Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Wiltshire Council news from Ernie Clark,

Your Independent Wiltshire councillor.

As I write this it is only just December and so it seems odd to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, but I do anyway!!

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Election was held last month. For some reason, Wiltshire/Swindon was the only area to count overnight rather than leave it until the next morning. I wonder if the same will be done for the WC election in May?

Angus Macpherson (Conservative) was elected but not with what could really be called much of a mandate from the people. There were a total of 2,683 rejected votes (over 3%) from just 81,477 votes cast (an overall turnout of only 15.83% including the spoilt papers)! 37,467 postal votes were received; a very high percentage of over 45%.

The number of Independent councillors at County Hall continues to grow with two 'party' Wiltshire Councillors joining us last month. One has resigned from the Lib Dem group, the other from the Conservatives. Both are based in the Marlborough area, are hard working councillors and are well known to their electorate.

There are now 13 councillors who don’t belong to one of the ‘big three’ parties. As a comparison, the Lib Dem membership is 22, so the Independents aren’t that far behind them!!

Wiltshire Council officers have teamed up with a national specialist team to crack down on loan sharks. Trading standards officers and the national England Illegal Money Lending Team are joining forces to stamp out the practice which can make victims’ lives a misery. In some cases the lenders will add additional amounts sporadically with a previous case reported in the UK being equivalent to 130,000%APR. The team will prosecute offenders through the courts. To report a loan shark:-

• Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222

• Text ‘loan shark + your message to 60003

• Email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk

• Log on to www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks

• Private message on Facebook www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject