The Southern Wiltshire Area Board met to discuss local priorities, funding, and updates from community partners. The board approved funding for football ground improvements at Laverstock and Ford Sports Club and a three-phase power project for Winterbourne Glebe Hall. They also received updates on broadband connectivity, flood resilience, and local highway improvements.

Area Board Funding

The board considered several applications for community area grants, older and vulnerable people grants, and area board initiatives, noting the remaining budgets for each category.

• Laverstock and Ford Sports Club - The board approved a £5,000 community area grant for Laverstock and Ford Sports Club towards football ground improvements, which will benefit the community. The total project cost is £47,000.
• Winterbourne Glebe Hall - A grant of £3,611 was approved for Winterbourne Glebe Hall's three-phase power and cooker project, with a total project cost of £7,222.
• Silver Salisbury - The board noted the award of £500 under delegated funding for the Silver Salisbury 2025 Programme, which has a total project cost of £1,995.
• Sounds Better 2022 CIC - They also noted the delegated funding award of £500 to Sounds Better 2022 CIC for the Downton Downtime Still Dancing project, which has a total project cost of £500.
• Age UK Wiltshire - The board considered a grant of £2,000 for Age UK Wiltshire's Celebrating Age Wiltshire project, with a total project cost of £15,918.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) Update

The board reviewed the minutes from the LHFIG meeting held on 5 August 2025 and considered recommendations for funding various schemes. These recommendations included:

• Odstock Road, Odstock PC - A contribution towards a bus shelter.
• Newton Toney PC - Funding for ford gauge markers.
• Pitton & Farley PC and Firsdown PC - Funding for A30 signage and lining improvements.
• High Street, Downton PC - Funding for informal crossing point enhancements.
• Odstock Road, Britford PC - Funding for dropped kerbs.
• Gomeldon Road, Idmiston PC - Funding for a village sign.

Wessex Internet - Broadband Connectivity Work

Paul Cleary, Regional Community Manager at Wessex Internet, gave a presentation on upcoming broadband connectivity work across parts of the Southern Wiltshire Community Area.

Enhancing Flood Resilience in Southern Wiltshire

The board discussed challenges and progress on flood preparedness in Southern Wiltshire, hearing from flood wardens and parish representatives from Pitton & Farley, Alderbury, and Laverstock on local examples and mitigation efforts.

Partner and Community Updates

• Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) - Inspector Laura Elliott provided a verbal update. Written updates from the Police NPT and Road Safety Data were included in the public reports pack. The NPT update August 2025 included information on local priorities, updates on Operation Armania and unauthorised encampments, dedicated high vis foot patrols in the city centre, intelligence led patrols in rural areas, and Operation Jetsom.
• Community First - The board received a Community First update September 2025 including news from Youth Action Wiltshire, Outdoor Education, Carers Together Wiltshire, Community Organising, GOGA, WALC, Village Halls, CT/Link Schemes, Voice It, Hear It, Community Grants and Employability Programmes. The update also included information on Community Insurance and Minibus Driver Awareness Training (MiDAS). The Community First Update Appendix included an invitation to the Community First AGM on 8 October 2025.
• Wiltshire Money - The board received a Wiltshire Money August 2025 update, and Wiltshire Money requested the Area Boards help them connect with any relevant individuals, organisations or groups working in their areas.
• Elections Update - The board received a WC Info Elections Update September 2025 including information on postal vote renewal, the annual canvass of electors, and young electors.
• Wiltshire Carers Champions - The board received a WC Info Reinvigoration of Wiltshire Carers Champions - Sept 2025 update, outlining the proposal for the reinvigoration of the Wiltshire Carers Champions initiative.

Local Priorities

The board reviewed and agreed to support the actions identified in the Southern Area Board Action Plan. The priorities outlined in the plan included:

• Improving the school run route in Laverstock and deepening green travel initiatives.
• Helping older people and vulnerable adults connect digitally.
• Helping young people volunteer.
• Facilitating community led youth support and activities.
• Facilitating partnership working to strengthen support for older people and vulnerable adults.
• Helping move food poverty from relief to community resilience.

The action plan also included actions that are not community area based, such as reducing the prevalence of tobacco smoking, strengthening VCSE infrastructure support for diverse ethnic communities, and helping more people with complex or special needs to gain employment.