Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Officer, (Kevin Fielding) welcomed everyone to St Laurence School, and advised that apologies had been received from both the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Area Board.

This meant that the meeting was not quorate as there were only two members in attendance.  The meeting could still take place but no decisions could be made at the meeting.  The members present could make recommendations which would then be ratified at a future meeting.

The Democratic Services Officer therefore asked for one of the elected councillors present to propose a chairman for this meeting.

Cllr Magnus Macdonald was proposed as the Chairman for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Rosemary Brown and Cllr Ian Thorn.

i)                 To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting held on 19 June 2013.   

ii)               To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 2 September 2013.   

It was agreed that the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting held on 19 June 2013 and the minutes of the Bradford on Avon Community Area Transport Group meeting held on 2 September 2013 would be approved and signed off at the next quorate meeting of the Bradford on Avon Area Board.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

i)                 Colonel Llewellen Palmer Educational Charity inviting applications for funding to help schools, groups and individuals in Bradford on Avon, closing date 27 September 2013.

ii)               Wiltshire Core Strategy consultation, closing date 9 October 2013.

iii)              Pest Control update.

iv)             What Matters To You? Survey 2013.

Wiltshire Police

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue 

NHS Wiltshire

Youth Advisory Group

The following Chairman’s Announcements were included as part of the agenda pack were noted:

·       Colonel Llewellen Palmer Educational Charity inviting applications for funding to help schools, groups and individuals in Bradford on Avon.

·       Wiltshire Core Strategy consultation.

·       Pest Control update.

·       What Matters To You? Survey 2013.

The following Partner updates were noted:

·       Wiltshire Police – Acting Inspector Brain.

·       Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

i)                 BoA Youth Advisory Group requesting £2,850  towards improvements at the Poulton Skate Ramps.

ii)               Winsley Parish Council requesting £4,000 towards a bus shelter at Bradford Road/ Dane Rise, Winsley.

iii)              Wiltshire Global Education Centre requesting £1,350 towards a Global Spotlight Competition.

iv)             Bradford on Avon Friends of Palestine requesting £3,000 towards a visit to Bradford by young Palestinian dancers.

The following Community Area Grants were approved pending ratification at the next quorate Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting:

·       BoA Youth Advisory Group requesting £2,850 towards improvements at the Poulton Skate Ramps.

·       Winsley Parish Council requesting £4,000 towards a bus shelter at Bradford Road/ Dane Rise, Winsley or at an alternative location to be agreed by First Bus and the Wiltshire Council Passenger Transport Unit.

·       Bradford on Avon Friends of Palestine requesting £3,000 towards a visit to Bradford by young Palestinian dancers.

·       Wiltshire Global Education Centre requesting £1,350 towards a Global Spotlight Competition – (Note, that this grant application was withdrawn).

Councillor John Thomson - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways, Streetscene and Broadband, Wiltshire Council.

Parvis Khansari - Service Director Strategic Services, Wiltshire Council.

Allan Parker, Chairman - Westwood Parish Council.

Councillor John Thomson - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways, Streetscene and Broadband, Wiltshire Council and Parvis Khansari - Service Director Strategic Services, Wiltshire Council outlined the background to the Evaluation of Wiltshire 20 mph trial sites and the Wiltshire Policy on 20 mph speed limits and zones.

The report was included in the agenda pack.

Points made included:

·       That Wiltshire Council set the speed limits but Central Government setting the guide lines for 20 mph limits.

·       There are 75 examples of 20 mph zones and limits in Wiltshire, including Salisbury city centre.

·       20 mph zones work extremely well in built up areas, housing developments, but are much less effective on open roads.

·       Limits have 20mph signs, which are cheaper, whereas zones typically feature engineering works to calm the traffic. 

·       That Wiltshire Council would come back to the Area Boards when it had formulated its 20mph policy for local input as to areas that would benefit from 20mph zoning.

Points made from the floor included:

·       That there had been positive feedback from pedestrians living in villages that had been part of the trial.

·       That slowing down vehicles would create higher emissions, and conflict with trying to improve the air quality in Bradford on Avon.

Allan Parker, Chairman - Westwood Parish Council gave a short presentation on the Westwood experience of the 20mph trial.

Points made included:

·       Villagers felt safer when using the roads in and around the village.

·       There had been positive feedback from users of the virtual pavement.

·       45% of Westwood residents felt that the village was safer with a 20 mph speed limit in place.

·       The project appeared to have had little project management, and was very ad hoc.

·       It was unfortunate that Community Speed Watch had not been able to be utilised during the trial period.

Kieran Kilgallen – Chief Executive, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner advised that the Community Speed Watch scheme had now been re-launched across Wiltshire with new resources, an automated system and 50 new cameras.

Questions raised from the floor included:

·       Why was there no Police presence during the trial?

a.The 20mph scheme shouldn’t need Police enforcement to operate successfully, leaving the Police free to better utilise their resources where needed.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Thomson, Parvis Khansari and Allan Parker for their input on this project.

Councillor Magnus Macdonald.

Cllr Magnus Macdonald outlined Wingfield Parish Council’s request for reduction in speed limit from 40 to 30mph.

Cllr John Thomson accepted a letter on behalf of Wiltshire Council from Wingfield Parish Council requesting a 30mph speed limit.

Points made included:

·       The Parish Council’s requests that Wiltshire Council reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30 mph had so far been un-successful.

·       That there had been several incidents on the B1389 due to the speed of vehicles.

·       Many of the points raised by the Wingfield Parish Council during a meeting with Mr David Thomas back in July of this year, were yet to be addressed.

·       It was stated in the meeting that David Thomas is currently working on a reply back to Wingfield PC, in reference to the Parish Council’s outstanding points / questions raised.  It was mentioned that he would also provide recommendations on how the B3109 could become safer. 

Parvis Khansari - Service Director Strategic Services, Wiltshire Council advised that Wingfield does not meet the Department of Transport criteria for a 30mph speed limit, due to the density of housing that borders the B1389.

Cllr John Thomson advised that this issue should be forwarded to the Community Area Transport Group for its consideration, Cllr Thomson could then be fed back its recommendations with a view to try and resolve the issue.

Cllr Magnus Macdonald thanked Dave Thomas – Wiltshire Council, Highway Department for his ongoing help with this matter.

Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways, Streetscene and Broadband.

Councillor John Thomson - Deputy Leader and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways, Streetscene and Broadband, Wiltshire Council was in attendance to answer any questions.

Questions raised included:

·       How could more sustainable transport be implemented in Bradford on Avon?

a.     Some 50% of bus routes are funded by Wiltshire Council, there certainly is a lack of funding from Central Government.

·       What is happening with the rollout of Broadband by Wiltshire Council?

a.     Wiltshire Council would be announcing in the near future plans for the next stage, with Council working with broadband providers to provide 95% broadband coverage. Wiltshire Council were challenging BT to release more information to speed the rollout up.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Thomson.

Jim Lynch - BoACAN.

Ros Griffiths - Project Manager, Transformation team, Wiltshire Council.

Jonathon Brown – Chairman of the Bradford on Avon Shadow Campus Operations Board gave a brief update on the proposed Bradford on Avon Campus – Phase One consultation.

Points made included:

·       Meetings had taken place between the SCOB and service prodders in the Bradford on Avon community area.

·       Consultations had started with local residents, with roadshow events planned and displays in the Library. St Laurence school pupils had also be canvassed for their views.

·       Consultations were also taking place with villages across the community area.

·       A web site had now been set up.

The Chairman thanked Jonathon Brown for his update.

John Goodall - Associate Director of Public Health, Wiltshire Council.

John Goodall – Associate Director, Public Health, Wiltshire Council presented a short DVD film that sought to highlight Local Authority responsibilities for Public Health.

John Goodall - Associate Director of Public Health, Wiltshire Council.

John Goodall – Associate Director, Public Health, Wiltshire Council outlined the The JSA for Wiltshire 2012-13 which was published in late 2012 on behalf of the Public Services Board (PSB). 

The CAJSAs had taken on board feedback from Councillors, officers, organisations and feedback from our community events (held in 2012) and would build on the existing document and include more information on changes; trends; qualitative survey data (such as the results from the What Matters to You survey 2013) and other primary research such as the Census 2011.

The aim was to publish the CA JSAs at a second round of community events between January and April 2014. Officers have discussed these plans with the Chairs of the Area Boards meeting and also have met with Area Board managers.

The date for the Bradford on Avon event has been provisionally set for Monday 3 February 2014 at St Laurence School.

The Chairman thanked John Goodall for his presentation.

David Moss - Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust.

The Area Board members were asked to consider an application submitted by Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust for the transfer of Nursery Field, Bradford on Avon Trust in accordance with Wiltshire Council’s Community Asset Transfer Policy.

A report was included in the agenda pack.

Recommendation

·       Members in attendance were minded to recommend approval of the transfer with ratification at the next quorate meeting of the Bradford on Avon Area Board.

·       Wednesday 20 November at Cereal Partners, Staverton.

The next Bradford on Avon Area Board meeting would be held on Wednesday 20 November at Cereal Partners, Staverton.