Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman, Cllr Martin Smith, welcomed those in attendance to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from:

Alexa Davies - Engagement & Partnerships Lead

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024 were presented for consideration.

Resolved

To approve and sign as a true and correct record of the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chairman will provide information about:

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Lime Down Solar Consultation

The Chairman provided information about:

• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Lime Down Solar Consultation

For the Board to note the following information items:

·       Community First

·       Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24

·       Highways Repairs Report

·       Devolution to Wessex Update

·       Wiltshire Local Elections

·       Cost of Living Update

·       Completed Surfacing Schemes

The Board noted the following items included in the agenda

pack:

•         Community First

•         Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2023-24

•         Highways Repairs Report

•         Devolution to Wessex Update

•         Wiltshire Local Elections

•         Cost of Living Update

•         Completed Surfacing Schemes

To receive updates from the following partners:

a.    Wiltshire Police

b.    Town and Parish Councils

Updates were received from the following partners:

Wiltshire Police

A presentation was provided by Inspector Scott Anger and Sergeant Kate Isaac which highlighted the work the local policing team had undertaken since their last update. The presentation including the statistics referenced was attached to the Agenda Supplement.

A point was raised by the Board regarding a recent issue with destruction of property in January and the need to ensure the best level of communication possible was achieved.

A further point was raised regarding speeding and where and how this could be tackled, including Automatic SpeedWatch technology.

The Board also discussed the best use of police time, especially regarding non-crime hate incidents and the balance between enforcing the law and ensuring that the police maintain a good relationship with the community.

The Chief Constable was also in attendance, and discussed the rumours regarding police funding, and that although headlines stated an increase in funding, the net result was actually a loss given an increase in costs. £6.8 million of savings needed to be found in order to balance the budgets. Wiltshire received the 3rd least funding in the country whilst being the 2nd smallest force.

The Chief Constable assured that any savings would not mean a reduction in the overall number of police officers or a closure of any police stations where there was a public access point. The current fleet of vehicles would also be scrutinised. The Chief Constable was reluctant to look at staffing cuts but stated that this could be possible.

It was clarified that there were 84 PCSOs in Wiltshire and although recruitment hadn’t been overly successful, the intention was to keep driving it.

Councillors thanked both the Chief Constable and the local policing team for their work and detailed report.

Malmesbury Health and Wellbeing Forum

Kim Power referenced a leaflet handed out prior to the meeting and stated that some of the information was incorrect.

The local Alzheimer’s support group had closed, and AGE UK and Rethink had stopped running their sessions in the local area. It was commented that bigger organisations did not seem to be doing as well as local groups offering similar activities.

An Art drop-in day on 16th April 2025 was referenced, with Older and Vulnerable events proving successful overall.

Riverside Centre

Kim Power stated that Wiltshire Council were withdrawing funding from the Riverside Centre and Kim was yet to receive any reason as to why. The Board stated that there were ongoing discussions between Wiltshire Council and Malmesbury Town Council.

It was clarified that individual councillors from Malmesbury Area Board had discussed this issue with Wiltshire Council Cabinet members, but as it was an ongoing commercial issue it was not appropriate to comment on ongoing talks. It was assured that that concerns had been raised and members were fully aware of public concern.

It was also stated that the best course of action may be to raise this question during Public Participation at both the Health and Wellbeing Board and at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

For Councillors to update attendees on activities relating to the Board’s priorities.

The Board’s Councillors updated attendees on the Area Boards Priority Areas:

Youth Engagement, Positive Activities and SENDProvision – Cllr Gavin Grant

·       A Local Youth Meeting was held on 20^th February

·       Projects for the Outdoor Skatepark, Pump Track and MUGA were progressing well

·       The Area Board were working with Wiltshire’s SEND Team to better understand the local situation and explain outlying data

Addressing Climate Change, Active Travel and Biodiversity – Cllr Martin Smith

·       February was Library Lover’s Month and emphasis was made that books and resources were available at the library to help communities “go greener”

·       Nearby towns in Wiltshire were working to become a Watermark Town, joining the movement to help the community save water & help the environment. It was raised that Malmesbury could consider joining this programme.

Reducing loneliness and social isolation – Cllr Chuck Berry

·       The Health & Wellbeing Forum met on 20th February and looked at JSNA data around older people living independently, which was far lower in Malmesbury than the Wiltshire average

·       The Public Living Room was described as thriving under the Area Board’s Health & Wellbeing Champion, Julie Dart and a relaxed communal space for people to come, have a hot drink and enjoy spending time together. From small beginnings, 25-30 people now meet every Tuesday afternoon 1.30-4.30pm at Malmesbury Library. All are welcome. ?

Community Safety and Resilience including Highways Safety – Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall & Cllr Gavin Grant

·       Support had been received from the Household Support Fund for Malmesbury & District Foodbank & HEALS?

·       Another Cost of Living flyer had been produced

·       Councillors had met with HEALS’ new project worker to discuss area board support and widening its reach into whole community area

·       LHFIG had met on 21st January

The Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager Andrew Jack gave a presentation that highlighted all the achievements of the Area Board and its partners in the last 4 years. The slides were attached to the minutes.

The Board wished to offer their sincere thanks to both Andrew and Alexa for all their work over the last 4 years.

For the Board to consider any grant applications within the attached report.

Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants

Friends of Riverside requested £2948 towards Saturday Friends and Monday Friends Groups.

Proposed by Cllr Martin Smith and seconded by Cllr Chuck Berry it was:

Resolved

To award Friends of Riverside £2948 for Saturday Friends and Monday Friends Groups.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2024/25.

Friends of Riverside requested £336 towards Experiencing the Thomas Hobbes Festival 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall it was:

Resolved

To awardFriends of Riverside £336 for Experiencing the Thomas Hobbes Festival 2025.

Reason – The application met the Older and Vulnerable Adults Grants Criteria 2024/25.

Youth Grants

Stay Safe Initiative CIC requested £675 towards The Digital Empowerment Programme.

Proposed by Cllr Gavin Grant and seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall it was:

Resolved

To award Stay Safe Initiative CIC £675 for The Digital Empowerment Programme.

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2024/25.

The Last Baguette Theatre Company CIC requested £1000 towards a Theatre Project for young people in Malmesbury in summer 2025.

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

Resolved

To award The Last Baguette Theatre Company CIC £1000 for a Theatre Project for young people in Malmesbury in summer 2025

Reason – The application met the Youth Grants Criteria 2024/25.

To consider and approve recommendations made at the recent

meeting of the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group

held on

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 21 January 2025.

There was an addition to the LHFIG minutes to include funding of £450.00 for way markers.  This was requested by the organisers of the Athelstan Way walking route which links 36 local churches.  This request had been approved at a previous area board but was omitted from the LHFIG, although it has now been agreed by Steve Hind, the officer, and Stephen Leonard, the Countryside Access Officer.

Proposed by Cllr Chuck Berry and seconded by Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall it was:

Resolved

To approve the recommendations from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 21 January 2025.

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 20 May 2025.

The next meeting will be on 8 July 2025.