Statutory Public Notices (includes Local Government Procedures, Elections, Accounts, etc)
CURRENT PUBLIC NOTICES: (Last Update - Monday 31st July 2006
A) LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCEDURAL
Information / Publication Policy of the Town Council : -
Much Town Council information is in the public domain in an ongoing way, in common with other Local Authorities. As a public body, the Council's work always seeks to comply with the Information Management provisions of both the Local Government Act 1972, the Data Protection Acgt 1998 and the more recent Freedom of Information Act, (FoI), whilst also recognising that, on occasion, some of its deliberations and related data, whether held electronically or on paper-file, fall within justifiably Exempt Classifications.
A Publication Scheme is in-preparation, preceded by an interim Town Council Summary Guide to the Freedom of Information Act - Access Arrangements for Local Residents and other Enquirers.
Although it does not publish its own Newsletter, Brightlingsea Town Council communicates to its resident population via regularly updated Public Noticeboards (eg. display of Agendas for forthcoming meetings, Notifications regarding Accounts), as well as through use of this developing website facility. It also has notices and features within the local newspapers, most notably "The Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Chronicle" (monthly) and the "Colchester Evening Gazette" (daily), the "Clacton Gazette" (weekly), and the Town and Parish Councils' "Billboard" item in each monthly issue of "Look" - the free local advertiser periodical.
The offices are open each week-day morning, as specified in the Contacts Section, whereby visitors may inspect Planning Materials, Minutes of Council Meetings and other information of a Community interest, such as Leisure and Tourism, local transport, environmental and District details etc. If the Town Council cannot provide an answer to an enquirer directly, it will always endeavour to act as a 'signpost' to other contacts and sources and endeavours to provide an information service to visitors and tourists as well as the local population.
B) ELECTION OF TOWN COUNCILLORS
Copy of Notice appearing in Colchester Evening Gazette for Wednesday, 9th November 2005, page 34 :
"NOTICE OF TWO CASUAL VACANCIES FOR TOWN COUNCILLORS FOR THE PARISH OF BRIGHTLINGSEA
Notice is hereby given that two casual vacancies exist in the Office of Town Councillor for the Parish of Brightlingsea.
An Election to fill the vacancies will be held if, within 14 days, (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays) of the date of this Notice, notice in writing of a request for such an Election has been given to the Returning Officer at the Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE by ten electors for the electoral area.
If no such request is received within the time indicated, the vacancies will be filled by the Town Council.
Dated this 7th day of November 2005"
John Kingsbury, Clerk to the Parish Council
"The Results" ! Fri. am 20th January 2006
The Brighlingsea By-Election held 19th Jan. '06 produced the following outcome : -
Candidate No. of Votes Cast in Support
Mr. G. Steady 879 *
Mr. A. Goggin 654 *
Mrs. P. O'Reilly 519
Names asterisked are therefore duly elected to fill the two vacancies on the Town Council.
The Registered Electoate was 6,093 persons. Percent Poll (the 'turnout') was 22 %.
There were three spoilt Ballot Papers.
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In addition to the Website, Town Council information appears regularly on the large Public Noticeboard adjacent The Parish Hall, as well as via other local outlets such as the Public Library in New Street, Brightlingsea. Plans are afoot for the provision of an additional Public Noticeboard in the vicinity of the town's Waterfront, plus a further Noticeboard in the Town Centre specifically dedicated to Local Youth Affairs. The Council will also continue to seek to develop the Parish Hall as a 'Community Information Point' for the local population throughout the New Year.
Please consult the "Brightlingsea Town Guide" Website for further topical information about the town and its surroundings and the Town Diary 2006, via www. brightlingsea-town.co.uk
Thank you.
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C) TOWN COUNCIL ACCOUNTS
The Town Council's Fully Audited Accounts covering the 2003 -2004 Financial Year are currently available, upon request.
Audited Accounts for the 2004 - 2005 (ie. to end March 2005) have been submitted to the Council's External Auditors, 'Lubbock Fine', City Road, London. We believe these will be approved, duly 'signed-off' and returned to the Town Council office in the very near future, (probably around Easter-time 06), whereapon these will also be available for public reference, upon request, during normal office hours. (The Council is currently working upon a revision of its Standing Orders and has recently updated its general Risk Assessment Schedule from a previous Autumn 2003 version).
Accounts 2005 - 2006 : Annual Return submitted to External Auditors, late June '06. Following closure of the due period of public review, signing-off of the same anticipated to take place during the summer.
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D) Forthcoming Meetings -
* Town Council:Thurs. 17th August and 21st September 2006, both at 7.30 pm, Parish Hall
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E) Planning Notice re. Land at Morses Farm, North Brightlingsea
Please be advised that the Town Council has received the following letter from Essex County Council, dated 17th July '06, concerning the above Planning Appeal case :-
Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Section 172; APPEAL by Margaret Carter, re. Land at Morses Farm, Brightlingsea, Essex. Breach of Planning Control : a) Use of the land for unauthorised storage of imported waste materials including hardcore, soil, concrete and builders' rubble; b) Use of the land for processing imported waste materials; and c) Use of the land for the storage of processed materials prior to exportation.
Planning Inspectorate References : APP/Z1585/C/06/2013576.
" I am writing to inform you that an Appeal has been lodged, against this Authority's enforcement action for breach of planning control. Further details of teh APpeal have been sent to you (ibid. the Town Council) under separate cover, as one of our Statutory Consultees. Finally, I attach a copy of the Appellant's Appeal Form, and I would be grateful if you could put a copy of the Appeal Form on deposit at your Council, for members of the public to view, if requested.
Yours faithfully
Kerry Seward - Principal Legal Assistant, Essex County Council (Law and Admin. Section ) "
Note : A copy of this letter appears on the Town Council's Public Noticeboard, with related papers held for reference purposes in the Council Office (Open, 9.30 am - 12. 45 pm each week-day). Thank you.
John Kingsbury - Town Clerk 31.07.06.
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