Agenda item

To receive updates from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership (MVCAP)

·       Riverside Community Centre

·       Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum

·       Malmesbury Area Footpaths Group

·       Health & Wellbeing Champion

·       Town and Parish Councils

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board received a verbal update from Inspector James Brain, which covered the following points:

·       Inspector Brain noted an amendment to the report provided within the agenda pack, with Sergeant Jamie Ball introduced to the team as Sergeant Kate Smith had left to take maternity leave.

·       It was stated that the anti-social behaviour mentioned within the report had since peaked, predominantly with the arson that took place at the Abbey. This is now a live investigation with a wider meeting for longer-term problem-solving set to take place. The Police also appealed for witness as well as descriptions of clothing worn by suspects.

·       Sergeant Jamie Ball and the team had been conducting work on intervention.

·       It was noted that the statistics provided for reporting are slightly disproportionate as there seemed to be more anti-social behaviour taking place than is being official recorded.

·       Regarding community speed watch, Inspector Brain updated that fortnightly tasking meetings take place in order to use data to decide where teams should be situated.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points

to be raised:

·       Cllr Chuck Berry stated that its not only the town that is having anti-social behaviour problems, with issues taking place in rural areas such as Oaksey. Additionally, Cllr Berry stated that there could be an opportunity for the Police to liaise with social housing providers to make sure people more appropriately housed rather than teams having to travel long distances to deal with issues. The Police and Crime Commissioner acknowledged the issue of anti-social behaviour and stated that comprehensive packages have been in put in place, in locations such as Downton, which have been largely successful.

·       Kim Power brought to the Police and Crime Commissioner’s attention that Malmesbury Town Council and the Local Youth Network match fund to pay for youth outreach work, which has positive connections with the local PCSO and the Rise Trust. Therefore ensuring that young people do not go under the radar before issues escalate. The Police and Crime Commissioner noted that coordination is a challenge but 2 successful youth conferences have taken place with multiple organisations providing their time to support the youth.

·       It was stated that if a community speed watch team do not support data then a back function office collate information for this area and then return data to team leaders and sector inspectors. However, such areas that do not supply data do not get discussed in as much detail, with those that do being placed in priority order.

·       The Police and Crime Commissioner updated that 3 cameras have been purchased for mobile enforcement to reinforce community speed watch.

·       The Area Board thanked The Police and Crime Commissioner for the work that he has completed so far, with it noted that he was translating his promises from electoral hustings into reality.

·       It was suggested that the improvement of CCTV in Malmesbury town centre would help with anti-social behaviour issues.

·       The Police and Crime Commissioner reported that Swindon and Wiltshire have placed bids to the Home Office for the Safer Streets Fund, in the hope of getting further funding.

·       Cllr Berry raised the point that in the local area there were many faded speed signs and eroded white lining on roads; suggesting it would be positive if officers on patrol could report them to Highways in order to make upgrades.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

Tim Elliott, District Commander, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service provided an update which covered the following issues:

• The Fire Service has been conducting prevention work through giving Safe and Well visits to explain to the public what can cause fires, how they can be prevented and how they can be extinguished.
• The Fire Setters Scheme has been promoted by the service, which aimed to provided focused information to people who have tendencies to be fascinated by fire. If there was a youth element involved in the recent Abbey fire, then the scheme could potentially be used to educate those involved.
• Regarding response, it was stated that the community fire team in Malmesbury are on-call fire fighters and therefore have other primary employment. It was however stressed that this is not a volunteer service and those involved are paid professionals.
• The Fire Service is looking to recruit more people who would like to give back to the community. It was noted that there is an age criterion of being over 18, needing to live between 5-8 minutes of the station and having a level of physical fitness. It was however stressed that it is better to have some over than no cover if certain areas of the criteria cannot be met.

Following the presentation there was time for the following questions and points

to be raised:

• It was stated that when the incident at the Abbey took place, the Malmesbury station did not have firefighters available on call to attend the incident and it was therefore queried how often on average a week is this the case. District Commander Elliott stated that there is a fire cover model in operation, with support coming from Chippenham, Corsham, Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett. Additionally, the on-call firefighters in tend to commit 40-120 hours a week of their time to the cause.

• BaNES, Swindon & Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BSW CCG)

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda. Cllr Berry noted that the CCG will cease to exist on 1 July and will be replaced by the Integrated Care Alliance (ICA), which will combine care and health into one entity.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership (MVCAP)

Sid Jevons. Chairman of MVCAP, provided an overview that the Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with charitable objectives. Examples of the work that MVCAP conducts were provided, including providing free IT advice to voluntary groups, supporting access to funding, acting as a bank account for groups as well as running and setting up local projects such as recently a life skills training session for a primary school.

·       Riverside Community Centre

Malmesbury Town Cllr Catherine Doody provided an update on behalf of the Riverside Community Centre, which noted that the centre had been busy providing community facilities for the public, including most recently Tai Chi and Jiu Jitsu sessions. Additionally, though there had been a recent concern for a drop in membership, last week the Last Baguette had used the facilities for a socially inspired project. It was stated that the Centre will be assisting with the town carnival and will be restarting its Saturday Friends sessions for older people in June.

·       Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum

Kim Power, Chair of the Malmesbury Area Health and Wellbeing Forum, provided an update to the Area Board, which covered the following points:

·       The Health and Wellbeing Forum last met on 26 April and now has 48 members, with a good proportion of those attending meetings and keeping in touch via email and phone.

·       An outline of the wide-ranging membership was provided to the Area Board.

·       Successful partnership working was highlighted, with the Forum having positive working relationships with doctors, the Centre for Independent Living, local homecare providers and Celebrating Age Wiltshire. Such partnership working has allowed individuals to be identified and then referred to other services.

·       Events organised by the Forum have included musical events worked alongside Celebrating Age Wiltshire and a Florence Nightingale production in Malmesbury Abbey, which was attended by residents form 5 care homes.

·       Support has continued towards groups such as the Tuesday club, with it being investigated as to whether a Wednesday club can be started.

·       The Forum is looking at options to support those effected by the financial climate, with a consideration towards heating in the winter months.

·       Wiltshire Sight have now come on board with the Forum, with there being 45 people with sight loss locally.

·       Initial meetings have taken place to provide extra Alzheimer’s support work as well as identifying a potential place for work to take place.

·       Malmesbury Area Footpaths Group

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda. Furthermore, Alexa Davies (Community Engagement Manager), outlined that this group was newly established and led by Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall to bring together reps from Town and Parish Councils to coordinate better working with Countryside Access Officer, Stephen Leonard.

·       Health & Wellbeing Champion

Julie Dart, Health and Wellbeing Champion reported that she had started to get up and running to source information for people to draw upon in the economic crisis. Additionally, Julie stated that she had started to make positive links in bringing together the Wiltshire Council Social Care department, the Malmesbury Town Library rep and the Malmesbury Health Centre Manager. Linking up with Jan Forsythe and the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living, there will be a social living room starting in Malmesbury, to provide a non-agenda space for people who need support; with previously successful examples cited such as the one in Devizes.