Agenda item

To note the attached Partner updates and receive any further information partners wish to share:

1. Wiltshire Police
2. Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
3. Healthwatch Wiltshire
4. Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
5. Transition Marlborough
6. Town / Parish Councils

Written updates were available in the agenda pack and supplements from the Police, the Fire Service, Healthwatch Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

In addition to the written updates, the following verbal updates were given by partners present:

·       Wiltshire Police

Acting Inspector Pete Foster referred the meeting to the written report in the agenda pack, which was in a new format. There was no specific update since the last meeting. Marlborough Police aimed to move to the corner house at the end of September. Operationally this wouldn’t make a difference, the police would still provide the same level of service. Inspector Foster then offered to answer questions.

In response to a question regarding crime levels rising when police stations closed the inspector stated that the Marlborough police team had always been based in Devizes and there would still be an enquiry desk in Marlborough. Crime rates had reduced in Marlborough and a new police community coordinator had been employed. Nationally funding and staffing had reduced and although everyone would like more, new ways of working, for example better new technology ensured that police officers no longer had to be tied to a desk.

The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Jerry Herbert stated that you could either concentrate your resources or spread them thinly and it was more efficient to concentrate them. Fraud and cybercrime now had a new digital investigations unit and they had led several prosecutions. They also had a crime prevention role and could be available to attend community events if requested.

Cllr Chris Williams, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Area Boards stated that the cybercrime team had attended area boards to do presentations and that you could sign up to the messaging service online for updates on cyber crime issues.

In response to a question from the audience regarding levels of prosecution and penalisation, which was 8% nationally, it was stated by the Deputy PCC that Wiltshire was within national levels. Prosecutions and penalties depended a lot on the type of crime and the evidence needed. Drug crimes had high rates of prosecution, others less so. This was often dependent on the evidence required by the Crime Prosecution Service.

·       Fire Service

Wayne Rosling on behalf of Dave Adamson, Station Manager, gave a brief update to the meeting and summarised the agenda report. Safe and Well visits could be booked through their website. There was still a need to recruit on call fire fighters. The Marlborough Unit had attended 20 incidents. There were no questions from the audience.

·       Town and Parish Councils

Mervyn Hall, Mayor of Marlborough Town Council gave an update to the meeting.

The Town Council was hosting a Civil War Re-enactment of the Battle of Marlborough on The Common on 27/28 July 2019.  This would be staged by the English Civil War Society there would also be a Living History in Priory Gardens and many other activities including an exhibition at The Merchant’s House.

The new toilet facilities at the Town Hall were now open and had been opened by Cllr Nick Fogg, MBE.

The refurbishment of the George Lane Toilet Block was now complete and had 4 new toilet cubicles, space for a Tourist Information Point and a Community Room, which was available for rent. A part time tourism officer had also been employed.

On 7 June, a plaque was unveiled at the Library to commemorate Eglantyne Jebb, founder of the Save the Children Fund. 2019 was the 100th anniversary of Save the Children.

Regarding devolution of services, the town council was planning to take on services from Wiltshire Council in 2020/2021.

Presentations had been made to Revd Heather Cooper, Methodist Minister at Christchurch who were leaving Marlborough after 8 years and to Tim and Jonelle Price, nationally and internationally successful equestrians living in our area. 

·       Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan

Mayor Mervyn Hall also updated the meeting on the MANP. An informal consultation was underway that would end on 2 August 2019. A strategic environmental assessment was to take place. This was an important part of the process. MANP needed this as its area sits in an AONB.  It would give advice about environmental and other sustainability aspects of any sites going forward for development. The next steps included; Review of feedback and technical processes; Pre-Submission Plan issued for Formal Consultation (November/December 2019); Submission Plan to Wiltshire Council following review of feedback (February/March 2020); Wiltshire Council Formal Consultation with you followed by the Examination; followed by a referendum.

The Chairman thanked all the partners for their updates.