The Southern Wiltshire Area Board met to discuss a range of issues including funding requests, updates from partner organisations, and highway improvements. The board was scheduled to consider grant applications for community projects and hear updates on local priorities, police activities, and the Family and Community Learning programme. Additionally, they were set to discuss ongoing and potential highway improvements in the area.

Area Board Funding

The Southern Wiltshire Area Board was scheduled to discuss several funding requests. The remaining budgets for Community Area Grants, Youth Grants, and Older and Vulnerable People Grants were to be noted.

Two community area grants were up for consideration:

• A request from the Buzz Action Foundation CIC for £3,000 towards a replacement minibus, at a total project cost of £19,000.
• A request for £1,000 from the Southern Wiltshire Area Board initiative budget for a digital inclusion project for older people and vulnerable adults.

The board was also scheduled to discuss an application from Age UK Wiltshire for £2,000 towards the Celebrating Age Wiltshire project, with a total project cost of £15,918.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The meeting included a review of the minutes from the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) meeting held on 28 October 2025, as detailed in the document LHFIG - Meeting Notes - October 2025. Councillors were to consider recommendations arising from that meeting.

Some of the recommendations included:

• Britford Parish Council - contribution towards dropped kerbs on the shared path near Salisbury District Hospital.
• Laverstock & Ford Parish Council - amendments to the informal crossing point on the Portway.
• Idmiston Parish Council - damaged verge on Byford Gardens.
• Idmiston Parish Council - dropped kerbs at the junction of The Limes and Idmiston Road.
• Laverstock & Ford Parish Council - request for crossing point on London Road, Salisbury.
• Downton Parish Council - warning signage.
• Odstock Parish Council - bollards at Jubilee Gardens.
• Redlynch Parish Council - white bar marking.

The board was also scheduled to receive a Highways Report to Southern Wiltshire Area Board.

Police Update

An update from Wiltshire Police was scheduled, including a road safety update and a quarterly report on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Chief Constable Catherine Roper was scheduled to join the meeting online to present a force update.

The Road Safety Update included information on:

• Drink and drug driving, and the dangers and penalties involved.
• The work of the Community Road Safety Team.
• Traffic survey results from January 2024 to February 2025.
• The work of Community Speed Enforcement Officers (CSEOs).
• Young driver and passenger education.
• Car seat clinics.

The Violence Against Women and Girls Quarterly Report Autumn 2025 included information on:

• The Ending VAWG Coalition Wiltshire (E-VAWG).
• Stalking work, including training and awareness initiatives.
• Project Vigilant, a proactive police operation to tackle sexual offending.
• Swindon Safe Spaces, a scheme where businesses sign up to be designated safe spaces.
• Multi-Agency Tasking and Co-ordination (MATAC) meetings.

Partner and Community Updates

The meeting was scheduled to include several updates from partner organisations:

• Age UK - The board was asked to note the Age UK - October 2025 Newsletter, which included information on daytime discos, wellbeing checks with meals, arts and friendship clubs, community support services, Tai Chi, surviving winter grants, coach trips, carers together Wiltshire's trip to the seaside, the big knit, and trustee recruitment.
• Community First - The board was asked to note the Community First Update and Appendix to Community First Update, which included information on the Community First AGM, programme updates, community organising, GOGA, WALC, village halls, CT/Link schemes, Voice It, Hear It, community grants, employability programmes, community insurance, and minibus driver awareness training.
• BSW Together (Integrated Care Board) - The board was asked to note the ICB Update, which included information on the future of integrated care boards in England, the chair announced for the new integrated care board cluster, the ICB Chief Executive Officer's departure, further opportunities to find out more about the new Trowbridge Integrated Care Centre, and a call for pregnant women and young children to get vaccinated against flu.
• Citizens Advice - The board was asked to note the Citizens Advice EP Briefing Note, which included information on how Wiltshire Citizens Advice and the Wiltshire Council Engagement and Partnerships team are working together to ensure that local advice and support services are accessible to those who need it most across Wiltshire.
• Wiltshire Council - Family & Community Learning Impact Report - The board was asked to note the Family and Community Learning Impact - Cover Note and the Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2024-2025, which highlights the transformative power of adult learning across Wiltshire.
• Beyond Dementia - The board was asked to note the partner update from Beyond Dementia, which included information on the charity's new name and look.
• Health & Wellbeing Briefing Note - The board was asked to note the Wiltshire Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing Survey 2026.
• Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal - The board was asked to note the Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal.

Rights of Way Maintenance

Chris Clark, Head of Local Highways, was scheduled to provide information on Rights of Way, followed by examples of local experiences from Landford, Downton and Alderbury Parish Councils, and an opportunity for questions.

Local Priorities Update

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager, was scheduled to provide an update on the Area Board Priorities.

Parish Collaboration Youth Project Update

The meeting was scheduled to include information from SMASH Youth Charity and some of the young people involved in the Parish Collaboration Youth Project.