Agenda item

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police with Chief Constable Catherine Roper
2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. Healthwatch Wiltshire
4. BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
5. Community First
6. Wiltshire AGE UK
7. Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership
8. Jubilee Centre
9. Transition Marlborough
10. Town / Parish Councils

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a three-minute slot unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager.

The Chair noted the written partner updates from BSW Together, Healthwatch Wiltshire and Community First that were included in the agenda pack. The Area Board then received verbal updates from the following partner organisations:

1. Wiltshire Police
   
   

Neighbourhood Sergeant Chris Wickham presented an update from Wiltshire Police, taking those in attendance through the information included in the agenda pack. Sergeant Wickham noted the area’s recent crime statistics, focusing particularly on burglary, one of Wiltshire Police’s new operational priorities. He also presented the work being undertaken by the Speed Enforcement Officer and the Rural Crime team. He also highlighted their operational priority of increased visibility, noting that there had been a concerted effort to improve police presence in rural villages. Finally, Sergeant Wickham promoted the Community Messaging Service as a means to keep up to date with the latest local news and alerts.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper then provided an update on the state of Wiltshire Police as a whole. She announced that since her last visit, Wiltshire Police had been recognised as making notable improvements as part of the Engage process. She highlighted the website as a valuable source of information for Wiltshire Police’s improvement plans and recent activity. Chief Constable Roper noted the work being done towards better tackling rural crime, including an increase in intelligence sharing across the South West, and expressed optimism about the future. She discussed Operation Scorpion, the Police’s work to tackle County Lines criminality by identifying and educating at-risk young people.

Councillor Thomas sought clarity on the status of Wiltshire Police’s efforts to address 111 call delays and control room issues. Chief Constable Roper noted that the situation was improving, but still behind where it needed to be. Councillor Thomas added that it was disappointing not to see drugs, specifically related to young people, addressed as a local priority. Sergeant Wickham stated that while not a local priority, work was still being done towards it, but noted that he would take that feedback back. Councillor Sheppard echoed Councillor Thomas’ concerns about young people in his division, speculating that it could be partly as a result of a lack of police visibility and education. Chief Constable Roper noted the work being done in schools. Councillor Sheppard asked if it would be possible to utilise Parish clerks to disseminate information amongst parishes. Sergeant Wickham acknowledged that the local Parish Councils had been neglected in the past and that they now had a single point of contact within his team and efforts would be undertaken to improve matters. Andrew Jack enquired whether if those Parish Councils were encouraged to plan events with Wiltshire Police in mind, rather than Wiltshire Police trying to attend sporadic Parish Council meetings, would be a more effective strategy.

The Chair also promoted the local Community Speed Watch team as a worthwhile use of time for any prospective volunteers.

2. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
   
   Station Manager Terry Crawford introduced himself to the Area Board as the new area representative from DWFRS. He highlighted the prevention work being done in the community and the ongoing proactive steps being taken. He also took the Area Board through the statistics provided in the report in Agenda Supplement 2, noting that the figures tended towards the low end for a town of Marlborough’s size.
   
   
3. Jubilee Centre
   
   

Sally Wolfenden updated the Area Board, explaining that the Jubilee Centre’s former manager Anne Hancock had semi-retired, but was back working as a volunteer, with the new manager throwing herself into the Jubilee Centre culture and doing well.

4. Town / Parish Councils

Ramsbury Parish Council mentioned that they had asked for feedback from Parish stewards but had received none. Councillor Thomas explained that Parish Stewards were contracted by Wiltshire Council to fulfil one-man jobs around a Parish according to a pre-determined schedule, and encouraged the Parish Council to get in touch with her if they had been having difficulties with theirs.

e.    2^nd Marlborough Scouts

The 2nd Marlborough Scouts presented an update on the Summer Camps that had been partially funded by Area Board grant funding, thanking the Area Board for their help.