Witham Town Council€¦ · Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016...
Transcript of Witham Town Council€¦ · Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016...
Witham Town Council
Town Hall
Newland Street
Witham
CM8 2FE
Tel: 01376 520627
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.witham.gov.uk
AGENDA
Meeting of: Town Council
Date: Monday, 18th January Time: 7.30 p.m.
Place: Town Hall, 61 Newland Street, Witham.
Members are requested to attend the above Meeting to transact the following business.
Members are respectfully reminded that each item on the Agenda should be carefully
examined. If you have any interest, it must be duly declared.
To be present: Councillors W.J. Rose (Town Mayor) P. Horner (Deputy Town Mayor) C.J. Bailey
P.R. Barlow
J.C. Goodman
Mrs. J.A. Kempf
Mrs A. Kilmartin
M.C. M Lager
Mrs S.C. Lager
Mrs J.M. Money
T. A. Pleasance
R.P. Ramage
P.M. Ryland
Mrs C.M. Thompson
Mrs J. Williams
R. Williams
APOLOGIES
1. MINUTES
To receive the Minutes of the Meetings of the Town Council held 2nd November and 15th
December 2015 (previously circulated).
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2. INTERESTS
To receive any declarations of interests that Members may wish to give notice of on matters
pertaining to any item on this Agenda.
3. QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
An opportunity to enable members of the press and public present to comment upon any
item on the Agenda.
4. MONEY MANAGEMENT ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
To receive a presentation from Jennifer Hyde, the new Chief Executive Officer of the
Braintree, Witham and Halstead Citizens Advice Bureau, about money management advice
for young people (information attached) (see Minutes 9, 27, and 56 of Community
Committee Meetings held 9.6., 5.8. and 24.11.2014 respectively).
5. TOWN CLERK’S REPORT
To receive the Town Clerk’s Report on matters arising.
6. FORWARD PLANNING FOR WITHAM TOWN COUNCIL
To receive a presentation and report (attached).
7. BUDGET 2016/2017 AND PRECEPT
(a) Estimates Sub-Committee
To receive the Minutes of the Estimates Sub-Committee Meeting held 11th January 2016 (to
follow).
(b) Localism Support and Precept 2016/2017
To receive the Precept Form from Braintree District Council and to agree a Precept for
2016/2017 (attached).
8. FREEDOM OF WITHAM
To receive a report (attached).
9. COMMUNITY PAYBACK WORK
To receive a report (attached).
10. DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT AT BLACKWATER LANE
To receive a report and request from Braintree District Council for works to improve
drainage (attached).
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11. TOWN MAYOR’S ENGAGEMENTS
To receive the Town Mayor’s Engagements (attached).
12. LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD (QUALITY COUNCIL) – FOUNDATION STATUS
Policy and Resources Committee 8th December 2015 Minute 56 refers To receive a verbal report from the Town Clerk and submissions below –
(a) Statement of Intent on Training
(b) Comments, Compliments and Complaints Policy
(c) Action Plan for 2015-16
(d) The Foundation Award Checklist
13. COMMITTEE REPORTS
(e) Community Committee Meeting held 1st December 2015
Minutes 52 – 71 (inclusive).
(f) Environment Committee Meeting held 16th November 2015
Minutes 53 – 68 (inclusive).
(g) Policy and Resources Committee Meeting held 8th December 2015
Minutes 49 – 61 (inclusive).
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
TO RESOLVE That under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act
1960, the press and public be excluded from the Meeting for the following
items of business on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the
public interest.
14. OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TOWN CENTRE
To receive a report (attached).
15. RIVER WALK
To receive reports and letter (attached).
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16. COMMITTEE REPORTS (CONT’D)
(a) Environment Committee Meeting held 16th November 2015
Minutes 69 – 71 (inclusive).
(b) Policy and Resources Committee Meeting held 8th December 2015
Minutes 62 – 65 (inclusive).
17. PUBLIC DOMAIN
To consider whether any item discussed in Private Session should be moved into the Public
Domain.
Mark Squire
Town Clerk
MS/GK/12.1.2016
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Agenda Item 4
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Witham Town Council
TOWN CLERK’S REPORT Agenda Item 5
Summary:
The Deputy Clerk submitted an article on the monthly WW1 War Memorial for the monthly
magazine ‘Clerks and Councils’ which was published in the January 2016 edition (see
below).
Advice:
To receive and note.
MS/8.1.2016
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Agenda Item 6
Witham Town Council Report for Estimates committee 11th January 2016/Council 18th January 2016 1. Context:
ongoing pressure on public spending local economy in good shape local population and housing growth expected over next few years public services lag behind needs localism/devolution agenda
2. Assessment/strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats:
precept now in middle range of parishes → scope to raise reserves are adequate, but spending needs exceed income members and staff are experienced and skilled → can cope with challenges good contacts among outside organisations → ability to influence others/supporting
volunteering outdoor accommodation inadequate → when/how to improve River Walk maintenance needs rising → when/how to meet town centre improvements planned by BDC → need to get delivered housing/population growth over coming years → chance to make town better for all/risk of
inappropriate or unbalanced development cooperation with neighbouring parish councils → more resilience/shared costs/better services
3. Short-term issues for WTC:
respond to BDC consultation on its 2016-17 budget (localism fund, collection fund surplus refund)
develop financial planning over budget year plus three in outline, on accounts basis develop annual business plan plus three in outline, linking to financials get BDC to start parish boundaries review promote town centre developments that stand alone yet are part of Witham finalise Town Plan update update/extension of CCTV/WIFI use working groups on health, parking, development to influence provision decide best relationships with Town Team and Strategy Group commence lengthsman (minor off-road highways works) pilot project with ECC acquire freehold of River Walk consider options for outdoor accommodation do communications review around new technologies/the Voice mount events/celebrations in 2016-17 (eg Queen's 90th, Brazil Olympics, WW1)
4. Outcomes for 2016-17:
Witham in Bloom placed on sound footing River Walk strategy agreed around use, ownership, maintenance land at Sauls Bridge integrated into open space portfolio draft lengthsman contract agreed with ECC pathway to future outdoor accommodation agreed BDC's town centre improvements delivered, others agreed Town Team/Strategy Group aligned/merged Town Plan published health services improvement plan agreed and incorporated by NHS England (GPs) and
MECCG emergency planning reviewed in light of extreme weather risks parking issues recognised and acted upon by NEPP infrastructure needs identified and recognised by BDC and ECC
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S106 contract at Maltings area delivered ECC traffic signage updated local council award scheme foundation standard achieved
Delivery by WTC will be via our committees using volunteer expertise and help from the community. MCML/8.1.16
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Agenda Item 7(b)
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Witham Town Council
FREEDOM OF WITHAM Agenda Item 8
Background Papers:
Minute 43 of Town Council Meeting held 2nd November 2015 refers.
Summary:
It had been resolved at the Town Council Meeting that a policy and criteria for granting the
Freedom of the Town should be produced.
The Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Democracy, Economic
Development and Construction Act 2009) enables Parish Councils the ability to award the
status of honorary freeman on ‘persons of distinction and persons who have in the opinion of
the council, rendered eminent services.’
The Council can grant the honour by passing a resolution with a two thirds majority.
Qualifications for freedom differ from town to town but generally fall into two categories
‘patrimony’ (inheritance) and ‘servitude’.
It will be important to keep record of those who have been granted the Freedom of Witham
and Members might like to consider a framed scroll that names can be added to as and when
necessary.
The following policy is therefore suggested –
The Town Council has the power to grant persons of distinction, who have rendered
eminent services, the freedom of the town. Careful consideration needs to be taken to
ensure that this honour is not diluted. People to be considered need to have given
exceptional voluntary service to the town over a long number of years.
A nomination for the Freedom of Witham will be considered by the Town Council and
a two thirds majority is required to pass the motion.
Advice:
To receive and agree the policy.
GK/6.1.2016
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Witham Town Council
COMMUNITY PAYBACK WORK Agenda Item 9
Summary:
The Town Council has been approached regarding further community payback work.
Members will remember that last year workers re painted the litter bins in Newland Street.
They proved to be very unreliable and needed a lot of supervision by the Open Spaces
Supervisor to keep them ‘on track’. The completed work was also not of a high standard.
The new Community Payback Supervisor has assured the Town Clerk that this will not
happen again. She is looking for small projects (other than litter picking) that would enhance
the worker’s CV.
Advice:
It is for Members to decide on whether to use Community Payback Workers again and if so
to suggest suitable projects within Witham.
e.g. re painting all interior walls and lower level exterior walls of the Town Council building.
This will require much forward planning, preparation and supervision.
Members must bear in mind the supervision that will be required and whether it is
appropriate for members of staff to be employed in this way.
MS/ GK/8.1.2016
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Witham Town Council
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT AT BLACKWATER LANE Agenda Item 10
Background Papers:
Map of area attached.
Summary:
The Town Clerk and Deputy Clerk has recently met with Janet Whyte, Property Officer of
Braintree District Council (BDC) to discuss improving the highway and drainage along
Blackwater Lane near to the Anglian Water Plant and entrance to the Whetmead Nature
Reserve.
There has been a re occurring problem of a large pothole appearing in the road surface, as
Anglian Water lorries turn into their site which is damaging the roadway and exacerbated by
surface water, not being able to run off, as drainage culverts are blocked by overgrown
vegetation.
BDC has asked permission to move the earth mound adjacent to the lane (as shown on map
in red) back by one metre. This should enable the existing drainage to function better and
prevent the water sitting on the roadway. BDC will also be carrying out other repairs and
improvements to the roadway and advise of timescales in due course.
Advice:
This course of action will hopefully only improve the condition and drainage capacity of the
lane. There are no costs to the Town Council.
Recommend to receive and note.
MS/GK/9.1.2016
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Agenda Item 11
Town Mayor’s Engagements –3rd November 2015 – 18th January 2016
Councillor Bill Rose
7th November 2015 Assisted in the judging of the Christmas Card Competition organised by
Priti Patel, MP.
Attended the Carnival Association’s Presentation Evening at Maltings
Academy.
8th November 2015 Took part in the Remembrance Parade and laid a wreath.
11th November 2015 Laid a sheath of flowers at the Service of Remembrance.
12th November 2015 Officially opened the Aldi Store in Witham.
25th November 2015 Hosted the Switch on Ceremony around the Christmas tree in Newland
Street.
26th November 2015 Did a Reading at the Farleigh Hospice Light up a Life Ceremony in the
Grove Centre.
28th November 2015 Attended the Dickensian Event, worked on the stall and judged the Stalls.
2nd December 2015 Attended the Rotary Club’s Senior Tea Party at the Public Hall.
4th December 2015 Hosted the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for School Children in the Town Hall.
7th December 2015 Took part in the judging of the Christmas Window Competition organised
by the Christmas Events Group.
9th December 2015 Hosted Witham Town Council’s Carol Service around the tree in Newland
Street.
10th December 2015 Attended by invitation, BDC Chairman’s Church Service, Braintree.
11th December 2015 Hosted the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for Senior Citizens in the Town Hall.
13th December 2015 Attended the Big Sing Christmas Concert in the Public Hall.
15 December 2015 Attended the Age (UK) Christmas Tea at the Methodist Church, Witham.
Hosted the Mayor’s Evening Reception at the Town Hall.
18th December 2015 Attended by invitation Witham Chamber of Commerce Meeting with MP
and Police at the United Reformed Church, Witham.
21st December 2015 Attended 296 Squadron Air Cadets’ Awards Evening at Maltings Academy.
6th January 2016 Presented the awards at the Christmas Events Group Presentation Evening
in the Town Hall.
12th January 2016 Elm Hall School, Witham, presentation of Prize and Certificate to winner
of the Street Naming Competition.
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Councillor Patrick Horner
26th November 2015 Attended the Key Stage 4 Awards Evening at the Maltings Academy.
10th December 2015 Attended and had lunch with the Witham Town Luncheon Club at the
Town Hall.
4th December 2015 Attended the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for School Children in the Town
Hall.
6th December 2015 Attended the Carol Service at Braintree Community Hospital.
11th December 2015 Attended the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for Senior Citizens in the Town
Hall.
17th December 2015 Attended the Citizens Advice Bureau’s Annual General Meeting at the
Town Hall.
21st December 2015 Attended 296 Squadron Air Cadets’ Awards Evening at Maltings Academy.
6th January 2016 Attended the Christmas Events Group Presentation Evening in the Town
Hall.
12th January 2016 Accompanied Town Mayor to Elm Hall School, Witham, presentation of
Prize and Certificate to winner of the Street Naming Competition.
Councillor Michael Lager
4th December 2015 Attended the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for School Children in the Town
Hall.
Councillor Janet Money
8th December 2015 Attended the Annual General Meeting of Renew Counselling.
11th December 2015 Attended the Mayor’s Christmas Lunch for Senior Citizens in the Town
Hall.
Councillor JoAnn Williams
4th December 2015 Attended the Opening of the TCES Group’s School at the old Chipping
Hill School.
The majority of Councillors either worked or donated items or made cakes for the Town Mayor’s stall at
the Dickensian Event.
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Witham Town Council
Agenda Item 12
LOCAL COUNCIL AWARD (QUALITYCOUNCIL) FOUNDATION STATUS
Background Papers:
Minutes 36 and 56 of Policy and Resources Committee Meetings held 20.10. and 8.12 2015
respectively.
Summary:
Councillors J.C. Goodman and Mrs A. Kilmartin recently met with the Town Clerk and
Deputy Town Clerk to discuss final requirements to meet the accreditation standards for the
Local Council Award Foundation Status.
The Town Clerk will also provide a verbal update.
There will need to be some streamlining of the Town Council’s existing website and external
help has been sought in this respect.
Advice:
To move to accept the documentation and checklist as presented.
MS/11.1.2016
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WITHAM TOWN COUNCIL
Statement of Intent on Training
November 2015
Witham Town Council (WTC) is committed to providing appropriate training
opportunities for its employees and members, to enable them to undertake their
duties more effectively.
Training is a planned process to develop the abilities of an individual, to satisfy the
current and future needs of the organisation.
To achieve this, WTC is committed to:-
Identifying training needs, in the light of the overall objectives of the organisation
and the requirements of the individual by:-
Providing a New Councillor Pack to all new councillors, including an outline
and workings of the Council and Councillor Roles and Responsibilities
Providing the ‘Clerk’s Guide’ for a new clerk.
Circulating details of training courses which are available primarily from the
Essex Association of Local Council (EALC) to all Councillors and Clerks
Responding favourably to requests for training from members and employees
Identifying needs from appraisals, feedback, formal and informal discussions.
It is the responsibility of both members and employees to identify both their
own training needs, and to make suggestions for the training needs of others.
Options for training include
o Subject related training, e.g. planning, law, budgets
o Personal Qualities e.g. time organisation, managing staff, giving
presentations, chairmanship
o Technical, e.g. web design and maintenance, new software
o Health and Safety and Risk Management
o Other, as identified
Training can take the form of courses, workshops, presentations, one to one
training or the provision of training materials eg books and software.
Planning, organising and funding training to meet those needs by
Agenda Item 12 (a)
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Allocating an annual Training Budget
Investigating and suggesting appropriate training to meet identified needs. It
is likely that training would be sourced outside the Council.
Undertaking the administration for training, ie booking, providing infor-
mation, paying expenses.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the training by
Seeking feedback from the attendee on the impact the training has had, either
in improved understanding or output, resulting in better service provision and
whether they would recommend the training as worthwhile.
Reviewing annually what training has been undertaken, the cost and the im-
pact and identify improvements for the following year.
Training the Council
If the whole Council requires training on a particular subject, the clerk will source
the appropriate qualified person to attend.
Keeping the Council Up-to-Date
The Council subscribes to the following publications which are available to staff
and members for reference. Local Council Review which is published by National
Association of Local Councils (NALC), Fieldwork and Clerks and Councils Direct.
The Council is a member of the EALC and the Rural Community Council of Essex
(RCCE). The Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) website is used for
additional information. Websites are continually used for up-to-date information.
Support for the Council
WTC is supported by the EALC. WTC will continue to support the Clerk as a
member of the SLCC.
This document has been produced as a training strategy for WTC and will be
reviewed annually by the Policy and Resources Committee.
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Witham Town Council
Comments, Compliments and Complaints Policy
Adopted on . . .
Introduction
This policy sets out the details of Witham Town Council’s Comments, Compliments
and Complaints Policy. The Council hopes that the majority of comments,
compliments and complaints will be dealt with informally to the satisfaction of the
resident when the issue is first raised with the Council. Should the resident remain
dissatisfied, the policy set out in this document provides an opportunity for any
complaint to be addressed. The Council is committed to continually improving the
way it provides residents with access to services and the quality of those services.
This policy covers all the services delivered by the Council or for which it has
responsibility.
A clear and accessible Comments, Compliment and Complaints process allows the
Council to demonstrate its commitment to manage customer feedback effectively.
This policy is designed to ensure that:–
Providing feedback to the Council is made as easy as possible
Feedback is dealt with promptly and efficiently
Every effort is made to resolve any complaints that are received
The Council learns from all feedback received taking appropriate steps to improve
service provision
This Policy applies to complaints about council administration and procedures and
may include complaints about how council employees have dealt with your concerns.
This Complaints Procedure does not apply to:
Complaints by one council employee against another council employee, or be-
tween a council employee and the council as employer. These matters are dealt
with under the council’s disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Complaints against councillors. These are covered by the Code of Conduct for
Members adopted by the Town Council in June 2012 and you may contact the Mon-
itoring Officer of Braintree District Council who will decide if further action is nec-
essary. The contact details are set out below.
Agenda Item 12 (b)
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Allegations of financial irregularity. Local electors may object to the Council’s An-
nual Accounts under Section 16, Audit Commission Act 1998. On other matters, the
Council may need to consult its internal auditor or the Audit Commission.
Criminal Activity. Please contact the police.
Definitions For the purpose of this policy the following definitions will be used –
A compliment is an expression of satisfaction from a resident concerning a func-
tion or service provided by the Council
A comment is a view that the resident may have about a service that is provided
by the Council or an initial request for a service
A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with the standard of a service that
is provided by the Council. This may include the action, or lack of action, taken
by the Council and/or the way in which the service has been provided, including
the conduct of staff
Residents often have feedback and it is important that Councillors understand whether
this is a complaint about a service or a comment. Where a resident perceives that the
service they have received is below what they would expect, this should be considered
to be a complaint. It is important that it is investigated and a full answer given to the
resident and that there is some learning from any mistakes made.
Where there are comments or observations from residents, these can also help to im-
prove service provision and these will always be considered by the Council but not
treated as a complaint.
The distinction between a comment and a complaint can sometimes be difficult to
decide. Where there is any doubt the Council will tend to treat it as a complaint.
The Council also welcomes feedback and compliments. This is important to identify
areas of good practice and to understand the services that residents really value.
A resident may provide feedback either –
In person
By telephone
In writing
By email
The contact details are set out below.
Complaints must be made within a reasonable time scale. Although the circumstances
of the case will be taken into account, including the reason for the delay, complaints
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must be made within 3 months from the date on which there was sufficient infor-
mation to do so, and no later than 12 months from the act, decision etc. complained
of.
The Council will respond to residents using the same method of contact unless ex-
pressly asked otherwise. For example, if contacted by email, then all further corre-
spondence will be by email.
Residents are encouraged to put their complaints in writing to give as much infor-
mation as possible to aid investigation. If they are making a verbal complaint contact
details should be provided and confirmation that they wish the complaint to be inves-
tigated and how to contact them in future.
Recording comments, compliments and complaints The Town Clerk is responsible for the Council’s comments, compliments and com-
plaints procedure. All staff are aware of the importance of recognising what compli-
ments and complaints are and that they are dealt with appropriately.
All compliments and complaints will be recorded and dealt with within the agreed
timescale. This allows the Council to take feedback into account, learn from mistakes
and to identify improvements and training needs.
Exceptions
The exceptions are as detailed below –
Reporting faults or defects for immediate action (e.g. street lights not working)
Enquiries received due to unplanned events (e.g. severe weather)
Disagreement with Council policy. This will be responded to as a comment.
Legal disputes which, in the opinion of the Council, it is not appropriate to be dealt
with in accordance with this policy
Matters which are the responsibility of another authority e.g. Essex County Coun-
cil. For these types of enquiries the Council will provide the resident with contact
details for the correct organisation or service.
The conduct of Councillors is covered by the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council
in June 2012. Complaints against policy decisions made by the Council shall be re-
ferred back to the Council with reference to the Council’s Standing Orders which
states that issues shall not be re-opened for six months.
Making Your Complaint to the Town Clerk Wherever possible, the Town Clerk will try to resolve your complaint immediately.
If this is not possible, you will be asked to put it in writing and the Town Clerk will
normally try to acknowledge your complaint within five working days.
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The Town Clerk will notify you within 4 weeks of the outcome of your complaint
and of what action (if any) the Council proposes to take as a result of your complaint.
(In exceptional cases the twenty working days timescale may have to be extended. If
it is, you will be informed.)
Other Avenues of Complaint If you do not wish to report your complaint to the Town Clerk, as it may concern that
officer directly or if you are dissatisfied with the Town Clerk’s response to your com-
plaint, you may make your complaint directly to the Town Mayor and ask for your
complaint to be referred to the full Council.
Investigation If your complaint cannot be resolved immediately, the Town Clerk or the Council
will investigate each complaint, obtaining further information as necessary from you
and/or from staff or members of the Council and (usually within 8 weeks) you will
be notified in writing of the outcome of the review of your original complaint.
If it appears to the Town Clerk that a complaint is:
a trivial,
b vexatious,
c repetitive or
d frivolous
he shall so report to the Council with a recommendation that no further correspond-
ence related to it be entered into by members or officers.
Confidentiality
Any comment, compliment or complaint will be dealt with in accordance with the
requirements of the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act, Environ-
mental Information Requests and the Council’s other legal obligations.
Monitoring The Clerk will ensure that the outcome of all feedback is used to identify trends and
to use them for discussion at team meetings and for staff development.
Remedies Where a complaint investigation identifies that things have gone wrong an
appropriate remedy will be determined. Appropriate remedies could include
An apology
An explanation of what went wrong
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Actions to put things right
Some form of compensation to the resident
Persistent/vexatious complaints On occasions certain complaints can be difficult to resolve and can cause anxiety and
distress to both residents and Council employees. Whilst the aim of the Council is
always to try to find a way to resolve matters, on occasions, residents are encountered
who become unreasonable, persistent or vexatious in their actions to obtain the out-
come that they want.
Every effort will be taken to resolve complaints but the Council will ensure that res-
idents who are persistent or vexatious are dealt with fairly but also that the Council’s
resources are used as effectively as possible and that other residents or Council em-
ployees do not suffer any detriment as a result of their behaviour.
Relationship with Disciplinary Procedure The complaint procedure is distinct from the Council’s disciplinary procedure for
employees. If the nature of the complaint is such that disciplinary action is required
the Town Clerk will decide whether the disciplinary procedures should be applied.
Neither the Chairman nor Council will have the right to challenge the Town Clerk’s
decision.
Contacts
The Town Clerk
Witham Town Council
The Town Hall
61 Newland St
WITHAM
Essex CM8 2FE
01376 520627
The Town Mayor
Witham Town Council
The Town Hall
61 Newland St
WITHAM
Essex CM8 2FE
01376 520627
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The Monitoring Officer
Braintree District Council
Causeway House
Braintree
Essex CM7 9HB
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Agenda Item 12(c)
Witham Town Council’s Action Plan for 2015-16
Each Committee’s list of priorities is shown below
POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Priority Main Function Greater Detail/Current Position
High Keep a tight rein on Council
tax and spending
Annual review
High Ensure future development is
right for Witham
Proactive input into development of
the Local Plan
High Ensure BDC delivers more
affordable housing with
essential infrastructure
Proactive input into development of
the Local Plan
Medium Promote enterprise, new
business and jobs jointly
with the Town Team and
Marketing Witham group
Fund admin support for Town Team
and Town Team website
Medium Start an update of the Town
Plan
First update drafted Sept 2015
Workshop held 21 10 15
Output to inform re-drafting
COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
Priority Main Function Greater Detail/Current Position
Low Prepare against flooding,
storms, cold weather and
excess heat
Report to committee 1 12 15
High Combat crime and anti-social
behaviour
Ongoing liaison with police
High Stage the Puppet Festival
Medium Stage another community
event
High Continue grant-aiding local
organisations
Working Party Oct 2015
Low See a new health facility on
the Maltings estate
Pharmacy licence granted 2015.
Health Working group formed Oct
15
high Pursue improved health
services with GP’s, the NHS
and other providers
Working Group meeting 21 10 15
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Ongoing WW1 Centenary
Commemoration Events
2014-2018
Working Group – programme of
events
Twin Town Liaison Visit planned 2016
Developing Town Hall
Information Centre Services
Partner in the refurbishment
of the Spa Road Shops
Joint project with BDC
Improvements to Town
Centre
GVA recommendations
including market square
Meeting with BDC 30 10 15
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
Priority Main Function Greater Detail/Current Position
Medium Improved CCTV
coverage/linkage across the
town
Meet CCTV Monitoring Centre
Manager 16 10 15. Visit to be
organised in the New Year
Low Seek agreement with ECC to
undertake smaller highways
works on paths and
pavements
Low Remove ugly and unwanted
street posts and signs
Low Lobby ECC to reduce traffic
congestion
Low Seek agreement with BDC to
look after road nameplates
medium Plant more trees Support Witham Tree Group
Strategy
High Devise parking strategy
across town
Parking Strategy Task Force
Meeting 6 10 15
SLA with BDC on land next
to ASDA
Ditch now cleared out and land
restored
Secure the future of the town
centre floral displays
Improvements to the Town
Park
Joint project with BDC
Open Spaces
Ensure that Witham’s Open
Spaces (River Walk,
Whetmead Nature Reserve,
Working Group - ongoing
Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016 Cont’d.
31
James Cooke Wood and
Closed Churchyard) are
maintained for the benefit of
local people and nature
Make improvements to the
River Walk Cycleways to
enable them to be adopted
Initial Inspection 28 10 15
GENERAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Priority Main Function Greater Detail/Current Position
Staffing – employment and
Health and Safety policies
and procedures; Fire Risk
Assessment; Employee
Handbook
Town Clerk - ongoing
Council accommodation Review and research opportunities
to relocate Open Spaces Dept to
more suitable accommodation
Investigate online banking Town Clerk
Noticeboards Maintenance and installation
Running the Committees Ongoing
Admin for whole council Ongoing
Council and committee
agendas and minutes
Ongoing
Support for councillor
working groups
ongoing
All council finances, end of
year accounts, audit etc
Budget setting and precept
Personnel Management –
staff management
Town Clerk
IT and office equipment
Publicity and website
Civic Matters Civic Service?
Annual Report Publication and printing
Quarterly newsletters Editorial, printing and distribution
Annual Town Meeting Arrangements and admin
Christmas Events Arrangements and admin
Emergency Plan Keep updated
Grants Admin and finance
Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016 Cont’d.
32
New legislative requirements As required
Responding to consultations Variable
Policy reviews Ongoing
Contract reviews Ongoing
Training strategy Annual review
Support for Friends of the
River Walk
Annual meeting/newsletters/events
etc
Mayor’s Youth Award
Scheme
Review arrangements
Back to Agenda
Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016 Cont’d.
33
Back to Agenda
Agenda Item 12 (d)