The Southern Wiltshire Area Board of Wiltshire Council met on Tuesday 27 October 2026. The meeting focused on local community funding, highway improvements, and updates from key partners.

Tackling Local Antisocial Behaviour

Dean Tilling, Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction Manager, provided a presentation on tackling local antisocial behaviour. Further details on this topic are not available in the provided documents.

New Funding Opportunities

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, provided an update on new funding opportunities and initiatives linked to Area Boards. These included the Wiltshire Community Lottery, Social Value, the Wiltshire Voluntary Organisation of the Month Award, the Wellbeing Fund via Crowdfunder, Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects, and Community Resilience Hubs.

Area Board Priorities Updates

Updates were received from Lead Councillors, Officers, and Young People on the Area Board's priority areas:

• Rural youth outreach and engagement: This priority has seen five parishes involved in the programme, with a new youth voice group established through local schools. A National Lottery bid and additional fundraising are underway with a target of £50,000. Events have engaged approximately 150 pupils, with future events planned.
• Health and wellbeing for older people and vulnerable adults: A Digital Inclusion Project event was scheduled for 15 June 2026 at Winterslow Village Hall. Plans are also in place to revitalise the community garden project at Longhedge.
• Support for the environment: A new environmental initiative is being developed to support schools in installing solar panels, with loans available from Wiltshire Council for maintained schools. A renewable energy exhibition event was planned for Trowbridge, with intentions to extend this to the local area and Salisbury. The Switch Together scheme had been launched.

Area Board Funding

The Board noted the remaining budgets for allocation:

• Community Area Grant: £16,908.48
• Young People Grants: £14,364.00
• Older & Vulnerable Adults Grants: £7,500.00

The following applications for funding were considered:

• Bourne Valley Scout Group requested £5,000 for a new store on the Idmiston Memorial Hall site.
• Old Sarum Community Centre requested £750 in top-up funding for a freezer for their Food Pantry.
• Alderbury Explorer Scout Unit requested £500 for equipment for an expanded explorer unit.
• Laverstock & Ford Parish Council requested £4,964 for a Youth Collaboration Project.
• Downton Bowling Club requested £500 for their Building a Sustainable Future for the Club project.
• Age UK Wiltshire requested £2,000 for their Celebrating Age Wiltshire project.

The following grant applications were considered:

• Winterbourne Cricket Club applied for £5,000 towards Two ECB Approved Non-Turf Practice Facilities.
• The Brunton Memorial Hall applied for £3,000 towards Acoustic Improvements to the Village Hall.
• The application from Imagine This Early Years and Family CIC for a toy library computer upgrade was withdrawn after a member of the public offered to donate the requested amount in Apple vouchers. The Area Board would liaise with the applicant and the donor to facilitate this offer. If the vouchers could not be used, the Board would uphold the decision to award funding.
• Whiteparish Memorial Trust applied for £3,500 towards the Car Park Wall project.
• Downton 4 Family applied for £500 towards their Family Mentoring System project.
• Hampton Park Pavilion applied for £5,000 towards Youth Activities and Special Events, to be distributed in three instalments.

Local Highways Update

Cllr Rich Rogers, lead member, provided an update on local highways.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) Update

The Board noted the minutes and considered recommendations from the last LHFIG meeting held on 1 September 2026. The following recommendations were considered for approval:

• Coombe Bissett PC: NAL socket & post for SID installation - £600.00
• Downton PC: No Through Road Signage - £750.00
• West Dean PC: Signage and lining review - £1,463.00
• Alderbury PC: Parking restrictions - £3,247.50
• Redlynch PC: Pedestrian Review (Substantive Bid) - £10,782.00
• Winterslow PC: Signage and lining review - £2,262.50

The total cost of these considered recommendations is £19,103.00.

Community Governance Review

A briefing note was provided regarding the Community Governance Review process, which began on 12 August 2026. This review aims to ensure that town and parish council governance arrangements continue to reflect local communities and are efficient and effective. The review can make changes to parish areas and electoral arrangements, including altering boundaries, merging or abolishing parishes, and changing the number of councillors or warding arrangements. The Southern Wiltshire Area Board's parishes are included in this review. The review process is scheduled to conclude with final recommendations considered by Full Council in May/July 2027.

Key Partner Updates

Written and verbal updates were received from key partners:

• Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT): Sergeant Matt Boon provided an update, highlighting ongoing work on business crime, rural burglaries, and anti-social behaviour related to illegal e-bikes and scooters. Community Speed Watch support and vulnerable person checks were also mentioned.
• Fire & Rescue: A video link update was provided, detailing the service's activities, including responses to storms and flooding, heath fires, thatch fires, and a derelict school building fire. The service also highlighted its involvement in technical rescue exercises and a joint exercise with HMP The Verne. New regulations for residential personal emergency evacuation plans (RPEPs) were enforced. A public consultation into the proposed closure of on-call fire stations had concluded.
• Community First: Updates were provided on Youth Action Wiltshire's summer activities for young carers and young people, including residential trips and various activity days. Alternative Provision for young people aged 7-16 years through Oxenwood and Linkenholt Centres was detailed, focusing on outdoor learning and practical activities. Information was also provided on MiDAS training for minibus drivers and the Car and Multi-Purpose Vehicle Assessment Scheme (CaMPAS). Community Insurance services and the Rural Housing Enabler service were also highlighted.
• Wiltshire Working Well: This initiative, in partnership with Wiltshire Council and Help Counselling, offers fully funded, short, practical mental health training sessions for employees, managers, and business owners. Courses are available online and in-person, covering topics such as leading a mentally healthy workplace and Mental Health First Aid.
• Wiltshire Money: This programme, funded by the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), offers training for staff and volunteers providing advice and welfare support to Wiltshire residents. Training topics include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Universal Credit, and supporting low-income households. Area Boards were asked to help promote these funded training opportunities.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): An update was provided on AA's local services across Wiltshire, including weekly meetings, online and telephone support, and community engagement. A public information video and pamphlets for young people were highlighted, with a special focus on resources for young people during Alcohol Awareness Week.
• Development of the Faith Communities Network: The Wiltshire Faith Communities Network has been reinvigorated, with 50 new members joining in 2026. A multi-faith steering group has been established, and a 3-year draft action plan includes goals to develop a strategic partnership with Wiltshire Council, strengthen connections across faith communities, build community resilience, and champion inclusion. Area Boards are invited to include updates on the network's development and promote local engagements.
• Wiltshire Highways Contracts Annual Review of Service 2025-26: This report detailed the highway schemes completed in 2025/26, including road resurfacing, surface dressing, pothole repairs, and bridge inspections. Major bridge works were undertaken at several locations, and drainage and flooding works were carried out across the county. Traffic signal and pedestrian crossing refurbishments were completed, and various Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) projects were detailed.
• Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum: This statutory advisory body advises councils on public rights of way and countryside access. Its remit includes balancing access with landowner interests and conservation, and promoting responsible enjoyment of the countryside.
• Gates on Public Rights of Way: Guidance was provided for LHFIGs when assessing applications for funding for gates on public rights of way, outlining council policy, British Standard specifications, types of gates, maintenance responsibilities, and indicative costs.
• Wiltshire Police Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Area Board Report – September 2026: This report detailed Wiltshire Police's operational priorities, including tackling knife crime, preventing youth offending, and reducing domestic abuse, rape, serious sexual offences, stalking, and harassment. The report highlighted the Ending VAWG Coalition Wiltshire, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDs), and the ongoing work of Project Vigilant.
• Area Board Local Actions: Updates were provided on the Southern Wiltshire Area Board's priority themes: rural youth outreach and engagement, health and wellbeing for older people and vulnerable adults, and support for the environment. Progress included a youth project in several parishes, youth volunteering events, a Digital Inclusion Event for older people, and plans for an Environment Showcase Event.

Known Major Maintenance Sites - Southern Wiltshire 2026/2027

This report detailed planned major maintenance works for the upcoming year, including resurfacing, surface dressing, and micro asphalt works across various locations in Southern Wiltshire. Bobcat works, both recently completed and scheduled for November/December 2026, were also listed.

The meeting concluded at approximately 9:00 pm.