Council

Full meetings of the Council take place about eight times a year, including the Annual Council Meeting. All meetings are held in the Council Chamber in the Town Hall. There is a 15 minute period of Public Questions before each meeting of the Council. This is open to anyone wishing to pose questions to elected Members on any issue that affects the town.

The following are the Terms of Reference for full meetings of the Council:

• To raise loans and to set the town precept.
• To have the power of incurring capital expenditure not specifically included in the Council’s approved estimate of expenditure.
• At the Annual Meeting appoint standing committees and at any other times appoint such other committees as are necessary and at any time dissolve or alter the membership of a committee.
• To appoint to or co-opt on a Committee or Sub-Committee a person who is not a Member of the Council.
• To approve Standing Orders and the functions and constitution of Committees and Sub-Committees.
• To approve dates of meetings of the Council.
• To appoint or nominate persons to fill vacancies on outside bodies arising during the Council year.
• To fill vacancies occurring on any Committee of the Council during the Council year.
• To approve the appointment or dismissal of the Town Clerk.
• To consider the recommendations of the standing committees and to confer delegated powers to a committee and/or sub-committee when deemed appropriate.