Agenda and minutes

All members of the Cabinet were present.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 12 September 2017, previously circulated.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2017 were presented.

Follow a question from Councillor Ian Thorn, it was agreed that officers be asked to clarify the position of consultation in relation to assets of community interest and, if necessary, a explanatory note be added to the minutes.

Resolved

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2017

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

The Leader expressed the thanked Carolyn Godfrey for her hard work and assistance at the Council.

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 William Oulton of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 4 October 2017. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader drew the meeting’s attention to the question from Mrs Spickernell, and the response given, circulated in the supplement to the agenda.

In response to a question from Councillor Ian Thorn, it was noted that the paper on Community Asset Transfers was scheduled on the workplan for November, but that it may be required to be discussed at a later date following further consideration of the proposed preferred model.

 Report by Alistair Cunningham, Corporate Director.

Councillor Chuck Berry presented the report which asked Cabinet to consider recommended changes for adoption by Council and to note the progress in regard to the IT upgrade.

In the course of the presentation and debate, the matters raised included: that the recommendation would be considered by the meeting of Council in February; the supply of housing and the efforts address the shortage; the impact of marketing and changes of policy on the housing waiting list; how the Council is encouraging people with local connections to register for affordable housing in rural locations; and that library staff had been trained to provide assistance to residents to fill in housing and benefit application forms.

In response to a question from Councillor Ian Thorn, the Leader stated that Cabinet members had asked officers to investigate how best the Council could assist vulnerable residents during the transition period moving onto the Universal Credit scheme.

Councillor Laura Mayes, as the Cabinet Member responsible for Looked After Children, welcomed the change in the policy that allowed care leavers to be included as a priority and stated, in response to a query by Councillor Jon Hubbard, that she welcomed a flexible approach to how the policy was applied to this group in recognition of their specific vulnerabilities.

The meeting’s attention was drawn to the recent recommendations of the Environment Select Committee who had considered the matter at their previous meeting.

At the conclusion of the debate, the meeting;

Resolved

To amend the council allocation policy and recommend to Council to update the policy.

Reason for Decision:

To make improvements to the allocation policy in line with recent recommendations following recent consultation as well as welfare reform and legislative changes to help make the system more effective and efficient.

 Report by Alistair Cunningham, Corporate Director.

Councillor Toby Sturgis presented the report which sought approval for the initial consultation on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review and the development of the non-statutory Joint Spatial Framework being prepared jointly with Swindon Borough Council in accordance with the Wiltshire Local Development Scheme 2017 and legislation.

In the course of the presentation and debate, the matters raised included: that a briefing had been arranged for members on the1 November 2017; that the consultation would be undertaken jointly with Swindon Borough Council; how best to engage with the public on this issue; that the scope of the review was at relatively high level without explicit details of the impact on housing totals for specific communities; and how a plan-led approach can encourage adequate infrastructure investment.

In response to an issues raised, the Leader requested that given the importance of the matters at hand, officers consider how best to engage with the public through the consultation period, and that Councillors be encouraged to bring their ideas of how best to engage to the briefing in November. The Leader also exhorted Councillors to engage with the parish and town councils to encourage their engagement with the process.

In response to a matter raised by Councillor Ruth Hopkinson, the Leader restated the Council’s support for a station at Corsham and highlighted the efforts made, through the auspices of the Local Enterprise Partnership, to progress the issue but cautioned that the matter could only proceed if a franchise operator agreed to stop at Corsham. The Leader asked officers and the relevant Cabinet Member to arrange to meet the division member and representatives from Corsham Town to discuss the matter further.

At the conclusion of the debate, the meeting;

Resolved

i)       To approve the documents set out at Appendices 1 and 2 for the purposes of consultation on the scope and content of the Wiltshire Local Plan Review, subject to amendment in (ii);

ii)     To authorise the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Spatial Planning, Development Management and Property to: make any necessary changes to the consultation documents before they are finalised for publication and agree any changes to Appendix 1 with Swindon Borough Council; and make arrangements for, and undertake statutory consultation for a 6 week period starting during the week commencing 6 November 2017 concurrently with Swindon Borough Council.

iii)    To note the resolution of Cabinet on 12 September 2017 regarding joint working with Swindon Borough Council, and that Cabinet will need to be satisfied that plans are in place to maintain a deliverable 5 year housing land supply in both authority areas before approving the plans.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure that progress continues to be made on maintaining an up-to-date development plan for Wiltshire in line with the Council’s Local development Scheme and statutory requirements.

Report by Alistair Cunningham, Corporate Director.

The Leader presented the report which provided an update on the important milestones that have been reached through partnership working and the support of the MCI Partnership since the last update report to Cabinet made in 2016.

In presenting the report, the Leader highlighted: the relaunch of the Wiltshire Covenant; the Army Basing programme and the continuing efforts to promote issues amongst the wider community.

The Leader made special mention of the recent national award given to the Council in recognition of the efforts to support the Forces community.

The Leader specifically commended the work of Kevin Ladner, Emily Higson and Nicky Dyer in supporting the programme of work.

Following the end of the item, the meeting;

Resolved

i)       To confirms its support for the Military Civilian Integration (MCI) Programme, and endorses the approach being taken to delivery of the MCI Workstreams set out by the MCI Board; and

ii)     To note:

a.    The progress and way forward on the Army Basing Programme;

b.    The Wiltshire’s Armed Forces Community Covenant (which was relaunched in March 2017) and success in drawing down significant covenant grant funding to support local integration projects;

c.    The Cooperation with the MOD - DIO in submitting the Round 6 of the One Public Estate bid, to be apprised of the various MCI award applications / bids submitted by Wiltshire Council in the past 12 months; and

d.     The continued cooperation with the MOD in identifying and progressing the opportunities that military presence can bring to boost the economy of Wiltshire.

Reason for Decision:

The military has a significant presence in Wiltshire, and the nature of this presence will change dramatically over the coming years. It is important that the Council recognises the impacts that military presence will have on Wiltshire, both in terms of the opportunities that this will offer for economic growth, and the preparations that the Council is required to make to ensure that the needs of everyone in Wiltshire are met.

Cabinet is invited to recognise the achievements that have already been made with the support of the MCI Partnership, such as the relaunch of the Wiltshire AF Covenant, the Army Basing programme and ongoing success of The Enterprise Network in supporting military leavers and spouses, while acknowledging that there will be further challenges ahead, whose successful resolution will require the support of the Council working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and other partners.