The NHS COVID-19 app will launch in England on Thursday 24 September.
In the run-up to the launch, the council is engaging with businesses and venues across the county to provide guidance for those required by law to print and display posters to help users of the app check in and record their presence.
The posters, which display a unique QR code for each setting, can be scanned by the app, which then saves information that can be used to help contact tracers in the event of an outbreak.
Settings that are currently required to keep records of visitors for contact tracing purposes must still maintain their own register to collect the contact details of those who have not, or could not, install the app.
Venues include facilities provided by local authorities and town and parish councils, including town and village halls, leisure centres, libraries, community and children’s centres.
Please do encourage businesses in your local area to download and display QR code posters to ensure they comply with this latest legislation. We’ll be sending out more information about how you can help encourage residents to download the app in the next couple of days so please keep an eye out for that.
Precautionary COVID-19 measures taken at ten schools
The following schools are taking precautionary measures with the advice and support of public health officials after one pupil at each school tested positive for COVID-19.
St Augustines
160 Year 9 pupils have been self-isolating but returned to school yesterday.
Kingsbury Green Academy
The pupil is in Year 12 and is self-isolating with Year 12 and 13 pupils, 110 in total, and three members of staff for 14 days until 30 September.
Bulford St Leonard’s School
The pupil is in Year 5 and is self-isolating with year 5 pupils, 35 in total, for 14 days until 26 September. Three teaching staff will also self-isolate.
The Springfields Academy
The pupil, who is in a year group bubble of Years 6 – 8 is self-isolating along with the other 11 pupils in the bubble for 14 days until 29 September.
St Margaret’s Preparatory School
The pupil is in Year 3 and is self-isolating along with Year 3 pupils, 27 in total and three staff, for 14 days until Monday 28 September.
Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
The pupil is in Year 9, and is self-isolating with all Year 9 pupils, 284 in total for 14 days until 25 September.
Avon Valley College
The pupil is in Year 10, and is self -isolating along with Year 10 pupils, 65 in total, until 21 September. One member of staff is also self-isolating.
Trinity School
The pupil was in year 4 , and is self-isolating along with year 4 pupils, 28 in total and 2 members of staff
Southbroom Junior
Two pupils in year 6 are isolating. No children sent home as the positive cases had not attended school during their infectious period
Southbroom Nursery
One positive case with 19 children now self isolating.
Statement on Bridgestone British Masters motocross event
A decision has been made that the Bridgestone British Masters Battlecross motocross event in Winterbourne Gunner will not take place this year.
The event wasn’t requested to be cancelled, but assurances were not met that adequate plans were in place for the event to take place while keeping everyone in attendance as safe as possible. Such plans are standard practice for any large-scale event.
Following conversations with colleagues at Wiltshire Council, Public Health, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Wiltshire Police, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the event organisers the decision has been made that now is not the right time for the event to take place. The health and wellbeing of our communities is our top priority and a gathering of this nature has the potential to undo some of the great work many people have done in following COVID-19 guidance and keeping each other as safe as possible.
The organisers already have plans for the event to take place in 2021.
As we continue to see outbreaks of Coronavirus across the country we want to do what we can to ensure Wiltshire doesn’t end up with a significant increase in cases.
Any events or gatherings of more than six people, other than those which are exempt, risk increasing the number of infections in the county.
In response to the current situation, Wiltshire Council is strongly recommending local businesses and event organisers postpone or cancel events that are planned to take place in the county during September and October.
If you do become aware of events taking place in your local area, please could we ask for your support in sharing this message to help ensure that together Wiltshire helps reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and continues to keep rates low.
MyWilts launch
The council will be launching its new online reporting system, MyWilts, this week.
The new system replaces the previous MyWiltshire, which was introduced in 2013. MyWilts allows people to report issues such as:
Abandoned vehicles
Fraud
Weather emergencies
Fly Tipping
Dog mess
Graffiti
Over time the council will be adding more services to the app and website, making it simpler, quicker and easier for residents to access council services digitally, when they choose to.
The new MyWilts will be available shortly via internet browser, App Store (Apple) and Google Play (Android).
To show you the new system in advance, watch the following five-minute video which provides an overview of the system features.
Wiltshire Council receives government support to help fund vital work with rough sleepers
Wiltshire Council has received more than £47,000 from the government to continue to help rough sleepers.
The pledge is part of £91.5m allocated to 274 local authorities by the government to help support vulnerable people housed during the pandemic.
The funding will be spent on a range of measures that will continue the council’s work with rough sleepers throughout Wiltshire to provide support and accommodation, and ultimately reduce rough sleeping in the county.
The council is committed to helping rough sleepers in Wiltshire, and has a dedicated outreach team that is working hard to connect with people on the streets and find them suitable accommodation.
If anyone sees a rough sleeper in Wiltshire, please report it on StreetLink or via the StreetLink app; this will direct our teams to help people who need it.
Homeowners and landlords can now access funding to pay for the cost of energy saving measures under the new Green Homes Grant scheme and businesses are being encouraged to register their services.
The scheme means homeowners can obtain up to two-thirds of the cost of energy saving measures – up to £5000. Lower-income households could be entitled to claim as much as £10,000 to cover the cost.
Home improvements covered by the scheme include insulation of walls, floors and roofs, installation of double or triple glazing to replace single glazing and low-carbon heating. These measures could help families save up to £600 a year on their energy bills.
The scheme supports the council’s Climate Strategy and helps us prepare for the future by protecting the environment and saving money for homeowners through long-term energy savings
Thirty-six year record falls to Wiltshire Council-funded athlete
A Wiltshire Council-funded local athlete is celebrating recent success following the resumption of the 2020 athletics season.
Lucy-Jane Matthews, aged 17 from Salisbury, broke the British 100 metres hurdles record that has been held by British athletics legend Sally Gunnell since 1984. This now places Lucy-Jane joint third on the British women’s U20 all-time list and in the process, earned her an invitation to compete at the British Championships – where she promptly won herself a silver medal.
To support her on the track, Wiltshire Council has funded Lucy-Jane via the Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians Foundation, first with a Sports Scholarship grant and in the last two years with an Elite Athlete Grant.
The council is proud to have supported Lucy-Jane over a number of years. We know that the council’s Sport Scholarship and Elite Athlete grants make a huge difference providing much needed financial support to athletes as they aim for success on the world stage. The council is looking forward to seeing what Lucy-Jane can achieve in the future.
Regards,
Cllr Philip Whitehead
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/eaggqoiddmg-scaled.jpg14402560Clerkhttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngClerk2020-09-28 09:05:052020-09-28 09:05:05COVID-19 UPDATE – 22 September Wiltshire Council
Applications to the Good Energy Community Fund are invited.
The deadline for fund applications is Friday 28th August 2020.
Applications are welcomed from all community groups in Broad Town and the local area. The fund is also currently open to any groups with funding needs related to the current COVID-19 situation.
Details of how to apply for the fund and a downloadable application form can be found here and here.
Please contact the Parish Clerk if you would like more information about applying to the fund.
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/good-energy.png26662670Clerkhttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngClerk2020-08-04 15:29:032020-08-04 15:45:00Good Energy Community Fund Grants - August Applications
Attached is the North Wessex Downs AONB Annual Report for 2019/20. Please circulate this as widely as possible, perhaps making it available at your next parish council meeting?
It captures many of the activities and achievements of what was, in a number of respects, a very significant year both for the North Wessex Downs and the country’s protected landscapes.
The closing weeks of 2019/20 were dominated by the increasing impact of Covid-19 and the lock-down that has had such an extraordinary impact on all our lives. I am pleased to report that while a number of plans have had to be altered, such as the cancellation of the annual Walking Festival, many activities have continued, with the Unit’s team working remotely and meetings held virtually.
Please note our virtual Annual Forum will be held on Friday 6 November. Full details will follow in due course and I look forward to welcoming you, remotely. You can find more information about our work at www.northwessexdowns.org.uk
Please find below the latest update on COVID-19 and other council matters:
Parishes can apply for the Rural Community Energy Fund
The Rural Community Energy Fund provides non-capital grant funding over two stages to help community organisations with the development of renewable energy projects, and interested groups can apply now.
The fund offers feasibility funding of up to £40,000 under Stage 1, and a further £100,000 for full business plan development at Stage 2.
We now have free online training for volunteers who wish to be accredited to erect Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs). The course is mandatory learning for anyone wishing to undertake SID deployment and will cover important safety matters including:
Hazards and risk assessments
Temporary traffic management
SID deployment responsibilities
Self-knowledge check
Anyone wishing to access the training should email with their name and details of the proposed location of the SID (e.g. town/parish/village or locality). There is a limit to the number of logins that can be provided at any one time, so there may be a wait before you are provided with login details.
School holiday activity provision 2020
Parents looking for summer activities for their 5 – 12 year old’s can now find a wealth of opportunities all in one handy brochure.
We asked local providers to send details of activities including charges, venues and dates to help parents plot how to keep children busy over the summer holidays.
The activities are aimed at 5 – 12 year old’s and are particularly to help those families with vulnerable children and children of key workers who need support over the summer.
The document is online and people are encouraged to check in regularly as the information will be constantly updated as new providers finalise details of their activities.
We are working closely with a local school and partners to continue to run a summer programme to help children stay active during the holidays.
Fit and Fed is a national programme combining sport with healthy food choices, as a response to the threat of hunger, isolation, and inactivity that some children experience during school holidays.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be delivering it a little differently this summer, in partnership with Studley Green Primary School, Selwood Housing Group, The Trussell Trust, Anybody Can Cook and Active Trowbridge, ensuring families on lower incomes and those accessing free school meals continue to receive support during the holidays.
New SEND school in south Wiltshire takes major step forward
Plans to ensure more school places are available for pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities (SEND) in south Wiltshire have taken a major step forward.
Last April it was announced there would be a new free school for 150 pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) in the south of the county. This will prevent the need for pupils to travel long distances to access the right educational setting to meet their needs.
Now it has been agreed by the Department for Education that Reach South Academy Trust, which already runs a special school in Wiltshire, will operate the new school in the south. Reach South runs Springfields Academy which is based across two sites in Calne and at Sarum Academy in Salisbury. The Salisbury site is known as Springfields South and opened in February 2019 for pupils with ASD and SEMH.
The new school, which will teach children aged 4-19, will have strong links with mainstream schools, nurseries and children’s centres. Details on where the new school will be based are due to be shared shortly.
Support available for people who use prepayment gas and electricity meters
A service that aims to help residents live in safer and healthier homes has secured additional funding to provide vouchers to households that use prepayment gas and electricity meters.
The Warm and Safe Wiltshire service is provided by Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
The vouchers are available to those who:
Have been affected by the impact of COVID-19, either socially or economically
Are at risk of self-disconnection (i.e. they may run out of credit before they are next able to top up for themselves
Are struggling financially and find it difficult to top up their meter
Every eligible household can receive £98, with the possibility of a further £49 if they are in particular hardship. All households that take up this offer would be expected to speak to a Warm and Safe energy advisor, who can provide useful advice about budgeting, energy efficiency and income maximisation. For more information people should contact Warm and Safe Wiltshire on 0800 038 5722 or go online.
Annual canvass continues
The next phase of the annual canvass got underway this week, with around 58,000 letters being sent to Wiltshire households, with people being encouraged to respond electronically.
Each year we ask all residents to complete the annual canvass to check who is eligible to register to vote, but this year it’s being done a little differently.
Some residents have already been contacted via email and asked to confirm the details for their household, and of the responses received, 95% were done electronically.
We are encouraging all residents respond to the annual canvass electronically if they can. It’s more convenient for the resident and saves the council money and time. Last year, 200,571 responses were received during the annual canvass.
Local Authorities given new powers to shut down pubs, cafes, restaurants etc locally in areas affected by COVID-19
The Government has given new powers to local authorities to help contain COVID-19 locally. The new powers came into effect on 18 July and allow us to restrict local public gatherings and events, and close local businesses premises and outdoor spaces.
These measures are intended to give us the power to respond to local outbreaks if and when they happen by closing down certain premises if there is an outbreak.
The Government has also published a COVID-19 contain framework, a blueprint for how NHS Test and Trace is working in partnership with local authorities, Public Health England, the NHS, other local business and community partners and the wider public to take action against outbreaks.
Further data is also being provided daily on GOV.UK on the number of positive cases at both an upper and lower-tier local authority level. This data is now broken to local areas of 5,000 to 15,000 people, which will be published weekly.
The Government will also be publishing a weekly watchlist summary of specific areas of concern, this will form part of the weekly PHE COVID-19 surveillance report. This will enable us to spot things very early and act quickly, as currently we review all new cases and data on a daily basis, in partnership with Public Health England.
We are not encouraging all our staff to return to our offices as yet. However, where it is critical to the role, some officers have returned to our hubs.
The majority of officers are still working from home and we are asking residents to continue to do things online or over the phone rather than visit our hubs, if possible at all possible.
Chancellor launches Comprehensive Spending Review
On Tuesday the Chancellor launched the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). The Review, which will be published in the autumn, will set UK Government departments’ resource budgets for the years 2021/22 to 2023/24 and capital budgets for the years 2021/22 until 2024/25, and devolved administrations’ block grants for the same period. Read more about the Comprehensive Spending Review
Face masks and coverings to be compulsory in England’s shops
Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England will become mandatory from Friday 24 July. Shops and supermarkets will be expected to encourage compliance with the law and can refuse entry. Those who fail to comply with the new rules could face a fine of up to £100.
The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany. Since mid-May, the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet. It has also been compulsory on public transport in England since 15 June. Children under 11 and those with certain disabilities will be exempt. Read the latest Government guidance on face coverings
Next virtual member briefing
The next virtual member briefing will take place on Thursday 30 July, 11.30am-12.30pm. You will receive an invitation for this meeting shortly.
We hope you are able to join us. We have left a slightly longer gap than usual between briefings as we have had Cabinet and Full Council meetings recently.
Please do send Democratic Services an email in advance to with any thoughts / questions you may have so that we may discuss these in the meeting and respond
Regards,
Cllr Philip Whitehead
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/eaggqoiddmg-scaled.jpg14402560Clerkhttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngClerk2020-07-29 09:05:282020-07-29 09:07:11COVID-19 UPDATE - Monday 27th July
Terence Herbert has now been appointed as the Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council.
This follows a period of consultation on a proposed change to the Tier 1 structure at the council which sees a reduction from two Chief Executive Officers to a single Chief Executive leading the council.
Members of the Officer Appointments Committee panel approved Terence’s appointment when they met on 26 June. They also approved an application for voluntary redundancy from Alistair Cunningham.
Terence has now taken up his role and will be working with myself and cabinet to shape the organisation moving forwards and lead the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changes to Cabinet and Portfolio Holders
I have made changes to the council’s Cabinet and Portfolio Holders to align with the recovery structure now being put in place within Wiltshire Council following COVID-19.
The changes, which came in from yesterday (1 July), will see Cllr Allison Bucknell step down from her Cabinet position and take up a new Portfolio Holder role for Communities, Arts, Heritage and Tourism. This will reduce the number of Cabinet members from nine to eight, and the number of Portfolio Holders has also been reduced from 14 to 10.
I thank everyone for their hard work in their roles.
Council dismisses lockdown suggestions
We have dismissed suggestions the county could be one of the next locations in the country to go into lockdown.
Media reports this week had stated there had been a recent weekly increase of new cases in the county of 300%. However this actually equates to an increase from one to four new cases.
Since the start of the pandemic until 26 June there has been 550 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Wiltshire Council area, still comparatively low nationally, and the South West remains the lowest ranked region for cases. Wiltshire Council also has the sixth lowest rate of cases per 100,000 resident population with 110.4 cases per 100,000. This data is taken from the Public Health Coronavirus Case website https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/#category=utlas&map=rate
We have now published our Local Outbreak Management Plan which will build on local expertise and effective health protection processes that are already in place and outlines how the council and partners will positively engage with the public so they’re fully aware and supportive of the crucial part they have to play in the process.
The government has identified seven themes that are deemed essential to plans to manage an outbreak effectively. They are:
Care homes and schools
Identify high risk settings, communities and places
Local testing capacity
Contact tracing
Data integration
Vulnerable people
Governance
We will work with the government to support test and trace services in local communities, taking a place-based approach to containing the spread of the infection as much as possible.
Effective governance will also play a critical part of the process. A Wiltshire Outbreak Engagement Board will be set up imminently, chaired by myself, and this will ensure that local residents and other stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors all understand and support the need to comply with the rules and principles designed to prevent viral transmission.
Today (1 July) Kate Blackburn Interim Director for Public Health at Wiltshire Council, said “Following our update yesterday (30 June 2020) about media reports suggesting there was the potential for a local lockdown in Wiltshire I wanted to respond to some queries we’ve had about pillar 2 testing results. We do have access to these results locally and have been using them in all of our local planning.
“Please be reassured that even including pillar 2 confirmed test results the number of confirmed cases in Wiltshire remains extremely low. On a daily basis we review a number of different reports and data with our Public Health England colleagues. Should there be any issues there are alert systems in place.
“The most important thing we can do as a community at the moment is to stick to the national guidance around social distancing and maintain good hand hygiene.
“I would like to thank you for your continued support at this time.”
You can see a video version of Kate’s statement on our YouTube channel.
Public urged to act responsibly ahead of pubs reopening
We have joined forces with Wiltshire Police to remind residents to play their part and act responsibly when pubs reopen this weekend.
At the end of June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that pubs, restaurants, and hotels could reopen from 4 July.Several other businesses will also be allowed to reopen, such as barbers, hair salons and cinemas.
Whilst this is a positive step forward in revitalising the economy and showing that Wiltshire is open for business, it is important the public continue to take extra precautions to stop coronavirus from spreading and ensure they act responsibly at this time as anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
As the licensing authority we have an important role in ensuring pubs and restaurants are opening with the right conditions in place and adhering to social distancing guidelines.
To help with the reopening, the government will also relax the two metre social distancing rule, replacing it with ‘one metre plus’ in situations where keeping two metres apart is not possible.
This means people can maintain one metre apart, as long as other measures are put in place to limit the transmission of the virus.
These include wearing a face mask or covering, installing plastic screens, and providing extra handwashing facilities.
Government guidance update – shielding programme
The government has updated its guidance for people who are shielding, taking into account that COVID-19 infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks. This guidance remains advisory.
From Friday 6 July:
People who are shielding no longer need to observe social distancing with other members of their household.
People who are shielding will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to six people they do not live with, while maintaining social distancing.
People who are shielding can create a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance.
From Saturday 1 August, the government is advising people to adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures. Strict social distancing means people may wish to go out to more places and see more people but they should take particular care to minimise contact with others outside of their household or support bubble.
From 1 August:
Those shielding can visit shops, places of worship and outdoor spaces.
People shielding will be able to return to work if they cannot work at home as long as the business is COVID-safe.
Children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings if they are eligible and in line with their peers.
More detailed guidance will be provided as the changes in advice come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.
Those in receipt of central government provided food boxes and medicine deliveries will continue to receive this support until the end of July if required. Anyone requiring this assistance should register online or call 0800 028 8327 before 17 July.
Wellbeing Hub update
The council has changed the opening times of the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub to reflect a reduction in emails and calls to its hotline.
The hub will now operate from 9-5pm Monday to Friday and will be closed at weekends. Outside of these hours, the emergency duty service will be in place as usual.
People can make contact with the hub via email at or by calling 0300 003 4576.
Business Update – Local Discretionary Grant
The application window for the Local Discretionary Grant closed at 5.00pm on Monday 22 June.
The council received 736 applications and has sent out its first grants totalling circa £1 million to local businesses with further grants being issued this week.
Highways update
The council has received confirmation of £227,000 funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to progress the first five road reallocation schemes in the county.
The five schemes, in Salisbury, Bradford on Avon, Purton, Trowbridge, and Chippenham, are based on existing bus routes and will link the city and town centres with homes and places of work to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to access shops, businesses and places of work without driving or using public transport.
Full details of the five projects are as follows:
Salisbury cycleways to link Harnham to the city centre, allowing cyclists easy access to the city. The scheme will see one southbound lane on Brown Street turned into a cycleway and the removal of on-street parking on Exeter Street to create a cycleway on the street while maintaining two-way traffic.
A segregated cycleway and footway on the B3108 between Winsley and Bradford on Avon, allowing easy access between the two, and giving cyclists the option of a traffic-free ride from Winsley, into Bradford on Avon and then on to Bath along the Kennet and Avon Canal.
On the A420 in Chippenham, a segregated cycleway linking Bumpers Farm to the town centre, giving cyclists easy access to the centre of the town.
The removal of through traffic on Hook Street in Purton, which runs parallel with the A3102 between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. This will install a 3.5km route for cyclists and walkers, linking Purton with Swindon’s Lydiard Park.
A segregated cycleway on the A361 Hilperton Road in Trowbridge, from near the fire station into advisory cycle lanes from Stancomb Avenue to Hilperton Road roundabout, of more than 1km in total.
Work is due to start in the next four weeks on these schemes, and the council will have more to announce on the next round of funding, and other major cycling and walking projects, soon.
Re-opening of children’s play areas operated by Wiltshire Council
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 June regarding the reduction of restrictions to public movement, the council will be reopening the 59 play areas it operates from 4 July.
The council will be erecting signage onsite to advise the public of social distancing, hygiene and safety rules and will be monitoring use of play areas when they reopen. Council officers may re-close any play area where it is considered not possible to minimise the risk of COVID-19 infection and will respond to further guidance issued by the government in respect of their use.
The council is seeking the views of residents and library users to help with its planning for reopening library services safely in the county during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During this challenging time the council has to manage its resources carefully and has put forward three possible options for how the service might operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are also being encouraged to provide their own ideas to help the council deliver the most appropriate service in the circumstances and within the council’s current resources.
The possible options take into account COVID-19 guidelines and social distancing measures and the resources available – meaning that there will be a partial and phased reopening of library services.
The possible options being considered include:
Option 1 An order and collect service.
This involves customers contacting the library service by email/phone to request books or other materials that they wish to borrow. This might include specific authors or topics such as crime or autobiographies. These would then be collected in person from a library.
This would operate from 10 August at some main library hubs in Wiltshire, and in each of the 18 community areas across the county by the end of September. This means that 20 libraries could potentially be open by the end of September, subject to staff and finances being available.
Option 2
An order and collect service with bookable computer access.
The order and collect service as detailed above and the ability to pre-book a computer session for those without access to the internet.
This would operate from 10 August at some main library hubs in Wiltshire and in each community area across the county by the end of September.
Option 3
A socially distanced service offering the public some access to browse stock and use computers. This would operate in up to six libraries from the end of August and a maximum of a further four, subject to staff capacity and social distancing requirements.
A four-week public consultation is now underway. Hard copies will be made available at County Hall, Trowbridge; Monkton Park, Chippenham; and Bourne Hill, Salisbury. The consultation closes on 26 July 2020.
Following analysis of the feedback received, the favoured option will likely be introduced initially for a six-month period from 10 August. Monthly reviews will also be carried out to assess how the impact of COVID-19 is changing, the financial impact of operating, lessons learnt and the opportunities for change.
The council has agreed a partnership with developer Cavendish and Gloucester Properties to build six new affordable council houses at the Chalk House development in Porton.
The affordable homes, which will be ready in the late autumn, represent a significant investment, which will be funded from the rents charged on the new homes and income to be received through the shared ownership sales.
The development will consist of two two-bedroom shared ownership houses, which will be available for purchase, with the remaining properties – three two-bedroom houses and one three-bedroom property – offered as affordable rents. Each of the homes are being built to a high standard with a modern specification, and the properties will be advertised via Homes4Wiltshire around six weeks prior to their completion.
The council is committed to building or acquiring 1,000 affordable homes throughout Wiltshire over the next 10 years, and this development will go towards meeting some of this target in the south of the county.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced a short video which summarises some of the major incidents they have attended and the good work being achieved across all of its departments.
This is produced quarterly and is made publicly available on the Service’s YouTube channel. The link to the latest video is here: https://youtu.be/rIegTTKFSI8
We hope you will find this informative in summarising some of the wide-ranging work carried out by your fire and rescue service. We also hope that it will be useful if you wish to share the video as part of your communications and engagement with your communities.
Chippenham Minor Injury Unit to re-open for booked appointments
The Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Chippenham Community Hospital will start to receive referrals from NHS 111 from Monday 6 July 2020. Chippenham MIU will have appointments available from Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm for patients who have rung NHS 111 and are referred to be seen in the MIU. Chippenham MIU closed in April after a decline in the number of patients attending since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Staff employed at the units were redeployed to help look after patients across the local health and care system.
The MIU will not be open to ‘walk in’ patients and there will be no x-ray facility on site. This temporary change in service has been designed to maintain the safety of patients and staff. Patients will not be able to directly book an appointment. NHS 111 will continue to triage all appointments and if a patient meets the criteria they will be referred to the unit and a member of staff will call them back to arrange an appointment. Anyone with a life threatening condition should call 999.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend any medical setting unless explicitly directed to do so by the NHS 111 service or a 999 call operator.
Minor Injury Units offer a facility for treating injuries that are not serious, such as sprains and strains; minor burns and scalds, wound infections, insect and animal bites, and minor injuries to the eye, head. They are not specifically equipped to treat more serious conditions.
Regards,
Cllr Philip Whitehead
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/eaggqoiddmg-scaled.jpg14402560Cllr Joycehttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngCllr Joyce2020-07-02 18:52:232020-07-02 18:52:23COVID-19 UPDATE – Thursday 2nd July 2020 on behalf of Cllr Whitehead
As per the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, Broad Town Parish Council has made its Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) for the year 2019-20 available for inspection by any interested person, together with all accounting records; books; deeds; contracts; bills; vouchers; receipts and other documents relating to these records.
If you have any issues to raise or wish to see the full accounts, please contact the Parish Clerk on . In accordance with the guidelines, the full accounts are available to view between 1st July 2020 and the 19th August 2020.
The full Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) documents and internal audit reports can be found here under the financial year 2019-2020.
Broad Town Parish Council qualifies for an exemption from an external audit, due to it having income/expenditure below £25,000 in 2019-20. The completed and signed Certificate of Exemption for 2019-20 can be found here.
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/3-tc_5lrorm-scaled-e1593418162377.jpg16961408Clerkhttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngClerk2020-06-29 08:57:242021-05-07 08:41:43Broad Town Parish Council - Inspection of Accounts 2019-2020
Please find below the latest update on COVID-19 and other council matters:
If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive our digital newsletters. You can sign up using either your Wiltshire Council or your personal email address.
The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday that all businesses and venues can re-open from 4 July 2020, except for the following:
Nightclubs
Casinos
Bowling alleys and indoor skating rinks
Indoor play areas including soft-play
Spas
Nail bars, beauty salons and tanning salons
Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours
Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sports venues/facilities
Swimming pools including water parks
Exhibition or conference centres must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business who run the venue
Cafes, restaurants and shops that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside, will still be permitted to open.
To support the NHS Test and Trace, businesses are being asked to keep a temporary record of their customers and visitors for 21 days. Many businesses will have a booking system but for those who do not have such facilities, the government will soon be issuing details of a system they can use that complies with data protection legislation.
Local authority administered grant schemes
As of Friday 19 June 2020, we issued £86.37 million to 7,221 local businesses. This has supported 5,301 businesses with Small Business Grants totalling £53 million and a further 1,920 businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with grants totalling £33.36 million. Of the 1,920 businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, 944 local businesses received a £25,000 grant and 976 businesses received a £10,000 grant.
We have also received more than 700 applications for the local Discretionary Grant. The application window closed on Monday at 5pm (22 June) and applications are now being reviewed, assessed and paid.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
From 1 July, employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any work pattern, while still being able to claim the grant for the hours not worked.
This scheme closes to new entrants on 30 June and so from 1 July, only employees that businesses have successfully claimed a previous grant for will be eligible for more grants under the scheme. This means they must have previously been furloughed for at least 3 consecutive weeks sometime between 1 March and 30 June 2020.
Wiltshire Council joins Countryside Climate Network to help tackle climate change
Wiltshire Council has today (Wednesday 24 June) become a founder member of a newly-launched network to promote the voice of the countryside in climate change discussions.
The Countryside Climate Network aims to ensure that the voice of rural knowledge and experience on climate action is listened to in Westminster, and asks that rural councils are an active participant in transforming the national economy into one that saves, rather than harms, our environment.
The network brings a voice on climate change to the two-thirds of the country who live outside major towns and cities, and calls for investment, such as the government’s delayed £100bn infrastructure fund, to be targeted at rural areas.
The council is also working closely with the Local Government Association (LGA) and the County Councils Network to develop a tool that measures the council’s levels of carbon emissions.
The tool will create a standard, comparable measurement for all councils in the country, which can then be used to baseline carbon emissions and report on them regularly, as Wiltshire seeks to become carbon neutral by 2030. The trial of this new system is expected to begin later in the summer.
The Countryside Climate Network has been established by UK100, a network of local leaders that campaigns on climate change. The 21 councils represent 14.3 million people in total, a quarter of the population (25%) and two fifths (41%) of England by area. The group is chaired by the Leader of Cambridgeshire Council, Cllr Steve Count. To find out more about the Countryside Climate Network, please see: www.uk100.org.
Hot weather warning
Public Health England has today issued a heat warning encouraging vulnerable people to take care during the exceptionally hot weather forecast this week.
People ‘shielding’ indoors from COVID-19, older people, those with underlying health conditions, and very young children are all more vulnerable from the higher temperatures.
Advice for keeping healthy:
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, everyone is at risk of dehydration in hot temperatures, but babies, children and older people are particularly vulnerable.
Stay cool indoors: open windows when the air feels cooler outside than inside; shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight; move to a cooler part of the house, especially for sleeping.
Slow down when it is hot: exertion heats up our bodies so plan any strenuous activities (e.g. exercise, gardening) outside the hottest time of the day, typically 11am – 3pm.
Cool your skin with water, you could use a cool wet sponge or flannel, cool water spray, cold packs around the neck and armpits, or a cool, wet sheet.
Stay connected and listen to the weather forecast, knowing the forecast can help you plan ahead and adapt what you’re doing.
Dress appropriately for the weather, protect yourself against the sun’s radiation and keep yourself cool by wearing thin cotton clothes.
Eat smaller meals, more often. Cold salads and fruit are the perfect summer foods.
For more information on the common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke visit NHS Choices.
Garden waste renewals
Since sending out garden waste reminders we’ve had more than 36,000 sign ups and over 32,000 of those have been completed online.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic garden waste collection renewals were delayed this year, but customers can renew their garden waste subscription if they wish to continue to receive the service. The cost of having garden waste collected will be £50 per bin for the year.
Current garden waste subscriptions were due to expire on 30 June 2020, but customers should continue to present their bin to be emptied on their usual collection day with their current 2019-2020 red sticker until they receive a new one. Garden waste bins displaying a red 2019/20 bin sticker will continue to be emptied until 31 August.
Once people have renewed, they will be sent a letter within three weeks, containing a new garden waste bin sticker.
People can renew or sign up to receive garden waste collections at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste People don’t need to contact us if they do not wish to renew.
Please find below the latest update on COVID-19 and other council matters:
COVID-19 Business Re-opening Pack
We’ve launched the attached pack to help businesses re-open their premises as safely as possible and in line with government guidance. The pack includes a toolkit comprising social distancing floor spots and safety advice posters for them to use.
The toolkit is also available for town and parish councils to use in their high streets and a space has been left on the designs to incorporate their logo. The cost of printing and delivering the materials to them will come from the Re-opening the High Streets Safely Fund recently awarded to Wiltshire Council.
Briefing Note for Town and Parish Councils – Fly Posting and the Law.
Types of fly posting:
Three main types of fly posting have been identified by the Department for Communities and Local Government:
Advertisements primarily for local events
Posters advertising products of large organisations
Posters displayed by pressure groups or political bodies
Locations:
Within the public highway
On Wiltshire Council/publicly owned land
On private land
Within the highway: The local authority (i.e Wiltshire Council) has power under the Highways Act 1980 to remove flyposters with immediate effect. If the owner of the poster is identifiable 2 days advance notice may be given so that the owner can remove it.
On council/public land: as highway but the power to remove is under the Town and Country Planning Act. 2 days advance notice must be given if the owner is identifiable.
On private land: As council//public land but the landowner may be asked to remove it as the first resort.
The local authority also has powers to prosecute should they deem it appropriate or necessary.
Instances of fly-posting can be reported via the council’s website: www.wiltshire.gov.uk using either “report a problem” or by downloading the My Wiltshire app.
Please note that the council may exercise judgement on the urgency of securing removal according to the extent to which there is a risk of public safety.
Time to renew your garden waste collections
Households that pay to receive garden waste collections will receive an email or letter this week inviting them to renew their subscription by 14 August. New customers can also sign up to receive this service.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, garden waste collection renewals were delayed this year, but customers now need to renew their garden waste subscription if they wish to continue to receive the service. The cost of having garden waste collected will be £50 per bin for the year.
Current garden waste subscriptions were due to expire on 30 June 2020, but customers should continue to present their bin to be emptied on their usual collection day with their current 2019-2020 red sticker until they receive a new one. Garden waste bins displaying a red 2019/20 bin sticker will continue to be emptied until 31 August.
Once people have renewed, they will be sent a letter within three weeks, containing a new garden waste bin sticker.
People can renew or sign up to receive garden waste collections at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste People don’t need to contact us if they do not wish to renew.
Garden waste bins are emptied fortnightly except for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. A full waste collection calendar is available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/rubbish-collection-days.
Shared Lives Week, 15 – 21 June
Shared Lives Wiltshire carers, who open up their homes to support young people and adults, will be talking about their experiences as part of Shared Lives Week from 15 – 21 June.
Shared Lives is a unique caring arrangement enabling more than 14,000 people nationally with a learning or physical disability, mental ill health, dementia or other ongoing needs, to share their carer’s home and family life. Shared Lives promotes people’s rights, choices and independence and helps vulnerable people feel included in family life and community activities.
Currently Shared Lives Wiltshire is looking to recruit to the local scheme. People with care and support needs are referred to the scheme and matched with a formerly-recruited carer in Wiltshire. The carer is paid between £371 and £571 per week and receives support, training and guidance from the Shared Lives team at Wiltshire Council.
Celebrations will be taking place across the UK as part of Shared Lives week, organised by the UK charity, Shared Lives Plus, which is celebrating the work carried out by over 10,000 Shared Lives carers. With Covid-19 restrictions in place, Shared Lives in Wiltshire will be sharing stories, videos and photos online and hosting a virtual tea party for all their carers.
For more information about Shared Lives Wiltshire please visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.
If people would like to find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer, please call 01380 826451 or email .
Learning Disability Week 15 – 21 June
Long walks, chats over the phone, visits, newsletters and exchanging craft ideas are just some of the many ways the Wiltshire Council Inhouse Learning Disability Team has been keeping in contact with adults they care for during COVID-19.
The team has developed an outreach service both for those adults they usually care for and others in the community.
The outreach services can involve home visits to give parents or carers a break, taking people out for long walks to maintain their physical wellbeing, sharing crafts and activities but always staying in weekly contact.
The team also writes to customers and delivers activity packs and are currently exploring setting up virtual sessions.
The outreach service has placed an emphasis on maintaining relationships and links with local community. The work of the service ties in with the national theme for Learning Disability Week which celebrates the importance of friendships during lockdown.
The Inhouse Learning Disability service includes team leaders, support workers, shared lives staff team, caretaking team and administration team. The In house LD service works closely with the Wiltshire Council Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities, Wiltshire Health and Care and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust learning disability services to ensure that people with learning disabilities and their families are supported. There is a focus on what people can achieve and enabling them to live full, independent lives.
Funding could help to unlock potential of Bradford on Avon site
Wiltshire Council has secured £85,000 in funding from the Government’s One Public Estate (OPE) programme to explore future possibilities for a new community facility in central Bradford on Avon.
The site, opposite the railway station, is currently home to the town’s health centre, and a police and fire station. The funding will be used to conduct feasibility and environmental studies to see whether the site could be redeveloped to benefit the town, including a new health centre; combined facilities for fire, police and community emergency volunteers; a new museum; a tourist information centre; council offices and social housing. This funding will help to test different ideas for the site and help establish what it could become in the future.
Specifically, the funding will be used to engage a team of architects and master planners on the project and help establish what it could become in the future. This work is expected to begin in the autumn, in consultation with Bradford on Avon town council, other public sector partners, residents and businesses.
Once ideas have been collated, any plans will, at a later stage of the process, be subject to full consultation. Any development of the site is some way off and would also be subject to further applications for funding that would be led by the town council.
The OPE programme provides support and funding to councils around the country to create property-focused projects that bring economic growth; bring services together; and generate efficiencies through capital income and reduced running costs.
Update on Rights of Way & Countryside Volunteers
We just wanted to make you aware of the below letter which has been sent to Rights of Way and Countrywide volunteers:
Dear Rights of Way & Countryside Volunteers,
We hope you are keeping safe and well during these Covid-19 times.
Further to our email below which was sent in March, as government is easing lockdown we know that some of you would like to resume normal volunteering activities; Wiltshire Council has taken the view however, that we should not be asking you to return to normal volunteering just yet. We know you will find it frustrating, it is for us too. The council has made this decision based on government guidance and what the health professionals are advising, but this may change in the near future. When it does, and when the council advises that volunteers can return if they wish and if they do not fall within the vulnerable/shielding categories, the latest government Covid-19 guidelines will still need to be followed. For rights of way and countryside volunteering, it is likely the following procedures also will still need to be followed:
Travelling to site in own vehicle – lift sharing only with others in your own household
Social distancing maintained at all times
Avoiding busy areas/busy times of day to minimise contact with others
Being prepared to abandon task if the way or area becomes too busy to enable social distancing
Avoid touching latches, stiles, notice boards etc if possible – wearing gloves if this is unavoidable
Using only own tools, and not sharing them
Bringing own refreshments and drinking vessels, and not sharing them
Washing hands before and after undertaking other activities, especially before eating/drinking/touching your face
Using hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available
We mention the above at this stage to assist with plans for returning to normal. We are really grateful for your work before lockdown, and right now we are really grateful for your understanding, support and keenness to get back to volunteering – it is really good to know we can still rely on your help in managing Wiltshire’s rights of way and country parks – hopefully in the near future now.
We will be back in touch again soon; if one of your colleagues doesn’t have access to email, would you be kind enough to pass this message on please? In the meantime, stay safe and please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you have any questions.
Registration service resuming face to face appointments
From Wednesday 17 June Wiltshire Council’s Registration Service will recommence face to face appointments for the registration of births at its Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury offices.
The council is in the process of contacting all parents whose children were born in Wiltshire but have been unable to register their child due to the lockdown restrictions.
There is an inevitable backlog of Wiltshire births to be registered so the council asks people to bear with them. The council will contact people to make appointments so there is no need for people to call. Appointments cannot currently be made online. In accordance with registration guidance at this time, all babies born outside of Wiltshire will need to register their child in the district where the birth occurred.
From Monday 22 June 2020 the council will be able to arrange notices of marriage or civil partnerships for couples whose appointments were cancelled during lockdown. People should email and the council will then contact the person to make an appointment. Appointments cannot currently be made online. New notice of marriage/civil partnership appointments can be made from 1 July 2020.
Please note that no date has been announced by Government as to when any ceremonies can recommence.
In line with General Register Office guidance and to adhere to social distancing rules, the council is having to restrict face-to-face registration appointments to people who are required to be there only. If this is difficult for anyone, they are advised to contact the council in advance to discuss arrangements for their appointment.
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ciitgnbeogw-scaled.jpg17072560Cllr Joycehttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngCllr Joyce2020-06-10 09:15:462020-06-10 09:18:47Wiltshire Recycling Centres - need to book
Please find below the latest update regarding COVID-19.
Government Updates
On Thursday evening the Prime Minister gave an update on the UK’s progress against COVID-19, having met the five tests that allow the adjustment of lockdown. Full details of this statement can be found here.
From Monday 1 June
1) Nurseries and other early years settings and reception, year one and year six in primary schools can reopen in a safe way;
2) Outdoor retail and car showrooms, where social distancing is generally easier, can reopen; and
3) Up to six people will be able to meet outside (in parks, gardens and other private outdoor spaces) – provided those from different households continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.
Today, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that from Monday 1 June the shielding guidance is being updated so that people will be advised that they can take initial steps to safely spend time outdoors. Those shielding will be able to spend time outdoors with members of their own household or, if they live alone, with one person from another household. Mr Jenrick’s full statement can be found online
Further social distancing guidance will follow in the coming days – please visit the GOV.UK COVID-19 FAQs page here for updates.
From Monday 15 June
1) Secondary schools will begin to provide some face-to-face contact time for years 10 and 12; and
2) The Government intends to reopen other non-essential retail – but only provided the five tests are still being met and shops have been made COVID secure.
NHS Test and Trace service
A new NHS Test and Trace service has been launched in England to help identify, contain, control and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The service will:
• Provide testing for anyone who has symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to rule out if they have the virus
• Get in touch with anyone who has had a positive test result to help them share information about any close recent contact they have had
• Alert those contacts, where necessary, and notifies them that they need to self-isolate to help the spread of the virus
Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.
People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus. Those contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service will be given clear information explaining what they must do and how they can access local support if needed.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that those having to self-isolate will be eligible for statutory sick pay if they are unable to work from home.
The Government has also expanded testing availability for children aged under 5, to help support the phased opening of schools and childcare settings in England from 1 June. From today, all symptomatic individuals in England will therefore be able to access a test if they need one.
A package of £300 million of new funding has been made available to local authorities to work with NHS Test and Trace to develop local ‘Outbreak Control Plans’ (as mentioned in yesterday’s Member’s Briefing). The plans will focus on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools, ensuring testing capacity is deployed effectively and helping the most vulnerable in self-isolation access essential services in their area. A new Local Government Advisory Board has also been established to support this work.
The NHS COVID-19 app, which will form a part of the NHS Test and Trace service, will be launched in the coming weeks once contact tracing is up and running. It will significantly extend the speed and reach of contact tracing, by helping to identify others who may have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus.
Further information on the NHS Test and Trace Service, is available by clicking the following link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works?
Government food parcels – opt out
Those people on the extremely vulnerable shielded list that receive a Central Government food parcel are able to opt out of receiving further parcels should they wish.
Residents to whom this applies, are required to re-register at the Government website www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. Once re-registered they need to click that they do not need support with food to prevent further parcels. Alternatively, they can call 0800 028 8327and follow the instructions.
Residents will need to have their NHS number to hand to complete the process.
UK Heatwave plan
With the very dry and sunny weather conditions this weekend and forecast to continue, Public Health England has updated its Heatwave Plan for England taking into account COVID-19, to help people stay as safe as possible.
The heat can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm. Many of those who are at risk of harm from heat are also at greater risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 and may need to spend more time at home than they would usually. Others may need to stay at home because they are self-isolating or recovering from the infection.
We still have much to learn about how COVID-19 affects the body but both heat and COVID-19 infections put a strain on the heart, lungs and kidneys and are linked with inflammation in the body. As a result, people shielding or displaying COVID-19 symptoms are advised to take extra precautions.
For more information, visit www.nhs.uk/heatwave.
Council updates
Parking enforcement
The council will be reintroducing parking enforcement at all car parks, and on residential and on-street parking areas in the county from Monday 1 June. All parking permits and season tickets will also restart from this date, and parking wardens will enforce any parking contraventions.
On 25 March, the Government gave NHS and care workers free use of all council parking and this will continue until further notice. However, Wiltshire Council went one step further and suspended all parking charges, including in residential areas, from the 27 March which was to be reconsidered when the Government issued new guidance.
As the Government looks to return to a new normal, it is important we reintroduce parking charges and enforcement to ensure the highways and parking networks are working effectively.
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the council’s budget, particularly in terms of lost income, and reinstating car parking charges will help us to continue to support our residents and businesses through these challenging times.
People using car parks should note the following guidance to help keep staff and residents safe and ensure social distancing:
• Cash will be accepted (change not given) at all car parks, but please pay using a digital permit or contactless if you can. Not all car parks accept contactless payments, but all accept digital permits.
• Signage will be in place to let people know of the charges and also to remind people to ensure social distancing when using machines or walking in car parks.
• Where possible, people should park leaving one space or more between cars to aid social distancing. This may not always be possible, but it may be achievable in quieter car parks.
• NHS workers and care workers must place supporting evidence in their windscreen when parking to be eligible for free stays, such as photocopies of work passes with sensitive information removed, or a letter of evidence on headed paper from their employer.
All valid parking permits and season tickets will be restarted from Monday 1 June with the other charges – with the nine weeks of the suspension period automatically added on to the end of parking permits and season tickets. For example, if a person has a parking permit or season ticket that expires on 31 August, that permit or season ticket will now automatically be extended to end on 2 October, nine weeks later. People do not need to contact the council for this extension; it will happen automatically.
Refunds can be given to people who no longer need extended season tickets – contact for more information.
Highways and high streets
The council is set to receive £227,000 of Government funding to support the use of temporary and pop-up measures to create a safe environment for walking and cycling.
Following significant changes in travel behaviours during COVID-19 which saw more people choosing to walk and cycle during their daily exercise, these new measures will help encourage walking and cycling activity to continue whilst maintaining social distance. They play a key role in helping to avoid overcrowding on public transport as shops and businesses start to reopen.
This indicative allocation is part of the first tranche of funding from the government’s £250 million Emergency Active Travel Fund. The initial focus promotes cycling as a replacement for journeys previously made by public transport and could include closing some roads to through traffic, installing segregated cycle lanes and widening pavements.
Many suggestions for schemes across the county have been received and those that meet the funding criteria, including timescales, will be prioritised. Work on these priority schemes will need to start within four weeks of receiving the funding and completed within eight weeks from starting.
A further tranche of funding is likely to be released later in the summer and will help support permanent cycling and walking measures throughout the county.
In addition, Wiltshire Council has been awarded approximately £450,000 to support the safe reopening of high streets across Wiltshire.
This funding comes from the Government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund and supports measures that ensure businesses and their customers can trade safely. This could include temporary changes to public spaces owned by the council and which are next to businesses so they can be reopened safely and supporting retailers on how to make temporary adjustments to their premises to comply with social distancing.
Some measures will be easier to implement such as pavement stickers outside shops showing 2 metres apart and others will take a bit longer as pavements are reconfigured to support social distancing for shoppers. However, the council will work with town and parish councils and key partners to ensure there is local support for any scheme that is progressed and we will aim to implement as many schemes as possible.
Street markets
Following recent changes to Government guidance, Wiltshire Council run street markets will be open from Tuesday 2 June with stallholders now able to sell their full range of goods.
Social distancing will be in place at each of the markets, and the public are strongly urged to take notice of the signage at each site and ensure they do everything they can to adhere to the measures and keep at least two meters apart from each other and the stallholders at all times.
To keep stallholders and the public as safe as possible a socially distancing queuing system will be in place at each market for each stall. Stallholders will be regularly using hand sanitiser, and cleaning where appropriate, and people are also encouraged to pay via contactless where they can and when it’s available, and should not unnecessarily pick up items and put them back.
A number of stall holders have laid their stalls out differently to have a dedicated entrance and exit and operate a one way system and all have been advised to follow government guidelines around hygiene, regular hand washing and sanitising.
Council officers will be on site to manage set-up and ensure stalls are socially distanced, and arrangements are in place at each stall for a socially distanced queue system.
More information on opening times at each location including FAQs can be found at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community-environment-street-markets.
Chippenham, Devizes, Royal Wootton Bassett and Salisbury markets are not Wiltshire Council-run so please check with the relevant councils to find out about their current arrangements:
• Chippenham Town Council
• Devizes Town Council
• Royal Wootton Bassett
• Salisbury City Council
Financial support for vulnerable households
Some Wiltshire residents of working age will pay less council tax due to a Government-funded scheme to support people from the impact of COVID-19.
This latest support package from the Government, which is being managed locally by Wiltshire Council, is aimed at working age families who already qualify for council tax reduction but still have to pay some council tax.
There are currently more than 16,000 working age households in receipt of a council tax reduction in Wiltshire, and around 11,000 of those will qualify for additional financial support under this scheme.
The scheme ensures that anyone who qualifies for council tax reduction will receive a further reduction of £150 in addition to their current council tax benefit. The scheme will not put accounts in credit, so those already in receipt of a 100% reduction will not be affected.
It also applies to those who are successful in claiming council tax reduction for the first time who may need some short-term support, before they return to work.
COVID-19 has left some people struggling financially and this extra money will provide support and hopefully ease the pressure for those who are already in a particularly vulnerable situation.
Qualifying households will shortly be sent a new council tax bill for 2020/21 by Wiltshire Council confirming they have been awarded a further reduction.
If anyone has any questions they should call 0300 456 0109 or email .
Schools – booklet to help families return to school
Schools have been open for children of key workers and the most vulnerable children throughout the lockdown, however as mentioned earlier, the Government has announced early years settings, primary school reception, years 1, 2 and 6 can return from 1 June. Secondary school years 10 and 12 will have some face-to-face contact from 15 June.
For all children, and particularly young children, going back to school with new structures and routines in place is going to feel very different. Schools across Wiltshire are working very hard to prepare pupils for these changes and the council is providing guidance and support where it is needed.
The council’s Schools Team has created a new information guide for parents and carers to support them get their children ready to return. The booklet provides useful advice and tips including:
• Talk about the positives of going back to school
• Talk about all the things you have done during the lockdown period
• Think about ways for them to connect with their friends before going back
• For younger children explain when this is going to happen i.e. there are so many sleeps before going back
• Encourage open discussion
• Start to encourage the number of times your children wash their hands and practise maintaining social distancing
• Share school information with them to help them prepare for the changes
• Put a routine in place in the run up to going back – get your child to talk to you about what the routine will look like
The booklet can be accessed online – www.wiltshire.gov.uk/downloads/22821
Support for older residents
A new ‘Active at Home’ booklet has been launched by Public Health England today to provide practical guidance for older adults on home-based activities to maintain their strength and balance during the Coronavirus outbreak.
The booklet is available to download here. Please encourage people in your community to download the booklet for themselves or share with family or friends that might find it useful.
IT update
Criminals are using COVID-19 as an opportunity to target the public sector, businesses and individuals. The biggest threat is ransomware attacks where hackers attempt to gain access through fake (phishing) emails and prevent you from accessing your computer or data and demand payment to restore access.
Recently the council has seen an increase in these fake emails and the design of some has been very sophisticated.
If you receive an email that in any way doesn’t feel right or has links and attachments which are unfamiliar to you, always be cautious. Don’t click on any links or attachments and forward the email to only.
If you notice something out of the ordinary or if you have any security concerns, please contact the council’s ICT service desk immediately on 01225 718718.
Other matters:
Road and street work permits
From Monday 1 June, the way road works and street works are managed in Wiltshire will be changing.
The Government is requiring all highway authorities to implement Permit Schemes, where anyone wishing to work on Wiltshire’s roads has to submit a permit to work. The current system relies on work promoters submitting Notices where they have a legal right to carry out work.
The new Permit Scheme will allow better control and direction on the works that take place on our roads as they are not permitted to start unless they have prior approval (excluding emergency works).
The change has required an increase in the staffing in the Network Management Team in order to be able to process approximately 33,000 applications per year.
Further information on the council’s works permit scheme system is available by clicking the following link http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-road-works-permit-scheme.
Special schools
Plans to invest in special school education moved a step forward this week after Government officials gave the green light to a key part of the process to provide additional school places in north Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Council wants to ensure that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities have access to a first class education for SEND pupils. The new school is key to these plans.
After consulting extensively with parents, pupils, schools and the community the council approved a number of recommendations including:
• The establishment of a new, maintained special school with a single leadership team to work across all three sites of St Nicholas, Rowdeford and Larkrise schools.
• Expansion on the existing Rowdeford site to accommodate up to 400 pupils as part of the new special school by September 2023.
• Approve that the sites of St Nicholas and Larkrise stay in use until the new provision is ready, and then review if it is appropriate for children to transition to the new site at Rowdeford. This is to be established by approval by cabinet of further consultation on the appropriateness of transferring the provision of St Nicholas and Larkrise to the Rowdeford site no later than 12 months before opening all the new provision. This consultation would be determined by the demand for places, views of stakeholders and wider development of inclusive education for children and young people with SEND living in Wiltshire.
The Office for the School Adjudicator (OSA) examined the proposals to amalgamate the three schools and establish the new, maintained special school with a single leadership team to work across all three sites of St Nicholas, Rowdeford and Larkrise schools. It has now given the green light for the amalgamation to go ahead – a key milestone in taking forward exciting work to develop the provision.
In preparation for the OSA decision the council has already started to design a build programme to meet the need for additional special schools places in north Wiltshire.
The council will be shortly announcing the preferred contractor to oversee the build and it looks forward to working together with families, pupils and schools to ensure the county has the best available provision which meets the needs of our SEND pupils now and in the future.
I hope you all had a safe and enjoyable weekend
Regards
Cllr Philip Whitehead
https://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/eaggqoiddmg-scaled.jpg14402560Cllr Joycehttps://www.broadtownparishcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/btown-logo-534.pngCllr Joyce2020-06-02 10:06:082020-06-02 10:06:08COVID-19 UPDATE – Sunday 31 May 2020 on behalf of Cllr Whitehead
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