Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Resolved:

To appoint Cllr Jerry Kunkler as Chairman of Pewsey Area Board for the forthcoming Year.

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Resolved:

To appoint Cllr Paul Oatway QPM as Vice-Chairman of Pewsey Area Board for the forthcoming Year.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Area Board Members and Council officers.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

·       Simon Todd – Fire and Rescue Service

·       Dawn Wilson – PCAP

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2023.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2023 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:

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Wiltshire Libraries – Support for Residents

·       Independent Visitor Scheme – Promotion for Volunteers

·       Family Help Hubs

The Chairman drew attention to the following announcements which were noted by the Area Board:

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Independent Visitor Scheme – Promotion for Volunteers

·       Wiltshire Libraries – Support for Residents

·       Family Help Hubs

To appoint representatives to outside bodies, to reconstitute and appoint Working Groups for the year 2023/24.

The Area Board received a report requesting appointments of Councillor representatives to outside bodies, the reconstitution of and appointment to non-priority working groups for the Year 2023/24.

Resolved:

1.    To appoint the following Lead representatives to Outside Bodies and Non-Priority Working Groups as set out below:

2.    To re-appoint Cllr Jerry Kunkler to the Local Highway and Footpath Improvements Group (LHFIG) and to note its Terms of Reference as set out in Appendix B.

To receive a presentation from Mel Grace, Scottish and Southern Electricity about registration for their priority service and resilient community’s fund.

The Area Board received a presentation from Mel Grace and Helen Robertson from Scottish and Southern Electricity Network (SSEN) about how the public can register for their priority service and resilient community’s fund.

The SSEN representatives spoke about customer vulnerability during incidents such as power cuts during bad weather, and the benefits of registering for their priority service register. They also commented on how organisations could make applications to their Resilient Community Fund.

In response to questions from the Area Board the SSEN representatives confirmed that residents should update their details on the priority register, some parish councils had applied for satellite phones in the event of power cuts disrupting the use of landlines and the use of mobile phones, they were available to attend any parish meetings to deliver their presentation.

The Chairman thanked the SSEN representatives for attending the meeting and their very informative presentation.   

To receive a report from the Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager and Area Board Delivery Officer.

The Area Board received a presentation from the Caroline LeQuesne - Area Board Delivery Officer (ABDO) about the end of year report for May 2021-March 2023.

The presentation provided information about the Pewsey Area Board community Area, Area Board investment, current local priorities with key achievements, community-led projects, engagements, the work of the Local Highway and Footpath Infrastructure Group and proposed priorities for 2023/24.

Steve Colling, Burbage Parish Council commented on the positive impact on the local community and feedback received from the visit of the Blue Bus to his parish during 2022/23.

In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint the representative for North Newnton suggested that halts should be reintroduced on the main rail line through Pewsey to enable more convenient stops for users in addition to the main stops.  

The Area Board considered and expressed support for the proposed priorities for the coming year as detailed below:

i)               Improve Opportunities for young people – Lead member – Cllr Kunkler

ii)              Addressing climate change and protecting the environment – Lead member – Cllr Kunkler

iii)            Valuing and supporting our vulnerable and older people – Lead member – Cllr Wheeler

iv)            To improve public transport and encourage walking and cycling – Lead member – Cllr Oatway

Decision:

That the priorities for 2023/24 as detailed above be agreed.

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Health

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Community First

·       Health & Wellbeing

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Parish Councils

·       Youth

(a)           Wiltshire Police

The Area Board received a written update and presentation from Insp Ben Huggins and Sgt Chris Wickham, Wiltshire Police, which included detail about the Community Policing Team, Wiltshire Police performance to February 2023, hate crime overview and local priorities and updates in relation to the Pewsey area. 

Members and Area Board representatives commented on the lack of neighbourhood Police attendance at Parish Council meetings, Police presence ‘on the ground’ and a need for improved communication with local communities. Insp Huggins acknowledged that there was a need to increase dialogue with Parishes and communities and reminded the Area Board that in the past 12 months the number of Neighbourhood Officers had increased from 1 to 3, substantially increasing the potential for patrols. Insp Huggins also explained the importance of reporting incidents of crime.

The Chairman thanked the Inspector and Sgt for attending the Area Board meeting and responding to questions.

(b)           Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

There was no update report for this meeting.

(c)           Health

The written report attached to the agenda pack was noted. 

(d)           BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

The written report attached to the agenda pack was noted.

(e)           Community First

The written report attached to the agenda pack was noted.

(f)             Health & Wellbeing

Cllr Stuart Wheeler reported that he had attended the Shalbourne annual Parish meeting and would be attending the Burbage Parish meeting later that week. Susie Brew commented on the cost of living grants available and funding available from Community First. The SEPM also referred to the support for communities in relation to school uniforms and the work of the Foodbank and charities such as Ruksak 45218. The SEPM also commented on the deprivation indices and how they would highlight and help in the understanding of issues in particular areas.

(g)           Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Susie Brew referred to the Parish Councils in the community area  annual report for 2022/23, (available to view in the supplementary agenda pack here) which provided details about the work of the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership, Pewsey Community Area Partnership, youth activities, Health and Wellbeing Group, the Rail User Group, Cost of Living and Health Grant and other work.  

Colin Gale provided an update on buses and trains highlighting the current state of the Demand Responsive Transport Service timetabled element for larger buses, which included problems in recruiting drivers, uncertainty around the mobilisation date for the Pewsey service and contract/licence issues. He also reported attendance at the TransWilts Stakeholders Conference and AGM. He confirmed that both Pewsey and Bedwyn had provided input to the new Community Rail Partnership with TransWilts, with the proposal being looked on favourably by Great Western Railway.

(h)           Parish Councils

Rushall Parish Council – Colin Gale commented on the number of ‘B’ and ‘C’ roads in the Trowbridge area that had been resurfaced when compared to the poor surface condition of equivalent roads to the east of the county town. Cllr Oatway support this view and reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To determine the following applications for Community Area Grant funding:

·       Woodborough Social Club - £2,000 towards the repair and insulating of the outside wall of Woodborough Social Club

·       St John the Baptist Church, Pewsey - £2,500 towards community storage cupboards for St John the Baptist Church, Pewsey

·       Pewsey and District Feast and Carnival - £2,487.54 towards external lighting for Pewsey and District Feast and Carnival

To determine the following applications for Older and Vulnerable People’s funding:

·       Alzheimers Support - £2,500 towards Pewsey Art Group supporting local people living with dementia

To determine the following applications for Youth funding:

·       Burbage Parish Council - £900 towards Burbage Youth Initiative

The Area Board considered three applications for Community Area Grant funding, one application for Older and Vulnerable People’s funding and one for a Youth Grant funding.  The Chairman invited a representative of each application to give a brief overview of their project to the Area Board.

Decision:

1.    Community Area Grant funding:

a.    Woodborough Social Club - £2,000 towards the repair and insulating of the outside wall of Woodborough Social Club

b.    St John the Baptist Church, Pewsey - £2,500 towards community storage cupboards for St John the Baptist Church, Pewsey

c.    Pewsey and District Feast and Carnival - £2,487.54 towards external lighting for Pewsey and District Feast and Carnival

2.    To determine the following applications for Older and Vulnerable People’s funding:

a.    Alzheimer’s Support - £2,500 towards Pewsey Art Group supporting local people living with dementia.

3.    To determine the following applications for Youth funding:

a.    Burbage Parish Council - £900 towards Burbage Youth Initiative

To consider any recommendations arising from the LHFIG meeting held on 26 April 2023.

On the proposal of the Chairman and seconded by Cllr Oatway QPM, it was resolved:

Decision:

• To add the following Issue (without funding) to the Priority Schemes List:
  • 10-22-9 A345 Upavon Grey Flags Footway

• To add funding to schemes already on the Priority Schemes List:
  • 10-21-2 Woodborough Footway Topo £1,500,
  • 10-22-8 Rushall Elm Row Phase 3 Topo £1,000,
  • 10-23-2 Froxfield Speed Limit Review £300

• 7.3 To close the following Issues:
  • 10-21-4 Easton Royal Gates,
  • 10-22-5 Froxfield Church Lane edge lines,
  • 10-22-6 Upavon Deer Signs,
  • 10-22-4 Burbage Horse Warning signs,
  • 10-21-5 North Newnton Slow markings,
  • 10-23-1 Grafton Wilton Road access protection markings

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

a)    Grass Cutting

Cllr Oatway raised an issue about the Grounds Maintenance contract and in particular the lack of grass cutting in the Pewsey area by the Council’s contractor idverde. He had contacted the Cabinet Member with this responsibility and asked for an update. He also asked the Area Board representatives to inform him of any other local areas where the grass had not been cut.   

b)    Road Conditions

Peter Deck raised the issue about the very poor surface condition of roads and asked for the Parish Council’s concerns to be passed on to the Cabinet member responsible. The Area Board considered this matter to be very important and asked for a meeting with the Cabinet member to discuss this matter further.

Decision:

To ask the Cabinet Member responsible for Transport, Street Scene and Flooding to meet with Pewsey Area Board members to discuss the Area Board concerns about the very poor surface condition of the County’s roads, especially those in the east of the county.  

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board is scheduled for 18 September 2023, 6.30pm at Great Bedwyn Village Hall.

The next meeting of the Pewsey Area Board was scheduled for 18 September 2023, 7.00pm at Great Bedwyn Village Hall.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.