The Marlborough Area Board was scheduled to consider new funding opportunities for community projects, receive updates from local partners, and discuss road safety initiatives. The meeting was also scheduled to review grant applications and discuss the council's priorities for the area.

New Area Board Funding Opportunities

The Marlborough Area Board was scheduled to be briefed on several new funding opportunities designed to support community initiatives. These included the Community Wellbeing Fund, which aims to help local organisations develop projects that improve wellbeing and reduce isolation, delivered through the Crowdfunder platform. Each Area Board was scheduled to have been allocated up to £11,000 for this fund, with applications scheduled to open in October 2026.

Another significant funding stream was the Community Resilience Hubs and Supporting People to Build Financial Resilience Programme, which was scheduled to have allocated £1.5 million from the Department for Work and Pensions' Crisis and Resilience Fund until March 2029. This programme was scheduled to aim to help residents maximise household income, access welfare and debt advice, and improve financial skills. Each Area Board was scheduled to have approximately £75,000 to invest in local solutions, with funding applications scheduled to be encouraged between £10,000 and £75,000.

The Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects Fund (LIIPs) was also scheduled for discussion. This fund, which was approved by Wiltshire Council's Cabinet, was scheduled to have an annual allocation of up to £250,000 from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (Strategic CIL) to support capital infrastructure projects that accommodate growth and address development impacts. Bids were scheduled to be expected to be around £50,000 to £75,000, with matching funding from town and parish councils.

Finally, the Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Organisation of the Month award was scheduled to be introduced. This initiative, funded by the Wiltshire Community Lottery, was scheduled to aim to recognise and reward voluntary sector organisations with a £100 award and a certificate each month, starting in January 2027. Nominations were scheduled to open in November 2026.

Partner Updates and Information Items

The meeting was scheduled to receive updates from various partners. These included verbal updates from Wiltshire Police, represented by Inspector Andy Lemon, and from Town and Parish Councils. Written updates were also scheduled to be noted from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Wiltshire Police's Rural Crime and Violence Against Women and Girls initiatives, the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership, Marlborough Community Support Forum, Wessex Community Action, Alcoholics Anonymous, and on Highway Winter Resilience and Community Emergency Preparedness.

A briefing from Community First was also scheduled, detailing their work with young people through Youth Action Wiltshire, including the Young Carers team and the Splash team, as well as their Alternative Provision for young people aged 7-16 through the Oxenwood and Linkenholt Centres. Updates on the Building Bridges Programme and Carers Together Wiltshire were also scheduled to be provided. Community First's driver training initiatives, including Minibus Driver Awareness (MiDAS) and the Car and Multi-Purpose Vehicle Assessment Scheme (CaMPAS), were also scheduled to be highlighted, alongside information on Community Insurance and the Rural Housing Enabler service.

An update was scheduled from Jill Turner on behalf of the Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group, focusing on their work with older and vulnerable people. This included plans for a future networking event and the upcoming Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Open Day on 3rd October 2026, which was scheduled to be held at Marlborough Town Hall and was scheduled to include services for young people.

Road Safety Update and Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG)

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on road safety and to ratify funding recommendations from the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG). Several specific schemes were listed for consideration, including:

• Marlborough Frees Avenue: A request was scheduled for the removal of the 50mph speed limit and the installation of signs and entrance gates on the approach to Rockley, as well as at the new 40mph entrance to Marlborough near the cemetery, with an estimated cost of £6,000.
• Marlborough, Orchard Road: A proposal was scheduled to change 'Residents Parking' to 'No waiting at any time', with an estimated cost for advert and implementation of £4,500.
• Avebury Trusloe: A request was scheduled for speed limit advertisement and implementation, with an estimated cost of £6,000.
• Marlborough, Ducks Meadow: A proposal was scheduled for the removal of 'No waiting at any time' restrictions, with an estimated cost of £3,500.
• Marlborough, Poulton Hill: A request was scheduled for traffic signs and road markings, with an estimated cost of £4,000.

Further information about the LHFIG process was scheduled to be made available.

Grant Applications

The Area Board was scheduled to consider applications for funding. The remaining budgets for Community Area Grants (£7,289), Older and Vulnerable People Grants (£4,083.50), and Youth Grants (£11,644.09) were scheduled to be noted.

One specific application for the Older and Vulnerable Adult Grant was listed:

• Wiltshire and Swindon Sport - Love to Move Parkinsons in Marlborough: Requesting £936 towards their programme, which was scheduled to use movement patterns to engage the body and brain for individuals living with Parkinson's disease.

The Area Board was also scheduled to note funding awards made under the Delegated Funding Process, including £2,500 to Kennet Vale Table Tennis Club for a tennis table development league and £500 to Sing a Long and Social for their activities.

Marlborough Area Board Priorities

An update was scheduled to be received on the Area Board's priorities, with feedback invited from attendees. The report was scheduled to outline the Wiltshire Plan's priorities, including supporting people throughout their lives, ensuring safe and resilient communities, delivering opportunities for young people, enhancing the environment, promoting healthier lives, supporting the economy, improving roads and transport, building homes and infrastructure, and fostering culture. The Engagement and Partnership Team's work was noted to be scheduled to focus on cost-of-living support, the local youth offer, older and vulnerable adults, and the local environment.

Older and Vulnerable People Update

An update was scheduled to be received from Jill Turner on behalf of the Marlborough Health and Wellbeing Group, focusing on their work supporting older and vulnerable people in the community.

Community Spotlight

An opportunity was scheduled to highlight something positive in the community or provide feedback from a previous grant award.

Partner Updates - Specific Organisations

Several specific partner updates were included in the agenda papers. Alcoholics Anonymous was scheduled to provide information on their services across Wiltshire and Bath, with a particular focus on resources for young people. An update on Wiltshire Highways Contracts for the 2025-26 year was scheduled to be presented, detailing completed schemes across the county, including bridge works, drainage and flooding projects, and traffic signal refurbishments. This report was also scheduled to detail numerous Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG) schemes across various areas, including Marlborough.

A briefing note on the Development of the Faith Communities Network was scheduled, outlining its growth, the establishment of a multi-faith steering group, and a draft 3-year action plan with strategic goals including developing a strategic partnership with Wiltshire Council, potentially through a Faith Covenant.

An update on the Wiltshire Money: Community Financial Resilience & Practitioner Support Programme was also scheduled to be provided, highlighting CRF-funded training opportunities for organisations supporting residents experiencing financial difficulty. Area Boards were scheduled to be asked to help promote these opportunities.

Information on Wiltshire Working Well, a programme offering fully funded mental health training and counselling sessions for people in work, was also scheduled to be shared.

Urgent Items

The agenda noted that any other items of business which the Chairman agreed to consider as a matter of urgency could be raised.

Close and Future Meeting Dates

The meeting was scheduled to close at 9:00 pm, with the next meeting date scheduled for Tuesday 9 February 2027 at Marlborough Town Hall.