Agenda item

Community Engagement Manager Andrew Jack to provide an update on the actions resulting from the Community Status Report.

To appoint lead members to the Area Board’s priority areas.

The CEM summarised the progress that the Area Board had made towards its priority goals for 2021/22, including:

•Helping to promote a successful awareness day about the environment, held in April 2022.

• Re-establishing the Health and Wellbeing Group and making new contacts with the Stroke Association and Health and Wellbeing Team.

• Steps had been taken towards setting up a charitable incorporated organisation to employ a local youth worker.

• Encouraging young people to become involved in sport through investments at Ramsbury cricket and tennis clubs.

• Running an activity day alongside the local sports forum.

• Supporting numerous local groups with grant funding.

He also gave an overview of local challenges and the information that was available to the Area Board to help to inform their priorities for the forthcoming year. One such challenge was the impact of rising fuel prices in a relatively rural area with a greater than average number of properties reliant on oil heating. In addition, the CEM explained that the Area Board could consider Wiltshire Council’s business plan, climate strategy and natural environment plan when assessing how to implement its local priorities.

Members thanked the CEM for the update and noted the progress made towards their goals over the past year.

Decision

1. To note the progress update from the 2021/22 local priorities work (Appendix A.).

2. To note the changing data as it applies to the Marlborough Community Area.

3. To note the whole of the report, along with its appendices [pages 33-42 of the agenda pack].

4. To consider the priorities the Area Board wishes to focus on in the coming year.

Having considered the report from the CEM, members discussed their priorities for the forthcoming year as well as which members would take the lead roles in driving these priorities forward. During the discussion the following points were made:

• Members were keen to carry on in similar roles to the previous year in order to help embed their achievements and have further time to deliver projects.

• Steady progress had been made towards establishing the Local Youth Network. Attendees were encouraged to contact the Area Board if they were interested in being involved.

• The possibility of holding a skills fair to help young people into employment was discussed. Further discussions with St John’s Secondary School were due to take place to develop the proposals.

• It was reported that lots of environmental work had taken place between Marlborough Town Council and Wiltshire Council. Residents were encouraged to contact their councillors if they had any suggestions for initiatives.

• It was noted that standards for electric vehicle charging points were set at the national level, but local councils were able to apply to Wiltshire Council for grants. Two chargers near the local Tesco supermarket were broken but a tender was out for their replacement. Marlborough Town Council were investigating the possibility of installing a charger on their land.

Decision

1a. To adopt the suggested priorities for the forthcoming year as shown in Appendix B [pg. 41 of the agenda pack], namely:

- Support the provision of positive activities for young people

- Create a new skills fair event for young people

- Health and Wellbeing

- Protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint

1b. To appoint lead members to the following areas:

–      Climate Change and the Environment – Cllr James Sheppard

–      Children and Young People – Cllr Caroline Thomas

–      Older or Vulnerable People – Cllr Jane Davies

–      Local Economy – Cllr Caroline Thomas

–      Health – Cllr Jane Davies

2. To appoint lead councillors to priority working groups as outlined in Appendix C of the report [pg. 42 of the agenda pack], namely:

–      Cllr James Sheppard for LHFIG

–      Cllr Jane Davies for Health and Wellbeing Group