Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Bob Jones MBE – Royal Wootton Bassett Area Board

Ellen Blacker – Good Neighbours

John Davies – Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

Dr Richard Pagett – Northern Community Area Partnership

Ruth Szybiak – Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB)

Clive Wilce – Cricklade SCOB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26^th November 2014.

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26 November 2014 were deferred until the 18 March 2015 for approval. This was due to the temporary absence of the Democratic Services Officer.

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:

a.     Paper 10: Integrated Performance Management Report.

b.     Dementia in Wiltshire: The Role of Healthwatch Wiltshire.

c.     Dog Fouling Signage.

The following Chairman’s Announcements were noted:

a)              Paper 10: Integrated Performance Management Report

Those interested in obtaining more information were encouraged to get in touch using the email address provided in the announcement.

b)              Dementia in Wiltshire: The Role of Healthwatch Wiltshire

People who had been experiencing issues with dementia care in Wiltshire were urged to get into contact with Healthwatch Wiltshire (HWW).

The Great Western Hospital (GWH) was looking for musicians to visit dementia wards and play for the patients.

c)              Dog Fouling Signage

A limited number of signs were available that Parish Councils could request if needed.

d)              Core Strategy

The Wiltshire Core Strategy had been adopted at the meeting of Full Council on 20 January 2015. There would be a six week period where it could be taken to judicial review. The strategy would put in place protection for sustainable planning.

To receive updates from our key partners, including:

a.     Wiltshire Police

b.     Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

c.     Lyneham Defence College of Technical Training

d.     Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

e.     Local Youth Network (LYN)

f.      Neighbourhood Planning Working Group

g.     Community-Led Planning Steering Groups

h.     Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations

i.       Community Groups

j.       Housing Associations

k.     Network Rail

l.       RWB Arts Festival & Memorial Hall

m.   RWB Sports Association

Updates from partners were received as follows:

      i.        Wiltshire Police

There were no updates.

    ii.        Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

A written update was circulated at the meeting.

A number of recruitment events were being held within Royal Wootton Bassett in order to attract new on-call firefighters. “Have a go” evenings were being held at the Station Road fire station between 7-9pm on 21 and 28 January 2015.

On-call firefighters would receive the same training as whole-time colleagues and would respond to various emergency situations.

More information for those who could not attend the events was available on the Wiltshire Fire Service website.

   iii.        Lyneham Defence College of Technical Training

The update was taken during the Lyneham Defence College of Technical Training agenda item.

   iv.        Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

There were no updates.

    v.        Local Youth Network (LYN)

Pete Smith announced that the LYN management group had been putting together a needs analysis to take to schools.

The LYN management group for Royal Wootton Bassett and Lyneham had been set up. Work was ongoing towards looking to put together a LYN management group for Cricklade. Those interested were invited to get in contact.

An event would be held on 25 February 2015 for the wider LYN. All groups interested in the future of young people in the area were invited.

Three youth projects were due to start, with two more in the pipeline.

   vi.        Neighbourhood Planning Working Group

John Bennett stated that the North East Wiltshire Villages Neighbourhood Plan was progressing. Work was being done with contractors to get what was needed from them.

In Royal Wootton Bassett the strategic housing land allocation scoring had been completed. The next stage was set to take place around March 2015, where residents would be consulted. It was hoped that the plan would be finished by the end of 2015.

The second consultation round in Cricklade had finished.

 vii.        Community-Led Planning Steering Groups

There were no updates.

viii.        Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations

There were no updates.

   ix.        Community Groups

Jenny Stratton – Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal Trust:

The Canal Trust had won £50,000 in People’s Millions lottery grant to convert a landfill site into a wildlife trail. Work on the seat at Templar Firs, which the Area Board had granted funding to restore, had been completed.

    x.        Housing Associations

There were no updates.

   xi.        Network Rail

The update was taken during the Network Rail agenda item.

 xii.        Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival & Memorial Hall

The next AGM would be held on 31 January 2015.

xiii.        Wootton Bassett Sports Association

A written update was provided.

Area Boards will be asked to approve the proposed list of schemes for 2015/16.

The list of proposed schemes for 2015/16 was presented.

It was explained that the list was created through officer recommendations on which areas of road needed resurfacing. The Area Board had been asked to approve the list of schemes for 2015/16.

Any not included on the list were asked to be fed through CATG.

A question was asked on issues C120 and C130. It was hoped that the resurfacing included the area by the sewage-works.

Decision

1.     To note the progress made on implementing road resurfacing and safety schemes in 2014/15.

2.     To approve the proposed list of schemes for 2015/16.

Captain Bob Rusbridger will be in attendance to deliver a presentation on Lyneham Defence College of Training.

Captain Bob Rusbridger was in attendance to deliver a presentation on Lyneham Defence College of Training.

New buildings and areas of construction were pointed out around the defence college on the slide presentation. These included: a new instructional block, which had been fitted with air conditioning and new mechanics; a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) workshop which had been refurbished and fitted with new heating and lighting, and a new classroom; a gymnasium facility; and a new accommodation block.

The REME recovery training area was described as being an essential part of their training. Vehicles would be dropped into water and the training would require them to recover the vehicles.

Current planning regulations stated that the 25metre firing range must now be covered with a roof.

The solar development area had been granted planning permission at the end of 2014, with the Cabinet Office giving the go ahead in January 2015. 130,000 solar panels would be fitted by the 31 March 2015. Access would be through the A-site in Bradenstoke.

A question was asked on possible community contribution as a result of the solar panels. It was understood that the only monetary deal was between British Solar Renewables and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The deal had been driven by the Cabinet Office and not the MOD. Wiltshire Council officers were looking into the high voltage cable which would run from the site to the national grid north of the M4; information would be shared when available.

Full occupancy of 1500 was expected at the new accommodation by the end of September 2015.

The roundabout mentioned in the original plan was stated as being a part of the third tranche, currently they were in the first tranche.

Dave Wilson and Gabriela Stanciu will be in attendance to deliver a presentation from Network Rail on the plans for Marlborough Road and Skew Bridge.

Steve Keighly, Senior Project Manager, and Gabriela Stanciu, Communication and Stakeholders Engagement Officer, were in attendance to deliver a presentation on the Network Rail electrification programme.

A comprehensive modernisation of the whole rail route was said to include electrification from London to Swansea. This would include 247miles of route to be electrified. Within this were 179 bridges, 12 tunnels, and 33 stations.

The project was taking place to allow the increase capacity with the introduction of longer trains, along with reducing environmental impact.

The bridge at Chaddington/Swindon Road would have a temporary bridge built alongside it to avoid disruption. Work was scheduled for May 2015, however the date was considered unlikely due to the structure’s listed status and consultation. The expected date was November or December 2015.

Work at Templars Farm had been continuing for several months. The structure was successfully reconstructed on 12 October 2014 and was planned to reopen early February 2015.

The plan for the Skew Bridges at Hunts Mill and Bath Road was outlined. As the bridge at Hunts Mill was a listed structure, whilst the other was not, a plan had not yet been finalised. They were currently doing what they could to avoid reconstructing the bridges. Work was still on schedule to start in December 2015, with onsite presence scheduled in October 2015.

A lot of effort had been spent to find the right solution at Station Road/Marlborough Road where there was a road and pedestrian bridge alongside each other. This would be combined into a single bridge. The bridge could not be widened due to funding and time restraints. Planned delivery would be May 2015.

At Marlborough Road they had looked at how quickly the work could be performed. Road closure was limited to one week, and the work could not be completed in this timeframe. Building a temporary bridge would be problematic. Installing a temporary road was stated to be the main option at the current moment in time.

Questions were asked on the temporary road. The instalment had been agreed in principle after consultation with Wiltshire Council, and the cost to Network Rail would be £2million. It was confirmed that the bridge would not be closed until the temporary road had been completed. The temporary road could be completed in 4months if the plans were in place and would be removed immediately after work was completed. Design details for the temporary road would be shared with residents when available.

It was asked whether Network Rail would compensate businesses for any custom lost. Network Rail was unable to provide compensation. If there were specific issues that needed to be taken up, they were dealt with on a case by case basis.

Consultation would be taken with individual parishes; Gabriela Stanciu was introduced as the contact.

To note the Area Board budget and funding criteria for 2014/15

To consider four applications to the Community Area Grants Scheme, as follows:

a)    Dance Common Management Group – requests £3,800 towards a capital improvement project

b)    Wiltshire Wildlife Trust – requests £2,657 towards the creation of a community garden

c)     Cricklade Community Choir – requests £996 for the purchase of an digital piano and accessories

d)    Purton War Memorial and Village Centre Charity – requests £516 for the purchase of fire retardant curtains and blinds

To note the joint application to the Dog Fouling Fund for £789 from Cricklade Town Council and Purton Parish Council

To note that £2,800 provisionally approved funding for a youth project bid to GreenSquare has been successful.

To note the area board current budget balances.

The Area Board considered the following applications to the Community Area Grant Scheme 2014/15:

Decision

1.    To award Dance Common Management Group £3,800 towards a capital improvement project.

Reason:

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2015/16.

2.    To award the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust £2,657 towards the creation of a community garden.

Reason:

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2015/16.

3.    To award Cricklade Community Choir £996 for the purchase of an digital piano and accessories.

Reason:

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2015/16.

4.    To award Purton War Memorial and Village Centre Charity £516 for the purchase of fire retardant curtains and blinds.

Reason:

The application met the Community Area Grant Criteria 2015/16.

5.    To note the joint application to the Dog Fouling Fund for £789 from Cricklade Town Council and Purton Parish Council.

6.    To note that £2,800 provisionally approved funding for a youth project bid to GreenSquare had been partially successful.

7.    To note the area board current budget balances.

There were no updates.

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

a.     Royal Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board

b.     Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board

c.     Caring about Dementia Task Group

d.     Older Peoples Accommodation Task Group

e.     Cricklade Extra-Care Working Group.

f.      Community Area Transport Group (CAT-G).

a.            Royal Wootton Bassett Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB)

Disappointment was expressed as all consultations and feasibility studies had been performed, but the SCOB had been stymied at each turn. A letter had been written to Cllr Jane Scott OBE, Laurie Bell, and Cllr Johnathon Seed, but no response had yet been received.

Cllr Bucknell stated she had heard there was a commitment to providing a campus, and would chase up responses to the letter.

b.            Cricklade Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB)

A written update was provided.

c.            Caring about Dementia Task Group

The task group was still regularly meeting and was chaired by Lynda Frost and would be focusing on businesses.

d.            Older Peoples Accommodation Task Group

An update was provided at the last meeting by St John’s Care Trust. There were no plans to close Cedars Care Home Purton or Ridgeway House in Royal Wootton Bassett.

e.            Cricklade Extra-Care Working Group

There were no updates.

f.             Community Area Transport Group (CATG)

There were no updates.

To note that the next Area Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, 18th March, 2015, 6.30 pm, at Cricklade Town Hall, High St, Cricklade SN6 6AE.

It was announced that this would be Julia Densham’s (Community Area Manager for Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade) last Area Board meeting. Thanks were expressed from Cllr Bucknell and the Area Board for her hard work in the area. Allison Sullivan would be returning as Community Area Manager for the short-term.

The next Area Board meeting would be held on Wednesday, 18th March, 2015, 6.30 pm, at Cricklade Town Hall, High St, Cricklade SN6 6AE.