Latest news with #IanThorn
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
New Wiltshire Council leader urges patience on potholes
The new leader of Wiltshire Council has asked for voters' patience when it comes to resolving the county's Thorn told BBC Radio Wiltshire that it would take "at least two or three years to make a really positive difference".During a wide ranging interview he also said that his administration is "absolutely committed" to meeting the previous council's target for carbon neutrality by 2030 and that 1,000 council houses will be built in 10 Thorn is the first Liberal Democrat leader of the council, having struck a deal with independents, following the recent local elections in which no party gained overall control. Potholes were a leading issue prior to the local election in May, but Mr Thorn said that there is no quick solution to fixing the pothole situation."I would hope we'd notice a difference in the next two or three years, but I'm just trying to be realistic, so I'm not going to say next month, or in three week's time," he said."I'm going to give myself at least two or three years to make a really positive difference." In 2019, Wiltshire Council declared a climate emergency and committed to a target of 2030, for the county to reach carbon Thorn said that despite the change in governance, he was committed to achieving the goal in five years time."We are, as an administration, absolutely clear about the challenges that we face, not just today or tomorrow, but over the next decades, in terms of the impact of the climate emergency," he said. Regarding housing, Mr Thorn said that more houses were needed, even if it meant borrowing money."I certainly intend that we'll build a thousand council houses and I'd like to stick to the 10 year target," he added that he would like to build more, even if it would require borrowing more money.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wiltshire Council to be run by Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats will be running Wiltshire Council going party appears to have received the backing of independent councillors to form an administration after no party won enough seats for a majority at the local Liberal Democrats had the highest number of seats, but still not enough to lead on their means Ian Thorn, councillor for Calne Central, is the new council leader after he narrowly secured enough votes in a council meeting on Tuesday.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Who will run Wiltshire Council when there's no majority?
Who will run a council with no majority? 10 minutes ago Share Save Dan O'Brien Senior Political Reporter, Wiltshire Sophie Parker BBC News, Wiltshire Share Save BBC Ian Thorn is leader of the Liberal Democrats on Wiltshire Council The Liberal Democrats say they "intend to lead Wiltshire moving forward", despite not having a majority. For the first time, the Lib Dems became the biggest party in last week's local elections, but fell short of the 50 seats needed to control the chamber. The Conservatives say it is premature for the Liberal Democrats to already be forming their cabinet as there is no guarantee of how the new administration will function. The key Wiltshire Council meeting to appoint a new leader, where any power sharing deals are first tested, takes place on Tuesday 20 May. The Liberal Democrats in Wiltshire even had a visit from national leader Sir Ed Davey at the weekend after the result - he played cricket with the county's Lib Dem leader, Ian Thorn. "We won the popular vote. We think it's absolutely right that the Liberal Democrats should lead any administration in Wiltshire going forward," said Mr Thorn. He is very insistent his party will lead the council and said he does not see discussing a cabinet as premature, but instead wants to show that the party is "determined" and make it clear there is a "first class team to take us forward". That would appear to include inviting an independent councillor Jon Hubbard to join their ruling cabinet, Mr Thorn suggested on social media. PA Media Sir Ed Davey congratulated Ian Thorn after the election results Analysis: Dan O'Brien, Wiltshire political reporter It's an obvious fact that suddenly becomes important - if you want to get something done in a council chamber, you need to persuade the majority of councillors to vote in your favour. At County Hall, that means persuading at least 50 of the 98 councillors to pick your side. The Liberal Democrats, now the largest party, have 43. They strongly believe that with the most councillors, and winning the popular vote, they now deserve to run the show - but there are no guarantees for how this will all play out. They're promising to listen to all sides, but it is hard to envisage the Conservatives or Reform UK's councillors backing too many Lib Dem ideas. So the way things are heading, they'll push to persuade the independent group and the one remaining Labour councillor to team up - only just getting them over the line. Whether we see a formal coalition or something less official, we don't yet know - but the Lib Dems have already published their hopes for an independent councillor to take a seat on the cabinet. It's possible this leads to a more collaborative form of politics and decision making - that's what the Lib Dem leader is hoping for and there are plenty of councils across the land who make this sort of setup work. The election count last week was tense as it was became clear that there would be no clear winner Mr Thorn has reiterated the desire for working collaboratively with other parties. "I think it's a really good thing that politicians for different parties are being made to work together, which is exactly what's happening here," he said. But with Reform being elected in 10 seats, Mr Thorn acknowledged there a lot of different political views in the county and the council. "I think there is clearly a large number of people who are disaffected from party politics and I don't blame them for that," he said. He added that as the main opposition in the council chamber for a long time, the Lib Dems felt ignored, and he does not want that to happen in the future. "We've had far too much tribalism," he said. "The opportunities are there for every adult in the room who wishes to contribute. I want to hear from those people and want to work with them moving forward."
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local authority share of council tax to go up 4.5%
Wiltshire Council's share of overall council tax in the county is set to rise by a less-than-expected 4.5%. The local authority has also been given the go-ahead to increase spending on essential services by £37m in its budget for the year ahead. Following a marathon eight-hour debate at County Hall in Trowbridge, the Conservative council's budget was passed with 58 votes for, with 22 against and three abstentions. Opposition Liberal Democrats described it as "cynical", accusing the Tory administration of holding off on future increases in council tax and parking charges because of the upcoming local elections. The upper limit for an increase in a local authority's share of overall council tax - not including other charges from the police, fire service, and parish councils - is 4.99%. The 4.5% increase for 2025/6 does not take into account the rise in the Wiltshire Police precept of £1.16 per month, or any rises in Wiltshire town council or parish rates. Speaking ahead of the council vote, council leader Richard Clewer said: "Unlike pretty much every council surrounding us, I'm coming in today with a budget that is balanced. "I'm proposing a 4.5% [increase] - I wish it could be lower but that's what I need to deliver the critical services we need to deliver." The £37m increase in spending means that the council's overall budget will rise from £490m last year to £527m. But the council says it has been impacted by already announced cuts and changes to grant schemes, which have resulted in the authority receiving £7m less than expected in central government funds. Despite the passage of the budget, the leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, councillor Ian Thorn, voiced his scepticism as to the budget's success: "Tremendously worrying news around potential debts that we face. "Tens of millions of pounds on issues around young children and learning disabilities, massive pressures around adults and social care - there are real pressures that this council faces. "It's quite a cynical budget, council tax isn't going up the full amount this year but is due to go up by the full amount next year, car parking charges not going up this year but will be going up next year. "There must be something important happening this year – it could be the election of course." The Liberal Democrats were criticised by other councillors for presenting no amendments, something Thorn justified by saying they would likely have been rejected by the Conservative administration, and were therefore "a waste of time". Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. PCC gives more details on police precept rise Council set to spend extra £37m under budget plan Council's adult social care services rated 'good' Wiltshire Council
BBC News
26-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wiltshire local authority's share of council tax to rise by 4.5%
Wiltshire Council's share of overall council tax in the county is set to rise by a less-than-expected 4.5%.The local authority has also been given the go-ahead to increase spending on essential services by £37m in its budget for the year a marathon eight-hour debate at County Hall in Trowbridge, the Conservative council's budget was passed with 58 votes for, with 22 against and three Liberal Democrats described it as "cynical", accusing the Tory administration of holding off on future increases in council tax and parking charges because of the upcoming local elections. The upper limit for an increase in a local authority's share of overall council tax - not including other charges from the police, fire service, and parish councils - is 4.99%.The 4.5% increase for 2025/6 does not take into account the rise in the Wiltshire Police precept of £1.16 per month, or any rises in Wiltshire town council or parish ahead of the council vote, council leader Richard Clewer said: "Unlike pretty much every council surrounding us, I'm coming in today with a budget that is balanced."I'm proposing a 4.5% [increase] - I wish it could be lower but that's what I need to deliver the critical services we need to deliver." The £37m increase in spending means that the council's overall budget will rise from £490m last year to £ the council says it has been impacted by already announced cuts and changes to grant schemes, which have resulted in the authority receiving £7m less than expected in central government the passage of the budget, the leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, councillor Ian Thorn, voiced his scepticism as to the budget's success: "Tremendously worrying news around potential debts that we face."Tens of millions of pounds on issues around young children and learning disabilities, massive pressures around adults and social care - there are real pressures that this council faces."It's quite a cynical budget, council tax isn't going up the full amount this year but is due to go up by the full amount next year, car parking charges not going up this year but will be going up next year."There must be something important happening this year – it could be the election of course."The Liberal Democrats were criticised by other councillors for presenting no amendments, something Thorn justified by saying they would likely have been rejected by the Conservative administration, and were therefore "a waste of time".
