Annual Report 2014 - 2015

TOWN MAYOR’S REPORT

CALNE TOWN MAYOR I first moved into Calne several years ago, after spending many years as a service-man’s wife, travelling the world. At that time the true potential of Calne was already showing through. Even in the relatively short time I have lived here, I feel I have found a real home, everyone is so friendly and the town itself is beautiful. When I was first nominated to be Town Mayor, the thought was somewhat daunting, but with the support of the Town Clerk, Mayor’s Secretary, councillors and staff, I would thoroughly recommend the role to anyone. My diary has been full of so many wonderful invitations and council events. I could never have predicted at my Mayor Making Ceremony quite how busy I would be and how diverse my visits would be. I could produce a list a mile long of places I have been and people I have had the pleasure of meeting – it is so difficult to select a few as they have all been special to me. Just plucking a few from the air would include a visit to the former RAF Lyneham site to see the new college being built there and the former military houses being revitalised to become homes once again, the opening of the new Tesco One Stop Shop, riding pillion on a motorbike at the Motorcycle Meet, walking the procession route at the Summer and Winter Festivals, attending the Remembrance Service and not forgetting my own fundraising Boogie Night at the Town Hall. One occasion does stand out amongst the many and that was the day it was announced that Calne had been awarded a Gold in the South West in Bloom competition. This award is a shining example of what can be achieved when the Council and community work together. The future is important to us all and whilst we must enjoy our todays we must also plan for our futures and those who follow us. Last year the councillors and staff held a visioning day at which everyone had the opportunity to say how they would like to see Calne develop in the future; this produced some exciting and innovative ideas which are now being developed by the Town Clerk, Town Clerk’s P.A. and councillors to form a business plan for the town. This plan will comprehensively detail not only the aspirations for the future, but also give the opportunity to source funding to turn the vision into reality. I am proud to serve on this council alongside such dedicated councillors who have the very best interests of the town at heart. Working as one with the Town Clerk and her staff, everyone contributes time and energy to ensure that the dark days of Calne are well behind us. In closing I must add that if anyone is thinking of becoming a town councillor, or volunteering to help out with any project the town is working on, please come forward, you will never regret it. Cllr Heather Canfer

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT

REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK WOW! Another year has passed. Time goes so quickly, especially in a busy council like Calne. So, what has happened in the previous twelve months? The Neighbourhood Plan is making great progress. Producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the community represents one of the greatest changes in planning law where policy can be shaped in the community which is directly affected. It gives the community the opportunity to have its say about how it wants the town to develop. As we all know as important as it is to get involved and have a say, it is the assurance that there are people listening who know how to make the dreams and aspirations become a reality. The success of any plan is ensuring that the wished for reality is developed in a sustainable way – making sure that the right planning polices are in place, shaped by the community for the community. Volunteers are an important factor in this work, so if you are interested in being part of shaping Calne’s future, please do get in touch – we genuinely will welcome your support and ideas. The Town Centre Masterplan is moving forward and we should soon be setting up a Development Trust with all stakeholders to take the Masterplan towards implementation stage. The Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility continues to go from strength to strength. It has recently become home to St Mary’s School athletics and lacrosse teams. We are eagerly awaiting the installation of the All Weather Pitch as part of the campus proposals. The Campus plans include the creation of a safe road crossing onto the facility for pedestrians. The continuing success of this facility has highlighted the need for additional on–site parking spaces – and grant funding has been assembled to allow for the creation of a new hard standing area to address this need. Your Town Council is all encompassing and isn’t afraid to tackle some of the less savoury aspects of life – in this case dog poo!! We all know there are a few thoughtless dog owners who do not clear up after their pets; it’s not nice and carries health risks for children and unborn babies if they or their pregnant mums have the misfortune to come into contact with it. Some of our staff have undertaken training to enable them to issue fixed penalty notices to those who allow their dogs to foul on our lovely open spaces. An awareness campaign will soon be launched and warnings will be posted around the town – so watch out for Cain – the Town Council’s spokes-dog and mascot. We hope that everyone will follow his advice and ‘Keep Calne Clean’! The various events organised by the Town Council are becoming a big attraction to more and more people each year. They offer a great opportunity for the community to come together. April 2014 saw us introduce the ‘Spring Sing’. It was a very successful event and has been added to our yearly events calendar. Choirs from Calne and neighbouring towns spent a day in the town performing at three venues, with participants including children’s school choirs, representatives of churches, ladies groups, male voice choirs and the newly formed Town Council choir. Like most other Town Council events it is free to enter and/or attend. So if you haven’t experienced it yet please do come along next year. Look out for other Town Council events which are advertised on the website, the Town Council’s Calne Connection newsletter, Facebook and various noticeboards throughout the town.

The Our Place project, a new project concentrating on increasing tourism and promoting the town’s heritage, has three specific aims: the creation of a Heritage Quarter, a branding exercise for the Calne Cure (a unique bacon-curing process), and the development of an A4 tourist route. This will culminate with an official launch in September 2015 at the Food and Drink Festival. One great achievement and most definitely one of the highlights of the year was winning Gold in the South West in Bloom competition. Having in the past achieved silver-gilt this has given everyone involved an even bigger incentive to retain gold. On the judging day a small army of staff and volunteers buffed and polished the town until it literally shone. There was not a piece of litter to be seen, every flower head was perky and fresh, any weeds lurking in the flower beds were quickly chased out of town. Yet another amazing achievement, Calne should be very proud. Another highlight for me was to be unanimously elected as the National President for the Society of Local Council Clerks. It is a great honour and privilege and confirmation that Calne has a pro-active Town Council, engaging with its community and working hard to deliver the community’s aspirations. I am halfway through my term of office and during that time have visited town and parish councils and local branches throughout England and Wales, presented at national and local conferences and worked with newly elected councillors at the invitation of the National Association of Local Councils. This has given me the opportunity to promote Calne on a national scale. I was also sponsored by the Society to attend an international clerk’s conference in the U.S.A; a great experience and another opportunity for me to promote Calne, this time internationally. It has been a great honour being able to spread the word about how amazing Calne is and how the Town Council works with the community for the community’s benefit. The CCTV system still provides the town with protection from crime and the close working partnership with the police continues to flourish. Yet again there has been great success in preventing and detecting crime. Not only do the CCTV volunteers drive down the fear of crime; on occasion they have alerted the emergency services to come to the aid of some in our community who have become unwell whilst in town. The town owes a huge debt of gratitude to the 35 volunteers who monitor the system and make this possible. I am extremely proud and grateful to have a very hard working, dedicated and talented team of people to work with, all of whom have one common objective, enhancing and improving the town. Special thanks must go to my P.A. who keeps me on track and second-guesses my needs with unerring accuracy; also to the councillors who have supported opportunities for the town by working with the officers and supported them in being strategic and visionary which has enabled further development of the town through closer partnerships within the community. And now, through the Neighbourhood Plan we have the chance to future proof and protect its future. Linda Roberts Town Clerk BA (Hons) FILCM

CONTENTS

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CORPORATE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

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INTRODUCTION Councillors Council and Committee Meetings Town Council Staff Staff Training Work Experience

2 2 2 3 3 3

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Financial Services Legal Services Personnel Services

4 4 4 4

FINANCE The Budget Process Partnership Working

5 5 5

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 6 Internal Audit 6 Best Practice 6 Health and Safety 6 Equal Opportunities Statement 6 Freedom of Information 6 Devolution of Services 6 General Power of Competence 7 COMMUNITY SERVICES 9 Town Hall Business 9 Allotments 10 Curzon Street Cemetery 11 Calne in Bloom 12 Open Spaces 18 Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility 21 Help is Only a Heartbeat Away 23 ENVIRONMENT CCTV Planning Applications Street Cleaning

24 24 28 28

CIVIC AND CEREMONIAL Ceremonial Civic Awards Grants and Donations

29 29 30 32

PUBLICITY, PROMOTIONS AND TOURISM Visitor and Community Information Centre Circus Calne Spring Sing Calne Town Crier Competition Calne Summer Festival Big Screen Beversbrook Bonfire and Firework Display Winter Festival Wedding Fair Newsletter

33 33 33 34 34 36 36 37 38 39 40

WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL

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REPRESENTATION ON OTHER BODIES Appendix A - Councillors and their Wards Appendix B - Calne Town Council Staffing Structure Appendix C - Income and Expenditure (Unaudited)

46 47 48 49

HOW YOUR COUNCIL TAX IS SPENT 50 YOUR VIEWS 52

CORPORATE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To represent the views and wishes of all the

residents of Calne

To promote equality of access to every resident To preserve and enhance the culture and traditions of the town To work both independently and in partnership with others to improve the quality of life, by developing and improving facilities and services to the highest standards To maintain the highest standards of Corporate Governance in the administration, performance and conduct of the Town Council To attract investment from both the public and private sectors, in order to ensure the economic well-being of Calne’s residents To ensure the town and future growth is managed in a careful and planned manner by working on a Neighbourhood Plan To comply with the requirements of the Government’s Local Council Award Scheme criteria To use the ‘Power of General Competence’ for the benefit of the community

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INTRODUCTION Calne has a population of approximately 14,000. COUNCILLORS Calne has nineteen Town Councillors who are elected for a term of four years; the next election will take place in May 2017. Councillors are responsible for making key policy decisions and deciding on the Town Council’s spending plans and budget for the financial year ahead. By-elections are held if seats become vacant. The Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor are elected annually in May. A list of councillors and their wards is available at Appendix A. COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Meetings of the full Town Council are held every two months to carry out the majority of the council’s business. These meetings are supported by three other committees: • Policy and Resources • Amenities • Town Development and Planning The Policy and Resources and Amenities Committees meet on average five times a year with the Town Development and Planning Committee meeting every three weeks. The date, time and agenda for each meeting is advertised by means of a notice placed on the Town Council’s notice boards and in the Visitor and Community Information Centre in Bank House, Library, Town Council website and Calne Connection newsletter which is delivered to every household and many businesses in the town. Minutes of committee meetings are also placed on the website. Members of the public are very welcome to attend these meetings. At the beginning of each meeting, 15 minutes is allocated for public participation, during which members of the public may address councillors on any matter relating to policy or decisions of the Town Council. The councillors will not be able to enter into debate on any subject raised during this time of public participation, but may consider the subject at a later date and respond accordingly. At the beginning of each municipal year councillors are requested to state a preference for the committees they wish to serve on. This has proven very successful and is instrumental in councillors becoming very knowledgeable and accumulating experience in the area they choose. In addition to the committees listed above, councillors also serve on a variety of sub-committees and working groups, all of which are affiliated to one of the main committees.

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The Town Council supports the young people of the town by sponsoring the Drop In Centre in Wood Street, run by Councillor Mrs Mercy Baggs. These premises offer young people the opportunity to have a safe place to meet, rather than spending their time out on the streets. The young people have access to computers and a wide variety of games – not forgetting soft drinks and snacks. TOWN COUNCIL STAFF The Town Council employs 23 full-time, 5 part-time employees and 14 casual staff; the staffing structure is at Appendix B. Officers also provide support to councillors as required and a qualified Proper Officer (the Town Clerk) is present at all council and committee meetings to provide legal and practical advice and record decisions that are made. STAFF TRAINING Calne Town Council is dedicated to offering training opportunities to all members of staff, which not only widens the skill base of the employees but also offers them variety of work which they may not normally encounter. The Town Council also believes that the offer of training makes the employee feel valued and reinforces the value of the work they are undertaking. WORK EXPERIENCE Working in partnership with local schools, the Town Council offers young people the opportunity to work at the Council Offices for a week each year to gain work experience. This is a rewarding experience for both the officers and the young people. For the officers it is the pleasure of seeing young people, who for the most part are fairly apprehensive about work experience, actually enjoying it by the end of their week. From the young people’s point of view – the day when realisation dawns that really school isn’t that bad and having a job is quite a serious undertaking.

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FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION The finance and administration of the Town Council is carried out at the Town Council’s offices in Bank House. Finance and administration includes support to councillors, general office support and support for front line services. In addition, finance and administration includes the employment of specialist consultants to undertake quantity and structural surveys, legal services, valuation and land agency services in respect of the Town Council’s property portfolio. FINANCIAL SERVICES The Town Council undertakes a range of financial functions, including accountancy, budgeting, payroll, asset management, debit and credit control. All functions are carried out in-house, although external support from consultants is commissioned on occasion. LEGAL SERVICES The Town Council requires legal services in connection with the management of its commercial properties and in respect of other aspects of its operations. General legal services are subject to a fee quotation periodically with specialist services employed as and when necessary. PERSONNEL SERVICES The Town Council administers its personnel services under the national terms and conditions of the National Joint Council for Local Government services.

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FINANCE The income and expenditure account and balance sheets are at Appendix C. THE BUDGET PROCESS The Town Council’s formal budgetary cycle commences in October when a report is presented to the Full Town Council recommending a budget for the year commencing the following April. Any percentage increase will take account of changes in staff costs to reflect agreed national pay awards, the likely level of inflation for other supplies and services needed by the Town Council and any expenditure on committed capital programmes. During October the Town Clerk presents draft budgets for consideration by each of the three committees. The report presented to the committees will include a summary of the net level of Town Council expenditure for the following year, the resultant Council Tax (precept) to be levied and the cost per Band Household. The budget will then be approved at this meeting. The Council Tax will be collected on the Town Council’s behalf by Wiltshire Council and information on how your Council Tax is spent is available on the Town Council’s website and from the Visitor and Community Information Centre. It will also be included in the Calne Connection newsletter. The Town Council does not receive any revenue support grant from the Government, unlike Wiltshire Council, and neither does it receive any funding from local businesses through the National Non-Domestic Rate. A copy of the budget is available on the Town Council’s website or on request at the Visitor and Community Information Centre. PARTNERSHIP WORKING Calne Town Council and Wiltshire Police have established a firm and productive working relationship; this is in part due to the excellent work and investment made by the Town Council into CCTV services.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Corporate Governance ensures that the Town Council is doing the right things in the right way for the right people in a timely, inclusive, open, honest and accountable manner. This is critical in order to deliver the intended outcomes for citizens and service users and to operate in an efficient, effective and ethical manner. INTERNAL AUDIT During the year audits are conducted by an internal auditor into processes of both a financial and non-financial nature to determine honesty, best value and ensure that adherence to the law and council policy has been observed. A report of audit activity is submitted to the Town Council. Audit frequency is determined by risk factor and recommendations for efficiency savings are made on both audited processes and non-audited processes as required. BEST PRACTICE The Town Council complies with the Accounts and Audit Regulations and applies Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) as a method of accounting the costs of central overheads. HEALTH AND SAFETY The Town Council complies with Health and Safety legislation and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT The Town Council is an Equal Opportunities Employer and complies with all statutory requirements of employment law and issues an Equal Opportunities Statement to all employees when appointed. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The Town Council complies with the Freedom of Information Act, details of which can be found on our website at www.calne.gov.uk. DEVOLUTION OF SERVICES Negotiations are underway for the transfer of assets and services to the Town Council from Wiltshire Council and include the Fire and Ambulance Station (part of the Town Hall Complex).

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THE GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCE (GPC) The general power of competence is a new statutory power available to eligible town and parish councils in England provided for in the Localism Act 2011. The GPC gives a local council the legal capacity to do anything that an individual generally may do that is not specifically prohibited by law. The council would no longer need to ask whether they have a specific power to act, and the GPC is a power of first resort; this means that when searching for a power to act, the first question to be asked is whether the council can use the GPC. For example, you ask whether an individual is normally permitted to act in the same way. • An individual can’t put someone in prison – and neither can a local council (although, like an individual, the council can press for a prosecution). • An individual can’t impose taxes on other people – so a local council can’t use the GPC to raise taxes. On the other hand, an individual: • Could run a community shop or post office (provided they abide by relevant rules) – so a local council can do likewise. • Can set up a company to provide a service. The GPC clearly permits a local council to engage in commercial activity so long as it sets up a company or co-operative society (s4) for this purpose. Sometimes a council can do things that an individual can’t do – such as creating byelaws, raising a precept or issuing fixed penalty notices – but it must do so using the specific original legislation. The GPC does not mean that the council can delegate decisions to individual councillors – this is a procedural matter that remains enshrined in law. Eligible Town/Parish Councils The freedom of the GPC is available to local councils that meet two criteria for eligibility (LA 2011 s8) set out in a statutory instrument known as the Parish Councils (General Power of Competence) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012 that came into force in April 2012. As a Town Council we must decide at a full meeting of the council that we meet the criteria for eligibility at that particular point. A resolution to this effect is then required, clearly written in the minutes of the meeting. The Town Council would then be required to revisit that decision and make a new resolution at every ‘relevant’1 annual meeting of the council that we still meet the criteria. To qualify as an eligible parish council, the council must meet the following conditions: a. the council has resolved at a meeting that it meets the conditions below: b. the number of members of the council that have been declared to be elected, whether at ordinary elections or at by-election, is equal to or greater than two-thirds of the total number of

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members of the council; (co-opted or appointed councillors do not count as they are not elected). Therefore Calne’s requirement is 13 elected councillors. c. The Clerk to the council holds:(i) the Certificate of Local Council Administration (CILCA) (ii) the Certificate of Higher Education in Local Policy (iv) the first level of the foundation degree in Community Engagement and Governance awarded by the University of Gloucestershire or its successor qualifications; and d. The Clerk to the Parish Council has completed the relevant training, and passed the short section 7 of the CiLCA 2012 in order to be fully qualified for the purposes of the GPC (see below).2 e. The Town Clerk holds an honours degree in Community Engagement and Governance from the University of Gloucestershire and has recently completed and passed the relevant training at paragraph ‘d’ above. This means that the Council does meet the conditions to qualify as an eligible council. Risks and Restrictions limiting the GPC There are some risks associated with using the GPC. Inadequate community support or insufficient funding are significant risks while there are several statutory or legal restrictions that the Town Council should consider before using the power. Those risks include:• If the Town Council is already subject to a statutory duty, then that duty remains in place. So, for example as a Town Council eligible to use GPC we must continue to abide by our duties. For example: - The council has a duty to act with regard to the likely effect on crime and disorder and to do all it can to prevent crime and disorder in its area (Crime and Disorder Act 2006 s17).

- The Natural Environment and Communities Act 2006 s40 imposes a duty on local councils to consider conserving biodiversity in exercising its functions.

- The Smallholding and Allotments Act 1908 s23 (1) gives councils a duty to provide allotments if they are of the opinion that there is a demand for them.

A ‘relevant’ annual meeting is the annual meeting (mayor making) of the council after the ordinary election that normally takes place every four years. The confirmation does not have to take place every year. 1

A Clerk who has studied the University of Gloucestershire module covering law for local councils before the academic year 2012/13 (but who doesn’t have CiLCA 2012) must also pass Section 7 of CiLCA 2012. 2

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COMMUNITY SERVICES TOWN HALL BUSINESS The Town Hall comprises the Large Hall, Corn Exchange, Council Chamber and bar, all of which are available for hire by the public and community/business groups for meetings, conferences and training purposes. In addition, the building may be used for craft markets, parties, theatre productions, cinema, gardening displays etc. The Town Hall is licensed to hold Civil Weddings, Wedding Receptions and Baby Naming Ceremonies. During 2014/2015 • Clock - The Town Hall has undergone some major works this year. The clock was surveyed and the reasons for irregular chiming of the bells identified. The bell wires and hammers had corroded, given their exposure to the elements over time. There was also a need to ‘deep clean’ all of the working parts of the mechanism. The dial, with 8 cracked panes, also needed some attention. The clock was completely dismantled and the bells hammers and cranks were removed, cleaned and repainted. All wires were replaced. The decision was also taken to install an auto-winding mechanism which reduces the number of times that the caretaker needs to climb the clock tower to attend to the winding. BBC Radio Wiltshire took a great deal of interest in the renovation and two visiting presenters climbed the tower for a view from the top. • Lift - A partial modernisation of the Town Hall lift was also commissioned, as it had become less reliable and compliant with health and safety legislation, given its age. A new control panel was fitted, there were significant improvement works to the hydraulic system, a complete rewire, along with a number of health and safety features, including installation of an auto-dialler. The Town Hall has taken many booking during the year: • The Town Council made 82 bookings • The Town Hall was used for private hire for 549 bookings. These hirings included Christmas parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties, meetings, training purposes, dance groups and quiz nights. If you would like information on hiring the Town Hall for any event, please contact the Visitor and Community Information Centre on 01249 814000 or visit the Town Council’s website www.calne.gov.uk. Planned for 2015/2016 This year, the Town Council will be considering some redecoration of the Corn Exchange and is looking into potential changes to the toilets.

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ALLOTMENTS The allotments at Beversbrook and Newcroft are continuing to produce an amazing variety of crops for their holders. Some of the plots not only produce the staple vegetables one would expect, like potatoes, cabbages and beans, mouth-watering strawberries jostle for space next to bountiful blackcurrants, herbs give off heady scents as you brush past them, waiting for their time to fill freezers, jam jars or store cupboards. There has been quite a large turnaround of plots this year, which means new people to the sites, many of whom have already appreciated the help and advice given by holders who have worked their plots for years. One particularly pleasing addition to the allotments is children; many of the people new to keeping an allotment have small children. It is an absolute delight to see them with their Mums and Dads; picking up worms and uncovering odd shaped stones – which just goes to prove an allotment isn’t just for retired people. The Beversbrook site has recently established an Allotment Association and will soon be reaping the benefits that brings. The current waiting time for an allotment is approximately 4-5 years at both sites.

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CURZON STREET CEMETERY Curzon Street Cemetery is a non-conformist burial ground. It was opened around 1867 and has been in continual use since that date. There is a small chapel on the site which is available for hire for funeral services. The new arches that were installed following the removal of juniper trees have resulted in many positive comments from visitors to the cemetery. This year a gateway from the lane into the cemetery has had a new gate installed. This gate was manufactured by the same local craftsman who created the arches. The arches have now been planted by members of the Calne in Bloom team and we look forward to seeing the plants flourish.

Cemetery Mapping System A new electronic cemetery mapping system has been installed at the council offices; all the burial records and other associated documentation was installed during 2014. Work has started in inputting records that date back to 1864. This system will assimilate all information relating to burials and will make checking records substantially quicker and easier than at present. If anyone has any questions relating to Curzon Street Cemetery, please call the Visitor and Community Information Centre on 01249 814000.

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CALNE IN BLOOM Trudy King took over the role of Calne in Bloom Co-ordinator at the beginning of July 2014, so it was quite a steep learning curve as the South West In Bloom judges arrived a week after her induction. Ten months have now passed which have been very exciting for Calne and Trudy has now settled into the role. RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood The Calne in Bloom working group has been very active within the community in the past 12 months. Our local community groups have been busy with their ongoing projects. There were 15 entrants in the RHS It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) Campaign for 2014. Each IYN group is assessed in the following categories: Community Participation, Environmental Responsibility and Gardening Achievement and the awards were as follows: Level 2 – Improving Calne Baptist Church Level 3 Developing Calne Free Church Calne Methodist Church Calne Visitor and Community Information Centre Holy Trinity Churchyard Oak Close Level 4 - Thriving Level Calne Environmental Network Calne Heritage Centre The Marden House Centre The Wharf Level 5 - Outstanding Castlefields Canal and River Park Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility Calne Bowls Club Friends of Abberd Brook

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Calne in Bloom Competition The annual Calne in Bloom resident’s garden competition was run alongside the annual allotments competition. This proved very popular with residents and we had plenty of entries. The standard was extremely high which gave the judges a very difficult task. The categories were Best Front Garden, Best Back Garden, Best Residential/Community Garden and Best Container Garden. The first place awards were: Best Front Garden – Mr Paul Waite, The Rise Best Back Garden - Mr Paul Waite, The Rise Best Residential/Community Garden – Penn Court, Oxford Road Best Container Garden – Mrs Park, Magnolia Rise Highly Commended for Front and Back Gardens – Daniel Adams, Oak Close

Whitehall Garden Centre very kindly sponsored the “In Bloom” competitions by providing gift tokens which were presented at the Award Ceremony in September; the prizes were awarded by the Town Mayor, Councillor Mrs Heather Canfer.

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Participation From Local Schools and Groups During early June we invited students from the local schools to help with the annual summer planting displays in the town centre. This event gives the students a sense of pride in their community and also an insight into horticulture. The Council’s Grounds Staff oversee the planting, giving guidance and explaining how the plants will be cared for over the summer season to ensure that the town has a colourful display for everyone to enjoy. The schools who participated were:

John Bentley

Holy Trinity

St Dunstan

St Margaret’s

St Mary’s

St Edmund’s

Fynamore

Priestley

Many more schools and groups have joined the It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative and the RHS campaign for school gardening. Oak Close has a Junior Gardener’s Club which meets monthly and organise special events in the school holidays. The new Skate Bowl group has also joined as an IYN and are in the planning stages of transforming the bank at the site. This will hopefully be a community participation event. The local Air Cadets group has also joined as an IYN. The group are unable to change anything at their HQ so intend to be a mobile volunteer unit assisting in the town and with other community groups as required.

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We are beginning to hear more from the public via Facebook about turning ‘Grey areas into Green’. The RHS Britain in Bloom campaign for the next five years is ‘Greener Streets, Better Lives’ and it is hoped that communities will feel inspired to participate in this initiative to improve their local areas. All ages will benefit and it is hoped there will be more pride in the community and therefore less vandalism. A planting session to promote Gardening Week and the sowing of sunflowers to commemorate 50 years of RHS Britain in Bloom took place at Bank House and a fun time was had by all.

Hanging Basket Workshop Our annual hanging basket workshop was held in May at the Town Hall. The two sessions were very well attended and the participants received excellent tuition from our Head of Grounds Staff, Neil Ash. Members of the grounds team were on hand to pass on tips and lend a hand where needed. Everyone brought their own hanging basket and liner, the Town Council provided the plants, compost and water retaining gel for a nominal fee of £12.50. At the end of the event everyone was very proud of their baskets all ready to add to their summer displays.

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South West in Bloom Judging Day Calne welcomed the South West in Bloom judges on Tuesday 8th July. After a reception in the Corn Exchange they were taken on the judging tour of the town’s green spaces, parks and town centre floral displays. The Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum kindly offered to chauffeur the judges around the town in one of their vintage cars. The judges were shown evidence of what improvements had been made since their visit in 2013. The tour visited Castlefields Park, Bentley Wood, The Bowls Club, the Wildlife Area at Priestley School, Abberd Brook Underpass, Page Close and the Town Gardens. They were very impressed with the quality of the floral displays and loved this year’s purple and yellow theme in recognition of the centenary of the start of World War One and 50 years of the RHS.

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South West Presentation Day at the Civic Centre, Trowbridge On 18th September representatives of the committee went to the South West in Bloom Awards in Trowbridge. 500 certificates were awarded to the It’s Your Neighbourhood entries from all over the South West region including 14 from Calne; all the groups involved did very well. After lunch, the main South West in Bloom Awards were presented and delighted committee members couldn’t contain their excitement when the result was announced, Gold for Calne. Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility also achieved Gold for Parks and Open Spaces. Calne was nominated for the South West Tourism Trophy for the best judge’s portfolio. Huge congratulations and many thanks go to all the staff at Calne Town Council and the local schools and community groups involved in this wonderful achievement. Thanks to all of our sponsors who include St Margaret’s School, Wilkins Builders, Lions Club of Calne, White Horse Veterinary Clinic, Rotary Club, Eco Assist, Bil Group, Riverview Portfolio, Redrow Homes, Cllr Mercy Baggs, JPO Construction, Bevirs Solicitors, WEC, VJ Edwards & Son, EMS, Sureteam, Whitehall Garden Centre and Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum. In February 2015 several of the working group members attended the South West in Bloom Spring Seminar in Melksham. This was a very interesting day listening to a talk by Cllr David Brown, Congleton in Bloom, on the benefits of Bloom. Pattie Pinto spoke on the engagement of children and young people and after lunch we had a presentation on grasses and sustainable planting. The day ended with a guide to the portfolio. The ‘In Bloom’ Working Group are confident that 2015 will prove to be another good year working together with the local community and groups on existing and new projects.

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OPEN SPACES 2014-2015 has been a very busy and successful year for the Grounds Staff and the town. The plants for our summer and winter floral displays came from Bristol City Council’s renowned supplier, Blaise Nursery. Another important change made this year was that the water used for watering the displays is now drawn from the River Marden, thus reducing our reliance on mains water and reducing our carbon footprint; another bonus for using this method of irrigation is a reduction in our bills. We were supplied with excellent planting stock and opted for a magenta and yellow colour scheme which resulted in spectacular long-lasting displays both in the pole and barrier baskets throughout the season. Calne was awarded a prestigious Gold Medal in the South West In Bloom competition. A huge thank you goes to everyone involved in working towards this award, the support provided on the judging day helping out with last minute tidying, litter picking and dead-heading to ensure the town was presented at its very best. 2014 is going to be a hard act to follow, but already plans are well underway for 2015. We have also had many donations of trees and perennial plants, these generous donations are gratefully received as we are constantly changing and improving different areas of the town, including two roundabouts which are being revamped.

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The Grounds Staff, as ever, continue to maintain all the amenity and play areas around the town superbly. This year they have joined with Wiltshire Council’s Community Day initiative to enhance street furniture and clear up “grot spots” in the town. The number of comments on how good the town is looking continues to increase year on year.

The Skatepark was a source of much activity in late 2014. After many years of fundraising by the Bowl Project group, work started on the demolition of the old, but well remembered, Bowl – and within four days all that remained was a huge pile of crushed concrete. But this did not go to waste as it was used for the foundations of the brand new Bowl, the design having been chosen by the Bowl Project members and built by Wheelscape Skateparks.

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After being delayed by bad weather, the Bowl (as it’s now known) opened its ramps, steps and jumps in mid-February and has been a roaring success with all age groups now using the facility. The site is monitored by a new CCTV camera. New young people are now joining some of the original members of the Bowl Project to improve the area further in the shape of a graffiti wall as well as planting the surrounding area with wild flowers. A new CCTV camera was installed within the ever-popular North End Play Area. The camera has the ability to view both the play area and Calne F.C’s ground, thus allowing any potential anti-social behaviour to be monitored and reported to the police if necessary. Plans are underway to overhaul play areas in other parts of the town. Castlefields Canal & River Park Association (CARP) have again been busy in Castlefields Park. The area on the Mound thought to be the site of a castle has been cleared of undergrowth and brambles and the outline of the excavated ruins, which were excavated some years ago, have now been marked with hedgerow. An interpretation board, bulbplanting and other various planting is planned for the future. As part of the Town Council’s ongoing tree surveys, work was carried out in February to remove a very large Black Poplar from the wall in Castlefields. During an earlier inspection it was noted that the tree was becoming unstable. At that time birds were nesting and current legislation protected them and prevented the works being carried out. The felling of the tree was undertaken by a contractor approved by the Town Council, our own Grounds Staff assisted in the removal in the chipping of smaller branches – these chippings were then spread over footpaths on the site. Thanks must go to the many volunteers who continue to turn out in all weathers to assist with development and enhancement of the park. On a completely different subject, members of staff attended training on the subject of issuing Fixed Penalty Notices to people who do not pick up after their dogs have defecated. The scheme will be rolled out in the near future accompanied by a press launch. Calne is a lovely place to live and visit – let’s carry on making it even better!

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BEVERSBROOK SPORTS AND COMMUNITY FACILITY 40,000 people visit Beversbrook each year. Beversbrook is home to: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

75 football teams ranging from 3 year old to seniors 25 other sporting, non sporting and governing organisations Calne Table Tennis Club Calne Tennis Club Calne Cricket Club Slimming World Judo Calne Camera Club Youth Voices and Adult Choir Group Calne Art Group NHS Blood Donation Service Children’s Centre Calne Archers Calne Running Club Calne SMARTT St Mary’s School – Lacrosse and Athletics SuppleCore Pilates Music Bugs Buggy Fit Green Square

Since 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015, Beversbrook has hosted the following: • • • • • • •

708 league/cup football matches 685 football training sessions 600 Tournament matches 43 cricket matches 55 cricket training sessions North Wilts Youth and Minor and Junior Premier League Semi Finals matches 4 Swindon Town Football Club training sessions

Beversbrook has also: • Proudly opened the four floodlit tennis courts • Introduced an athletics project • Hosted two indoor marquee weddings • Hosted one outdoor marquee wedding

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Community Events :• • • • •

Hosts of The Football Association Walking Football Programme for the over 50’s Provided the community with a local big screen cinema Hosted Calne Town Council’s Annual Fireworks Display Hosted the English Ladies Cricket Game Hosted two Wiltshire Cricket Games

Awards:• • • •

Runners Up in the Institute of Groundsmanship Best Grass Roots Sports Facility in UK and Ireland 2014 Achieved Gold in the Britain in Bloom Parks and Open Spaces category. Achieved the level five ‘outstanding’ achievement award in the Britain in Bloom in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category Nominated for The Football Association Grounds Person Award

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HELP IS ONLY A HEARTBEAT AWAY Everyone knows that the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest are absolutely crucial to the survival of the victim. We have all heard of stories where people have had their lives saved due to the prompt action of bystanders who have first aid skills. Those success rates have dramatically increased with the increase of community defibrillators – providing those vital few minutes until medical assistance arrives. Cardiac arrest does not discriminate against age, gender or fitness – it can happen to any one at any time. It can be caused by many things including heart attacks, strokes and major trauma, the survival rate of which can all be greatly increased by early defibrillation. This piece of equipment does not even need to be used by anyone with first aid training, it will cleverly guide the user through the whole procedure – so no-one should be worried about using it. In February 2015 Calne Town Council, in partnership with the South Western Ambulance Service, was absolutely delighted to announce that Phelps Parade in Calne town centre is now home to one of these wonderful life saving devices. It is housed in a purpose-built heated cabinet to ensure the battery is always at the correct temperature. Mayor of Calne, Councillor Heather Canfer welcomed the arrival of the defibrillator saying: “This is an amazing piece of equipment that will be available to the Calne community should it ever be needed. We do hope that the community looks after it. The Town Council CCTV unit will be keeping an eye on it to ensure it remains safe and secure”.

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ENVIRONMENT CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) ANNUAL REPORT The CCTV suite operated by the Town Council continues to be a powerful force against crime, producing consistently strong evidence to assist with criminal prosecutions. A team of dedicated volunteers, under the day-to-day control of the CCTV Manager, works in partnership with local businesses and retailers to provide an invaluable source of information. The police regularly visit the CCTV suite to share vital information and to requisition CCTV footage for further action. Objectives The objectives published in Calne Town Council’s CCTV Code of Practice remain unchanged, but are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that they are current and relevant to the town. • • • • • • • • •

To help reduce the fear of crime To help deter crime To help detect crime and provide evidential material for court proceedings To assist in the overall management of Calne’s town centre To enhance community safety, assist in developing the economic well being of the area and encourage greater use of the facilities in the town To assist the local Police Constabulary in its enforcement and regulatory functions within the town To assist in traffic management To assist in supporting civil proceedings To assist other emergency services

In addition to the above objectives, the system is utilised to carry out welfare roles such as locating missing and vulnerable people, school truants and, during the night time, children and lone females.

The CCTV System and Control Room The CCTV Control Room is a restricted access area where only authorised personnel are permitted to enter. Volunteer Operators work in teams of two, sometimes three for busy town events. This gives effective incident response and much needed camaraderie, particularly at night. Two workstations are equipped with dual control keyboards, spot monitors and the police radio to hand. Operators will work a typical shift of three to four hours, so comfort is of great importance, hence the installation of air-conditioning. Permanent air-conditioning was installed during the autumn providing effective climate control for the comfort of the operators and to minimise the risk of the CCTV recording equipment overheating in high summer temperatures.

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Storenet Radio The main retail outlets in the town centre are linked via the Storenet Radio, alerting staff to known prolific shoplifters approaching their premises. At times when the Control Room is not staffed, the stores continue to use their radios to alert each other of a theft. Liaison with the CCTV Operators enables tracking of the offender and swift communications with the police.

Staffing and training In compliance with Calne Town Council’s CCTV Code of Practice, all potential Volunteer CCTV Operators are required to provide two references and undergo a police check prior to commencing their role. Operators are trained in the use of the CCTV equipment and the relevant legislation, which governs data handling and protection. Upon completion of their training, there is a short written test to evaluate that the training is appropriate and that standards are met. All Operators have received a copy of both the Calne Town Council CCTV Code of Practice and the CCTV Suite Volunteers Handbook and have signed a Declaration of Confidentiality. Operators are always offered additional/refresher training to ensure that all parties gain the most from their voluntary experience and remain competent in the use of all the equipment and are updated with any new legislation. Various initiatives and incentives have ensured that the current volunteers are engaged, motivated and rewarded. Examples of these are:• • • • • • •

Annual presentation evening where certificates are given, along with specific awards i.e. Volunteer of the Year, Long Service Award and Managers Award Summer social Christmas social Training sessions Regular meetings/coffee mornings Feedback on monitoring results leading to convictions Scheduled visits to the Emergency Communications Centre, Police Headquarters, Devizes

The Calne CCTV subscription to the Wiltshire Time Credit Scheme is ongoing. This scheme enables Calne CCTV to reward volunteers for their time by way of a credit for each hour given. Volunteers are able to spend their credits on numerous activities and events both locally and nationally.

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CCTV Operators made 263 entries onto the Incident Log sheet from April 2014 to date. Incidents logged are not indicitive of crime figures for Calne town centre, but are entries made by operators relating to anything suspicious seen on camera in compliance with the objectives set out in Calne Town Council’s Code of Practice. Additionally, we hold an Intelligence Log Book for the recording of ‘Observation’ requests passed via the police radio, details of sightings of known offenders, suspicious behaviour that has not led to an incident and parking offences. Observation requests may include details of Automatic Number Plate Recognition hits (ANPR), school truants, shoplifters, missing persons and drink drivers. During the year, CCTV Operators also made 977 entries in the Intelligence Log. CCTV as a resource to the police CCTV continues to be an invaluable tool to the police for the detection, apprehension and prosecution of offenders. Both Calne NPT and Calne CCTV benefit from a fruitful working partnership and information sharing is exercised by both parties on a regular basis. With the implementation of the Security Industry Authority licencing legislation, new Data Control procedures are now in place. All data is gathered lawfully in compliance with the Data Protection Act with a clear audit trail. Calne NPT is now familiar with Calne CCTV’s ‘Request to View’ and CCTV Data collection procedures. There have been several occasions when a Request to View process has been initiated by Chippenham and Melksham CID. Operators are trained to act proactively and regularly inform the police of movements to areas subjected to on-going antisocial behaviour which fall outside of the cameras’ range, thus preventing an escalation or migration of ASB elsewhere. Wiltshire Police submitted 89 ‘Requests to View’ documents to the CCTV Manager in the past 12 months. Following such a request, the CCTV Manager reviews CCTV data to locate an incident reported by a member of the public, a CCTV Operator or the police themselves and subsequently the data is downloaded and used in prosecutions if appropriate. The quantity of data requisitioned in the last 12 months compared to that recorded in last annual report shows an increase in both discs and stills (printed images).

Achievements The CCTV Team recording and reporting is of a diverse nature; a few are detailed below:• In April, on notification from a staff member in Sainsbury’s, a shoplifter was tracked through the town while guiding police to eventual apprehension near the Town Hall while attempting to board a bus. • In late spring, during an incident outside the Kings Arms, a female appeared to be the subject of an assault, whereupon response units were called and an ambulance tasked to attend.

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• One evening in May a youth was seen shining a laser torch across the library/strand. After much viewed publicity on police Facebook the person concerned was identified and given strong words of advice at the local Police Station. • Late one September evening, criminal damage to a vehicle passing the Wood Street zebra crossing was later reported to the police by the owner. Subsequent scrutiny of CCTV footage around the time revealed the precise moment this occurred and again, after an appeal on social media, a name was provided to police assisting with identification and successful closure to this incident. • Late at night during October, suspected drug use near Beach Terrace was notified to police. As a response unit attended unrest broke out in the Lower Pippin leading to confrontation and an eventual arrest. • After an assault on a female dog walker in Castlefields Park in October, CCTV was asked to consider viewing footage around Calne to assist police with identification of the offender. After considerable work undertaken, the female suspect was caught on patrolling cameras and was subsequently identified and arrested. • The value of continuous patrolling of CCTV cameras was again demonstrated in October when two instances of hoax 999 calls were retrospectively checked against footage recorded once time and location information was relayed from Devizes HQ via Calne NPT. Stills from the footage were subsequently released via police Facebook resulting in the young person responsible being identified. A process that included a direct apology to the 999 call handling supervisor at the Devizes Control Centre eventually followed. • In the early hours of a Sunday morning, a male was seen leaving one of the pubs in the town centre, clearly intoxicated. The male staggered to his car, parked in The Pippin where he sat in the driver’s seat. CCTV alerted the police. The male was charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle. If you have a few hours to spare every week and would like to become a volunteer, please do not hesitate to contact the Visitor and Community Information Centre at Bank House for more details.

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PLANNING APPLICATIONS Calne Town Council is statutorily consulted on planning applications submitted to Wiltshire Council relating to Calne Town. The Town Council also passes comment on applications in the community area, in particular those that will impact on the town. The Town Development & Planning Committee meet every three weeks on a Tuesday evening in the Town Hall, to consider and comment on these applications. During 2014/2015 Calne Town Council was consulted on 125 planning applications. Eight of these applications were objected to by this committee, of which four were later refused permission by the Planning Authority, Wiltshire Council, with two applications still pending a decision. The applications considered included; • • • • • •

Home extensions and alterations Conservatories Tree Works Changes of Use applications Waste Site Applications Advertising/Signage

The committee also deals with applications and issues relating to; • • • • • • • • • • •

CCTV Town events Waiting and parking restrictions Street/road signage Bus shelters and street furniture Street naming Consultation on street trading licences Traffic and transport issues Footpaths, bridleways and rights of way Consultations on local structure plans and waste and minerals plans. All major development proposals affecting the environment of the town centre and the town as a whole.

STREET CLEANING It is Wiltshire Council’s statutory responsibility to keep all of Calne’s streets and public areas clean and litter free. However, the Town Council employs a full-time person to provide a ‘top up’ service to the street cleaning provided by Wiltshire Council.

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CIVIC AND CEREMONIAL CEREMONIAL The Town Council upholds the civic and ceremonial traditions of the town. During 2014/2015: • Civic and ceremonial events attended by the councillors were:

- Mayor Making - Remembrance Sunday - Calne Music and Arts Festival Church Service -Town Criers Competition

• The Mayor attended 63 engagements throughout her year in office. • The robes are maintained by the Support Service Manager and Town Hall Caretaker and checked annually by an approved contractor. • The Town Mayor is supported on ceremonial occasions by the Town Clerk, Mace Bearer and Town Crier.

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CIVIC AWARDS Applications are invited from the public for nominations of persons who have made a major contribution to the public well-being of Calne. There are two awards in this category – a Citizen’s Award and a Young Citizen’s Award. In addition, any young person who shows a particular talent in the field of sports or the arts may also apply for an award under the Town Mayor’s Gift Fund. The awards comprise a cheque and framed certificate. This year two nominations for the Civic Award shone out, one for Ms Sue Boddington and one for Mr Phillip Haines of Haines Construction. Ms Boddington has volunteered tirelessly for the Calne Heritage Centre Trust since the Carnegie Library building was converted into what is now a very popular Heritage Centre. Ms Boddington organises up to 30 volunteer stewards to welcome visitors on a daily shift pattern spanning six hours during the mornings and afternoons – Wednesday to Sunday. She has also organised many exhibitions which attract up to 3000 visitors into the Centre. The nomination for Mr Phillip Haines was to recognise a significant and varied contribution to the community life of Calne over a long period of time. Each year Phil collects and erects the town’s Christmas Tree, which is generously donated by the Bowood Estate. He provides time, equipment and expertise in ensuring that this focal point of the town’s celebrations is in place and safe. After the festivities he and his colleagues return to dismantle and dispose of the tree. In addition, due to the nature and scale of the equipment that Phil owns, he has volunteered on innumerable occasions to assist the Town Council and other community groups. An example of his generosity of time and equipment was seen last November, when at the 11th hour he volunteered to move a significant quantity of wood from the allotment car park, across the Beversbrook Site, to the location for the bonfire. That evening the lighting of a massive bonfire was the opening to a splendid evening of fireworks. The Town Mayor found it extremely difficult to choose between the candidates and decided the only solution was for them to share the honours this year. Both Sue and Phil were presented with a framed certificate and a cheque in recognition of their good work.

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The Town Mayor’s Gift Fund is an award particularly close to the heart of the Town Mayor. This year’s successful applicant was Isobel Fielding. Isobel has been recognised by her teachers as having a real talent for art; more importantly she enjoys her work and is very enthusiastic, keen to learn and develop her natural skills. Being granted this award has meant she will be able to purchase a specialist easel enabling her to experiment using different techniques and materials. It will also help towards meeting the cost of extra lessons to help her develop her full potential and achieve her dream of studying art at a higher level in the future. Unfortunately the weekend before the Award Ceremony, Isobel broke her leg. However, in plaster and on crutches she was able to attend the annual meeting to receive her award. A very brave and talented young lady.

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GRANTS AND DONATIONS Grants and donations (including free use of Town Hall rooms) are awarded by the Town Council’s Policy and Resources Committee which meets bi-monthly. Awards to community groups and other non-profit making organisations are required to meet the Town Council’s strict guidelines and criteria. Any group or organisation receiving a grant must benefit the local community directly. During 2014/2015, the following groups received grants or were permitted free use of the Town Hall. Carer Support Wiltshire Splash Wiltshire Relate Mid Wiltshire Friends of Abberd Brook Wiltshire Music Centre Trust Ltd Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust The Probus Club of Calne CalneFest Calne Enviromental Network (Calne Green Day) Calne Movies Calne Music and Arts Festival 1st Calne Scouts Wiltshire Centre for Independant Living (New Community Art Group) Calne District Community Link Scheme Calne Chamber of Commerce The Carnegie Building is leased to Calne Heritage Centre Trustees free of charge.

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PUBLICITY, PROMOTIONS AND TOURISM VISITOR AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION CENTRE The Visitor and Community Information Centre is based in Bank House (the Town Council offices). This office is staffed by one full-time employee and two part-time employees. The centre aims to deal with enquiries from the public directly or ensure they are passed to the relevant authority on whatever subject, whether is it related to local government issues or not. This office also acts as a Box Office for many community events held around the town, including the Music and Arts Festival as well as the events hosted by the Town Council. In addition, available at the centre is a large selection of tourism brochures and local walking and cycling information. During 2014/15 the centre handled 4258 telephone calls, some of which were tourist enquiries. An even more amazing figure is the number of people who passed through the centre’s doors – a staggering total of 5751. These enquiries covered a wide variety from local information to national tourism. Other services performed by the centre include:• • • • •

A National Express Coach ticket booking office Stockists of local and national brochures A point of contact to report highway defects The first point of contact for the Town Council Town Hall and Civic Wedding bookings

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 4.30pm CIRCUS Calne saw the return of the circus, for the first time in many years, hosted at Hillcroft field from the 16th – 18th June 2014. John Lawson’s Circus was introduced by Ringmaster Attila Endrész and attractions included sword and dagger balancing from Miss Claire Marie, western knife-throwing and whip-cracking from The Marshalls, Hungarian contortions and much, much more! Children young and old had a great time. The acts were varied and Bippo the Clown entertained the audience throughout.

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CALNE SPRING SING Spring Sing 2014 attracted nine choirs from the region. This free event saw all choirs perform in three venues - the Library, Marden House and the Town Hall. A day of music, laughter and the odd tear, the range of music included gospel, pop, soul and some rock’n’roll – something for everyone. Calne Lion’s Club supported the event by running a café in the Corn Exchange of the Town Hall and Calne Choral Society, Supernova and Paul Ogden ran wonderful lunchtime workshops for singers and non-singers alike. The day ended with all choirs performing the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Gary Barlow collaboration ‘Sing’ in the High street together, which was great for the town, local business and community spirit.

CALNE TOWN CRIER COMPETITION Town Criers from across the country had plenty to shout about at Calne’s fifth bellowing competition on Sunday 22nd June 2014. The 14 contestants, in full regalia, made their speeches to the public and town councillors by the riverside at Beach Terrace. The first cry was a home cry and the afternoon cry was on the topic of war and peace, to coincide with the First World War centenary. For the first time, the competition included a junior cry, with Harrison Wylie, the son of Calne town crier Mark Wylie, Alex Borthwick of Peace-Haven and Tom Gahon of Royal Wootton Bassett, with Steven Golding and Stanley Fisher who had come to watch. The contest coincided with a competition in Frome the day before and a joint cup, for the overall weekend winner, went to Peder Nielsen, of Bromyard. He also won first in Calne, with Roy Goodwin of Ilfracombe second and Ken Knowles, of Lichfield, third. The best dressed crier prize went to Warminster’s Phil Seddon, and Lilian Heeks, of Trowbridge, won best dressed escort, as well as best dressed couple with husband Trevor.

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SUMMER FESTIVAL Heavy rain failed to spoil the fun at Calne Summer Festival on Saturday 28th June 2014. Families had hours of sunshine to enjoy the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, donkey rides, Punch & Judy, a surf simulator and many other attractions. Beach Terrace was transformed into a “sandy” Sea View, kindly supported by Chalford Building Supplies and Turner Landscapes. The Royal British Legion marched to celebrate National Armed Forces Day and raised the flag on Beach Terrace. The carnival procession left Bremhill View at 4.30pm in glorious sunshine and then the rain came!! JJ & S Transport Ltd kindly donated cabs, trailers and drivers which enabled the procession to be bigger, brighter and louder this year. The best float prize went to Heddington Preschool, with Calne Scouts second and Heddington Amateur Dramatics third. Calne Players won first prize for the walking entries, followed by Holy Trinity School in second and Cherhill Primary School third. The whole day was filled with music, entertainment and laughter. The rain never dampened the community spirit.

BIG SCREEN BEVERSBROOK The Beversbrook Sports and Community team continue to offer the opportunity for the community to see up-to-the-minute films without having to travel to other towns. The ‘Big Screen’ held in the Community Hall at Beversbrook may not be a traditional cinema setting, however it is comfortable, refreshments are available and it’s all within easy reach of the town. The Town Council welcomes feedback regarding any of its services or events and was pleased to receive the following note:“I would like to congratulate all the staff on duty that evening for the opportunity of seeing newly released films in our own town. I am a great supporter of the Big Screen at Beversbrook for many reasons. It is much safer to send the children to view a film there than to send them on public transport to view in other towns. It is a great facility and it would be a shame to loose it. Please pass onto the staff, what a wonderful job they are doing at Beversbrook, and I will support them as much as possible”.

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BONFIRE AND FIREWORK DISPLAY Saturday 8th November 2014 was a night not to be missed at Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility. With entertainment from 5pm – 8pm Beversbrook was buzzing with excitement. Back by popular demand was the Guy Fawkes Competition and Jennings Funfair. The free sparkler zone and fireshow delighted both adults and children alike. The indoor market enabled people to start their Christmas shopping and the fireworks display lit up the night sky. Thank you to the Lions Club for managing the bonfire and as always a massive thank you to all staff and volunteers for their help in making this year’s event the biggest ever.

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WINTER FESTIVAL What a great Winter Festival on Saturday 28th November 2014. It was a fabulous day starting with wide-eyed children at Santa's 'frozen' themed Grotto and Bjorn the Polar Bear wowed the children (and adults). The food, drink, craft stalls and funfair provided sustenance and gifts, laughter and fun. The fantastic lantern parade broke last year's record with over 600 lanterns and stretched from Bremhill View Social Club down to the narrows on Curzon Street. The lights looked wonderfully bright and festive and the impressive firework display dazzled us all. Thank you Calne for turning out and supporting this amazing event, your community spirit is second to none. Our heartfelt thanks also go to all those that sponsored and supported the festival. To The Hills Group Ltd and Calne Leisure Centre for Bjorn, Chilvester Financial for Santa's Grotto, Katie Harflett for designing and decorating the Grotto and the local stores for the sweets. To J&D Funeral Directors for supporting the Reindeer, JJ&S Transport for the staging, Sound Images Roadshow with the music, Xpressions Street Dance, Singchronise Choir and Anything But Ordinary Productions youth theatre for entertaining the waiting crowds, the stall holders and churches that filled the streets.

Thanks also to Lord Lansdowne and the Bowood Estate for the wonderful Town Christmas Tree, Haines Construction for transportation, Wiltshire Council for the free car parking and Jennings Funfair for the dazzling fireworks. A big thank you to all the children, schools and community groups that took part in the fabulous lantern parade and to the emergency services, Lions Club and all the volunteer marshals, your help was much appreciated.

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WEDDING FAIR Sunday 1st March 2015 saw many future brides visit the Town Hall during our Wedding Fair. With a varied range of businesses showcasing there was something for everyone’s taste. The stars of the show arrived and took up their place outside the Town Hall; two stunning stallions and a beautiful carriage which gave couples a treat on the day. Thank you to Bramble Farm Carriage Hire and all the other businesses for taking part in another successful day.

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NEWSLETTER The Calne Connection newsletter is delivered to every household and many businesses in Calne. During 2014/15 this newsletter has successfully kept residents and businesses up to date with events in the town and has advertised much of the work currently being carried out by the Town Council. If you live in Calne and do not receive a copy of the Calne Connection, please contact the Visitor and Community Information Centre on 01249 814000.

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WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL - HELLOS AND GOODBYES Kevin O’Daly Kevin started work with the Town Council in 2003 as Secretary to the Town Clerk, Ann Kingdon. Kevin was already a very well known face around the town, as he had pounded the streets of Calne delivering post for the Royal Mail. Prior to that he had a long career in the Army – serving with the Horse Guards in London. Following an office restructure, Kevin took on the role of Information Office Supervisor and Town Mayor’s Secretary. Kevin’s knowledge of the town from his days at the Royal Mail meant he knew the town extremely well. He could guide visitors precisely to any location. His pride in the town showed when tourists visited the Visitor and Community Information Centre, he always went that extra mile to help – making sure visitors left with leaflets of all the historical sites and places of interest in the area, not forgetting a good place to eat and stay over if they wished. The Pomp and Ceremony he learned in the Horse Guards stood him in good stead when the role of Mace Bearer was created and he was selected for the role. Prior to that the Mace had been carried by the Town Crier. Kevin was instrumental in the design of the costume which he wears when escorting the Town Mayor on Civic Events. Kevin attended all of the Town Council and community events either in the role of Mace Bearer or as a willing helper. When not at the office, he enjoys watching sport especially horse racing, always saving a Bob Hay Bob joined the grounds team in a part-time capacity, working exclusively at the Curzon Street Cemetery. Bob soon became a well-known face to the regular visitors there and it soon became apparent he was well suited to the role, he instinctively knew when visitors wanted to speak and when they would prefer to be alone. Bob felt he had found his niche - a nice job in a town he loved. However, fate had different ideas and before he knew it he was relocating to Plymouth to be with a very special lady who had captured his heart. We wish Bob and his partner many happy years together.

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Tina Clifford It was with heavy hearts that we said our goodbyes to Tina Clifford in June 2014. Tina has worked in the Visitor and Community Information Centre for 12 years. Her knowledge of the town, its history and many of its people made her the perfect person to be a first point of contact for anyone visiting Calne. Tina, like Kevin, was a long-serving member of theTown Council team, although she did defect for a short period, leaving to work at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham. Fortunately she soon saw the error of her ways and returned to the council in her role of Information Officer. Again, like Kevin, Tina has a vast knowledge of the town and its people. It was a pleasure to hear her extoling the virtues of the town to visitors, always with a welcoming smile on her face. Tina is an accomplished flower arranger, almost instantly changing any random collection of flowers and leaves into an art form. This skill made her the perfect candidate to co-ordinate the Calne in Bloom project. She worked tirelessly to encourage community groups to start projects which would form part of the portfolio required for the competition. As a fundraiser she also excelled, gaining sponsorship for roundabouts, flower beds and hanging baskets from businesses and residents, all of which helped improve the displays in the town year on year. Tina consistently strived to introduce new elements into the portfolio to show community engagement, which included inviting students from local schools to help with the summer and winter planting schemes. There is no doubt that to see students from tiny tots to towering teenagers chattering away happily as they plant is a wonderful sight. Her work with residents, community groups, schools, local businesses etc. has also been extremely successful, encouraging everyone to participate in some way, whether it be hands on planting, cleaning up derelict areas around the town, mucking out ditches, to recruiting a small army of volunteers on the judging day itself, to make sure the town is pristine with not a dead flower head or piece of litter anywhere. She has always been very adept at encouraging local businesses to provide sponsorship for roundabouts, or prizes for the best kept gardens, which has not always been easy in the current economic circumstances. All of this hard work led the town to be awarded silver-gilt awards for three years. There is no doubt without the years of dedication to the project, Calne would not have achieved the Gold Award this year. Tina has left the Town Council to spend quality time with her partner Richard, to pursue their love of long walks and trips to experience new places. We wish them both a long, healthy and happy future.

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James Down James joined the team at Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility in January of 2014 as Groundsman Assistant. His primary duties included the upkeep of the sports grounds and the facilities equipment, but James was happy to help out in anyway he could. In Feburary 2015 James decided it was time to move on and upwards and found employment as Head Goundsman with a private company in Oxfordshire. We wish James every succes in his new job.

Stephen Cainey Steve joined the Town Council as a member of the Grounds Team in June 2014. Having worked for many years at the Honda factory in Swindon, he decided it was time to try something new and something he wanted to do for many years, which was work in his own town. Working as part of the Grounds Team he has particularly enjoyed helping to develop the many wonderful planting schemes and other projects which keep the town looking so vibrant and alive. When Steve isn’t working, one of his passions is to follow motor racing - in particular the Grand Prix. He has visited most of the European circuits and is fascinated by the technology involved in producing and maintaining such high performance vehicles. Another passion is countryside walking, Steve regularly walks around the Bowood Estate and other beauty spots around the country. He loves the combination of good exercise, fresh air and the opportunity to see nature and how it changes throughout the year. Steve added that he loves his work with the Grounds Team, and it is extremely rewarding to be able to put something positive back into the town for the enjoyment of the community.

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Ben Braine Ben joined the Council in April last year. Having now completed a year in post, he is confident he made the right choice leaving his previous employment to work on the Council Grounds Team. Ben has a huge amount of experience in countryside management after gaining a degree at Bath University. He particularly enjoys tree work and hedging; he says it is really satisfying to see a well laid hedge. He is currently working with the Head Groundsman preparing plans and improvements for the Nature Trail, to ensure it becomes an inviting and educational place to visit. In his spare time, Ben loves spending time with his three year old son, especially getting out of the house into the open air.

Trudy King Trudy joined the Town Council in 2014 as a Community Services Assistant in the Visitor and Community Information Centre at Bank House and was immediately identified as being perfect to take on the mantle of Calne In Bloom Co-ordinator left vacant by Tina Clifford. The co-ordination of a project of this size could initially be daunting for some people, but Trudy seamlessly fitted into the role and was soon building on the successes already achieved. As can be read elsewhere in this report, it has given the Town Council immense pleasure this year to be able to announce to the community that Calne was awarded the hitherto elusive award of Gold at the South West In Bloom Awards ceremony held in Bristol. Trudy was extremely delighted to be part of the team achieving this accolade and commented that although she was aware of the project, before becoming actually involved she had no idea quite how much work and planning was required to achieve the standards that gain awards. She was particularly delighted to have the opportunity to visit the gardens of members of the community, adding it was a total surprise and pleasure to see such a diverse range of styles, planting and witness the sheer dedication of gardeners all over the town to create their own little utopia in their own back yards.

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Diane Prior Another new face to be seen at the desk in the Visitor and Community Information Centre is that of Diane Prior. Diane joined the team in July as a Community Services Assistant, before which she had worked at Wiltshire Council for seven years so has a good working knowledge of how council offices operate. She really loves helping the public with their enquires and is constantly learning new things about the town. Diane moved to the town in June this year and has been amazed by the community spirit; she already feels totally at home. During her off duty time, besides being a mum to 2 children, she runs a Street Dance Group. This started off as a bit of fun twelve years ago, but she enjoyed it so much that she decided to get proper certification and teach others. Diane says there are so many good things about Street Dance, but one aspect she really enjoys is seeing people’s self-confidence grow over time. Asked what she would consider to be special about her, the immediate reply was besides being Welsh, she donated a kidney to her brother, something she would do again, and would urge other people to seriously think about.

Claire Selman Claire started working for Calne Town Council in December 2014 as Information Officer in the Visitor and Community Information Centre. From May 2015, Claire will take on the role of Publicity and Promotions Officer to cover Esther Reeve’s maternity leave. Claire joins us from working for the National Trust at Lacock Abbey, where she developed family trails and events for visitors. After recently completing a masters degree at Bath Spa University in Heritage Management, she is looking forward to exploring how Calne’s history can be celebrated and is involved in Calne’s first Heritage Week in September. Claire loves all things creative, enjoys going to gigs and is looking forward to going to Glastonbury Festival in June for the sixth time.

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REPRESENTATION ON OTHER BODIES The Town Council represents the community of Calne in many ways, through consultation, partnerships, lobbying and serving on outside bodies. Appointments of representatives were made to the following bodies in 2014/15 Friends of St Mary’s Calne District Twinning Association Marden House Committee Calne Heritage Centre Trust Calne Welfare Group Calne Town Charity Calne Recreation Club Calne Leisure Centre Ltd Summer Fun in Calne Play Scheme Music and Arts Festival Abberd Brook Restoration Enhancement Project Calne Area Transport Calne Community Transport Castlefields Group CARP Bremhill View Social Club Committee Calne Community Area Partnerships Viridor Steering Group Landfill Site Liaison Group Viridor/Hills Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Renewable Energy Steering Group National, Regional and Local Authority Groups Calne Campus Working Group Sandpit Road Working Group Calne Area Board Community Area Transport Group Air Quality Working Group Community Safety Partnership Focus on Five Group National Association of Local Councils Wiltshire Association of Local Councils Campus Working Group Calne Springs Hills Liaison Group

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APPENDIX A - COUNCILLORS AND THEIR WARDS CENTRAL WARD

Cllr Baggs

Deputy Town Mayor Cllr Marshall

Cllr Boase

Cllr Redmond

Cllr Venton

NORTH WARD

Cllr Ansell

Cllr Conway

Cllr Reid

Cllr Rounds

Cllr Stebbing (resigned as of April 2nd 2015)

Cllr Warnett

Cllr Widger

SOUTH WARD

Cllr Hill

Cllr Davies

Cllr Denley CHILVESTER & ABBERD

Town Mayor Cllr Canfer

Cllr Short (resigned as of April 2nd 2015)

Cllr Trotman

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Cllr MacNaughton

APPENDIX B - STAFFING STRUCTURE

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APPENDIX C - INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Calne Town Council Income Spread 31.3.2015

Services to the Public 29%

Precept 64%

Democratic and Central Costs 7%

Calne Town Council Expenditure Spread 31.3.2015 Loans etc 4%

Service Support Costs 24%

Services to the Public 16%

Buildings 6%

Parks and Open Spaces 14% Capital 19%

Beversbrook 17%

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HOW YOUR COUNCIL TAX IS SPENT Calne Town Council will continue to concentrate on the well-being of the community and this year will see:• Community Events including the hugely popular Winter Festival, Bonfire Night and Summer Festival which this year will include children’s activities on the Green. The Town Council will continue to work in partnership on other events such as the Food and Drink Festival and newly introduced Calne Spring Sing Choir event, as well as having plans in the pipeline for Heritage and Sport related events. • Promotion of the Town Hall for community and private hire. The Large Hall has been fitted with new curtains and the Foyer has been refurbished with new carpeting and furniture, giving a much more welcoming feel to the building. • An increase in the number of CCTV cameras around the town, continuing to work with the local police to provide an even safer environment. • Development of relationships with community groups to make best use of resources and share information. • A continued commitment to build on the extremely successful South West in Bloom Competition, to engage more schools and private gardens and create sustainable planting schemes. • Continued development of the Skatepark area to provide a more challenging and fun facility. • Development of a Neighbourhood Plan for Calne and Calne Without to future proof the town. • Renewable Energy consideration. • Master Plan – to enhance economic development of the town centre. Calne Town Council Expenditure

New Information 2015/16

Community Services/Facilities Central/Corporate Costs Community Projects/Events Total Gross Expenditure Less Income Use of Reserves Council Tax Support Funding from Wiltshire Council Budget Requirement (Precept)

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Previous Year 2014/15

846700 382860 222200

757,801 372,660 217,450

1,451,760

1,347,911

2015/16 254,570 0 74,530 1,122,660

2014/15 205,830 0 102,097 1,039,984

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YOUR VIEWS The Town Council would appreciate your views on the contents of this report as well as any comments, queries or complaints regarding the services provided by the Town Council. For specific help or advice on matters concerning the Town Council you can:Write to :

Calne Town Council Bank House The Strand Calne Wiltshire SN11 0EN

Telephone: Email: Website:

01249 814000 calne@calne.gov.uk www.calne.gov.uk

Facebook: search for ‘Calne Town Council’ Twitter: @Calnetc Alternatively, please contact one of your local Town Councillors whose contact details can be found on Calne Town Council’s website or from the Visitor and Community Information Centre.

This document is available in large print upon request

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