The Southern Wiltshire Area Board is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 27 October 2026, with a meeting pack outlining several key areas for discussion. These include tackling local antisocial behaviour, exploring new funding opportunities, and reviewing progress on the Area Board's priorities.

Tackling Local Antisocial Behaviour

A presentation is scheduled from Dean Tilling, the Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction Manager, focusing on strategies for addressing local antisocial behaviour. This session will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.

New Funding Opportunities

Karen Linaker, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager, will provide an update on various new funding opportunities and initiatives available to Area Boards. These include the Wiltshire Community Lottery, Social Value, the Wiltshire Voluntary Organisation of the Month Award, the Wellbeing Fund via Crowdfunder, Locally Identified Infrastructure Projects, and Community Resilience Hubs. Full details are available in a supplementary pack.

Area Board Priorities Updates

Lead Councillors, Officers, and Young People will present updates on the Area Board's key priorities. These are focused on rural youth outreach and engagement, health and wellbeing for older people and vulnerable adults, and support for the environment.

Area Board Funding

The Board will review remaining budgets and consider applications for funding. The current available budgets are £16,908.48 for Community Area Grants, £14,364.00 for Young People, and £7,500.00 for Older and Vulnerable Adults.

Several grant applications are scheduled for consideration:

• Bourne Valley Scout Group has requested £5,000 towards funding for a new store on the Idmiston Memorial Hall site.
• Old Sarum Community Centre is seeking £750 as top-up funding to enable the purchase of a freezer for their Food Pantry.
• Alderbury Explorer Scout Unit has applied for £500 for equipment for their expanded explorer unit.
• Laverstock & Ford Parish Council is requesting £4,964 for a Youth Collaboration Project.
• Downton Bowling Club has applied for £500 towards their Building a Sustainable Future for the Club project.
• Age UK Wiltshire is seeking £2,000 for their Celebrating Age Wiltshire initiative.

Local Highways Update

Councillor Rich Rogers, the lead member for this area, will provide an update on local highways matters.

Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) Update

The Board is scheduled to note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the last LHFIG meeting held on 1 September 2026. The report outlines several recommendations for funding, including:

• £600.00 for Coombe Bissett Parish Council for a NAL socket and post for SID installation.
• £750.00 for Downton Parish Council for No Through Road signage.
• £1,463.00 for West Dean Parish Council for a signage and lining review.
• £3,247.50 for Alderbury Parish Council for parking restrictions.
• £10,782.00 for Redlynch Parish Council for a Pedestrian Review.
• £2,262.50 for Winterslow Parish Council for a signage and lining review.

The report also includes a Known Major Maintenance Sites Report for Southern Wiltshire 2026/2027, a briefing note on the Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum, and guidance on gates on public rights of way.

Information Items

A range of written information updates are available for noting, including a briefing note on the Community Governance Review 2026/27 and the Southern Wiltshire Area Information Sheet. Updates are also provided from Community First, Wessex Community Action, Wiltshire Working Well, Wiltshire Money, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Development of Faith Communities Network, the Wiltshire Highways Contracts Annual Review of Service, and Winter Resilience & Community Emergency Preparedness.

Key Partner Updates

Verbal updates are expected from representatives, including Sergeant Matt Boon from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, and from various Parish Councils. Written updates are also attached regarding Police NPT and Road Safety, Police VAWG quarterly updates, and Fire & Rescue.

Community Governance Review 2026/27

A briefing note details the commencement of a Community Governance Review across several Wiltshire Area Boards, including Southern Wiltshire. This review process aims to examine and potentially alter governance arrangements for town and parish councils to ensure they reflect local communities and operate efficiently. The review will consider changes to parish boundaries, electoral arrangements, and the creation or abolition of parishes. The process is scheduled to run from August 2026 through to May/July 2027, with final recommendations to be considered by Full Council. The briefing note includes detailed information on the parishes involved, review parameters, and an indicative timetable.

Wiltshire Highways Contracts Annual Review of Service 2025-26

A comprehensive review of Wiltshire Council's highway maintenance activities for the 2025-26 period is provided. This includes details of resurfaced roads, footways, surface dressing, pothole repairs, bridge inspections, and schemes promoted through Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIGs). Specific works undertaken on bridges, drainage systems, and traffic signal refurbishments are listed, along with extensive details of projects carried out under the LHFIG process across various local areas.

Wiltshire Working Well

Information is provided on the Wiltshire Working Well initiative, a partnership with Wiltshire Council and Help Counselling, offering fully funded mental health training sessions for employees, managers, and business owners. These sessions are designed to build confidence, support wellbeing, and create healthier workplaces.

Winter Resilience & Community Emergency Preparedness

An update outlines Wiltshire Council's approach to winter resilience and emergency preparedness. While the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme (PEAS) will conclude in March 2027, the council is investing in broader resilience measures, including continued support through LHFIGs, Area Boards, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, and the development of Community-based Emergency Contact Hubs. Investments are also being made in operational resilience, including a new highway salt depot and additional equipment, alongside increased funding for highway drainage infrastructure to mitigate flooding.

Neighbourhood Policing Team Update

An update from the Salisbury Neighbourhood Policing Team details local priorities and activities, including efforts to tackle business crime, rural burglaries, and antisocial behaviour related to e-bikes and scooters. Community Speed Watch support and vulnerable person checks are also highlighted.

Road Safety Update

Information is provided on road safety initiatives, including #FATAL5 education focusing on mobile phone use while driving, and details of the Community Road Safety Team's work. Speed enforcement data for Swindon and Wiltshire, with a specific focus on Southern Wiltshire, is also presented, alongside information on the Roads Policing Unit's activities. Operation Tramline, a joint initiative involving an elevated viewpoint to identify driving offences, is also mentioned.

Wiltshire Police Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Area Board Report

This report details Wiltshire Police's ongoing efforts to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. It covers operational priorities such as safer public spaces and reducing VAWG, with a focus on domestic abuse, rape and serious sexual offences, stalking, and harassment. The report highlights the work of the Ending VAWG Coalition Wiltshire, domestic abuse initiatives, progress on protective orders, and public campaigns. It also details efforts to address stalking and the evolution of Project Vigilant, an innovative approach to tackling VAWG. Future plans include the introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) and the launch of a dedicated Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Team.

Area Board Local Actions

Updates are provided on local actions linked to the Our Wiltshire Plan and the Area Board's agreed priority themes: rural youth outreach and engagement, health and wellbeing for older people and vulnerable adults, and support for the environment. Specific projects mentioned include a youth project in several parishes, youth volunteering events, a digital inclusion event for older people, and plans for an environment showcase event.

Community First Briefing

Updates from Community First cover their Youth Action Wiltshire programmes, including activities for young carers and young people facing challenges. Information is also provided on their Alternative Provision for young people aged 7-16, driver training schemes (MiDAS and CaMPAS), community insurance services, and the Rural Housing Enabler service.

Wessex Community Action

An announcement details the launch of Wessex Community Action's refreshed brand identity and new website, designed to better reflect their modern, welcoming, and community-focused approach to supporting voluntary and community organisations, volunteers, and local residents.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Information is provided on Alcoholics Anonymous services across Wiltshire and Bath, with a particular focus on Alcohol Awareness Week and resources for young people. Links to pamphlets, videos, and posters are included, along with details of local meetings and contact information.

Development of the Faith Communities Network

A briefing note outlines the progress in reinvigorating the Wiltshire Faith Communities Network, which aims to foster collaboration between faith communities and Wiltshire Council for improved service delivery, community cohesion, and reaching vulnerable residents. The network has seen significant growth in membership, with a new multi-faith steering group established to inform an engagement strategy and future plans, including the potential for a Faith Covenant.

Community First - Oxenwood and Linkenholt Centres

Information is provided on the Alternative Provision offered at Oxenwood and Linkenholt Outdoor Centres, which combines outdoor learning and practical activities to support young people's confidence, resilience, and life skills.

Carers Together Wiltshire Annual Service Report

The Annual Service Report for Carers Together Wiltshire details their work in creating carer-friendly communities. It highlights significant progress in reducing waiting lists for carer assessments, increasing referrals, and providing a range of support services for carers of all ages. The report details achievements against key priorities, including carer identification, access to support, financial matters, young carer transition, health and wellbeing, and community engagement. It also includes appendices detailing referral sources, organisations supported, events attended, and a carer satisfaction survey.

Guidance Note on Gates on Public Rights of Way

This guidance note provides information for Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIGs) when assessing applications for funding gates on public rights of way. It outlines the council's policy, British Standard specifications, types of gates, responsibilities for maintenance, costs, and suppliers. It also details which Area Boards the Countryside Access Officers cover.