Agenda item

To receive updates from the Town and Parish Council Representatives, and from other partner organisations.

·         Wiltshire Police

·         Police and Crime Commissioner

·         Fire and Rescue Service

·         Town and Parish Councils

·         Lovells – SFA and Army Rebasing

·         MOD

·         NHS Wiltshire CCG

·         HealthWatch Wiltshire

The Chairman referred to the updates set out in the agenda and invited further updates from Town/Parish Councils and other Partners.

·         Wiltshire Police

An update from Deputy Inspector Sergeant John Hutchings was received. This was moved up the agenda to after the Amesbury and Salisbury Recovery Update as Sergeant Hutchings had to leave the meeting early to attend another appointment. Sergeant Hutchings stated that there were 40 dedicated Special Constabulary in the South Wiltshire area. Their voluntary service had saved the police and therefore tax payers around £22,000. The visibility of the police and engagement of communities had been identified as an issue and they were therefore working to improve this. They would be attending area Boards and Parish meetings et cetera to speak to the community and see what issues were important to people. There had been reports of trouble at night in Amesbury town centre including anti-social behaviour and noise pollution, however, the number of complaints actually received were relatively low. These complaints had been taken on board and the police were working in partnership with the Council, environmental services and the Royal Military Police in order to try to resolve the anti-social behaviour. The decibel level of sound had been measured at the new nightclub and they had spoken to the licensee who had been very cooperative. Taxis were being moved closer to the venue and lollipops given to patrons on exiting the club. The weather also had an effect and it was thought that problems would decrease with the onset of Winter. One had to be realistic, however the police would try their best. There were no questions from the audience although thanks were received from the Mayor of Amesbury Town Council in particular for the coordinated working approach and from Shrewton Parish Council who were very appreciative of efforts to focus on rural crime.

·         Police and Crime Commissioner

Deputy PCC Jerry Herbert gave an update to the meeting. Mr Herbert had been appointed as deputy PCC on 1 August and was working two days a week in that role. Since the establishment of the PCC role the workload had expanded considerably and therefore was too much for one person to undertake, which was why he had been appointed. One of his objectives was to listen to communities and set appropriate priorities.

Funding was an issue. The National level of funding was flat, 60% of their  resources came from central government and 40% from local government. Unfortunately Wiltshire was one of the least well-funded forces from general taxation. Budgets were likely to be cut further and therefore they must use the money they do have in the most efficient manner. Another of his objectives in his role was to develop policy and resources.

In response to questions from Amesbury Town Council it was stated that   Amesbury Police Station may be sold. Many of the police estates were traditional police buildings that were no longer fit for purpose and cost a lot to run and maintain. The vast majority of policing today did not take place over the counter in a police station as it used to, so tying officers to a station in this way was limiting. It was felt that a better strategy was to have a smaller number of bigger hubs. There was a consultation underway regarding the location of a new hub. Amesbury Town Council also requested the strategy for policing in the Amesbury Area, particularly in the light of massive expansion in the area with the Army rebasing, Boscombe Down and Boeing. 

·         Amesbury Town Council

ATC expressed gratitude to Baroness Scott and Alastair Cunningham on the project to have the public toilets in Amesbury handed back and reopened for public use.

·         Shrewton Parish Council

Shrewton Parish Councilexpressed thanks for advice they received in the forming of an alternative neighbourhood plan. They also thanked Cllr Graham Wright.

·         Berwick St James Parish Council

A representative thanked the board for grant funding they received to fund radar street signs, these were being used very successfully.

·         Lovells – SFA and Army Rebasing

Cllr Wright gave an update. A new path had been opened and 2 new road signs installed. The Army Rebasing was on schedule, the new school was open and looked really good.