Agenda item

To note the following items for information – written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online.  If you would like the Area Board to consider or discuss any of these items in more detail, please speak to the Community Area Manager, or the Democratic Services Officer.

(a)          Carers’ Small Grants Scheme

(b)          State of the Environment Report 2013

(c)          NHS 111 Service

(d)          Wiltshire Community Land Trust

(e)          Drainage Byelaws

The Chairman made the following announcements:

(a)          Carers’ Small Grants Scheme

The Chairman was pleased to announce the launch of the next round of the Carers Small Grants Scheme.  Grants of up to £5,000 were  available to groups and organisations (but not individuals) for projects and activities which could demonstrate that they made a tangible difference to the lives of unpaid carers of all ages in Wiltshire in one or more of the following ways:

·         To give carers a break from their caring role

·         To help carers learn a new skill which may increase their life chances and employability

·         To help improve carers’ physical or emotional health and well-being

·         To reduce isolation

·         To increase peer support

·         To help carers’ access to information, support and guidance

Match-funding was not required; however, these were one-off grants so applicants would need to look for other sources of funding for the continuation of their project at the end of the funding period. (Advice on additional funding could be obtained from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation on 01380 729284).

(b)          State of the Environment Report 2013

The State of the Environment report 2013 for Wiltshire and Swindon was published in September 2013 by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, on behalf of Link2Nature, the Local Nature Partnership for Wiltshire and Swindon (www.link2nature.org.uk). The project was funded by Natural England, Public Health Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council.

This new report provided a strategic assessment of Wiltshire’s environment. It formed the basis of the Wiltshire JSA and Community Area JSA environment sections.

More detailed data was available in the environment section of the Wiltshire Intelligence Network. This website gave easy access to up-to-date environmental information and online links to a wide range of sources.

(c)          NHS 111 Service

On Monday 21 October 2013, the Clinical Commissioning Groups were advised that the national panel overseeing the implementation of the NHS 111 service had agreed the recommendation that the service should progress to full service commencement on Monday 28 October 2013. 

Running up to and going beyond the launch date, there would be a range of activities to raise public awareness about when to call NHS 111 with leaflets and posters also being distributed in the coming weeks to GP surgeries and public and community spaces.

(d)          Wiltshire Community Land Trust

Wiltshire Community Land Trust was an independent not-for-profit organisation that provided advice and practical support to communities in Wiltshire and Swindon that wished to set up local Community Land Trusts to own and develop assets that met their community’s needs, such as affordable housing, workspace, community gardens, wildlife reserves, pubs, shops and a range of community facilities and local services.

Wiltshire CLT could help communities identify whether a CLT could help them meet their needs and achieve their aspirations and if it was, to help them do that.  Further information was available from Rose Seagrief, Wiltshire CLT on telephone: 01380 850916 or email info@wiltshireclt.org.uk

(e)          Drainage Byelaws

Flooding was considered to be a serious issue in Wiltshire, and the Council had to respond to a number of significant flooding events which had affected communities in recent years. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 amended section 66 of the Land Drainage Act 1991 to allow local authorities to make land drainage byelaws.   These byelaws also created criminal offences which could be prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Courts.  The Council was now intending to use its powers to make byelaws to help it carry out its duties effectively and in doing so assist with reducing flood risk for local communities.