Cllr James Sheppard

Council - Tuesday 20 May 2025 10.30 am

The annual meeting of Wiltshire Council saw Councillor Laura Mayes elected as the new chairman, and Councillor Ruth Hopkinson elected as vice-chairman. Councillor Ian Thorne was appointed leader of the council for 2025-2029, and he announced his cabinet. Councillors also voted to delegate decisions on committee appointments to a later meeting, and to authorise work to establish a new financial scrutiny committee.

Extraordinary Meeting: On the rising of Full Council, not before 11:00, Eastern Wiltshire Area Committee - Tuesday 20 May 2025 11.00 am

At an extraordinary meeting of the Eastern Wiltshire Area Committee, Councillor Jane Davies was appointed as Chairman and Councillor Kymee Cleasby was appointed as Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year. The committee also agreed on substitution arrangements for members across the Marlborough, Pewsey, and Tidworth Area Boards.

Extraordinary - On the rising of Full Council, not before 11am, Marlborough Area Board - Tuesday 20 May 2025 11.00 am

At the Marlborough Area Board meeting, Councillor Jane Davies was elected as Chairman, Councillor Kymee Cleasby was appointed as Vice-Chairman, and Councillor Kymee Cleasby was also appointed as the Area Board’s lead representative on the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group (LHFIG).

Eastern Area Planning Committee - Thursday 17 April 2025 3.00 pm

The Eastern Area Planning Committee scheduled a meeting to address planning appeals, updates, and consider planning applications, including one for The Wheatsheaf Inn in Chilton Foliat. The meeting also included opportunities for public participation.

Strategic Planning Committee - Tuesday 15 April 2025 10.30 am

The Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss planning appeals and updates, and to decide on two planning applications. Outline planning permission was granted for land north of Melksham Road in Holt, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement[^2]. A decision on a residential development for land off Freestone Grove in Westbury was deferred.