Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will welcome those present to the meeting.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Area Board Members and officers present.

To receive any apologies for absence.

The were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2020.

Decision

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2020 were agreed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman at a future meeting.

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:

·       COVID-19 Community Pack

·       Healthy Us Weight Management Programme Launch

·       Census 2021

·       Wiltshire Local Plan Review Consultation

·       Local Services

The Chairman drew attention to the following written announcements included on the agenda:

COVID-19 Community Packs

Wiltshire Council has created an updated community pack of information to help support communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it contains information and advice on issues such as restrictions, testing and support. Find the pack online here: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus#community-pack

Healthy Us Weight Management Programme

Healthy Us is a free 12 week course open to anyone living in Wiltshire, aged 18 or over, with a BMI of 28 or above. Referrals for the virtual courses starting in January 2021 are now being taken. Please see https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-weight-adults for more information or email health.coaches@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Census 2021

Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. We encourage everyone to take part. See https://census.gov.uk/ for more information.

Local Plan Review Consultation

As part of the Local Plan Review consultation, taking place from Wednesday 13 January to Tuesday 9 March 2021, Wiltshire Council are planning to host a series of live online consultation events for communities and other stakeholders.

To receive an update from Richard Rogers, Community Engagement Manager on the Community Status Report. The report aims to identify issues and priorities for the community for 2021.

The Area Board considered a report and received a presentation from Richard Rogers - Community Engagement Manager (CEM) about the status report that summarised the emerging key issues for the community area as a result of analysing local data and discussions with local stakeholders.

The CEM explained that the local priorities were due for a refresh so that when decisions are made, spending finance and supporting projects that the relevant needs of people living in the Pewsey Community Area are paramount in the decision making process. This would build upon existing data that was provided by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment through further conversations and consultation. It is an ongoing and evolving exercise that the Area Board would continue with the whole community. The CEM spoke about the emerging themes and issues gathered so far and how these will be developed and progressed.

The Area Board also received a presentation from the CEM about the Devizes and District Food Bank and how it supported 243 residents in the community area of Pewsey between 1 April 2020 and 17 January 2021. It was noted that Burbage had its own food bank which operated for two days a week in addition to the Devizes and District Food Bank.

Resolved:

1.    That the Area Board approves and adopts the Community Status report

2.    That the Area Board produces a rolling action plan including up to 5 priority actions at any one time to demonstrate where it will contribute to addressing the identified issues.

3.    That the Area Board will prioritise its resources including funding upon those issues identified in the status report.

4.    That the Area Board requests the Community Engagement Manager to work with key partners, agencies and community groups to encourage them to consider where they are best placed to take actions around the priorities identified.

5.    That regular updates are submitted to the Area Board on progress made in relation to its own action plan.

6.    That the Area Board expresses its thanks to those who gave their time to help bring this report together

To discuss issues surrounding the recent increase in theft of dogs in the community area.

Insp Tina Osborne provided an update on dog thefts in the community area. She reported that Nationally, Dog thefts have been much commented on during the last year, although reassured the Area Board that there was no ‘dog theft epidemic’ in Wiltshire. 

From 23^rd December 2019 to 23^rd December 2020, Wiltshire Police received just 26 reports that relate to thefts, attempted thefts, and suspicious activity that could be perceived to be a pre-cursor to an attempted theft, of dogs by unknown suspects.  Of these 26 reports, 8 of them involved a dog physically being taken, and none of these incidents have any obvious linked patterns to them in terms of suspects, behaviours, breeds of dogs, or locations.  9 of these 26 reports came as a result of a social media release that the Police made regarding suspicious activity.

The Area Board members were reminded to remain alert and report incidents when they happen, which helps to address all sorts of criminal activity.

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·       The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Precept Consultation – Presentation By the Deputy PCC – Jerry Herbert

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

·       Older People’s Champion and Partnership for Older People (POPP)

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Town and Parish Councils

a)    The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – Precept Consultation

The Chairman welcomed the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (DPCC), Jerry Herbert.

The DPCC gave a presentation on the current precept consultation and commented on the following main points:

·       The role of the PCC was to represent the residents of Wiltshire and Swindon, hold the Chief Constable and Force to account and to cut crime while delivering effective and efficient policing.

·       What the PCC has delivered during 2020 in relation to rural crime, recruitment of officers and investigations into cybercrime.

·       The proposed precept increase was for residents to pay an extra £1.25 per month.

The Chairman thanked the DPCC for his very informative presentation.

b)    Wiltshire Police

Insp Tina Osborn provided an update from Wiltshire Police, which included detail about COVID-19 lockdowns, the structure of Devizes Community Policing Team, crime and incident data and updates on priorities for the community area. Insp Osborn responded to questions about data associated with attacks on the person and criminal and incident data being made available for inclusion in parish newsletters.   

c)    Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

Dave Adamson, Station Manager provided an update from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, which included detail about reducing the level of risk and harm from fire, interaction between the Protection Team and Local authorities, private landlords and tenants, on call recruitment, recent news and events and total number of calls for Pewsey Fire station. He also mentioned a project to provide a drop off facility for people to drop off laptops for those school children unable to access the due to lack of equipment.

Cllr Oatway commented on the additional work being undertaken by the emergency services to help during the pandemic and felt that sometimes this work went unrecognised.  He thanked all service men and women for their efforts during this difficult time.   

d)    Healthwatch Wiltshire

The written update was noted.

e)    NHS Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group

The written update was noted.

f)      Older People’s Champion and Partnership for Older People (POPP)

The Community Engagement Manager reported that he had met with Susie Brew and Dawn Wilson to discuss a number of grant applications which would be submitted for consideration at the Area Boards March 2021 meeting.

g)    Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Dawn Wilson provided an update on the Health & Wellbeing Group and raised the following points:

·       Dawn reported that the Green Machine (who recycle technology) had a number of desktop PC’s to be gifted to the local school for children who needed equipment at home.

·      The Memory Café is waiting for when they were able to meet again in the Bouverie Hall and the client group being able to go out again.

·      PCAP still has ring-fenced funding for a canal boat trip which hasn’t been able to run yet.

Susie Brew provided an update on in relation to Economy and Tourism and raised the following points:

·       Itineraries Project – had secured grant from the Co-op Community Fund towards the Pewsey Vale  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To determine any applications for Community Area Grants.

The Area Board considered three applications for Community Area Grant

funding.

Resolved:

1.    To note the award of £425.73 under delegated powers by the Community Engagement Manager to Pewsey Vale Bowls Club towards  tarpaulin for the roof.

2.    To award Pewsey Vale Bowls Club £1188.60 towards Roof plans and regulations.

3.    To award a Councillor led project for £5000 towards positive activities for young people.

To consider any recommendations arising from the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) meeting held on 9 December 2020.

The Area Board received the minutes of the Community Area Transport Group of their meeting held on 9 December 2020.

Resolved:

1.    To close the following Issues: 5919, 6492 and 10-19-7

2.    To move the following Issues (with funding) to the Priority Schemes lists: 10-19-4 (£170) and 10-20-9

3.    To move the following issues to the top 5 Priority Schemes – 10-20-3 and 10-20-7

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

There were no urgent items.

The next virtual meeting of the Pewsey Area Board is scheduled for 8 March 2021 starting at 7pm.

The next online meeting of the Pewsey Area Board was scheduled for Monday 24 May 2021 starting at 7pm.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.