Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mike Cuthbert-Murray, Simon Killane, Leo Randall, Stephen Petty, Mark Griffiths, Rod Eaton, Sheila Parker, Jonathon Seed, Bridget Wayman, Ian West and Tom James.

The Chairman referred to the previously circulated letter dated 27 January 2012 from the Monitoring Officer which gave specific advice to Councillors in relation to declarations of interest on items on the agenda for this meeting.

The following declarations of interest were made:

Cllr Francis Morland – personal interest - in respect of items on this agenda by virtue of his registerable interests as previously submitted including land holding; member of Dilton Marsh, Chapmanslade and Heywood Parish Councils and Westbury Town Council; having been lobbied  and made representations on items on this agenda particularly those referred to at minute no.s 7 and 9. He confirmed that his judgement had not been clouded and would therefore participate in the debate and voting.

Cllr George Jeans – prejudicial interest – minute no.s 8 and 9 - Social housing payments with reference to Mere – would leave the room at the appropriate stage in the meeting.

Cllr Chris Caswill – Personal interest – minute no. 7 in relation to the Lower Compton site and minute no. 9 - strategic sites identified for the North Wiltshire area and would participate in the debate and voting.

Cllr Judy Rooke – Prejudicial interest – Wiltshire Core Strategy - her property backed on to Rowden Lane, Chippenham which was very close to the Country Park and strategic site proposed for development. 

Cllr Julie Swabey – Personal interest – in items on the agenda.

Cllr Christopher Devine – Personal interest – minute no.s 8 and 9 – he had been lobbied by Bloor Homes which was owned by Triumph and he owned a Triumph Scrambler. 

Cllr Josie Green – Personal interest – minute no. 8 and 9 - in so far as they related to Bloor Homes in respect of her registerable interest as previously submitted.

Cllr Toby Sturgis – Personal interest – minute no. 9 in so far as it related to land at Great Somerford which he had previously owned and currently lived adjoining the site.

Cllr Tony Deane – Personal and prejudicial interest – minute no.s 8 and 9 – would leave the room.

Cllr Christopher Newbury – minute no. 7 – by virtue of having made representations on the document.

(a)          Royal Wootton Bassett Signs

The Chairman reported that four old road signs welcoming people to Royal Wootton Bassett had raised £3,320 for Help for Heroes on the auction website ebay. The Council sold two original signs reading ‘Welcome to Wootton Bassett’ – which were in place at the Town before it received its Royal patronage – and two created for the Town’s renaming ceremony, which read: ‘welcome to Royal Wootton Bassett’.

The town had become known for the dignified way residents lined the High Street to pay their respects when the bodies of troops killed in Afghanistan were repatriated. In October 2011 Wootton Bassett became the first town in more than 100 years to get the Royal prefix.

(b)       Staff Awards

The Chairman congratulated the winners of this year’s Staff Awards. With more than 300 nominations, many categories had been closely contested. He extended his congratulations not only to the winners but to all those who were nominated and shortlisted.

The awards were an opportunity for the Council to recognise and thank those staff and teams that went the extra mile to improve the quality of life for so many people, be they colleagues or communities. A round of applause was given as a mark of appreciation for the staff.

(c)      New Year  Honours List – Wiltshire Recipients

The Chairman was delighted to announce that a number of Wiltshire residents had received national recognition in the recent New Year Honours List, the names of which he read out at the meeting.

He drew Council’s attention to one recipient in particular, namely, HM  Lord Lieutenant for Wiltshire, John Bush, who was made a Commander of the Victorian Order.

Councillors joined him in congratulating them all on receiving national recognition.

(d)      Mr John Bush – Lord Lieutenant

On behalf of the Council, the Chairman paid tribute to Mr John Bush, who retired as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Wiltshire on 5 February 2012.

Mr Bush had lived most of his life in Wiltshire and had made an enormous contribution to Wiltshire in so many ways over the years which included being Chairman of the Magistrates’ Courts Committee, member of the Police Authority, a former High Sheriff of Wiltshire and the founder and first Chairman of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, which still continued to care for elderly victims of crime.

His knowledge of Wiltshire was outstanding and he had totally devoted himself to his County since his appointment as Lord Lieutenant eight years ago. 

The Chairman thanked Mr Bush for all he had done for Wiltshire and commented that he would be greatly missed in this role across the whole County.  His successor was Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton from Wanborough.  Mrs Troughton had had a close association with the Community Foundation and Community First.  Mrs Troughton would have the Council’s complete support across the County during her time as Lord Lieutenant and on behalf of Council, the Chairman wished her well as she took up her role.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

It was noted that with this being an Extraordinary meeting of Council, public participation was restricted to items on this agenda only. The Chairman reported receipt of questions and statements in connection with items on this agenda which he would deal with at the corresponding stage in the meeting.

No notices of motion had been received for this meeting.

Please note that Councillors are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the first page of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) not later than 5pm Tuesday 31 January 2012. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

With this being an extraordinary meeting of the Council convened specifically to determine items on the agenda for this meeting, questions were similarly restricted to items on the agenda. The Chairman reported receipt of questions from Councillors Chris Caswill and Judy Rooke which would be addressed at the corresponding stage in the meeting.

Report by the Service Director for Economy and Enterprise.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document is enclosed separately for members of the Council and available on the Council’s website.

Public Participation

The Chairman reported receipt of a question from Mr Edward Nicholson, Dr Peter Alberry and Lynne Eddy, details of which were presented along with a response from Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning – question and response attached as Appendix A.

Mr Nicholson addressed Council and asked the following supplementary question:

Sought confirmation that the time limited strategic nature of the Lower Compton site is specifically confined to waste treatment (excluding waste to energy) and that the site is excluded from the list of appropriate locations for strategic MRF/WTS facilities as identified in the draft Waste Site Allocations DPD.

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe undertook to provide a written response.

The Chairman reported receipt of a statement read out by Mrs Neal on behalf of Chitterne Parish Council, details of which were presented.

-------------------------------

The Chairman introduced the item and reminded Council that it was being asked to consider and approve the Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Site Allocations DPD for submission to the Secretary of State for the purpose of Examination. He advised that whilst Councillors might wish to ask questions on the Document’s development and proposals within it, the Document had previously been considered to be ‘sound’ by Council at its meeting on 17 May 2011. He noted that following pre-submission consultation, changes had been proposed to remove a number of sites based on new evidence. 

At the Chairman’s invitation, Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe presented a report which set out:

·         A summary of the plan preparation process to date;

·         The key issues that have emerged through the recent consultation undertaken June to August 2011;

·         The arrangements for submitting the draft DPD;

·         The implications of the Examination process; and

·         Next steps.

It was noted that Cabinet at its meeting on 17 January 2011, in considering the draft DPD had recommended Council to approve the Document (incorporating minor amendments it had made) for the purpose of formally submitting it to the Secretary of State. A copy of the relevant extract of minutes of the Cabinet meeting was presented.

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe presented the draft DPD for Council’s consideration.

During debate, a number of Councillors spoke on the draft DPD making general points and specific points relating to their respective electoral division areas to which Cllr de Rhé-Philipe responded.

Cllr Howard Marshall proposed the following amendment (amending part of the original motion as indicated) which was duly seconded and on being put to the vote, was LOST:

i)             approves the submission draft Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document and its Submission to the Secretary of State, but after the removal of the Hills Resources Recovery Centre Proposal (pages 18-21);

A recorded vote having been requested on the voting on the above amendment, the voting was recorded as follows:

For the amendment (21)

Cllrs Desna Allen, Rosemary Brown, Trevor Carbin, Chris Caswill, Brian Dalton, Paul Darby, Bill Douglas, Peggy Dow, Malcolm Hewson, Jon Hubbard, David Jenkins, John Knight, Howard Marshall, Ian  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report by the Service Director for Economy and Enterprise.

The South Wiltshire Core Strategy is enclosed separately for members of the Council and available on the Council’s website.

The Chairman in introducing this item reminded Council that the Inspector’s Report into the South Wiltshire Core Strategy was binding on the Council. Council was invited to consider whether the Inspector’s findings were palatable and acceptable to this Council and on that basis whether Council was minded to accept the report as a whole.

At the Chairman’s invitation, Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe , Cabinet member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning presented a report for Council’s consideration along with the Inspector’s Report and draft South Wiltshire Core Strategy.

The report invited Council to consider the views of Cabinet which had considered both documents at its meeting on 17 January 2011 and recommended Council to adopt the South Wiltshire Core Strategy as amended by the changes identified in the Inspector’s Report. The relevant extract of minutes of Cabinet was presented.

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe summarised the history of the development of the South Wiltshire Core Strategy and explained that should the Council be minded to adopt the Strategy as she was proposing, it had been subsumed into the draft Wiltshire Core Strategy Pre-Submission document which would be considered later in this meeting (minute no. 9 below). This would, subject to Council’s approval, ensure delivery of a single Core Strategy for Wiltshire.

During debate, a number of questions were asked to which Cllr de Rhé-Philipe responded. Cllr Jeans specifically expressed concern over the number of affordable houses that would be built in the Mere Community Area and asked if the remaining allocation of 25 houses were not built in the Mere Community Area if they could be provided for in the Town of Mere. Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained that Core Policy 17 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy would not preclude what he was seeking if demand dictated it in the future.

Following debate, it was

Resolved:

That following recommendation by Cabinet at its meeting on 17 January 2012, Council:

a)    adopts the South Wiltshire Core Strategy, as amended by the changes identified in the Inspector’s Report, as part of the statutory development plan for Wiltshire and

b)    agrees that the Service Director for Economy and Enterprise in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development  and Strategic Planning, undertakes the final stages associated with the formal adoption of the Core Strategy.

Cllr Ian McLennan requested that his vote against the above decision be recorded.

Declarations of interest

Please refer to minute no. 2 abovefor details of interests declared in this item.

Report by the Service Director for Economy and Enterprise.

The Wiltshire Core Strategy is enclosed separately for members of the Council and available on the Council’s website.

Public Participation

The Chairman reported receipt of questions from Mr David Scane, on behalf of Curtin & Co, acting on behalf of Bloor Homes as circulated along with responses from Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning – question and response attached as Appendix A.

Mr Scane asked the following supplementary question:

What evidence exists to show that the strategic sites put forward in the draft Strategy within Chippenham are better equipped than Hunters Moon to deliver ‘other benefits’ to the town, other than meeting the strategic housing requirement, and what further evidence exists to show that these sites can start to be delivered in the short term?”

Cllr de Rhé-Philipe explained that the evidence was in the documentation which would be published alongside the Core Strategy for the forthcoming consultation. The Council’s priority as reflected in the draft Core Strategy, was to promote economic development to secure employment opportunities and this was also confirmed by the Leader of the Council.

The Chairman reported receipt of separate statements from Mr Michael Orr, Director of CSJ Planning Ltd on behalf of Chippenham 2020 and Ms Clare Ward, a Chippenham resident.

Mr Duncan Hames MP for the Chippenham Constituency addressed Council on this item in the main, objecting to the scale of development around Chippenham.

----------------------------------------------

Councillors’ questions

The Chairman reported receipt of questions from Cllrs Chris Caswill and Judy Rooke which were circulated along with responses from Cllr de Rhé-Philipe – attached as Appendix B.

As a supplementary question, Cllr Caswill sought information on what  measures would mitigate the Rawlings Farm development. Cllr de Rhé-Philipe undertook to provide him with the latest information she had on this particular issue. Cllr Caswill welcomed the changes made at the Cabinet meeting on 17 January 2012 and the commitment reflected in the draft Strategy to ensure it was employment rather than housing led.

Cllr Judy Rooke emphasised the point made in her question over the allocation of green fields and agricultural land around Rowden and Patterdown in Chippenham for housing. She reiterated her point that green field sites should only be used when brown field sites were not available and that this view was supported by the Highways Agency. Cllr Rooke sought further clarification of the response given to her second question and Cllr de Rhé-Philipe agreed to provide this.

--------------------------------------

In introducing this item, the Chairman explained that Council was being asked to consider the draft Pre-Submission Draft Wiltshire Core Strategy Development Plan Document (draft Strategy) with a view to approving it for public consultation.

The Chairman explained that following consultation, the draft Strategy along with an analysis of responses to the consultation would come back to Council with a view to its adoption. The Chairman advised that an extraordinary meeting of Council was being arranged for Tuesday 26 June 2012 for this purpose.

The Chairman advised on how he proposed to structure the debate on this item in order to go through the document systematically. This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.