Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Sarah Gibson.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023 were presented for consideration and it was;

Resolved:

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2023.

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

There were no declarations of disclosable interest.

The Chairman will give an update on outcomes and actions arising from previous meetings of the Area Board.

The Chairman stressed the importance of the local plan review with a consultation set to begin on 24 September 2023.

The Board is asked to note the following Information items:

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System) – July 2023

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Update on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review

o   Update on the Council’s activity and progress on the Climate Emergency - Area Board Climate Update May2023 - YouTube

The Chairman of the Area Board made the following announcements, which were contained in the agenda pack.

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

·       Wiltshire Council Information Items:

o   Wiltshire Local Plan Review

o   Climate Emergency update - https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw

To receive a verbal update on local youth developments.

George Tomlinson, Community Engagement Development Officer provided an update on Bradford on Avon Skate Park and Holiday Club. The update covered the following points:

·       The Town Council had been awarded a grant towards a summer holiday club, which ran in August and offered half-day sessions for £5.

·       The sessions included a variety of activities including arts, sports and cookery and looked to promote inclusivity and respect.

·       13 sessions took place and benefitted over 20 families.

·       The Town Council received funding from the Area Board towards the skatepark which opened in August and has been in constant use since, with an opening ceremony on Saturday 9 September.

·       The Town Council also organised skate and skoot lessons, which were ran using Area Board funding to support younger or less experienced people to gain confidence to use the skatepark.

After the verbal update, there was time for the following questions and points to be made:

·       Feedback was received that the event at the skatepark had been enjoyable and that there was hope for it to be an annual event.

·       The Chief Constable stated that the event sounded positive and that the Police would welcome an invite to support such events.

Caroline LeQuesne, Area Board Delivery Officer provided an update on behalf of BOA Youth and David Lloyd. The update covered the following points:

·       The centre is managed and owned by Bradford on Avon Town Council, with two part time youth workers and an intern youth worker.

·       The vision for the centre was outlined, with an aim for young people to have fun, develop friendships and relationships with trusting adults to bridge gaps between young people and communities.

·       An overview of recent work completed by the centre was outlined, including improvements to the centre and activities.

·       Plans for the centre were outlined, including a Thursday Café for teenagers, activities for UK Parliament week and a BOA Youth Friendly initiative.

Jim Lynch provided an update on behalf of BoACAN, regarding Mental Health First Training at St Laurence School. The update covered the following points:

·       A brief overview of the history and work of BoACAN was provided and the way in which they work with small steering groups set up for community projects.

·       BoACAN received funding from the Area Board and other sources to support a project called Young Futures following the pandemic, which aimed to support the wellbeing of young people.

·       It was noted that it had been difficult to get groups of young people together following the pandemic, however a lot of meetings have taken place, with successful relationships formed between Westwood Social Club and Purple Noise (Music Education), with further music related projects set to take place.

·       Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) was a national initiative and BoACAN received funding to offer the initiative to young people.

·       Following a successful meeting with the Head of Sixth Form at St Laurence School, 42 students out of 140 wished to partake in the course, which could lead to a certificate valid for three years.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To receive updates from Lead Councillors for the local Area Board priorities. Please see pages 37 - 38 for the Area Board Priority report update.

·       Priority 1 – Positive activities for young people – Lead Member: Cllr Trevor Carbin

·       Priority 2 - Loneliness and isolation – Lead Member: Cllr Johnny Kidney

·       Priority 3 - Supporting the local economy focussing upon the Local Plan – Lead Member: Cllr Sarah Gibson

·       Priority 4 - Improving access and transport – Lead Member: Cllr Tim Trimble

·       Priority 5 - Addressing climate change – All Cllrs

The Area Board received the following verbal updates from Lead Representatives of the Area Board Priorities:

Positive activities for young people – Cllr Trevor Carbin

·       It was noted that the Area Board Delivery Officer is currently in the process of organising event.

Loneliness and isolation – Cllr Johnny Kidney

·       The Health and Wellbeing Board was now up and running again following the pandemic with a meeting set to take place at 10.30am on 25 September 2023 at the Town Council offices.

·       Work has been done including outreach to the boating community.

·       Parishes and groups operating within villages were welcomed to attend.

Supporting the local economy focussing upon the Local Plan – Cllr Sarah Gibson

·       It was noted that there was set to be a workshop information session in Bradford on Avon on 2 October 2023 in relation to the Local Plan; taking place from 3pm-7pm in the library.

Improving access and transport – Cllr Tim Trimble

·       A traffic modelling exercise was currently underway with W.S Atkins on how the traffic management of the town centre might be altered. This could potentially entail a one-way system with the primary driver to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. It was noted that the results might be received by late October or November.

·       Work was being undertook to start building a strategic outline case for a new, safer pedestrian crossing over the river following the future of transport consultation.

·       An application had been made to Wiltshire Council for bus service improvement plan funding to set up an electric bus service around the town to complement the existing town bus service.

·       Wiltshire Council was currently drafting an air quality action plan, with Bradford on Avon one of 8 air quality management areas within the county.

Addressing climate change – All Cllrs

It was noted that Bradford on Avon Area Board was the first in the county to hold a climate change specific Area Board meeting; with it hoped that another could be organised soon.

Verbal Updates

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, which could include:

·       Parish and Town Councils

·       Climate Friendly Bradford

·       Wiltshire Music Centre

·       Streets Ahead

·       Health and Wellbeing

·       Local Youth Network

·       Bradford on Avon Town Council

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

·       Wiltshire Police – Chief Constable

Written Updates

The Board is asked to note the following written and online updates attached to the agenda:

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Wiltshire Police – Road Safety Update

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Climate Friendly Bradford

Andrew Nicolson member of Climate Friendly Bradford and Wiltshire Climate Alliance addressed the Area Board. The following points were raised:

·       Wiltshire Climate Alliance would be keen to provide a presentation to the Area Board about topics of their concern, to which it was agreed that they would be welcome to present at the Climate themed Area Board meeting that would be organised in the future.

·       Mr Nicolson took the time to ask some questions of the Area Board, which were answered by the Chairman.

·       Streets Ahead

The Area Board received the following verbal update which covered the following matters:

·       Streets ahead had responded to the air quality action plan as well as providing other feedback.

·       Health and Wellbeing

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Johnny Kidney, which reiterated that the Health and Wellbeing Group was now up and running again with the next meeting set to take place on 25 September 2023 at 10.30am.

·       Bradford on Avon Town Council

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Katie Vigar on behalf of Bradford on Avon Town Council. The update covered the following matters:

·       The Town council had held a business forum in July, which had been ran by a professional independent advisor, with over 30 local businesses having attended to discuss the challenges they faced and how they might be addressed.

·       Having now finished the skatepark, consultations were underway for improving the play park at Poulton with initial designs provided by a company.

·       There would be time before the October Full Council meeting to discuss the redevelopment of the pavilion on Culver Close, with architect designs set to be displayed half an hour before the meeting, followed by a vote.

·       Neighbourhood Policing Team

The Area Board noted a written updates attached to the agenda. In addition, Inspector Andy Lemon provided a verbal update which covered the following points:

·       An overview of the neighbourhood policing team was provided as well as their priorities and vision for the community.

·       An outline of some of the recent work conducted by the team was provided, with it noted that next week the team would be supporting local rural crime with farmers.

·       The team had recently supported two operations – Op AIDENT (modern slavery and human trafficking) and Op SCEPTRE (knife crime).

·       Data was provided in relation to recent incident statistics, with it noted that there had been a spike in shoplifting, with work set to take place with shops to encourage more active reporting to catch offenders.

·       The following five priorities for neighbourhood harm reduction were outlined:

o   Child centred policing

o   Evidence based policing

o   Burglary

o   Public confidence

o   Anti-social behaviour

After the verbal update, there was time for the following questions and points to be made:

·       Lorry watch in Bradford on Avon was discussed, with it noted that Wiltshire Council had consulted on taking responsibility for the town bridge with the potential of installing an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

To note the remaining budgets and to consider any applications for funding, as detailed in the attached report and summarised below:

Remaining Budgets:

Area Board Initiatives:

Community Area Grants:

Older & Vulnerable Grants:

Young People Grants:

Delegated Funding

The Board is asked to note any funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found here.

The Area Board considered the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

Winsley Cricket Club - £5,000 towards 2 Artificial Practice Runways and Protective Netting.

Decision

Bradford on Avon Area Board agreed to award £2,000 to Winsley Cricket Club for 2 Artificial Practice Runways and Protective Netting.

Moved – Cllr Johnny Kidney

Seconded – Cllr Trevor Carbin

Westwood Social Club - £5,000 towards Conversion of Storage Area to Disabled Toilet.

Decision

Bradford on Avon Board agreed to award £5,000 to Westwood Social Club for Conversion of Storage Area to Disabled Toilet.

Moved – Cllr Johnny Kidney

Seconded – Cllr Trevor Carbin

The Mount Pleasant Centre Ltd - £5,000 towards Refurbishment of Social Club Roof and Toilet Block.

Decision

Bradford on Avon Board agreed to award £3,470 to The Mount Pleasant Centre Ltd for Refurbishment of Social Club Roof and Toilet Block.

Moved – Cllr Johnny Kidney

Seconded – Cllr Trevor Carbin

Youth Grants:

Bradford on Avon Community Area Network - £1,650 towards Mental Health First Aid.

Decision

Bradford on Avon Area Board agreed to award £1,650 to Bradford on Avon Community Area Network for Mental Health First Aid

Moved – Cllr Johnny Kidney

Seconded – Cllr Tim Trimble

Delegated Funding:

The Area Board ratified the following grants which had been awarded Delegated Funding Process, by the Strategic Engagement & Partnership Manager, between meetings due to matters of urgency:

Youth Grant

Bradford on Avon Town Council - £4,000 requested towards Summer Holiday Club (£1,000 awarded).

Youth Grant

Bradford on Avon Playing Field Association – £875 awarded towards Beginners Skateboarding and Scooting Coaching.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 24 July 2023, as set out in the attached report.

The Chairman introduced the minutes and recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 24 July 2023.

After which, it was;

Resolved:

The minutes of the Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group meeting held on 24 July 2023 were agreed as a correct record as well as approving the spending recommendations within.

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

There were no urgent items.

Future Meeting Dates (7.00 - 9.00pm):

·       1 November 2023

·       21 February 2024

For information on applying for a grant or grant application deadlines for these meetings, contact the Area Board Delivery Officer, Caroline.LeQuesne@wiltshire.gov.uk

The date of the next meeting is 1 November 2023.