Wiltshire Council jilted by businesses

Councils are legally obliged to consult business rate payers before setting their annual budgets.

So this year a meeting was arranged, and a bevy of councillors and chief officers including political group leaders, the Deputy Leader, and the Cabinet member for Finance turned up on 6 February to explain the Council's proposed budget and answer questions.

Public notices were advertised in newspapers across the county giving details of the meeting, and inviting attendance.

However, the total number of non-domestic ratepayers or their representatives attending the meeting was ... ... ... Zero.

Comment. In the days of West Wilts District Council these meetings took place with the business community - they were well attended and a lively debate would take place. The difference was that WWDC officers and councillors took the trouble to go out to the Chambers of Commerce to meet them. Wiltshire Council, in its arrogance, sits on its backside in County Hall and expects people to come to it. Hence this result.