Below you'll find the Tiverton Town Council Annual Report for year ending 31st March 2009. Click Here for previous Annual Reports.
Details of meeting dates and the resolved minutes of Full Council, Planning and the Finance & General Purposes Committee can also be found on this website.
Tiverton Town Council is designated as a 'Quality Council'.
Annual Council Meeting Report
The
Mayor of Tiverton until May 2009 was Councillor Elaine Trump .
Councillor Trump informed the Annual Parish Meeting that she had enjoyed a very busy year. During the year the council had celebrated 750 years since the granting of the Charter to Tiverton Market. There had been many activities during the week, and she had enjoyed meeting a great number of members of the public during that period.
She considered that being Mayor of Tiverton had been a great honour and privilege, and something that she could always look back upon in the future.
One of the other highlights of her year in office was the Tour of Britain Cycle Race that came through the centre of Tiverton. Elaine was pleased that so many people had turned out to cheer these cyclists on. The tour organisers themselves commented on the vast number of people who had lined the streets and roads in Tiverton for this event.
The Mayor also commented on how friendly she had found the reception when visiting other towns. She had been privileged to have been invited to attend a function in Bath where Tiverton's Maces were displayed alongside some of the others from around the Westcountry.
She also thanked her fellow councillors, the Beadle, Mace Bearers and Officers of the Council for their support over the year.
Town Clerk 's Report
The Mayor's report has already highlighted the busy year during her year of office.
We were grateful to Devon County Council for providing funds for new lighting to be placed in the New Hall. Following many years of knowing that there was a need to renew the roof of the hall, this was the year that it actually was done. The renewal of the roof also gave the council the opportunity to improve on the insulation in the loft, therefore hopefully saving energy, and of course costs in the future.
Bookings were well up during the financial year although there are concerns that the credit crunch may well hit bookings in the future.
The Council decided that the time was right to hand over the running of the carnival to an independent committee. We wish them well for the future.
100 years after the clock at Lowman Green had been presented to the Borough Council by Councillor T Ford, the District Council handed it back to the Town Council. The clock, along with many other items, had been handed over to the district council in 1974 when the Borough Council was abolished.
During the year great debates took place regarding the possibility of Devon becoming a Unitary Authority. As with all things of this manner people are either very much in favour of this; or totally against it. The dates for making a decision have been changed on several occasions, and as this report was written we were still awaiting a decision. Cornwall has taken the lead by becoming a Unitary Authority from June, so all eyes will be on them to see how things work out.
There were concerns that the credit crunch would result in less retailers purchasing hanging baskets this year, however, sales have in fact gone very well. Once the baskets were put on display a number of retailers who had not ordered baskets were so impressed with them that they have also asked if they could have some as well. The Tiverton in Bloom committee has also provided planters in Fore Street and at Lowman Green. This will very much brighten up the area.
The council has taken over the running of external functions at the Town Hall. There have been a number of functions held at the Town Hall including weddings, and it is hoped that we will soon get the Registration of Weddings Licence back. It is good to see this historic building being used more.
The council had a stand within the MDDC tent at the Mid Devon Show last year and has booked a space again this year. Let's hope the sun shines like it did last year!
Finally, the council is supporting Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 th June with a parade, followed by a reception at the Royal British Legion club.
John Vanderwolfe
Town Clerk
Freedom of Information Act
A list of documents available under this Act and the tariff of charges for publication is displayed on the notice board in the Town Hall and on the council's website.
Financial Report - 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009
| Income |
|
| |
|
| Administration |
5,176.75 |
| Allotment Receipts |
1,617.67 |
| Bank Interest |
8,969.31 |
| Cemetery Grant |
180.00 |
| Charter 750 |
7,790.00 |
| Christmas Lights & Carnival |
901.00 |
| Civic & Ceremonial |
1,029.50 |
| Management Fee Town Hall |
388.28 |
| New Hall |
36,348.63 |
| P3 (Footpaths) |
1,130.00 |
| Performing Rights |
746.25 |
| Precept |
215,095.00 |
| Tiverton In Bloom Income |
8,463.14 |
| Town Hall Letting Income |
2,476.35 |
| |
|
 |
|
| Total Income |
290,311.88 |
| |
|
| Expenditure |
|
| |
|
| Administration |
79,066.65 |
| Allotments |
4,854.18 |
| Charter 750 Celebrations |
8,297.28 |
| Christmas Lights/Carnival |
18,160.43 |
| Civic & Ceremonial |
12,092.17 |
| Lowman Green Clock Tower |
295.00 |
| Grants |
28,475.00 |
| New Hall |
118,046.06 |
| P3 Footpaths |
1,295.88 |
| Pannier Market Project |
4,546.00 |
| Public Works Board Loan |
9,669.95 |
| Tiverton In Bloom |
8,318.36 |
| Town Hall - Office, Civic etc |
13,008.70 |
| Town Hall Letting - refund to MDDC |
1,137.19 |
| Training |
50.00 |
| |
|
|
|
| Total Expense |
307,312.85 |
Power to Promote Well-Being of the Area
The Local Government white paper 2006, Strong and Prosperous Communities, recognised that, as the first tier of local government, local councils have a vital role to play in improving local services and invigorating local democracy. The Government has worked closely with the local council sector on the suite of measures relating to parishes in part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These reforms provide the statutory underpinning to help increase the capacity of local councils to deliver better public services and represent their communities' interests. Local people via local councils will have more say and ownership over how their communities are run and managed.
The introduction of the well-being power for principle authorities enabled them to move away from the necessarily cautious approach to innovation and joint action which had previously limited their contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of their communities. Therefore, the extension of this power will provide the same facility to town and parish councils.
The well-being power is very broad; specific examples of the kind of action an eligible council may take are set out in section 2(4) of the Local Government Act 2000. This includes, but is not limited to, incurring expenditure, providing staff, goods or services to any person, entering into partnership arrangements and carrying out the functions of other bodies. The breadth of this power removes the need for local councils to rely on other legislation in order to take particular action. Instead, local councils can look to the well-being power in the first instance-they can regard it as a ‘power of first resort'.
To ensure that local councils using the well-being power have the relevant competency and capacity to take on the enhanced role and responsibilities that the power brings, the Government considered it prudent to put into place certain safeguards, which are set out in the Prescribed Conditions Order.
These conditions, set out in the Prescribed Condition Order include:
- A qualified clerk
- Minimum of two-thirds of vacancies on the council filled at the last ordinary elections
- Eighty per cent of councillors trained in the use of the well-being power
- A published statement of intent as to community engagement
Section 2(1) enables an eligible council to use the power to promote well-being where it considers this will achieve any one or more of the following three objectives:
- The promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of its area
- The promotion or improvement of the social well-being of its area
- The promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of its area.
The power is drafted in this way in order to maximise its flexibility. Each of its three components can be used either separately or in combination.
The power provides a strong basis on which to deliver many of the priorities identified by local communities evidenced for example by sustainable community strategies and community-led plans.
Tiverton Town Council will shortly become one of the first councils in the country to have this power.
Working in Partnership with Mid Devon District Council
For some years now Tiverton Town Council has provided financial assistance towards the upkeep of the town's CCTV system. This system, which has, in recent months, been extended, provides valuable data about the activities going on in the town. There has been a number of arrests made as a result of the efficient use of this valuable resource.
This year the town clerk took over the role of secretary to the group and it is hoped that more improvements to the system and its use will evolve in the future.
The wonderful hanging baskets that are seen in the town are a result of a partnership between the two councils. The contents of the baskets are provided by Taunton Deane Borough Council, the scheme is administered by Tiverton Town Council, and the baskets are erected and watered by Mid Devon District Council.
The Tiverton in Bloom committee of the town council works hard to set high standards for the judging for the Britain in Bloom competition. Many of the traders in the town support us by purchasing a basket to make the town look more attractive.
Devon County Council also do their bit by ensuring that the roads and pavements are as free from weeds as possible and the street scene department of Mid Devon District Council try to ensure that the town is as free from litter as possible ready for the judges. All in all –what a partnership!
The town council and the district council works together to provide conference, training, banquet and meeting facilities at the Town Hall.
The town council provides financial assistance for the upkeep of a number of public facilities in the town.
It is hoped that more partnership arrangements will be put into place in the future.
Changes on the Council
The council lost three councillors through resignation.
Grahame Partridge had been involved with Charter 750 last year, he was a very enthusiastic councillor and we thank him for his services.
Karen Abbot had been heavily involved with the carnival and the Christmas Lights. She was a very enthusiastic and hard working councillor who will be missed.
Paul Kenny was the chairman of the planning committee and another keen councillor. He is moving his home to Exeter , and therefore felt that he could no longer serve this council in an effective manner.
Two of the vacancies have been filled, we therefore welcome Mark Packham and Susan Griggs on to the council. Both of these councillors are already proving to be a useful addition to the council.
Sadly Eunice Hann, who had retired from the council two years ago and had been Mayor of Tiverton on two occasions, died as this report was being compiled. Her funeral, which took place at St Peter's Church was well attended, and the present Mayor of Tiverton, Councillor Paul Graham, gave a very good tribute to Eunice during the service.
Committees of the Council
Recently it was decided that committees should be open to any councillor who wishes to put his or her name down to serve on it. Councillors therefore decide which committee they wish to serve on at the Annual Council meeting in May.
The committees of the Council are:
- Finance & General Purposes
- Planning
- Civic & Ceremonial
- Town Emergency
- Tiverton in Bloom
- Christmas Lights
The monthly list of council meetings, including committees, is displayed on the notice board at the town hall and the full list of council meetings scheduled for the year is on the website.
The council and planning minutes are also available on the website.
List of Tiverton Town Councillors
| Ward |
Councillor |
Address |
Telephone |
| Cranmore |
Laina Howe |
20 Sideling Fields, Canal Hill, Tiverton EX16 4HG |
01884 252536 |
| Cranmore |
Mark Packham |
6 Gooding Rise, Tiverton EX16 5BX |
01884 252643 |
| Cranmore |
Pauline Farr |
60 Bampton Street , Tiverton EX16 6AH |
01884 242280 |
| Cranmore |
Alan Marks |
53 St Peter Street, Tiverton EX16 6NW |
01884 257804 |
| Cranmore |
Paul Williams |
1 Pugsley Road, Tiverton EX16 4LR |
01884 251994 |
| Cranmore |
Kevin Wilson |
23 Besley Close, Canal Hill, Tiverton EX16 4JF |
01884 243126 |
| Castle |
Ken Gilderthorp |
93 Pinnex Moor Road , Tiverton EX16 6JZ |
01884 252997 |
| Castle |
Jane Bonnick |
22 Longmeadow Tiverton EX16 6EJ |
01884 243705 |
| Castle |
Janet Rendle |
Lower Mellguards , Park Road, Tiverton EX16 6AU |
01884 254914 |
| Castle |
Elaine Trump |
Sallows, 13 Park Hill, Tiverton EX16 6RP |
01884 252366 |
| Castle |
Lester Crocker
Deputy Mayor |
4 Beeley Orchard, Bolham, Tiverton EX16 7RB |
01884 259518
01803 845837 |
| Lowman |
Susan Griggs |
Old Vicarage, St Andrew Street, Tiverton EX16 6PH |
07850375895 |
| Lowman |
Neal Davey |
7 Amory Road , Tiverton
EX16 5ES |
01884 257734 |
| Lowman |
Philip Gibbs |
4 Orchard View, Halberton EX16 7AH |
01884 820891 |
| Lowman |
Dennis Knowles |
82, Pinnex Moor Road, Tiverton EX16 6JZ |
01884 254775 |
| Lowman |
Paul Graham
Mayor |
10, Trickey Close, Tiverton EX16 6HF |
07794114785 |
| Lowman |
John Jordan |
8, Johns Way , Underhill Park ,Tiverton EX16 6SE |
01884 242532 |
Westexe South |
Wallace Burke |
108, Lower Cotteylands, Tiverton EX16 5BJ |
01884 256402 |
| Westexe South |
Alan Griffiths |
9, Prideaux Cresent Tiverton EX16 6JY |
01884 242477 |
| Westexe South |
Mary Turner |
Hobsons Choice, Westexe South, Tiverton EX16 5DT |
01884 254750 |
| Westexe South |
Randall Williams |
9 Gooding Rise, Tiverton EX16 5BX |
01884 253703 |
| Westexe North |
Vacant |
|
|
| Westexe North |
Tom Lindus |
Hensleigh Cottage Annex, Hensleigh, Tiverton EX16 5NH |
01884 252783 |
| Westexe North |
Gerald Luxton |
Palm Tree Cottage, 11 Patches Road, Tiverton EX16 5AH |
01884 252671 |
