning application for land at Ridgeway Farm had now been submitted.

·         That Wiltshire Council had been sending letters out to businesses in Royal Wootton Bassett concerning the need for businesses to have a valid Wiltshire Council waste certificate to enable them to have commercial waste collected and disposed of. There were concerns that some businesses were using bottle banks to dispose of large quantities of bottles. Wiltshire Council could fine businesses £300 if they did not hold a valid certificate.

To receive updates from our key partners, parish and town councils and community groups. 

Updates from partners were received as follows:

Parish and Town Councils

Latton Parish council

·       Were now ready to publish their Parish Plan, the Chairman invited representatives from Latton PC to give a presentation at a future Area Board meeting on their experiences of putting together their Parish Plan.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council

·       Thanked the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service for their prompt action in dealing with the recent fire at the Cross Keys public house.

Cricklade Town Council

·       Neighbourhood Plan - The Working Party has been doing a lot of work, following the public consultation in April 2013, and met with members of the newly formed focus group last week.  The Focus Groups, covering Housing, Public Open Spaces and Business, Traffic and Town Centre will be meeting over the next few months to consider all the local evidence, the results of the surveys and local public opinion and will prepare a draft Neighbourhood Plan under the guidance of the Working Party. 

·       Benchmarking with Action for Market Towns - Cricklade enters its second year of the scheme, along with other market towns in Wiltshire.  Evidence collected will be used to enhance tourism, make suggestions for improving the local economy and as a measure to ensure that initiatives are producing results.

·       Councillor Vacancy - Following the recent election Cricklade Town Council was notified of a resignation from a newly elected councillor, and this vacancy will hopefully be filled at the end of July.

·       Walkers are Welcome - Our Tourism Working Party is recruiting a local volunteer to help raise Cricklade’s reputation as an important destination for walkers.  The town is hoping to secure Walkers are Welcome status which will benefit those visiting the area and enjoying the Thames Path, as well as adding to the vibrancy and economy of the town.  This is a community led scheme and it would be great to have links with other neighbouring parishes who participate in the scheme. To find out more visit www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk

·       Get Wiltshire Walking - Approximately 20 walkers meet each week in Cricklade to participate in a local walks, led by trained walk leaders.  On 19^th July over 75 walkers who are members of other walking groups in and around Wiltshire will be coming to Cricklade to enjoy one short walk and a long walk, as well as taking in some of the other sites of the town, including the museum. 

·       Cricklade In Bloom Competition - Cricklade continues to blossom following its “Champion of Champions” success in the RHS Britain in Bloom 2011 competition. The Town Council is judging a variety of planting categories and encouraging children to participate with gardens to attract bees and butterflies. 

·       Heritage Trail - The Heritage Trail is nearing completion with new display boards being added to the town on a regular interval.  The town council continues to offer free parking throughout the town and is enhancing the car parks with new signage.

·       RWB and Cricklade Towns and Villages Trail - This new leaflet, published by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider applications received for funding from the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board budget 2013/14.

The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2011/12:

Decision

Tockenham Village Hall awarded £2,075 towards a new heating system in Tockenham Village Hall.

Reason

The application meets the Community Area Grant criteria 2013/14, and demonstrates partial links to the Northern Community Area Plan 2005 – 2015; Recreation, Culture & Leisure.

Decision

Old Court Community Pre-School awarded £2,660 towards the creation of a Teddy Tots Garden on condition that the balance of funding is in place.

Reason

The application meets the Community Area Grant criteria 2013/14 and demonstrates links to the Northern Community Area Plan 2005 – 2015; Recreation, Culture & Leisure, and Education & Lifelong Learning.

Decision

Longleaze Pre-School awarded £5,000 towards Longleaze Pre-School and Nursery extension and building improvements with the proviso that Pre-School provision would be set up.

Reason

The application meets the Community Area Grant criteria 2013/14 and demonstrates a link to the Northern Community Area Plan 2005 – 2015; Education & Lifelong Learning.

Decision

Cricklade Historical Society awarded £5,000 towards nine new cabinets.

Reason

The application meets the Community Area Grant criteria 2013/14, and demonstrates links to the Northern Community Area Plan 2005 – 2015; The Economy, and Recreation, Culture & Leisure.

Councillors considered the following applications for funding from the Area Board’s revenue budget:

Decision

ClyffePypard Parish Council awarded £500 towards the development of a Community-Led Plan for Clyffe Pypard.

Decision

To award the sum of £325 for a medieval banner and stand at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of May 2012.

Councillors considered the following applications seeking funding from the Area Board’s Legacy funding scheme:

Decision

Wives Community Group awarded £500 towards a summer fete.

Decision

Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Football Club awarded £1,000 towards the official opening and associated celebrations of the new clubhouse and floodlights.

The Area Board were notified that the following costs have been incurred under the financial authority delegated to the Community Area Manager:

The sum of £20 for the hire of Cricklade Town Council’s meeting room for a Community Area Transport Group meeting on Thursday 4 July 2013.

To receive updates from some of the Community-Led Planning Steering Groups that have completed or are nearing completion of a Community-Led Plan, and to begin to identify common themes and the next steps.

Geoff Tappern gave a brief overview on how Purton Parish Council had consulted and published its Community-Led Plan.

Points made by Geoff Tappern included:

Process

•        Study group formed Oct 2011.

•        Questionnaire distributed by hand to every house in July 2012.

–       Returns 20% for households.

–       Returns 5% for business.

–       Returns 45% for Bradon Forest School (young person questionnaire).

•        Feed back meeting Dec 2012.

•        Now at draft 6 of Parish Plan document.

•        “Nearly” finished.

Parish Plan Steering Group

·       Initially about 14 people.

·       Down to 5 dedicated people.

·       Good response from Parish Council.

·       Good response from Unitary Councillor.

·       Good response from Community First.

Comments

•        Initially little enthusiasm in village with comments like “Why bother - nobody takes any notice of what we say”.

•        Despair over planning decisions at Wiltshire Council – take no notice of our objections.

•        Fed up with parking issues, speeding, narrow roads, dog poo.

Where Purton is now

·       Taking more interest in what is going on, especially on planning & parking.

·       But:- still its planning, planning, planning.

·       Development information to be the same in Neighbourhood Plan as in Parish Plan.

·       Taking more interest on how “our” money is being spent.

The Chairman thanked Geoff Tappern for his presentation and invited him back to a future Area Board meeting to give an update.

 To receive updates from the three Neighbourhood Planning Groups; NEW-V, Cricklade and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Updates were received from the three Neighbourhood Planning

Groups; NEW-V, Cricklade and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Cricklade – Cllr Mark Clarke

Points made included:

What’s happened so far?

•        The Town Council established a Working Party to prepare the Neighbourhood Plan.

•        The Working Party currently consists of 4 councillors, 4 community volunteers, our Town Clerk and a Wiltshire Council liaison officer.

•        Cricklade parish was designated a Neighbourhood Plan area on 28^th February 2013.

•        A dedicated website has been set up : www.crickladenp.org 

•        In April a two day public consultation was held in the Town Hall which attracted 450 visitors.

The next steps

·       The Working Party has now established  three focus groups to examine all available evidence, carry out further research as appropriate, and write the draft plan :

-        Housing.

-        Public Realm.

-        Business, Transport and Town Centre. 

New V

Points made included:

·       Making good progress, the group were in discussions with Georgina Clampitt-Dix - Head of Service - Place Shaping, Wiltshire Council.

·       Not a great response from the consultation so far.

·       A poor response from the School consultation, with only three responses received back.

Royal Wootton Bassett

Points made included:

·       Have been holding open surgeries to discuss what it all means.

·       School consultation carried out, with a good take up of some 3000 leaflets distributed.

·       A good response from a leaflet drop carried out in the High Street.

The three groups were thanked by the Chairman for their ongoing efforts.

To receive updates from the Area Board’s task groups and working groups and to consider any recommendations, including:

Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

       i.          The CATG recommends that the Area Board allocates the sum of approximately £800 from the CATG budget to provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving at Purton High Street near the village Hall.

      ii.          The CATG recommends that the Area Board allocates the sum of £5,000 from the CATG budget towards a pedestrian crossing at Willis Way in Purton, on the condition that Purton Parish Council agree to match-fund with the sum of £5,000, with the remainder to be bid for through the substantive highways scheme. Should the bid be unsuccessful, the sum of £5,000 will be returned to the CATG budget.

Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board (COB)

       i.          The Cricklade Shadow COB recommends that the Area Board approves John Simmons as the newly appointed Leisure Centre representative on the COB, and that his fellow directors Deepak Lal and Nick Carter be appointed as deputies.

The following updates and draft minutes were received from the Task Groups and Working Groups:

Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2013 were noted.

The two recommendations listed below were agreed:

Decision

·         That the Area Board allocates the sum of approximately £800 from the CATG budget to provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving at Purton High Street near the village Hall.

Decision

·         That the Area Board allocates the sum of £5,000 from the CATG budget towards a pedestrian crossing at Willis Way in Purton, on the condition that Purton Parish Council agree to match-fund with the sum of £5,000, with the remainder to be bid for through the substantive highways scheme. Should the bid be unsuccessful, the sum of £5,000 would be returned to the CATG budget.

Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board (COB)

The update contained in the agenda pack was noted.

The recommendation listed below was agreed:

Decision

·         That the Area Board approves John Simmons as the newly appointed Leisure Centre representative on the COB, and that his fellow directors Deepak Lal and Nick Carter are appointed as deputies.

Royal Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board (COB)

·         Nothing to report.

Dog Fouling Task Group

·         That Cllr Mollie Groom and Cllr Jacqui Lay had recently attended a “Bag it and Bin it” awareness presentation with local School children.

·         That a meeting date would be arranged for the Task Group to meet again.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

To consider ideas for taking the Area Board and its meetings forward over the coming years.

It was agreed that this topic would be carried over to the September Area Board meeting.

An opportunity to network as we pack away, and to raise any questions or issues you might have.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the meeting. The next meeting of the Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Board would be held on 25 September 2013 at St Bartholomew’s School, Royal Wootton Bassett.