With the local elections only weeks away we are now in the pre-election period. It’s a busy time for all those intending to stand as candidates, but its business as usual for the council, and I am keen to keep you updated of the key activities throughout this period.
On that note; I mentioned in last week’s blog that I would be attending the Wiltshire Young People's STAR Awards in Salisbury’s City Hall on Friday evening, and that I would update on this event. The evening was an awards ceremony for looked after young people aged 11-18 years and it was inspirational hearing the heart warming stories about the achievements of our children in care. The event was attended by more than 40 children and featured a dancing exhibition put on by the Urban Dance Company. One of the most touching parts of the evening was the presentation of awards by two looked after children who now attend university and talked about what they have gone on to achieve. Their success is a true inspiration to others.
This week it was cabinet, which met on Tuesday at Monkton Park for the last time before the election on 2 May. We discussed the work following last year’s key events to create a lasting legacy for Wiltshire that builds on the success of 2012. Working with our partners on the legacy steering board, our focus is to continue to boost the local economy, bring communities together, encourage people to be more active and healthy and support future Wiltshire Olympians and Paralympians. The vast programme of events planned for this year across the county highlights the enthusiasm and energy in our local communities to keep this momentum going.
The council’s updated Joint Strategic Assessment was also on the agenda. The JSA looks at the current and future needs of people in Wiltshire and is vital in helping to shape services and take action where it is needed. We also discussed the draft Wiltshire Police and Crime Plan and agreed the feedback on behalf of the council. The plan, which sets out the Police and Crime Commissioner’s focus for the future, covers key areas of work that we do in partnership with the police, such as community safety, combating anti-social behaviour and road safety matters.
On Wednesday, I attended the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Board’s (LEP) annual meeting, which was held at Longleat House, a beautiful location and an opportunity for us to look back at what the board has achieved. In the first year of this new partnership, we secured significant government funding for some key economic projects across the county including £10 million for the delivery of a science park at Porton Down that will create hundreds of new jobs and the City Deal that will provide opportunities for making better use of MoD land creating jobs and encouraging economic growth.
Looking to the future, the LEP is working with Swindon and Wiltshire local authorities and central government to finalise the City Deal 2 bid and it is considering how it will deliver the recommendations set out in Lord Heseltine’s report – No Stone Unturned – delivering economic growth, that was approved by central government this week. The report focuses on devolving funding to local LEP’s and local authorities in partnership to boost economic growth.
Looking ahead, yesterday the corporate directors and I met with John Bush, the chair of the Wiltshire Assembly, to plan the next meeting, which will take place this summer. Our aim is to focus on young people, their employment and the economy and to do something a little different. More details on this will follow soon.
I’m sure you are all aware, but next year is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1, and last night around 150 people attended a meeting at Devizes School to discuss how we will commemorate this anniversary in Wiltshire. This is likely to include a huge programme of education with schools that will bring history to life, work with theatre companies including the Salisbury Playhouse and a lot of research and information about those who served in the War and were from our county. Representatives came from across Wiltshire and there was lots of sharing of ideas and it was interesting to hear a speaker from the Imperial War Museum as nationally the commemoration is being seen as a 5 year programme of events and activities marking key milestones throughout this Great War. It will undoubtedly engage many of our communities and will form part of the work of the legacy board.
And to end another busy week, the declaration of the new High Sheriff for Wiltshire, William Wyldbore-Smith took place today in County Hall’s atrium at 11am. The The High Sheriff is the Sovereign’s representative in the county and plays an important role in ceremonial occasions across Wiltshire. This was another first for events in the atrium and was the first time a High Sheriff has been appointed in such a public space. It fills me with pride to see the atrium being used as a space that welcomes the public and brings the council closer to the community.
More next week,
Jane
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