Agenda item

To note any written updates and to receive verbal updates from those present, including:

·         Police – Neighbourhood Team Update

·         Fire & Rescue Service

·         NHS

·         Wiltshire Council Updates

·         Southern Wiltshire Issues System

·         Any other comments or reports

Police – Inspector David Minty

Following the outcome of the Custody Review, a decision had been made to site the new Custody Suite, serving the south of the county in Warminster.

There had recently been several high value dwelling burglaries in the Fovant area and some shed burglaries in Mere. Inspector Minty urged people to make sure they protect their properties and keep a look out for their neighbours or anything suspicious.

There had also been an incident where a rogue trader had approached an elderly man, offering tarmac services using hard selling tactics. Rogue traders target the elderly and vulnerable, people were urged to call the police if they are approached or see anything suspicious.

Fire & Rescue – Cllr Chris Devine

In addition to the written updates attached to the agenda, Cllr Devine advised that the first full Shadow Authority meeting had taken place. Planning was well underway with the target start date of 1 April 2016. The new control centre at Potterne was working really well, the official opening would be held on 8 August.

Wiltshire Council Updates

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda. In addition the Chairman drew attention to the update on Leader Funding. Agricultural businesses and organisations across Wiltshire were being encouraged to apply for European grants designed to boost rural employment. The Leader scheme was one element of the Rural Development Programme for England, funded by the EU and DEFRA. This tranche of grants runs for five years, until March 2021.

Issues System – Tom Bray

In addition to the written update attached to the agenda, Tom would be refining the list of current issues on the system, making progress where possible and reporting back at a future meeting.

Any Other Updates:

Philip Buckley of the Coombe Bissett Conservation Community Group addressed the Board with the concerns of the Group.

Thanks were given to the Board for the time to make the following statement regarding the current Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and its impact on our village, Coombe Bissett.

There were six SHLAA sites submitted for the Parish. The majority of residents were fiercely opposed to inappropriate large scale development. It was understood that Coombe Bissett was determinedly meeting its Strategic Development requirement and probably exceeding it.

It was known on good authority that the Statutory Agencies and Councillors were in consultation with Strategic Planners who were making known what was required of them. The expectation was that those Strategic Agencies would aid and speed the selected sites through the planning system to a positive outcome for the developers and landowners, and thus achieve the housing numbers for the area.

These closed consultations were taking place without the inclusion, and knowledge of those most adversely affected. This raises deep concerns around transparency, accessibility and accountability – namely our democratic right to be heard before irreversible and far reaching decisions are made.

We have no option but to rely on Councillors being fully and independently informed on individual sites, often in complex planning detail.

As the SHLAA sites would be delivered through the Planning system, could the Board reassure us that National Planning Policy Framework, and the Wiltshire Core Strategy Planning Policy principles that should exempt Coombe Bissett from large scale development, be meticulously upheld by Councillors as your first responsibility, however much pressure is applied by developers and Planners?

The Chairman noted that Planning was a strategically regulated function, with the Area Board having no formal role in that at all. The Board noted the concerns of the Group.

Action: DSO to circulate a copy of this minute to Spatial Planning for information.