A pledge and commitment to support the Armed Forces

Hello,

Last week I had one of those days when I felt a real milestone had been achieved.

I joined key military and civilian leaders at the newly remodelled MOD Lyneham to represent the council in signing the refreshed Wiltshire Armed Forces Covenant. It was a thought provoking occasion and was far more than the signing of a really important document. It was about the pledge and commitment from the county’s key organisations, including ours, to work together to do all that we can to support the Armed Forces.

We are proud of our long association with the military, and rightly so, and I often tell people that Wiltshire’s unique selling point is its relationship with the military. It’s what makes us unique – we are a military county.

The covenant itself is a commitment that we as the local authority, together with businesses, the public and voluntary sectors will work with the military to bring our collective knowledge, experience and expertise to provide help and advice to members of the Armed Forces and to benefit our county both economically and in local communities.

In turn, the covenant encourages the Armed Forces to support their community and promote activity which encourages integration with civilian life.

Given our special relationship with the military, Wiltshire should be leading the way with the covenant and we were one of the first counties to sign up, so I was really pleased at the strength of support for the refreshed covenant, which encourages businesses to sign up too. Businesses have a huge role in this as they can offer employment to skilled Armed Forces leavers and their spouses, as well as supporting reservists with the time they need.

Our relationship with the military will only get stronger, as we welcome 4,000 service personnel, along with 3,200 family members, over the next few years as part of the Army Basing Programme. We’ve worked hard to develop this special partnership, and we will continue to do so, because it is so important to Wiltshire.

This week we’ll be celebrating a different kind of partnership – the partnership we have with businesses, and how we can work together to help the next generation of elite athletes.

Since 2012 we have worked to connect businesses with our rising sports stars and provide a foundation fund that enables grants to be allocated to help them on their journey to stardom.

Our fourth annual Wiltshire Business and Sports Gala Dinner takes place in the Atrium on Thursday.

All of the money raised from the businesses that support the event goes into the Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians foundation fund, which helps local sports stars either with an elite grant or a scholarship grant – allocated to our younger sports people aged 8 to 16.

Our Wiltshire athletes have had amazing success so far and many are now well known household names and they have instilled a huge sense of pride in our county as they represent us on the worldwide stage.

We know there are many more stars out there – who may just need a little bit of financial support to help them get where they’re going. That’s what we’ll be doing on Thursday, when we present 11 more grants that

I know will make a real difference to these athletes – and, I’m sure, that we’ll be joining them in celebrating the achievement of their own milestones very soon.

Jane

Celebrating the positive difference we make to our communities

Hello,

I’m often asked what keeps me motivated and energised – and it’s one of the easier questions to answer.

What really keeps me focused is seeing all of our hard work come to fruition and the positive difference this has on our communities.

Just recently I saw this first-hand in Salisbury when we officially opened Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre. This is an incredible facility which is proving to be hugely popular.

In Melksham we handed over Oakfields – a conference standard sports facility to the town’s football and rugby clubs. This fantastic facility will benefit not just the clubs, but also the hundreds of young people involved in playing football and rugby at all ages and levels.

In Corsham yesterday, one of the recipients of grants from our Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians Foundation, Stephanie Millward MBE, was the special guest for the official opening of Springfield Community Campus. The swimming pool was renamed after Steph, who has achieved so much winning ten Paralympic medals.

This morning in Malmesbury we handed over the keys to the Riverside Community Centre to the volunteers from the Friends of the Riverside who have worked so hard to deliver this new hub and I have every confidence that they will make the facility a huge success.

These facilities are all unique to their community and have been based on local needs and have come to fruition as a result of the positive working partnerships with the community and partners.

I have always been proud about what we’ve been able to achieve as a council. It’s easy to forget that we’ve only existed as an organisation for eight years, so as far as I’m concerned, the progress we have made has been staggering – particularly as for much of this time we have been in a period of austerity. This challenged us to think differently about the way we do things and it has paid dividends.

We don’t believe in simply ‘spending’ money, we think it’s important to ‘invest’ it. These investments must deliver a return and we need to be clear about what you get for your money. This is slightly trickier in terms of the impact on communities but we are already seeing the benefits of these investments. 

Attendance at the new centres and community hubs has exceeded expectation and communities are embracing the new way in which we are providing services. We have created a warm, welcoming environment to encourage people to use the facilities on offer whether that’s the library, café, the gym, or to access advice about a council service. We want to bring people closer together, provide new opportunities and activities in their local area and help them to be healthier and happier as a result. 

It was good to celebrate a different kind of partnership this week when I was invited to visit Good Energy and meet their team. The company is based on the top floor of Monkton Park, following their move last year, and they have settled in really well to this new environment. Their staff were so positive and I was really pleased to see that our efforts to help support an innovative, forward-thinking business to relocate and remain in Chippenham have been so successful.

As it was Valentines’ Day, Good Energy made a cake which had written on it ‘Good Energy loves Wiltshire Council’ – a different kind of thank you, but very welcome – 

And, thinking about it – maybe its cake that helps with my motivation!

Jane

2017 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year

Hello and welcome to my first blog of 2017. 

Well it’s another year and is it just me or does this time of the year make you more aware that we are all another year older? Maybe it’s the short days and the lack of sunshine and cold, rainy and often grey skies that somehow affect your inner energy and get up and go.

According to the media and psychologists we now have Blue Monday and Divorce days and they are all in January reminding us that the festivities are over and we are once again at the start of a new year combating over indulgence, the lurgies and bugs that seem to grab us when we are at a low ebb and not forgetting the need to tighten our purse strings after the Christmas spend.

I’m just pleased that there is so much to focus on, which is a great motivator on days when let’s be honest you just long to resort to what’s widely known as a Duvet or Pyjama day. 

At this time of year our focus is on setting next year’s budget, which in my view is one of the toughest since we became Wiltshire Council back seven years ago. The opportunities to deliver efficiencies and savings each year is becoming really challenging. Although we have delivered more than £125m of savings since we became a unitary, trying to find the savings needed to balance the books next year is proving to be a tough challenge and unfortunately there is no easy solution and there are few efficiency options left.

Being in the House of Lords has its advantages – last week I was able to meet with the secretary of state for communities and local government, Sajid Javid. The meeting focused on the recent announcement that local authorities can increase the social care levy by 6% over the next two years to help support the service pressures resulting from our growing ageing population. 

Whilst the levy will no doubt help, the pressures on social care services and the NHS are huge and right now across the country hospitals are in crisis trying to cope with the impact of the annual flu bugs and falls and the impact this has on the elderly.

I have always advocated the integration of health and social care to maximise resources and to offer the best possible service for those who are most vulnerable. We need to look at what can be done to make sure that as we all live longer and healthier lives and therefore are able to remain independent to enjoy quality twilight years.

I don’t underestimate the value of having a voice for Wiltshire on the national stage and that it is advantageous to be able to access ministers to convey the impact of Government policy and decisions on our service delivery and budgets. I will continue to use these opportunities, when I need to, to the benefit of our county and its residents.

You can find out more about the issues I raise in the House of Lords on the parliament website.

I have resolved this year to stay positive, relish my independence and health, and keep focused on how we can help others less fortunate and more vulnerable in our local communities.

It’s a new year – I have new resolve and new pyjamas just in case I need one of those Duvet days! 

Jane

Just where has this year gone?

The past twelve months have raced by and I don’t know about you but I can’t quite believe that Christmas is upon us and it’s almost the end of another year.

I think this year has been both tough and challenging – in many ways. For me personally it’s been a year of change and some new opportunities. I became a Granny again following the birth of Harry so I am now proud Granny to William and Harry! And, I mustn’t forget my gorgeous granddaughter Flory... I also became a widow, losing my husband Ron the week after Harry was born. I think this is known as the circle of life…

This year, I also learnt lots regarding how the House of Lords works and how resilient I need to be to balance my role as leader of the council with my role as Baroness of Bybrook - not always easy – but, I’ve proved it can be done and I am pleased that I am now accessing ministers and decision makers and, as a result, delivering better outcomes for Wiltshire.

What I also had is that I work with some great people in Wiltshire and I am so appreciative and thankful for the support and good wishes that I have received. 

The year has been challenging for the council too. The demand for services; particularly those that help to protect the most vulnerable have increased, placing pressures on the budget, and this is set to continue. 

This issue isn’t one that just affects Wiltshire - it’s an issue that’s affecting the whole country. Yesterday, you may have heard, the government announcement that local authorities can set social care levy increases of up to 6% over the next two years to help fund this increased demand.

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that it’s really positive that we are all living longer – and, that whilst we definitely can and do benefit from the wealth of experience and capacity that our aging population offers, there is also the real pressure to provide the funding and support required for social care services for older people. 

At this time of the year our focus is on the budget; both balancing this year’s and focusing on setting next year’s. The pressures and opportunities we face need to be weighed up. The announcement from the secretary of state for communities and local government, Sajid Javid on the social care levy to help meet social care costs needs careful consideration to make sure we do what’s right for Wiltshire, and this will be debated over the next few weeks.

Looking back - 2016 has been a year of delivery. One thing Wiltshire Council is good at is delivering - and this year has been no exception. Due to my personal situation, for the first time, I was unable to attend the recent staff forums. But, I have seen the short film that captured some of our successes and highlights from the past 12 months. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff and members, and for those of you that didn’t get the opportunity to see the film here it is – and, it’s well worth watching.

Next year we will continue to focus on our key priorities; protecting the vulnerable, boosting the economy, and building stronger communities and I am in no doubt that we will make Wiltshire an even better place to live, work and visit in 2017 and beyond.

On behalf of my cabinet colleagues and myself, I would like to say a very big thank you for all your hard work and commitment throughout this past year. We are extremely grateful for everything you do to make such a positive difference to the people of Wiltshire.

Finally, I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy 2017. However you are spending this special time, please do enjoy yourselves and have a well-earned break. A special thank you to those of you who will be working, or on call, over the festive period to ensure our services can continue – it is very much appreciated.

I look forward to working with you all in 2017 and fingers crossed that it brings us more opportunity than challenge!

Yours 

Jane 

An emotional time

Hello everyone

The last couple of weeks have been a very emotional time for my family and I.

As many of you may have heard, my daughter Fleur gave birth to a beautiful boy, Harry, and I have been providing her with some help and support while enjoying spending some time with my new grandson.

Unfortunately, it really has been a time of mixed emotions for all of us as, very sadly, my husband Ron passed away peacefully last weekend. 

Ron will be known to some of you. He was a strong, principled person with a real love for Wiltshire and a strong commitment to the work of the council. 

His passing coming so soon after the birth of Harry has been very hard for the whole family.
I’m extremely grateful to John Thomson for stepping in whilst I am away and for ensuring that the business of the council at meetings and events continues. 

John and I have been in close contact while I have been away with my family and he has kept me up to date with what’s been happening – and, as always, there’s been lot going on.

I was so disappointed not to be able to attend the staff forums in Trowbridge and Chippenham, and also the Achieving Excellence awards, but John has told me how much he enjoyed both, and how pleased he was to hear such a range of feedback and so many good questions from you at the forums.

As John, Carlton and Carolyn have said, and which I fully endorse; we are committed to acting on all the feedback received and all of the questions asked will be answered and publicised on the intranet. We will take action based on what you have told us needs to change, so that we have an organisation that can continue to move forward, adapt and be more open and transparent, as well as a great place to work.

I look forward to seeing you all very soon.

Jane

Investment in our communities

Hello,

Working with local communities is key to everything we do and over the last couple of weeks I’ve been seeing first-hand the impact of the investment that we have made in communities across Wiltshire.

Last week I visited our recently completed health and wellbeing centre – the Nadder Centre in Tisbury, which is a really impressive community facility. It’s a bright, airy, colourful building with first-class facilities for local businesses, library visitors, young children, parents, gym users and many more…it really does feel like there is something for everyone there and the feedback we’ve received so far from visitors and users has been so positive.

I have always advocated that all our public buildings should be for the community and, as such, have a range of uses. I am really pleased that following last week’s visit, it has been decided that the Nadder Centre will host this year’s Wiltshire Assembly event, which is scheduled for next month.

The assembly is one of the biggest events we run in the county, bringing together key stakeholders to tackle different issues that are affecting Wiltshire. This year it will focus on housing, with the aim of raising awareness of housing needs and the gaps in housing in local communities. Attendees will be encouraged to discuss and commit to action the delivery of the right type of housing across the county that will meet the needs for the future. It is anticipated that more than one hundred representatives from organisations and communities will attend and I look forward to hearing their views and implementing what’s needed to tackle the housing issues we face.

I also visited Salisbury to sign an historic agreement which will see the transfer of responsibility for a package of buildings, facilities, assets and services to the city council.

This includes services and assets which are really important and touch people’s lives, including the Market Place, property, a new CCTV system, shopmobility, children's play areas and maintenance services. This transfer is significant as it places the delivery of local services with local councils. We are working with other local councils across the county to discuss which services could be transferred to ensure their sustainability into the future.

We are all aware that keeping active helps us to improve our general health and wellbeing, so I was delighted this week to officially hand over the new all-weather sports pitch in Beversbrook to Calne Town Council. The artificial pitch is another really impressive facility, one which is already encouraging people of all ages to be much more active…whatever the weather!

The pitch, and the recently installed toucan crossing to improve pedestrian access, has been installed at a cost of around £600,000. This is a significant investment – but in my view a really worthwhile one that reflects our commitment to improving local community facilities across the county.

Many teams are using this new pitch and have made it their home including FC Calne, Derry Hill FC, and Calne Utd – sadly my team Manchester United haven’t visited yet, but maybe one day – and more than 900 hours of football have been played on the new facility since May. That’s fantastic and shows it’s a success.

Of course these highlights from Tisbury, Salisbury and Calne, are just some of the investments we’re making in communities and it’s great to see that investment paying off.

And, finally in this blog I would like to acknowledge and thank all our staff for their hard work; particularly in challenging times. In recognition of this hard work I have agreed that Friday 23 December 2016 will be a day’s leave and that the offices will be closed. Whilst I recognise that some staff will be providing critical front line services on this day I have asked that it is an additional annual leave day for all staff (to be taken, when appropriate) as a thank you for everything that you, our valued staff do.

Jane

Planning for the future

Hello,

It’s that time of the year where the main political parties hold their national conferences and there is a huge amount of focus on the various policy announcements coming out of them.

I’ve just returned from a few days at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, at which I was really pleased to be able to have the opportunity to speak on some topics of real importance to Wiltshire and some of the ways that we have tackled our challenges head on.

Of course, many of the challenges we face aren’t unique; for example, all local authorities are trying to find ways to deal with rising demand with reduced funding – however, it’s good to be able to talk to our counterparts across the country at events like these to share knowledge, understanding, and of course solutions.

One of the main topics that came out of the Conservative Party Conference was that of housing; which, incidentally, is one of the biggest challenges we face in Wiltshire. Interestingly, Council Leaders across the country regularly ask: ‘how do we build the homes that Britain needs?’ and I was fortunate enough to be able to speak on the subject at the conference.

Did you realise that by 2025 our population in Wiltshire will increase by 9 per cent– that’s an extra 42,000 people who will need somewhere to live!

Moreover, people are also living longer – by 2025, the amount of people aged over 75 will increase by 68%; this means that we will need more properties with adaptions for those with disabilities.

All in all it is clear to see that we need more homes, and lots of them at that. However, it is important that we ensure that these are the right homes, built in the right way and in the right places, with the right infrastructure surrounding them.

Our houses need to be built sustainably, in a way that builds strong communities and not in a manner that purely just puts a roof over people’s heads.

Personally, I don’t think there is a better example of this than our army basing programme, again which is something that I highlighted at the conference.

This programme will bring 4,000 service personnel, along with 3,200 family members from Germany to Wiltshire by 2019, as Salisbury Plain becomes the largest military training area in the UK.

Indeed, while we welcome this as an opportunity to strengthen our connection with the military, it’s not without its challenges.

For example, we have worked very closely with the MoD to ensure that this programme is a success. I was really pleased that the recent peer review of our work on this programme was so positive and my thanks go to the many of you who I know were involved in this; your contribution should not be under-estimated. 

As part of the planning agreement for 917 army homes near Salisbury, there will be significant investment in community infrastructure – in schools, road improvements, community facilities, recreation, sports facilities, a medical facility and cycle paths across Salisbury Plain’s communities.

As you can see, this programme isn’t just about building the homes that Wiltshire needs, it’s about building a community for the future.

There wasn’t an off-the-shelf solution to this challenge; a unique situation required a unique solution and, of course, that is so true of many of the challenges we face.

One of the things I took home from the conference was that solutions to the problems we collectively face can be found in the same way – by getting the right people to come together and look creatively at what can be done.

I always like to say that every challenge has a solution.

Working together is the key; that is what has always worked for us in Wiltshire and I am certain that this will always continue to be the case.

Jane