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).

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.witham.gov.uk/

Agenda for the Meeting of the Town Council to be held 18.1.2016 Cont’d.

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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


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


(g) Policy and Resources Committee Meeting held 8th December 2015


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


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


(b) Policy and Resources Committee Meeting held 8th December 2015


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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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Democracy,_Economic_Development_and_Construction_Act_2009

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Democracy,_Economic_Development_and_Construction_Act_2009


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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

[email protected]

The Town Mayor

Witham Town Council

The Town Hall

61 Newland St

WITHAM

Essex CM8 2FE

01376 520627

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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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


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


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


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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


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


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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


33

Back to Agenda

Agenda Item 12 (d)

witham town council€¦ · agenda for the meeting of the town council to be held 18.1.2016...

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