The Chippenham and Villages Area Board met to discuss funding for local initiatives, updates from partner organisations, and key issues within the community. The board approved grants for various projects, including the Teen Takeover 2025, Zero North Wiltshire Community Energy website, Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, Sheldon Student Opportunity Fund, and Sheldon Road Methodist Church. Councillors also discussed community engagement, appointments to outside bodies, and updates from Wiltshire Police and other partners.

Area Board Funding

The Area Board approved several grant applications:

• Teen Takeover 2025: £5,000 was awarded to support the second Teen Takeover event, which aims to showcase opportunities for young people in the community. The event will include workshops in arts, performance, music, mindfulness and sports.
• Zero North Wiltshire: £5,000 was granted to Zero North Wiltshire, a Community Benefit Society, for their Community Energy website and promotional equipment. Councillor Nick Murry, Chair of Zero North Wiltshire, spoke about the project, but did not vote. The aim is to generate renewable electricity locally and support community environmental and climate change projects. Zero North Wiltshire has a pipeline of prospective projects, including solar PV rooftops on two local schools, as well as a community ownership stake in a 49.9MW ground mounted solar PV scheme. >An estimated £5,000,000 income will be generated for the community owned part of the scheme over its 40 year life, a significant proportion of which will be disbursed through grants for climate and environmental projects via a Community Benefit Fund. The generation of renewable energy will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, helping Wiltshire towards the goal of carbon neutrality.
• Wilts and Berks Canal Trust: £3,947 was allocated to the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust for a sewage treatment plant at the Carpenters Workshop site at Pewsham Locks. The Trust is restoring the Carpenters Workshop, a heritage building, at Pewsham Locks, Chippenham. Modern toilets will be required in the building for schools/youth groups/community groups using the facility.
• Sheldon Student Opportunity Fund: £4,305 was approved for the Sheldon Student Opportunity Fund to develop outdoor seating areas for local clubs and the school community. The funds will be used to purchase five picnic-style tables with benches made from 100% recycled plastic.
• Sheldon Road Methodist Church: £1,850 was granted to the Sheldon Road Methodist Church for their Disadvantaged Youth Support Programme. Councillor Adrian Foster declared an interest as a representative of the church, spoke about the project, but did not vote. The project provides a residential holiday for 25 youngsters and group activities with their siblings and parents throughout the year in conjunction with HEALS of Malmesbury.
• Public Art Chippenham: The board noted the delegated funding award of £447.55 for the Pride Pavement Rainbow project, managed by Public Art Chippenham.

Community Area - Engagement and Partnership Update

The Strategic Engagement and Partnership Manager provided an overview of the Engagement and Partnership Service, upcoming local engagements, and key Area Board information. The Area Board discussed the need to engage with youth, Borough Lands, and the community, as well as the importance of avoiding duplication of work with Chippenham Town Council. They also highlighted the need for a review of the Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment¹ and a further youth survey. Area Board members provided an overview of their divisions, highlighting key challenges and opportunities, including:

• Road safety and speeding
• Community cohesion in new housing developments
• The future of Chippenham hospital
• Flooding resilience and climate change
• Recreational facilities
• Car parking issues
• Improvements to the Olympiad Leisure Centre
• Development of empty land parcels
• Clean air
• Anti-social behaviour in car parks
• Street tree management
• Extension of the Queens East Project[^1] [^1]: The Queen's East project is a community project raising the profile of the Queens East area of Chippenham.
• Drug issues
• Pedestrian crossing safety
• Youth provision and engagement
• Resident parking schemes

Appointments

The Area Board considered the appointment of representatives to outside bodies for 2025/26 and the Terms of Reference for the Local Highways and Footpath's Investment group (LHFIG).

The Area Board decided to reconsider the appointments at the Area Board meeting in September 2025, and that existing appointments continue until the next Area Board meeting.

The following Lead representatives were appointed:

• Area Board Environment Lead – Councillor Nick Murry
• Area Board Youth Lead – Councillor Liz Alstrom and Councillor Ross Henning

The Area Board noted the Terms of Reference for the LHFIG.

Shared Lives Service

The Area Board watched a video from the Shared Lives Service, highlighting their work and the need for more carers. Members emphasised the importance of reinforcing the role of Shared Lives Services in the community and sharing information about the service more widely, particularly through the Parish Forum.

Partner Updates

• Wiltshire Police: Inspector Pete Foster provided an update on the Community Policing Team, including upcoming personnel changes, community engagements, crime statistics, and operational priorities. Members discussed shoplifting, engagement with the Town Council on violence against women and girls, the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), speeding, and abandoned vehicles.
• Wiltshire Police VAWG Quarterly Update: The written report on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) was noted.
• Wiltshire Age UK Newsletter: The written report from Age UK Wiltshire was noted.
• Parish Forum Notes: The written report from the Parish Forum was noted.
• Other Community Groups: Alison Butler, Carers Champion/Rural Representative, commented on the use of inverters in solar panels.