The Calne Area Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 03 November 2026 to discuss a range of community funding applications, local highway improvements, and partner updates. The meeting will also cover updates on the local area action plan and new funding opportunities for community initiatives.

Funding Applications for Community Projects

The Area Board is set to consider several applications for funding. These include a request from North Wiltshire DAB CIC for £3,000 towards a digital radio project for Calne and North Wiltshire, aiming to enable community groups to broadcast content. Friends of The Ivy Limited has applied for £4,530 towards the refurbishment of The Ivy Inn, which is being reopened as a community hub and pub. For young people's initiatives, Calne Town Council is seeking £760 for the Calne Skate Series 2026. Additionally, Age UK – Celebrating Age Wiltshire has requested £2,000 for their Celebrating Age Wiltshire project, which provides creative arts and music events for older and vulnerable adults. The board will also note funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, including £305 for the Calne Connection Festival.

Local Highway and Footway Improvements

The meeting will review notes and recommendations from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 16 October 2026. A key recommendation is to close the issue regarding Derry Hill Petty Lane Give Way Markings. Further details on the LHFIG process are available.

Partner Updates

The board is scheduled to receive updates from various partners. Verbal updates are expected from Wiltshire Police Inspector Simon Garrett, Calne Older Person's Champion Diane Gooch, and representatives from Town and Parish Councils. Written updates will be provided by the Wiltshire Police Neighbourhood Team, Wiltshire Police Violence Against Women and Girls initiative, the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership, Community First, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, Wessex Community Action, Wiltshire Money, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Faith Communities Network, and Derry Hill & Studley Parish Council.

Chairman's Updates and Information Items

The Chairman's updates will include information from the Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal, Wiltshire Police crime figures for Calne Town and Calne Rural, and various Wiltshire Council Information Items. These include updates on A4 traffic lights on The Strand, winter resilience and emergency preparedness, the Wiltshire Council highway contracts annual review for 2025/26, and Wiltshire Working Well courses on work and positive mental health.

Local Area Action Plan

Updates will be provided by lead councillors on the Area Board's priorities, which are linked to the Council Plan. These include Community and Highway Safety (Cllr Ashley O'Neill), Air Quality and Biodiversity (Cllr Mike Sankey), High Street Regeneration (Cllr Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls), Supporting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People (Cllr Sam Pearce-Kearney), and Addressing Health Access and Inequalities (Cllr Ian Thorn). Supporting documents include the Priority and Action Plan, and notes from the Calne Local Voices and Dementia Group, Calne Health and Social Care Forum, and Calne Local Youth Network.

Area Board Funding Opportunities

Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, Ros Griffiths, will provide an update on new funding opportunities and initiatives linked to Area Boards. These include the Wiltshire Community Lottery, the Wellbeing Fund via Crowdfunder, Community Resilience Hubs, funding bids for Levy Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects via town/parish councils, and the Wiltshire Voluntary Organisation of the Month Award. Further details are available in Agenda Supplement 1.

Urgent Items

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency will be discussed.

Close and Future Dates

Future meeting dates for the Area Board have been scheduled for Tuesday 9 March 2027, Tuesday 15 June 2027, Tuesday 23 November 2027, and Tuesday 22 February 2028. Information on applying for grants and deadlines can be obtained from Ros Griffiths or Alexa Davies.