Agenda and minutes

An interactive workshop to discuss Adult Social Care, led by Alison Elliott– Lead Transformation Consultant and Sue Geary– Head of Service, Commissioning at Wiltshire Council.

Sue Geary- Head of Service- Commissioning gave a brief presentation outlining the current status of Adult Social Care in Wiltshire and the issues it faces. It was highlighted that Adult Social Care was facing considerable pressures on budgets and on the workforce but that they were looking into a transformation programme to remedy some of the problems. Sue explained that the overarching strategy was supporting independent living, in thriving and resilient communities. Furthermore, that the strategy could be broken down into looking at prevention, promoting independence and safeguarding.

The Board were then invited to take part in a workshop exercise, where attendees were asked to consider 4 questions regarding the provision of Adult Social Care in Pewsey; What is working?; What is not working?; What would make a difference?; How can we work together to improve things? In 5 large groups, members of the public discussed the issues, along with Wiltshire Council Officers and Councillors. Three main issues were highlighted in the discussions; Encouraging People to Work Together; Providing a Seamless Service and Effective Communication.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Area Board Members and the Officers present.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 11 September 2017.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 11 September 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman will make the following announcements:

·        Assertive Outreach Work with Rough Sleepers

·        World War 1 Tree Planting Project update (paper to be tabled)

·        Pewsey Vale Heritage Action Zone update (paper to be tabled)

The Chairman drew attention to the announcements in the agenda pack and in the supplementary items.

Peter Dunford- Community Engagement Manager gave an update on the WW1 Tree Planting project. He confirmed that he had received expressions of interest from Alton, Easton Royal, Wilsford, Pewsey and Upavon Parish Councils.

Cllr Stuart Wheeler provided an update on the Pewsey Vale Heritage Action Zone’s progress, as initiated in the September Area Board meeting by Pewsey Community Area Partnership.

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A presentation will be delivered by Jason Salter- Head of Service Passenger Transport, Highways and Transport, to address concerns, previously raised at the Board, regarding changes to Pewsey Bus Services.

Jason Salter- Head of Passenger Transport gave a presentation outlining Wiltshire Council’s expenditure in this area, along with the recent changes and budget savings. The Board were advised that Wiltshire Council spend £400 million on Public Transport and that this is considerably higher than some other Local Authorities. Jason explained that in the Spring of 2016, Wiltshire Council conducted a consultation on changes to public transport, which received over 11,000 responses. It was confirmed that the Council policy is to support public transport at £3.50 per passenger trip but that the Connect2Wiltshire service was at a cost of £5.94 per passenger trip, and therefore changes had to be made. At table was also shown to the Board, which identified the savings from each area in Wiltshire, with Pewsey falling into the East area, which had made savings of £286.418 over the last year.

There were several questions from the members of the public in attendance, highlighting the disparity in saving across the different areas in Wiltshire, with the East saving almost 3 times as much as most other areas. It was however confirmed that some of the savings in the East were accountable to savings made on a call centre, which had been causing excessive costs. A point was also made by a number of attendees that public transport was more important in rural areas than urban areas, and that in some cases, cuts to services would be effecting vulnerable peoples access to essential services.

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·        Healthwatch Wiltshire

·        NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·        Older People’s Champion and Partnership for Older People (POPP)

·        Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·        Wiltshire Police

·        Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

The Board received the written updates, as contained in the Agenda pack.

Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP)

Dawn Wilson gave a verbal update.

Colin Gale, read a prepared statement, which maintained that PCAP were concerned that Wiltshire Council’s desire to save money in regards to the Consultation process is impacting the Council’s legal duty to consult, adequately and fairly. Specifically, he highlighted that a 6 week Consultation process, as adopted for the Wiltshire Local Plan Review Consultation, starting 7 November 2017, is not long enough for Town and Parish Councils to consider and determine all the relevant information, bearing in mind that they only meet 4 times a year.

PCAP representatives also raised concerns as to Everleigh Recycling Centre, which had been closed earlier that day. Cllr Paul Oatway explained that the site had been overwhelmed with the amount of recycling waste being brought to the site and it had to be closed temporarily to remedy this. He also advised the Board that he had spoken to Cllr Bridget Wayman- Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste and that she had raised the matter with Tracy Carter- Head of Environment and Waste, and the cause of the problem was being urgently investigated.

Police

Acting Inspector- James Williams introduced himself, explaining that he would be taking over from Inspector Nick Mawson as Sector head of East Community Policing Team, who had left Community Policing to become a Detective Inspector.

To consider the following application for funding:

1)      Greatwood Charity- Delivery of an accredited Education Programme: £2,000

Greatwood Charity- Delivery of an accredited Education Programme: £2,000

Sasha Thorbek-Hooper introduced the application, explaining that the funds would be put towards the participation of 3 pupils from Pewsey Schools to attend their accredited education course, which use equine facilitated learning to assist young people with disabilities, learning difficulties, and social and emotional barriers. The Board were advised that the course would last for 10 weeks and that the charity funds 57% of courses to its learners.

Councillors spoke approvingly of this application and Cllr jerry Kunkler proposed a motion to award the funds, seconded by Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

Resolved

The Board agreed unanimously to award the funds.

Jan Bowra- Local Youth Facilitator informed the Board that there was £2904 left in the LYN fund. 

To consider 3 applications for funding listed below:

1)    Upavon Parish Council- Refurbishment of Upavon Phone Box and creation of a Tourist Information Point: £600

2)    Manningford Parish Council- Manningford Village Hall new tables and Chairs: £1,739.40

3)    Manningford Parish Council- Installation of 10 kissing gates on local footpaths: £1,522.38

The Board considered the following applications:

Upavon Parish Council- Refurbishment of Upavon Phone Box and creation of a Tourist Information Point: £600

Cllr Cllr Stuart Wheeler proposed the award, seconded by Cllr Paul Oatway.

Resolved:

The board agreed unanimously to award the funds.

Manningford Parish Council- Manningford Village Hall new tables and Chairs: £1,739.40

Cllr Paul Oatway proposed the award, seconded by Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

Resolved:

The Board agreed unanimously to award the £600 only.

Manningford Parish Council- Installation of 10 kissing gates on local footpaths: £1,522.38

Cllr Paul Oatway proposed the award, seconded by Cllr Stuart Wheeler.

Resolved:

The Board agreed to award the funds unanimously.

Cllr Colin Gale from Rushall Parish Council led the Board through the CATG actions and recommendations from the meeting on 4 October 2017.

Resolved:

The Board unanimously agreed the actions and recommendations of CATG, as specified in the Action Log.  

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 Pewsey Area Board is scheduled for Monday 8 January 2018 at 7pm,  Woodborough Social Club.

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board was scheduled for Monday 8 January 2018, 7pm at Woodborough Social Club.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.