Welcome to Totnes Town Council

Our Mission:

to provide an open and accessible elected forum, which fully represents the interests of the community, and enables the community and others to make Totnes an attractive place in which to live and work.

Our Responsibilities: 

In addition to responding to community issues or concerns raised by local people, we are also responsible for
The Totnes Information Centre
The Cemetery
The Civic Hall
The Guildhall
The Elizabethan Museum (in association with the Museum Trust)
Maintaining various monuments etc around the town
Providing feedback on local planning applications to the District Council

N.B. Most local government services are provided by

Devon County Council (e.g. Roads, Libraries, Education and Youth and Social Services), www.devon.gov.uk

or South Hams District Council (e.g. Planning, Housing and Waste).   www.southhams.gov.uk

Town Councillors:

There are sixteen Councillors, who elect the Mayor each year, ten for Totnes Town Ward and six for Bridgetown. Councillors have appointed seven Lead Councillors to take responsibility for key areas.  These are: 

         Traffic and Transport – Councillor A Gorman

·         Business & Employment – Councillors A Whitty and C Robillard

·         Conservation and Heritage – Councillor P Boswell Harper

·         Elderly & Vulnerable – Councillor D Horsburgh

·         Cultural Links – Councillor D Horsburgh

·         Youth – Councillor J Westacott

·         Housing/Culture/Environment/Open Space/Sport/Leisure – 

          A shared position between Councillors J Hodgson  and A Whitty

 

** TO VIEW TOTNES TOWN COUNCIL YEARBOOK 2009-2010, PLEASE  SEE YEARBOOK ON HOME PAGE

The Council Office: the Town Clerk (David Edwards) and his staff are based on Ramparts Walk, behind St Mary's Church. The office is open Monday - Friday, 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Public Meetings: all Council meetings are held at the Guildhall unless otherwise indicated. 

Annual Meeting of the Council - This takes place in May and its primary function is to elect the Council Chairman (Town Mayor) for the forthcoming Council year.  it is also known as the Mayor Choosing Ceremony.

Full Council - 7.00pm, usually first Monday of the month, except August. Agrees policies and debates issues. Each meeting opens with Public Question Time.

Financial Scrutiny - 6.00pm, bi-monthly, normally third Tuesdays - Oversees finances, and addresses issues for which the Council is not directly responsible. Its recommendations are ratified by Full Council.

Policy Development Committee  - 6.00pm, usually the third Monday of the month, except August. Oversees the Council's effectiveness, and the services the Council provides. It's recommendations are ratified by Full Council.

Planning Committee - 5.00pm, every third Tuesday. Reviews planning applications and provides recommendations to South Hams District Council, who are the responsible body.

The Annual Town Meeting is held each year between March and June.  This is not  a Council Meeting, but a meeting for the People of the Town to have their say on any issue which is important to them.

August - Recess - Other than Planning Committee meetings, there will be no meetings in August.  Any 'emergency' business will be dealt with by a Recess Committee.