The Corsham Area Board meeting scheduled for Thursday 21 May 2026 was to cover a range of community and operational matters. Key discussions were anticipated around grant funding applications for local organisations, updates from key partners including Wiltshire Police and community groups, and a significant focus on support for unpaid carers. The meeting also included agenda items related to local highways and footpath improvements.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The meeting was scheduled to begin with the election of a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the upcoming municipal year, following the procedures outlined in Part 4 of the council's constitution.

Information Items

A series of information items were scheduled for noting by the Board. These included a video shared from Rights of Way, an update from Corsham Health Centre, a report from Community First, a quarterly update from Wiltshire Police on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), a briefing note on the Connect to Work Programme and Skills Bootcamps, a briefing note on the Wiltshire Faith Communities Network, the launch of the Wiltshire Community Lottery, and information on Wiltshire Money events and training opportunities. The Wiltshire Council Consultation Portal was also highlighted.

Area Board Grant Funding Requests

The Board was due to consider applications for funding from various streams, with the following opening balances for 2026-27: £16,731 for Community Area Grants, £7,500 for Older and Vulnerable People Grants, and £14,169 for Youth Grants.

Community Area Grants:

• Corsham Bowls Club was to be considered for a request of £5,000 towards the purchase of a new lawn mower.
• Jaggards Explorer Scout Unit was to be considered for a request of £500 for the purchase of scout tents.
• Corsham Hockey Club was to be considered for an application of £5,000 towards the purchase of pitch-side shelters.
• Box Jubilee Youth Centre was to be considered for a request of £4,800 for a new boiler and heating system.
• Corsham Windband Association was to be considered for an application of £2,570 for a music development project in primary schools.
• Wiltshire Scrapstore and Resource Centre was to be considered for a request of £872.22 for social enterprise equipment.

Older Vulnerable People Grants:

• No applications were received for this grant stream.

Youth Grants:

• Green Room Youth Club was to be considered for a request of £1,750 to support a safe leisure space for positive activities for young people.

'Community Spotlight' - Pound Arts Food Resilience Family Day

An update was scheduled from Ruth Hill, Director of Pound Arts, regarding the Food Resilience Family Day held in February 2026. This event aimed to provide a creative and supportive environment for families, incorporating arts workshops, a performance, and a nutritious meal, with the intention of signposting families to relevant services.

Key Partner and Community Updates

The Board was set to receive both verbal and written updates from key partners. Verbal updates were expected from Adam Walton of Corsham Climate Action, Sgt Mike Tripp of Wiltshire Police, and nominated representatives from Town and Parish Councils. Written updates were to be noted from Wessex Community Action, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Corsham Town Council, Colerne Parish Council, and Box Parish Council.

Area Board Priority and Action Plan Updates

The meeting was to include an update on the Area Board's priorities and actions, as detailed in the Local Action Plan. The minutes of the Local Youth Network meeting held on 6 March 2026 were also to be considered. The leads for the priority areas were identified as Cllr Phil Chamberlain (Environment), Cllr Peter Wragg (Youth), Cllr Helen Belcher OBE (Business), and Cllr Ruth Hopkinson (Food insecurity).

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The Board was to note the minutes and consider any recommendations from the LHFIG meeting held on 6 May 2026. Specific recommendations included:

• Consideration of funding for Corsham ATG dropped kerbs, requiring an additional £2,545 from LHFIG and £1,752 from Corsham Town Council (CTC).
• Consideration of funding for Corsham Middlewick Lane buildout for 2026/27, with £1,000 from LHFIG and CTC contribution to be confirmed.
• Consideration of funding for Corsham Westwells SID, with £1,000 from LHFIG and CTC contribution to be confirmed.

Carers Together Wiltshire - Support for Unpaid Carers

Kirsten Kerr, Operations Manager at Age UK Wiltshire, was scheduled to present information on the support offered by Carers Together Wiltshire to unpaid carers. The Board was asked to consider its role in supporting this work within the Corsham area, with discussion themes including enabling funding and support, connecting partners, amplifying carers' voices, and influencing policy. A recommendation was proposed to consider establishing an Area Board Priority focused on improving support for unpaid carers in Corsham and surrounding villages, and to agree on 2-3 actions.

Future Meeting Dates

Information was provided regarding the dates of future Corsham Area Board meetings, scheduled for Thursday 8 October 2026 and Thursday 11 February 2027.