Conservatives inflict devastating blow to Wiltshire's youth services
Youth services in Wiltshire suffered a devastating blow today after Conservatives rejected a motion calling for more money to be given to support it.
The motion, presented to Council on Tuesday 29th by Wiltshire's Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Jon Hubbard, called for £225,000 of savings made from senior staff leaving to be reinvested in young people in a bid to protect the service and the youth centres many young people and groups rely on. However the Conservative administration rejected the motion which could now lead to youth centres across the county closing.
"I'm really saddened by the refusal by the Conservatives today to accept that extra support is needed to successfully implement their new youth service," said Cllr Jon Hubbard, "this decision will create real risks for young people and the worst part is they are so out of touch they don't realise it."
"The Conservative administration is so politically dogmatic that they can't accept an idea from anyone else, even if it could help save a service that many young people value and rely on."
"The Lib Dem group was shocked to hear one Conservative councillor try to stop young people from speaking at the start of the debate and then the Conservatives felt that there lunch was more important than Wiltshire's youth services."
"It's a shame that the debate turned into a sad, depressing, painful and dishonest character assassination by the Conservative cabinet and councillors rather than a constructive debate about how we can improve and deliver services to young people."
"There is a strong feeling across Wiltshire that we should protect our valued youth service and youth centres which many people in the community rely on. The only people who don't agree with this are the Conservatives and Wiltshire and its residents have paid because of this."
How Wiltshire Voted:
Voted for the motion- 30
Cllr Bob Jones (Cricklade and Latton) LD
Cllr Brian Dalton (Salisbury Harnham) LD
Cllr Chris Caswll (Chippenham Monkton) Ind
Cllr Chris Hurst (Royal Wootton Bassett South) LD
Cllr David Politt (Melksham Central) UKIP
Cllr Denis Drewett (Trowbridge Park) Ind
Cllr Desna Allen (Chippenham Queens and Sheldon) LD
Cllr Ernie Clark (Hilperton) Ind
Cllr George Jeans (Mere) Ind
Cllr Glenis Ansell (Calne North) LD
Cllr Gordon King (Westbury East) LD
Cllr Helen Osborn (Trowbridge Lambrok) Ind
Cllr Howard Marshall (Calne Central) LD
Cllr Ian MacLennan (Laverstock, Ford and Old Sarum) Lab
Cllr Ian Thorn (Bradford on Avon South) LD
Cllr Ian West (Till & Wylye Valley) LD
Cllr Jeff Osborn (Trowbridge Grove) Ind
Cllr John Walsh (Salisbury Fisherton and Bemerton village) Lab
Cllr Jon Hubbard (Melksham South) LD
Cllr Magnus Macdonald (Winsley and Westwood) LD
Cllr Nick Blakemore (Trowbridge Adcroft) LD
Cllr Nick Fogg (Marlborough West) Ind
Cllr Nick Watts (Chippenham Hardenhuish) LD
Cllr Pat Aves (Melksham North) LD
Cllr Peter Edge (Wilton and Lower Wylye Valley) LD
Cllr Ricky Rogers (Salisbury Bemerton) Lab
Cllr Simon Killane (Malmesbury) Ind
Cllr Stephen Oldrieve (Trowbridge Paxcroft) LD
Cllr Terry Chivers (Melksham Without North) Ind
Cllr Trevor Carbin (Holt and Staverton) LD
Voted against the motion- 49
Cllr Alan Hill (Calne South and Cherhill) Con
Cllr Alan MacRae (Corsham Pickwick) Con
Cllr Allison Bucknell (Lyneham) Con
Cllr Andrew Davis (Warminster East) Con
Cllr Bridget Wayman (Nadder and East Knoyle) Con
Cllr Charles Howard (the Collingbournes and Netheravon) Con
Cllr Christine Crisp (Calne Without) Con
Cllr Christopher Devine (Winterslow) Con
Cllr Christopher Newbury (Warminster Cophead and Wylye) Con
Cllr Christopher Williams (Ludgershall and Perham Down) Con
Cllr Chuck Berry (Minety) Con
Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Phillipe (Warminster without) Con
Cllr Fred Westmoreland (Amesbury West) Con
Cllr Graham Payne (Trowbridge Drynham) Con
Cllr Howard Greenman (Kington) Con
Cllr James Sheppard (Aldbourne and Ramsbury) Con
Cllr Jane Scott (By Brook) Con
Cllr Jemima Milton (West Selkley) Con
Cllr Jerry Kunkler (Pewsey) Con
Cllr Jerry Wickham (Ethandune) Con
Cllr John Knight (Trowbridge Central) Con
Cllr John Noeken (Amesbury East) Con
Cllr John Thomson (Sherston) Con
Cllr Jonathon Seed (Summerham and Seend) Con
Cllr Jose Green (Fovant and Chalke Valley) Con
Cllr Julian Johnson ( Downton and Ebble Valley) Con
Cllr Keith Humphries (Warmister Broadway) Con
Cllr Laura Mayes (Roundway) Con
Cllr Leo Randall (Redlynch and Landford) Con
Cllr Mark Connolly (Tidworth) Con
Cllr Mike Hewitt (Bourne and Woodford Valley) Con
Cllr Mollie Groom (Royal Wootton Bassett East) Con
Cllr Nina Phillips (Chippenham Cepen Park and Redlands) Con
Cllr Paul Oatway (Pewsey Vale) Con
Cllr Peter Evans (Devizes East) Con
Cllr Peter Hutton (Chippenham Cepen Park and Derriads) Con
Cllr Phillip Whalley (Corsham Town) Con
Cllr Phillip Whitehead (Urchfont and the Cannings) Con
Cllr Richard Britton (Alderbury and Whiteparish) Con
Cllr Richard Gamble (The Lavingtons and Erlestoke) Con
Cllr Richard Tonge (Corsham Without and Box Hill) Con
Cllr Roy While (Melksham Without South) Con
Cllr Sheila Parker (Box and Colerne) Con
Cllr Stewart Dobson (Marlborough East) Con
Cllr Stuart Wheeler (Burbage and the Bedwyns) Con
Cllr Sue Evans (Devizes North) Con
Cllr Toby Sturgis (Brinkworth) Con
Cllr Tony Deane (Tisbury) Con
Cllr Tony Trotman (Calne Chilvester and Abberd) Con
Abstained- 2
Cllr Liz Bryant (Bromham, Rowde and Potterne) Con
Cllr Pip Ridout (Warminster West) Con