Free swimming, reablement services and allowances: Councillors ‘disappointed’ over motion decisions

Two Wiltshire councillors who represent Melksham say they are ‘disappointed’ with the decisions made on their motions during the council’s recent budget meeting.

Cllr Jon Hubbard proposed reinstating free swimming for children and young people during school holidays and also put forward a motion to invest £1.3 million in reablement services to support vulnerable adults in regaining their independence. Both motions were voted against.

Cllr Mike Sankey, who represents Melksham East, submitted a motion with Trowbridge Councillor Edward Kirk—both of whom have left the Conservative group in the past year. Their motion proposed changes to how portfolio holders—councillors assigned additional responsibilities for a particular area within the council—are selected.

Currently, portfolio holder roles are created at the discretion of the council leader, but Cllrs Sankey and Kirk want this changed so that appointments require full council approval. Cllr Kirk called the current process “undemocratic” and has previously criticised council leader Cllr Richard Clewer for appointing his wife, Cllr Zoe Clewer, to a portfolio position, which comes with an additional annual allowance of £8,927.

Their motion was not debated or decided on at the full council meeting but was instead referred to the standards committee, as the meeting’s chair said it would require a constitutional change.

Following the meeting, both Cllr Hubbard and Cllr Sankey expressed their disappointment but said the outcome was ‘not surprising.’

Cllr Hubbard said, “Free swimming for children and young people during school holidays was a policy Wiltshire used to have before it was cut for cost-saving reasons. We know that cost is a barrier for many families, and we know that learning to swim is a life skill that could one day save a child’s life. This was an affordable, practical way to support young people—yet both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrat leadership opposed it.

“An even bigger disappointment was the rejection of the investment in reablement services. This was a proposal to expand Wiltshire’s highly successful reablement service, which helps people recover at home after illness or a hospital stay. 91% of people who receive this service remain well and independent at home three months later.

“I know that much of what I was calling for will likely find its way into future budgets because these are good ideas that make sense—for families, for public health, and for financial sustainability.”

Cllr Mike Sankey also said he was not surprised that his motion was ‘kicked into the long grass.’

He said, “It came as no surprise that this motion was kicked into the long grass by the Conservative leadership of Wiltshire Council. They say it was sent to committee, which would have to have any decision approved by full council anyway.

“This means that any recommendation now won’t be heard by full council until after the local elections in May, avoiding any more adverse publicity on this subject. I suspect this decision was made sometime before the full council meeting but was not announced to avoid objections.

“Final dirty tricks of an administration that knows its fate will be delivered at the ballot box. Carpe diem, Wiltshire residents,” he added.