South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats

Following on from yesterday's story, here's an update on the future of waste in Wiltshire:

1. Changes to the way recyclables are collected will be introduced next summer. Glass only will go in the black box. Other recyclables will go in the blue bin. Some additional materials such as plastic containers and tetrapacks will be collected. Both bins and boxes will be collected together so there will be changes to collection days.

There are dangers for British agriculture and for consumers as the UK government attempts to do trade deals with the world. Those dangers include undercutting by cheap imports and relaxation of animal welfare standards. Here's a Lib Dem press release. Please excuse the chicken jokes.

Fox running into trade negotiations like a headless chicken - Farron

A report by auditors KPMG has identified what it called 'significant gaps in the control environment' of the council's computing systems.

In a report for next Wednesday's Audit Committee they say: "We consider that your organisational controls are generally effective overall. However, there are significant issues identified in the General IT controls over the Authority's financial system (SAP) and the Revenue and Benefits system (Northgate)."

The times you can call Wiltshire Council or visit reception desks will be cut by an hour a day from Monday 7 August. As usual when it makes a cut to a public service, the council brazenly claims the service will be improved because of the cut. In this case it says the cut will "ensure calls can be answered more efficiently and .. direct more resources to the busiest times".

An application to build a "Continuing care retirement community" on land north of Grovelands Way has been submitted to Wiltshire Council.

The development would include a 48 bed care home, 46 extra care apartments and facilities, 39 affordable extra care apartments and facilities, 45 retirement bungalows/chalet bungalows, a medical centre and pharmacy, the relocation of a children's play area, a recreational and flood compensation area and biodiversity protection/enhancement of County Wildlife Site, all with associated access roads, parking, infrastructure and raising of ground levels by 500mm.

Wiltshire's PCC has launched his new Community Action Fund. The fund has been created to benefit local communities and £40,000 has been earmarked for this year, to share between projects that meet the criteria.

The Commissioner is looking to boost initiatives which will help him meet the key priorities in his Police and Crime Plan, through projects which demonstrate:

Newland Homes are asking for permission to put 82 houses on the old West Wilts District Council site.

Details on WC planning website here. You have until July 27th to comment.

An application to demolish the old Co-op and to build a new Lidl foodstore has been submitted to Wiltshire Council. Anyone wishing to comment has until July 21st. You can see the details on the WC planning site here.

The non-emergency patient transport service run by Arriva has been criticised by the Bradford Area Seniors Forum at its recent meeting in Holt. Here's an extract from their report:

"Among issues raised that are not specific to Holt were concerns about potential cuts to pensions and pensioner benefits and, as the Forum has heard elsewhere in Wiltshire, more horror stories about the appallingly unreliable non-emergency ambulance service provided by Arriva Transport Solutions Ltd (the operator contracted by Wiltshire NHS CCG to provide this service for patients living in Wiltshire).