To receive any announcements through the Chairman.
Minutes:
Deaths of Former Members
The Chairman paid tribute to the following former members of the Council. She passed on her thoughts to their families and thanked them for their dedicated service to the people of Wiltshire.
Cllr Bill Douglas, who represented Chippenham Hardens and England from 2009 to 2021, passed away on 3 February 2025. He also previously served on North Wiltshire District Council and was a longstanding member of Chippenham Town Council. His funeral would be at 2pm on 6 March at the West Wilts Crematorium.
Cllr Tom James, who represented Trowbridge Adcroft from 2009 to 2013, passed away on 11 February 2025. He was previously a Member on Wiltshire County Council and West Wiltshire District Council, as well as serving as Mayor of Trowbridge Town Council. He was awarded the MBE for services to Local Government. His funeral would be held at 10am on 10 March, also at the West Wilts Crematorium.
Cllr Edward Kirk paid tribute to Cllr James’ advice and service to the community, describing him as a great loss to Trowbridge.
Death of the Former Lieutenant of Wiltshire
The Chairman also paid tribute to Lieutenant General Sir Maurice Johnston KCB, CVO, OBE, who had passed away on 10 November 2024.
Sir Maurice, who had died at the age of 95, was Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire for eight years between 1996 and 2004. He served in the British Army from 1949 to 1982 and was Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff between 1981 and 1982. After retirement from the army, he had an active career in business, as well as supporting various schools and voluntary organisations in Wiltshire.
Chairman’s Engagements
Since the last ordinary business meeting of Council, the Chairman had attended the following engagements:
17 October 2024 – WRFCA Lord-Lieutenant Awards Presentation Evening
9 November 2024 - St Giles’ Church, Imber Service of Remembrance
10 November 2024 - St Thomas’s Church and War Memorial, Salisbury Remembrance Sunday Service
12 December 2024 - County of Wiltshire Carol Service, St James’ Church, Trowbridge
18 December 2024 - Wiltshire Lieutenancy lunch, Seend
She also highlighted that Peter White, Enforcement Manager at Wiltshire Council, had received the Chief of General’s Staff Commendation for his 30 years’ service with the Wiltshire Army Cadet Force, where he served as Colonel and Commandant.
Since the last ordinary business meeting of Council, the Vice-Chairman had attended the following engagements:
10 November 2024 - St Andrew’s Church, Chippenham Remembrance Sunday Service
17 January 2025 - Royal visit by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal to West Wiltshire Youth Sailing Association, Westbury to celebrate the handover of the lake and new clubhouse
Honours
The Chairman announced that a number of Wiltshire residents had received national recognition in the recent New Year’s Honours List and congratulated those who had been honoured.
DCVO
Dame Sarah Troughton, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire - for exceptional services to Wiltshire
CBE
Dr Peter Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, National Physical Laboratory - for services to UK science and technology
OBE
Mr Peter Clegg, Senior Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios - for services to architecture
Mrs Carole Gould, Campaigner and Co-Founder of Killed Women - for services to the victims of domestic violence and their families
Mr Richard Livesey, Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence - for services to defence
Dr Petra Oyston, Fellow of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - for services to science and defence
MBE
Miss Laura Ward-Ongley, Founder of and Global Chief Executive Officer at EXEAT - for services to international trade, to sustainability and to women in business
Mrs Rachel Yates, Director of Clinical Improvement, GIRFT Programme - for services to clinical quality improvement and patient safety
BEM
Mr Michael Perrin, President of Melksham Town Football Club - for services to grassroots football and the community in Melksham
Other Announcements
The Chairman reminded members that they had received a survey about planning for the induction and training programme to follow the elections on 1 May. She requested that as many members as possible completed the survey to help ensure the programme was as useful as possible for new and returning members.
It was announced by the Chairman that Item 17, Gypsy and Traveller Site Development Plan Document, would be deferred to an appropriate future meeting in order to further consider the plan and points raised by local communities.
Last meeting
During the course of the meeting a number of Members announced it would be their final meeting before the 1 May 2025 elections, at which they would not be standing, including Cllrs Simon Jacobs, Dr Brian Mathew MP, and Charles McGrath.