South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is a leading voice in the charitable sector and campaigns for more effective giving to charities.

CAF and NCVO's UK Giving 2012 report found that donations to charity have fallen by 20% in real terms in the past year, meaning that £1.7bn less is being given to charities. In addition, fewer people are donating to charity, and the average amount given by donors also fell, reflecting the difficult economic climate. Further research found that 17% of charities fear they may face closure in the next 12 months, and 40% worry that their charity will have to close if the economic situation does not improve.

WRVS is today celebrating 75 years since the founding of the charity. Throughout those years, their army of volunteers has provided practical support to communities across England, Scotland and Wales.

In recent years their focus has been specifically on supporting older people, providing a unique blend of kindness and practical support and helping over 100,000 older people to stay independent and connected to their communities.

An update from 'Campaign for a Better Trowbridge':

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"CfABT submitted their responses to Wiltshire Council's Core Strategy in 2012. The Core Strategy shows Wiltshire Council's proposed development for Wiltshire from 2006 to 2026 which includes 37,000 houses and 178 Hectares of employment land. We, along with other campaigning groups, consider this to be excessive and likely to lead to the over development of what is still (but only just!) a lovely rural county. One of our main concerns is that 6,000 houses have been allocated to Trowbridge, 2,600 of which are proposed between the edge of Trowbridge nearly right up to the woods, surrounding the town with endless housing estates all the way to West Ashton, Yarnbrook and North Bradley! This development, known as Ashton Park, would also encroach on the ecologically exceptional Green Lane and Biss Woods which contain rare butterflies, wild flowers, birds and to top it all, extremely rare Bechstein's bats. There is a fierce battle going on regarding these bats as they have the highest European protection under the Habitats Directive, with the developer and Wiltshire Council trying their very best to get Natural England - who are the government's wildlife watchdog* - to drop all their objections to the development. Groups concerned with nature and the environment are defending our woods which will suffer from recreational pressure if the new houses were built, by showing that European Law will be violated. The existence of the bats is an indicator of the ecological quality of the woods in question.

A new consumer's champion in Wiltshire wants people to contact them to share their experiences of health and social care services.

Healthwatch Wiltshire is a watchdog for health and social care services. It will pick up on any concerns about health and social care and, if serious issues are established, it has the power to look at services directly.

...The Liz Lawrence award prizewinner for 2013 Christabell Pidduck (violin)

...At Edington Priory on July 5th at 7.30

...performing Bach, Svendsen and Messiaen

...with accompanist: Peter Grove; the Enzo String Quartet: Annabell Pidduck cello and violin solo; Chamber choir to include Caroline Halls, Sophie Lawson, Katie Hall, Alice Poppleton, Phoebe Walsh and Christabell Pidduck.

Quote of the week comes from WC director Maggie Ray: "We anticipate that we will be directed to participate in a further meat speciation study in the current year but we have not had any steer on this as yet."

The council has also revealed that they've checked Longleat to make sure meat intended for the lions wasn't being fed to visitors, or visitors to lions, or lions to Tesco beefburgers. Here's the full announcement from WC which comes at the end of todays council meating:

Jane Scott has been re-elected as leader of Wiltshire Council at today's full council meeting.

The new cabinet is:

• John Thomson - Deputy Leader and cabinet member for highways and streetscene and broadband
• Fleur de Rhé-Philipe - Economy, skills and transport
• Laura Mayes - Children's services
• Keith Humphries - Public health and protection, adult care and housing
• Dick Tonge - Finance, performance, risk, procurement and welfare reform
• Jonathon Seed - Communities, campuses, area boards, leisure, libraries and flooding
• Stuart Wheeler - Hubs, HR, legal, democratic services, governance, heritage and arts
• Toby Sturgis - Strategic planning, development management, strategic housing, property, waste

Wiltshire Council is to get rid of 340 jobs to cope with the cuts imposed by government and the council's own spending plans.

This year's budget (2013/14) increases spending by £18 million, which combines with the reduction in central government funding of £9 million to require cuts of £27 million.

Liberal Democrats have asked for clarification following the withdrawal of promised revenue funding for essential programmes for young people.

In February the Conservative administration in County Hall announced that Area Boards in Wiltshire would only be allowed to fund capital projects in the following year. This meant that existing projects, such as those supporting transport for young people and funding Street Youth Workers would have ceased.

Wiltshire Council will be rebuilding the A350 West Ashton crossroads from now until July 26th.New traffic lights will be put in and the western leg of the junction will be widened. Temporary lights will control the traffic during the construction, so delays at the junction will be greater than usual.