Agenda item

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Questions may also be asked by members of the Council.  Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Stuart Figini of Democratic Services stuart.figini@wiltshire.gov.uk/  01225 718221 by 12.00 noon on 10 March 2021. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

Two questions had been received from Ms Susan McGill and were included in Agenda Supplement 2 together with responses. As a supplementary to the question regarding the Wiltshire Council Annual Governance Statement further detail was requested of consideration of governance of the Stone Circle companies established by the Council. It was stated that a governance review was taking place in respect of Stone Circle which should be completed by Summer 2021, and that it was aimed that they be self sufficient from a technical perspective in future. It was also confirmed that there was limited financial impact on the council finances, with no revenue budget allocations.

It was stated that a briefing for Members on Stone Circle and information for the public could be provided once the governance review had been completed.

Councillor Ian Thorn asked a question on the responses of Chippenham Town Council and Calne Town Council rejecting proposed road route options for the Highways Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid during the recent consultation, and what impact this had on the proposals.

The Leader, Councillor Philip Whitehead, detailed the background of the HIF bid process, the housing need within Wiltshire over the coming decades and potential investment within Chippenham and benefits of joined up development which needed to be better communicated to residents, and that all responses would be carefully considered by relevant bodies.

Councillor Clare Cape also later asked a question on responses to the HIF consultation and whether these would be responded to appropriately, and the lack of a direct ‘no road’ option.

Councillor Whitehead confirmed all responses to the consultation would be taken into account, and that free text options allowed people to respond to say that they did not support any road option.

Councillor Thorn asked a question regarding scrutiny of the Furlong Close which had been requested by the Leader at Full Council on 23 February 2021, and whether this should involve all parties.

Councillor Whitehead stated that Overview and Scrutiny would determine how best to scrutinise the ongoing issue and that he noted previous excellent work undertaken by the service.

Councillor Jon Hubbard asked a question regarding the impact of unplanned development, and disproportionate shares of development in communities such as Melksham, noting recent speculative applications around the town. He asked for assurance that smaller towns would not be penalised because of taking a constructive approach to development in the past, and regarding concern with lack of proper infrastructure.

Councillor Whitehead stated detailed master planning was important for long term development, and that there was a need for a fair share. He also provided an update on the 5-year land supply, which he considered was in a defensible position or shortly would be.

Councillor Ernie Clark asked a question regarding whether the council still regarded neighbour plans as a foundation for place shaping, drawing attention to proposals within the Local Plan Review.

Councillor Whitehead noted that the Local Plan Review had been begun very early to enable the fullest consideration, and that as with pervious reviews many of the plots included in the first list would be excluded, and that neighbourhood plans being used to identify inappropriate as well as inappropriate sites would be a part of the process.

Councillor Bridget Wayman asked a question regarding the implementation of the Bath Clean Air Zone by Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES). She noted the impact of heavy polluting vehicles being diverted from the main trunk road into smaller towns and villages within Wiltshire, and the lack of agreement by BANES to monitor the impact on Wiltshire of its decision.

Councillor Whitehead noted the importance of upgrading the A350 over time to operate as a major route and reduce the impact on towns of increased traffic, and that the action by BANES could result in a transfer of clean air issues from Bath to the Wiltshire area. He stated the issue had been raised with BANES and with and through the MPs, who had raised it with the relevant Minister. The need as outlined in guidance that heavy polluting vehicles are not displaced into other areas by clean air zones was noted.

A discussion followed involving Members of the Cabinet and other Members present on the Bath Clean Air Zone and its impact on towns such as Westbury and Bradford-on-Avon, and the national issue of transport on major routes being impacted by a decision from an individual authority.