Agenda item

To receive any verbal updates from representatives, including:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       BSW Together

·       Community First

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Town and Parish Councils Nominated Representatives

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

The Area Board noted written updates attached to the agenda. In addition, Louise Oakley provided a verbal update which covered the following points:

·       An overview of the area covered by the Neighbourhood Policing Team was provided as well as an update on the team which was hopeful to be recruiting a new Sergeant on 5 July.

·       Reference was drawn to the Neighbourhood Policing Pillars, which were outlined as being engaging communities, solving problems, and targeting activity.

·       An overview of the local priorities for the Westbury Area was provided, which included the following:

o   Shoplifting – There had been a spike of shoplifting in nearby areas and the Police had taken a problem-solving approach working with businesses to combat the issue.

o   Youth Anti-Social Behaviour – There had been reports that anti-social behaviour had been taking place in Wellhead Woods and though this had not been observed, the Police were attempting to visit the area more to build up a bigger picture.

o   Drugs – Drugs warrants had been completed on 4 addresses in Westbury in March which led to 6 people being arrested with further investigations taking place.

·       A question had been raised at a Warminster Area Board meeting regarding knife crime statistics in the local area, therefore Inspector Oakley had gone away to confirm that the data provided was out of data and was from 2018, therefore meaning that Warminster and Westbury did not currently have a knife problem. Further detail was provided that most knife crime reports related to domestic incidents and that Westbury was the lowest in the county for knife crime.

·       Wiltshire Police had recently received two new mobile police stations which had been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner. These would allow the Police to work closer with Parish Councils.

After the verbal update, there was time for the following questions and points to

be made:

·       Clarity was provided on the Cadet system, with it detailed that this would come from the Harm Reduction Unit with one of the representatives being a full-time leader of the Cadets. Due to the number of children, 4 leaders would be required, therefore a further 3 leaders would be required with a need for volunteers. Graeme Morrison, Strategic Engagements Partnership Manager, suggested that he would be able to help with the promoting of this through networks and contacts held.

·       It was expressed that it was positive to see individuals arrested for narcotics abuse, however mixed messages had been received in relation to the reporting procedure should someone witness drug taking. Clarity was therefore provided by Inspector Oakley that this was a difficult area as once drugs were in the system of a taker they would no longer be held and physically found by searches. It was stressed that it was important to report such offences as the Police had the power to detain and search people through the Misuse of Drugs Act and that by gathering intel, larger drugs chains could be broken down. Detail was provided that on-going crimes should be reported via calling 999 and 101 if a crime has taken place and an offender has left the area.

·       Reference was drawn that the Police were aiming to hold face to face events and that it would be positive for Wiltshire Councillors to know of such events so that they could publicise them if details were sent to Democratic Services.

·       It was noted that the Police had attended such events as the Soapbox Derby as well as holding drop-in sessions.

·       The Police were informed that Westbury Town Council had offered their Reading Room to help facilitate such meetings.

·       Details were provided regarding recruitment for the Police, with it stated that recruitment was dealt with by the Harm Reduction Unit and once open, anyone in the country could make an application to join. Sometimes recruitment might specifically look to recruit transferees from other forces. Training would then take place at the Devizes HQ for a period of 6 months before recruits being placed into response teams to deal with 999 calls. It was also noted that discussions were on-going as to whether it might be beneficial for the recruits to spend time with Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

·       BSW Together (Integrated Care System)

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

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

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

·       Community First

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

·Town and Parish Council Nominated Representatives

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Sheila Kimmins on behalf of Westbury Town Council. The update covered the following matters:

·       The Town Council had been very busy with delegated services taking up a lot of the time with discussions still on going.

·       The Soapbox Derby had gone very well and had been bigger than last year and was now self-funded. In addition, the Soapbox Derby had been offered external sponsorship by a company for 5 years and had also won an award from the STEM work which it had done with local schools.

·       Planning was now taking place for the Chili Festival in September as well as for Christmas.

·       Cllr Jane Russ had been elected as the new Mayor for the town with Cllr Mark Bailey taking up the role of Deputy Mayor.

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Jeff Ligo on behalf of Bratton Parish Council. The update covered the following matters:

·       It had been a good year for the Parish Council and the accounts had been signed off.

·       It was hoped that the Parish Council would work with the Town Council for next year’s Soapbox Debry which had caused a couple of issues in the village.

The Area Board received the following verbal update from Cllr Helen O'Donoghue on behalf of Edington Parish Council. The update covered that the Neighbourhood Plan was still in the works.