| Meeting & Date: |
Question: |
Response: |
Latest update & date: |
Full Council
19 March 2024 |
Please could the council also address a request from a resident asking for a bus shelter with a roof on Threshers where the Stagecoach 5 bus starts and terminates? |
The council will willingly support the individual and other residents with such a request. In the first instance they would need to contact the council officers at the Council Offices. |
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Full Council
19 March 2024 |
What progress has been made with regard to new toilets at Newcombes Meadow?
Given that you have found it impossible to keep a toilet open on Union Road, will the town council consider offering to run the single toilet at St Lawrence Green instead?
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The council continues to liaise with Mid Devon District Council with regards to the provision of new toilets and more information will be shared as soon as firm dates are available.
The council have not been approached to run such a facility, certainly since its change of use.
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Update 5 August 2024:
We are continuing to work with MDDC to deliver these toilets and are continuing to remain positive that they will be delivered in due course. |
Council Affairs & Finance
12 March 2024 |
In that report the Town Clerk states that she has also obtained a quote for ongoing support and training relating to Data Protection. However, the quote from whatever company that was (can this be shared please?) makes no mention of training and it is clear from the language they use, referring to “companies like yours”, they have little or no knowledge of working with local councils. I personally would suggest this is an unnecessary and fruitless expense. |
The name of the company that provided the quote cannot be shared at this point as a further quotation is being obtained, and when being considered by councillors the names of those providing the quotes are not disclosed to reduce the possibility of undue influence, and to judge the quotes on their respective merits.
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Update 5 August 2024:
Crediton Town Council has commissioned Lisa Wilson the DPO, who has extensive knowledge within the Town and Parish Council sector, to undertake a full GDPR review and associated staff and member training. |
Council Affairs & Finance
12 March 2024 |
(ref to article in The Guardian today) Will the town council be making an application to the UK Government for a free portrait of the king – for which the latest application date is 2nd February? |
The council sought views of the public as to portrait and as a result will not be ordering a copy of the portrait at this time. The deadline of 2 February you refer to is, we understand, for eligible institutions including principal Local Authorities, courts, schools, police forces and fire and rescue services. Portraits for these eligible institutions were expected to be delivered between February and April 2024. Starting in February, the second phase of the scheme was planned to be extended to include town, parish and community councils and Ministry of Defence-sponsored cadet forces - this is because the scheme is being delivered in stages, to help manage the supply of portraits.
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Update 5 August 2024:
Following further representation from members of the public, this issue will be reconsidered at the September meeting of the Oversight Committee. |
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Planning & Town Strategy
02 January 2024
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Will the town council engage more with the town by holding surgeries to deliver newsletters and provide information, especially during these uncertain times with the Pay and Display consultation and precept announcement. Councillors need to be more recognisable and I would like to see more action? |
Cllr Brookes-Hocking advised that a consultation had been available online for the public to have their say regarding on-street parking. She also commented that the main issue with holding surgeries on the town square is getting information across to a wide variety of people. Holding surgeries is useful for the town council profile but not for visitors. It was suggested that an alternative location to the town square might be outside the Ship Hotel at the top of Market Street to attract a wider variety of people. Cllr Cochran advised that he has attended previous surgeries and would be useful for more newsletters to be printed. Cllr Fawssett agreed to attend the next surgery.
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Update 5 August 2024:
We are trialling the use of a public discussion session before each Full Council meeting, and will also consider other opportunities to engage and communicate with residents in the future. |
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Council Affairs & Finance
12 December 2023
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It is recommended by LGA and CIPFA to have 3 to 6 Earmarked reserves allocated for good fundamental purposes, for example future liabilities, damage of assets or transformation reserves rather than separately for Benches, Christmas lights or Additional Trees unless some grants or donations with specific conditions were given and the funds cannot be spent on anything else than the trees or the Town clock for example. Would you follow this practice and rearrange our Reserves? |
The LGA and CIPFA may indeed suggest those pots but whether you have one or fifty you still need to know from a bottom up approach what is there - having umbrella titles is all very well but one needs to be aware of what is held and why. In Crediton we do not have the issues faced directly by local government, but at a time where almost a fifth of council leaders and Chief Executives in England think it is very likely or fairly likely that their Chief Financial Officer will need to issue a Section 114 notice this year or next due to lack of funding to keep key services running highlights just how essential it is for the Town Council to be both mindful of its obligations, and to plan financially accordingly.
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Council Affairs & Finance
12 December 2023
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It has been remarked that the Chairs of various committees very rarely ask fellow committee members to give their opinion on Agenda items: why is this? |
As a chair of one of the committees the reason I do not need to ask fellow committee members to give their opinion is because members usually offer comment without needing to be asked, others that remain quiet do not necessarily need asking as many, myself included do not feel the need to speak if what I would say has already been said. There is a possibility that it may reinforce the view of something previously mentioned and so should possibly be considered. Views of other chairs and councillors are included but may differ……..
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Update 5 August 2024:
Many of the councillors are experienced and certainly would not hold back if they wished to add their thoughts to the discussion. Some of the newer councillors may require the confidence to speak but over recent months and meetings all councillors have provided input.
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