Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Brief thoughts on happenings at WWDC in April.




District Council news from Ernie Clark, your Independent district councillor for Hilperton, Semington and Staverton parishes.

Thank you to those of you that contacted me about my non-article last month. As I said at the time – there wasn’t anything worth writing about. This month, however, is a different kettle of fish.

The Cabinet of the district council (which includes both Sarah Content and Trevor Carbin) has been having a busy month. You may recall that, when the current administration took control at WWDC last year, they argued that the previous administration (of which I was part) had failed to listen to the people of the district. Amongst actions the new administration didn’t like was the increase in car parking fees. So, what did they decide when the Cabinet reviewed car park fees earlier this month? Did they reduce them? No, they didn’t. In fact they decided to increase the fee for all day parking and remove the ‘free first hour’ from a number of the car parks. I wonder whom they listened to in reaching that decision?

Another item on the April agenda was giving away (at nil value) car parks and open spaces for affordable housing. Now, no one can deny that there is a problem in securing sufficient land for such housing, but did the Cabinet listen to concerned residents? Of course they didn’t. In a show of complete contempt for democracy they ignored all views except those which suited them. Such was the outrage at their actions that I, together with four other councillors, had the decision ‘called-in’ to the WWDC Scrutiny Committee.

The full WWDC council also met this month and, amongst other items, was a motion of no confidence in the PCT (the one that wants to close the Community Hospitals) and a call for them to resign en-masse. Every councillor present voted in favour except Sarah; I find it most odd that the Leader of WWDC can be so at odds with her own group, fellow councillors and the public. During the debate Sarah complained that the council should have acted earlier on this matter, but seemed to forget that she is the Leader – if WWDC should have done something before now, doesn’t the buck stop with her?

All in all, I don’t think that April will go down in history as one of the better months for Sarah, Trevor and their cohorts.

Ernie Clark.

15 April 2006.