Agenda item

The Monitoring Officer issued further guidance to members on disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of this motion. Councillors were advised that current serving members of blue light services and armed forces would have a disclosable pecuniary interest in this item by virtue of their employment. Veterans of the armed forces were advised to consider their own personal circumstance.

Councillors Mark Connolly, Chris Williams, Mary Champion, Brian Dalton, Bob Jones, Paul Oatway, John Smale declared interests in this item 

Cllrs Connolly, Dalton and Oatway left the meeting in their capacity as councillors as a result of pecuniary interest.

The Chairman advised the motion to the meeting was from Cllr Brian Dalton, however due to a disclosable interest it was to be moved by another member.

Cllr Hopkinson moved the motion as set out in the Summons and highlighted the purpose of the motion was to seek to assist further the Armed Forces and Blue Light staff, carers and looked after children, and without the need for them to sign up to a 12 month subscription. The councillor argued this extension of discount would not have significant cost implications and was requesting officers consider this to be factored into the 2019 budget. Cllr Thorn seconded the motion.

The Chairman invited Cllr John Thomson to respond to the motion, the councillor expressed support for the first part of the motion and extended thanks to Council officers aswell for their response to the Salisbury incident. The Cabinet member outlined the Council already provided extensive discounts on leisure services to various different groups.

Group Leaders commented on the proposals as follows:

Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE stated the Council already provided most of the discounts that were proposed by the motion and sought an amendment to the motion, however this did not go forward into debate.

Cllr Ian Thorn spoke in support of the motion, particularly the benefits it could bring to looked after children, and also spoke of the need to publicise current discounts more widely.

The Chairman then invited comments in debate.

It was suggested that members of the Armed Forces had significant leisure facilities available to them in their camps and therefore further discounted provision for this group would not necessarily be beneficial. It was argued the motion requested officers give further thought to discounts, some members wanted to deliver discount provision without an annual subscription. Councillors agreed the first sections of the motion were undisputed by all councillors. It was recommended by Cllr Hubbard the motion be amended as set out below, seconded by Cllr Davis, this was accepted as a friendly amendment:

That Wiltshire Council recognises the excellent work of our Armed Forces, staff working in blue light services, carers of looked after children, and also the needs of looked after children. This Council supports offering theseArmed forces, staff working in blue light services, and their immediate family, discounts to leisure services across Wiltshire, and recommends officers investigate the options for this to facilitate implementation in financial year 2019-2020.

Further comments included that taster sessions were offered free of charge at leisure centres. It was noted the Council offered a significant number of different discounts and the Cabinet member offered to meet members separately to discuss this is more detail, as well as the specific memberships of various discount cards.

The motion was withdrawn