The Southern Wiltshire Area Board met to elect a chair and vice-chair for the upcoming year, and to appoint a representative to the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG). Councillor Zoë Clewer was elected as Chairman, Councillor Rich Rogers as Vice-Chairman, and Councillor Rich Rogers was also appointed as the Lead Councillor for the Southern Wiltshire LHFIG.

Election of Chairman

Councillor Zoë Clewer was elected as Chairman of the Southern Wiltshire Area Board for 2025/26. Councillor Rich Rogers nominated Councillor Zoë Clewer for the position, and Councillor Lainey Barker seconded the motion. As there were no other nominations, Councillor Zoë Clewer was elected. The Election of Area Board Chairs Procedure 2025 states that In the event of only one valid nomination being received the person presiding will declare the nominated Member elected.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Councillor Rich Rogers was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Southern Wiltshire Area Board for 2025/26. Councillor Zoë Clewer, in her capacity as the newly elected chair, nominated Councillor Rich Rogers for the position, and Councillor Richard Clewer seconded the motion. As with the election of the chair, there were no other nominations, so Councillor Rich Rogers was duly elected.

Appointment of Representative to the LHFIG

Councillor Rich Rogers was appointed as the Lead Councillor for the Southern Wiltshire LHFIG for 2025/26. Councillor Zoë Clewer nominated Councillor Rich Rogers for the position, and Councillor Gregory Cooper seconded the motion.

The Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG) operates as an informal working group, making recommendations to the Area Board for approval regarding local highways and footpaths. According to the LHFIG ToR 2025, the group's membership typically includes:

• Members of the Area Board
• Town and Parish Council representatives
• Community/Stakeholder representatives

The LHFIG's terms of reference include making recommendations to the Area Board regarding priorities and levels of expenditure for small-scale transport schemes in the community area. The discretionary highways budget allocated to the board by the Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding can be used to provide new and improved highway infrastructure that improves safety, increases accessibility and sustainability by promoting walking, cycling and public transport, and improves traffic management. The LHFIG cannot fund revenue functions, such as routine maintenance schemes or the provision of passenger transport services.