Minutes:
Charter Status for Councillor Development
The Chairman expressed his delight that Wiltshire Council had been awarded Charter Status for Councillor Development. The award recognised that the Council has achieved best practice in the way it provided learning and development opportunities for its councillors and was independently evaluated by South West Councils on behalf of the region. The accreditation lasts for three years.
On behalf of Council, the Chairman congratulated and thanked the five members of the Councillor Development group - Cllrs Allison Bucknell, Tony Deane, Rosemary Brown, Nigel Carter and Russell Hawker for their contributions. He also extended his congratulations to the officers working on Councillor Development – Marie Todd, Lynda Williams, Marie Gondlach and Rita Sanders. Councillors were reminded that the achievement would not be possible without those councillors who participated in the development programme and who recognised the importance of life-long learning.
Bryony Houlden, Chief Executive of South West Councils, formally presented the award to Cllr Allison Bucknell, representing the Council as Chairman of the Councillor Development Group.
Royal Wootton Bassett
The Chairman reported that he had been privileged to be a guest at the ceremony held in Wootton Bassett the previous month to mark the presentation of Letters Patent to the Town. Wootton Bassett was only the third Town in the Country to receive this prestigious award.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal made the presentation on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and over 10,000 people were in the High Street to witness this historic event. The ceremony was also attended by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, the new Secretary of State for Defence, Phil Hammond, and General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff and professional Head of the Army. Royal British Legion and regimental standards were also displayed.
The Chairman gave a brief overview of the events that took place to mark such a historic day. On behalf of all Ccouncillors the Chairman stated his belief that Royal Wootton Bassett richly deserved the recognition and admiration of the county and the nation.
In recognition of the award of Letters Patent, the Chairman proposed that the name of Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board be changed to Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board and this was agreed by Council.
Royal opening of Wellington Academy, Tidworth
Councillors were updated on the opening of the Wellington Academy in Tidworth where His Royal Highness the Duke of York was in attendance in recognition of a royal link between Wellington College, the academy’s sponsor, and the royal family stretching back to 1851.
His Royal Highness viewed the Sixth Form Centre, visited the art and food & nutrition departments, the sports hall and watched a short dance performance and musical solo in the theatre, engaging with students throughout. He concluded his visit by unveiling a commemorative plaque in the reception area where the whole school were assembled. He then presented ‘the Duke of York award for outstanding achievement’ to year 12 student, Claire Stevens.
Olympic Torch Relay Route
Councillors were reminded that the Olympic Torch would be visiting Wiltshire next May and July in the lead up to the London Olympic Games. Sixteen Wiltshire towns and villages would be visited and the County would also host a lunchtime stop at Clarendon College in Trowbridge and an evening event at Hudson’s Field in Salisbury.
Wiltshire residents, nominated for making a difference in their communities, would be the torch bearers carrying the flame. The Chairman welcomed the major, once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase what makes Wiltshire so special and unique to the worldwide media who would be covering the great event.
The Olympic Torch would visit Southwick, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham, Calne, Marlborough, Wootton Bassett, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Amesbury, The Winterbournes, Salisbury, Wilton, Barford St Martin, Fovant and Ludwell.
‘Jerusalem’
Councillors were made aware of the great transatlantic success of a play based on the story of a Wiltshire man. The play ‘Jerusalem’ written by Jez Butterworth was originally performed at the Apollo theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London and stars Mark Rylance as Rooster Bryon. The character is based upon a Wiltshire man called ‘Mickey Lay’ who lived on the edge of Pewsey in a caravan. The meeting was told the news that Councillor Jerry Kunkler had made his stage appearance in a showing of the play in New York during a woodland scene and had also ‘coached’ some of the actors in the art of speaking ‘Wiltshire’.
The late John Irving
Cllr Jeff Osborn drew Council’s attention to the recent and sad passing of former Wiltshire County Councillor, Mr John Irving who served local government and particularly the West Wiltshire area with distinction.
Tributes were made by a number of Councillors including the Leader of the Council, and councillors Ricky Rogers, Julian Johnson, Jeff Osborn and Christopher Newbury. Tributes focused on his gentle and thoughtful nature outside of politics and skills and eloquence in the political area, and also his advocacy and support for Trowbridge’s Moroccan community.
There followed a minute’s silence, as a mark of respect.