Cllr Christopher Newbury

Strategic Planning Committee - Tuesday 1 July 2025 10.30 am

The Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss planning appeals, a large warehouse application in Melksham, a solar farm proposal near Potterne, and the conversion of agricultural buildings in Winterbourne Earls. The committee voted to instruct officers to address a flaw in an appeal decision relating to a Gypsy and Traveller site, deferred a decision on the warehouse for further consideration, refused the solar farm application, and approved the conversion of agricultural buildings.

Western Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 11 June 2025 3.00 pm

The Western Area Planning Committee met to discuss planning appeals and applications in the western region of Wiltshire. The committee approved an outline application for an indoor training facility at Bradford Rubin Football Club in Winsley, and deferred a decision regarding the retrospective change of use of the George Hotel in Codford to allow for further discussion with the applicant. A decision on a retrospective application for a summer house/shed in Melksham was also deferred pending a site visit.

Strategic Planning Committee - Wednesday 4 June 2025 10.30 am

At a meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by Councillor Ernie Clark, Independent Group Leader, an outline planning application for residential development on land off Freestone Grove, Westbury was approved, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement[^2]. The committee also received an update on planning appeals, including one relating to land west of Westbury Road in Warminster.

Extraordinary - On the rising of Full Council, not before 11am, Warminster Area Board - Tuesday 20 May 2025 11.00 am

At the Warminster Area Board meeting, Councillor Russell Hawker was elected as Chairman, Councillor Barry Pirie as Vice-Chairman, and Councillor Bill Parks was appointed as the Lead Representative to the Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Group (LHFIG).

Council - Tuesday 20 May 2025 10.30 am

The annual meeting of Wiltshire Council saw Councillor Laura Mayes elected as the new chairman, and Councillor Ruth Hopkinson elected as vice-chairman. Councillor Ian Thorne was appointed leader of the council for 2025-2029, and he announced his cabinet. Councillors also voted to delegate decisions on committee appointments to a later meeting, and to authorise work to establish a new financial scrutiny committee.