Graham Ellis - my blog
Melksham TC Budget 2025/6 - overview
Received on Friday evening - nearly 40 pages of numbers from the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) to inform councillors. Fantastically useful stuff but not enough time to go through it line by line before we have a private council meeting to work on the budget for 2025/2026 on Monday evening.I have started with the RFO's suggestion which is a "Band D" change from £176 per annum in precept charge on our council tax. But then asking "what do we want our next council to do" and "are there things we are doing that we should ask them not to do".
For the first time this year - and it's three years too late - your council has a strategy. So when it comes to financial planning, we know what we're looking for money to do. Bit cheeky for us to do, but then whilst I expect a number of councillors to step down, and others to seek but not gain re-election, there will be some who very clearly are campaigning and have every intention of being councillors this time next year.
Here are some interesting thoughts
1. Some 85% of our expenditure is fixed / automated / carrying on, and the majority of spending is on staff and staff facilities. It follows that it's paramount we nurture our staff and have a human resources environment in which the team is cherished, is motivated, and puts in 110% to deliver for Melksham in a way they enjoy. Not only is there a huge financial cost in having an unnecessarily high staff turnover, but it puts a delay and frustration onto what we do, and it breaks people - really good people - and that is heartbreaking.
2. Revenue - regular running expenditure every month or year of "£X" costs, over time, 10 to 20 times what "£X" spent on a one off project - that's revenue v capital in accountant terms. Of course, we have to be very careful indeed of the ongoing maintenance costs of projects, and if we can pay for them to pay for themselves at least in running costs if they can.
3. Our precept is the lowest of any town around. It's my view that part of this is our own good prudence, but also a part of it is because we've really not been doing much for the town, and have saved money by not having enough staff and this year spending from reserves as we plan to do up to the end of the financial year. We have also taken the step of minimising the increase in recent years and so driven ourselves into a bit of a corner; you may recall I was the only councillor for the current year to say that we should have had something of an increase. [See footnote]
4. We need to allow for inflation, and rising costs on contract work run ahead of general inflation. As an employer, extra taxes imposed by the budget will add £25,000 on employer's National Insurance; my understanding is that all of our staff are paid a living wage, so I am hopeful that we don't have a rise to cope with legal requirements to lift the people we employ out of poverty.
5. Our strategy allows us (if we wish) to look ahead not just to 2025/6 but also at following years. It's my belief we should do so, remembering that we want money spent next year to provide foundations for following years.
Footnote - for item 3
Here are the current precept figure for a typical (Band D) homme for the current year for towns in our area.
• Melksham 176
• Devizes 206
• Warminster 216
• Calne 226
• Westbury 241
• Corsham 247
• Trowbridge 270
• Bradford-on-Avon 273
• Chippenham 309
People living in Bowerhill, Berryfield, Beanacre, Semington Road beyond the A350, The Spa, Shaw and Whitey, and Sandridge are in "Melksham Without" and have a precept of £90 in the current year. No typo - that's half the amount that our Town Council charges for those homes in the inner area.
This post has been edited - 09:30 on 11th November. A fellow councillor has written "I kindly ask you to remove it and release it once things are finalised" which I feel would be antidemocratic; I feel we need to encourage inputs from interested members of the public to inform us as we make decisions, and not just present them with a result. We are here to represent them, after all. Words like "wildy irresoponsible" and "misconduct" about my post suggest I may have hit a sore point. Copying in others on the request to take the post down suggests an attempt to pressure me into meeting the demands. I have changed one word that you'll see above in italics, and removed a phrase that quantified the overall suggestion of how much the precept might need to rise based on my logic in section 3.
Street Art
It's not UK, It's not Rail ... but it's 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Photographs show wonderful street art on the remains of the wall that's threre as a reminder. Closer to home, there is wonderful street art to be seen in Swindon. And in the last few days, the subway under the A350 has been designated as a street art wall. A fabulous step forward.Published Saturday, 9th November 2024
Ask Melksham Town Council
My computer has ... collected ... a number of concerned and angry messages in recent days, across a wide range of topics. As someone who takes a local interest and has accepted the mantle of being a town councillor and a passenger representative with TravelWatch SouthWest, it's natural and human nature for me to hear about the problems and concerns much more loudly than the success. But our world is incredibly complex; I can explain, inform, help with research sometimes and very often connect the enquirer with someone better placed to answer, but I can only rarely fix myself.At Melksham Town Council meetings, we have a "public participation" section and this evening - starting at 19:00 - you can come along and ask a question in public. Please do so - it's your opportunity. But please note that unless you submitted your question at least a working day in advance, you may not get an answer on the night. The official stance is "you will not get an answer" - the practicality is that most questions are on matters well known to staff and/or councillors and more often than not, you'll get at least the start of an answer.
Now - Melksham Town Council is just one cog in the wheel of public life and a tiny one. It cannot speak for Wiltshire Council, the Environment Agency, Education providers, our parliamentary representative, the law and policing agencies, the health service, the government, public transport providers or other parishes such as Melksham Without who almost completely surround us. But please ask me, or at the Town Hall, if you're unsure who to ask, please do ask me or the council as your people / person with the local knowledge.
I am aware that I am posting this a few hours before the council's finance meeting. So opportunities for you (* meetings are committees I am not on - I plan to attend all of the rest in person):
• 4th(*), 19th and 25th November
• 2nd(*), 10th and 16th December
• 9th, 13th(*), 20th and 28th January 2025.
• 3rd(*), 18th and 24th February
• 10th(*), 11th, 17th and 31st March
• 1st, 7th(*), 21st and 28th April
All meetings start at 19:00 in the Town Hall on Melksham Market Place, postcode SN12 6ES and you can find links to the specific details of each meeting in our calendar at https://moderngov.microshadeapplications.co.uk/MelkshamTC/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx
Published Monday, 4th November 2024
Update - 39 Melksham Town Council projects
There are many projects underway at Melksham Town Council. All through my term been difficult to keep tabs on them. Here from next Monday's public agenda pack is an update on the 39 of those being reported to the Finance Committee. (list in the graphic above)
The list does not include things like Real Time Bus Information, the A350 subway, the Neighbourhood Plan, new vehicles for the Amenities team, the bridge over Clacker's Brook, Explore Wiltshire, Town Steward task lists, yellow line proposals, waste bin wrapping, budgetting processes, and so on.
Please bear in mind that your Town Council is a living beast and things change. Reports such as this one for the agenda pack have to be prepared and checked and then submitted a while ahead. There will already be updates due.
UPD is the latest official updates to the report
SNA stands for Suggested Next Action, many of which have by now taken place.
Allotment Audit and Management
UPD: Audit last brought to AM&A 04/12/2023. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED for the Head of Operations to investigate the legal position and costs implication of removing buildings from the plots at Addison Road that have been subject to a land grab. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to cut a hole in the hedge at Southbrook Road Allotments to allow access to Plots 12-15.
SNA: HD to check with Dave and Mel to bring audit back to Council. Coming to next AMA.
Allotments- Water Troughs
UPD: AM&A 12/08/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to request a further report from officers detailing for each allotment area:
• Is there a current pipped water supply
• Do we have access to that piped supply and are we utilising it
• If not, what other provisions could be made to fill troughs
• The cost implications of all the above (water rates etc) for consideration at next AM&A 21/10/2024.
SNA: DE reccomending to AMA 21/10/2024 to place 1 trough each at Dunch lane and Methuen Allotments they will both be replacing taps so no additional pipe will need to be laid and this will stop people using hoses and wasting water.
Avon War Memorial
UPD: Two coats of paint applied. To Asset Management 21/10/2024 to consider plaque. Remedial work carried out by RBC.
SNA: Rededication ceremony to be held- CS arranging. Plaque approved at AMA 21/10/2024. HD "sourcing suitably qualified contractors to deal with refurbishing the names on the plaque.
Awdry Avenue Play Area
UPD: Officers given permission to work with Community Conversations (who are the lead on this project) on options for the Play Area- subject to funding from WC.
SNA: Consultation event being held at FCC 01/11/2024. SA promoted online and in MIN. CC attending. Special meeting to be set to discuss further after the consultation.
Blue Pool/Assembly Hall Project
UPD: Full Council 22/01/2024, the report on responses from architects was received. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Head of Ops do report back to the Full Council meeting in March with suggestions for how to proceed.
SNA: Full Council 30/09/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to instruct the clerk to go forward with negotiations for an asset transfer. Clarification and clauses will be needed on the following; Access by the public and Wiltshire Council; Access by Melksham Town Council across Wiltshire Council land; Maintenance of boundary wall; Overage and claw back from overage of costs incurred by Melksham Town Council should the project not proceed and the site be sold for residential redevelopment.
BMX Pump Track
UPD: Support the principle of installing a BMX Pump Track at a suitable location in the Town to be determined from guidance offered by JB Extreme Landscapes. Now part of Play Area Strategy.
SNA: Head of Ops to report back to Council with a fully costed proposal for the project to be placed for tender.
Bowmans Court Lighting
UPD: Clerk delegated authority to purchase low level solar lighting up to £8,000. Note: previous estimates may be out of date now.
SNA: JO to talk to residents in Bowman’s Court and obtain permission from WC ensuring resident’s privacy is not invaded, and bring back to council.
Christmas Market & Lights Switch On (2024)
UPD: Gathered expressions of interest for volunteers, entertainers and stallholders. Booked headline Act (Female of the Species), PA, Stage, Security, Stiltwalkers, Compere/DJ, Photo Booth, Fireworks, Santa & Mrs Clause, Face Painter, Mascots. Road closures submitted and posters ready. CC allocating entertainment and stallholder spaces.
SNA:Grotto to be added to TicketSource. See Action Plan for details. Cllrs and Mayor to liaise with local businessses and residents re road closures. For 2025, speak to disability charities (eg: Wiltshire CIL) for advice on safety at events.
Church Street Toilets Transfer
UPD: Interest from Melksham Pet Food Bank to use for storage voiced at Full Council 29/04/2024. Wendy Isaacs from Pet Food Bank emailed 31/07/2024 for update- advised no further progress but in hand.
SNA: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED for officers to explore an asset transfer and produce a report for full council on the potential cost/benefits and risks. Head of Ops needs capacity to action.
East Melksham Community Centre
UPD: As per email 06/08/2024- architect requesting clarity "as to what land has actually been allocated for the Centre as this has potential implications for the design of the Centre and needs to be correct in terms of submission to the Council. Has a Land Transfer progressed/is there yet a Title Plan defining the site?"
SNA: Full Council 19/08/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that · The Clerk will move the matter on by responding to questions from the architect, with reference to Full Council if required · Authority is delegated to the Clerk to employ professional support as she sees fit. · East Melksham Community Centre will be a standing item on Full Council agenda.
Events Calendar
UPD: EVERY DATE EVER spreadsheet created with all TC, AH and community events and details. Plus ongoing weekly events, awareness days and ideas for future events. 'ULTIMATE EVENTS PLANNING LIST' also created with contact details for all event related services, stalls etc and populated with a whole year's worth of event ideas. Comms Officer pulled together suggested ideas and draft 2025 calendar for consideration.
SNA: Task & Finish Group to be set up to discuss and finalise. CommDev 07/10/2024: It was agreed that in 2025 they would like to have Christmas, Remembrance, Proms in the Park or something similar and the Mayors Community Event (or whatever name was given to it). Additionally there would be an event to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II. It was agreed to request a budget of £50,000.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED
(i) For Confetti Battle and Colour Run. To talk with community groups to see if either with fit with a community event that they are running.
(ii) In addition to (i), to discuss at the Community Development meeting in February 2025, whether one or both could form part of the Mayor’s Community Event.
(iii) To discuss Yarn Bombing as part of events to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII
Flood Plan
UPD:Part of Melksham Community Emergency Plan (saved on Shared Drive) last updated 04/01/2024.
SNA: Needs completing and updating.
Green Flag Status for KGV
UPD: AW brought proposal to Full Council 28/05/2024. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED To obtain Green Flag status for King George V Playing Field (commonly called the Park); The Melksham Town Council Strategy Task and Finish group to consider the formation of a sub committee to include councillors, officers and all users of the park to help the Amenities Team plan, manage and maintain this area for people in Melksham and visitors to our area; Task & Finish group to bring an action plan to full council on 29th July 2024. Membership to be open to all councillors and the locum clerk to set dates for a couple of meetings.
SNA: Task & Finish group met 25/07/2024 (DE, JH, RBC, AW). Now to bring action plan to Full Council. Add 'Green Flag Status Application' to Dec AMA.
KGV Eco Loos Conversion
UPD: Complaints from public re: no water for handwashing. AM&A 12/08/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED for eco loos to be converted to plumbed in flush toilets with running water, preferably hot; Baby changing units to be installed in each toilet; The Clerk to ascertain whether planning permission is required; The Clerk to investigate the possibility of claiming back from Healthmatic; Signage to be put on the closed Eco Loos directing people to alternative facilities; The Clerk was delegated to spend up to £15,000 on the project, to be paid from 9244 Major Projects Ear-marked Reserve, subject to approval at full council.
SNA:Full Council 19/08/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the resolution and the allocation of £15,000 funding from 9244 Major Projects Ear-Marked Reserve.
KGV Masterplan
UPD: NVB Proposal completed in March 2019. Individual items in the Masterplan being considered separately.
SNA: See KGV Sensory Garden and Dog Bark. HD and AW meeting to discuss w/c 14/10/2024.
KGV Sensory Garden
UPD: Expressions of Interest invited in Year One for an initial concept design including examples of what could be added, with the possibility of a contract in Year Two for such additional works. Discussed at AM&A 10/06/2024. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to set up a Sensory Garden Task and Finish Group. It was agreed to put membership out to all councillors and to open meetings to the public. To consider Wild Landscapes 2019 proposal in more detail and advise next steps.
SNA: Full Council 19/08/2024 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Clerk to consult with Richard Baulch-Collett, choose a quote and move the project forward. £25,000 is allocated to complete groundwork and then landscape in-house. Start work on levelling area before nesting season resumes. Board to be put up also to let public know what is happening. On AMA agenda 21/10/2024 as part of WC Towns Programme report.
KGV Signage
UPD:At AM&A 10/06/2024 a member of the public asked for more signage in KGV about keeping dogs on leads. Discussed at AM&A 12/08/2024 where Comms Officer was asked to create signage- however Head of Ops was already in process of sourcing signage including byelaws.
SNA: Head of Ops/Receptionist awaiting quotes on various sizes for approval. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Clerk to spend up to £1,000 from budget code 4163 on additional signage. Signage ordered. Signage discussed at AMA 21/10/2024- need to amalgamate signage in one place for KGV.
Newsletter
UPD: In April 2024 Cllrs requested for Public Newsletter to be produced by MIN as opposed to in-house. Approved budget of £7,632 a year to produce 18 pages over that period. MIN saw this spreadsheet and approaced Comms Officer. Content has been in MIN EVERY ISSUE since 15th August 2024.
SNA: Comms Officer in contact with MIN re planned content and has a plan for content for the rest of 2024. Need confirmation on budget code and Cllrs plan for next year.
Phone Boxes
UPD:CommDev 11/12/2023 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to install floral displays in the telephone boxes adopted by Melksham Town Council at Spa Road and Littlejohn Avenue. Amenities Team have sanded down all boxes and fixed the door to the Phone Box near the Pig and Whistle in Forest and will soon be ready to paint and install planters. Boxes cannot be moved. Discussed at CommDev 29/07/2024 and 07/10/2024.
SNA: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED for the Deputy Clerk to investigate other options for long-term use of the telephone boxes and report back to the next Community Development meeting. Pending report and decision, delegated authority is given to speak with relevant local charities and community groups about interim use and to authorise such use (eg: To offer the one in Forest to Community Conversations, and the in South to 4Youth/Spurgeons to use in the interim while we decide best use. Bring report to CommDev 03/02/2025 for alt uses. MYAB could vote on use at launch event in Feb 2025).
Play Area Signage
UPD: Including dogs on leads
SNA: Head of Ops/Amenites Team Manager sourcing effective signage. HD and AW meeting to discuss w/c 14/10/2024.
Project Assurance Sub-Committee and/or Project Action Plan
UPD: THIS SPREADSHEET! :o) Staff, Committee and Meeting Structures all being reviewed to decide where Project Updates sit.
SNA: To be re-visited when Committee and Meeting Structure reviewed in light of new MTC Strategy. Next meeting tbc.
Recruitment of Assembly Hall Staff
UPD: Head of Ops recruiting new Duty Manager
SNA: Recruitment of 30hr pw Duty Manager- in progress
Remembrance (2024)
UPD: PA (Steve Holder) booked. 3000 Orders of Service ordered, received and folded. Security and catering (cupcakes) booked. Suggested at MTC Strategy meeting 05/08/2024 to liaise with RBL for them to take on organsiation of event- RBL declined.
SNA: See Action Plan for details. Road closure confirmed and comms in progress. Attendance being collated. Catering will liaise with AH Team.
Rivermead School Parking
UPD: Teachers using parking spaces behind Pavilion during term time has knock on effect on Café and park users.
SNA: Locum to apply for change of status with Fields in Trust. See also KGV Maintenance Building.
Safeguarding Policy
UPD: JO and AM worked on Policy. Brought to Full Council 22/07/2024. JO spoke to the policy. Some tweaks have been suggested by Councillor Griffin and some amendments would be required to take account of a Youth Council but it can be adopted as stands. Questions were asked about naming the safeguarding officer and training
SNA: Further amendments to be brought back to next Full Council (19/08/2024).
Skate Park Lighting
UPD: Reports from park users of lights dimming/not working. HD/DE contacted WC to gain access key to lights so bulbs can be changed.
SNA: Paul Weymouth to fix when access gained and approved.
Skate Park Signage
UPD: As of Head Ops report to AM&A 04/12/2023, play area signage being chased. Sue Mortimer raised question of signage at Skate Park at Full Council 22/07/2024 following an injury.
SNA: Amenities Team Manager sourcing suitable safety signage. HD/AW meeting to discuss w/c 14/10/2024. Signage ordered
Skylark Road Lighting
UPD: Complaints from residents re: lights shining into their bedroom windows. HD/DE sourced shields to fit. As per email from Town Hall inbox 17/05/2024 "Sorry to hear about the inconvenience. I have spoken to our Head of Operations who has confirmed that we now have shields and arrangements will be made to install them." Same query made 12/08/2024. SL passed to HD.
SNA: Resident emailed again 22/09/2024. Query to HD. Sheilds to be fitted.
Splash Pad Resurfacing
UPD: Delayed due to delivery of materials being held back at
Customs in May 2024.
SNA: Resurfacing ongoing October 2024. PR released and in MIN. Do we need metal signage re: these works? Comms Officer made draft just in case.
Splash Pad Signage
UPD: examples created by Comms Officer in June for Head of Ops to send to signmaking people. Discussed at AM&A 12/08/2024 and Comms Officer printed and laminated posters again to keep at Pad for when needed.
SNA: Head of Ops/Amenites Team Manager sourcing effective signage inc. no photography. Comms Officer sent all in-house signage we currently have for info. HD/AW meeting to discuss w/c 14/10/2024.
Staffing Structure
UPD: Consultation and review undertaken in November and December 2023 in order to have the right number of staff in the right roles at the right times. Locum given delegated authority at Full Council 19/08/2024 to make staffing decisions as needed.
SNA: New staff started Autumn 2024. Comms Officer created new, accurate staff structure plan. HB and TP to work to streamline and clarify structure and roles.
Street Trees
UPD: Approval granted to plant 20 additional street trees and Melksham Shed/SS Carpentry to make containers from recycled wood. See also Wiltshire Towns Programme Funding
SNA:Wiltshire Towns Grant Report to AMA 21/10/2024.
Town Centre CCTV
UPD: All cameras fully operational. Policy before Full Council in November.
SNA: To be discussed FC Nov 2024.
Town Hall Clock
UPD: Clock mechanism unserviceable.
SNA: Sourcing suitable replacement.
Town Hall Flag Flying and Lights Policy Update
UPD: Policy to be updated, taking into consideration spreadhseet of all potential flag and light-up dates put together by Comms Officer. Policy needs to make clear who makes decision on what occasions we fly flags and light up Town Hall for.
SNA: Policy to be revisited and updated for consideration at Full Council. Current Flag Flying policy on website. Queries over 999 Day and which events we light up in Septmber raised by Comms Officer- needs guidance asap to avoid any offence to public. A few lights happened in sept- comms officer shared, unsure of policy. TP/TP to discuss.
VE Day 80th Anniversary Event
UPD: Brought to CommDev 07/10/2024 to discuss ideas to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.
SNA: UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to set up a Task & Finish Group inviting Melksham Without Parish Council and community groups to be involved. Councillor Aves, Councillor Oatley, the Deputy Mayor Councillor Rabey and Councillor J Westbrook were elected to the group. It was agreed to hold an initial informal meeting of these four councillors and the Deputy Clerk. (iii) To discuss Yarn Bombing as part of events to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII.
Website Structure
UPD: Report written by Comms Officer re: need for an editable and effective website, plus quotes for consideration. Comms Officer also started work on a proposed website structure which is based on the new MTC Strategy which will highlight all chosen priorities and all necessary content plus added value for residents and visitors.
SNA: Report with HB to check and take to Full Council.
Website Upgrade
UPD: Report written by Comms Officer re: need for an editable and effective website, plus quotes for consideration.
SNA: Report with HB to check and take to Full Council.
Wiltshire Towns Programme Funding
UPD: Wiltshire Towns Programme Funding
SNA: Report plus lots of new ideas for new projects brought to Council by HB and consultant at Asset Management Monday 21st October.
Phew! That was a lot of formatting work - and that's a clue as to how much is going on. Please feel free to ask me to clarify any of the abbreviations and let me know of any further questions or feedback. A huge THANK YOU to the staff member who has been collating all this lot - and it's so much better than we have had before. With a web site upgrade proposed, it is crucial that we make updating documents like this for the public real easy - obviously that sort of thing has been the bread and butter of my working life and I look forward to seeing what is proposed.
Published Sunday, 3rd November 2024
Asking for a grant? Help yourself by showing an interest
I am not on Melksham Town Council's Finance, Admin and Performance Committee this year - just 7 of the 15 Town Councillors sit in that. The rest of us may choose to attend if we wish, might speak, but cannot vote unless standing in with prior agreement for an absent member.On Monday (4th November), the committee will "consider applicants for grants to community groups" as follows:
8.1 Avon Bowls Club (Pages 31 - 38)
8.2 Back on Track- Stroke Rehab Service (Pages 39 - 90)
8.3 Celebrating Age Wiltshire (Pages 91 - 98)
8.4 Forest Community Centre (Pages 99 - 108)
8.5 HELP Counselling Services (Pages 109 - 118)
8.6 Melksham Foodbank (Pages 119 - 126)
8.7 Melksham Phab Club (Pages 127 - 134)
8.8 Read Easy North and West Wiltshire (Pages 135 - 142)
8.9 Splash - Community First Wiltshire (Pages 143 - 152)
8.10 The Parochial Church Council of the Melksham Parish of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Melksham, Salisbury (Pages 153 - 170)
The Agenda Pack is (here) - it's public - and I have left the page numbers in there so that you can quickly go to sections of interest.
We have some marvellous community groups in the town, and it's usual for there to be far more applications for grants than the council's budget can meet (my colleagues in setting this year's budget chose to cut the amount of money for grants) and it is highly likely that some of the about will be funded - at least partially - but others will not be. I would recommend to representatives of applicant organisations that they attend on Monday both to confirm their interest, and to be on hand to answer any questions that arise; better that than a "no" based on councillors having an outstanding question.
As well as one-off grants such as these above, the Town Council through this committee makes "major grants" to at least half a dozen organisations each year. Such grants are in some cases a significant part of that organisation's income each year, and to help the with their business planning we resolves at the start of this council term to finance them for all of our term subject to an annual monitoring report. This decision was made in order to give them, and the people in the community who use their services, some continuity. Looking at the monitoring reports in the agenda pack (page 171) rather sadly only one of the six organisations is marked green, - three are yellow and two are red. I am not going to name them in my blog, but the detail is there in public if you wish to read it.The handling of major grants for the next financial year will be in the hands of the new council you will elect in May, though the budget available to the council to make the grants will be set by the outgoing council. Clearly, there is nothing to stop the new council in May rewriting and reallocating the funds available within the overall anticipated precept and other income, and indeed our first meeting in May 2021 saved money by cutting back staff. It is really important at this stage for major grant applicants to keep the council sweet, and for councillors who are likely to still be councillors next year to express their views in the setting of a budget which meets their aspirations, and how major grants will be handled until 2029.
Published Saturday, 2nd November 2024
Growth in Melksham - do we need it? will we cope?
1. Kensington and Chelsea2. Wiltshire
3. Richmond (Surrey)
4. Dorset
5. Somerset
What have they in common - in fact what ranking is this? It's a housing affordabiity index in larger local authorities, looking at where house prices are high compared to wages. We are short of housing in the UK, so these are the places that the goverment has ramped up house building numbers the most.
From the BBC a couple of months ago as new targets were rolled out: The leader of one of the West's largest councils has said he is "livid" with the new government's proposed housing targets. Plans published on 30 July show an 81% increase in the numbers expected to be built in Wiltshire Council's area, up to 3,500 per year. Wiltshire Council's Conservative leader, Richard Clewer, said it was the equivalent of building "another Salisbury" over the next 15 years - and hit back at claims rural areas have not built enough homes.
Speaking with an expert and good technical friend yesterday, the way the numbers have been determined is a simplistic one, without consideration of commuting to work. Here in Wiltshire, many people commute out to excellent jobs in Bath and the greater Bristol area to the west, to Swindon to the north east, to Newbury to the east, to Andover, Basingstoke to the south east, and to Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole to the south. We have limited "city" high tech employment actually in the county, and don't even have our own University though I know and have known many academic types in places like Bradford-on-Avon.
And so ... our housing requirement is bumped up ...
OK. But. We are 250,000 working, 510,000 living in Wiltshire - so one job for every 2.04 people. For England as a whole, 33.3 million employed from a population of 57 million - so that's one job for every 1.71 people. So why are we required to have such an extra uplift of houses here, encouraging disproportionate population growth, when we don't have the jobs?
And if the houses are built and occuplied:
• Are we also to be bolstering our employment somehow? and/or
• Are we planning to improve our travel infrastrucure and/or services to surrounding employment? and/or
• As our towns get bigger do we require better internal travel within them?
Let me just look at what this means for my own home town as an example
Plans for the next decade in the Melksham Community Area were already to build an average of 165 new homes per year, and if the build across Wiltshire is in proportion that rises to 300 per year. Now is the time for us to consider, plan for and implement the suggestions of organisations like Transport for New Homes if we don't want our existing road network congested out of efficient use. Public transport, cycling and walking is not the solution for all journeys but yet it can take the lion's share of people movements, and must be configured to do so before new householder go out and buy their 2nd or 3rd cars.
It is instructive to look back at the Transport for New Homes report on Clacker's Brook, Melksham and to look forward at the draft Melksham Local Plan, published before the uplift described in this article.
Illustrations:
1. (Head of article) In the "Prime Ministers" housing area of Melksham - a view over the countryside, and newly occupied houses with the roads and driveways already laden with cars
2. (top left) From the Wiltshire Local Plan (even before the uplift) - suggestion at the location of picture No. 1
3. (top right) The daily bus to Calne and Marlborough - a service far too thin to be of general use to the residents of Melksham. Other servics are better but not by as much as they need to be for them to be generally used
4. (bottom left) Our bus stops don't even get looked after to encourage services to be used, and information is lacking or often incorrect
5. (bottom right) And even on current population levels, the Town Centre jams up with cars where, perhaps, some of the occupants could be using a bus if there was one, or cycling if it was easier and fekt safer.
Published Friday, 1st November 2024
Council Report - budget, planning, subway miscellany
I came home from the Economic Development and Planning meeting last night invigorated - somewhat by the meeting, but much more by the extra chat with others beyond councillors who were present too. Some are new to the Melksham scene, others familiar faces and I look forward to working with them all in coming years. Personally, I will be involved in a way I am happy - in areas where I have knowledge, a desire to learn more, and an aptitude to achieve for Melksham. So moving away from the generalist seat of being a councillor where I feel at very best tolerated. Perhaps that's a bit unfair of me to feel that way, as on some niche (they should not be niche though) topics, my council colleagues do put trust in me.So ... to report:
1. Listen to the strategy. What a relief that the Town Council now has a strategy and is thinking about how to implement that strategy as we set the budget for 2025/26. I had prepared ahead of time to address each of the five topic areas and how they might be funded next year and indeed through the next council, and it was good to hear that others see the logic of matching available finances to what we want to do. Early days - I think I'm ahead of my colleagues in taking a deeper look at this but as "Econ Dev" meets every three weeks, we all have an opportunity to think more thoroughly. I'm interested to hear how colleagues campaigning for re-election would like their financial foundations to b set.
2. Planning - I was swayed by debate, and changed my opinion after listening to public and fellow councillor comment. Bloor Homes have applied for a planning condition change to allow all 450 homes on the new estate to be occupied before the relief road is opened, rather than having to pause at 350 until the work is completed. My initial view was that I believe we are just weeks away from that road opening (yes, really!) so the planning application is a technicality that won't matter by Christmas. However, it would appear that there is a history of planning conditions, imposed for safety reasons as the new estates are built, being broken and to "roll over" and accept this request for change would set a dangerous precedent. So my vote went to putting in an expression of concern - an objection in planning terms - to encourage the application to be called in for proper full consideration.
3. Subway. Happy to be talking outside the meeting concerning access to our railway station. It is just an 8 minute walk from the Town Bridge but yet (I am told) feels out of town and unwelcoming. I agree with what I am told too - a walk of 8 to 10 minutes past an out of use factory, through a graffiti-strewn subway that frightens people, and though an industrial estate that's a pretty lonely place after dark. I/we have been aware of these issues for years, and have tried (and failed to date) to implement a solution that makes the route from the town to the station more welcoming. Talking with several new people last night was not the time to be going back through the history on this, but rather to acknowledge that I and we know there is an issue, for which a solution is proposed and being implemented. And I hope it really happens.
4. Real Time Bus Information. NOT on the Committee's project list (I wonder why not?). Agreed in the spring, implemented as planned in June in Melksham Without, but nothing yet in the two most used bus stops at the Market Place and outside the Kings Arms. I was promised last week in August, but ... the told that I mis-understood that promise. Maybe, but I HAVE now an assurance of an update rather than having this project get forgotten.
5. Railway - and a report back on the letter of concern we sent to GWR relating to the reliability of their train service at Melksham, in particular in relation to short notice cancellations. These are usually reported as being due to insufficient staff or working trains being available. The letter was sent a couple of months ago, and we still await a reply. We did hear back from our Community Rail Partnership, who explained why the trains are not reliable, but were unable to offer any substantive news on how the acknowledged problem will be fixed - they are in GWR's hands (and GWR's masters perhaps - the Department for transport who are the puppet masters in many ways). But I can report back on what may be things getting a bit better - hard to tell because the problems go up and down - and I can also report on a somewhat better provision of alternative road transport. On a (different) matter I have spoken with GWR managers twice earlier this month, and they have confirmed that their MD received the letter ... the fact that it has been copied around within the organisation is encouraging, as is the new Wiltshire Rail Strategy which I wrote about last week - you'll find that if you scroll down.
Published Wednesday, 30th October 2024
Clarification - end of councillor term
A clarification is needed. I am looking forward to the end of my term as an elected councillor on Melksham Town Council. I am not campaigning for re-election, which means you should not expect to see me on the ballot paper!! It has been the most challenging and personally unhappy experience over the last three years and has proven to be something I am not cut out to enjoy doing. I do have things that I could point to as achievements but at a huge investment in time that I could have invested on other positive and more effective things, and I look forward to being more focused on those into the future. Watch this space, or what it transforms into next May. Last time around, there were seven candidates for four seats in the South Ward, and I would expect there will be a range of candidates for you to choose from next year.
Legally, I would be able to stand in another ward if I wished - absolutely NOT doing so. I have been and remain a strong believer that a local (parish) councillor should live in and among the people he or she represents; that's not a universal view - indeed of the four councillors elected in 2021, I am now the only one who's still in place and lived in the ward at those elections. And I love the community around / delighted to work with and for the public - the term "work" is an odd one because the whole thing is voluntary - I've not received a penny in expenses and at times am asked to pay for things which are a natural part of my duty. I declined to spend £50 to be a town representative at something the other week, and being asked for money to undertake what I feel should be councillor duty gives me the opportunity to take a personal decision. Were I on expenses, "duty" would come in.
To complete my clarification. I too have felt the unpleasantness felt by others who have resigned or are far less visible these days, and barring some sort of miracle suggesting that things have changed and will stay changed, you will not find me on the ballot papers for the Town Council in May 2025. Nor, as I was asked at the bus yesterday, will you find me standing for Melksham Without Parish Council - I have been asked about that, but I no longer live in The Parish. I will continue to happily "work" with both teams, in spheres where my background and knowledge can help, for the greater good of Melksham. I will not be one of those ex-councillors who feels they know better and make life challenging for the new team, but rather looking to concentrate on helping steer public and sustainable transport and the longer term shape of the town.
* our new bus service enhancements that started last month need to run for several years before they can be proven effective, and promoted through that period.
* the rail strategy just published is undated but realistically looks forward a decade or two.
* the Neighbourhood Plan looks forward up to 2038
The bonuses / gains for our area will come from these projects long after next year's elections, and none of them is likely to be vote-winners when compared to some of the progress that we have started to make in recent months - and from the resolution of so many backlogged items.
Finally – to be 100% clear. We had some excellent staff when we took over. We started with a round of redundancies, in which we removed the role of strategic planning for the town and with that lost (IMHO) our human resources glue. The cost of that latter loss, because it effects people’s personal job roles, is confidential but if you look at various signs that are public you might start to see the depth. Such things take time to work through the system, but we have now started to employ further excellent staff – some already making a difference and others learning in and very promising. And I look forward to supporting and working with them, and I implore the personnel committee to look after the employee base – signs are that lessons may have been learned. Staff should be in roles that they enjoy, can do well, are provided with the tools and training for, are not overloaded, can do without fear of unjustified reprisal or bullying, and are appreciated and secure. The negatives in that list should be things of the past – the positives be the future way, and when I come to vote for my new councillors next May, how the candidates will treat the whole team will be one of my evaluators.
I have loved working with the public - still with you for six more months and therafter on specialist transport and strategy issues. And I love working with excellent staff team members too, and with some fellow councillors.
Published Sunday, 27th October 2024
Happy to Chat bench - Peter and Margaret Blackburn
"Happy to Chat" bench, in King George V Park, Melksham, dedicated yesterday (25.10.2024) in memory of Peter and Margaret Blackburn. Peter was a chair of the Melksham Railway Development Group from w-a-y back, seeing train services at Melksham move from 2 each way per day (too early and too late to be of much use) to 9 each way, with a 25 fold increase in passenger numbers, and that provided the background for a longer platform and longer trains. Such was the success that the group renamed from a development to a user group ( https://www.mtug.org.uk). when it was formed in 2010, Peter also became president of the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. As well as his public transport support (you could always rely on Peter to be at and advocating our cause at events), he was president of Wiltshire Hockey, a key representative at the Federation of Small Businesses, and a Wiltshire Councillor who - although a member of a political grouping even to the extent of being an election agent - worked for and was respected by all.
Margaret, as well as being Peter's life supporter and always there at public transport events, held key roles in the Women's Institute in the Corsham / Melksham area for many years, and was a major player at Melksham's Tourist Information Centre too - she would welcome and help direct visitors to the town, and the "TIC" became not only a tourist information centre but a TOWN information centre too, where many a resident has been helped find out more about their town - a real welcome to newcomers, and a refresher and update for old hands.
Peter and Margaret had three sons, who they spoke of proudly as they made their way in the world - with international tales. Peter loved to chat about all sorts of things, and it's really fitting that this bench is designated as a "Happy to Chat" bench. Although busy business people, two of his sons made it along to the dedication, and they well telling me how proud they were of their dad, and how delighted and tickled pink he would have been at the bench and how it would encourage positive dialogue. They also found it very fitting that the bench is in KGV, just a few hundred yards from where Peter and Margaret lived in latter years.
Pictures - thanks to Bob Morrison, with us yesterday in the park to repressnt TransWilts. The headline piture shown Peter and Margaret's sons Richard and Mike chatting on the bench.
Published Saturday, 26th October 2024
Wiltshire Rail Strategy by Network Rail
A press release from Wiltshire Council welcomes the Wiltshire Rail Strategic Study by Network Rail, which I have a copy of and have shared [here]Yesterday morning, I spoke after Sarah Gibson, the new MP for Chippenham on BBC Wiltshire, who was talking about what it set as the strategy for her constituency - and the "high profile" news is that Network Rail, at long last, see the case for new stations at Corsham and near Devizes. Listen (here). The news for Melksham is much more important, and much more immediate - it is the top priority.
The report calls for extra capacity on the line through Melksham, where the current service of one train every 2 hours or so each way is "thin". We have done wonders over the years helping it move from "useless to almost everyone" to "thin" - and as a result journey numbers have risen 25 times over. But we still only have a fifth of the passenger numbers there are at Bradford-on-Avon, a town less than half our size. I congratulate them on doing so well, but look to learn so that we can bring our service up.
We need a train each way every hour. That's up from 9 to 16 each way each day, and with that done properly - a regular "clock-face" service - we might rival the B-o-A numbers - still be less journeys per head of population, but up from 70,000 to 420,000 per annum - a six fold increase for some more (less than twice) the number of trains. The problem is that the line through Melksham is a long single track section and it's full with our passenger and freight trains, and if anything goes wrong with the train running, reliability suffers and chaos ensues.
The Network Rail first stage proposals - even ahead of new stations - are to put in a loop where two trains can pass each other near Melksham. There used to be two tracks all the way (indeed they used to be "broad gauge" so wider) and there's no need for major earthworks. Some slewing of tracks and maintenance work on embankments and cutting at the loop would be needed.
A second step in the proposal is to restore a track at Westbury to add a fourth passenger platform. That would be partly used by the services through Melksham, and partly by the London to the West of England service that would call there every hour rather than every 2 hours. It would reduce traffic jams waiting for an available platform - all too common, and often a train waits for another passengers would LOVE to connect onto.
The Melksham and Westbury proposals are not the headline-grabbers at this stage, but they are very important for Melksham - a town with a population larger than Devizes and Corsham put together, and with thousands of new homes planned where Corsham has "just" hundreds. All are needed - Wiltshire has slipped behind with our last brank new station in 1937 (Melksham closed from 1966 to 1985 and some count it as a new station, but it wasn't).
Having got a proper trains service, the Network Rail report also looks at North-South connectivity - onwards from Westbury with thought trains to Salisbury and Southampton, or to Frome, Yeovil and Weymouth, with cross-platform changes to the other set of stations possible. And onwards from Swindon on a new service to Oxford and perhaps Bletchley / Milton Keynes and Bedford for the north, and then to Cambridge. Let me be very clear, these are NOT just Melksham benefit - they are equally benefits for both Chippenham and Trowbridge which are bigger towns even than Melksham, and also lined up for even higher new housing numbers.
Now - Melksham Station. It has come forward in the last decade from a bare platform for a single carriage where the industrial estate runs out, but it lacks a welcome, it lacks a public toilet, it lacks staff to make you feel safe, and it lacks any onward public transport to the Town Centre or to the residential areas which are mostly on the other side of town. These elements are not part of the Network Rail plan, but they are going to be things to be resolved for the new services to be accessible and used by all."The table shows that population is concentrated around Swindon and principal settlements of Trowbridge, Salisbury and Chippenham." ... Guess what - Swindon and Chippenham are to the north of Melksham ans Trowbridge and Salisbury to the South. We in Melksham are in an ideal position to benefit from a direct strong train service to all four principal settlements, with our trains shared and the economic case being reinforced by the strong through traffic.
Published Friday, 25th October 2024