Agenda and draft minutes

Extraordinary Meeting, Council - Thursday 9 January 2025 6.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN. View directions

Contact: Kieran Elliott  Email: committee@wiltshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members:

 

David Bowler, Clare Cape, Mary Champion, Zoë Clewer, Mark Connolly, Caroline Corbin, Brian Dalton, Dr Monica Devendran, Sarah Gibson MP, Peter Hutton, Tony Jackson, Jacqui Lay, Kathryn MacDermid, Laura Mayes, Dr Nick Murry, Kelvin Nash, Andrew Oliver, Derek Walters, and Philip Whitehead.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of disclosable interests.

3.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

Minutes:

The Chairman provided details to Members of arrangements to be followed in the event the meeting extended beyond 9pm.

4.

Public Participation

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

 

In accordance with the Constitution, any statements or questions must relate to the business to be transacted at this extraordinary meeting.

 

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to register to speak earlier.

 

Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Statements must be relevant to the agenda item.

 

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public received in accordance with the constitution. No person or organisation may submit more than two questions to the meeting. No question may be sub-divided into more than two related parts.

 

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Proper Officer) no later than 5pm on 2 January 2025 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. Questions submitted no later than 5pm on 6 January 2025 may receive a verbal response. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

 

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

 

Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The details of public participation for the meeting were explained.

5.

Devolution Priority Programme

To consider a report from the Chief Executive in respect of potential Wiltshire Council involvement in the government’s Devolution Priority Programme.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Introduction

At the invitation of the Chairman the Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Clewer, presented a report and update on the progression of the government’s devolution proposals regarding local authorities. He set out his recommendation that the council seek inclusion within the devolution priority programme in order to expedite the establishment of a strategic mayoral authority of which Wiltshire Council would be a part. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Nick Botterill.

 

Cllr Clewer summarised the progression of the government’s devolution plans, culminating in the publication of a White Paper in December 2024. He explained that he was not convinced that mayors were the most appropriate arrangement for large rural authorities, but that government had made it clear that its plans for strategic authorities intended all parts of England to be covered, and for this to include mayors. He welcomed some of the additional clarity provided by the White Paper, noting that many areas would see significant local government reorganisation alongside plans for the new strategic authorities, which were planned to include at least 1.5m residents. Mayors would work with local councils and act as a conduit for funding in specific delivery areas.

 

It was emphasised that councils had been invited to indicate the geographic extent of a strategic authority they considered appropriate, but that if progress was not made with local councils, ministers would have the authority to define the areas regardless. There was therefore an opportunity for Wiltshire Council to seek to positively input into the extent of the strategic authority to which Wiltshire would be assigned. As a result, extensive discussions had been held with Somerset and Dorset Councils on a Heart of Wessex proposal, with additional communication with Swindon Borough Council (SBC), North Somerset Council, and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council (BCP) around their potential involvement if they considered it appropriate.

 

Cllr Clewer stated that support for the proposal was not a commitment to joining a new Heart of Wessex combined authority, but a statement that Wiltshire Council, alongside Somerset and Dorset Councils, was prepared to explore the option with government, which would be consulted upon early in 2025, with detailed recommendations to follow later in the year to be approved by the constituent councils at a future point.

 

In conclusion Cllr Clewer stated whilst he had some reluctance over the devolution programme there were some potential benefits to be gained, and there was a risk that if the council did not engage at this stage, it could face a less suitable proposal later. He therefore sought the support of Council for him to send a letter to the relevant Minister to seek inclusion within the devolution priority programme.

 

Public Participation

Questions submitted by Members of the Public were then received, as set out in the agenda supplement.

 

Andrew Nicolson was in attendance and asked supplementary questions following the written responses to his submitted questions.

In relation to the Question P25-02 and the Western Gateway Sub-National Transport body, Mr Nicolson asked whether the Leader saw  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Recorded Vote
TitleTypeRecorded Vote textResult
Leader's Motion on the Devolution Priority Programme Motion

That Full Council supports the intention of the Leader to write to the relevant Minister seeking inclusion in the Devolution Priority Programme on the basis of the attached single Member decision report.

 

Carried
  • View Recorded Vote for this item
  • Minute Appendices

    Supporting documents: