Government is bound to be complex, but I have this uneasy feeling that two layers of local government that I didn't understand have been replaced by one layer (and a sub-layer) that are almost as complex ... and which I think Joe Public still may not understand.

You can download this diagram (full size / .pdf) from here on the Wiltshire Council's web site. But, complex though it appears, it doesn't seem to cover all the local bodies. So I have added tried to put some of into context below.

• The layers of Government

1. Parish / Town Councils (253)

1a. Area boards (come under the Unitary Authority, but cover 18 separate geographic areas in the county)

2. Unitary Authority

Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council Cabinet
Wiltshire Council Committees
Wiltshire Assembly
Wiltshire Coordinating Group
Thematic Delivery Partnerships
Wiltshire Public Service Board
Community Partnerships
Citizens Panels
Wiltshire Council Scrutiny
Council Departments and Officers
Wiltshire Strategic Board (related - not just part of council?)

3. Regional

Our region covers an area of 23,829 square kilometres including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and the Isles of Scilly, and represents a population of almost five million people.

The South West Regional Assembly was abolished on 13th May 2009, powers to:
Strategic Leaders board of (41) South West Councils
Also at the regional level - Government Offices South West

4. Central Government (9 regions)

(No, I am not going to try to explain that one, or the following ones!)

5. European Government (27 member states)

6. Worldwide groupings to whom we sign up

(e.g. United Nations, International Court of Human Rights)


• The major bodies at Unitary level

Wiltshire Council 98 elected members, each of whom represents a geographic area across the county. Councillors are listed here and there are full council meetings from time to time, but in practise most of the decisions are delegates to commitees, cabinet, other bodies, or made by the controlling party group or the county's officers.

Wiltshire Council Cabinet A grouping of senior elected members from the governing party who provide the political lead for the council on a day to day basis. Drill Deeper.

Wiltshire Council Committees Smaller groups of councillors to whom powers are delegated by the main council. There are 7 committees with specific functions covering the whole area, plus planning committees which cover parts of the area. Drill deeper here.

Wiltshire Assembly The Assembly met for the first time in October 2008, and meets twice a year. "It aims to be the main place where Wiltshire organisations come together to decide what needs to happen in order for Wiltshire to build a bright future for itself." See here for further details.

Wiltshire Coordinating Group The Wiltshire Coordinating Group is a small action focused working group which will bring issues together to assist the Wiltshire Assembly to develop, update, and coordinate delivery of the Wiltshire Sustainable Community Strategy. Drill deeper here.

Thematic Delivery Partnerships "Responsible for delivering significant action and developing strategy to achieve the ambitions in the Local agreement for Wiltshire". Drill deeper here

Wiltshire Public Service Board Brings together key public sector organisations that allocate significant resources to Wiltshire and are held accountable by government. The membership is largely comprised of elected Members and Chairmen who have the authority to commit resources on behalf of their organisation, supported by key officers. Drill deeper here

Community Partnerships (Community AREA partnerships?) I am still working this one out as to whether or not it is a formal setup, or a generic name for some other groups. Update - they "represent the community to the area board" - see here

Citizens Panels Panels of local citizens (sometimes specific demographic groups) within the county who are surveyed concerning various issues, with the reports from those surverys being published. Drill Deeper.

Wiltshire Council Scrutiny There are five scrutiny bodies who oversee the work of other bodies in the council - drill deeper here.

Area Boards Area boards are formed of the elected councillors for a geographic area (who can vote) and of other local area 'notables' who can attend on an advisory level. They have a limited local budget, and are intended to give the local areas an influence over what is done within an area up to the Unitary level. ASee here for further details.

Council Departments and Officers The organisation of the employed staff who operate the day to day services and are charged with implementing the policies of the council and its cabinet. See here to drill in deeper.

Wiltshire Strategic Board The Wiltshire Strategic Board (WiSB) is the key overarching, multi-agency partnership for the County. It is encouraged by government to set out its vision for the future of Wiltshire, and the broad actions that will make a reality of this vision, in a document called a community strategy. Drill deeper here.

• Listings of individual organisations / committees

Wiltshire Parishes:

Aldbourne, Alderbury, All Cannings, Allington, Alton Barnes, Alvediston, Amesbury, Ansty, Ashton Keynes, Atworth, Avebury, Barford St Martin, Baydon, Beechingstoke, Berwick Bassett and Winterbourne Monkton, Berwick St James, Berwick St John, Berwick St Leonard, Biddestone, Bishops Cannings, Bishopstone, Bishopstrow, Bowerchalke, Box, Boyton, Bradford on Avon, Bratton, Braydon, Bremhill, Brinkworth, Britford, Broad Chalke, Broad Hinton and Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council, Broad Town, Brokenborough, Bromham, Broughton Gifford, Bulford, Bulkington, Burbage , Burcombe, Buttermere, Calne, Calne Without, Castle Combe, Chapmanslade, Charlton, Charlton St Peter and Wilsford, Cherhill, Cheverell Magna, Chicklade, Chilmark, Chilton Foliat, Chippenham, Chippenham Without, Chirton, Chitterne, Cholderton, Christian Malford, Chute, Chute Forest, Clarendon Park, Clyffe Pypard, Codford, Colerne, Collingbourne Ducis, Collingbourne Kingston, Compton Bassett, Compton Chamberlayne, Coombe Bissett and Hornington, Corsham, Corsley, Coulston, Cricklade, Crudwell, Dauntsey, Devizes, Dilton Marsh, Dinton, Donhead St Andrew, Donhead St Mary, Downton, Durnford, Durrington, East Kennet, East Knoyle, Easterton, Easton Grey, Easton Royal, Ebbesbourne Wake, Edington, Enford, Erlestoke, Etchilhampton, Everleigh, Figheldean, Firsdown, Fittleton, Fonthill Bishop, Fonthill Gifford, Fovant, Froxfield, Fyfield and West Overton, Grafton, Great Bedwyn, Great Hinton, Great Somerford, Great Wishford, Grimstead, Grittleton, Ham, Hankerton, Heddington, Heytesbury, Imber and Knook, Heywood, Hilmarton, Hilperton, Hindon, Holt, Horningsham, Hullavington, Idmiston, Keevil, Kilmington, Kington Langley, Kington St Michael, Lacock, Landford, Langley Burrell, Latton, Laverstock, Lea and Cleverton, Leigh, Limpley Stoke, Little Bedwyn, Little Cheverell, Little Somerford, Longbridge Deverill and Crockerton, Luckington, Ludgershall, Lydiard Millicent, Lydiard Tregoz, Lyneham and Bradenstoke, Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield, Malmesbury,Malmesbury Without, Manningford, Marden, Market Lavington, Marlborough, Marston, Marston Meysey, Melksham, Melksham Without, Mere, Mildenhall, Milston, Milton Lilbourne, Minety, Monkton Farleigh, Netheravon, Netherhampton, Nettleton, Newton Tony, North Bradley, North Newnton, North Wraxall, Norton Bavant, Norton and Foxley, Oaksey, Odstock, Ogbourne St Andrew, Ogbourne St George, Orcheston, Patney, Pewsey, Pitton and Farley, Potterne, Poulshot, Preshute, Purton, Quidhampton, Ramsbury and Axford, Redlynch, Roundway, Rowde, Rushall, Salisbury City Council, Savernake, Seagry, Sedgehill and Semley, Seend, Semington, Shalbourne, Sherrington, Sherston, Shrewton, Sopworth, South Newton, South Wraxall, Southwick, Stanton St Bernard, Stanton St. Quinton, Stapleford, Staverton, Steeple Ashton, Steeple Langford, Stert, Stockton, Stourton with Gasper, Stratford Tony, Sutton Benger, Sutton Mandeville, Sutton Veny, Swallowcliffe, Teffont, Tidcombe and Fosbury, Tidworth, Tilshead, Tisbury, Tockenham, Tollard Royal, Trowbridge, Upavon, Upper Deverills, Upton Lovell, Upton Scudamore, Urchfont, Warminster, West Ashton, West Dean, West Knoyle, West Lavington, West Tisbury, Westbury, Westwood, Whiteparish, Wilcot and Huish, Wilsford cum Lake, Wilton, Wingfield, Winsley, Winterbourne, Winterbourne Stoke, Winterslow, Woodborough, Woodford, Wootton Bassett, Wootton Rivers, Worton, Wylye, Yatton Keynell and Zeals

Wiltshire Area Boards:

Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Wootton Bassett, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Melksham, Pewsey, Trowbridge, Westbury, Amesbury, Salisbury, Southern Wiltshire, South West Wiltshire, Tidworth and Warminster

Council Committees:
Standards Committee, Audit Comittee, Stategic Planning Comittee, Area Planning Comittee, Staffing Policy Comittee, Officer appointments Committee and Pension fund committee.

Thematic Delivery Partnerships:

The Wiltshire Strategic Economic Partnership, The Wiltshire  [82][ac] Ä s Children and Young People  [82][ac] Ä s Trust Board, The Community Safety Partnership, The Housing Partnership , The Resilient Communities Partnership, The Transport Partnership, The Wiltshire Environmental Alliance and The Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board
(written 2009-07-11, updated 2009-07-15)

 Z300 - Politics and Religion
  [216] Cheap purchase - votes paid for with selfish promises - (2005-02-15)
  [257] Politics gets nasty. Must be an election coming up. - (2005-03-25)
  [280] Spotted - the local MP - (2005-04-15)
  [289] MP for Devizes, Wiltshire - (2005-04-23)
  [301] General Election day, UK - (2005-05-05)
  [313] Making bona fide international marriages more difficult - (2005-05-16)
  [326] UK Tax payment totals and where the money is spent - (2005-05-27)
  [335] Sad priorities - (2005-06-03)
  [377] A Strengthened City - (2005-07-14)
  [384] Managing conflict and disappointment - (2005-07-20)
  [415] Campaign Drift and efficiency. - (2005-08-15)
  [469] Yesterday was Kiss and Ride - (2005-10-19)
  [505] Would you steal ... petrol? ... a training course? - (2005-11-26)
  [539] rich and famous - (2005-12-23)
  [602] MP face to face - (2006-02-12)
  [607] On being British - (2006-02-14)
  [671] Both ends of the animal - (2006-04-05)
  [674] Wiltshire to get an extra MP - (2006-04-07)
  [682] Iran has enriched uranium ... - (2006-04-12)
  [696] Is than an uphill or downhill task? - (2006-04-23)
  [750] Almost everyone loses - (2006-06-07)
  [780] Separation and Integration - (2006-06-27)
  [875] Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones - (2006-09-22)
  [967] Realistic on line shoot'em up - (2006-12-05)
  [1003] Room at the Inn, Guy at the station - (2006-12-21)
  [1060] What a relief from the tax office. - (2007-02-01)
  [1109] False imprisonment - a contrast from the news - (2007-03-15)
  [1135] Government pressure on me to shut up after I make the papers - (2007-04-05)
  [1175] Local elections - choosing who to vote for - (2007-05-03)
  [1247] An afternoon at a public enquiry - (2007-06-27)
  [1260] An inspirational business talk from one of our prospective MPs - (2007-07-06)
  [1350] FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Western Region - (2007-09-13)
  [1386] New software product for warmblooded programmers - (2007-10-10)
  [1428] Travel Across Wiltshire - the game - (2007-11-11)
  [1526] Carers at work - court case changes - (2008-02-01)
  [1573] Budget tax increases hit vehicle market - (2008-03-14)
  [1579] Rome, and the faith of Rome - (2008-03-17)
  [1729] Back from the future - (2008-07-30)
  [1769] July child ponders on August children - (2008-08-23)
  [1872] Barack Obama wins US Predidency - (2008-11-05)
  [1881] Wiltshire Council says - part 1 - (2008-11-13)
  [1882] Wiltshire Council says - part 2 - (2008-11-14)
  [1987] One Cheer for Local Democracy - Asda in Melksham - (2009-01-11)
  [2012] The Wiltshire Police - (2009-01-29)
  [2028] Things people say on the phone - (2009-02-06)
  [2075] Supporting Parkinsons and Trains - (2009-03-11)
  [2178] Melksham Candidates for Wiltshire Unitary Election - (2009-05-12)
  [2206] Spot the odd one out - (2009-05-29)
  [2257] Ramblings on church and state linkage in Melksham - (2009-06-25)
  [2270] Wiltshire - a chance to improve life for everybody - (2009-07-05)
  [2288] Wiltshire Community Area Partnerships - (2009-07-15)
  [2353] All change - Wiltshire Parliamentary - (2009-08-13)
  [2640] How is your tax pound spent? - (2010-02-18)
  [2689] Can my dog eat potatoes? Doggie Dietary Research, and political sleaze! - (2010-03-23)
  [2712] A more informed decision than ever before - (2010-04-08)
  [2740] Melksham Hustings at George Ward School - (2010-04-26)
  [2752] Voting day - UK General Election - (2010-05-06)
  [2757] Bodicea, Lincoln, and our new MP - (2010-05-09)
  [2792] Should Government compete with private industry? - (2010-06-03)
  [2824] A pint of Black Rat, and a lazy barman - (2010-06-25)
  [2856] Two sides of the coin - (2010-07-06)
  [2864] Changing with weather and seasons - (2010-07-10)
  [2870] Old prices - what would the equivalent price have been in 1966? - (2010-07-14)
  [2948] Melksham shamefully makes the national headlines - (2010-09-07)
  [2971] Should the public sector compete with businesses? and other deep questions - (2010-09-26)
  [3051] Positively reforming the system - could it be done? - (2010-11-14)
  [3264] Alternative Vote (AV) - explaining and an example - (2011-04-25)
  [3313] What does our MP do on a Bank Holiday? - (2011-05-30)
  [3323] Is Melksham town centre dying? - (2011-06-11)
  [3325] The Olympic Torch, and Melksham House - (2011-06-14)
  [3438] Melksham to become a part of Trowbridge? - (2011-09-13)
  [3592] Are we one man, one vote? No, and we never have been. - (2012-01-26)
  [3676] Rising prices, changing habits and society - (2012-03-31)
  [3806] 2011 Census results - initial figures for Wiltshire. - (2012-07-17)
  [3845] Good cause giving - getting the charity beggars off the street - (2012-08-21)
  [3905] How should we choose our Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner? - (2012-10-27)
  [3921] On rememberance, on war, and on preventing the war cycle - (2012-11-11)
  [4079] Melksham Area - Unitary Council results, May 2013 - (2013-05-04)
  [4223] Democracy - alive and well with the beauty pagent starting up again - (2013-12-16)
  [4275] Eurpoean Elections, and other elections ahead. Some thoughts on campaigns and policies - (2014-05-08)
  [4286] Reaction in Radstock to new First bus prices - (2014-07-12)
  [4343] Politics and the railway the connects Wiltshire - (2014-12-06)
  [4354] Wiltshire Police - assuming someone is guilty just on the say-so of a member of the public? - (2014-12-16)
  [4476] Upcoming election - Chippenham Constituency - the major candidates compared - (2015-04-29)
  [4485] Misusing statistics? - the seedy side of election campaigning - (2015-05-04)
  [4489] Election results - what if we had a party list system? - (2015-05-08)
  [4548] Melksham - two small townships, or one big one? - (2015-10-22)
  [4597] Not standing as your local councillor - (2015-12-18)
  [4614] PC Plod - alive and scaremongering in Wiltshire? - (2016-01-04)
  [4625] Where does Wiltshire bus subsidy money come from? - (2016-01-19)
  [4720] Celebrating our diversity rather than discriminating for it - (2016-11-02)
  [4725] Writing Python 2 such that Python 3 is easy - (2016-11-06)
  [4729] The oldest part of Los Angeles - (2016-11-23)
  [4734] Thoughts on the new Blackmore Ward of Melksham Without Parish - (2017-02-22)
  [4735] Revisiting - should I stand for Melksham Without Parish Council in May? - (2017-02-24)

M200 - Well House Manor - Wiltshire
  [829] Where to go within 30 minutes of Melksham - (2006-08-11)
  [942] Index of Pictures - (2006-11-24)
  [946] Look around this mouth. - (2006-11-26)
  [971] Wiltshire letterboxes - (2006-12-07)
  [1106] Spring Pictures - (2007-03-11)
  [1112] Bank Holiday country breaks in Melksham, Wiltshire - (2007-03-17)
  [1129] Golfing, Wiltshire (near Melksham) - (2007-04-01)
  [1156] Two by One by Wiltshire - (2007-04-20)
  [1399] Pictures Framed - (2007-10-21)
  [1521] Evening drive across the roof of Wiltshire - (2008-01-27)
  [1859] Wiltshire at dawn - the tourist trail - (2008-10-29)
  [1981] Bitter cold - (2009-01-07)
  [2128] Wiltshire - where everybody matters - (2009-04-13)
  [2176] Balloon Journey in Wiltshire - (2009-05-12)
  [2411] Further North - long summer days and lovely countryside - (2009-09-19)
  [2594] Melksham Area - your community view is sought - (2010-01-23)
  [2713] History is all around us - (2010-04-09)
  [2750] Views of Wessex - (2010-05-03)
  [2882] Seeing Wiltshire - from a Melksham base - (2010-07-21)
  [2888] Recent Pictures - (2010-07-27)
  [2923] Fresh air and beautiful places in Wiltshire - (2010-08-15)
  [3513] Olympic Torch - dates and places in Wiltshire in 2012 - (2011-11-08)
  [3723] Bank Holiday Monday, so it was pouring with rain. - (2012-05-07)
  [3729] Then and now pictures of Melksham - on show through the summer - (2012-05-11)
  [3800] Fancy a weekend away? Try Well House Manor in Melksham, Wiltshire - (2012-07-09)
  [3989] Plenty to see and do - even in Winter - on a Well House Manor weekend - (2013-01-24)
  [4084] New Pictures - Melksham Pack Horse Bridge - (2013-05-12)
  [4702] Up and down TransWilts - some pictures off the rails! - (2016-07-07)

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Everyone is in the customer relations business
Checking robots.txt from Python
Python - using exceptions to set a fallback
Creating and iterating through Python lists
Understanding the new local government structure in Wiltshire
First courses for 2010
Python classes / courses - what version do we train on?
Who is Marc Schneider of Multilingual Search Engine Optimization Inc
Debugging multipage (session based) PHP applications
PHP preg functions - examples and comparision