Lib Dem councillors on Wiltshire Council voted against the County's ruling Conservative budget for 2019/20 and proposed an alternative approach.

Speaking in the debate this morning, Lib Dem leader Cllr Ian Thorn described the budget as "failing the people of Wiltshire".

Cllr Thorn added, "Today's budget is more of the same. For 10 years Wiltshire residents have witnessed relentless cuts.

Today the Liberal Democrats advocated for the adoption of an amendment to Wiltshire Council's budget to allow for a greater move to LED street lighting across the county.

Unfortunately, the Lib Dem amendment was not adopted by Wiltshire's ruling Conservatives, who chose to ignore the benefits that increasing the adoption of LED lighting would bring to the county. The Lib Dems supported funding an extra £1m to be more proactive in our approach to rolling out LED street lighting in Wiltshire. Cllr Steve Oldrieve, who drafted the Lib Dem amendment commented that, 'the Lib Dem amendment is a win-win proposal allowing significant revenue savings whilst reducing our carbon footprint. It is unbelievable that Wiltshire Council's Conservative administration have rejected it and shows a lack of leadership in the fight against global warming."

Cllr Ian Thorn is the new Liberal Democrat Wiltshire Council Group Leader. Ian is joined by Cllr Ruth Hopkinson as the new Deputy Leader. Both of them won former Conservative wards‎ in last Thursday's Wiltshire Council elections.

Cllr Thorn won in Calne Central where he took almost half the vote, having formerly represented Bradford on Avon South on Wiltshire Council. Cllr Hopkinson stormed to victory in Corsham Pickwick, winning from fourth place. Cllr Steve Oldrieve, who represents Trowbridge Paxcroft, was re-elected as Chair of the Group‎.

The Wiltshire Council Liberal Democrat Group are delighted to announce that Councillor Glenis Ansell of Calne has been elected as the new Leader of the Group.

Glenis made her first appearance as Leader at Tuesdays Cabinet meeting in Trowbridge where she grilled the Conservative administration about the failing of the Balfour Beatty contract and the reputational risk this might bring to the Council as well as how to improve the contracting process in future.

Local people took their concerns over the proposed speed limits of the new Hilperton Gap road to County Hall this morning with 150 residents attending the council meeting to speak on the issue.

Councillors heard from three speakers but residents were the shocked to be told by the Conservative run council that no further speakers would be permitted. Wiltshire Liberal Democrats objected strongly to this ruling and called for all members of the public to be heard. Initially rejected this was then put to a vote of the council following a technical motion for the suspension of standing orders by Lib Dem leader Jon Hubbard.

Wiltshire is one step closer to improved energy resilience after Wiltshire Council yesterday accepted a motion from Lib Dem councillors Steve Oldrieve and Jon Hubbard that will provide the framework for future energy cost savings and carbon reduction.

The motion seeks to set-up County wide forum working in partnership to reduce unnecessary energy usage and save money.

The Conservative report on car park charges places the blame squarely on market town traders and the national economy, and refuses to accept any influence from higher costs driving people away from our town centres. In November's Full Council meeting, Wiltshire Lib Dems challenged the Conservative whitewash, and demanded 30 minutes free parking in every (Band 3) market town, but the proposal was dismissed.

Conservative and Labour councillors joined Liberal Democrats in throwing out Wiltshire Council's proposals to "harmonise" waste and recycling across the county.

A meeting of the Environment Select Committee (Tuesday January 12) considered a report from a task group set up to look at the future of waste and recycling. The 'official' verdict of the Task Group was that all of Wiltshire should have fortnightly rubbish collections and chargeable green waste collections, and that no attempt should be made to introduce kerbside cardboard and plastic recycling collections immediately, though they could be brought in within five years.