The Devizes Area Board met to discuss community grants, updates from partner organisations such as Wiltshire Police and Age UK Wiltshire, and to review the area board's priorities. Councillors were also scheduled to hear a presentation on winter highway preparedness and to discuss the upcoming Wiltshire Youth Council elections.

Community Governance Review

The Electoral Review Committee agreed to undertake a Community Governance Review (CGR) in certain areas, beginning on 19 November 2025. A briefing note on the Devizes Community Governance Review 2025-26 explained that the review would look at the parishes within the Devizes, Marlborough, and Royal Wootton Bassett & Cricklade Area Boards.

The parameters of the review include:

• Internal and external boundaries of the listed parishes, or any parishes bordering those listed, including associated warding.
• Any other electoral arrangements, such as councillor numbers.
• Any other arrangements including grouping, merging, abolishing, or creating parishes.

The statutory criteria for the review are that it must:

• Reflect the identity and interests of local communities.
• Ensure effective and convenient local governance.

The indicative timetable included receiving further schemes falling within the scope of the review between 19 November and 31 December 2025, with draft recommendations prepared in February and March 2026, and final recommendations considered by Full Council in July 2026.

Area Board Funding

The Devizes Area Board was scheduled to consider several grant applications. The Devizes Area Board Grants report detailed the following applications:

• Yoga In Healthcare Alliance CO Konika Shankar requested £2,356.55 towards a Yoga 4 Health social prescribing protocol to support vulnerable and elderly people in the community. The Yoga4Health programme is a 10-week programme in collaboration with The MindTree Café in Rowde. It is aimed at individuals who would benefit from support in developing healthier habits, and is suitable for a range of ages and health needs.
• Councillor Taylor Wright, Portfolio Holder for Highways, requested £500 for the Devizes Christmas Carol Service 2025, which was to be held at the Wyvern Club.
• Age UK Wiltshire requested £2,000 towards Age UK Wiltshire Arts and Friendship Clubs. The funding would sustain three re-established Arts & Friendship Clubs, which run fortnightly in Pewsey, Marlborough, and Devizes, and would pay for artists to work with members on creative projects.
• Wiltshire Football Association requested £4,507.50 towards their Roots and Shoots project. The Roots and Shoots project is a crime prevention and safeguarding programme targeting young people who may participate in anti-social behaviour, are on the periphery of the criminal justice system, or are at significant risk of becoming involved.

Highways - Winter Preparedness

Simon Rowe, Operations Resilience Manager, and Adrian Hampton, Head of Highways Operations, were scheduled to give a presentation on how highways prepare for winter.

Area Board Priorities and Action Plan Updates

The Area Board was scheduled to receive updates on the Area Board priorities and action plan. The priorities and actions included:

• To improve the emotional resilience and wellbeing in Devizes community area young people, with the action to set up sessions for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Councillor Maria Hoult was the lead councillor.
• To enable the youth space to be a vibrant hub for young people, with the action to provide art workshops. Councillor Maria Hoult was the lead councillor.
• To increase active travel within the Devizes community area. The action was to be confirmed (TBC), and Councillor Tamara Reay was the lead councillor.
• Joint working with Parish Council work to be increased, with the action to undertake 1 to 1 meetings with all parish councils to understand the opportunities and challenges for increased joint working. Councillor Philip Whitehead was the lead councillor.
• More people facing food poverty, from relief to community resilience, with the action to work with food providers and other partners to map provision and identify where more support should be given. Councillor Dominic Muns and Councillor Ben Reed were the lead councillors.
• More people with complex or special needs are assisted to gain employment, with the action to work with the Wiltshire Council Adult Social Services to identify opportunities for possible employment, voluntary work, work experience or training. Councillor Laura Mayes, Chairman of the Council, was the lead councillor.

Local Highways and Footpaths Improvements Group (LHFIG)

The agenda stated that there had not been a LHFIG meeting since the last Area Board meeting, so there were no funding recommendations to approve. The next Devizes LHFIG meeting was scheduled for 4 December.

Air Quality and Sustainable Transport (AQST)

The Area Board was scheduled to receive any updates and consider any recommendations from the Devizes Air Quality and Sustainable Transport (AQST) Group.

Information Items and Partner Updates

The Area Board was asked to note several information items, including updates from Age UK, Beyond Dementia, and Wiltshire Council. Verbal updates were expected from Inspector Simon Garrett of the Devizes Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), and from town and parish councils.

Age UK Wiltshire

The Age UK Wiltshire Newsletter - News and Views included information on:

• Daytime discos in Calne and Melksham.
• The Wellbeing Checks with Meals service.
• Arts & Friendship Clubs in Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey.
• Community Support Services coming soon to new areas in Wiltshire.
• Tai Chi at Padwell Road Day Centre in Southampton.
• The Surviving Winter Grant.
• New coach trip destinations.
• Carers Together Wiltshire's trip to the seaside.
• The Big Knit.
• A search for new trustees.

Beyond Dementia

Beyond Dementia - new name for Alzheimers Support - Nov 2025 announced that Wiltshire charity Alzheimer's Support was marking its 35th anniversary with a new name and new look, becoming Beyond Dementia.

Family and Community Learning

The Family and Community Learning Impact Report 2024-2025 highlighted the transformative power of adult learning across Wiltshire. The report showcased how inclusive, community-centred education delivered in partnership with local organisations has empowered hundreds of residents to build confidence, develop essential skills, and take positive steps in their lives.

The report stated that Family and Community Learning is part of Wiltshire Council's Targeted Education Service and is funded through the Department for Education's Adult Skills Fund under a Tailored Learning contract. In 2024–2025, it supported 635 individual learners across a range of online and face-to-face courses throughout Wiltshire.

The Family and Community Learning Impact - Cover Note stated that the Area Boards were invited to explore the report and consider how they can support and strengthen this work in their communities.

Wiltshire Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing Survey 2026

The Children and Young People Health and Wellbeing Survey 2026 - briefing note stated that Wiltshire Council was preparing to launch its next School-aged Children and Young People (CYP) Health and Wellbeing Survey, scheduled to run from 5 January to 6 February 2026. The survey would be open to all educational settings in Wiltshire, including primary and secondary schools, special schools, further education colleges, independent schools, and alternative provision settings.

Wiltshire Youth Council Elections

The Youth Council Elections 2026 Briefing Note to Elected Members stated that the Wiltshire Youth Council Elections were scheduled for 2-6 February 2026, and targeted schools educating 11–17-year-olds. Councillors were asked to contact their local secondary school and request participation, and direct schools to contact voice@wiltshire.gov.uk for more information or support.

Wiltshire Police

The Police - Devizes NPT update - Dec 2025 stated that crime figures remained relatively stable, with a slight reduction overall seen. The team's detection rates were 32.5%. Local priorities included burglary offences, street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the Market Place, and shoplifting.

The Police - Road Safety UpdateDevizes01122025 included information on drink and drug driving, and traffic surveys in the Devizes area. It stated that the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) issued over 949 tickets to motorists between July and the end of September.