Agenda and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mary Champion, Cllr Mollie Groom and Cllr Chris Hurst.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 23 September 2015.

Decision

·       The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 25 September 2015 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

          It was noted that Purton was a Parish and not a Town Council.

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

Cllr Bob Jones – Community Area Grant application. Member of Cricklade Garden Club, would not vote on this application.

·       NHS Health Checks

The following Chairman’s Announcements were noted:

·       NHS Health Checks

To receive updates from our key partners, including:

a.     Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

b.     NHS Wiltshire

c.     Healthwatch Wiltshire

d.     Parish and Town Councils

e.     Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations

f.      Community Groups

g.     Housing Associations.

To receive updates from our key partners, including:

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       The written report was noted.

NHS Wiltshire

·       The written report was noted.

Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       The written report was noted.

Wiltshire Good Neighbours

·       The written report was noted.

Royal Wootton Bassett Sports Association

·       The written report was noted.

Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival

·       The written report was noted.

The Chairman thanked all partners for their updates.

Local Policing

Inspector Ben Huggins – Wiltshire Police will set out the position of local policing within the community area, with time to take any questions.

Speed Management

An opportunity to raise any questions, which would be answered at a future Area Board meeting.

Older People’s Event – update

Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager will explain the next steps following on from the older people’s events in both Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade.

Older People’s Champion

Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager will explain the Council’s wishes to encourage Area Boards to identify champions in each of the county’s community areas who will have a key role in representing the views of older people and carers at both a local and county wide level.

This will be followed by a short presentation from Ellen Blacker, Good Neighbour Co-ordinator.  

Working with our young people to provide positive leisure activities

Update and youth grant funding applications from Pete Smith – Community Youth Officer, Wiltshire Council.

Supporting Community projects and facilities

Grant Funding and Financial statement – Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager.

Campus updates

Alexa Smith – Community Engagement Manager.

Local Policing

Inspector Ben Huggins outlined to the Area Board changes to the way Wiltshire Police planned to deliver community policing.

Points made included:

·       That a new Community Policing model was currently being trialled in the Trowbridge area.  It had been decided that this pilot would be rolled out county wide during the summer 2016. Exactly what this would mean had yet to be fully decided and was subject of current planning discussions.

·       The new Wiltshire Police Control Strategy, which was based around the cross cutting themes of High risk victims, High risk offender, Domestic abuse and Cyber crime.

·       The importance of local communities engaging with the Police, and local intelligence not being lost.

Questions from the floor included:

That there were concerns that under the new policing model, local police knowledge could be lost.

a.Communities would still have local policing, but other officers would be available to help if required. PCSOs would not be lost.

How can a good level of policing be maintained with cuts having to be made?

a.There are indeed less resources, so Wiltshire Police has to do something different. The pilot in Trowbridge had proved to be very successful.

Would any police officers face redundancy?

a.No,any reduction would be through natural wastage or early retirement.

Would Special Constable numbers reduce?

a.No, Specials would continue to be recruited. PCSOs would see their role be given more responsibility.

Would Wiltshire Police still be supporting Community Speedwatch?

a.Wiltshire Police would continue to support Community Speedwatch.

What would happen if Cricklade Police station closes?

a.New mobile devices were being rolled out, giving officers the freedom to access information and stay in touch whilst remaining on the beat. Officers are now using Wiltshire Council buildings as part of partnership arrangements with Wiltshire Council.

The point was made that the issue raised at the September Area Board was not directed at the Neighbourhood Policing team, but concerns with the closure of Cricklade Police station.

Speed Management

Inspector Huggins reiterated Wiltshire Police’s continued support of the Community Speed Watch schemes across the county, and the good work that the volunteers were carrying out.

The Chairman advised that a future Area Board meeting would look at speed management, any potential questions should be fed back to the herself or the Community Engagement Manager.

The Chairman thanked Inspector Huggins for his presentation.

Older People’s Event update – Alexa Smith – Community Area Manager

Points made included:

·       Since the previous area Board WF&RS and Wiltshire Council had held a successful event for older people in Royal Wootton Bassett. The event was held on the 14 October in the library and well over 40 people benefitted from the display stands that were set up and speaking to people from a range of organisations, such as Age Concern, Community First and our health trainer Janice Bardwell.

·       Outcomesfrom theevent arethat theArea Boardwould beworking withlocal GPsto pull togethera directoryof theactivities whichare available  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

That the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board consider the following recommendations:

• That in respect of urgent matters that may arise, the Community Engagement Manager, following consultation with members of the Area Board and the agreement of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, may authorise expenditure to support community projects from the delegated budget of up to £5,000 in total between meetings of an Area Board.
  
  
• The decision and reasons why it was considered urgent will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board.

• That in respect of urgent matters that may arise, the Community Youth Officer, following consultation with members of the Area Board and the agreement of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, may authorise expenditure to support youth projects from the youth budget of up to £5,000 in total between meetings of an Area Board.
  
  
• The decision and reasons why it was considered urgent will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board.

Decision

That in respect of urgent matters that may arise, the Community Engagement Manager, following consultation with members of the Area Board and the agreement of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, may authorise expenditure to support community projects from the delegated budget of up to £5,000 in total between meetings of an Area Board.

The decision and reasons why it was considered urgent will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board.

Decision

That in respect of urgent matters that may arise, the Community Youth Officer, following consultation with members of the Area Board and the agreement of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, may authorise expenditure to support youth projects from the youth budget of up to £5,000 in total between meetings of an Area Board.

The decision and reasons why it was considered urgent will be reported to the next meeting of the Area Board.

Community Area Grant Application

Note

The following grant application was taken post meeting under delegated authority by the Community Engagement Manager as the Area Board was now inquorate as Cllr Bob Jones had declared an interest as a member of Cricklade Garden Club and could not vote on the application.

Decision

Cricklade Garden Club awarded £880.98 for Gazebo.

Reason

This application meets grant criteria 2015/16

The following written reports were noted:

·       Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council.

·       Cricklade Town Council.

·       Lyneham & Bradenstoke Parish Council.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

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

a.     Community Area Transport Group

b.     Older Peoples Accommodation Task Group

c.     Cricklade Extra-Care Working Group

d.     Caring about Dementia Task Group

e.     Neighbourhood Planning Working Group (NEW-V)

Community Area Transport Group (CAT-G)

·       The written report of the meeting of the 28 October 2015 was noted

Older Peoples Accommodation Task Group

·       Work progressing.

Cricklade Extra-Care Working Group

·       Work progressing.

Caring about Dementia Task Group – Cllr Allison Bucknell

·       Work progressing.

Neighbourhood Planning Working Group (NEW –V)

·       Work progressing slowly, parishes were now working on their consultation strategies.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates.

Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager will explain the new format of future Area Board meetings.

The Community Engagement Manager advised that the Area Board would be trying a new more engaging format from the January 2016 meeting. Partners and local groups would be invited to take part in a longer networking session, with display stands and information to hand, before the Area Board business meeting starts.

Concerns were raised re the continuing temporary traffic lights at the entrance to the Gerald Buxton Sports Ground and the lack of any ongoing work taking place.

It was noted that this had been covered in the Written RWBSA update.

Highways – these works (funded by RWBSA) are to provide a ghost right hand turn into the site, footpath/cycleway from Coped Hall to site, toucan crossing at Coped Hall, high friction surfacing on reduction of speed limit, and connection to foul water rising main. Progress has been frustrated due to a number of factors, including utilities works, actual surface and drainage arrangements being substantially different to plan, and some issues with the contracted suppliers. RWBSA is hugely frustrated by the delays in the works, and continues to make every effort to manage the contractors through to the earliest completion.