All change at Marlborough’s Area Board

It’s all change at Marlborough Area Board, as Tory county councillor Jemima Milton takes the helm, following the departure of former chairman Chris Humphries, who lost his bid to be re-elected as a county councillor following his departure from the Conservative Party.

Recently-elected county councillor Stewart Dobson (Conservative) was appointed the deputy chairman of the board, with councillors Nick Fogg (Independent) and James Sheppard (Conservative) serving as members.

The area boards are a way of working to bring local decision making into the heart of the community, finding solutions for local issues like road repairs, traffic problems and speeding in villages, litter, facilities for young people, and affordable housing.

The format and location of the boards was the topic of discussion at the meeting on Tuesday, May 28 – the first since the county council elections.

Although the Marlborough Community area includes the rural parishes of Aldbourne, Avebury, Baydon, Berwick Bassett, Broad Hinton, Chilton Foliat, East Kennett, Froxfield, Fyfield, Mildenhall, the Ogbournes, Preshute, Ramsbury, Savernake, West Overton, Winterbourne Bassett, and Winterbourne Monkton, it was agreed that all future meetings would be held in Marlborough.

At their inception four years ago, councillors had been keen for the area boards to tour the village halls of the community, bringing the democratic process closer the electorate, but after discussing the distance and drive time between the very north and south of the patch, the meeting decided to hold all future events in Marlborough, which is centrally located, easy to find and offers ample parking.

Attendees also considered themes for future meetings. Broadband, planning and services for young people will each form the backbone of future meetings.

And there will be a change to the grant-awarding process, with recipients of grants expected to report back to meetings to tell the board how the money has been spent, and how it has benefited the people of the Marlborough area.

Three grant applications were approved by board. 

Baydon Young People’s Association received £448 towards new outdoors table for BYPA Hall.

Mildenhall Village Hall Association was awarded £1,254 towards installation of new double door and frame for the village hall to give better access, energy efficiency and security.  

And Marlborough Brandt Group got £1,241 towards development of a new website which will promote their work and enable young people to volunteer in their development work. 

An application from Marlborough Chamber of Commerce for £5,000 towards the cost of a new CCTV scheme for the High Street was deferred until the project is at a funding-ready stage.

The next meeting will be held at Marlborough Town Hall on Tuesday, July 16 from 7pm.