Minutes:
The Chairman made the following announcements:-
(1) Events attended by the Chairman from 9 July to 25 November 2019
Tuesday, 9th July, 2019 Full Council Meeting – County Hall, Trowbridge.
Thursday, 18th July, 2019 Wiltshire Scout Council AGM and Celebration of Wiltshire Scouting, Potterne.
Tuesday, 3rd September, 2019 Hosted the ‘Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day’ flag raising ceremony, County Hall.
Sunday, 15th September, 2019 CPRE Best Kept Village Competition Presentation
Day. Visited Charlton, near Malmesbury, Urchfont,
Bratton and Ansty.
Thursday, 19th September, 2019 Trowbridge in Bloom Awards Evening, Civic Centre, Trowbridge.
Friday, 27th September, 2029 Royal visit of HRH The Duke of Gloucester to
Melksham Town Hall for the 800th anniversary
celebrations of the granting of a Royal Charter by
King Henry III in 2019.
Tuesday, 1st October, 2019 Attended the EmployAbility Job Fair in the Atrium.
Saturday, 5th October, 2019 The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain Western Section Reception, Town Hall, Marlborough following the opening of the Fair.
Friday, 11th October, 2019 Chippenham Town Council Purple Flag Breakfast at
The Neeld Community & Arts Centre.
Monday, 14th October, 2019 WRFCA Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Cadet Awards
Presentation, Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon.
Tuesday, 15th October, 2019 Royal Visit by HRH The Countess of Wessex to the MENCAP South Wiltshire’s 60th anniversary tea party at the Guildhall, Salisbury.
Tuesday, 22nd October, 2019 Dedication of new Police Standard, St. Andrew’s Church, Chippenham.
Thursday, 24th October, 2019 The REME HQ Officers’ Mess Corps Autumn Guest Night, MoD Lyneham.
Friday, 25th October, 2019 RBL Wiltshire County Poppy Appeal Launch 2019, Bowood House, Calne.
Friday, 1st November, 2019 RBL Field of Remembrance Opening Service, Lydiard Park, Swindon.
Saturday, 9th November, 2019 Imber Remembrance Service.
Sunday, 10th November, 2019 Salisbury Remembrance Day Service.
Monday, 11th November, 2019 Chippenham Town Council Armistice Day Commemoration.
(2) Events attended by the Vice-Chairman from 9 July to 25 November 2019
Tuesday, 9th July, 2019 Full Council meeting – County Hall, Trowbridge.
Saturday, 5th October, 2019 Warminster Town Council launch party of new skate
park, Warminster Lake Pleasure Grounds.
Friday, 11th October, 2019 Chippenham Town Council Purple Flag Breakfast,
Neeld Community and Arts Centre.
Sunday, 13th October, 2019 Royal Wootton Bassett Mayor’s Civic Service, St. Bartholomew’s and All Saints Church.
Tuesday, 15th October, 2019 Royal Visit by HRH The Countess of Wessex to Entrain Space, Wilton (formerly known as Our Wilton).
Sunday, 10th November, 2019 Trowbridge Remembrance Day Service.
(3) Cllr Jerry Wickham – Members will be aware of the sad passing of Councillor Jerry Wickham on 23 July 2019. A thanksgiving service was held at St. John’s Church, Long Street, Devizes on Friday, 9th August, 2019 and a Book of Condolence was placed in Trowbridge library for two weeks.
Cllr Wickham represented the Ethandune Division after winning a by-election in 2014, after a distinguished career with Wiltshire Police, and as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care had a huge impact upon this council and the people of Wiltshire as was noted in the many tributes given in this Chamber at his last Council meeting. Jerry had been followed in representing Ethandune by his wife, Councillor Suzanne Wickham, whom the Chairman welcome to the Council.
(4) Resigning Members – The Chairman noted the resignation from the Council of Councillor Roy While, Melksham Without South Division, which he had represented since the formation of Wiltshire Council in 2009, due to ill health. He extended the thanks of the Council to Roy for his dedicated service to the people of Wiltshire, both as an elected member and before that as a local government officer.
He also noted the resignation from the Council of Councillor Deborah Halik, who was elected in 2017 to the Trowbridge Lambrok division. The Chairman recorded his thanks to Deborah for her work during her time on the Council, and noted the by-election for Trowbridge Lambrok was due to be held on 28 November 2019.
(5) New Members – In addition to Councillor Suzanne Wickham, the Chairman also welcomed Councillor Nick Holder as the new Councillor for Melksham Without South, and Councillor Carole King as the new Councillor for Westbury North, following the resignation of Councillor David Jenkins announced at the last meeting. He invited new councillors to stand to introduce themselves.
(6) South West Challenge – On 3 October, a team made up of five Wiltshire Council employees took part in the South West Challenge 2019. The team was made up of Vicky Bodman, Jenine Brister, Sean Chacksfield, Doug Coombs, Claire Lovelock and Lynn Trigwell. During the challenge, the team played the part of a senior management team of a failing fictitious council for the day and had to work together and form partnerships with other delegates to turns its fortunes around.
Wiltshire Council won the overall challenge, ahead of 18 other teams – the first time the council has won the challenge.
The Chairman formally recognised that achievement by presenting an Award to the successful team.
(7) Local Council Award Scheme – The Chairman congratulated Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council for being given a Quality Gold certification through the Local Council Award Scheme. This was a government benchmarking scheme administered by the National Association of Local Councils to recognise and celebrate excellent governance, leadership and best practice in local government. Only 47 Councils had achieved Quality Gold status through this scheme.
The Chairman requested that If Members were aware of any other town and parish councils who had received similar recognition he would welcome that their achievements be reported after the meeting so that they could be included next time.
(8) Membership of Cabinet Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader, reported that he had appointed Cllr Simon Jacobs to the post of Cabinet Member for Finance & Procurement.
(9) Motion No. 16 – Trophy Hunting The Chairman reported that this Motion had been withdrawn by the mover and seconder prior to the meeting.