Agenda item

To receive updates from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Schools updates

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       CCG B&ANES, Swindon and Wiltshire

o   Including update on the medical centre.

·       Town and Parish Councils

·       Devizes indies

Updated were received from the following partners:

·       Wiltshire Police

Inspector Tina Osbourn gave an updated to the meeting and detailed overall crime figures for December 2020 to February 2021 at 251 incidents. Further breakdowns on these figures could be found in agenda supplement 2.  Priorities were detailed as school engagement and speed enforcement operations working alongside community speedwatch and known speeding sites.

·       Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS)

Station Manager David Geddes was in attendance and apologised that he had been unable to attend the previous meeting. The DWFRS were consulting on their community safety plan which could be viewed at http://www.dwfire.org.uk/community-safety-plan/. Prevention work was continuing and Safe and Well visits could be requested at https://www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safe-and-well-visits/ for those over 65 or  with long term health conditions. The DWFRS were also checking on the fire safety of business as they reopened after lockdown, supporting the vaccine rollout and looking to recruit on call firefighters. More information could be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/workingfor-us/on-call-firefighters/.

·       Schools Updates

Mark Lascelles, Headteacher at Dauntsey’s gave a brief update. Mr Lascelles stated that the schools were glad to been able to reopen and it was also good for the bus companies and school suppliers. It was stated that the school was worried about mental health issues caused by the lock down and there were also concerns regarding the exams in summer.

Julian Morgan, Headteacher, Devizes School gave an update stating that they were also glad that students and staff were back at school.  There had been challenges with lateral flow testing, but in general things were going well. They school was as COVID safe as possible and there were numerous logistical challenges to implementing this which had been overcome. Mr Morgan agreed that the exams in summer were a concern. In response to questions Mr Morgan stated that the school was had support but there were pastoral and academic challenges.

Simon Down, Deputy Head, Lavington School echoed his colleagues’ comments. Mr Down stated it was great to have the students back in school. Andre Jack, Community Engagement Manager had been working proactively with the school and they had a grant application in which would be considered later in the meeting. Resilience and self-esteem were a focus for the school and it was hoped that they could return to outdoor learning.

The Chairman and other Councillors passed on their thanks to all the schools for their hard work over the last year.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Chairman directed the meeting to the written update in the agenda.

·       CCG B&ANES, Swindon and Wiltshire

The Chairman directed the meeting to the written update on page 33 of the agenda.

·       Update on the medical centre.

Dr Richard Sandford-Hill, (Member of the project board for the Devizes new build and the Devizes PCN board) gave an update. Dr Sandford-Hill stated that the full business case for the centre had been approved by the CCG in January. It then had to go on for further approvals, which had not yet been received. It was hoped that the building for the centre would start in the summer. CIL monies had been applied for in order to help fund the project.

·       Town and Parish Councils

Devizes Town Council (DTC) was working with the NHS so the Corn Exchange for being used to administer vaccines. It was hoped that capacity could be doubled there in order to speed up the rollout. DTC were working with the Devizes Indies in order to ensure that Devizes town was safe and would thrive. The plans to open up the Market Place were exciting and it was hoped that it would be a great place to visit.

·       Devizes indies

Ida McConnell if Devizes Indies gave an update. During lockdown the group had been undertaking social media campaigns; highlighting offerings of different shops and raising awareness for when they come out of lock down and working with DTC and the Chamber of Commerce on future plans. 

The group had also been working with Sustainable Devizes on plans for a sustainable high street and the possibility of introducing an e-cargo bike delivery service in Devizes.

Plans for the future included:

o   Tales from the town - encouraging traders to share stories of lockdown in their windows

o   Liaising with Daventry Retail Forum

o   A grant application for a GAZEBO to promote events and raise awareness, for use at the regular Thursday Market.

o   IndieDAY at the start of summer, restrictions allowing

o   An online map with QR codes on car park signs & lamp posts around town

o   Online Resources for retailers

·       Sustainable Devizes

Graham Martin of Sustainable Devizes gave an update to the meeting. Sustainable Devizes had been working with the Air Quality and Sustainable Transport Group. The group had also been working with DTC and Devizes Indies on the possibility of e cargo bikes and a sustainable delivery service in Devizes.

The group highlighted their desire that Devizes as a tourist town needed more electric vehicle charging points and raised the possibility that renewable energy could be used to provide power for these. 

Cllr Gamble thanked Mr Martin for the group’s helpful ideas.

Mr Martin stated that there was a lot of complexity to these issues and no one entity would have the solution. However, he felt that if everyone could work together then alternative solutions could be found. Mr Martin confirmed that he had received written responses to questions he asked of the board.

The Chairman thanked all speakers for their contributions.