Agenda item

The Chairman made the following announcements:

      i.        Jonah Wright Trust – an appeal for funding was made for Jonah Wright, who is a quadriplegic. Jonah was raising money to purchase a new ramp and set of boccia balls so that he could work towards representing Great Britain in the 2016 Paralympics. Further information could be obtained by emailing trevor.wright442@btinternet.com, or on the Facebook page ‘Jonah Wright (Team Wright)’.

    ii.        CATG priorities 2011/12 – priorities for funding in 2011/12 from the budget of £13,625 were confirmed as:

a.    Wingfield – footways at Magdalen Lane, Phase 2 - £11,500

b.    Westwood – on carriageway footway and protection bollard – £2,500.

   iii.        Olympic Torch Relay – it was noted that the Olympic Torch would be passing through Bradford on Avon on 22 May 2012, and it was hoped that as many local residents, groups and schools as possible would participate in local events. A toolkit was available from Wiltshire Council for anyone requiring information on how to set-up community events in celebration of the Olympics or the Diamond Jubilee.

   iv.        Historic Core Zone – governance arrangements are being put in place and will be agreed by Bradford on Avon Town Council.

5. 11 to 19 Strategy – a short summary of the outcome of the consultation was circulated and Sharon Davies for Children and Families, provided an overview of 7 main priorities, these being employment and training; educational attainment; housing; transport for young people; involving young people; volunteering; and improving integrated youth services.

6. Household Survey – Wiltshire Council and its partners are carrying out this survey in order to understand the needs and priorities of local people. The survey was available in hard copy at the meeting, or online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/whatmatterstoyou . Topics covered in the survey include what it’s like to live in the area; spending priorities; community safety issues; and the natural environment

  vii.        Updates from Partners – written reports from Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service and NHS Wiltshire were received and noted. Further updates were made as follows:

Wiltshire Police - Inspector Dave Cullop encouraged people to complete the household survey, which for the first time included sections on key partners such as the Police, Fire & Rescue and NHS. Inspector Cullop also outlined the ongoing efforts to achieve required savings of 20% within the police budget; much of which was front-loaded savings.

It was noted that crime figures for criminal damage and theft in the community area had risen over the past 12 months, and Inspector Cullop reported that his officers were currently looking into this as the exact reasons were unknown. It was suspected, however, that the rise in such crimes could potentially be linked to the new developments and growing population in Bradford on Avon town centre.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service – Mike Franklin presented the statistics in his report and highlighted that Bradford on Avon was one of the safest places in the county in respect of fires, with four incidents in the past two months. Once of the main activities of the Fire & Rescue Service in the area was co-responding to incidents with the ambulance service.

Caution was advised with regards to the use of candles over the festive period, and Mike also strongly encouraged people with open fires and wood-burning stoves to have their chimneys swept in order to prevent fires and carbon dioxide poisoning.