Agenda item

To receive updates from any of the following partners:

·       Parish and Town Councils

·        Wiltshire Police

·       Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

·       Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

·       Future Chippenham

·       Older People/ Carers Champion

·       Other Community Groups

Some written updates have been received and are included in this agenda.

Updates were received from the following partners:

·       Parish and Town Councils

The Area Board noted that it is currently the early stages of the new Council and therefore there would not be much to be updated on.

·       Wiltshire Police

Inspector James Brain provided the Area Board with an update which covered the following issues:

·       There have been slight changes to the neighbourhood model which will now allow Inspector Brain and his team to focus on neighbourhood priorities through the neighbourhood and response teams working together.

·       Though the Prime Minister has announced that there will be a 4-week extension to Covid restrictions, this hasn’t changed the policing plan that has been used over the past 18 months which has focused on education rather than enforcement.

·       The government have looked to recruit an extra 20,000 police officers nationally, locally Wiltshire was promised 49 but is now up to 60. These officers have been going through training and some are now through to their probationary period. Additionally the PC recruitment campaign recently closed after it received over 400 applicants in 48 hours.

·       5 weeks ago the police did a media release about priority work, drug arrests and warrants which has contributed to the seizure of £10,000 worth of drugs in the last 18 months.

·       Though there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour in the Saddlers Mead carpark, the number of calls has reduced with the police having undertaken a collaborative and partner approach.

·       The police have prioritised monthly areas to enforce speeding in, this has been dictated by evidence-based policing. Community speed watch members have also been back out.

Following the verbal update there was time for the following questions:

·       It was questioned how local people can report crime. The importance of locals reporting criminal behaviour was stressed as this can build a bigger picture for evidence-based policing. Suggested ways of reporting included calling 999 and 111, getting in touch with crime stoppers anonymously as well as through the police website and local officers.

·       It was queried whether police cars have been affected by the Station Hill traffic lights. Though the first week was challenging due to restrictions easing, this has not been an issue.

·       This issue of catalytic converter theft was raised, which was noted to have been a common crime in the past. Though no arrests have been made, staff have been made aware and letter drops to the public have taken place as a preventative action.

·       Concerns of speeding on West Cepen Way and Bumpers Farm were raised. Inspector Brain informed that speeding gets brought up at many forums and there is a national road safety strategy which each local force links into, as well as a local sub-road safety strategy team. This sub-group links in with community speed watch teams as well as a local force tasking meeting which identifies hotspots through data to be targeted and consequently educated and enforced.

·       During a trip to Dorset and Devon, Councillor Hutton noticed the deployment of mobile CCTV to present messages. It was questioned whether this could be used locally not only for anti-social behaviour messages but also for speeding, which Inspector Brain stated would be raised.

·       The Rural Parishes Forum has reformed and has met to investigate rural policing issues, which Inspector Brain and members of the force were invited to partake in.

·       Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda, which included a quarterly update. In addition to the written update, Darren Nixon, Station Manager, provided a verbal update to the Area Board which echoed the contents of the written update.

Following the verbal update there was time for the following questions:

·       It was questioned whether there had been an increase in the number of accidents, proportional to the loosening of lockdown restrictions, however it is difficult to determine yet as the data currently available is not from the past months. Though last year saw a large decrease in accidents, Mr Nixon predicted that numbers would return to previous levels.

·       It was requested that if the Fire Service are to offer another round of Salamander courses, that grants are sent in soon. It was clarified that the Salamander courses offer a work experience week for many ages and differing groups of people, therefore allowing them to get on the jobs ladder.

·       Future Chippenham

Councillor Ross Henning updated that though there isn’t an update from Future Chippenham as part of the agenda, he has arranged a meeting with them on 1 July and will be looking to feedback information on the HIF bid and proposals.

·       Healthwatch Wiltshire

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The Area Board noted a written update attached to the agenda.

·       It was noted that regarding the future development of Chippenham that it would be useful for the Area Board to make contact with the CCG to discuss the how the expansion of Chippenham might affect the future of Chippenham hospital and so that information could be gained about future investment.