The South West Wiltshire Area Board met to discuss community grants, local policing, and highway improvements. The board approved funding for a bend warning sign in Sedgehill and considered grant applications from several local organisations. Councillors also heard updates from Wiltshire Police and discussed local priorities.

Community Grant Funding

The Area Board considered several applications for community grants and made the following decisions:

• Broken Bridges Nature Reserve CIO: The board considered a request for £5,000 towards restoring biodiversity to Broken Bridges Nature Reserve.
• Messums Studios: A request for £5,000 for pottery kilns and learning was considered for Messums Studios.
• Mere Chamber of Trade: A grant of £2,225 was requested for solar panels for the Mere public toilets.
• Age UK Wiltshire: The board considered a request for £2,000 towards Celebrating Age Wiltshire, a creative health and wellbeing project.
• Messums Studios: A request for £1,870 for free drawing and painting classes for young people was considered.
• Fugglestone St Peter Trust: The board considered a request for £5,000 towards an intergenerational heritage arts project at Fugglestone St Peter Trust.

Local Highways and Footpaths Improvements

The Area Board approved a recommendation from the Local Highways and Footpaths Improvements Group (LHFIG) to allocate £937.50 for a bend warning sign and SLOW marking in Sedgehill and Semley.

Wiltshire Police Update

The Area Board received updates from Wiltshire Police, including the Warminster, Salisbury, and Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs), as well as a road safety update.

The Warminster NPT report noted that burglaries and theft from shops were top crimes in July and August. The report also detailed NPT priorities:

• Retail crime
• Youth anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime
• Rural crime
• Speeding and road safety

The Salisbury NPT update noted high visibility patrols were being conducted to address theft from motor vehicles and outbuildings. Officers were also proactively patrolling hotspot areas as part of the ASB funded additional patrols within the city and surrounding areas. Business crime remains a focus for the Neighbourhood team, and the NPT Inspector is involved in meetings with Wiltshire's Business Crime Reduction Partnership, Salisbury BID and local partners to tackle this issue.

The Amesbury NPT reported that local officers have been paying particular attention to farmland likely to be targeted for hare coursing while on patrols.

The Road Safety update noted that the Community Road Safety Team is supporting the delivery of the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership (WSRSP) Strategy 2023 – 2030 and the national campaigns run throughout the year alongside local Road Safety Partnership campaigns.

Shared Lives Scheme

Amy Smith, the Service Manager for the Shared Life Scheme, gave a video presentation to inform members and attendees about the Shared Lives service, what it is, and who it is for. The Shared Lives service enables people to live as part of a family within a carer's home where they receive the practical and emotional support they need. Shared Lives carers support people while living in their home, long term, for short periods of time, or to provide respite. They can also provide home from hospital placements. Shared Days carers support someone for a few hours during the day. The service is for adults with learning difficulties, mental or physical health needs, or who are elderly and require support and care to live as independently as possible within our community. Carers receive a generous weekly fee depending on the level of support they provide. Shared Days carers are paid for the amount of time they support someone. These are either in slots of 2 hours, 4 hours or 6 hours per day. Carers are self-employed and eligible for tax breaks and they can claim mileage.

Demand Responsive Transport (DRT)

Paul Sanders, DRT Manager, provided an update on the Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Service, which will be expanding into the South West Wiltshire area in September.

Flood Planning

Renate Malton, Flood Resilience Officer, gave a presentation regarding flood planning.

Community Support Service

The board received an update on the Community Support Service for South West Wiltshire, funded by the Household Support Fund 7 (HSF7).

Area Board Priorities and Action Plan

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager (SEPM), gave a presentation and the board determined the Area Board Priorities, Action Plan and lead Councillors for priorities. The priorities are:

• Advance community-led environmental initiatives that reduce pollution and increase ecological value.
• Develop inclusive dementia-friendly initiatives that foster independence and social connection.
• Strengthen digital literacy and access to reduce barriers in online services for older and vulnerable community members.
• Enable community-led youth initiatives that foster resilience, leadership, and positive life outcomes.
• Support communities in food crisis to develop self sufficient, sustainable food solutions that reduce dependency and improve wellbeing.

Other Information Items

The Area Board noted the following Information items:

• Community First update - September 2025
• Age UK - August 2025 Newsletter
• Briefing note - Wiltshire Money - August 2025
• Elections update - September 2025
• Reinvigoration of Wiltshire Carers Champions
• Wiltshire Citizens Advice and Wiltshire Council Engagement and Partnerships Team update