Agenda item

Local Policing

Inspector Ben Huggins – Wiltshire Police will set out the position of local policing within the community area, with time to take any questions.

Speed Management

An opportunity to raise any questions, which would be answered at a future Area Board meeting.

Older People’s Event – update

Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager will explain the next steps following on from the older people’s events in both Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade.

Older People’s Champion

Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager will explain the Council’s wishes to encourage Area Boards to identify champions in each of the county’s community areas who will have a key role in representing the views of older people and carers at both a local and county wide level.

This will be followed by a short presentation from Ellen Blacker, Good Neighbour Co-ordinator.  

Working with our young people to provide positive leisure activities

Update and youth grant funding applications from Pete Smith – Community Youth Officer, Wiltshire Council.

Supporting Community projects and facilities

Grant Funding and Financial statement – Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager.

Campus updates

Alexa Smith – Community Engagement Manager.

Local Policing

Inspector Ben Huggins outlined to the Area Board changes to the way Wiltshire Police planned to deliver community policing.

Points made included:

·       That a new Community Policing model was currently being trialled in the Trowbridge area.  It had been decided that this pilot would be rolled out county wide during the summer 2016. Exactly what this would mean had yet to be fully decided and was subject of current planning discussions.

·       The new Wiltshire Police Control Strategy, which was based around the cross cutting themes of High risk victims, High risk offender, Domestic abuse and Cyber crime.

·       The importance of local communities engaging with the Police, and local intelligence not being lost.

Questions from the floor included:

That there were concerns that under the new policing model, local police knowledge could be lost.

a.Communities would still have local policing, but other officers would be available to help if required. PCSOs would not be lost.

How can a good level of policing be maintained with cuts having to be made?

a.There are indeed less resources, so Wiltshire Police has to do something different. The pilot in Trowbridge had proved to be very successful.

Would any police officers face redundancy?

a.No,any reduction would be through natural wastage or early retirement.

Would Special Constable numbers reduce?

a.No, Specials would continue to be recruited. PCSOs would see their role be given more responsibility.

Would Wiltshire Police still be supporting Community Speedwatch?

a.Wiltshire Police would continue to support Community Speedwatch.

What would happen if Cricklade Police station closes?

a.New mobile devices were being rolled out, giving officers the freedom to access information and stay in touch whilst remaining on the beat. Officers are now using Wiltshire Council buildings as part of partnership arrangements with Wiltshire Council.

The point was made that the issue raised at the September Area Board was not directed at the Neighbourhood Policing team, but concerns with the closure of Cricklade Police station.

Speed Management

Inspector Huggins reiterated Wiltshire Police’s continued support of the Community Speed Watch schemes across the county, and the good work that the volunteers were carrying out.

The Chairman advised that a future Area Board meeting would look at speed management, any potential questions should be fed back to the herself or the Community Engagement Manager.

The Chairman thanked Inspector Huggins for his presentation.

Older People’s Event update – Alexa Smith – Community Area Manager

Points made included:

·       Since the previous area Board WF&RS and Wiltshire Council had held a successful event for older people in Royal Wootton Bassett. The event was held on the 14 October in the library and well over 40 people benefitted from the display stands that were set up and speaking to people from a range of organisations, such as Age Concern, Community First and our health trainer Janice Bardwell.

·       Outcomesfrom theevent arethat theArea Boardwould beworking withlocal GPsto pull togethera directoryof theactivities whichare availablein thetown forolder people,so they onlyneed tolook inone place.Thiscouldthen be promoted andincluded innew patient packs.Also GPsat Tinkers Laneand New Courtsurgeries wouldbe hostingan olderperson's teaparty inthe NewYear toreach outto thosewho are facingsocial isolationin the winter months and are outsideof theexisting groups.

Older Peoples Champion – Alexa Smith – Community Area Manager

Points made included:

·       WiltshireCouncil wishedto encourageArea Boardsto identifychampions ineach ofthe county's community areaswho wouldhave akey rolein representingthe viewsof olderpeople and carers atboth alocal andcounty widelevel.

·       Championswould talkand seekthe viewsof olderpeople orcarers intheir localcommunities on matters relatedto servicesprovided byWiltshire Councilor theNHS, andrepresent these views atArea Boards.

·       Theywould workwith AreaBoards andlocal voluntarygroups toencourage jointworking and share experienceto helpnew localgroups setup.

·       Achampion couldbe anindividual ora groupwho couldrepresent theviews ofolder peopleor carers in theirarea andwho would alreadyhave contactwith olderpeople orcarers.

·       Championswould beable toadvocate forolder peopleor carersand bea focalpoint for identifying whatservice improvementsor developmentsare required.They wouldlink withand work with theCommunity EngagementManager. Asum of£1000 hadbeen identifiedfor each communityarea forthis purpose.

The Community Engagement Officer then introduced Ellen Blacker, the Area Board’sexisting Good Neighbour Co-ordinator whohad expressedan interest in becomingour OlderPeople's Champion.

Decision

·       That Ellen Blacker is appointed as the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board OlderPeople's Champion.

Working with our young people to provide positive leisure activities - Pete Smith – Community Youth Officer, Wiltshire Council

·       The written report was noted.

Supporting Community projects and facilities – Alexa Smith - Community Engagement Manager.

Decision

Purton Parish Council awarded £487.50 for the Dingle Information Board.

Reason

This application meets grant criteria 2015/16

Decision

Purton War Memorial and Village Centre Charity awarded £2,393.25 for Hearing loop and PA system for Purton Village Hall.

Reason

This application meets grant criteria 2015/16

Decision

Purton Community Café awarded £5,000 for community café and toilet.

Reason

This application meets grant criteria 2015/16

Decision

Oak & Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre awarded £4,104.00 for Education Visitor Centre.

Reason

This application meets grant criteria 2015/16

Campus updates - Alexa Smith – Community Engagement Manager

Points made included:

·       InRWB ameeting ofthe previousSCOB groupwas heldat whichmembers confirmedthey wouldlike tocontinue theirinvolvement withthe AreaBoard insomeform to make improvements tolocal facilities.A newterms of referencefor thegroupwas requested and wouldbe puttogether andbrought tothe nextArea Boardmeeting tobe ratified.

·       InCricklade -mapping andgapping exercisehad beencompleted bythe advisorygroup. Thegroup hadidentified potentialservice gapsagainst theoriginal proposalfor acampus inthe townand startedto lookat howservices couldbe delivereddifferently. Thiswould become clearer onceplans forthe StonesLane leisurecentre wereconfirmed.