We are well on the way to 1,270 Signatures for our Petition - 'Wiltshire Council is Not Fit For Purpose'.

I know that this figure just represents a small proportion of those who are suffering as a result of the gross under staffing of all critical Service Departments. The overworked Staff and their clients are all seriously suffering.

Most front line staff do what they can, but their job is almost impossible, as Face to Face staffing has been cut by more than 1/2 (and as much as 2/3's) in the last 15 years.

Further more, admin & back office staffing and has also been cut back by more than half, making phone call, website & email response wait times impossibly long, many requests are rejected and sometimes get no response at all.

In such situations people seeking help from any of these departments do not get a service. Those who get a response are often passed on to other agencies, or have their requests rejected.

Rejection of an application for 'Community Care Assessments', 'Housing Benefit Claims' and other cost related services, has become the default position for anything that costs the council money.

I am aware of this because of my Community Advocate work. A few requests and claims are adjusted on 'Reconsideration', and almost all legitimate claims are supported when they get to an Appeal in Court.

The most worrying this is, there is a legal obligation for Community Care Assessments to be carried out and it is also a legal requirement for Service Shortfalls to be disclosed and passed on to Council’s Governing Body and Central Government.

These legal failings are very serious and often lead to Councils being taken over and run by an independent authority until the situation is rectified.

I am convinced that Wiltshire Council has reached that critical point and Wiltshire Councillors are not being properly informed of the situation.

I will be passing on the results of this petition to the Councillors, to the Chief Executive, and the Secretary of State