Minutes:
(a) Queen’s Birthday Honours
On behalf of Council, the Chairman congratulated those who had received national recognition in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List, details of which he read out to the meeting.
(b) Flying of Wiltshire Flag
The Wiltshire County Flag, adopted in 2009, was flown for a week from Eland House, the Department of Communities and Local Government Offices in London, from 6-13 June 2011. This was part of an initiative led by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr. Eric Pickles to fly a different county flag at the Department’s offices each week to celebrate the cultural heritage and history of each County in Britain.
The Chairman advised that in future, the Wiltshire County Flag would be flown from the hub buildings in Devizes, Chippenham and Trowbridge, to promote Wiltshire and its identity.
(c) Municipal Journal Awards 2011
The Chairman was proud to report that on 23 June, Wiltshire Council received the Municipal Journal’s 2011 award in London for the ‘most effective political team of the year.’
He explained that the award gave the Council a national profile and reflected the commitment and dedication of its members and staff to help provide improved services to the people of Wiltshire. This was seen as a huge accolade for the Cabinet which recognised their strong leadership in establishing the direction for Wiltshire Council as a unitary authority.
(d) Hercules’ Farewell to RAF Lyneham
The Chairman reported that on Friday, 1 July 2011, the last of RAF Lyneham’s Hercules’ fleet of aircraft transferring to RAF Brize Norton flew at low level, in stream formation to say a final goodbye to the people of Wiltshire. The aircrafts left RAF Lyneham and flew over Avebury, Calne, Devizes, Warminster, Melksham, Trowbridge, Colerne, Lyneham, Wootton Bassett, Malmesbury, Tetbury and the Blunsdon area of Swindon, before the final leg of their journey to RAF Brize Norton. This event marked the end of a remarkable era not only for the RAF but for the people of the county of Wiltshire that had supported RAF Lyneham so well over the years.
(e) Award in Leadership Management
The Chairman reminded Council that at its last meeting, certificates were presented to the Councillors who successfully completed the Award in Leadership and Management. Councillors were advised that a further course would be run in the Autumn. Councillors interested in enrolling on this course were asked to contact officers Lynda Williams and Marie Todd for further information.
(f) The late Brian Atfield
The Chairman noted with much regret the sad death of Brian Atfield, who served local government and the community of Cricklade with distinction and dedication for many years. His funeral was attended by several Councillors.
The Chairman considered that his death was a great loss not only to the town of Cricklade but also to the County. Tributes were made by a number of Councillors including the Leader, Cllrs Hubbard, Newbury, Jeff Osborn and Colmer.
There followed a minute’s silence, as a mark of respect.