Archived
Material
It is the practice of Bury St
Edmunds Town Council to archive all of its non-current material
after a period of one year. Requests for archived material
can be made as shown under the Freedom of Information section in
this website.
Monthly topic - October - Moreton Hall ward
Very warm autumnal greetings from Councillors Clive Springett
& Patsy Warby from Moreton Hall ward.
Cllr Springett writes:-
With the dark nights fast approaching I wanted to send out a
plea to cyclists; please ensure you wear bright and safe clothing,
a suitable helmet, and don’t forget those bright lights! I am also
concerned about the number of cyclists who are not using the cycle
lanes around the area. The council fought hard to get these and by
using them, you are taking the safest option of getting around by
cycle. I have witnessed at least 2 close incidents recently where
cyclists have cut across traffic lanes forcing the cars to break
suddenly. Please use the cycle lanes whenever possible.
It is also worth mentioning that as the weather deteriorates,
the car becomes the desired method of transport for the school run!
Please can you ensure that you park safely and do not block the
school entrances of Sebert Wood and Abbots Green?
I have also noticed and reported to the developers a number of
trees which were planted but have failed to grow and subsequently
died around Juniper and Hazel Roads. Should anyone wish to report
to me, any others I have missed please contact me via the details
on the "Your Councillors" page of this website.
A number of successful events have been held at Rougham Airfield
recently, such as the Air Show in August and the well publicised
(and criticised) Music event in September. I must admit, living so
close to the airfield, I had major reservations about this event
which passed without any major issues to our knowledge. The
airfield is a great asset to the community and town alike and we
are really lucky there are a group of people who are keen to
preserve this piece of our history!
Cllr Patsy Warby writes:-
The Youth Club on the estate continues to go from strength to
strength. We have a dedicated team of Directors, and helpers who
have managed to grow the attendance figures to over 50 per session!
The Committee are now looking at options of providing additional
nights or splitting the age groups to make the sessions more fun.
The club is currently open on Tuesday nights from 18:30 to 20:30
for Children aged 9-13. Why not pop along and see what they have to
offer for the children, and if there are any parents who are able
to spare a night a month to help out, they would be most
welcome!
Monthly topic – September 2010 - The Corn
Exchange
Before the days of lorries, telephone and computers, Bury St
Edmunds was the market centre of the large agricultural area of the
West Suffolk region. With the demise of the cloth trade in East
Anglia due to the rise of lighter continental materials and the end
of the yarn spinning business supplying the worsted weaving in
Norwich, the only commercial activity in the area was agriculture.
The basic unit of power at that time was the horse and so
agriculture required a large labour force. In latter years,
stimulated by the needs of two world wars, tractors were invented,
which over the years have improved beyond all recognition, so that
nowadays one man and a tractor can do that which, years ago, took
60 men and 120 horses. Agricultural business practice too, has been
completely transformed. Now the buying and selling of requirements
and produce can be done on the telephone and computer from the farm
office and deals are struck with remote merchants at the other end
of the telephone wire. Life was not always thus. Before the
‘electronic’ age the only way a farmer could sell his produce was
to bring it to market, meet the merchants and buyers and strike a
deal hand to hand.
The importance of Bury as a market centre for the whole region
cannot be over emphasised enough. Bury market acted as the
sustaining hub for the whole area. Buyers and dealers came to Bury
market from all over England: meat traders, millers and maltsters
from London and the Midlands, flower and fruit and vegetable
merchants from Covent Garden. There would be other farmers seeking
to buy young animals to raise and fatten. Producers would bring in
their eggs and poultry to sell. These large gatherings of farmers
and their ladies attracted all kinds of other stall holders who
established what we now know as the provision market.
The business of buying and selling grain became so important
that it was decided that a special place should be built to house
the Corn market and so in 1836 a ‘Corn Exchange’ was built. This
building was later used for the fire engine. It then became the
library and is now occupied by Laura Ashley, Harriet’s tea room and
the Halifax Building Society. In 1861 it was deemed to be too small
and so the building that we know now as the Corn Exchange, was
commissioned. It was to be bigger and grander and was to reflect
the importance of the business to the town. In 1898, Ellis and
Woodwood architects, of Fenchurch Street, London, together with the
builder, Messers Jackman of Bury St Edmunds, delivered a veritable
temple to the success of Agriculture. A building grand in its
concept, suitable for the importance of the trade that it
housed[s1] , at a cost of £7000. Of the 30 odd
corn exchanges in the country, Bury ranked amongst the top
four.
The Corn Exchange operated on Wednesdays. The buyers’ desks were
brought in, from where they had been stored in the cattle market
and set up in rows in the Exchange. Each desk had a hinged lid and
was big enough for the buyer’s clerk to sit with his ledgers, on a
high stool. The desks were of a sufficient height that the buyer
could rest his elbow on it as he stood beside. There he would
preside all morning. Usually the business was concluded by lunch
time, when everyone retired to either the Suffolk or Everard’s
Hotels to meet their wives and enjoy lunch. Some of the regular
buyers had their names on their desks. During the morning, farmers
would come in with samples of their grain to sell. The samples were
in little bags of about 1lb weight each. It was accepted that they
were a true and representative sample of the whole parcel and a
deal would be cancelled if they were not. The farmer would show his
samples to his chosen buyer. There would be much discussion about
it as they both studied a handful, the one finding faults and the
other pointing out the virtues. The smell was very important..was
it musty or mouldy? The look.. was it clean and bright, of good
colour? How dry was it? Was it of good even quality? Was it full of
weed seed and bits of straw? How many coombs were there? (A coomb
was a sack of a standard size, for in those times, all corn was
handled in coombs. Because a coomb was a measure of quantity, not
weight, a coomb of different grains held different weights. A coomb
of barley weighed 16 stones and a coomb of wheat 18 stones.) The
use of coomb sacks continued until the 1960s when a change was made
to handling grain in bulk. When all had been considered, the
merchant may or may not make an offer. If he made an offer, the
farmer would immediately reject it as being totally unrealistic for
grain of such quality and so a haggle would begin between the two
of them until agreement was reached. If no offer was made, the
farmer would move on and try someone else.
As well as corn merchants there were other representatives
present: seed merchants, fertilizer merchants, plough shear
sellers, veterinary products and purveyors of many other things
that the farmer might need for the conduct of his business. You
could buy rat poison and traps and arsenic for poisoning moles and
many other chemicals that would be highly illegal nowadays. It was
also a great social occasion, as most of the farmers knew each
other and so once their business was done they could find time for
a little social badinage. I remember going with my Uncle, carrying
his sample bags and watching with some astonishment the whole
event.
The desks would be cleared away, back to store in the cattle
market on Thursday, after the business of that place was done. The
Corn Exchange thus stood empty until the next week.
It was not long before other uses were found for it. There used
to be roller skating regularly held there, wrestling bouts, boxing
matches, dances, private parties, rallies and performances of a
variety of amusements. One of the highlights of the social year in
Bury was the annual Chrysanthemum Show staged by the West Suffolk
Horticultural Society. The owners of the big houses that surrounded
Bury would urge their gardeners to produce better and better prize
winning entries. The Corn Exchange would be filled with row upon
row of hot house plants and astonishing vases of magnificent
chrysanthemums. A string orchestra would play in the back ground
and Bury society would admire the exhibits and have small wagers
amongst themselves as to who might win the cups. After the Second
World War, this gradually declined as people found it more and more
difficult to recruit gardeners. Now fortunately the show is kept
going by a small group of growers, who do it for the sheer pleasure
and satisfaction. The standard is as high as it ever was, though
there are no longer the massed ranks of hot house plants. The show
is no longer held in the Corn Exchange and is now in the Nowton
Park nurseries. This year the show, in its 154th year,
is on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday 12 and 13th
November. Any one who has any interest in gardening or flowers
should come and see it --it is an amazing spectacle.
In 1958 the Council decided because of cost and declining use to
pull down both the old and the second Corn Exchange and to replace
them with one larger building of modern design. The public outcry
was such that the scheme was abandoned and instead in 1969 a floor
was built into the building and a row of shops formed on the ground
floor. The first floor has continued to be used as a hall for a
variety of uses, though again because of the cost and the advent of
a better and more suitable venue on the old cattle market site in
the new ‘Apex’ shortly to be opened, it has been decided to let the
first floor of the building to Wetherspoons, who run a chain of
public bars/restaurants. Public opinion about this is as divided as
ever, but hopefully this will put the building to good use and
provide a venue that can provide reasonable priced family meals. It
will be up to Wetherspoons to maintain an orderly and agreeable
house, where the loud spoken fears of some are not realised.
Cllr Stefan Oliver
Monthly topic – August 2010 - Minden
Ward
It’s summer time and dare I say it but we seem to be doing
alright with the weather so far. Bury is a very pretty town and the
Abbey Gardens, roundabouts and floral displays once again are
incredible. For this we owe our gratitude to the Bury in Bloom team
of which I have to say I am a very proud member (I play a very
small part in it, I hasten to add).
On Tuesday July 20th the judges were around for
Anglia in Bloom, it was a lovely day and all went well. The sheer
beauty of some of the displays can’t help but take your breath
away. I was so pleased to see that Westley Middle School took
part so well done to them. The next stage of the competition
will be Britain in Bloom which is being judged on August 4th,
hopefully the weather will stay kind to us and enable us to do well
again this year.
I visited my ward recently and had a chat with a few of the
residents and apart from some anti-social behaviour problems no-one
had anything much to report which brings me to my next point.
I am on the panel of the Safer Neighbourhood Team; we had our
meeting on July 21st at Westbury Social Club and
discussed issues that had been raised by residents of Minden
Ward. Suffolk County Council has managed to address the
safety issues of schoolchildren at Westley by arranging to have
zebra crossings at both Westley Road and West Road.
That’s all for now. I hope you all enjoy your summer
holidays and in the mean time any problems that occur please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Councillor Patrick Chung (Minden Ward)
Monthly topic – July 2010 - Town
Council Competitions
In this time of gloom and doom around the budget cuts, the Town
Council is pleased to be holding two competitions to celebrate
local achievements and recognise the hard work that goes into
making our town such a lovely place to live in.
The allotments competition was held for the first time last
year, and it really highlighted the variety of styles of allotment
gardening, and the number of tenants who work so hard to gain the
maximum crops from their allotments, despite the constant battles
against weeds, deer, rabbits and other hazards! The panel of
judges, all expert gardeners themselves, were very impressed.
This year, as last, there are two categories. All Council
allotment holders will automatically be entered into the best
allotment award. The judges will be looking for:
the range and extent of cultivation, general
appearance, control of weeds and rubbish, creativity, and
compliance with tenancy terms and conditions.
The other category, the most environmentally friendly allotment,
has a nomination form. You can nominate yourself, or someone else,
for this award. In this case the judges will be looking for
evidence of environmental sustainability, variety and quality of
the crop, control of weeds and rubbish, use of compost, and the
general appearance and creativity of each plot. Nomination forms
are available to download from the website, or from the Council
offices at 7 Angel Hill. They need to be returned by 16 July.
Judging will take place towards the end of July and a prize
giving ceremony will be held later in the summer.
The St Edmunds Day awards will be given for the Citizen of the
Year (18 or over), and the Young Citizen of the Year (under 18).
Nomination forms for both are available to download from the
website, or from the Town Council offices at 7 Angel Hill. Nominees
must live in Bury St Edmunds. Forms must be returned by 7 September
and shortlisted nominees will be invited to a prize giving later in
the year, around St Edmunds Day on 20 November.
The Citizen of the Year award will be given to someone who has
made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the good of the town.
The Young Citizen of the Year will be awarded to someone who is an
outstanding individual, or has overcome a serious disability, or is
a long term carer or provider, or has performed an outstanding
service for the benefit of the community.
We encourage you to nominate people for these awards. There are
many people in the community who are doing a significant amount of
voluntary work which is often unrecognised, and whose contribution
deserves to be brought to public attention, and rewarded.
Monthly topic – May 2010
- Election of a Town Councillor in Southgate
Ward
This month we talk about the forthcoming
election of a Town Councillor in Southgate Ward.
Councillors are representatives of the people living in the Wards
they represent – they help shape their community and improve life
for local residents. They seek to ensure that the Council is aware
of and takes into consideration the needs and views of all sections
of the community within their ward. They contribute actively to the
formation, development and review of the Council’s policies, plans
and budgets. They also meet local stakeholders on a regular basis,
and are accessible to residents of the ward to listen to, and help
deal with, issues affecting local people. They are often involved
with local schools, groups, charities and committees. A Councillor
can also assist in ensuring that local residents are well informed
about the Council and the services it offers.
On Thursday 20 May 2010 an election will take place to fill a
vacancy for a Town Councillor in Southgate Ward. The person who is
elected will be one of a total of 17 councillors who represent the
residents of Bury St Edmunds.
As there is more than one candidate there will be a contested
election. Electors will be sent a poll card telling them where
their polling station is and the hours it will be open (from 7am to
10pm). You should take this opportunity to influence who is elected
to represent you in Southgate Ward by voting on polling day which
is Thursday 20 May 2010.
Only those people who are on the Register of Electors will be
able to vote at the election on 20 May 2010. If you are not sure if
you are registered then contact the Electoral Services section of
St Edmundsbury Borough Council to check (phone: 01284 757131 or
email:
elections@stedsbc.gov.uk
giving your full name and address).
In May 2011 all Council seats will be up for re-election for the
four years 2011 – 2015. We would encourage you to consider standing
and making a difference to your community. If you would like more
information on the role of a Town Councillor please contact the
Town Clerk.
Monthly topic – April 2010
- Armorial bearings of Bury St
Edmunds
This month Cllr Oliver enlightens us about
the Armorial Bearings of Bury St Edmunds.
In order that the largely illiterate people might know the
authenticity and the veracity of proclamations that were brought to
them, some kind of recognisable badge was needed to be worn by the
officers, so that people would be assured of the genuineness of the
item and its origin. Corporations therefore adopted the ancient use
of Coats of Arms. A clear pictorial device, unique to them, duly
registered and recorded in the College of Arms, the Sovereign’s
officers in matters of Heraldry. These ‘Arms’ were worn by their
officers and displayed on their property and documents as evidence
of their originality. The practice of using Arms for
identification, which had arisen from the need of people in battle
to show some easily recognisable emblem, became common from the
very earliest of times, even amongst Ecclesiastical, Corporate and
Civic bodies.
The town of Bury St Edmunds, through the middle ages, prospered
mightily from the sale of wool and the production of woollen cloth
and yarn, which were sold in the great week long markets, held on
the Angel Hill and in the Great Court of the Abbey. When the Abbey
was dissolved in 1538 in the Reformation, the town’s people, free
at last from centuries of domination and rule by the Abbey,
petitioned for their own town council and the chance to take
control of their own affairs. This was granted to them, along with
the rights to hold fairs, have a Mayor and Town Council, in a
series of Royal licences.
The Coat of Arms granted to the Town of Bury St Edmunds in 1606
by King James I, had very ancient origins and was based on that
displayed by the Abbey of St Edmundsbury. The abbey displayed on a
blue shield three gold crowns. These alluded to St Edmund, who
after his death in 869, became revered as the patron Saint of the
three kingdoms of Southern England: Mercia, Wessex and Anglia,
which had become united as one. He himself had no known Arms, as he
lived in a time before their use became common.
Many of the Abbey’s rights and rents confiscated at the time of
the Reformation in 1538 had been given by King Henry VIII to those
of his subjects who supported him in the Reformation, but from
those who did not, even the little that they had was taken, by way
of fine and confiscation. Of the great Abbey itself, one of the
largest and most important ecclesiastic establishments in Europe,
very little remains. The lead was taken off the roof, the rain got
in and the walls soon began to crumble. The stones were pulled down
and sold as building material and dispersed over the county.
The grant of a device that was suitably singular but of
recognisable historic origin, made to the Town Council displayed a
blue shield bearing three pairs of silver arrows, each in saltyre
points down ‘enfiling’ a gold ancient crown, to show a difference
from the Abbey and to acknowledge the martyrdom of their patron and
former king, St Edmund. In addition, to commemorate the legend that
the murdered King’s head, which had been cut off and thrown away
into the forest, had been found, being guarded by a wolf, when the
seekers heard it calling ‘here I am, here I am’, the town was
granted, as a crest, a seated wolf, holding between its paws the
crowned head of St Edmund. To commemorate the meeting of the
Barons, at great personal danger, to swear on the high altar of the
Abbey to compel King John to sign the Charter of human rights that
they had drawn up and to acknowledge that King Edmund laid buried
in the Abbey, the town was also granted the motto, “Shrine of a
king, cradle of the law”.
These devices were borne and displayed by the Town Council
through the succeeding centuries.
In 1974, reorganisation of local government took place and the
Borough of Bury St Edmunds was combined with the Urban District of
Haverhill, the Rural District of Clare and the Rural District of
Thingoe. This new body, to take on the role of District Council as
well as administering the affairs of the town, was to be called the
Borough of St Edmundsbury. It was decided that the coat of Arms
used by the Borough of Bury St Edmunds did not adequately represent
this new body or its constituent and diverse communities and wider
responsibilities, so a petition was made for a new grant of Arms,
which more adequately expressed this expanded area. After much
thought and discussion the Coat of Arms now used by the Borough of
St Edmundsbury was devised and accepted. This displayed allusions
to all four bodies, though it still displays the wolf crest and the
same motto. At that moment, the former arms of the Borough of Bury
St Edmunds became redundant.
In 2003, it became apparent to all that the actual Town of Bury
St Edmunds, following this reorganisation, was left without any
civic representation and so permission was sought and granted to
form a Town Council, whose intended role was to look after the Town
affairs. Application was made to the College of Arms for the
original grant of Arms made to the Borough of Bury St Edmunds, but
now made redundant, to be re-granted to the new Town Council as the
natural successor of the former body. This was granted and
confirmed by Royal licence from her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in
2006.
Monthly Topic - January 2009 -
Planning and
Licensing
This month, Cllr Paul Simner explains the
role of the Council's Planning and Licensing Committee:
Words that may not immediately grab your attention but when it
comes to the role of the Town Council there is much that is done by
its Planning and Licensing Committee. This Committee ends up
being consulted on a high proportion of the planning and licensing
applications that are submitted to St Edmundsbury Borough Council
(SEBC) and Suffolk County Council (SCC). These might cover
planning consent required to build or extend premises; the felling
of trees; changes to property in a conservation area; major retail
or wholesale establishments; the future plans for the development
of Bury St Edmunds; proposed changes in traffic flow for events;
licensing street vendors.
It can be a seemingly endless list, often in excess of 35 separate
applications to be considered by the Committee that meets roughly
fortnightly. But the Councillors are obliged to carefully
consider each application on its merits before making their
determination and recommendation. Deciding whether to object
to an application is not easy because only ‘material planning
considerations’ can be taken into account, for
example:
- Loss of light or overshadowing
- Highway safety
- Effect on a listed building and conservation area
Similarly, among the following examples, it will
be seen that the Committee cannot put forward objections based
on:
- The perceived loss of property value
- Private disputes between neighbours
- The impact of construction work or competition between
firms
In arriving at their decision, the Committee takes account of
factors of which Councillors are aware and any representations made
to them by the public. Where they decide to object to an
application, Councillors or sometimes the Town Clerk will be
requested to orally present their reasons when the application goes
before the Planning Authority – their views have on occasions
assisted a decision to reject or modify an application, although
not always are their opinions accepted.
The details of all applications are notified to all Town
Councillors in advance of the Committee meetings to enable them to
acquaint themselves with what is being proposed. The agenda
for meetings is publicly displayed and details of specific
applications are normally available online through the websites of
SEBC or SCC. The minutes of meetings include the decisions
made by the Committee.
So, next time you are an applicant, neighbour or someone having a
significant interest in a planning or licensing application, think
how this might be affected by the involvement of your Town Council
and remember you are welcome to attend one of its meetings to find
out what goes on. And, of course, any queries you may have
regarding the Town Council’s role in planning and licensing can be
addressed to the Town Clerk.
Monthly Topic - February 2009
- Good Housekeeping
This
month, Cllr Mrs Pat Warby who is a member of the Finance Committee
and undertakes the role of Councillor Internal Auditor explains how
the Town Council ensures financial accountability.
All of us realise the importance of good housekeeping, but this
becomes more significant when it relates to the spending of public
money. The Town Council is obliged to publicly account for its
income and expenditure and we therefore have in place different
mechanisms to ensure this.
So
where does the Town Council’s money come from? This largely comes
from Council taxpayers and for 2009/10 it is seeking £187,903 to
provide its services; a figure that is less than last year. A
relatively small amount of £20,000 is held in reserve and the
Council invests some money to attract interest.
Annually a budget is prepared and all expenditure has to be
approved by the Full Town Council. As with other organizations,
about 50% is spent on staffing costs although, following an
internal review, we now only employ one full-time and two part-time
members of staff. Other main areas of expenditure relate to
providing premises including running costs and the services that we
provide. Very good examples exist of how we have made savings, for
example in office administration.
The
Council’s Finance Committee meets regularly to review the budget,
examine relevant documents and ensure that the books are being
balanced. They will make recommendations where appropriate to carry
out adjustments and assist the longer-term planning of the
Council’s finance. Designated Councillors are empowered to sign
cheques on behalf of the Council and safeguards are in place to
ensure that this process operates effectively and lawfully.
The
Councillor Internal Auditor also carries out a vital role in making
sure that the detail of the Council’s financial arrangements are
observed, closely examining documents and ensuring that compliance
with required policies and practices. Typically this involves a day
each quarter spent auditing areas of income and expenditure and
checking the competence of staff.
Do
these arrangements mean that Councillors and staff are the only
people involved in checking? Far from it, because further scrutiny
is conducted by independent auditors, described as internal and
external audits. The role of the former is to audit the year end
accounts to ensure that all the correct procedures have been
followed. Council is required to submit an ‘Annual Return’
summarising its annual activities at the end of each financial year
to the External Auditor. In both instances, they issue reports
which put the Council under the spotlight and action is taken to
progress any issues raised. Minutes of meetings show how matters
have been dealt with by the Council or its Committees and, of
course, meetings are open to the public and press.
While we might all say that there is never enough
money to go round, the Town Council tries to do its best with what
it has and has the public’s interest at heart. Any queries you may
have regarding the Town Council’s role in finance can be addressed
to the Assistant Town Clerk who is the appointed Responsible
Financial Officer, the Town Clerk or any of the Town
Councillors.
Monthly Topic - March 2009 -Maintaining
standards
This month, the Chairman of the Council,
Cllr Richard Rout and John Saunders the Town Clerk discuss the
importance to the Town Council of ethical standards.
Several members of the Town Council hold elected positions in
other walks of life, for example within the County or Borough
Councils. As Richard explains, “That does not automatically mean
that they are ‘rubber-stamped’ as of unquestioned integrity.” Upon
appointment each Councillor must undertake to comply with The Local
Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 which covers their
commitment when conducting the business of the Council or acting as
its representative:
- To treat others with respect and not do anything which may
cause their authority to breach equality legislation, or which
compromises the impartiality of those who work for the authority or
bully anyone or intimidate persons involved in Code of Conduct
cases.
- Not without consent to disclose confidential information they
have acquired and not to prevent others from gaining access to
information to which they are entitled.
- Not to engage in conduct likely to bring
their office or authority into disrepute
- Not use their position to gain advantage
or cause disadvantage.
- Not to use resources improperly for
political purposes and have regard to the Local Authority Code of
Publicity.
- To take into account relevant advice from officers when
reaching decisions and provide reasons for decisions where statute
requires.
Although future amendments may occur, the Code does not
currently affect a Councillor’s conduct other than when they are
acting in their official capacity, apart from certain circumstances
where they have, or become convicted of, a criminal offence.
Each Councillor is obliged to complete a declaration of
acceptance of office undertaking to observe the Code and to
register their interests, completing a lengthy form that details
all manner of issues that may have a bearing on public life. For
example, these include reference to property owned, business
interests and affiliation to organisations. As John comments, “It
is a very intrusive look into the lives of Councillors as
individuals but it is there to safeguard against inferences that
concealed information could influence their decisions.” Their
interests and any subsequent changes are recorded in a register
held by the Monitoring Officer who acts independently of the Town
Council and through whom any alleged breaches of standards in
public life can be notified.
Richard adds, “It is not sufficient just to make a one-off
written declaration of personal interests. At each meeting of the
Town Council, or its Committees, members are required to announce
before an item is discussed where such an interest may exist.
Examples where personal interest may apply are where contracts are
considered; where hospitality or gifts have been received; where
there is a family connection or close association with any person.
As John says, “These examples are part of a much wider list and
Councillors must be mindful of the onus placed upon them.”
Where a Councillor has a personal interest in any of the
Council’s business the interest may also be classed as prejudicial
if it is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the
relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is
likely to prejudice the Councillor’s judgment. When this happens
the member must leave the room whilst the matter is dealt with.
Examples of areas that do not constitute a prejudicial interest are
where an allowance, payment or indemnity is given to members or in
the setting of Council tax or a precept under the Local Government
Finance Act 1992.
Richard concludes, “Many members of
the public may be unaware of the degree to which Councillors are
subject to scrutiny but it is vital to our democracy that those who
serve the public are held to account and required to act in a
lawful and ethical way when conducting Council business. It is not
an easy subject to summarise in a short article such as this but I
hope that it gives a flavour of how we operate.”
More extensive information can be obtained from the Town Clerk.
Monthly
Topic - April 2009 - Quality and Service
Delivery
This month John Saunders the Town Clerk
highlights the importance to the Town Council of delivering quality
of service in a manner that meets its aims.
Before becoming Town Clerk I was engaged in many roles that
required me to deliver high standards of service, involved me
assessing the performance of organisations or investigating
complaints. These features also apply to the Town Council and
it is vital that members of staff are committed to good service and
continuous improvement and operate within clear standards, policies
and legal requirements. Not always will we get things right
and, should this be the case, there must be avenues of recourse
open to those we serve.
These are reasons why much time over the past six months has been
devoted to the Council reviewing and putting in place policies and
procedures, alongside the daily need to ensure that the services we
provide are being proficiently delivered. The Council has not
done this to be trendy or as tokenism – it represents the intent to
move forward.
Within this website you will find reference to:
- The Service Standards to which Councillors and staff
aspire. For instance, it is important that your enquiries are
dealt with in a reasonable timescale and not left unanswered; it is
a genuine commitment to be welcoming, courteous, fair and
respectful. Targets around such issues exist and importantly,
we will be assessing and publishing details of how we have
performed.
- Standing Orders and Financial Standing Orders govern the manner
in which the Council operates, for example in meetings. These
are based upon national guidelines and the law.
- As one would expect, policies cover such subjects as health and
safety, equality and diversity, data protection, confidentiality,
freedom of information and information management.
- Perhaps one of the most important sets of policy and procedure
sets out how to make compliments, suggestions or complaints.
People want to know how to complain and we have put in place policy
and procedures which explain how to do so. But it is also of
value to record what people perceive as good in the way we deliver
services and to use all avenues of feedback constructively and to
influence the way we move further forward.
So how do we know how we are doing? The annual process of
audit not only looks at our financial performance but ensures that
we operate a good overall service. The Council obtained
Quality Status in 2005 and will again need to show at the end of
2009 that it is maintaining the standards required to achieve its
reaccreditation. Council itself can be its own critic – its
various Committees monitor progress and compliance with plans,
policies and procedure. All of this is designed to make the
Town Council accountable and it shows how it is performing against
various benchmarks. But it always attaches importance to how
the townspeople themselves perceive the service which is why we
continue to encourage your feedback whether it is delivered via
e-mail, letter or in person.
If there is more you need to know on this topic please make contact
with any of the members of staff.
Monthly Topic - May 2009 - Safer Neighbourhoods
This month Cllrs
Paul Simner and Patrick Chung explain how the Town Council works
with the town’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams to concentrate on topical
and safety issues affecting the community.
Suffolk remains one of the lowest crime areas in the Country and
we want to keep it that way. But even low crime levels bring
with them nuisance and anti-social behaviour and no longer should
we look to the police to deal with everything. We all have a
responsibility to play a part in the reduction, prevention and
detection of the undesirable side of life.
Across the town Safer Neighbourhood Teams are made up of Police
Officers, Police Community Support Officers, Special Constables and
Police Support Volunteers. They hold regular tasking meetings
with key members of the Councils that cover the town, partners from
health and education to identify and solve local problems.
The Town Council is represented by Councillors Chung, Rout and
Simner within the tasking groups. Examples of issues that
have been highlighted include anti-social behaviour in the town
centre, Hardwick shopping precinct and at Ram Meadow; cyclists
without lights and riding on footpaths. Although the tasking
meetings are not open to the public, the police or your Councillors
are prepared put forward any problems brought to notice and ensure
they are given consideration.
The tasking groups are not ‘talk shops’ and a lot has been
achieved by bringing together people who can combine their
resources and tackle the issues. For example, restricting
evening and late night access to car parks has curtailed nuisance
and noise from people who were using them as ‘race tracks’,
clamping down on unroadworthy vehicles curbed the antics of some
who used cars and motor cycles to disturb the peace of residents
and visitors. We have been able to accompany Police Officers
on patrol to see at first hand the problems that exist, to see how
they enforce the law in a tactful but meaningful way and to realise
the benefits that Safer Neighbourhood Teams bring.
The concept of tasking groups is excellent and puts this town
ahead of many others in keeping problems to the minimum. But,
as we said earlier, it needs the support of everyone – getting to
know and work with members of the Team is something we should all
be doing. Your Town Councillors are encouraging this to
happen.
Should you need anything further regarding Safer Neighbourhood
Teams or their tasking groups please contact staff at the Town
Council who will willingly assist you.
Monthly Topic - June 2009 – A day in the life of
….
This month Sue Hindry describes some of her
responsibilities and the way in which the Town Council’s services
are provided
It’s the 1st of June today and half term’s over once
again so the roads were a bit busier this morning
When I get to work I start my daily routine. I always switch on
the computer first because it takes so long to come to life! I then
switch on the printer, photocopier, unlock the filing cabinets and
open the blinds as well as put the kettle on for my first cuppa
(and often last) of the day.
As the Town Council’s only full time employee, some days I am in
the office on my own which is why unfortunately sometimes when you
telephone us we don’t answer the phone and you have to leave a
message [please do because we will ring you back as soon as we can]
and sometimes when you visit the office we are not open [if
possible give us a ring to check we are here first].
This morning I’ve been working on allotments administration - I
bet you don’t realise how much there is to do on the allotments.
I’ve still got 10 or so payments of this year’s rent which are
outstanding and need chasing up again – this time the tone of the
letter is more severe because the previous reminder hasn’t worked.
Actually, I wonder if some of them don’t want their plot any more
but just haven’t bothered to tell us! I’ve also sent out the
paperwork and invoices for the two new tenants who took over plots
last week as well as sending a letter offering the vacant plot at
the Nowton Road site to the lucky person at the top of our (too)
long waiting list. My colleague Paula has been out to the allotment
sites today to put up a notice about the incorrect use of hosepipes
and to identify plots that aren’t being fully cultivated (we call
them “neglected”) so that she can advise tenants that they must
improve or they will loose their plot.
This afternoon I’ve got to do the minutes of the Christmas
lights committee meeting. Although I’m familiar with what is
required and they shouldn’t take too long, it is important to
ensure that minutes meet the requirements of Council’s Standing
Orders and record decisions made. Then I’ve got some financial
information to prepare for the Annual Report that the Town Clerk’s
working on (he’ll be chasing it when he’s in tomorrow!).
We get quite a lot of phone calls from people who are not sure
which council they need to speak to for the particular service they
require and from the various directory enquiry services who seem to
give out our phone number whenever they can’t find the correct one!
We always do our best to point people in the right direction and
those who want St Edmundsbury Borough Council can be transferred.
It is confusing and it may seem like we are all doing the same
things but we aren’t – honest!
I was really pleased last week that I was able to go down to
London for a free training course which was specifically tailored
for local councils on V.A.T. and run by the experts (Her Majesty’s
Revenue and Customs). Not the world’s most exciting subject I know,
but as I’ve not been “Responsible Finance Officer” (RFO) very long
it was one of the areas that I felt I needed to know more about. I
enjoyed it, learnt a lot and made some good contacts with people
from elsewhere
I’ve just realised that the Town Clerk wanted me to keep my
comments to a page so I need to stop now! There is lots more that
we do so if you haven’t heard enough or you’ve got any questions
please ask - my contact details are on the contact us page.
With best wishes
Sue
Monthly Topic
- July 2009: Working in Partnership
This month John
Saunders the Town Clerk outlines some ways in which the Town
Council works with others to ensure more effective services.
‘Partnership’ has become one of the buzz words of our age – I was
once told by a person from an organisation that they had contact
with 308 partners. When I questioned them as to what this had
achieved, the bottom line was virtually nothing.
For the Town Council, the importance of partnership working cannot
be underestimated – in a tight financial climate, with limited
resources and the potential for services to overlap with those of
others it is essential that we enter into ways of joined-up
working. Rather than get hung up on theory as to whether a
partnership should only be recognised if there is a service level
agreement or whether a partnership constitutes a practical
approach, it might be helpful to indicate some of the areas in
which our benefits occur.
The very nature of the Town Council’s work brings it into contact
with the services of Suffolk County Council, St Edmundsbury Borough
Council and other local authorities and public bodies – it is
important to realise that this is often as a statutory consultee,
for example when considering planning and licensing applications
when the Town Council is registering its own views. This may not be
seen as partnership because of the need to remain partial and
independent. But in working with the Police Safer Neighbourhood
Teams Councillors are able to inject their thoughts and views to
bring about solutions to problems in the town.
Although it may seem low key, the Town Council is working with the
Tourist Information Centre to provide information to support the
coming Heritage Open Days and has recently assisted the promotion
of the St John’s Street Fayre, both events that are always of
immense interest to the town’s residents and visitors.
Councillors represent the Council on a variety of local bodies, an
example of which is the Bury in Bloom event to which we provide
financial support and this year we have assisted their promotion by
a window display at our offices.
Another area of contribution is to the town’s Christmas lights and
switch-on which involves expenditure, administration and the
voluntary work from Councillors and staff to bring about success.
But this event could not happen if it were not for the efforts of
members of the Committee which includes representatives of Town
Centre Management, the Chamber of Commerce, arc and
residents.
Of equal importance is a recent initiative that has involved
residents of Tayfen House, Bury St Edmunds, in volunteer work at
the town’s allotments. They have undertaken sterling work in
general maintenance and fencing repairs at a time when the weather
has added to their sweat and toil and we are truly grateful for
their efforts.
And, finally, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council
occasionally receive invitations to attend events and functions.
These form part of their duties and often involve them giving up
their evenings or weekends in an unpaid capacity. Often, it is
through these occasions that networks are built and strengthened
and that opportunities to work closer become a reality.
My anecdote in the second paragraph showed that some partnerships
are hollow and provide little. The Town Council can show that by
working alongside others there are outcomes of which we can be
proud and that are meaningful to the community.
If there is more you need to know on this topic please make contact
with any of the Councillors or members of staff.
Monthly Topic - August 2009
- Licensing
This
month the Town Clerk John Saunders explains the Town Council’s role
in Licensing Applications. Under delegated powers the Planning and
Licensing Committee deals with such matters.
The expression ‘there are two sides to every coin’ is
particularly relevant when dealing with licensing applications on
which, as a responsible authority, Council can put forward
representations to the Licensing Authority (St Edmundsbury Borough
Council).
The key issue is that representations must be relevant
and therefore:
- Relate to the effect of the grant of the licence on the
promotion of the licensing objectives which concern:
-
- the prevention of crime and disorder
- public safety
- the prevention of nuisance
- the protection of children from harm
- Be made by an interested party or local authority
- Not have been withdrawn
- Not be frivolous or vexatious or in the case of a review of a
repetitious nature
Before making a representation the Town Council also needs to
take into account the effects to residents or businesses in the
vicinity of the premises to which the application relates.
Councillors therefore cannot just suppose that the lateness of
hours, the location or the profile of users are reasons in
themselves to oppose an application. They must provide facts that
provide any grounds for opposition. Often these derive from people
who have brought their concerns to the notice of their ward
councillors or people who have attended the meetings of the
Planning and Licensing Committee and made their views known.
Remember, all the agendas of the Committee’s meetings are published
on notice boards and this website, are open to the public and
include a public forum. The weight of evidence relating to
the objectives and the vicinity will be of great
importance.
The process of making representations is transparent, with
details of any objection being notified to the applicant
(objections become ‘public documents’). If the Authority considers
them to be relevant a hearing must be convened, unless agreement on
the points raised has been agreed beforehand. Rules apply to the
manner in which the hearings are conducted.
So, Councillors do not have an easy task when considering
applications or variations to premises licences and cannot be ruled
other than what the process allows. They are, however, committed to
playing their part in ensuring that the town’s licensed premises
are conducted in a way that allows for the safety and enjoyment of
everyone.
If there is more you need to know
on this topic please make contact with any of the Councillors or
members of staff.
Monthly topic – September 2009 – Local Development
Framework
This month we highlight the importance of
St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s (SEBC) current consultation on
matters relating to the Local Development Framework:
1. Core Strategy: Submission Document - this is the final
draft of the Core Strategy document which is intended to be
submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by an
independent planning inspector. The aim of this final consultation
is to invite comments on whether the document is ‘sound’ and
legally compliant. The consultation questions being asked are very
specific, designed by the Planning Inspectorate.
2. Development Management Development Plan Document:
Preferred Options – this contains the new policies, and a list
of those existing Local Plan policies being saved, which SEBC will
use in the future to determine all planning applications. Views are
being sought on whether you agree with the proposed new policies;
and
3. Site Allocations: Issues and Options (Additional
Sites) documents – these identify those new sites submitted to
SEBC by developers, agents and landowners in their last (and final)
call for sites from November 2008 – January 2009. The aim of this
consultation is to ask about the suitability of sites, before the
council makes a formal decision on them. It should be noted that
comment is not being sought on sites that were included in the Site
Allocations Issues and Options consultation that took place between
November 2008 and January 2009.
These documents will form part of the Local Development
Framework. Consultation is open to everyone and a Statement of
Community Involvement sets out how this is to occur. Everything you
should need to know about the documents and the process is
contained on
www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/live/Local-Development-Framework-Consultations
or by contacting the St Edmundsbury Borough Council planning policy
team on 01284 757352 or 757368.
The Town Council attaches particular importance to this and will
be convening a Special Meeting of its Members on Wednesday 30
September 2009 to work through the proposals and respond by the
deadline of 5 pm on 7 October 2009. The Local Development Framework
is what it says - it is a framework around which our town’s future
development will occur. It is important that you consider it and
make your views known.
If there is more you need to know on
this topic please make contact with any of the Town Councillors or
members of staff.
Monthly topic – October 2009 –
Allotments
This month Cllr Stefan Oliver talks
about his own experience of 'grow your own' and the the Town
Council allotments.
The original intent of providing allotments was to set aside enough
land from which a person could support their family. Providing that
a reasonable rotation of crops, year by year, was devised, a
sufficient supply of vegetables could be maintained. Nowadays,
there is no need for this. We can get abundant vegetables of every
description from all corners of the world, in endless variety at
any time of the year. We do not have to undertake the labour of
growing them. Our hardest task to obtain this supper abundance is
to push our bulging trolley back to the car. However, there are
some downsides to this. It is become increasingly obvious that
though the vegetable and fruit offer is abundant and varied, the
flavour and ripeness is questionable. The use of chemical growth
stimulants and pest and disease suppressants has left people both
concerned and disappointed. They long for the vivid flavours of the
different vegetables when they are allowed to properly mature
before being presented. It is becoming increasingly obvious that
the drive for the heaviest crops and the longest shelf life have
lead to a flood of insipid and flavourless products which when
prepared, have disappointed and failed to satisfy. The greatest
loss however has been in seasonality. Nearly every type of fruit
and vegetable has become available all the year round. Now produced
out of our season at some remote side of the globe and delivered
into our shops all the year round. Gone is the time when the first
of the season become available. When we looked forward eagerly to
the first asparagus, the first strawberries, the new season sprouts
fresh from the fields following the first frosts.
There has been a great awakening of interest in the quality of the
food that people are eating. Thanks to the stimulation of the many
and popular television food programmes, people have come to
understand that the vegetables that they usually buy are unripe,
mass produced, heavily fertilised and sprayed, largely flavourless,
disappointing and unsatisfactory. There has been a revival in
interest in growing your own vegetables and in the satisfaction in
being able to come home with a basket of vegetables that you have
produced and grown yourself. No matter, that your carrots are a bit
wiggly or your tomatoes are not quite round. No matter that the
caterpillars have had half your cabbage. You have got the other
half and it is going to taste so good at the expense of some labour
and effort in growing them. You know that they have not been dosed
with fertilizer or some noxious substance to make their skins
tougher. You know that they are fresh - you have just cut them.
With your hard work and care, you have produced something that can
be put on the table with pride and pleasure. Unhappily it does not
always work out so well. Our runner beans have been a disaster this
year, but the tomatoes have been really good as have the
courgettes, cucumbers and salad crops. The winter vegetables have
mostly suffered from the drought - but then there is always next
year. Carrots grown in a deep flower pot were quite successful too
and we even have 3 small melons gradually swelling in a cold
frame.
One of the unheralded benefits of the allotments has been the
bonhomie and comradeship that is generated. People are willing to
help each other, swap plants and be always ready with advice and
encouragement. I have met people who take their picnic and spend
the whole day on their allotments enjoying their work in the
natural environment. I have met some who have turned their
allotments into their own personal patch of heaven and others who
devote such care and effort to their plots that all can see the
successful reward of the labour of a contented person. Unhappily we
do not have enough plots to meet the demand. We are well aware of
the pleasure their successful culture brings to those who work
them. We are equally well aware that we have a waiting list of 150
names of people who would like to take on an allotment of their
own. We are actively seeking more ground so that these aspirations
can be filled, but so far we have not had any success. One idea
that has caught our attention has come from a London Borough.
There, where they have no spare ground, they have asked people with
large gardens which they are not using, to consider letting some
portion of it to some one who would be interested in gardening it.
There obviously has to be agreement about rent and share of
produce. But none of these things are impossible to settle and it
could very successfully work to the mutual advantage of both
parties. If there are any out there who have more ground than you
can happily manage and would be prepared to consider such an
arrangement, please get in touch and we will try to find you
someone who would like to do the gardening.
Allotment Competition
The Town council is keen to
foster the allotments and encourage growers in every way. This year
we held a competition to find the best allotment. We saw some
wonderful and enterprising plots and the 12 that were short listed
showed a high degree of skill and effort and were a great and
outstanding tribute to those who worked them. We saw every kind of
fruit and vegetable being grown in a stunning array. It must be
fairly said that there were some plots that were no great credit to
their holders. We had a small reception to present certificates to
the selected and to the outright winner, which was a successful and
enjoyable time for all. The five judges were: (1) Doreen Young from
the TV programme ” Evacuate to the Country”. She was particularly
tasked to consider whether the plots were capable of producing
enough vegetables for her children; (2) Caroline Holmes, who has
appeared on TV gardening programmes, is a garden designer of
international repute and an expert in herbs; (3) John Bell has been
a commercial gardener all his life and is at the moment
horticultural adviser for Marlows; (4) Jo Thewlis, a reporter with
the Bury Free Press freely admitted that she was no gardener but
was looking with a lay man’s eye. She was most impressed with the
variety of produce, many of which she did not know. (5) Me (Stefan
Oliver). I had been trained in agriculture and did 15 years in
large scale agricultural management. I have grown my own vegetables
more or less unsuccessfully for the last 50 years and I am
President of the West Suffolk Horticultural Society.
We look forward to being able to fulfil every ambition to have a
plot and will continue to search for available ground.
Cllr Stefan Oliver
Allotments Champion
Monthly topic – November 2009 – Introducing the new Town
Clerk
This month Town Clerk, Jen Larner,
introduces herself.
I took up the post of Town Clerk four weeks ago and am having to
learn a lot very quickly about the role, particularly the
procedures for meetings and the correct way to do things to comply
with the statutory framework within which a Town Council works.
Although I was a town councillor (in Norfolk) for three years, it
does not prepare you for the complexities of ensuring that the
behind the scenes operation runs smoothly! I am very grateful to
Sue Hindry and Paula Gladwell, my colleagues, for being so patient
with me and explaining things so well.
There are a lot of people to meet and get to know and, as in any
new job that takes time. I look forward to finding out more about
what makes this beautiful town tick, and getting involved in the
community. I have always liked Bury St Edmunds and feel privileged
to be living and working here.
My previous job was with a small housing charity, running a
lodgings scheme which involved matching up people who wanted to
rent out a room in their house with single homeless people who
needed affordable accommodation. Prior to that I was co-ordinator
(and then Chair) of Diss Community Partnership, which undertook
many regeneration projects in the town, including enabling Diss to
become a ‘Cittaslow’ (slow town) and organising a year long
festival based on the first poet laureate, John Skelton. Previous
jobs have included setting up the Borderhoppa, a community
transport scheme and dial-a-ride for the area; arranging work
placements for years 12 and 13 students on vocational courses at a
High School; running a Volunteer Bureau and being warden of a
Quaker meeting house.
I have lived in Norfolk and Suffolk for the past 22 years, but am
originally an Essex girl! I have always been involved in community
projects and feel that partnership working is the way forward, to
ensure that we all help create the communities we want to live and
work in.
My interests are many and varied. I like walking and spent a month
this summer in the Inner Hebrides, travelling around 14 different
islands. I enjoy gardening and spent the last 4 years working in a
¾ acre garden and being pretty well self sufficient in vegetable
production, with the surplus being sold at a local farmers’ market
and Country Market. I am musical and sing in a local choir, as well
as playing in the Suffolk recorder orchestra and a small recorder
ensemble, the Hoxne Windbags, and occasionally playing piano and
cello. I enjoy going to concerts and the theatre, and participate
regularly in circle dance groups and ceilidhs. I attend Quaker
meetings. I have a huge concern for the environment and try to
reduce my carbon footprint wherever possible. I have two children,
Simon, aged 24 and Katy, 22.
If there is anything we can help with, or comments you wish to make
regarding the Town Council, please do contact us – we can’t promise
to know the answer, but will do our best to find out.
Monthly topic – January 2010 - Risbygate Ward
report
This month the Councillor Paul Simner talks about Risbygate
Ward.
At long last a new crossing is to be built across Out Northgate
/Fornham road to Tesco’s; this is the second crossing on the ward
at the moment, the other proposed crossing is across West road near
to the Queen’s Road junction. This is good news and I hope we may
be able to continue to improve the safety for all.
Klondyke is due to be refurbished as a bridleway which will
certainly make for a tidier area. I hope the Borough Council has
had the foresight to provide adequate litter and dog bins when it
is completed as it has proven to be a bit of a litter hot spot; if
not then maybe the Town Council will be able to do more in this
area.
As a member of the Safer Neighbourhoods team tasking committee I
am pleased to say that Risbygate ward has been relatively quiet.
Yes, work still needs to be done with speeding motorists still
using some of the roads as rat runs and parking always seems to be
an issue in several areas. There are many residents’ parking
schemes in place, though I am personally unconvinced that this
solves the problem; it rather seems to move the problem around. Is
the answer ‘Park and Ride’? I believe an effective Park and Ride
scheme would solve many issues with parking in the town centre,
around the college etc.
So we move on to the Tayfen road area and the proposed
development. I am not too sure as to the timescale for this but it
is definitely an area that could benefit from rejuvenation. Again I
hope consideration to increased traffic movements has been taken
into consideration. Is the answer ‘Park and Ride’? but I repeat
myself.
We are now in our new offices on Angel Hill and will continue to
provide an effective voice for the residents of the town whilst
maintaining a cost effective attitude.
Monthly topic – February 2010 - Abbeygate Ward
report
This month the Councillor Paul Farmer talks
about Abbeygate Ward.
Abbeygate is such a wonderful area to represent. It is the most
central ward in the town of Bury St Edmunds, and therefore includes
the historic town centre grid, the Athenaeum, St Mary’s, the
cathedral, Angel Hill, Abbeygate Street, the new arc development,
the town council’s offices and much more. It has some grand
residential properties (including 3 Chequer Square, Alwyne House,
The Manor House, Greyfriars, The West Front and Norman Tower House)
and distinguished residents (including one Lord, two Privy
Counsellors, four Knights, a CB, a CBE, etc).
Although the ward is so central, people often do not realise
that it is actually a lot bigger than one might think. In fact it
covers a wide ranging area from the Southgate roundabout (close to
my own home) northwards to include the main part of the town as far
as Mustow Street. It then extends westwards over Parkway to take in
much of the Victoria Street conservation area, Out Westgate and
part of Hospital Road. There are currently about 2,650 households
in the ward.
As a result of its size, Abbeygate is a two-member ward. That
means that there are two borough councillors and two town
councillors to represent it. Currently I and Cllr Richard Rout
represent the ward on both councils, and were both elected as
Conservatives.
You might think that having two representatives in a large ward
makes the job of its councillors only half as difficult, on the
basis that we can share the area equally. I am afraid it doesn’t
work like that. Whilst it would be convenient for Cllr Rout and me
to split the ward down the middle, inevitably people contact
whichever one of us they know best. My own view is that the ward
should be split into two, allowing one representative to
concentrate on each area, which would be a much better use of our
time.
Like all councillors we face a myriad of enquiries, problems and
issues, but because of being in the centre of the town, planning
and licensing matters feature high on our list. Many of the houses
in the historic core are old, and listed or in the conservation
area. Consequently there is a steady stream of planning
applications from residents who wish to update their property,
perhaps turning a lean-to into a proper extension or making
internal alterations which are subject to consent. With so many
houses in terraces, or very close together, such applications often
impinge upon neighbours and create disputes.
There are also occasionally high profile planning applications,
such as the placing of mobile phone transmitter masts on top of the
BT building in Whiting Street. Two such applications and one appeal
caused considerable controversy in my early years as a councillor.
The applications for the arc, the cinema (“it’ll be great when the
scaffolding’s down”!) and the Goodfellows social housing at the
Kings Road/Parkway junction (“the matchbox”) are just some of the
other larger applications that have attracted attention.
The large number of public houses, bars and restaurants, all of
which have to be licensed, is also unique to Abbeygate Ward. Since
the Licensing Act 2003 there has been a steady stream of
applications for later closing times, many of which have been
objected to by nearby residents who suffer from late night
rowdyism, or fear they will do so. Since January 2008 the area
bordered by Guildhall, Westgate, Crown and Abbeygate streets has
been subject to a ‘special area policy’, which protects the
residents and businesses from the cumulative impact of licenses,
and attempts to limit the granting of additional ones.
One of the town council’s most important functions is to be a
statutory consultee in all planning matters and a ‘representative
body’ for licensing matters. Its planning and licensing committee
meets every fortnight to examine all planning applications in the
town. These meetings are open to the public, so residents concerned
about an application can air their views. The committee then sends
its considered recommendation to the borough council’s development
control committee that makes the final decision.
Licensing applications are dealt with differently. The 2003 Act
allows the council to make representations on behalf of its
residents. If those representations are legally valid, then the
council can send a councillor or officer to the borough council’s
hearing to support that representation. This is particularly
helpful where residents do not feel able or willing to represent
themselves in what is a quasi-judicial hearing. In both planning
and licensing matters the town council acts as an important conduit
or enabler for its residents, making this area of its work a
particularly good example of local democracy.
At the time of writing the future of local government in the
county is uncertain. Since 2008 there have been moves to form one
or more unitary councils, which would perform all the functions of
both county and borough councils. Whatever happens, the town
council will continue in its present form, though it may have
greater powers. My guess is that Abbeygate ward will continue to
exist, even if it has different borders – but the centre of Bury St
Edmunds with its abbey ruins and church gate will
always need representation.
Monthly topic – March 2010 - Traffic problem
St Olave's ward
This month the Councillor Bob
Cockle talks about traffic problems in St Olave's ward.
As you may be aware, St Edmundsbury Borough Council has at
the moment and in principle agreed to carry out a survey on car
parking in St Olave’s ward, and Mildenhall estate. When both
estates were planned, nobody thought that, in future years,
residents would have to rely on the private car. Now in many cases
there is more than one vehicle per household.
There is no doubt that this is getting more serious. More and
more vehicles are parking on the grass verges. This is causing
damage and is unsightly for many of the roads. But what are
residents to do? In some cases if they park outside their property,
this will block the road. There are areas where there are car
parking places at the back of houses, but these are unlit and some
residents are afraid to use them.
Roads such as Northumberland Avenue, and St Olave’s Road, become
very heavy with parked traffic. St Olave’s Rd is very bad when
there is a football match. Both are prime bus routes. There are
people who park at bus stops, mainly because the road is not marked
with the relevant sign. At one time this was a traffic offence, so
was parking after dark facing the wrong way.
Should we have more double yellow lines, should we have parking
on one side of the road only, should we build more garages, should
we have more dropped kerbs? As you can appreciate any of these
would cost money, both to install and to police.
As one of St Olave’s ward members, I drive around this area
quite regularly and I have to say that perhaps nothing can be done.
The sensitivity of most drivers is very apparent; they do seem to
appreciate that buses, ambulances and other heavy vehicles must use
the roads. Let us hope that the survey throws up some
solutions.