Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will welcome everyone to the meeting and make introductions.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Ludgershall Town Council

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 9 December 2024, were presented for consideration.

Decision

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman provided information about:

• Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

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:

• 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 any verbal or written updates from partners including:

• Wiltshire Police

• Town and Parish Councils

• Ludgershall Town Hall

• MOD

The Board noted the following written updates attached to the agenda and agenda supplement:

• Everleigh Parish Council
• Ludgershall Town Council

The Board received updates from the following partners:

Wiltshire Police

The new local inspector for Tidworth Area Board, Inspector Gavin Brewster, introduced himself and gave a brief presentation, which was attached to the minutes.

It was clarified that new drones had been purchased to help tackle rural crime such as hare-coursing. It was also confirmed that action was to be taken regarding HGV driving in Ludgershall and Ludgershall Town Council offered to share their data regarding the issue.

The Chief Constable was also in attendance, and spoke on the rumours regarding police funding, and that although headlines stated an increase in funding, the net result would mean a loss given an increase in costs. £6.8 million of savings needed to be found in order to balance the budgets. £1.6 million had already been found but a further £5.2 million is therefore needed. Wiltshire Police received the 3rd least funding in the country and were the 2nd smallest force. 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 be scrutinised and although the Chief Constable was reluctant to look at staffing cuts, she stated that this could be possible.

The Chief Constable also shared some decisions that had been taken, which was due for a press release the following day.

The Board thanked the Chief Constable and Inspector Gavin Brewster and welcomed him to the Board.

Tidworth Town Council

·       Mini Mayor election events held with primary schools

·       Bookings had been rising in the new civic centre including a Community Awards event

·       An Easter Party and litter pick events were scheduled soon

·       An event for VE day, a Skatepark Jam and Tidworth Festival were being planned.

·       Residents were still concerned about potholes which were getting worse.

Ludgershall Memorial Hall

The Hall had continued to experience a steady flow of bookings, and the car park had been resurfaced. The staff were hoping to get some decorating done and source a new dishwasher.

MOD

Many of its soldiers were headed off to the US for a period of time and therefore Tidworth Barracks was quiet.

The Army Welfare Service stated that where they should have 6 youth workers, there was only 2 with one of those due to go on maternity leave. It was made clear that there were logistical struggles and help was needed.

To receive any updates from Councillors on the Board’s Priority Areas.

Councillors updated attendees on the following Area Board priorities:

Local Environment Action – Cllr Mark Connolly

There was an update from the EV Infrastructure Team Leader at Wiltshire Council that in 2024 there were 13,000 EV cars in Wiltshire, and by 2030 there were expected to be around 120,000. Around 29,000 of these would be on-street parking vehicles, where EV charging could be problematic.

To accommodate the on-street parking issue, Wiltshire required some 3000 overnight chargers and 300 rapid chargers by 2030. Wiltshire Council had been awarded £3.9M from the Government, which would provide some 2,000-2,500 charging bays.

Some 100 Town and Parishes responded to an EV charging survey late last year. As a result of this and work with EV charging providers, areas of need had been identified, of which Ludgershall and Tidworth had been included, though unfortunately both at the lower end of the need scale.

Cllr Connolly raised the issue of flats and working with Housing Associations to provide EV charging.

The EV Infrastructure Team would have a website on the Wiltshire Council website by the end of March and there should be publicity on this.

There is a meeting for Parishes about pollinating corridors on 24 March at the Tidworth Civic Centre.

There is also a community energy meeting online for AB Environmental leads on 18 March.

A short presentation will be given to highlight Area Board achievements 2021-2025 including engagements, events, partnership working and investment into community projects.

The Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager Graeme Morrison 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.

To receive an update on the Board’s budget and consider any grant applications as detailed in the attached report.

Remaining Budgets:

Community Area Grants:

Young People Grants:

Further information on the Area Board Grant system can be found
here.

The Board was updated on its budget, and the following grant application was considered:

Ludgershall Scouts Hall applied for £5000 towards LED lighting and mould removal.

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Mark Connolly it was:

Resolved

To award Ludgershall Scouts Hall £5000 towards LED lighting and mould removal.

Collingbourne Cricket Club applied for £2500 towards cricket net refurbishment.

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Mark Connolly it was:

Resolved

To award Collingbourne Cricket Club £2500 towards cricket net refurbishment

Tidworth Area Board, through an Area Board Initiative, applied for £5000 towards the Detached Youth Work Project.

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Tony Pickernell it was:

Resolved

To award Tidworth Area Board £5000 towards the Detached Youth Work Project.

1^st Tidworth Brownies and Guides applied for £359.64 towards fluorescent jackets

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Mark Connolly it was:

Resolved

To award 1^st Tidworth Brownies and Guides £359.64 towards fluorescent jackets

Army Welfare Service applied for £5000 towards their Summer Residential event.

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Tony Pickernell it was:

Resolved

To award Army Welfare Service £5000 towards a Summer Residential event.

Ludgershall Town Council applied for £5000 towards the Ludgershall Youth Club

Proposed by Cllr Chris Williams and seconded by Cllr Mark Connolly it was:

Resolved

To award Ludgershall Town Council £5000 towards the Ludgershall Youth Club

A grant to Ludgershall Boys and Youth Club of £1000, granted through delegated authority, was also ratified by the Board.

To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 26 February 2025, as set out in the attached report.

Further information on the LHFIG process can be found here.

The Board considered the notes and recommendations from the most recent meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group (LHFIG) which took place on 26 February 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Mark Connolly and seconded by Cllr Chris Williams it was:

Resolved

To approve the notes from the meeting of the Local Highways and Footways Improvement Group on 26 February 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 Tidworth Area Board will be on 23 June 2025.

The next meeting of the Tidworth Area Board will be held on 23 June 2025.