The Wiltshire Council Cabinet met on Tuesday 20 January 2026, approving a new Parking Plan and revised parking tariffs, and endorsing the future direction of adoption services. The Cabinet also agreed to delegate authority for the procurement of a new travel management provider and noted the annual housing report.

Parking Plan 2026-2030 Approved

The Cabinet approved the Wiltshire Council Parking Plan 2026-2030, which sets out a strategic approach to managing parking across the county to improve accessibility, sustainability, and financial viability. The plan aims to optimise parking assets, rationalise parking schemes, and introduce biannual tariff reviews. It also includes updates to resident permit eligibility and fees, and a focus on improving technology for customer experience, such as variable message systems and app-based payments. Enforcement resources are to be increased, particularly in rural areas, and specific measures are planned for Salisbury, including multi-storey car park initiatives. The plan aims for the parking service to be self-financing.

Parking Tariffs to Increase Following Review

Following a review of parking charges, the Cabinet authorised officers to proceed with statutory consultations on proposed increases to on-street and off-street parking charges across Wiltshire. The changes, which are intended to align with the Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4), Parking Sub-strategy (PSS), and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), will see charges increase in 2026 and again in 2028. The hours of parking operation will be extended from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Sunday charges in Salisbury will be reintroduced to align with weekday charging. Associated permit fees will also be adjusted. The Cabinet delegated authority to the Director of Highways and Transport to make amendments following the consultation feedback. The decision aims to ensure financial sustainability, optimise parking asset use, and encourage appropriate parking behaviour, while maintaining competitive tariffs regionally.

Future of Adoption Services to be Developed with Adoption West

The Cabinet agreed in principle to continue with Adoption West as their preferred option for the Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) beyond February 2027. This decision follows an external review of the current arrangements, which concluded that further development of Adoption West represented the best option for service provision. The Cabinet delegated authority to the Corporate Director for Children and Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children's Services, SEND, Education, and Skills, to work with key stakeholders and partners to further develop Adoption West. A further report detailing revised proposals will be presented to Cabinet at a future meeting.

New Travel Management Provider to be Procured

The Cabinet approved the commissioning of a new travel management provider through a competitive procurement process. The current contract expired in April 2023, and the Council relies on such a provider for booking hotels, rail travel, and other business-related arrangements. The new four-year contract, estimated to cost £1.6 million, will be funded by existing budgets and aims to ensure continuity of service, enhance user experience, and achieve value for money. Authority to manage the procurement process and award the contract was delegated to the Director of HR&OD.

Annual Housing Report Noted

The Cabinet noted the Wiltshire Council Annual Housing Report 2024/25. The report detailed the activities of Wiltshire Council's Housing Board (WCHB) between December 2024 and November 2025, providing an overview of key developments, performance, and governance across the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) service. The report highlighted the strengthened regulatory environment, cost of living pressures, and inflationary impacts on the HRA Business Plan. It also outlined a prioritised action plan, key achievements over the past year including improvements in electrical safety testing and damp and mould case management, and planned investment in homes through maintenance programmes and the Housing Energy Efficiency Programme (HEEP). The report also provided an update on the Council House Build Programme and service performance through the iHousing portal.

Community Asset Transfer for Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Approved

The Cabinet approved the grant of a 125-year Community Asset Transfer lease to the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (K&ACT) for their HQ building at Devizes Wharf. This decision follows a recommendation from the Devizes Area Board and aligns with Wiltshire Council's Community Asset Transfer Policy and Our Wiltshire Plan . The transfer will allow K&ACT to invest in the building, secure funding, enhance facilities, and consolidate their archives, thereby securing the long-term future of the building and its community use. Authority to complete the lease and any minor amendments was delegated to the Director of Assets.

Disposal of Surplus Assets Approved

The Cabinet noted the progress on capital receipts for the financial year 2024/25 and approved the sale of the freehold interest in five assets detailed in Appendix 2. These assets have been declared surplus to operational requirements and will be reviewed to determine the best overall outcome for the Council. The sale of these assets aims to generate capital receipts to support the Council's capital programme and Medium-Term Financial Strategy. Authority to dispose of the freehold interest in these assets was delegated to the Director of Assets or, in their absence, the Corporate Director of Resources. The report also noted that the disposal process is part of the Asset Management Strategy 2025-2035.

Other Matters Discussed

• Leader and Cabinet Announcements: Cabinet members shared updates on various council activities, including highways performance, CQC ratings for provider services, the Healthy Man Programme, waste collection efforts, air quality monitoring, and the Wiltshire Solar Together scheme. Cllr Adrian Foster reported on challenges with developers unable to find registered providers for social housing elements of their developments.
• Public Participation and Questions from Members: Questions were raised regarding the accuracy of information provided on the Salisbury Household Recycling Centre, a planning application for a solar development south of Devizes, and concerns about the removal of funding for community transport organisations. Cabinet members responded to these points, with further investigation promised on the Salisbury HRC issue and a review of community transport funding.
• Urgent Items: There were no urgent items.
• Exclusion of the Press and Public: The press and public were excluded for Item 14, concerning the approval of Part II minutes, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to financial or business affairs.
• Minutes of the Previous Meeting: The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 December 2025 were approved.

The meeting was recorded and broadcast, and the duration was from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.