Salisbury Journal:

THE TALKS have begun in earnest about the transfer of assets from Wiltshire Council to Salisbury City.

Assets in this case are land, amenities, property, CCTV, shop mobility and other services.

Take a look at the list provided in the discussion document and it will all look a little dry. But no one should mistake the intention behind it.

It is to streamline the unitary authority to the point that it is performing its legal duties, while at the same time pursuing greater powers under the government’s Devolution Bill, giving it great control over transport, housing, planning, policing and NHS spending.

Wiltshire Council Leader Jane Scott confirmed that confirms talks are taking place, saying: “Devolution is all about the government saying ‘what can you do better for us as a local government to deliver our priorities?’ and ‘what do you need from us as a government to free up your ability to do that?’.

Salisbury City Council can, if it wishes, take on the items Wiltshire Council want to offload and more (still to be identified). But it needs to declare a clear strategy in advance.

Will it simply be a reactive authority, one that plugs the holes as quickly as it can as they appear? Or will it be one of vision – an ambitious authority that seeks to raise the perception of Salisbury as one that’s equal or better than the finest cities in the land? To achieve the latter it also needs to maximise the assets the region already possesses in history, culture and industry.