This week in Wiltshire:

Southern Area Planning Committee Meeting Held, No Video Provided

The Southern Area Planning Committee met on Thursday. The meeting took place, but no video recording was provided.

Western Area Planning Committee Meeting Cancelled

The Western Area Planning Committee meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, was cancelled. The meeting was set to discuss planning applications and related matters in the western area of Wiltshire.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings:

• Appeals Sub-Committee (School Transport) - August 28th - Consider a school transport appeal. Meeting Link
• Council - August 30th - Discuss the disposal of council assets. Meeting Link

This week in Wiltshire:

Housing Developments Approved Despite Objections

The Strategic Planning Committee convened this week and approved two controversial housing developments in Melksham and Royal Wootton Bassett, despite objections from local parish councils and concerns about their impact on the surrounding areas. The meeting highlighted the tension between the council's need to meet housing targets and the desire to protect local landscapes and community plans.

Melksham Development Approved

The committee approved an outline planning application for up to 300 dwellings on land south of Snarlton Farm, Melksham. The application includes land for local community use, open space, dedicated play space, service infrastructure, and associated works.

• Objections: Melksham Without Parish Council objected to the application, citing the loss of a greenfield site, the unsustainable location, and highway safety concerns.
• Housing Land Supply: The planning report noted that the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, a key factor in the committee's decision.
• Tilted Balance: Officers argued that the benefits of the development, particularly the provision of new homes and affordable housing, outweighed the adverse impacts, triggering the tilted balance in favor of approval under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
• Neighbourhood Plan Concerns: Councillor White questioned the weighting given to the local neighbourhood plan, stating that in the absence of an adequate land supply, the local neighbourhood plan became a significant factor to be taken into account.
• Committee Debate: The committee debated the merits of the application, with some members expressing concerns about the impact on the local community and the lack of consideration for the neighbourhood plan. > Councillor Newbury stated that I'm still very uncomfortable with the whole issue with the development plan, and the fact that, as I said, if we had our five years of land supply, we wouldn't be talking like this in this situation, and it's going to go on and on and on.
• Refusal Motion: Councillor Brautigam proposed a motion to defer the application for further consideration of the adopted neighbourhood plan, but the motion was defeated.
• Approval: Ultimately, the committee voted to refuse the application, citing conflicts with the Wiltshire Core Strategy and the joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan, and the lack of a legal mechanism to secure necessary developer contributions.

Royal Wootton Bassett Development Approved

The committee also approved an outline planning application for up to 95 dwellings on land west of Marlborough Road, Royal Wootton Bassett. The application includes associated car parking, open space, landscaping, drainage, and other associated infrastructure.

• Town Council Concerns: Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council raised concerns about the application, stating that it is premature as the site is being considered for allocation in the Neighbourhood Plan.
• Affordable Housing: The development includes 40% affordable housing, a factor that weighed heavily in favor of approval.
• Grade 4 Agricultural Land: The site is classified as Grade 4 agricultural land, meaning that no best and most versatile agricultural land¹ will be lost through development.
• Unanimous Support: The committee unanimously approved the application, recognizing the benefits of housing provision and affordable housing at a time when there is a significant housing land supply shortfall.

These decisions highlight the challenges faced by Wiltshire Council in balancing the need to meet housing targets with the desire to protect local landscapes and community plans. The approvals are likely to spark further debate about the role of local government in shaping the future of Wiltshire.

Northern Area Planning Committee Meeting Cancelled

The Northern Area Planning Committee meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, was cancelled. The meeting was set to discuss planning appeals, updates, and applications in the Chippenham area.

Standards Assessment Sub-Committee Meeting Cancelled

The Standards Assessment Sub-Committee meeting, scheduled for Thursday, was cancelled. The meeting was set to discuss standards assessments.

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings:

• Southern Area Planning Committee - August 14th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link

This week in Wiltshire:

School Transport Appeal Granted After Panel Recognises Exceptional Circumstances

The Appeals Sub-Committee (School Transport) has agreed to provide a public bus pass and petrol allowance for a Year 9 student travelling from Wootton Bassett to Chippenham, despite initially upholding the officer's report that there was no legal obligation to provide free transport to Abbeyfield School. The meeting saw the panel acknowledge exceptional circumstances in the appellant's case.

• Initial Rejection: The sub-committee initially accepted the Transport Officer's report, which stated that there was no legal obligation to provide free home-to-school transport.
• Exceptional Circumstances: However, after hearing from the appellant and considering the issues raised, the panel agreed to provide a public bus pass from Wootton Bassett to Chippenham for the next two years.
• Petrol Allowance: In addition, the panel agreed to provide an allowance for petrol costs from Cricklade to Wootton Bassett, using the HMRC 2025 rate of 45p per mile.
• Exclusion of Public: The press and public were excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the appeal, citing the need to protect exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972.

This decision highlights the council's discretion to consider individual circumstances when making decisions about school transport, even when there is no legal obligation to do so.

Strategic Planning Committee to Discuss Major Housing Developments

The Strategic Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss two major housing developments in Melksham and Royal Wootton Bassett. The meeting will consider outline planning applications for up to 300 dwellings on land south of Snarlton Farm, Melksham, and up to 95 dwellings on land west of Marlborough Road, Royal Wootton Bassett.

• Melksham Development: The application for land south of Snarlton Farm includes land for local community use, open space, dedicated play space, service infrastructure and associated works. Melksham Without Parish Council objects to the application, citing the loss of greenfield site, the unsustainable location, and highway safety concerns.
• Royal Wootton Bassett Development: The application for land west of Marlborough Road includes associated car parking, open space, landscaping, drainage and other associated infrastructure. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council has raised concerns about the application, stating that it is premature as the site is being considered for allocation in the Neighbourhood Plan.
• Housing Land Supply: The planning reports note that the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and that the annualised housing supply requirement for Wiltshire has changed following government revisions.

These applications are being considered by the Strategic Planning Committee because they constitute a development plan departure, comprising housing developments on unallocated land outside the established settlement limits.

Other Matters

• The Finance and Procurement Select Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Environment Select Committee all met this week, but no video recordings were provided. Finance and Procurement Select Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Environment Select Committee

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings:

• Strategic Planning Committee - August 5th - Discuss planning appeals and applications, including proposals for residential developments in Melksham and Royal Wootton Bassett. Meeting Link
• Northern Area Planning Committee - August 6th - Consider a reserved matters application for 17 dwellings in Calne, and review recent planning appeals and updates. Meeting Link
• Western Area Planning Committee - August 13th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link
• Southern Area Planning Committee - August 14th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link

This week in Wiltshire:

Pension Fund Faces Investment Risk Amid Pooling Uncertainty

The Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee convened to discuss the fund's performance, governance, and future strategy, with a significant focus on the selection of a new investment pool. The meeting highlighted the challenges and risks associated with investment pooling, responsible investment, and financial stability.

• Investment Pooling Crisis: The committee received a concerning update on the selection of a new investment pool, triggered by government officials rejecting the business plan submitted by Brunel Pension Partnership. This situation has created significant uncertainty and increased investment risk, as outlined in the Headlines and Monitoring (HAM) Report. > The High risk is in relation to the Fund's ability to implement its investment strategy (this is currently very uncertain due to the changes), and the Very High risks are regarding ongoing operations of the existing pool, and the future of pooling including transition to an as yet unknown new arrangement.
• Responsible Investment Concerns: The committee also received an update on the Fund's responsible investment performance, with the HAM Report indicating that the Investment risk area is now High, with an overall risk score of 17 compared to a risk appetite of 12. This raises questions about the Fund's ability to meet its responsible investment goals while managing risk effectively.
• Financial Accountability: The committee reviewed the draft statement of accounts and annual report, along with an assessment of going concern and an update on the external audit. While progress has been made on internal audit ratings and service delivery KPIs, the unaudited accounts for 2023/24 have been published with a disclaimer opinion from Grant Thornton, raising concerns about financial accountability and transparency.

The challenges facing the Wiltshire Pension Fund underscore the importance of robust governance, risk management, and responsible investment practices to protect the financial security of its members.

Council Plan Sparks Debate Over Consultation and Priorities

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) met to discuss and coordinate the council's scrutiny work programme, with a key focus on the Outline Council Plan 2025-2035. The meeting revealed concerns about consultation timings, KPI development, and engagement with local communities.

• Consultation Concerns: Members raised concerns about conducting consultations during peak holiday times, potentially limiting public input. Councillor Ian Thorne, Leader of the Council, acknowledged the issue but assured members that consultation responses would be considered into September and October. > As far as I'm concerned, we'll take consultation responses into September. I would expect there to be responses to the main document as well, quite frankly, into October, Councillor Thorne said.
• KPI Scrutiny: Members discussed how the working plan would be fleshed out with KPIs and practical targets, and how this would be overseen. Councillor Thorne supported an annual review of the plan through scrutiny, emphasizing the need for meaningful KPIs. > I'm very happy again, because this is an evolving picture for scrutiny to play its role in engaging with the conversation about KPIs, Councillor Thorne said.
• Community Engagement: The committee discussed initiatives to engage with town and parish councils, as well as the future of area boards. Councillor Mel Jacob, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Communities, Engagement, and Corporate Services, stated that the council is reviewing all aspects of the area boards to make them more relevant to their communities and increase engagement.

The OSMC's discussions highlight the importance of effective consultation, transparent performance measurement, and meaningful engagement with local communities in shaping the council's strategic priorities.

Scrutiny Task Group to Review MyWilts App

Following a workshop on shaping the Overview and Scrutiny work programme, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agreed to establish a task group to review the council's MyWilts app and its user experience. The meeting acknowledged the importance of improving digital services and addressing user feedback.

• Popular Demand: The suggestion to scrutinize the MyWilts app was the most popular topic proposed by attendees at the workshop.
• User Experience Focus: The task group will review the app's functionality, ease of use, and overall user experience, with the goal of making recommendations for improvement.
• Task Group Membership: The appointment of the task group's membership will be delegated to the committee's chair and vice-chair, following an open invitation for expressions of interest.

The establishment of this task group demonstrates the council's commitment to improving digital services and responding to the needs of its residents.

Other Business

• The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agreed to establish a Stone Circle Standing Task Group to scrutinize the activities of the Cabinet Shareholder Group, addressing concerns about governance and risk management. Meeting Link
• The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee referred initial work priorities to the new Finance and Procurement Select Committee, including concerns about overspend, debt levels, and the commissioning process. Meeting Link
• The Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee was scheduled to consider updated versions of the Pension Administration Strategy and the Communications Strategy, as well as the Governance Compliance Statement. Meeting Link

Upcoming Meetings

Here's a summary of upcoming meetings:

• Northern Area Planning Committee - August 6th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link
• Standards Assessment Sub-Committee - August 7th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link
• Strategic Planning Committee - August 5th - Details for this meeting are not yet available. Meeting Link