By INSIDER
Area Board , January 21, 6 pm In our kitchens.
Cllr Hoque’s in the chair tonight and, as usual, he has a long list. Are we really going to get through it by 8 o’clock? We don’t usually.
We have an item on the CCG – Clinical Commissioning Group – and Inspector Pete Sparrow’s here to tell us about funding. Now that Covid 19’s a major factor in everyone’s lives, we have a new set of rules to follow to keep ourselves and others safe and they’ve had to recruit more officers to deal with it. Which means more money, of course.
But apart from hare coursing, it seems, crime in general has shown a bit of a downturn, but that’s not going to last, is it? And they’ve certainly seen a rise in cyber crime involving fraud and abuse of vulnerable individuals, particularly children.
So a £15 increase in the precept wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it? They’re still the lowest-funded in the south west. The consultation that opened on January 5 (and closes on February 5, unfortunately), ‘Have Your Say,’ can be found at www.wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk. If you fill in their survey, you’re rewarded with a lovely biscuit (but only on screen, unfortunately).
Partner and Community Updates? Well, they’ve issued a series of newsletters giving local information, which have been well received. They’re busy collecting stories about the Covid business, and the statues they’re planning to erect all round the city are bound to cheer us up, aren’t they?
Cllr Walsh thinks it’s important that older people in particular should be able to communicate with each other at this difficult time. He supports the Silver Salisbury programme, in which volunteers take tea to old people living on their own (keeping their distance, of course) and they’re making a film about it.
Then there’s Helen Dowse, the Carers’ Champion, who organised gifts for some of the many neighbours and relatives who helped look after vulnerable folk during the Covid crisis; and Marc Read, Salisbury’s Community Engagement Manager, helping to promote Art Care UK, Citizens’ Advice, Youth Action, CF Splash, BH Bike Hub, and the Bridge Project, among others.
Salisbury Trails? It’s for exploring the city’s heritage and history. Six themed trails were decided on. After all, the city has a lot to offer, and not just the cathedral. Ruth Butler, Heritage Education Officer based at the History Centre, is in charge. They’ll be covering medieval meanderings, witchcraft and treason among other things, and they hope to add three more trails based on art and culture later on.
Other trails will follow including a visit to the Spitfire factory. Cllr Walsh thinks there are plenty of stories to discover about Salisbury (Pity Debenhams is closed now though. So we can’t tell our kids the gory story of the 2nd Duke of Buckingham having his head chopped off there in 1483, with quite its usual effect.)
More good news – this time from Victoria Molony, Head of South Wilts Economic Recovery – Salisbury’s been given nearly £10k as part of the government’s High Streets Fund. Well, it doesn’t sound much but better than nothing. And repainting the Fisherton Street railway bridge in spectacularly bright colours? And making the station forecourt rather more attractive than at present? A bit disappointing they didn’t get the full amount they asked for.
Other applications include ArtCare at Salisbury District Hospital. They’d like to see patients given the opportunity to do practical art work, including pottery, and to be able to watch themselves on screen. And the Bridge Youth Project – it’s for school students struggling with Covid among other things who would benefit from having their own laptops. Then there’s something the Area Board itself would like, £12K. It’s for replacing street name plates. Cllr Corbin (Tom) wants to make a special appeal for Cedar Close. The wood’s just rotted away and he thinks it should be moved to the top of the list.
Okay. It’s a bit past eight o’clock and we’ve come to the end of the meeting.
The next one’s on Thursday, March 4 at 6pm.
INSIDER