Final BTC Directory 72Pg
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Guide and Information Directory ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Local Guide • The Town Council Clubs and Societies Arts • Sport • History Education • Facilities Provided FREE by Billericay Town Council Content & Acknowledgements Q Content Focus on Billericay Town Council – A Quality Council . Page 3 Focus on Billericay Youth Town Council . Page 7 Focus on The Greening Campaign . Page 8 Focus on Billericay Design Statement . Page 9 Focus on Fair Trade . Page 10 Focus on Clubs & Societies . Page 11 Focus on The Arts & Crafts . Page 26 Focus on Sport . Page 43 Focus on History . Page 50 Focus on Education . Page 56 Focus on Halls & Meeting Places . Page 59 Focus on Facilities in Billericay . Page 60 Focus on Places of Interest in and around Billericay . Page 62 Focus on Religion in Billericay . Page 68 Focus on Billericay Policing . Page 69 Useful Contacts . Page 71 Acknowledgements illericay Town Council thanks all those individuals and organisation who have contributed to the production of the sixth edition of the Town Guide by providing editorial material and Bphotographs. The Town Council members of the Working party chaired by Councillor Marion Wilson were Councillors Peter Bowditch, John Buchanan, Jim Devlin, David Knight and Rod Rapley assisted by the Town Clerk Helen Philpott and Administrative Assistant Madeline Gapes. Photographs were supplied by members of the Town Council and other contributors. Thanks also to Bedwells Printers who helped and advised throughout the production of the sixth edition of the Town Guide produced by Billericay Town Council. Contact the Town Council by writing to the Town Clerk, The Loft, Crown Yard, Billericay CM12 9BX telephoning: 01277 625732 or emailing: [email protected] Front cover photograph: members of Billericay Youth Town Council at the opening of the Playground Equipment, Lake Meadows Park. Disclaimer – Contributions may be edited and acceptance and publication of all articles is subject to the Town Council’s Terms and Conditions as shown on the website: www.billericaytowncouncil.gov.uk 2 Billericay Town Guide Focus on Billericay Town Council a Quality Council Q Introduction Billericay community and visitors to our town will use. So far the High Street has remained nother two years have passed vibrant and a very popular place to visit. and we are pleased to offer a Afree copy of the sixth edition The large number of clubs and societies, arts of the Town Guide to all homes in and craft and sports groups included in this the Billericay town area. booklet shows what a lively place Billericay is. If your club has not been included let us know so A supply is also available within the library and that we have a bank of local information from we have been informed that they frequently use which to answer queries. the Town Guide to help visitors to the town and the library are always requesting additional Cllr Peter Bowditch supplies because of demand. Chairman, Billericay Town Council We are also aware that the map and street index Cllr Marion Wilson proves invaluable to residents and visitors who Chairman, Town Guide Working Party are trying to locate specific roads. Since our last edition we have delivered on all The Town Council those commitments made, such as the Teen Play Area in Lake Meadows and the Billericay illericay Town Council is made up of 20 Circular Walks brochure and we have strived to elected and co-opted independent increase the awareness of our presence and Bmembers, who give their time freely and activities in the town through the Town Crier are not paid attendance allowances. The Town and the Town Council website. Clerk and her part time assistant are the only two permanent employees. The Town Clerk is We are seeking to work closely with other the Responsible Financial Officer and presents groups and in partnership with Basildon our accounts for audit both to internal and District Council particularly in the area of external auditors. She is also responsible for leisure, litter and general service provision; also keeping the council legal and is very involved in with Essex County Council in the identification our day to day activities. We also are very careful and prioritisation of highway matters and to have clear audit trails for all our business and maintaining realistic service levels and we operate an open and democratic system in improvements wherever we can. accordance with our Standing Orders. We are very supportive of the Youth Town The Council has three committees – Planning, Council and we are also collaborating with Environment and Finance & General Purposes. youth workers and other youth groups in the They report their activities every five weeks to town endeavouring to improve the overall the Full Town Council. Each of these situation and activities for the young people committees is made up of 11 members who also who need to belong, be active and to improve deal with the working parties and project their sense of wellbeing. groups reporting in to their respective line Although we are all experiencing the credit committees. crunch and have sadly lost some retailers in the Full Town Council, Planning, Environment and town it is refreshing to see new investment Finance & General Purposes meetings are coming in as business people see an opportunity advertised and held in public but are not public to offer a range of services which they feel the meetings; meaning, that the public can attend, Billericay Town Guide 3 register their interest and speak when invited to FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES do so by the Chairman of that meeting. COMMITTEE The project groups and working party meetings The Finance & General Purposes Committee are not held in public but can co-opt individuals handles the financial aspects of the Town from outside who can contribute their expertise Council’s business. During 2009 we have to the subject. This has happened on many installed a new financial package to assist with occasions. controlling our affairs and which will enable us to budget and report in a better way. The Our funding comes from the precept levied by committee not only deals with the day to day the Town Council and collected by Basildon expenditure of the council but also recommends District Council and paid to us in two tranches the precept each year and receives requests for 50% in April and the balance in October. We also grants and donations. seek outside funding for specific projects, where appropriate, which over the last two years has The following Working Parties report to the proved very successful. Finance & General Purposes Committee: Earlier this year we were successful in retaining Town Crier – The Town Council produces four our Quality Council status which sets a editions a year of its newsletter which is standard of criteria which: delivered free to all homes in the Billericay town area. It has recently been given a new look with • is representative of, and actively engages in, all a different format and added colour. parts of the community, providing vision, identity and a sense of belonging; Youth Town Council – This Group has compiled a register of clubs, societies and • is effectively and properly managed; associations that are aimed either exclusively or • articulates the needs and wishes of its in part towards young people. This work is community within its statutory powers: being done in conjunction with professional • upholds high standards of conduct; youth workers, local youth leaders and organisations having an interest in the young. • is committed to work in partnership with The objectives of the register are to: principal local authorities and other public service agencies; • provide residents (including newcomers) of Billericay with the relevant information about • in proportion to its size and skills, delivers activities available for the young; local services on behalf of principal local authorities when this represents the best deal • allow clubs to work together to gain tangible for the local community; benefits that include economies of scale, grant funding, efficiencies in resource use etc; • works closely with voluntary groups in its community; • identify where gaps exist in the provision of services for the young. • provides leadership to the community through its work on town and parish plans; and Included in this Town Guide are many organisations that provide valuable social, • working with its partners, acts as an recreational and educational service to the information point for local services. town that may have youth sections. Suitable The Town Council has grown in status over clubs have already been included in the recent years and will continue to do its utmost Billericay Town Council website to serve all our residents of all ages. (www.billericaytowncouncil.gov.uk) with information provided such as name of the club, responsible person, contact details, ages catered for etc. The Group would like to further develop the register because it is recognised 4 Billericay Town Guide that the quality of the register is determined by held which encourages the local shops to the information available and ask that where decorate their windows for the festive season. you are aware of any club, society or association Crime Prevention/CCTV – The CCTV cameras that caters for the young, this information be in the High Street and Lake Meadows continue forwarded to the Town Clerk (01277 652732 or to operate efficiently; however, their operational [email protected]). capability and effectiveness will be greatly increased now that the monitors are to be manned 24 hours a day by a dedicated team. It’s Information Technology – Manages the pleasing however, to note that Billericay enjoys a Council’s IT infrastructure. relatively low crime rate. Environment Issues – This Working Party has ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE been recently formed with a major objective of implementing Phase 1 of the ‘Greening The Environment Committee is one of the three Campaign’ (for more information view major committees reporting directly to the full www.greening-campaign.co.uk).