WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

INFORMATION FOR ELECTED YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES

Introduction

This short paper is designed to give an outline of Welshpool Town Council and its activities so that you know about the information listed below.

The first Youth Representative was elected in December 2011 will serve until May 2013.

A second Youth Representative will be elected on 16th May to serve until May 2013.

Welshpool Town Council

Welshpool Town Council covers an area of 3 wards including Pool Quay, Trehelig, Frochas  and The Belan as well as the Town Centre and main parts of Welshpool.

Assets and Budgets

The Council has assets of approx £9m and a budget in excess of £500,000.  The precept is approx 40% of the Council’s income.

Responsibilities

The Town Council is responsible for many areas of activity including the following:

                        Town Hall and Markets

                        Recreation Grounds

                        Playgrounds

                        Tourist Information

                        The Council Offices

                        Station Car Park

                        Scansis all weather pitch

                        The Armoury Sports Centre

                        Community Plan

                        Archives

                        Donations

                        Outer Park

                        Memorial Gardens

                        Skateboard Park

                        Events, parades and Civic Ceremonies

                        CCTV System

                        Notice boards and maps

                        Planning consultations

                        Community activities

                        Burgess Lands Trust

                        R U Sacye Bequest

A more comprehensive list is available on request.

Authority

The only person or bodies which can make decisions on Council matters are:

                        The Full Council

                        A Committee with authority given to it by the Full Council

                        The Town Clerk (within limits)

No individual Councillor or Youth Representative has any authority to make a decision nor to expend any money.

Councillors

The Council has 16 Councillors in total plus 1 or 2 Youth Representatives.

There are 4 members from Castle Ward, 6 from Gungrog Ward and 6 from llanerchyddol Ward plus the 2 young persons.

Council Meetings

The Full Council Meeting has an agenda which is set by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Mayor. However the agenda is normally made up of items which have been put on the agenda by the Committees.

All Councillors are able to attend and vote at these meetings which are held once a month.

Committee Meetings

The Council has a number of Committees which deal with Council matters and they are:

                        Finance and General Purposes

                        Planning and Development

                        Town Hall and Markets

                        Recreation and Leisure

                        Events

                        Archives

Any Councillor/Youth Representative may elect to serve on one or more committees in April for confirmation in May of each year.  The appointment to a Committee is for 12 months.   A Councillor or Youth Representative may raise any subject relevant to a Committee either by informing the Town Clerk in advance or by just bringing up the subject at the meeting (it is usual to let the Committee Chair or Town Clerk know before the meeting starts).   Only those members of the Committee may vote at that Committee meeting.  However, Councillors or Youth Representatives who are not Committee members may attend Committee meetings and take part in the meeting.  However those Councillors and Youth Representatives may not vote at that meeting.

The Committees (except Planning and Development which has full delegated authority) make recommendations to the Full Council for approval.

Councillors and Youth Representatives are requested to serve on the Full Council plus at least one other Committee.  Councillors and Youth Representatives are asked in April of each year to volunteer for which Committees they wish to serve on for the ensuring year, these are confirmed by the Annual Meeting in May.

There is also Welshpool Projects which deals with Business affairs but this meeting is only open to Councillors to be directors, Youth Representatives may attend the meetings.

Committee responsibilities

The Town Council Committees have the following remits:

Town Hall and Markets

All matters relating to the Town Hall and Markets (indoor and outdoor)

Recreation and Leisure

All matters related to the recreation grounds, The Armoury Sports Centre,  tourist information, playgrounds, open spaces, flower beds and other leisure or recreation subjects.

Planning and Development

All matters relating to planning, development, community plans, town centre plans and planning application consultations.

Events

All matters relating to Town Council events including the carnival, Christmas lights, winter festival, parades and processions etc.

Finance and General Purposes

All matters relating to finance, budgets, investments, financial control, staffing, pensions allotments, community awards and all other subjects not covered by other committees.

Archives

A small committee to oversee the documents of the Council and its history.

Welshpool Projects

All matters relating to business breakfasts, consultations, trade fairs and the Classic Bus. Also any other matters which the Town Council refers to the group.

How does a Youth Representative raise a topic?

To raise a topic a Youth Representative may either approach the Town Clerk or may raise the subject at a Committee meeting (relevant to the subject in question).  It is wise if any member is going to raise a matter at a committee meeting to at least either let the Chair of that committee or the Town Clerk know in advance.  In both cases the Councillor will be heard and the topic at least taken forward for a Committee to consider.  The agenda for the Full Council meeting is set in advance by the Town Clerk in consultation with Mayor. No other items may be discussed at Full Council Meetings unless there is special circumstances.

Training for Councillors

There is training available for Youth Representatives if they wish.  The Planning and Development Committee has training at the beginning of each Council year in June.

Voting

To make it clear to all Councillors and Youth Representatives, only those present may cast a vote.

Policies in Place at time of Election

The Council does have two main plans which have been adopted and are revised from time to time.  These plans have been the subject of extensive consultation and any alterations to them would normally be the subject of public consultation for any changes.

The plans are:

                        Welshpool Town Centre Plan

                        Welshpool Community Plan

                        Overall Polices listed on web site

Both plans are set out in full on the web site. These plans will be put forward for confirmation or alteration by the New Council in its first month of office.

Meeting schedule

The general meeting schedule of the Council is as follows:

All meetings are held in the Town Hall.  When a new council is elected the times of meetings can be reviewed to meet personal circumstances.

Official documents

The Council has a number of official documents which are posted on the web site.

However, there are two that are really relevant.  The first is the Code of Conduct - please ensure you conduct yourself in a good manner.  The second is standing orders, these relate to the conduct of meetings and you will catch on as you go along.

Outside bodies

The Town Council also appoints Councillors each year to outside bodies such as school governors, trusts and charities etc.

Induction Meeting

The Town Clerk will hold an induction evening on the 1^st Wednesday following the election so that the Council can be up to date with how things work and how new members can raise their individual manifestos.

At this meeting  a full pack of information is issued.  It is that meeting where Councillors sign the Acceptance of Office, Code of Conduct and Trust Papers.

Annual Council Meeting

The first Annual Meeting of the Council after the election will be held on the 3rd Wednesday in May, at this meeting the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be elected.

Publicity

The general official voice of the Council to the media is the Town Clerk.  He may only express views in the press which have been so expressed by the Council and are in line with Council approved policy.

Councillors may also talk to the press but may not speak on behalf of the whole council but for themselves. The press does attend most Council meetings and much of the press coverage comes from those meetings.

Web Site

The Town Council has a web site which is updated almost daily.  The address is www.welshpooltowncouncil.com

 Information

If you do not understand anything please see the Town Clerk for help.

Robert Robinson FRICS AILCM

Town Clerk

Updated 25th April 2012