Agenda item

To receive the following announcements through the Chair:

·       Recruitment of Hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

·       Solar Together Wiltshire.

·       Fostering in Wiltshire.

·       Change to Community Area Transport Groups (CATGs) into Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIGs).

·       Fuel Camps.

The following announcements were received:

·                 Recruitment of Hackneycarriage and private drivers

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall drew attention to a briefing note attached to the agenda which acknowledged the current shortage of taxi drivers in Wiltshire. It was outlined that Wiltshire Council has lots of contracts available which start at on average £30 a day for short routes, increasing to £250+ a day for longer routes. Additionally that to become a taxi driver it takes around six weeks and costs around £400; and to be licensed people need to provide proof and undertake a series of simple checks. Further information could be found within the briefing note.

·                 Solar Together Wiltshire

Cllr Martin Smith drew attention to a briefing note attached to the agenda which outlined a scheme that Wiltshire Council is driving forward locally called “Solar Together Wiltshire”. The note informed that Wiltshire Council is working with independent experts iChoosr and Swindon Borough Council to give homeowners the opportunity to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage. Cllr Smith informed that this is a group-buying scheme which will offer solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as offering battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, as well as increase their independence from the grid.

It was noted that the scheme is free to register and there is no obligation for people to go ahead with an installation. All residents living in the Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council areas who own their own house (or have permission from the landlord to install a solar PV system) can register for the Solar Together group-buying scheme. Further information regarding the scheme and how to register could be found within the briefing note.

·       Fostering in Wiltshire

Cllr Chuck Berry stated that currently in the north part of the county there is a shortage of foster parents and therefore encouraged the local community to promote fostering as a spiritually and financially rewarding gesture. Cllr Berry noted that fostering is a superb way of giving back to the local community and offers the opportunity to shape the lives of young people. Additionally, it wasnoted that the baseline payment for fostering was £350 a week, which would have the potential to increase.

·                 Change to Community Area Transport Groups (CATGs) into Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIGs)

Cllr Elizabeth Threlfall noted that on 26 April 2022 Wiltshire Council Cabinet approved plans to change Community Area Transport Groups (CATGs) into Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups (LHFIGs) – and increase funding for community highways projects.

It was explained that the key difference between the new LHFIGs and the former CATGs is that the new groups would be able to improve or repair existing infrastructure such as highways and footways, while still investing in new infrastructure, as the previous CATGs could. The funding arrangements of LHFIGs was also explained with further information regarding LHFIGs and the Cabinet report available to access through the briefing note.

·       FUEL Camps

The Chairman provided information about FUEL camps, which are a programme of holiday activities and food provision. The camps are funded across England by the Department of Education (DofE) and aim to provide children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals with free access to enriching activities, nutritious meals and nutritional education during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays. Further information regarding FUEL camps as well as well as a report on the impact of FUEL in 2021 and a grant application form could be found within the agenda pack.