Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman will welcome everyone to the meeting and introduce those present.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Tidworth Area Board.

The Chair informed those present that because Cllr Mark Connolly couldn’t attend the meeting, it would not be quorate and therefore certain items would need to be deferred until the next meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Cllr Mark Connolly

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2023.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from

previous meetings of the Area Board:

·       Polling District and Polling Place Review 2023 – Consultation

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Police and Crime Commissioner’s Annual Report – To follow.

The following announcements were noted by the Chair:

•         Polling District and Polling Place Review 2023 – Consultation

•         Cost of Living Update

•         Police and Crime Commissioner’s Annual Report

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

Healthwatch Wiltshire

BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

Wiltshire AGE UK

Independent Visitor Scheme Update

Community First

The following items included in the agenda pack were noted:

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter

·       Independent Visitor Scheme Update

·       Community First

Tidworth Area Board is pleased to welcome the Police & Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson OBE.

The board welcomed the Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson OBE, who gave a verbal presentation.

Reference was given to the Annual Report that had been published prior to the meeting.

The PCC welcomed the rise in tickets being issued for driving offences due to increased enforcement, reiterating that with more PCSOs an emphasis on more proactive policing and an increased presence could be achieved.

The 101 Call Centre had reduced its call back time from 28 minutes down to 14 minutes.

The PCC expressed his frustration at the delay in delivery of the Mobile Police Stations.

Two areas of particular focus for improvement were a further reduction in rural crime, specifically hare coursing, and offering better support to victims of sexual offences through the Horizon Team.

The PCC had also uncovered a Claire’s Law incident, which the Chief Constable and PCC had begun to address and investigate negligence that will be reported to Policing Standards or potentially lead to criminal action.

Questions

It was clarified that more communication was necessary with local communities to inform them and their parish councils of ongoing investigations and their outcomes. Due to laws surrounding crimes, evidence and then the overall chance of conviction, some crimes do not see anyone charged but it was accepted that the reasons for this should be made clear to communities who had been affected.

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

-       Wiltshire Police – Inspector Ricky Lee

-       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Station Manager Terry Crawford

-       Healthwatch Wiltshire

-       Parish Councils

-       MOD

Wiltshire Police – Inspector Ricky Lee

Inspector Lee wished to echo a lot of the positives and improvements from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s verbal update, adding that new shift patterns and a movement to “super hubs” for response policing would improving policing presence and efficiency.

Questions

It was made clear that crimes including ATM robberies and arson were being investigated and taken seriously. A larger road and foot patrol presence was needed to catch vehicles without full working headlights.

Town and Parish Councils

Everleigh PC’s written update was noted.

Ludgershall TC – A new flagpole had been established next to their war memorial with the addition of LED lights. An extension to the skateboard park was being finalised and new outside gym equipment being installed.

Tidworth Town Council – There was a focus on the civic centre which was nearing completion, and interviews with contractors were underway to fit the interior.

MOD – Lt Col Rupert Whitelegge.

Expressed disappointment at the Post Office sorting office closing, meaning 4,000 soldiers were struggling to receive their post from Andover.

Memorial Hall

Since the new committee took over 9 months ago bookings had risen and the public had noted improvement in and around the building. Their AGM was also coming up.

To receive an update on the Area Board’s priority areas from their respective Lead Representatives.

Health & Wellbeing – The last meeting which had taken place since the last Area Board meeting had been well received and included a presentation from Warm and Safe Wiltshire. Cost of Living support was discussed especially with winter approaching.

Local Environment – It was mentioned that promotion on social media received a lot of responses, but volunteers had been hard to come by. A biodiversity survey had received data back which was described as enormous and will be analysed.

To receive an update from Graeme Morrison on the work being done to further local youth engagement in the Tidworth community area.

A verbal update and presentation were given by Graeme Morrison, the Strategic Engagement Partnership Manager (SEPM).

Since the last Area Board meeting, both Ludgershall and Tidworth Town Councils had agreed to part fund the Detached Youth Work Project and an in-the-room consensus had been reached on a provider.

Funding from the Area Board had been due to be considered but as the meeting hadn’t been quorate it was deferred with the other grant applications.

With regards to the Rural Youth Outreach Project, Community First had confirmed that they had the resources required to extend to Tidworth and were happy to continue and do another series of events in Ludgershall.

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for

funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Report to follow.

Officer: Graeme Morrison, Strategic Engagement & Partnerships

Manager

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG).

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

The next meeting of the Tidworth Area Board will be on 18 March 2024.

The next meeting of the Tidworth Area Board will be held on 18 March 2024.