Town Council
Click to jump to Environment & Planning, Recreation & Amenities, Highways & Transport or Finance & General Purposes
The Town Council is just one part of local government in Berkshire, but is the part closest to the people and represents residents at a local community level.
We try to work in partnership with West Berkshire Council and our District Councillors, although we always maintain our independence from them and ‘fight our corner’ if there are differences in our views and decisions. West Berkshire Council is responsible mainly for strategic services such as highways, education, planning, environmental health and refuse collection.
In Hungerford, our powers and duties cover many of the things that people might take for granted – things such as the care and maintenance of many of our public areas, sport and recreation sites, rights of way and cemeteries, and in putting up the official Christmas decorations in the town. Importantly, Hungerford Town Council can set the precept, which is the Council’s demand for an amount to be included in your council tax each year to manage facilities and services for local people.
One of our most important roles though is to try to represent the views and concerns of all local residents on issues that might impact on the community, such as planning applications.
Town Council meetings are held in public – usually on the first Monday evening of each month. We are led by our Mayor and supported by the Town Clerk, whose role is to administer the Council's business and to ensure that our business is conducted within the law. The Clerk is often the first point of contact for the Council.
Councillors are elected for four years and in this time should be taking action on many things that affect the town and the community such as:
· advising on land which is suitable for industrial or residential development;
· campaigning for better road safety and reducing the fear of crime;
· providing representation at local planning enquiries;
· raising concerns about rural transport services;
· providing a liaison between other local authorities or official bodies.
What should also be expected of us as your Council are constructive agendas, encouragement of open debate, and constant efforts to find new ways of getting people involved.
Your councillors are a group of volunteers who work together to make decisions and produce plans for the greater community benefit. We are keen to listen to the views of others, getting broad agreement on the best way forward and being jointly responsible. We also wish to channel our enthusiasm, skills and knowledge for the benefit of the whole community of Hungerford.
We have standards to comply with, such as:
· holding our meetings in public and publishing the agendas for those meetings;
· having rules about our business and personal conduct;
· looking to the future and having effective forward planning proposals;
· working with other groups in the town.
Should my local council expect anything of me?
Local democracy is a two way affair and we hope that you will take an interest in the things that matter most. Remember – we try to be your voice at government level, and this is difficult if we don't get constructive public input and feedback. We welcome the contribution of both public and community organisations and, being active in a local group and establishing a dialogue with the Council, is a good way to put your views forward.
If you wish to become actively involved, you could consider being an elected Councillor – and joining the team.
Town Council elections take place every four years, although in between there may be elections to fill casual vacancies. No formal qualifications are needed but there are certain simple rules to satisfy if you wish to be considered. The full Hungerford Town Council meets at least ten times per year and sub-committees more frequently. Your time commitment would depend on how much participation you make in one or more of the four active sub-committees and other working groups that we currently have.
Each one of the Council’s operating committees has placed information on their specific activities in their own section of this web site ... so please visit these pages and learn more of the detail behind their roles.
If you need any other information about us, please contact our Town Clerk.
Finance and General Purposes committee (click for Environment & Planning, Highways & Transport or Recreation & Amenities)
The Finance and General Purposes committee provides the financial control for the Town Council and ensures that our monetary resources are managed wisely with the greatest benefit to all residents and within the financial rules governing Local Authorities.
F&GP, as it is known, meets every other month. One specific issue which is discussed annually is Hungerford Town Council’s annual monetary requirement. This projected requirement is presented to West Berkshire District Council as an annual demand – or precept – for the coming financial year. This precept will influence the level of Council tax payable by each household within the parish so a great deal of thought goes into setting the spending level each year. The precept is set only once in each financial year although there are no limits on the total amount which may be requested.
Throughout the year, F&GP's main activity is the co-ordination of the budgets of all other spending committees along with any proposed projects for the future that may have financial implications for the Council.
Accounts submitted for payment are considered, audited and approved at its monthly meeting and cheques for payment are signed and put to full Council on the same day for ratification.
The 7 person committee is made up of the Mayor and Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of each committee: ie Highways & Transport committee; Recreation, Amenities War Memorials committee and Environment and Planning committee.
Accounts are audited yearly by an external auditor appointed by the Audit Commission, and are available to the general public at the Annual Parish Meeting.
Another important function of F&GP is to distribute Schedule 137 funds. This is an amount of money outside of the precept, allocated to local Councils by the Government based on the number of households within the Council’s parish, and is given by way of grants, in response to application, to deserving causes within the Council’s catchment area.
The applications for grants are considered by committee and are paid to successful applicants in the following April. Any organisation or individual is eligible to apply for a grant and there are no specified criteria for selection except that grants must be of benefit to the people of Hungerford. Further details of these grants and information on how community organisations can apply for funds can be obtained from the Town Clerk.
Environment and Planning Committee (click for Highways & Transport, Recreation & Amenities or Finance & General Purposes )
Hungerford Town Council's Environment and Planning Committee meets on alternate Mondays at the Corn Exchange building in Hungerford, commencing at 7 pm.
It meets to discuss planning applications submitted to West Berkshire Council for building, structures, alterations, and for other planning amendments that need the approval of the Downlands Planning Committee which covers a wide area of West Berkshire.
The West Berkshire planning department sends on these applications for our consideration and members of Hungerford Town Council E&P committee consider them in the context of what it considers is in the best interests of Hungerford, its residents and within the tradition of the town. There are Government and local authority guidelines to help us in these considerations. Our aim is also to deliberate on the possible effects that an application may have on the local environment, being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and may oppose any proposal that may be of detriment to the beauty and the well-being of the town.
In many cases, we will also do our best to protect against over-development in tightly enclosed areas and monitor any changes requested to the many listed buildings throughout Hungerford. It is particularly anxious that advertising, eg shop sign illuminations, is kept to the minimum and, where it is essential, is in keeping with its surrounding area.
Occasionally a major developer may purchase building land and a presentation will be expected to indicate density and design of the proposed development. Hungerford Town Council is extremely protective of its environment and would need to be convinced that the need for the development outweighs the former use of the parcel of land.
The E&P Committee decides on around 6 submitted plans per meeting and its decisions are sent to West Berkshire Council’s Planning Department. Although the committee tries to represent the interests of the broader Hungerford community, both residential and commercial, the recommendations are just that – recommendations – the final decision rests with West Berkshire Council.
Highways & Transport Committee (click for Environment & Planning, Recreation & Amenities or Finance & General Purposes )
The Committee meets once a month. The main areas of responsibility and interest are:
· Christmas lights
· Street lighting
· Street cleaning
· Public seats
· Public toilets and in particular the Church Street toilets
· Footpaths
· Public highways
· Taxi ranks
The public highways are owned by West Berkshire Council as the Highway Authority. If you have concerns about road maintenance you should call Streetcare on 01635 519080. The website is westberks.gov.uk or email to streetcare@westberks.gov.uk.
Key issues
Christmas Lights This is one of the main expenses under the control of this Committee. There has been much discussion this year about the lights which were extended in coverage and costs reduced.
Litter on the Streets Hungerford now has a dedicated Street Cleaner, but if you notice litter let us or Streetcare know and we will try and get it cleared up.
Footpaths These are monitored and a survey of all paths and pathfinder arrows carried out.
Public Seats The condition of all seats owned by Hungerford Town Council is monitored, and maintenance and repair of these seats is carried out as required.
SIDs (Speed Indicator Devices) With the help of West Berkshire Council, the use of these devices is discussed and recommendations made as necessary. This helps to identify locations of speeding traffic. The benefits of this compared to the proposed permanent speed warning signs on the approaches to Hungerford has been debated.
Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials Committee (click for Environment & Planning, Highways & Transport or Finance & General Purposes )
The Committee meets once a month. The main areas of responsibility and interest are:
· Allotments
· Triangle Field
· Skatepark
· Bulpit Lane/War Memorial/Recreation ground
· Bridge Street War Memorial
· Smitham Bridge play area
· St Lawrence’s churchyard
· St Saviour’s cemetery
· Dog bins
· Benches
Key issues are:
Allotments 24 allotments at Fairfields have now been secured and are being worked, and the Council is making efforts to secure a larger site.
Skatepark When the skateboard ramps began to deteriorate, the site had to be closed on Health & Safety grounds. So, the users of the Skatepark set up a Save our Skatepark committee and raised enough funds to replace the ramps with a long lasting metal one. The group had previously raised funds to have a shelter erected on the site.
St Saviour’s cemetery With much help from our contract worker, the cemetery has been smartened. The Community Pay-back Team (Thames Valley Probationary Service) is also helping to keep the cemetery tidy.