Agenda item

To receive any updates from partner organisations:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service

·       Health

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System) – February 2023

·       Community First

·       Health & Wellbeing

·       Pewsey Community Area Partnership

·       Parish Councils

·       Youth

Wiltshire Police

Inspector Ben Huggins, the new commander of the Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey Community Police Team, introduced himself to the Area Board, explaining that he had been in post for three weeks. He highlighted that 18 crimes had been reported in Pewsey in January and February, including four residential burglaries. However, he reassured attendees that they were working closely with other forces to target crimes committed by people travelling from outside of the area.

During the discussion points included:

·       The police were taking pre-emptive steps to reduce thefts at beauty spots over the summer.

·       In response to concerns about visits not being made to reported crimes, the inspector explained that all crimes that did not require an urgent ‘blue light’ response were sent to the local policing team, at which point an officer would make contact with the victim.

·       Attendees noted that they would welcome further engagement with the police. The officers stated that they would like to increase the number of visible patrols but this would be dependent on resources. They also encouraged local people to report incidents.

·       Members of the public stated that they appreciated the resourcing issues facing the police and would be happy to invite the Police and Crime Commissioner to a future meeting.

·       It was reported that the new Chief Constable, Catherine Roper, was a big advocate of neighbourhood policing.

·       PC Chris Rideout offered to investigate a reported speeding incident in Upavon.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

          Simon Todd, District Commander for East Wiltshire, referred the meeting to the written update in Agenda Supplement 1. He reported that there had been no deliberate fires in Pewsey within the last year, although there was one accidental dwelling fire in November 2022. He was pleased to note that there had been a downward trend in the number of traffic collisions in Pewsey over the past year.

The Area Board thanked the district commander for the update and praised the outcome of a recent inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Pewsey Community Area Partnership

Dawn Wilson, Chairman of the Pewsey Community Area Partnership (PCAP) gave an update on the work of PCAP.

·       The PCAP were running local youth meetings for 13–18-year-olds on Thursdays.

·       A walking festival was due to take place at the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beaty, with lots of walks in the Pewsey Vale area. An accessible walk was planned so that people with mobility issues were able to be involved.

·       Pewsey Parish Council had provided funding for PCAP to upgrade its website.

·       Information about warm spaces had been shared at a recent Health and Wellbeing Forum and each meeting was focusing on a different theme.

·       Cost of living grants had been given to vulnerable members of the community, with money from Wiltshire Community Foundation being used to help 22 people so far.

Colin Gale, the Transport and Highways lead at PCAP, also provided an update:

·       He had yet to hear back from Great Western Railway about the access improvement funding for Pewsey Station.

·       PCAP were due to hold a meeting on 28 February about local bus services.

·       Pewsey Vale Rail User Group had met with Great Bedwyn Rail User Group about the Community Rail Partnership. Supportive letters would be sent to the Community Rail Partnership on Thursday. The aim was to employ someone three days a week to promote services.

During the discussion Dawn Wilson raised concerns about the introduction of charges for blue badge holders in Wiltshire Council’s car parks. A proposed amendment to Wiltshire Council’s budget reversing the charges was discussed at the Full Council meeting on 21 February but did not pass. She also objected to the changes in the budget which would pass the costs of local elections from Wiltshire Council to town and parish councils from 2025.

In response to the queries in relation to the budget, the Chairman noted that Blue Badge holders purchasing a ticket would get an additional free hour of parking to allow them additional time to return to their vehicles.

A representative from a different parish council spoke in support of passing the election costs on to local councils as it would allow Wiltshire Council to spend a greater share of its budget on supporting vulnerable people. The Vice-Chairman noted that he had spoken to the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Democracy to seek reassurance about the impact of passing on electoral costs.