Map from Richard Johnson The previous council had 15 Conservative, 5 Labour, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Independent. New members of the council include Charles McGrath, Ed Rimmer, Mary Webb, Cliona Hibbert, Mark Mewse, Paul Cunningham, and Jo King (all Conservative); Samuel Charleston, Victoria Charleston, Alan Bayliss, Chris Stanway, and Paul Sample (Liberal Democrat); John Wells and Jenny Bolwel (Labour), and Annie Riddle (Independent). This could affect all kinds of policy decisions, especially as no party can command the majority. Could a Lib-Lab coalition pact be in the offing, in order to get policies through? One thing that will be affected by the changes in council, both Wiltshire and Salisbury, is the People Friendly Streets scheme.
WITH a gain of five extra seats in Salisbury, newly elected Liberal Democrat councillors are delighted to see diversity and more representation in the latest make up of the city council. As part of the Local Elections 24 new city councillors were elected in Salisbury on May 9, resulting in 11 Conservative, six Labour and six Liberal Democrat councillors and one Independent. This means the Conservatives are no longer the majority in the authority. One of the newly elected councillors for Sarum St Pauls ward, Victoria Charleston, said Covid-19 rules meant the Lib Dems could not speak to as many residents as they would have liked to in the election lead up, however she is delighted with the result for the party, across both Salisbury and Wiltshire councils.