|
Currently Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council does not have a website. One is under development which is due to be online towards the end of 2008, with more details about the Town Council including details of meetings, agendas, minutes etc.
In the meantime here is some information about the Town Council and about Town and Parish Councils in general. Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council is one of around 10,000 Parish and Town Councils in England and Wales.
Parish and Town Councils are the first tier of local government and have a central role in fostering community involvement in local issues.
Of all local government bodies, it is the Town and Parish Councils which are closest to the electorate and have the greatest interest in local concerns.
Parish and Town Councils are funded by a "precept" part of the local Council Tax.
Whilst Parish Councils were once dismissed as irrelevant as portreyed in the "Vicar of Dibley" they are now more and more recognised as a very important part of local accountabilty and community representation.
This is particularly the case in Milton Keynes where there are a number of Town and Parish Councils which provide and/or fund front-line services.
This is often done in partnership with others including Milton Keynes Council, Thames Valley Police and the Fire Service.
Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council covers the communities of Wolverton, Greenleys, Old Wolverton, Wolverton Mill and Stonebridge, although it recognises that Wolverton also provides services and support to a much wider area.
The whole of Milton Keynes was formally parished in 2001 - the only Unitary Authority in England to take the plung the create Parish Councils across their whole area. This means that Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council is, in effect, only 5 years old, although there was a "shadow" Neighbourhood Council in existence from 1999.
Meetings:
There are 12 Town Councillors on the Town Council, all of whom are volunteers who have paid jobs and/or families to look after during the day.
The Councillors have a Full Council meeting around once a month.
The Town Council has a Projects Committee which also generally meets once a month. It has a Planning Committee to consider planning applications, this committee tend to have a meeting twice a month - before either a full council meeting or a Projects Committee meeting. It has a Finance Committee which meets monthly.
There is a Property Committee which deals with Town Council related property matters - such as in relation to the Town Hall, Allotments and Secret Garden. There is a Personnel Committee which means when necessary to deal with personnel matters.
Information about where and when the meetings are held is displayed in the Noticeboards in Wolverton Square and at the Greenleys Community Centre.
Anyone is welcome to attend Council or Committee Meetings to ask questions and participate in discussions. (There are a few ocassions when parts of a meeting have to take place in private - generally this will be when confidential matters have to be discussed such as contracts and personnel matters.)
Newsletter:
The Town Council produces a newsletter every two months - copies are delivered to all households in Wolverton and Greenleys and to many businesses. Copies are available at Wolverton Library.
Elections:
Town and Parish Councils are subject to election every four years. The election process is very similar to that for Milton Keynes Council and General Elections. Generally the date of the election will be the same as elections to Milton Keynes Council.
The Wolverton & Greenleys Town Council area is arranged in to three "Wards" - Greenleys, Wolverton East and Wolverton West. There are four councillors for each of these wards. Candidates for elction need to be nominated by local electors. If there are more candidates than places then a poll is held.
The first election was in 2001, the second in 2004 (to bring into line with other parishes in MK).
The most recent Town Council elections were in May 2008.
What happens if there is a vacancy for a councillor
If the vacancy has arisen as a result of a councillor resigning etc, the vacancy is declared and then notified to the public. A bye-election will be called if at least 10 electors claim a poll within 14 days of that notification (as a general rule). If no poll is claimed within that time limit, the decision to fill the vacancy then rests with the parish council.
A council must declare a vacancy within a reasonable time. If there is more than one candidate there must be an election. If there is not, then where a casual vacancy occurs and a poll is not claimed the vacancy must be filled by the parish council co-opting a person "as soon as practicable".
Related information about Town and Parish Councils
MK Councils Parishes page
Milton Keynes - Parish Council Map
For more information about Town and Parish Councils generally and about becoming a councillors, more information is available at the National Association of Local Councils website
If you have any questions about the Town Council you are very welcome to attend a Town Council meeting. There is a public question time at the beginning of each Town Council meeting.
If you have a more general question that could be usefully added to the detail above, please email me using the address below and I will add the information or a link to it if I can.
Councillor Mike Galloway, October 2008
| 
