Castle Cary Town Website

RESPONSIBILITIES

Castle Cary Town Council is one of around 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales. In common with every parish, the Town Council has three basic responsibilities:

1.   To represent the whole electorate within the parish
2.   To deliver services to meet local needs
3.   To strive to improve quality of life in the parish

COUNCIL TAX
The Council can “precept” - that is, raise a sum of money collected with the council tax each year to improve facilities and services for local people.

COUNCIL MEMBERS
Elections are normally held every fourth year.  For Castle Cary, up to 13 councillors may be elected.  Vacancies between elections may be filled by co-option if wished. Parish powers and duties are very diverse.

PROPERTIES
Castle Cary Town Council owns and maintains:

The Donald Pither Memorial Ground, Pavilion and Children’s Playpark
The Catherine’s Close Public Toilets
The Round House
The Cemetery and Cemetery Chapel
The Horsepond and War Memorial
Sundry green spaces, benches, litter bins
Bus shelters

PLANNING APPLICATIONS
The Town Council comments on planning applications – it is a statutory consultee (ie has to be consulted if it so wishes) and can be represented at public inquiries, but has no decision making powers in respect of planning.  Planning meetings are open to the public, are usually held on the first Monday of the month, and are advertised on the Town Council noticeboard.  Planning applications are held at the Market House and can be viewed on request during office opening hours.

COUNCIL MEETINGS
The full Council normally meets on the third Monday of every month, with a full agenda which covers all these powers and duties. These meetings are open to the public. In between full meetings a number of committees meet as required to discuss issues in detail, make minor decisions, and formulate recommendations to go to the full Council.

COMMITTEES
Castle Cary Town Council currently has five main committees: Finance, Properties, Infrastructure, Planning and Human Resources.  These meet as necessity demands. The Council’s Standing Orders and Code of Conduct define how the Council’s business must be carried out, and which decisions committees may make and which must be referred on to the full council.

The Town Council is also represented on many local committees and liaison groups – these include:  the Cemetery Chapel Friends' Group, Caryford Community Hall, Caryford Local Action Group, Viridor Credits, Crown Pet Foods Liaison Group, Castle Cary Primary School Governors, Ansford School Community Forum, Area East Youth Opportunities Group, the Pavilion Committee, the Market Towns Investment Group, the Three Towns Initiative, Area East Community Safety Action Panel, Area East Youth Opportunities Group, the Market House Regeneration Project Steering Group.  the Victorian Evening Steering Group.  Councillors serving on these groups are expected to put the views of the electorate across, not just their own view

IN ADDITION the Council takes responsibility for reporting to and consulting with South Somerset District Council on a number of issues.  These include: crime reduction measures and community safety and security, the condition and maintenance of local footpaths and bridleways, tourist and community advice services (which it in part provides on the District Council's behalf), and other matters which arise on an ad hoc basis.

You are welcome to call in personally with Council enquiries. Our Town Clerk and Deputy Clerk are based in the Community Office, which is on the ground floor of the Market House in the centre of Castle Cary.  The way in to the office is at the side of the Market House, a few yards up the Pitchings (the cobbled path up to Bailey Hill). They are usually available as follows: -

For a full list of powers and duties of parish councils, visit the NALC website: http://www.nalc.gov.uk/About_NALC/What_is_a_parish_or_town_council/What_is_a_council.aspx