The Council meeting scheduled for 19 May 2026 was set to cover a range of topics, including the Wiltshire Local Plan, the annual budget, and proposed changes to the council's constitution. The meeting also included several notices of motion addressing specific local and regional issues, such as the A303 transport corridor, fertility treatment provision, and fire station closures.

Annual Reports and Appointments

The meeting was scheduled to receive annual updates from various committees, including Overview and Scrutiny, Audit and Governance, Licensing, Standards, Staffing Policy, Wiltshire Pension Fund, and the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel. Following these updates, the Council was to proceed with the annual appointment of committees, including the allocation of seats to political groups, the appointment of members to committees and other bodies, and the appointment of chairmen and vice-chairmen for committees.

Policy Framework

A significant item on the agenda was the Wiltshire Local Plan - Next Steps. This report, from the Corporate Director - Place, was expected to outline the future direction for the local plan following its withdrawal from examination. The report indicated that the plan would be withdrawn due to concerns raised by inspectors regarding the achievability of the proposed programme and potential overlap with new planning system reforms. The council was to publish its timeline for commencing a new local plan by 30 June 2026.

Notices of Motion

Several notices of motion were scheduled for consideration:

• Notice of Motion No.2026-03: A303 - Delivering a Funded Alternative for Wiltshire: This motion, put forward by Cllrs Dr Monica Devendran and Kevin Daley, aimed to address ongoing concerns about congestion along the A303, particularly in the Amesbury and Stonehenge area. It sought clarity from the Secretary of State for Transport on short-term support for affected communities, direction on next steps for addressing congestion, and a commitment to a funded and deliverable alternative solution. The motion also called for Wiltshire Council to be actively involved in shaping future proposals and to receive a progress update within six months.

• Notice of Motion No.2026-04: BSW Integrated Care Board and fertility treatment: Proposed by Cllrs Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls and Kevin Asplin, this motion addressed the BSW Integrated Care Board's (ICB) current policy on fertility treatment, which was noted as not fully aligning with NICE guidelines by limiting provision to one IVF cycle. The motion argued for equitable access to fertility treatment, suggesting that increasing funded IVF cycles to three could improve success rates and support population health. The Council was asked to write to the BSW ICB urging a review of its policy, request a formal response from the ICB, and authorise the Leader to approach other relevant councils for a joint letter.

• Notice of Motion No.2026-05: Member awareness of Officer-led engagement: Cllrs Allison Bucknell and Bill Parks proposed this motion to ensure Wiltshire Councillors are informed of officer-led meetings with Town and Parish Councils and other external bodies. The motion highlighted the lack of a consistent corporate mechanism for informing Members about these meetings, their purpose, and outcomes, and argued that timely information sharing improves transparency and accountability. It requested the introduction of a process to notify relevant councillors of such meetings and a report on implementation within 12 months.

• Notice of Motion No.2026-06: Local Highways and Footpaths Improvements Group (LHFIG): Proposed by Cllrs Philip Whitehead and Nick Holder, this motion addressed concerns about potential reductions in LHFIG budgets. The preamble noted that LHFIGs have been successful in supporting local highway interventions, particularly in rural villages. The motion requested that if LHFIG budgets are reduced, the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee establish a rapid action task group to determine whether LHFIGs should continue, considering officer and local parish representative involvement, project delivery with reduced budgets, and the loss of external funding contributions.

• Notice of Motion No.2026-07: Action against closure of Wiltshire's Fire Stations: Cllrs Pauline Church and George Jeans put forward this motion opposing the proposed closure of fire stations in Bradford-on-Avon, Mere, Ramsbury, and Wilton by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service (DWFRS). The motion highlighted Wiltshire's rural nature, the vulnerability of its population, and concerns about increased response times and potential failure to meet safety standards. It called for the Leader of Wiltshire Council to write to the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, and Wiltshire MPs, requesting a review of Revenue Support Grant to ensure DWFRS's financial sustainability, and to write to DWFRS outlining Wiltshire Council's opposition to the closures.

• Notice of Motion No.2026-08: Bleed Control Kits: Cllrs Boaz Barry and Chris Vaughan proposed this motion to fund the purchase and installation of 100 HeartSafe UK wall-mounted bleed control kits across key public locations. The motion highlighted the life-saving potential of these kits and noted that Wiltshire Police, in partnership with the South Western Ambulance Service, were establishing a Bleed Kit Legacy Programme. The council was asked to fund the kits, with the cost to be met from any underspend in the Capital Investment 2025/26 Final Year End report or from the Facilities Management Operational Estate budget.

Other Items of Business

The Council was also scheduled to consider proposed changes to its Constitution, as recommended by the Standards Committee. These changes related to prior planning approval notifications, the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, public rights of way procedures for Area Planning Committees, and amendments to the Council Rules of Procedure.

Finally, the agenda included a section for questions from Members of the Council.