The Town Council

Summary Business Plan

additional notes:

Community Hall Provision

Objective

The object of this project is to provide high quality Community Hall Services at a reasonable cost, appropriate and suited to the needs of the people and organisations in the Parish of Wootton Bassett.

Background

The Wootton Bassett Town Council currently operates two community halls as part of the Civic Centre complex. Whilst accommodating the needs of many organisations in the town the halls lack flexibility, disability access and adequate parking facilities.

In addition to the above on going concerns the Civic Centre is an old property which is in need of significant maintenance.

Town Council Action

The Wootton Bassett Town Council has decided to explore the feasibility of improving community hall provision in the town taking an overall approach to the problem. The Town Council undertook in conjunction with the Memorial Hall Committee a public consultation, which has helped to identify the case of need for an improved community hall facility.

The Council is continuing to look for suitable opportunities to meet this need and more recently has pursued this in connection with the St Ivel development.

Financial Implications

The Council currently budgets approximately £25,000 per annum for the running of the Civic Centre and would of course commit the resource of that building to any future project.

Measuring Success

The success of this project can be measured by assessing improvements against issues raised by the public consultation. This could be through an increase in the number of bookings, the provision of better quality facilities and through a new build reduce on going costs.

Review

It is the Town Councils intention to keep this project under continual review at the present time.

Craft Fayre

Objective

The object of this project is to provide opportunities for the local Craft Industry to retail and promote their products whilst increasing the persons visiting Wootton Bassett for shopping purposes.

Background

The Wootton Bassett Town Council received a request from one of it’s members who after consulting contacts in the Craft Industry felt there would be a demand for a Craft Fayre in Wootton Bassett.

Town Council Action

The Wootton Bassett Town Council decided to pilot an initial Craft Fayre at the Memorial Hall on 31st March 2001. The initial pilot proved to be a success and following this craft fayres have been held at the Memorial Hall every six months up to March 2003.

Financial Implications

The Town Council does not make a major budget allocation for this project but expects it to break even in cash terms whilst accepting the use of staff resources to support the event.

Measuring Success

The success of this project can be measured in two ways, firstly with the number of persons wishing to take part in the Craft Fayre, and secondly to monitor the number of persons attending the event. At the present time the Council made no decision to set targets in either of these categories.

Review

The Town Council has reviewed the initial Craft Fayres but in view of a falling number of crafters wishing to take part, is now considering whether to continue with the project.

Street Cleaning

Objective

The object of this project is to improve the standard of cleanliness on streets and footpaths in the Parish of Wootton Bassett.

Background

The council has received a number of representations about the poor cleanliness of its Streets. The issue was also considered as an Electoral issue at the 1999 local elections. Discussions took place with the then  District Council who were responsible for street cleaning under the 1994 Environmental Protection Act. Head of Cleansing and Amenities Services confirmed that whilst the District Council met the standard set by Environmental Protection Act a higher standard would be desirable, particularly in the side streets, although this could not be financially resourced by the District Council.

Town Council Action

Wootton Bassett Town Council has decided to employ a Street Cleaner (one fulltime equivalent) but incorporate this with the re-structured groundstaff. The appointment took effect from the 1st October 2001.

The Street Cleaning Service works to a rota covering all estate roads and footpaths in the town. The service does not concentrate efforts in the High Street or other areas regularly cleaned by the District Council. The District Council is also called upon to deal with specific instances of littering. It is hoped that by adopting this approach the level of double rating can be minimised.

Financial Implications

The Town Council annually budgets the sum of £15,000 in order to fund the street cleaning service, although these figures are contained within the grounds maintenance service.

Measuring Success

Initially the Town Council anticipated that every street in the Town would be cleaned once every three months and that the frequency would increase to once per month. In reality every street is cleaned once every four weeks although in the early days it was not possible to target every piece of litter in the street. It is our aim that when a street cleaner targets a street, every piece of litter will now be removed from that street.

For the purposes of this exercise litter is defined as anything that can be picked up by a handheld litter grab and disposed through a conventional black bag system.

Review

The Town Council reviewed the success of this project after a 12 month period noting that over 800 bags of rubbish had been collected. The number of bags collected continues to be monitored.

Wootton Bassett Town Council’s Environmental Policy

The Wootton Bassett Town Council recognises the important role it can play in affecting the local environment. The Council is not only responsible for a range of activities in the Town having Environmental implications but also holds a position of influence to set a positive example to others. The Council believes that it must be ever conscious of these points when undertaking any of its activities in the Town.

The Council is taking steps to ensure that the principle of sustainable development is incorporated into all appropriate aspects of its work. Enhancing the environment, therefore becomes an integral part of the Council’s aims together with the provision of a safe and enjoyable environment for all who live and work in Wootton Bassett.

In recognition of these aims and responsibilities, Wootton Bassett Town Council commits itself to:

Minimise its own use of natural resources and encourage others to do the same

Improve the environment by encouraging transport initiatives that reduce reliance on the motor car and encourage alternative modes of travel

Assist those who aim to raise awareness of environmental and sustainability issues within the local community and amongst its staff

Promote recycling and the reduction of waste.

To meet these commitments in the most open and transparent manner as possible, the Council will as appropriate report progress to the Town Council.

February 2002

Introduction

When most people are asked to think about their Town or Parish Council, the response is that either they do not know what it does, or they focus on the latest article that may have appeared in the local paper. The idea of the following pages is to give you a brief summary about Wootton Bassett Town Council and what it does.

Composition

Wootton Bassett Town Council has 16 elected Councillors each of whom serve for a term of 4 years. The Town Council elections were held in May 2007. Town Councillors are voluntary and do not receive any payment or allowances unlike their District and County Council counterparts who receive an allowance for their attendance at meetings. The Councillors annually elect one of the members to be the Town Mayor who undertakes a range of Civic duties and chairs the Town Council meetings. Much of the business of the Council has been delegated to 3 Committees, which meet on a two-monthly cycle. The Committees are:

Amenities

As its name suggests look after the Councils amenity services.

Revenue & Resources

The Committee is responsibility for the finances of the Council and the running of the Council’s administration.

Planning

The work of this Committee is to provide local feedback to the Planning Authority on planning applications and the various District, County and Regional plans that influence local planning policy.

All meetings are held in the Council Chamber in Station Road, and are open to the public.

Copies of the agendas for all meetings are available free of charge 3 days before each meeting at the Council Offices, 117 High Street. The agendas are also available for inspection at the Library in Borough Fields. Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings and ask questions during a 10-minute question time about the work of the Council.

Administration

The Town Council Administration is based at 117 High Street, Wootton Bassett.

In the office we have an Administrative Team.

We also have a team of Groundsmen, a part-time CCTV Supervisor, two part-time Cleaners, Part Time Accountant and a Management team of the Town Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk.

The First Tier

Wootton Bassett Town Council considers itself to be the first of the three local government tiers, being the closest to its 12,500 population. The other local authority tiers serving Wootton Bassett are Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council. Wiltshire County Council covers the whole of Wiltshire and is responsible for education, social services, highways, strategic planning and libraries. North Wiltshire District Council, also covers the other towns and parishes in the district and is responsible for housing, local plans, development control, environmental health and refuse collection.

Our Main Purpose

The Council’s Vision Statement for the Town, encompassing the above, is:

To protect both the existing and future independent character and identity of Wootton Bassett within North Wiltshire – as a family friendly small market town providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all who live and work in the town or as ‘ Serving Wootton Bassett Today and Tomorrow’.

The Council’s Mission Statement is

The Council will deliver the Vision Statement for the Town by providing those local services for which it is responsible in a friendly, efficient and cost effective manner on a sustainable basis and where appropriate, in co-operation with other relevant authorities to ensure that services are provided in an integrated manner with both minimum overlap of responsibility and expenditure. The Council will provide a supportive working environment for all its employees to deliver these services to the public.

The above statements were adopted by the Town Council at its meeting on the 19th October 2000.

Town Council Services

The Council provides services in the following areas:

Parks and Open Spaces

  • Old Court
  • New Road
  • Poets Field
  • Showfield
  • Otter Way
  • Woodshaw Green
  • Jackie Woolford Memorial Ground (land adjacent to Swindon Road)
  • Farne Way
  • Jubilee Lake
Ballards Ash Sports Ground

This sports ground provides facilities for Football, Rugby and Cricket and is also available for training purposes.

Wootton Bassett Cemetery

Although legally the Town Council does not have to provide a Cemetery, it not only does so but it also believes that this should be maintained to a high standard befitting the final resting-place for the dead.

Civic Centre

This building houses two community halls with kitchen facilities and is available for hire to local groups and organisations or to private parties. For further information please contact 117 High Street.

Other Services
  • Commenting upon planning applications
  • Commenting/supporting highway issues including the provision of bus shelters, public seats, signs and highway planting schemes.
  • Management the towns CCTV system
  • Supporting Environmental initiatives such as recycling
  • Management of Street Festivals
  • Floral Decoration of the Town
  • Christmas Lights, also supporting the Dickensian Evening
  • Representing local views including liaison with other local authorities and agencies.
The Civic Role of the Council

The Civic Role of the Council is fulfilled by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Town Crier and Deputy Town Crier who are the Councils Sword Bearers, the majority of this work is undertaken by the Mayor, who will attend over 100 local events each year. The Mayor also attends a small number of other functions representing Wootton Bassett outside the town.

The Cost of Town Council Services

The Council receives no government grant or any share of the Non Domestic Rates. All expenditure not met from fees, charges or contributions from other agencies must be met by way of a Council Tax Precept on North Wiltshire District Council. The latest Council Tax information is always shown on the Town Councils leaflet sent to you with your Council Tax demand. Additional copies are available from the Town Council Offices together with the adopted budgets and audited accounts of the Council.

Aims and Objectives

The Council’s current projects are detailed for your consideration in the following pages, which we hope that you find of interest. At the time of writing we anticipate that these aims and objectives will develop and evolve.

Your Say

The Town Council continually looks to improve it’s consultation process in order to better deliver the level and quality of services demanded by the Council Tax payers in the town.

In addition to the specific consultations carried out by the Town Council from time to time, the Council is generally committed to consulting widely on its performance. We would appreciate a few moments of your time to write telling us what you think of our Services in order to help us to provide the Services that you want.