Mayor's Report
As always the Town Council has been very busy. Last Summer we co-opted 5 new Councillors, who are already playing a full part in the council. We have also established a Tiverton Youth Council to promote youth and their issues.
Touching on just a few areas. The New Hall provides an excellent community facility for Tiverton, shows, dances, conferences, presentations, weddings, and meetings etc. From November 2005, we have been fully licensed to sell alcohol. The Town Council needed to do this to fit in with the new Licensing Laws and continue to provide and improve the services we offer.
The lease on the Little Silver Allotment will not be renewed in March, 2007. While this came as a surprise to us, we have been able to relocate the Little Silver plot holders on other sites. We are still seeking a replacement site in the South East of the Town. Due to the hard work of the Tiverton in Bloom Committee, we were given a Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt award last Summer. Our target is to get the next one up, the Gold. The hard work will continue.
We had to survive a steep learning curve on our Christmas lights last year, being the first year that it became the full responsibility of the Town Council. We had problems with the contractor and, because the display was not as good as we wished or intended, we came in for a great deal of criticism, some of which, I believe, was undeserved. The Carnival was a great success. We will ensure that the Christmas lights and the carnival are both successful this year.
The Tiverton Town Council worked closely with Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) and Devon County Council on a number of issues. One Town Council initiative resulted in MDDC reopening the Westexe Recreation Ground toilet in the late Summer of last year. We continue to jointly operate the toilet in Peoples Park.
Other partnership issues include: - the Tesco 106 money, to be used for improvements in Gold Street and Bampton Street. We are represented on a working group to ensure that this funding is used to its best; the removal of the MDDC car park wall to open up the New Hall entrance; the new Pannier Market, contributions in its planning over many years and toward the Art Work; subject to the signing of the lease, in the Autumn of this year, we will move our offices to the Tiverton Town Hall where the Tiverton Town Council will have a higher profile and be more accessible to all our parishioners; continuing to pressure for improvements in other areas. We don’t just work with councils; we are also seeking to build up a better relationship with the business community.
On the Civic & Ceremonial side, 2005 to 2006 was a year to remember. On top of the annual proclamations and parades we also celebrated: - the giving of the Freedom of the Town to HMS Enterprise, a relationship that is already bringing a great deal to the Town; the Mayor and Mayoress attending the rehearsal for the International Fleet Review on board HMS Enterprise. In the company of the Beadle, I can tell you that they had a great time; a thoroughly deserved parade and reception for the Burma Star veterans; a Trafalgar Parade and presentation of a commemorative charter to hang in Tiverton’s war memorial room. The Mayor notes, with pride, the excellent reception that he received during his term of office. It is an indication of just how welcoming and hospitable our community really is.
Paul Williams
Mayor of Tiverton
2005/2006
Town Clerk 's Report
During the year the Council agreed to repay one of its loans which had a high interest rate. Although of course this will make the profit and loss figures for the financial year look bad, it will of course be a benefit to the council in the long term.
The council continues to work towards Quality Status, a nationally recognised award that proves that the council is working effectively and is involved in the community it represents. Devon is leading the way in this area at present, having got more quality councils than any other county.
There were some changes made to the structure of the council’s committees during the year resulting in most committee’s becoming a cost centre. This allows actions to be taken quicker and more effectively. The Finance and General Purposes Committee overseas each of the cost centres to ensure that the budget profiles are being maintained.
One of the busiest committees is Planning, meeting normally on a fortnightly basis to deal with the numerous planning applications that come before it. Whilst Mid Devon District Council are the planning authority, the Town Council is consulted on all planning matters for the area.
The Tiverton in Bloom Committee did very well in the Britain in Bloom competition, achieving Silver Gilt. This year we have different suppliers of the contents of the baskets, and hope that we might have an even higher award.
As I write this report councillors have entered their final year of office, with all councillor positions coming to the ballot box in May 2007. At present we do not know what implications the proposed white paper on local government restructuring will have on the town council, however we hope that new powers will be given to this level of local authority, which is of course the nearest to the people, to enable it to work more effectively.
John Vanderwolfe
Town Clerk
Tiverton Town Council Financial Report - Year Ending 31st March 2006
 |
|
| Income (£) |
Expenditure (£) |
| Allotment Receipts |
1415 |
Accruals |
2515 |
| Bank Interest |
3583 |
Administration |
63794 |
| Cemetery Grant (MDDDC) |
180 |
Allotments |
3570 |
| Miscellaneous |
250 |
Ceremonial |
9688 |
| New Hall Income |
15759 |
Grants |
22070 |
| Other Receipts |
2866 |
New Hall |
62498 |
| Footpaths Grant (DCC) |
3260 |
Footpaths |
193 |
| Precept |
187369 |
Public Works Board Loan |
51168 |
| Loan Board Refund |
165 |
Carnival/ Christmas Lights |
5197 |
| Carnival /Christmas Lights |
4366 |
Tiverton in Bloom |
9222 |
| Tiverton in Bloom |
5799 |
Town Hall |
5889 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
225012 |
|
235804 |
|
|
| |
|
Profit (Loss) |
-10792 |
|
|
Whilst an operating loss is shown this is mainly due to the fact that the Council was able to pay off one of its loans, during the year, that was on a fairly high interest rate. The difference between income and loss is recovered from the reserves of the Council.
List of Grants Made - Year Ending 31st March 2006
The Council publishes a notification in the newspaper of the fact that not-for-profit organisations and societies can apply for a grant from the Council. Funds for grants are limited and therefore each application is vetted by the Council to ensure that best value principles are adhered to.
In addition to the awarding of grants non profit making societies and organisations within Tiverton are given discount rates when using the facilities of the New Hall.
Organisations using the New Hall for charity events are only eligible for a discount for local charities.
Commitee Reports
Allotments
Towards the end of 2005 the Council received notification from the landowner that Little Silver Allotment Gardens would close in March 2007. A meeting was held at the New Hall, followed by a letter to all plot holders informing them of the options open to them for the future. All Little Silver tenants who wanted another allotment garden were accommodated on one of the Council’s five other sites.
The Council continues to look for new sites to accommodate the demand for allotment gardens in Tiverton.
Applicants are placed on a waiting list and are offered a plot when one becomes available.
The annual charges are probably one of the lowest in the country even though the charges are increased slightly each year.
To be eligible for an allotment garden you must reside in Tiverton and be willing to cultivate and keep the garden tidy throughout the year.
Apply through the Town Council’s office if you are interested.
Town Emergency Committee
Whilst the principle authorities are responsible for dealing with civil emergencies Tiverton Town Council has designed its own emergency plan for use of the New Hall as an emergency settlement centre in case of a civil emergency.
Should such an incident occur the Town Council would work in liaison with Devon County Council and Mid Devon District Council.
Planning
The Planning Committee is the busiest committee on the Council, meeting normally on a fortnightly basis to make comments on the many planning applications for Tiverton. Whilst Mid Devon District Council is the planning authority, there is a statutory duty to consult with the town council on all planning applications within the town boundary. Being one of the fastest growing towns in Devon there are no shortage of planning applications to be commented on at each of this committee’s meetings.
Finance and General Purposes Committee
This committee ensures that the finances of the council are running correctly and that all of the committees that have budget delegated powers are keeping within their budgets. The Finance & General Purposes Committee is also responsible for the New Hall.
The committee also looks at some other items in detail and reports back to the main Council meeting.
One of its principle duties is to prepare the budget for the following year ready for presentation to the main Council.
Civic & Ceremonial
This committee was very busy during the financial year being reported as there were a number of very important events held. One of the most important events organised was the granting of the Freedom of Tiverton to HMS Enterprise. Hopefully many of you were in Tiverton to witness this historical occasion.
The committee organises the Mayor’s Banquet and the Mayor’s Parade and Sunday Service, held at St Peter’s Church.
The committee were honoured to assist with the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. A short commemorative service was held in Phoenix Lane by the Burma Star Association, followed by a buffet lunch at the War Memorial Hall.
The Proclamation of the Fair was held on two occasions in the year, much to the enjoyment of the many children who try and catch the pennies being thrown to them.
Telephone Contact Numbers
Town Clerk’s Office - 01884 253404
Mid Devon District Council - 01884 255255
Highways (Broad Lane) - 01884 252557
Citizen’s Advice - 01884 234926
Street Lighting - 08705 561851
Library - 01884 244644
Travelline - 0870 608 2608
Registration - Marriages - 01884 252821
- Births & Deaths - 01884 252913
