The Standards Dispensation Sub-Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 5 February 2026 to consider a request for dispensation from Councillor Brian Dalton. The committee granted Councillor Dalton a dispensation to remain in the room and participate in debate regarding the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget until the end of the current council term.

Consideration of a Dispensation Request

The Sub-Committee considered a request from Councillor Brian Dalton for a dispensation to allow him to participate in discussions concerning the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget. Councillor Dalton has a disclosable pecuniary interest as he rents a council-owned garage, which falls under the HRA. Under the council's Code of Conduct, individuals with such interests are generally required to leave the room during discussions and voting on related matters.

The report presented to the committee outlined that under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, councils can grant dispensations to allow members to participate in discussions and vote on matters where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. The Sub-Committee could grant a dispensation if it considered it appropriate, for example, if without it, the number of members prohibited from participating would impede the transaction of business, or if granting it was in the interests of local residents.

Councillor Dalton's request specified that he wished to remain in the room and potentially speak, but not to vote. He stated that he had been renting a council garage since 1991 and that this constituted a disclosable pecuniary interest. He sought the dispensation for meetings of the Full Council and the Housing Board. Councillor Dalton argued that granting the dispensation was otherwise appropriate ¹. He had previously been granted a similar dispensation in 2023, which expired in May 2025.

The committee discussed the cost of the rent for the garage and noted that Councillor Dalton was not requesting the ability to vote. The appropriateness of hearing from someone subject to HRA rates during budget discussions was also considered.

Ultimately, the Sub-Committee resolved to grant Councillor Brian Dalton a dispensation to remain in the room and participate in debate concerning his disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to the HRA budget. This dispensation is effective until the end of the current council term, and applies to meetings of the Full Council and the Housing Board.