Category: Local Government

Information and pictures about local government for Warminster, Wiltshire.

A Message From The Mayor Of Warminster

Wednesday 6th January 2021

A message from the Mayor of Warminster, Cllr. Chris J. Robbins:

Dear All,
We certainly live in difficult times and now entering into National Lockdown 3 due to the pandemic, normal activities are curtailed again.

Warminster Town Council are once again encouraging local groups, societies, organisations and individuals to rise to the challenge to help as best they can those not so fortunate and isolated.

In the last lock down we saw shopping for food, collections of medicine, phone calls and essential errands carried out by many volunteers, is it that time again?

The council is still available to be contacted by telephone, email or via the website contact form and councillors and staff will try their best to help or suggest where to go for assistance.

To the shops/ businesses forced to close we send our sincere thoughts to you and hope and pray for a swift end to lock down. There are HM Govt websites with information regarding the furlough of staff and the banks are even offering a Covid service advice line.

Please do stay safe by following the Government Guidelines, do watch the news for updates and try to make the best of a very difficult time.

Who would have thought that a mask would become so important and be added to the check list of keys, purse, wallet, brush etc.?

Coronavirus ~ Statement By Warminster Town Council

Tuesday 17th March 2020

Coronavirus – Statement by Warminster Town Council – 17/3/2020

In line with the Government advice, that it is time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others, Warminster Town Council has taken the following decisions.

Civic Centre
The Civic Centre will be closed to the public. 
Hirers are being encouraged to roll forward bookings to future dates, take a credit note or accept a refund as appropriate.

Town Council
Staff will continue to undertake their duties, working from home where possible.

Pavilion Café
The Pavilion Cafe is to close, and boats will not be available to hire on the lake until further notice.

Play Areas and Skatepark
The Council will continue to ensure health and safety inspections take place. It would be extremely difficult to physically stop people using them, but we ask people to be mindful of Government advice.

Events 
The following events are cancelled –
ï‚· Monthly film shows at the civic centre – 
16th March, 15th April, 20th May and 17th June.
ï‚· Skatepark Jam – 4th April.
ï‚· Community Litter Pick/Great British Spring Clean – 4th April.
ï‚· Annual Town Meeting- 6th April.
ï‚· The Civic Service – 19th April.
ï‚· Spring in the Park – 3rd May.
ï‚· VE Day Tea Dance 9th May.

The Council will strive to keep the public toilets open and CCTV operations going.

The Council advises people to listen to Warminster Community Radio (WCR) for the latest news updates on the situation locally and follow the official advice from the Government.

The Council will continue to closely follow Government advice. Any changes in the situation at the Council will be communicated on the Council website and Facebook pages.

https://www.warminster-tc.gov.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/warminstertowncouncil/

If you need to contact Warminster Town Council, telephone
01985 214847 or email: admin@warminster-tc.gov.uk

Warminster Town Council Budget 2020/21

Thursday 30th January 2020

Warminster Town Council Budget 2020/21

Warminster Town Councillors have unanimously voted to approve the town councils’ budget and precept for 2020/2021.

The precept request is for £1,180,666. The new Band D equivalent charge will be £191.75 per annum. The weekly Band D equivalent will increase by £1.22 per week, that is £63.79 per annum.

The main reason for the increase is the decision by town councillors to take some of the services currently provided by Wiltshire Council, as Wiltshire is unable to fund them at the level. Taking on the services will involve the town council in cutting many grassed areas, management of some hedges/shrubs/shelter belts and trees. It will also involve maintenance of some footpaths, leaf clearance, balancing ponds and litter bin emptying. Also included with be the management of Pine Lawns cemetery and the weekly market.

Town councillors concluded that it would be prudent for Warminster Town Council to increase the sum allocated in the budget for the provision for services to be devolved from Wiltshire Council from £300,000 to £350,000.

Councillor Chris Robbins, Deputy Mayor of the Council said: “The town council has carefully considered what is best for the town and we strongly believe that local control will bring with it local improvements to services. The public consultation has been strongly in favour of the action the town council is taking and we hope people bear with us through this period of transition. Although this is a significant rise in the town councils’ portion of Council Tax, this level of increase will not be repeated in future years.”

Warminster Town Council To Take Action To Combat Climate Change

Tuesday 28th January 2020

Warminster Town Council To Take Action To Combat Climate Change

Warminster Town Councillors have unanimously voted to approve a series of action to help combat climate change. At a meeting of the Full Council on Monday 20th January 2020, Councillors voted unanimously in favour of:

• Setting up a climate change working group to produce a climate change action plan. This would consist of three Councillors and be open to outside representatives. The working group will report back to the Full Council.

• Conducting a green audit of its activities.

• Taking on a leadership, education and information providing role regarding climate change action.

• Continuing to support the work of Neighbourhood Plan Review Working Group in creating “A Place for the Future”.

• Working in Partnership with the Warminster Area Board and Wiltshire Council on their climate change agenda/actions.

• Striving to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

The three Town Councillors that were nominated to be part of the working group were Councillors Denis Brett, Steve Jeffries and Tony Nicklin.

Councillors also noted a report that contained other suggestions and ideas that could be discussed by the working group.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Brett said: “I am delighted that there has been such a positive response to the report and the recommendations from the public and from Sustainable Warminster. I look forward to working with my fellow councillors and members of the public to turn these ideas into positive actions. As a first step the Council has agreed (at the same meeting) to switch to a renewable energy supplier for Council buildings.”

Warminster Town Council To Improve Provision For Ther Hard Of Hearing At Warminster Civic Centre

Saturday 16th November 2019

Members of Warminster Town Council’s Finance and Assets Committee have agreed to a range of measures to improve facilities for the hard of hearing and other users of the Civic Centre at Sambourne Road, Warminster.

There are four elements that are being tackled to make the council more user-friendly for the hard of hearing:

• A counter loop system for the reception counter at the Civic Centre – this is to enable any hard of hearing people to be able to communicate better with staff on reception.

• A portable microphone and speaker system for use in any of the rooms. This can be used for any council or public meeting. It will also be used by users of the Civic Centre.
This will be a huge boost for those hiring rooms for meetings, because it will allow all people to hear much more clearly.

• A static hard of hearing loop – for use by users of the Arn and Copheap rooms.

• Table microphones – for small “working group’ type meetings where no loudspeaker is required.

A demonstration of the equipment was organised by the company Gordon Morris Ltd. for councillors and members of staff, who were highly impressed by the systems.

The advantages of introducing the proposed systems are:

• It meets statutory requirements.

• It is flexible and can be added to in the future if needs be.

• Multiple user groups will benefit.

• It is easy to use and maintain.

• It is a co-ordinated system with great flexibility.

Assistant Town Clerk Tom Dommett said: “The current provision is dated and inadequate. This decision by councillors will be widely welcomed. Estimates suggest that one in six of the UK population have a hearing loss and by 2035, about 15.6 million people in the UK will have hearing loss – that’s one in five of the population. In addition, a much-improved microphone and speaker system will make the Civic Centre more attractive to people looking for a room
to hire for a large number of people.”

New Mayor And Deputy Mayor For Warminster

Wednesday 22nd May 2019

The new Mayor of Warminster, Paul Macfarlane (left) and the new Deputy Mayor Chris Robbins.

At Warminster Town Council’s annual meeting on Monday 20th May 2019, following a unanimous vote in favour, Councillor Paul Macfarlane was appointed Mayor of Warminster for the ensuing municipal year. Councillor Chris Robbins was unanimously voted in as Deputy Mayor.

Speaking after his appointment, Councillor Macfarlane said “I thank my fellow councillors for their vote of confidence in me, and it is an honour to be representing the town again in the coming year.”

Councillor Macfarlane previously served as Mayor of Warminster in 2016-2017. Paul has lived in the town since he was four and attended Minster Primary School before moving on to Kingdown School. Councillor Macfarlane lives in Highbury Park with his wife Michelle and two children. 
According to the Wiltshire Council Register of Interests, Paul is a Member of the South Wiltshire Conservative Party and a Sales Director with Jaymart Rubber & Plastics, Crusader Park, Warminster.

 

The Mayor of Warminster Paul Macfarlane with his wife Michelle.

 The new Mayor will announce his chosen charity for the coming year at a future date.

Chris Robbins, a former employee of Lloyd’s Bank and now the long-standing (35 years) proprietor of C.J. Robbins Butchers, Market Place, Warminster, was very pleased to accept the office of Deputy Mayor. He was pleased to pledge his support for the new mayor and Warminster Town Council in general. Chris lives in Warminster, is married to Debra and has four children and so far, three grandchildren. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Frank Whitmarsh, twice a former Chairman of the Warminster Urban District Council (1952/1953 and 1963/1964). According to the Wiltshire Council Register of Interests, Chris is a Member of the South Wiltshire Conservative Association, a Trustee of Warminster Masonic Hall and the landlord of 1-6 Butcher’s Court, Warminster.

Warminster Town Councillors Choose Three Schemes To Fund

Thursday 29th November 2018

Warminster Town Councillors Choose Three Schemes To Fund.

Warminster Town Councillors have selected their top three projects for funding by the Town Council’s share of the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a sum paid by developers on new housing developments in Warminster. 75% of the money goes to Wiltshire Council and 25% goes to Warminster Town Council.

The three projects chosen by Town Councillors are:
• Enhancement of skatepark facilities in the Lake Pleasure Grounds (Town Park).
• Upgrading of the paddling pool in the Lake Pleasure Grounds (Town Park).
• Additional minor highways improvements in Warminster.

Councillor Chris Robbins, Chairman of Warminster Town Council’s Finance and Assets Committee said: “The purpose of the Community Infrastructure Levy is to help address the demands that development places on Warminster. These three projects will be visible and tangible and wouldn’t realistically be funded from other resources without a contribution from the Community Infrastructure Levy. I am pleased that local people will be able to see positive benefits from new housing being built locally. Once these projects get underway and we receive more CIL funding, we will consider what next to add to the short list.”

Paul Macdonald Is Now The Sole Independent Councillor For Warminster East

5th May 2017

Paul Macdonald writes:

The local election results are now posted on the Wiltshire Council website. I am now the sole Independent in the Warminster East ward. Thank you to all that voted for me. Unfortunately the blue tide that swept the country following the announcement of the general election swept aside all other Independent candidates. They did well whereas Lib Dems and the Labour candidates were left well behind. Makes me wonder why they stood.

Stacie Allensby Sees Planning As A Whole Town Issue, Not An East Versus West Argument

Friday 31st March 2017

Paul Macdonald writes:

Another bit of good news. The new Independent team of councillors for the West Ward have adopted Stacie Allensby to be their candidate for the county council elections. Stacie has insisted that she sees planning as a whole town issue and that she will battle to ensure that the 900 houses limit in the Core Strategy is stuck to. Stacie also does not support the East versus West argument. “East and West Warminster is one town and there is no wall separating us. Everything that happens regardless of which end of town affects the rest anyway. The Tories should not have divided our town like this,” she said today.