Winchcombe Town Council

About Us

Local Government Functions and Responsibilities

Local Government in England is organised into three different levels or tiers. Winchcombe Town Council is the third tier of local government - the “grass roots” level of local democracy. The other two tiers, the Borough and the County, are administered by Tewkesbury Borough Council and by Gloucestershire County Council respectively. Each tier of government, although all are part of the same local government system, has different responsibilities and are autonomous statutory authorities in their own right.

The duties or functions the Town Council must carry out are limited, but its powers, the areas where it has discretion to act if it chooses, are wide.

As well as taking direct action in its areas of responsibility, the Council responds to consultation papers from numerous organisations, lobbies other organisations on matters of importance on behalf of local residents and businesses and has Councillors appointed to many other local groups, Committees and Governing Bodies.

Winchcombe Town Council Responsibilities

  • Bus Shelters
    (Abbey Terrace)
  • Cemetery and closed Churchyard
  • Community Centres
    (leased to and administered by Management Committee)
  • Community Publications
    (Winchcombe Matters Newsletter, Council Website)
  • Emergency Planning
    (including Winchcombe Flood Action Group)
  • Parks and Playing Fields
    (King George V Playing Field, Jubilee Play Park, Ireley Coppice)
  • Planning
    (Commenting on local and strategic plans, planning applications and Tree preservation orders)
  • Street Furniture
    (Notice boards, War memorial, Highway seats, Heritage plaques, Dog bins, Salt ⁄ grit bins)
  • Annual Investment Strategy
    This strategy has been prepared in accordance with the Statutory Guidance on Local Government Investments 3rd Edition hereafter known as 'the Guidance', which has been issued under section 15(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 2003. Under that section of the act, local authorities are required to "have regard" to "such guidance as the Secretary of State may issue".
  • CCTV Policy
    Winchcombe Town Council believes that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera systems have a legitimate role and are a valuable tool in assisting with public safety and security, enforcement of legislation, and protection of property. This policy is intended to assist with their legal obligations when working with personal data.
  • Code of Conduct
    Pursuant to section 27 of the Localism Act 2011, Winchcombe Town Council ("the Council") has adopted this Code of Conduct ("the Code") to promote and maintain high standards of behaviour by its Members and Co-opted Members whenever they conduct the business of the Council, including the business of the office to which they were elected or appointed, or when they claim to act or give the impression of acting as a representative of the Council.
  • Data Protection Policy
    Winchcombe Town Council treats the privacy of its clients and website users very seriously and takes appropriate security measures to safeguard your privacy. This policy explains how we protect and manage any personal data you might share with us and that we might hold about you, including how we collect, process, and share that data. This policy should be read in combination with the "Winchcombe Town Council General Privacy Notice".
  • Document Retention Policy
    This policy applies to all records created, received or maintained by the Town Council in the course of carrying out its functions.
    Records are defined as all those documents which facilitate the business carried out by the Town Council and which are thereafter retained (for a set period) to provide evidence of its transactions or activities.
  • Financial Regulations
    The council is responsible in law for ensuring that its financial management is adequate and effective and that the council has a sound system of internal control which facilitates the effective exercise of the council's functions, including arrangements for the management of risk.
  • Financial Reserves Policy
    Winchcombe Town Council is required to maintain adequate financial reserves to meet the needs of the organisation. The purpose of this policy is to set out how the Council will determine and review the level of reserves.
  • Freedom of Information Policy
    This policy applies to all recorded information the Council holds regardless of how it was created or received. It applies regardless of the media the information is stored in whether the information may be on paper, held electronically, or as an audio recording.
  • General Privacy Notice
    This Privacy Notice is provided by Winchcombe Town Council which is the data controller
  • Information available from Winchcombe Town Council Under the Model Publication Scheme
    Details of information published and how it can be obtained
  • Internal Control Arrangements
    The system of internal control is designed to manage risk as far as is reasonably practicable rather than totally eliminating all risk of failure to deliver policy aims and objectives. The system's objectives are to identify the risks to the Council, to evaluate the likelihood of those risks being realised, the impact they should have if realised, to report to the Council, and to manage them.
  • Legal Powers
    Summary of the principle functions of Local Councils
  • Public Complaints Procedure
    Winchcombe Town Council recognises that from time to time there will be concerns expressed by members of the public over the activities of the Council or one of its members or employees.
    This is the Council's procedure for the handling of complaints which allows people to have a method of address to the Council if they feel they have a complaint or have been unfairly treated in their dealings with the Council staff, Councillors, the Council or its Committees.
  • Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy
    Winchcombe Town Council is committed to ensuring that the Management Committee, volunteers and those who participate in activities run by, or on behalf of, the Council have an understanding of the overarching principles that guide the approach to protecting and safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults, and what forms abuse may take and that they know where to raise concerns if abuse is suspected or reported.
  • Standing Orders
    Standing orders are the written rules of a local council. Standing orders are essential to regulate the proceedings of a meeting. A council may also use standing orders to confirm or refer to various internal organisational and administrative arrangements. The standing orders of a council are not the same as the policies of a council but standing orders may refer to them.
  • Tree Safety Management Policy
    This policy only applies to trees in Town Council ownership or management. Trees in the ownership or control of other individuals or organisations are the direct responsibility of those parties.