People asked to help shape our budget for 2025/26!

We're asking people how they would prioritise Wiltshire Council spending.

Local authority budgets are under greater scrutiny and pressure than ever before due to increasing demand for services, particularly the high demand for adults' services, children's social care and SEND.

We've created a short online survey to give people the opportunity to share their views on how we should prioritise our spending. The survey is an online version of a short exercise we asked people to do at recent interactive drop-in events at some of our libraries.

Please share the survey with your community contacts and networks. It closes on Friday 8 November.

A reminder of our fly-posting policy and promoting community events
 
As you know, we have increased our enforcement of illegal fly-posting throughout the county. This follows feedback from communities that additional enforcement is required to address this issue.
 
As stated in the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2007, fly-posting takes place when advertisements are displayed without the consent of the owner or occupier of the land or premises.
 
We are reminding all advertisers, including town and parish councils, that before they can place any signs on Wiltshire Council land, they must have approval. If your communities are thinking about advertising on Wiltshire Council land, they must contact their Local Highways team first:

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Applicants will need to give the reason for the signage, its location, how long it will be in place for, and the types of signage to be used so the application can be considered. To allow an assessment of the application the Local Highways team will need a minimum of four weeks’ notice before the event.

Discover Paddington in Salisbury!

Join Paddington on a fun-filled adventure across the UK and Ireland. The Paddington Visits trail is bringing everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear to 23 special locations — including in Salisbury!

In celebration of the upcoming ‘Paddington in Peru’ film release on 8 November, Paddington has been spotted on Fisherton Street! You can visit him sitting on a bench, enjoy a marmalade sandwich, and snap a few selfies. Be sure to tag us when you post your photos!

Want to see what happens behind the scenes? Check out this video as Paddington prepares for his big moment!

Wiltshire Council and Milestone Infrastructure shortlisted for Edie Net-Zero Awards

Alongside our contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, we've been shortlisted in the 'Supply Chain Decarbonisation Project of the Year' category for the Edie Net-Zero Awards 2024.

We've worked closely with Milestone Infrastructure to decarbonise the Term Highways Maintenance Contract. We're among the first local authorities to tackle Scope 3 emissions through the procurement and contracting process.

As a result of requirements through the tender and contract process, Wiltshire Highways was the first of Milestone's highways maintenance contracts to produce a Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP). Milestone has pledged to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions and reduce Scope 3 carbon intensity to 19.3 tCO₂e /£100k spend by 2030. In total, carbon emissions came to 5,605 tCO₂e in 2023/24 (carbon intensity of 56 tCO₂e /£100k spend) with a carbon saving made of 400 tCO₂e (~7% reduction).

Temporary Event Notices (TEN)

In the last year, our licensing team has noticed a 25% increase in TEN applications and 42% increase in late TENs.

As we approach the Christmas period, if events are being held for licensable activities which includes the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and the provision of late-night refreshment, a TEN needs to be submitted to the licensing authority in good time for it to be properly considered.

Examples of when a TEN may be required could be Christmas markets, parties, and extended hours for licensed premises.

Please help the team by getting in applications as early as possible, fully completed and with the fee of £21.

All applications must be made to the licensing authority and the police at least 10 clear working days before the event is to take place, five clear working days for a Late TENs.

The last possible dates are as follows:

Christmas Eve
Date for submitting:
Standard TEN: 9 December
Late TEN: 16 December

Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Date for submitting:
Standard TEN: 10 December
Late TEN: 17 December

New Year’s Eve
Date for submitting:
Standard TEN: 12 December
Late TEN:19 December