Agenda and minutes

There were two verbal public questions, a copy of the questions are appended to these minutes at APPENDIX A. The responses were not part of the meeting but are appended to these minutes at APPENDIX B.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Adam Ward due to parental duties and Councillors Andy Phillips due to being unwell.

All Members of the Town Council are reminded to declare any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests they may have in any business of the Council, its Committees or Sub-Committees, in accordance with the latest approved Code of Conduct. Councillors are reminded to declare any dispensation granted in relation to any relevant matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

i. To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

There were no announcements from the Mayor.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Planning informing and advising Councillors on how to respond to Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan Review consultation. It sets out representations to the Local Plan Review agreed at the Planning, Environment and Transport (PET) Committee Meeting of 8 November 2023 and seeks agreement from Full Council to these representations (copy attached).

The Head of Planning presented the report regarding the response to Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan Review consultation. The Head of Planning presented the recommendations of the Planning, Environment and Transport (PET) Committee Meeting on 8 November 2023 and sought agreement from Full Council to these representations.

Councillor Matthew Short made a statement relating to the global carbon budget and sustainability.

Councillor Clare Cape supported the process through the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, the Planning, Environment and Transport Committee and Full Council in this process.

Councillor Matthew Short proposed an amendment to the recommendations, that “the Town Council request to be present at the hearing in relation to Policy 86 on Renewable Energy”. This amendment was seconded by Councillor Gemma Grimes. A vote was taken on the amendment and with all if favour, it was supported.

Councillor Pete Cousins proposed an amendment to the recommendations, that “the Chief Executive writes to the Leader of Wiltshire Council summarising the key points of the Town Council’s response and publishes the letter on the Town Council website. The summary to include the following key aspects of the Council’s response:

1. Non-compliance with para 153 of the NPPF and provisions of the Climate Change Act;

2. Failure to demonstrate Green House Gas emissions associated with plan policies or site selection;

3. The over-estimation of housing numbers (37k instead of 25k reflected by the Housing Needs Assessment;

4. The failure to take account of brownfield site coming forward over the Plan period;

5. The lack of provision for sustainable transport infrastructure as oppose to car dependency;

6. Weak and insufficient support for renewable energy;

7. The Town Council’s support for Policy 85 on net zero development, which aligns in its objective with the Chippenham Neighbourhood Plan’s Net Zero Development policy”.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Clare Cape, a vote was taken and with all in favour, it was supported.

Councillor Pete Cousins proposed an amendment to the recommendations, that “with respect to recommendation ii), that: The Town Council’s representations at relevant hearings are inclusive of officers and members, e.g. Chairs of appropriate committees, (where appropriate)”. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Clare Cape, a vote was taken and with all in favour, it was supported.

With all in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

i) Councillors agreed the draft representations commencing as outlined in the report with one amendment that the Town Council request to be present at the hearing in relation to Policy 86 on Renewable Energy. The response to be submitted to Wiltshire Council as the Town Council’s formal representations on the Wiltshire Local Plan Review Regulation 19 Consultation.

ii) Councillors agreed to delegate to the Chief Executive the submission of the representations agreed in i) to Wiltshire Council and to ensure that the Town Council is represented at any Examination hearings, where a wish to participate at a hearing has been indicated on the respective representation form. The Town Council’s representations at relevant hearings are inclusive of officers and members, e.g.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Democratic Services regarding two proposed amendments that have been submitted to Wiltshire Council as part of the ongoing Community Governance Review (CGR). To consider if there are any further anomalies in ward boundaries that Council would support to be submitted to be reviewed by Wiltshire Council’s Electoral Review Committee as part of this process (copy attached).

The Head of Democratic Services presented the report regarding two proposed amendments that had been submitted to Wiltshire Council as part of their ongoing Community Governance Review. It was confirmed that neighbouring parishes would be aware of these proposals. Councillors did not suggest any additional comments. With all in favour, it was;

RESOLVED that:

i) Council supported the following two schemes:

a) Ref: LAC01, Lacock/Chippenham, Rowden Lane, identified as anomalous during the 2019/20 review.

b) Ref: CHI01, Chippenham, Ray Close, raised by Ward Wiltshire Councillor.

ii) Council did not propose any further minor anomalies to be forwarded to Wiltshire Council for them to take into consideration as part of this review process.

iii) Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to submit comments to Wiltshire Council accordingly.

To consider any items for communication and any items to be consulted with the Youth Council.

There were no items for communication requested. Councillors requested that the summary letter for the Wiltshire Local Plan Review consultation response be shared with the Youth Council.

The next meeting of Full Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 22 November 2023.

The next meeting of Full Council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 22 November 2023.