The Salisbury Area Board met to discuss a range of community issues, including local highway improvements, grant funding allocations, and updates from partner organisations. Councillors approved funding for several local initiatives and discussed ongoing projects aimed at improving the quality of life for residents in the Salisbury area.

Grant Funding

The board considered and approved several grant applications for community projects:

• Silver Salisbury Group: A grant of £1,000 was approved to support the compilation, design, printing, and distribution of the Silver Salisbury older people's activities and groups directory.
• Youth Grants: Following recommendations from the youth panel, the board approved:
  • £2,640 for the Kingdom Barbell Youth Development Programme's Holiday Weightlifting Programme.
  • £2,500 for Folio Theatre's creative mentoring programme for Young Adult Carers.
  • £2,500 for Wildlife and Wellbeing's Wild Bemerton Heath Nature and Wellbeing Events.
  • £3,500 for Wiltshire Creative's Young Ambassadors Culture Makers 2025 2026 programme.

The board noted that £1,000 had been awarded to Salisbury Transition City for People in the Park 2025, and £500 to Level Up Salisbury CIC for a Community Skate Jam, under delegated authority.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The board considered the report and funding recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting. Recommendations were made for the following schemes:

• £500 for waiting restrictions on Somerset Road.
• £4,000 for a dropped kerb on Friary Lane.
• £50 for a school warning sign on Highbury Avenue.
• £500 for waiting restrictions on Netherhampton Road.
• £500 for waiting restrictions on Shakespeare Road.
• £250 for waiting restrictions on Marlborough Road.

Councillor Brian Dalton, Lead Member for LHFIG, noted that the budget available to all LHFIG's for 2025/26 was currently half of the previous year's allocation, and the board agreed to seek further information on budget allocations.

Street Lighting

The board received an update on street lighting in Salisbury, including faults with existing street lights and LED updates. The report noted that all instances of non-working street lights should be raised via MyWilts.

Salisbury Charter

The board received a report on the Salisbury Charter, which lists five solutions for the city that emerged from a People's Assembly process organised by Salisbury Democracy Alliance and supported by Assemble:

1. Provide more good quality and low energy consuming homes.
2. Produce and implement a traffic plan for the city with youth advocacy.
3. Create a community hub for children, teens and families.
4. Create an environmental centre.
5. Establish a College for Performing Arts in Salisbury.

Environment Working Group Action Plan

The board received a summary of the Salisbury Environmental Working Group Action Plan. The group's efforts are to be refocused to maximise its impact in responding to the findings of air quality monitoring.

Community Area Update

The board received a summary of the strategic and local work being delivered by the Engagement and Partnership Team, and additional key resources for councillors, partners, and residents. Each councillor provided a brief overview of their division, and the key challenges and opportunities that they have identified that the Area Board can collectively support.

Appointments

The board appointed Councillor Ricky Rogers to the Five Rivers Strategic Management Group, Councillor Brian Dalton to the Salisbury Conservation Advisory Panel, Councillors Alan Bayliss and Chris Taylor to the Salisbury Cycling Liaison Panel, and Councillor John Wells to the Salisbury Trust for the Homeless.

Shared Lives Scheme

The board received a video presentation about the Shared Lives service, a scheme that enables vulnerable adults over the age of 16 to live as part of a family within a carer's home, where they receive the practical and emotional support they need. Amy Smith, Service Manager, Reablement, Therapy and community provider service, asked the Area Board to help raise awareness of the service and recruit more carers.

Partner and Community Updates

The board received verbal updates from representatives, including Asa Thorpe, Chief Executive Officer of Salisbury City Council (SCC). Written updates were also provided, including:

• Police Update
• Salisbury BID Update

Information Items

The board noted the following information items:

• Community First
• Update from BSW Together (Integrated Care System)
• Age UK Update
• Alzheimer's Support – Understanding Dementia
• Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal
• Wiltshire Council Information Items:
  • Wiltshire Community Air Network
  • Wiltshire Council and Voluntary and Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) Framework
  • SEND Fest Sponsorship