Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to St Margaret’s Hall, and introduced the Wiltshire councillors who made up the board, as well as the Community Area Manager, Democratic Services Officer and the new interim Service Director Fiona Fitzpatrick.

All town, parish and partner and youth representatives in attendance were welcomed by the Chairman.

Apologies were received from Martin Moyes – Holt Parish Council.

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

Agenda item 7ii Friends of the Strips requesting £350 for replanting and

improvements at The Strips – Cllr Rosemary Brown who is a local resident.

Agenda item 7ii Friends of the Strips requesting £350 for replanting and

improvements at The Strips – Cllr Malcolm Hewson who is a local resident.

Agenda item 5vii Wiltshire Online: Connectivity and Provision – Cllr Malcolm Hewson who is employed by BT, who is the preferred bidder.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Area Board meetings held on 19 September and 28 November 2012.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Community Area Transport Group meetings held on 1 October 2012 and 7 January 2013.   

Decision

·       The minutes of the Area Boards held on the 19 September and 28 November 2012 were approved and signed as the correct record.

·       The minutes of the Bradford on Avon Community Area Transport Group meetings held on 10 October 2012 and 7 January 2013 were approved and signed as the correct record.

i)                 A36 Cleveland Bridge - outcome of appeal to Department for Transport

ii)               Air Quality Action Plan – update

iii)              Historic Core Zone – public consultation January 2013

iv)             Colonel Llewellyn Palmer Educational Trust – report of meeting of 15 October

v)               Shadow Community Operations Board – update 

vi)             Holt Manor – update on enforcement action

vii)            Wiltshire Online: Connectivity and Provision

viii)           Drink Banning Orders – pilot in Bradford on Avon/ Trowbridge/Melksham police sector

Wiltshire Police, including on the Draft Police and Crime Plan.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue. 

Bradford on Avon Youth Advisory Group.

 The following Chairman’s Announcements and Partner Updates were noted:

A36 Cleveland Bridge - appeal to Department for Transport upheld, roundtable discussions being called by B&NES.

A letter of thanks to be sent to Wiltshire Council Highways officers for their help and input in this matter.

Air Quality Action Plan – update contained in the agenda pack. Stakeholders involved in focus group meetings during Summer 2012 would be invited to the launch of the Air Quality Alliance on 1 February 2013.

Historic Core Zone – public consultation during January 2013.

Colonel Llewellyn Palmer Educational Trust – report of meeting of 15 October contained in the agenda was noted.

Shadow Community Operations Board – the Chairman reported that the scoping exercise was well underway and was currently focused on the mapping of community assets.

Holt Manor update – signs now removed from gate posts, bollards remain. No other news on any legal proceedings.

Wiltshire Online: Connectivity and Provision – report noted, British Telecom appointed as the preferred bidder.

Drink Banning Orders pilot in Bradford on Avon

Trowbridge/Melksham police sector – early days but some impact already from warning letters that had been sent to offenders.

Police & Crime Commissioner – Kieran Kilgallen, from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner advised that Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson was seeking views on his first Police and Crime Plan.

This plan, due to be published by the end of March, would set out the Commissioner’s strategic policing and crime priorities for the next five years.

It would include working with partners, including local authorities, and the voluntary community sector. It would be much wider than the Policing Plan previously produced by Wiltshire Police Authority and Wiltshire Police.

From mid January Mr Macpherson would be consulting with the public, including victims of crime, and the voluntary community sector about the plan.

As part of this consultation the Office of the PCC would be giving presentations at other Area Board meetings and at Swindon Borough Council Locality meetings.

Wiltshire Police (Sgt Sean Brady) – the report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (Mike Franklin) – that Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service were currently developing its three year plan and were looking for any interested stakeholders to consult with.

The report contained in the agenda pack was also noted.

NHS Wiltshire - the report contained in the agenda pack was noted.

Bradford on Avon Youth Advisory Group (Kath Brownlee with members of the YAG) – points made included:

The YAG’s set up and aspirations.

Initial priorities:

·       Youth input on the Bradford on Avon campus.

·       BMX Cycle Jumps through The Strips woodland.

·       Youth employment issues.

·       Improvements to the Poulton playing field skate ramps.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their updates and thanked the members of the YAG for attending the meeting.

Mal Munday - Head of Integrated Youth Service, Wiltshire Council.

Mal Munday - Head of Service: Integrated Youth & Family Support.

Points made included:

·       Well done to Kath Brownlee and the young people for their work with the CAYPIG and now the YAG.

·       Helping young people full fill their aspirations through needs led youth work.

·       That Wiltshire Council had made a commitment to continue with its youth work offer, which is still provided by an “in house” team, with a youth centre in every community area.

The Chairman thanked Mal Munday for his update.

Councillors to consider two applications to the Community Area Grant budget in 2012/13:

i)                 Friends of Barton Farm Play Area requesting £ 350 for the removal of a tree to the site of the play park.

ii)               Friends of the Strips requesting £ 350 for replanting and improvements at The Strips.

Councillors considered two applications to the Community Area Grant budget in 2012/13:

Decision

i) Friends of Barton Farm Play Area were awarded £350 for the removal of a tree to the site of the play park.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Bradford on Avon Community Plan and Wiltshire Local Area Agreement through its support for children and families, leisure and tourism.

Decision

ii) Friends of the Strips were awarded £350 for replanting and improvements at The Strips. The Wiltshire Council Arboricultural and Landscape Officer be requested to visit the site to evaluate if any trees should be protected by Tree Preservation Orders.

Reason

The application demonstrates a link to the Bradford on Avon Community Plan and Wiltshire Local Area Agreement through its support for the historic and natural environment and the community enjoyment of this woodland.

Councillors considered one Councillor led application:

Decision

Cllr Trevor Carbin is awarded £100 to purchase litter pickers to be used by volunteers on the Staverton Marina estate for a community litter pick.

Matthew Woolford - Communications, Wiltshire Council.

Matthew Woolford - Communications, Wiltshire Council outlined the setting up of the Bradford on Avon community blogsite.

Points made included:

What we are seeking to achieve

•        Build on social media revolution with a series of digital community notice boards.

•        Increase opportunity for people to engage locally.

•        Provide a free virtual space communities can use to promote events and news.

•        Partnership with existing local online sites and publications.

What we have developed

•        A digital notice board that can be used by the whole community.

•        Fully interactive.

•        Accessible by the whole community.

•        One for every community in Wiltshire.

How it works

•        Stories, events and comments posted by Wiltshire Council, parish councils, community groups, organisations, businesses and individuals.

•        Maintained by the council.

•        Moderated by council and users.

How people can get involved

•        Post news, events, jobs and ideas.

•        Comment on other people’s news and ideas.

•        Promote the community site through your own sites.

•        Use a page on the site to provide community info.

•        Become a community reporter.

The story so far

•        Eight sites launched in Salisbury, South West Wiltshire, Malmesbury, Melksham, Corsham, Devizes, Bradford on Avon and Pewsey.

•        Sign up from key partners.

•        Dozens of people already registered to post stories.

•        First community reporters trained.

What next

•        Launch of the remaining sites

•        More contact with community groups

•        Increase marketing of existing sites

Questions raised from the floor included:

·       Is it Wiltshire Council’s role to fund a community blogsite, and how much is it costing?

a.It is a relatively cheap way to communicate at a local level. It has cost £10,091 to develop and launch all 18 sites (or £560 per site) and costs £6,500 per year to maintain, upgrade and host for all 18 sites (or £360 per site/per year)

·       We have a good Wiltshire Council website, and will the administrators monitor the usage?

a.Yes, we believe that there is a demand for this service and usage will be monitored.

·       Why not spend the money that this service would cost on Youth Services?

a.Wiltshire Council has a duty to communicate with its residents.

·       Why not just have a Facebook page?

a.Only around 40% of people use Facebook, so it is not as effective as a blogsite for communicating to people.

·       Could Bradford on Avon withdraw from the blogsite scheme and spend its share of the costs on other things?

a.No, the costs are spread across all eighteen Area Boards.

The Chairman thanked Matthew Woolford for his presentation.

Councillor Steve Figures & Councillor Andy Boresen - Staverton Parish Council to discuss issues and opportunities for the village.

Councillor Andy Boresen – Staverton Parish Council and Cllr Trevor Carbin – Wiltshire Council outlined some of the issues and outcomes that have affected the village since the large scale building had commenced on the Staverton Marina estate.

Lack of infrastructure and parking were highlighted as major issues that had blighted the estate. Much of the land is still under the control of Persimmon Homes and has yet to be adopted by Wiltshire Council and this has been the source of much delay and frustration in trying to deal with streetscene and highways issues.

Staverton Parish Council thanked Peter Dunford (CAM) and the Bradford on Avon Area Board for their role in trying to resolve many of the problems that Staverton had faced.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Andy Borresen – Staverton Parish Council and Cllr Trevor Carbin for the presentation.

A short video showing the Government’s plans to simplify the benefits system and encourage people back to work.

A short film was shown which highlighted the Government’s plans to simplify the benefits system and encourage people back to work.

Nicole Smith - Head of Strategic Housing, Wiltshire Council was on hand to try and answer any housing related questions.

Questions raised included:

·       How would residents affected be encouraged to take responsibility?

a.Residents affected would be encouraged to speak  with their landlords as well as the Housing Benefit team or alternatively with other  organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau .

·       Who decides if a property is too big?

a.Central Government have set the criteria for under occupation, tenants would then need to consider the options available to them, which are to  to pay any top up required to pay the rent, consider taking in a lodger, or if moving is the preferred option they should apply for a mutual exchange as well as registering with Homes4Wiltshire for a smaller property.

·       How do ex-service personnel, special needs cases and vulnerable young people likely to be affected?

a.The Wiltshire Council, Housing Options Team would have to give an answer to this question. This question related to welfare reform rather than just under occupation

Points made included:

·       Wiltshire Council would need to ensure that residents affected by the changes were made aware and understood the implications.

·       Communities would need to pull together and offer help to residents that were affected by the changes.

·       Wiltshire Credit Union would have a strong role to play.

·       Communication is the key.

·       That the rule changes would bring real hardship to many people.

The Chairman thanked everybody for contributing to the discussion.

Nicole Smith - Head of Strategic Housing, Wiltshire Councila presentation of key facts regarding housing need in the Bradford on Avon Community Area and discussion of a review of the housing allocation process.

Nicole Smith - Head of Strategic Housing, Wiltshire Council, and Adrian Walshe – Selwood Housing gave a presentation that sought to inform and consult the Area Boards regarding the allocation policy review.

Understanding your area – Bradford on Avon.

Nicole Smith outlined points that included:

·       Basic stock profile.

·       Potential land opportunities.

·       Housing register breakdown.

·       Households by age group.

·       Housing register breakdown.

·       Under occupation.

·       Social housing lettings in the Bradford on Avon area.

·       Lettings in the Bradford on Avon area breakdown by band.

Selwood Housing – about us.

Adrian Walshe outlined points that included:

·       That Selwood Housing is a social enterprise, registered charity and not-for-profit housing association with over 5,700 properties available for renting at affordable prices.  They work closely with other agencies to acquire, provide, construct, improve or manage houses or other accommodation available for letting.

·       That Selwood Housing was established in 1989 as West Wiltshire Housing Society and became Selwood Housing in 2008.  In 2005 they received a two star, good rating with promising prospects for the future from the Audit Commission. 

Review of Allocations.

Nicole Smith briefly outlined changes with the introduction of the Localism Act 2011, and the new freedoms to set the rules determining which categories of applicants qualify for social housing.  The formal three month consultation period will commence shortly and everyone will be given the opportunity to provide a response.

Questions raised from the floor included:

·       Would the consultation document for the allocation review be made available to the Parish councils?

a.Yes, it would be made available and Nicole would be prepared to attend any meeting to go through the options and be on hand for questions.

The Chairman thanked Nicole Smith and Adrian Walshe for their presentation.

Wednesday 13 March 2013 – Westwood Social Club.

Wednesday 13 March 2013 at Westwood Social Club. NOTE: Venue changed to St Margaret’s Hall.