Agenda item

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

The Chairman noted that as it was last meeting of Full Council before the local elections on 1 May 2025, it would therefore be the final meeting for many Members. She took the opportunity to thank everyone for their work as councillors in the last four years and, in particular, those Members who would not be standing again for election.

Those Members who had specifically confirmed with officers they would not be standing at the local elections were noted, including Cllrs Steve Bucknell, Mark Connolly, Sarah Gibson MP, Peter Hutton, Johnny Kidney, Dr Brian Mathew MP, Simon Jacobs, Ian McLennan, Tim Trimble, David Vigar, Derek Walters, and Suzanne Wickham. The full list of retiring Members would be noted at the next meeting after the local elections.

Opportunity was then provided for retiring Members to say a few words in response to the announcements.

Cllr Wickham spoke of the benefit of village organisations in her area, and praised the often overlooked work of parish councils, and how much they had assisted her work as the local unitary councillor.

Cllr Connolly noted he had served on the council since Wiltshire County Council in 1993 and was currently the longest continuously serving Member. He noted the large changes in local government organisation in that time, from moving to a Cabinet system, Swindon becoming its own authority, and then the creation of the unitary authority in 2009. He thanked officers for their outstanding support and to all Members who had supported and worked with him over the last 32 years.

Cllr Bucknell noted he had been on Wiltshire Council for one term but had also served on North Wiltshire District Council as well as continuing to serve on Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council. He noted the committed and hardworking people had worked with including officers and other members, and how he had enjoyed helping residents with their problems and chairing the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel. He also expressed some frustration with the difficulty in getting things done locally given the huge size of the authority and endorsed non-political approaches to dealing with problems.

Cllr McLennan noted he had been first elected to office in 1995 and enjoyed most of his 30 years as an elected Member. He noted the role could be challenging but with time, effort, and support from other Members good results could be achieved, noting efforts to tackle school traffic issues in Laverstock. He thanked officers and Members for their support, and also praised the work of the Electoral Review Committee for which had had been a Member through several community governance reviews.

Cllr Hutton gave thanks to officers who he said were a huge asset to the council. He encouraged Members’ work on committees where a lot of activity took place and encouraged Members to always respect one another as they all sought to deliver for the people of Wiltshire.

Cllr Vigar thanked all those who had given him advice and support since being elected in 2021 and noted that through being a Member he had encountered many groups and people providing support and services in the county and that he would continue to work with those voluntary organisations and others as a result. He thanked the residents of Trowbridge Grove for electing him.

Cllr Walters noted the difficulties in first becoming a Member during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that Members typically worked hard for the benefit of their communities and encouraged all sides to limit how party political they would be. He gave particular thanks to Cllr Caroline Thomas and Cllr Tamara Reay for support and assistance in his area.

Cllr Laura Mayes, as Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education, and Skills, paid particular tribute to Cllrs Hutton and Wickham for their work supporting her as portfolio holders.