Agenda item

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman (written briefing notes are available in the full agenda pack, or online):

·         Winter Weather preparations –

Wiltshire Council will once again be running the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme (PEAS) which gives local Town and Parish Councils the opportunity to get hold of vital kit which can be used during adverse weather events. The application form is now available from weather.team@wiltshire.gov.uk. We kindly ask that any requests for equipment are made by the end of August 2019.

The weather team can help you develop plans and also help with the provision of certain items to help make parishes more resilient when extreme weather arrives.

·         Healthier communities –

A new project by Wiltshire Council to help residents on a low income improve their health by becoming more active was launched in May.

Wiltshire Council’s Healthier Communities project will target ten areas across Calne, Chippenham, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Melksham and will provide estate-based sport and physical activity opportunities to residents living in identified locations. Residents from each community will be invited to take part and shape future provision.

·         Highways improvements and traffic survey requests –

Wiltshire Council is changing the way highway improvements and traffic surveys are requested by members of the public and through Town and Parish Councils. The current process requires updating to improve the customer experience and to reduce the steps involved. The proposed new system will foster a closer working relationship with town and parish councils, whilst providing a better and more informed experience for members of the public.

Details and links can be found in the attached agenda report.

·         Global Warming and Climate Change Emergency Task Group

Cllr Graham Wright to update the meeting on the above task group.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         Winter Weather Provisions

Wiltshire Council would once again be running the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme (PEAS) which gives local Town and Parish Councils the opportunity to get hold of vital kit which can be used during adverse weather events. The application form was available now from weather.team@wiltshire.gov.uk. Requests for equipment should be made by the end of August 2019.

·         Highways Improvements and Traffic Survey Requests

The Chairman explained that Wiltshire Council was changing the way highway improvements and traffic surveys were to be requested by members of the public and through Town and Parish Councils. The current process required updating to improve the customer experience and to reduce the steps involved. The proposed new system would foster a closer working relationship with town and parish councils, whilst providing a better and more informed experience for members of the public. The Chairman referred the meeting to the agenda pack for further details, links and forms.  

·         Healthier Communities

A new project by Wiltshire Council to help residents on a low income improve their health by becoming more active was launched in May. Wiltshire Council’s Healthier Communities project would target ten areas across Calne, Chippenham, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Melksham and would provide estate-based sport and physical activity opportunities to residents living in identified locations. Residents from each community would be invited to take part and shape future provision.

·         Global Warming and Climate Change Emergency Task Group

Cllr Graham Wright advised the meeting that a task group had been set up to look at global warming and the climate change emergency. Public participation was paramount and the group wanted to know people’s views on how they could change things. The meeting was encouraged to get in touch and take part.

·         Upcoming temporary road closure of the A345

The Chairman announced that from 5 August to 30 August 2019, there would be a part closure of the A345 Countess Road and A345 The Centre, to carry out resurfacing and maintenance. A diversion would be in place, which was shown to the meeting on a slide.

In response to a question from the audience regarding whether these works would coincide with works and road closures in Bulford, it was confirmed that they would be taking place at the same time.

It was conceded that this was not ideal. There may be delays. However the works were necessary and would result in a much better road surface through Amesbury. The works had been scheduled for the school holidays to try to minimise disruption.