The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee of Wiltshire Council met on 23 July 2025, to discuss the outline of the Council Plan 2025-2035, the priorities for the new Finance and Procurement Select Committee, and to set up a task group to review the MyWilts app. The committee also agreed to re-establish the Stone Circle Task Group.

Outline Council Plan 2025-2035

Councillor Ian Thorne, Leader of the Council, presented the outline of the Council Plan 2025-2035, which sets out the council's principles and priorities for the next 10 years. The plan is based on three principles: working together, acting fairly and openness.

Several councillors raised concerns about the timing of the consultation period, which takes place during the summer holidays. Councillor Thorne acknowledged these concerns, but said that the timing was unavoidable due to the local elections in May. He assured the committee that all consultation responses would be taken into account.

Councillor Alan Hagger asked how the plan would work in practice, and how it would be overseen. Councillor Thorne said that the plan would be reviewed annually by the cabinet and council, and that there would be KPIs¹ to measure progress.

Councillor Trevor Carbin raised the importance of working with town and parish councils, and asked how this would be achieved without shunting costs onto them. Councillor Thorne said that the council intended to start having regular meetings with town and parish councils, and that they would be invited to meet with the cabinet.

Councillor Barry Pirie asked about the council's views on the longevity of the area boards. Councillor Thorne said that the council was looking at all aspects of the area boards, and how to make them more relevant to their communities.

Councillor Ed Rimmer asked about the KPIs, and how scrutiny committees would be able to interrogate them. Councillor Thorne said that the KPIs were part of scrutiny, and that they should not be convenient KPIs that measure the things that will show the council in the best possible light.

Councillor Nick Murry raised a point about the name of the plan, and suggested that it should be called a strategic plan rather than a council plan. Councillor Thorne said that he was happy to consider this suggestion.

The committee agreed to:

• Note the outline Council Plan 2025 to 2035.
• Ask all of the select committees to provide feedback on the full draft of the Council Plan prior to full Council in October 2025.
• Agree that the Your Council issues listed on page 15 of the draft Council Plan should be considered for inclusion within the ONS Management Committee's own work programme.

New Finance and Procurement Select Committee

The committee considered the initial work priorities and approach for the new Finance and Procurement Select Committee, which was formally established by full council on 22 July 2025.

Henry Powell, Democracy and Complaints Manager, presented a report outlining the proposed initial priorities for the select committee, which included the annual budget, medium term financial strategy, revenue and capital budget monitoring, treasury management strategy, major contract finances, and procurement and commissioning.

Councillor Gavin Grant, Cabinet Member for Finance, addressed a question raised at full council regarding the council's debt levels. He explained the difficulty in determining when the previous administration ended and the new administration began, making it challenging to provide a clear answer to the question.

Councillor Ed Rimmer raised concerns about the lack of a clear date for the end of the previous administration and the start of the current one, which makes it difficult to scrutinise past decisions and hold individuals accountable.

Lizzie Watkin, Director Finance, emphasised the importance of understanding the areas of financial risk for the council and scrutinising the commissioning aspects of procurement.

The committee agreed to:

• Refer the initial work priorities set out in the report and work programme to the Finance and Procurement Select Committee.
• Ask the Finance and Procurement Select Committee to consider its training needs.
• Receive regular updates on the work and approach of the Finance and Procurement Select Committee.
• Endorse the recommendations of the Financial Year 2024/25 Budget Outturns Rapid Scrutiny Exercise.
• Note the referral by full council of a member question regarding the council's debt levels, and refer the matter to the Finance and Procurement Select Committee for further consideration.

Shaping the OS Work Programme Workshop Event

The committee discussed the outcomes of a work-planning session for all councillors held on 8 July 2025, where potential topics for scrutiny were identified.

Councillor Graham Wright proposed establishing a task group to review the MyWilts app and its user experience, which was supported by the committee.

The committee agreed to:

• Note the topics proposed for OS by attendees at the shaping the OS work programme councillor event on 8 July 2025.
• Refer the other topics proposed to the relevant select committee for further consideration.
• Establish a task group to review the MyWilts app and its user experience.
• Note the update provided on the development of the council's approach to corporate performance and risk monitoring.
• Note the additional topics for scrutiny proposed by the committee, with further discussions to be arranged, led by the relevant select committee chairs.

Stone Circle Task Group

The committee agreed to re-establish a Stone Circle Standing Task Group to scrutinise the activities of the Cabinet Shareholder Group, with the terms of reference as set out in the report. The task group will scrutinise Stone Circle Group business plans, the criteria applied in decisions about the development of land, the extent to which Stone Circle Housing and Stone Circle Development are each achieving their distinct purposes, and the management of financial risk.

Perry Holmes, Director Legal and Governance, welcomed the development of the task group and assured members that a decent framework was in place, with a shareholder group and companies board providing further accountability.

Councillor Ruth Hopkinson said that there was still ongoing questions regarding governance and management of Stone Circle, and that it was a significant risk to the council if its work isn't managed properly.

The committee agreed to:

• Establish a Stone Circle Standing Task Group to scrutinise the activities of the Cabinet Shareholder Group, with the terms of reference as set out in the report.
• Delegate the appointment of the task group's membership to the committee's chair and vice-chair following an open invitation for expressions of interest.

Cabinet Member Updates

Councillor Helen Belcher OBE, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Assets, provided an update on the government's intentions for the Porton Down establishment, and the initial meeting of the Wiltshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership.

Councillor Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, provided an update on the Ofsted inspection of the Children's Services team, the free swimming sessions for children, and the rise in exclusions from schools.

Forward Work Programme

The committee received updates from the chairs and vice-chairs of the select committees in respect of the topics under scrutiny in their areas, and approved the overview and scrutiny forward work programme.