Agenda item

Councillors were required to give notice of any such question in writing to the officer names on the first page of this agenda no later than 5pm nine clear working days before the meeting – Tuesday 6 Octoberin order to be guaranteed a written response.

Any question received after 5pm on 6 October 2020 and no later than 5pm four clear working days before the meeting, Tuesday 13 October 2020, may only receive a verbal response at the meeting. Any questions received after this date will be received at the next meeting.

Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman determines the matter is urgent.

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

Questions were received from Councillors Ian Thorn and Clare Cape, with responses as detailed in Agenda Supplement 1.

In respect of question 20-24 and on behalf of Councillor Thorn, Councillor Hopkinson asked a supplementary question about whether the Executive agreed that the response to Covid-19 was led by officers and this should be recognised and not politicised.

Councillor Philip Whitehead, Leader of the Council, responded to the supplementary question setting out the excellent officer response led by the Cabinet, and set out what he considered to be politicisation of Covid-19 and other issues by the Liberal Democrats.

In respect of 20-25 Councillor Cape asked a supplementary question stating that local people might perceive the proposals relating to the Chippenham Highways Investment Fund (HIF) bid as determined and would there be meaningful consultation including with local members.

Councillor Whitehead stated that due to the HIF bid details for a distributor road were public prior to a planning application, as would normally be the case. However, the matter was not determined, and any infrastructure proposals and housing development would still go through normal planning processes including public consultation, but investment in infrastructure had been sought upfront.

In respect of 20-26 Councillor Cape asked a supplementary question on whether traffic modelling took account of vehicle movements from additional housing and employment land.

Councillor Whitehead stated traffic modelling had taken place several years ago but would be updated to take account of all relevant factors and variables, and the proposed road should help relieve congestion as well as link houses together.

In respect of 20-27 Councillor Cape asked a supplementary question asking if the estimate for new homes included the development at Rawlings Farm.

Councillor Whitehead stated he believed that the estimate did include that development and noted that the town had been developed to the west but not to the east and noted the overall housing need in Wiltshire.

In respect of 20-28 Councillor Cape asked a supplementary question on the HIF funding for major infrastructure needs such as schools and doctors, and what benefits elsewhere in Chippenham would be obtained.

Councillor Whitehead stated that appropriate facilities would be obtained through community infrastructure levies and s106 contributions from any housing development, but a masterplan for the siting of schools and other facilities linked with cycleways and highways would enable benefits.

In respect of 20-29 Councillor Clare Cape asked a supplementary question on whether current planning legislation ensure the road and development would be carbon neutral, and if not would ensure it.

Councillor Whitehead stated no plans had yet been submitted so the specific impacts would not be known. He stated he supported the drive for carbon neutrality, however this did not mean more housing could not be built, as there would still be a need for homes and roads. Making sure the homes were delivered in as eco friendly a way as possible would be an aim, and the HIF fund bid enabled better design and planning for delivery of homes that would otherwise be delivered without the appropriate planning infrastructure.

In respect of 20-30 Councillor Clare Cape asked a supplementary question regarding the options appraisal for homes, and what locations were considered in Wiltshire.

Councillor Whitehead stated there was a requirement to deliver 46000 homes, and that due in part due to infrastructure issues housing for Chippenham within the previous plan period had not been delivered, and that other areas in Wiltshire had also taken and were also taking allocations of housing such as around Trowbridge, Melksham, Salisbury and Devizes.

In respect of 20-31 Councillor Clare Cape asked a supplementary question on the Executive to lobby for a more holistic and sensitive approach to housing development in response to the climate emergency and Covid-19.

Councillor Whitehead stated there was an essential need for housing in the country and the council did lobby government, but it had a target of housing which must be met. The HIF bid allowed a better method of preparing for that delivery.