Evesham Town Council Annual Report 2015/16 Welcome to Evesham Town Council’s Annual Report for Town Mayor’s 2015/16 Report 2015/2016 On taking office last May, I was overwhelmed with the emails, telephone calls and card from so many people congratulating me, it made me ever more determined to be a good ambassador for the Town Council and the community I represent. The Town Plan, although many parts is described by some as a wish list, nevertheless it is our wish list and is now beginning to show signs that we are moving in the right direction. The Town Plan Committee includes non-councillors, and I agree with my predecessor (Cllr C Homer) when he said “it proves our desire to work with all parties and shows we recognise the contribution the can have and do make in our town”. We are still gasping for breath over the South Worcestershire Development plan and it’s effect that it will put on the infrastructure of our town following implementation. But we must face up to the fact that the SWDP is a reality and will be implemented, this does not mean that we should ignore and not to continue to raise our concerns and campaign for the well being of our community now and in the future. We are being faced with an increase in traffic flow, so I was pleased Councillor Fred Kaler to learn that Worcestershire County Council have put aside £100,000 Mayor of Evesham for a traffic survey to be carried out in our town. This also meets one of the priorities of the Town Plan. Volunteers in our community, just where would we be without them? A splendid example is the Evesham Area Community First Responder who are a voluntary organisation who respond to medical and trauma emergencies in and around Evesham along with its surrounding communities. The volunteers are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WMAS) and respond to emergency calls tasked by WMAS Emergency Operations Control Centre. First Responders are trained to a high standard and to a national recognised qualification. As Mayor, it has been a privilege to be invited to events organised by many of our local clubs, societies, churches and schools, and it never ceases to amaze me just how fortunate we are to have to have so many people here in Evesham and it’s Hinterland who are willing to give so freely of their time for the benefit of the local community. My wife and I fulfilled and upheld all of the traditional ceremonies in Evesham and the surrounding area, as well as attending ceremonies functions, opening all manner of new enterprise, supported many charitable events both financially and in personal attendance and have sometimes felt it might be easier to sleep with my coat and chain on! We have 24 councillors, a number are quite new and they bring different skills and expertise to the role. I know from my experience of working and walking around town, that your councillors are readily available to serve their community. /cont... As Mayor of Evesham, I perform my role with consent from my fellow councillors and from the Town Clerk and the staff, I would like to take Town Mayor’s this opportunity to thank them for their support and guidance, and finally thank you to everyone I have met during the last months, it has Report been an honour and I have enjoyed myself immensely. 2015/16 Last but not least sincere thanks to the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Alan Booth /cont... who has stepped in for me on many occasion, and kept me on the straight and narrow with the advice and encouragement in carrying out my role as Mayor of Evesham Cllr Fred Kaler Mayor of Evesham EVESHAM TOWN COUNCIL Introduction to the Town Council Evesham Town Council is at the first tier of local government providing services for the people of Evesham with an operating budget of approximately £500,000. The Council is made up of 24 elected councillors representing five wards, and a small team of officers led by the Town Clerk. The Town Council is responsible for three allotment Mr Stuart Carter sites, three cemeteries, two closed church yards, Town Clerk Christmas lights, the Charter Market, Evesham Town Hall (first floor), Bonfire/Firework event, floral Evesham and the Almonry Museum and Tourist Information Centre. The Town Council is also a statutory consultee on many issues including planning and acts as a trustee to the Samuel Wallace Smedley Office Staff Trust. The Council also provide financial support for various Carol Chambers festivals in Evesham as well as other projects such as Keeley Palmer the Town Plan. The Town Council distributes grants to various local organisations; application forms are Almonry Museum & TIC available form our website. Staff The Town Mayor, a position that has existed in the town since it was awarded its Charter in 1604, chairs Ashleigh Jayes (Manager) council meetings. All Council and committee meetings Adele Webb are held at the Town Hall and are open to the public to Claire Costello attend. Agendas and Minutes can be downloaded from the Evesham Town Council Website. Philip Logan Jayne Flaxman [email protected] www.eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk Ground Staff Twitter: @EveshamTC www.facebook.com/eveshamtowncouncil Richard Osbourne www.mayorofevesham.co.uk Anthony Keithley www.almonryevesham.org/ Phone: 01386 443322 David Haynes Christopher Dowling Keith Fitzgerald (seasonal) Tiers of Local Government in Evesham Tiers of Local In Evesham, there are three tiers of local government, all with different responsibilities and duties. Government Evesham Town Council is at the first tier, the grass routes of local in Evesham democracy. The three authorities in Evesham are: Worcestershire County Council (WCC) WCC is responsible for services across the whole of the county, including: education transport and highways planning social care libraries waste management trading standards Wychavon District Council (WDC): WDC covers a smaller area (Wychavon district) than WCC and is responsible for services including: rubbish collection recycling Council Tax collection housing planning applications Evesham Town Council We operate at the grass roots level and only cover the Parish of Evesham. We are responsible for and provide a number of services such as: allotments (3 sites) public clocks bus shelters The Almonry Museum and Tourist Information Centre grants to help local organisations grants for local festivals consultation on planning cemeteries (3 sites) closed churchyards (2 sites) Evesham Town Hall (first floor) The War Memorial Town Plan Christmas Lights Council Tax Evesham Town Council constitutes the smallest proportion of your council tax bill. The average Band D property will pay £50.81 per year for the Town Council services. This is the second year in five that the charge to residents has increased. Evesham Town Council receives no funding from central government, nor does it receive income from business rates. The Town Council is purely funded by he Council Tax levy, and through income generated from its assets. Your Councillors (all Councillors are summonsed to the Town Council Meetings) Avon Ward Cllr R S W Jones 11 Woodland Piece Abbey Lane (Abbey Lane Court, Abbot Walters Court) Evesham Abbey Road WR11 1BJ Abbot Chrytons Place Albert Road e: [email protected] Avon Street (Brick Kiln Place, Magpie Court) Member of Planning & Estates & Town Plan Committees Bewdley Lane Bewdley Street (Bewdley Court, Brewery Court, Court- lands, Haines Place, Rowlands Court, Sinclair Court) Boat Lane Briar Close (Burlingham Court, Terrill Court) Cllr Mrs Diana Raphael Brick Kiln Street (Hopkiln Gardens) 19 Boar Lane Coxlea Close Evesham Edward Street Ferry View WR11 4BP George Street e: [email protected] Henry Fowler Close, Henry Street, High Street (Yates Court) Huxleys Way Cllr Mrs Jenny Johnson Littleworth Street (Tredwells Court), Littleworth Walk 94 Albert Road Merstow Green (The Old School House) Evesham Merstow Place (Meade Court) Queens Road, Rudge Road, Shepherds Pool Worcestershire WR11 4LA St Lawrence Road, Temple Mews, Vine Street (Vine e: [email protected] Mews) Member of the Planning & Estates, Wallace House West Street, William Crescent Management Committees Bengeworth Ward Cllr Alan Booth (Deputy Mayor) 19 Littleworth Street Abbey Gardens, Evesham Abbey Gate, WR11 4AW Abbey Mews e: [email protected] Abbey Road Member of all Committees and Chairman of Planning & Allardene Badsey Lane Estates Committees Badsey Road Bridge Street (Monks Walk) Broadway Road (Hill Crest, Longdon Hill) Burford Gardens, Burford Road Cllr Michael Elliman Burlingham Avenue 4 Brick Kiln Street Castle Street (Banner Court, Nailers Row) Evesham Cedarwood Gardens, Cestrum Crescent, Cestrum Walk, Church Street (Gardners Square, Cravens WR11 2AA Court)), Clyde Avenue, Common Road, Conwy Drive e: [email protected] Conduit Hill (Pinder Heights), Cornflour Drive Member of Planning & Estates, Finance & General Coronation Street, Cowl Street Purposes Committees Deacle Place Drakes Lea Elm Road, Elmside Cllr Mark Goodge Freesia Close Cllr Alan Booth 8 Elm Road Glencoe Road Evesham Harvey Road, Hyacinth Close Chairman Worcs Kings Road (Philipscote, The Old School) Knowle Hill WR11 3DL Leys Walk, Lichfield Avenue, Lily Walk e: [email protected] Lime Street (Masons Court) Member of Finance & General Purposes, Leys Walk Lock View Town Plan Lower Leys (Goodwin Gardens) Cllr Norbert Tucker Market Place, Marigold Close Medway Road 63 Elm Road Mill Bank (The Old Mill), Mill Street Monks Walk Evesham Montfort Street, Mortimers Quay, Mount Road WR11 3DR New Street North