Monday 8th March 2021
From the minutes of a meeting of the online Finance and Audit Committee of Warminster Town Council, held on Monday 8th March 2021.
In attendance:
Warminster Town Council members: Cllrs Philip Keeble and Paul Macfarlane. Officers: Fiona Fox (Town Clerk and RFO), Judith Halls (Office Manager). Online attendees: 3.
FA/20/081 Central Warminster Regeneration
A report was included with members agendas. An extensive debate took place, where members raised: the previous campus project and the regeneration programme, which included discussions with potential commercial partners; a meeting with the leader of Wiltshire Council at which a way forward had been agreed, including discussions regarding seed funding from the new £4m, over four years, funding for Wiltshire market towns, and plans for a piazza area to the rear of The Three Horseshoes.
It was noted that garages sited in the area between the hub building and library had already been demolished opening up the area.
A member further noted that changes in leadership at Wiltshire Council and Covid had again delayed discussions, but if Warminster were to benefit from part of the £4m it had to put in an expression of interest, with its intention to put plans together.
Some members did raise concerns over the cost of the entire project, but a member countered that without current plans, WTC had nothing to start funding requests. The request for up to £10,000 from WTC was not resolved.
It was resolved that the clerk would write to Wiltshire Council, to lodge WTC’s expression of interest in the fund.
Proposed: Cllr Nicklin, Seconded: Cllr Fraser, Vote: Unanimous.