Agenda and minutes

Cllr Martin Smith, Vice Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting and explained that due to Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall’s absence he would be Acting Chairman for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall

Dean Hoskins

Nick Hare

Andrew Tremellen

Peter Gilchriest

Louis Mccoy

Katharine Smith

Dave Wingrove

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 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 6 June 2023.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following announcements through the Chair:

·       Wiltshire Local Plan Review

·       Special School Developments

·       Warm and Safe Wiltshire

·       Wiltshire Life Awards 2024

To receive the following information items:

·       Update from BSW Together

·       Update from Community First

·       Healthwatch

·       Council's activity and progress on the Climate Emergency (https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw)

·       PCCs across the South West launch new rural crime survey and quarterly newsletter

·       Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter

The Board received the following announcements through the Chair, full details of which can be found in the agenda pack:

•         Wiltshire Local Plan Review

•         Special School Developments

•         Warm and Safe Wiltshire

•         Wiltshire Life Awards 2024

The Board received and noted the following information items, which can be found in the agenda pack:

•         Update from BSW Together

•         Update from Community First

•         Healthwatch

•         Council's activity and progress on the Climate Emergency

(https://youtu.be/LP2FzC7rHSw)

•         PCCs across the South-West launch new rural crime survey and quarterly newsletter

•         Wiltshire AGE UK Newsletter

To receive updates from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Health & Wellbeing Update

o   Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum

o   Health and Wellbeing Champion

·       Town and Parish Councils

The Board received updates from the following partners:

•         Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Jamie Johnson, Malmesbury Fire Station, stated they had 8 new members of crew and recruitment was still ongoing. Wait times have been reduced, with 17 incidents attended in August and 8 to date in September. Safe and Well visits and Campaigns for Safety in the summer had been undertaken to increase prevention and awareness. There had been particular attention on e-bikes from certain manufacturers that are not safe and prone to exploding.

•         Health & Wellbeing Update

Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum

The written update was summarised verbally by Mrs. Kim Power, Chair of Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum. The update is included in the agenda pack.

Health and Wellbeing Champion

Julie Dart, the Health and Wellbeing Champion, was unfortunately not present but the Board, and Andrew Jack the Strategic Engagement Partnership Manager (SEPM) commended the amazing work that she is doing in the area to assist especially older and vulnerable adults.

To report on progress made in addressing the Area Board priorities selected for 2023/24

• Positive activities for young people – Cllr Gavin Grant
• Green Issues – Cllr Martin Smith
• Reducing loneliness and social isolation – Cllr Chuck Berry
• Highway Safety – Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall
• Community resilience – Cllr Gavin Grant

The Board reported on the Area Board priorities selected for 2023/24:

Positive activities for young people – Cllr Gavin Grant

Several initiatives were highlighted:

·       Local Youth Network meetings

·       RISE Trust Outreach & Safe Space Initiative

·       HEALS Summer Programme

·       Malmesbury School & the Stay Safe Initiative

Green Issues – Cllr Martin Smith

Work being driven by multiple groups across the area:

·       Networking event on Climate Action planned for 13^th February 2024 in Malmesbury Town Hall before Area Board meeting.

·       Public EV charging points – installation in Sherston is in progress; installations in Malmesbury & Cowbridge in design.

·       Encourage MTC and other PCs to adopt a Climate Action Plan

·       Signed cycle route between Sherston and Malmesbury to be officially ‘opened’ on 23^rd September; another route to link up the Camp (aka Whitewalls) business estate under consideration.

·       River water quality testing initiated in the Sherston Avon – encourage wider testing downstream as well.

Reducing loneliness and social isolation – Cllr Chuck Berry

·       Completed the Charity Symposium in February ‘23

·       The Men’s Shed had continued to progress

·       Trial run in Chelworth & Crudwell for WhatsApp + successful Oaksey Buzz

·       Malmesbury Living Room continued to excel

·       A new Community Bus had been procured but more drivers are needed.

·       Rethink Mental Wellness had been developing engagement activities.

·       Various Luncheon Clubs all run to serve various communities.

·       Plus, a social prescribing offer from our surgeries

Highway Safety – Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall

·       Coordinating with police to enforce speed limits.

·       Police now using data from SIDs to inform attendance - large increase in tickets issued.

·       Using LHFIG to identify minor schemes which improve road safety e.g. Lea Top

Community resilience – Cllr Gavin Grant

·       Extra support for Food & Heating Support Providers

·       Malmesbury High Street funding & Place Shaping Symposium

Malmesbury Area Board was pleased to welcome Phillip Wilkinson OBE, the Police and Crime Commissioner to the meeting where he gave a verbal update on progress since his appointment 2 years ago.

The Police and Crime Commissioner described his main role as to challenge Wiltshire Police Force to perform better in order to remove itself from special measures.

·       A more effective and efficient Police Force, including an improvement to response times.

·       A reduction in violent crimes, specifically sexual crimes which has improved from a 2% conviction rate to currently 14%, with the expectation that this figure will continue to improve. Drug crimes have also been prioritised through Operation Scorpion to focus on specific targets committing drug crimes. Wiltshire Council is now the top Force in county line drug disruption.

·       Tackling crimes highlighted by the community, specifically road safety. Community Speedwatch was highlighted as really important to this priority and enforcement statistics had massively improved through ticketing and other enforcement actions. Antisocial behaviour was also highlighted as a community priority.

·       Rural Crime. The local Rural Crime Unit had been given better equipment in the form of drones and night vision to better tackle specifically organised crime gangs committing rural crimes against farmers. Operation Ragwort was highlighted as a specific initiative to tackle this.

A question was asked regarding GPS devices being stolen off tractors in the area. The Police and Crime Commissioner clarified that there was work being done regarding legislation to ensure manufacturers install trackers in commercial vehicles and not just personal vehicles.

The Area Board will be asked to consider the recommendations from the most recent Malmesbury Local Highways and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting outlined in the report.

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 27 June 2023.

Proposed by Cllr Chuck Berry and seconded by Cllr Gavin Grant it was:

Resolved

To approve the recommendations from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 27 June 2023.

The Area Board will receive an update on the outcomes of the most recent meeting of the Local Youth Network (LYN).

The Area Board received a verbal update from Cllr Gavin Grant on the outcomes of the most recent meeting of the Local Youth Network.

The key focus remained to support secondary schools to improve what is already a good attendance rate. There was a difference in attendance from those in receipt of free school meals and work was being done to support and improve those statistics.

Helean Hughes, Director of Education and Skills, spoke to the wider support that Wiltshire Council is giving to secondary schools in the area. Helean also explained that Covid-19 unfortunately engrained in some an assumption that learning could be done solely online. The offering of support to parents and carers rather than prosecution was emphasised as the most effective method. Helean also spoke about the insight that the young people themselves, especially those living in poverty, can give into why they aren’t attending school.

To consider the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants:

Older and Vulnerable Adults Funding:

Youth Grants:

The Board will also take the opportunity to talk about the good work that has been going on in between Area Board meetings as a result of grant funding.

The Board considered the following applications for funding:

Community Area Grants

 Malmesbury Bowls and Social Club Limited requested £1,800 towards toilet facilities for disabled users.

 Proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Chuck Berry

 It was:

Resolved

To award Malmesbury Bowls and Social Club a reduced amount of £1000 for toilet facilities for disabled users.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24, however the amount needed to be reduced to ensure awarded grants remained within the Area Board’s budget.

 Sherston Drama Group requested £500 towards new costumes.

 Proposed by Cllr Martin Smith and seconded by Cllr Gavin Grant

 It was:

Resolved

To award Sherston Drama Group £500 for new costumes.

Reason – The application met the Community Area Grants Criteria 2023/24.

Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants

Wiltshire Music Centre requested £1,500 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

 Proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Chuck Berry

It was:

Resolved

To award Wiltshire Music Centre £1500 for Celebrating Age Wiltshire.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2023/24.

Youth Grants

The Stay Safe Initiative CIC requested £725 towards their 2024 Digital Empowerment Programme.

 Proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Chuck Berry

It was:

Resolved

To award The Stay Safe Initiative CIC up to £725 towards their 2024 Digital Empowerment Programme.

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2023/24.

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 Malmesbury Area Board will be held on 21 November 2023.

The next meeting of the Malmesbury Area Board will be held on 21 November 2023.