Questions:

• Why does Newbury have two councils?
• Who decides how the meetings of the Town Council are run - for example, who is allowed to speak at any particular time?
• Who can be Mayor?
• Who elects the Mayor?
• What does the Mayor do?
• What are all those old names in gold leaf on the walls of the Newbury Town Council chamber?
• How many town councillors are there?
• Do the Town Councillors come from Newbury?
• What does a Town Councillor do?
• Who elects Newbury Town Councillors?
• How much do Town Councillors get paid?
• Are Town Councillors allowed to take part in debates if there are any topics in which they have an interest, in meetings which they attend?

Answers

Why does Newbury have two councils?

Newbury has one council dedicated to it, Newbury Town Council, which is the 'parish level' council for Newbury - just as a parish council operates for smaller towns and villages.

West Berkshire Council just happens to be based in Newbury. It covers a huge area well in excess of the bounds of Newbury Town, from Hungerford in the West to the lakes between junctions 11 and 12 of the M4 in the East. It is the "district level" council for West Berkshire.

Being concentrated on the smaller area of Newbury town itself, Newbury Town Council is able to focus solely on those matters which are of interest to Newbury residents. It is Newbury's 'local' council.

Who decides how the meetings of the Town Council are run - for example, who is allowed to speak at any particular time?

The council has a set of standing orders which govern the conduct of meetings. These have been drawn up and agreed by the council. They are available at the town council offices for inspection.

Who can be Mayor?

Any Town Councillor can be nominated by his or her colleagues to serve as Mayor of Newbury.

Who elects the Mayor?

Newbury Town Councillors elect the Mayor at the annual meeting of the Town Council, normally held in the Corn Exchange during May. Each Mayor normally serves for a period of one year.

What does the Mayor do?

In addition to his or her normal duties as a town councillor, the Mayor acts as the chair of meetings of Newbury Town Council. The Mayor attends a plethora of community meetings and events as the representative of the Town Council. The appointment is an apolitical one. More than anyone else, the Mayor embodies the town of Newbury.

What are all those old names in gold leaf on the walls of the Newbury Town Council chamber?

They are the names of all the Mayors of Newbury going back to the day when Queen Elizabeth I gave Newbury its charter.

How many town councillors are there?

There are 23 town councillors, representing 7 wards of the town - Brummel Grove, Clay Hill, Falkland, Northcroft, Pyle Hill, St Johns and Victoria.

Do the Town Councillors come from Newbury?

Of course, every town councillor resides in Newbury town, or within a few hundred yards of it.

What does a Town Councillor do?

Each town councillor is obliged to attend meetings of the full council and committee meetings on which he or she serves. In addition, each town councillor may act as a substitute on other committees, serve on sub-committees and sit on outside bodies such as school governing bodies or the Citizens Advice Bureau. He or she must do a number of Surgeries on the Town Hall Steps each year and attend various civic occasions.

Aside from those duties, town councillors take a deep interest in the affairs of Newbury Town. They follow developments closely. They 'keep an ear to the ground' by listening to the opinions of residents, business-people and other people concerned with the future of Newbury Town. More often than not, the town councillors hear those opinions in the normal course of their work and family life in the town.

Who elects Newbury Town Councillors?

Residents of Newbury Town who are eligible to vote.

How much do Town Councillors get paid?

Nothing.

Are Town Councillors allowed to take part in debates if there are any topics in which they have an interest, in meetings which they attend?

No. Newbury Town Councillors are bound by a Code of Conduct. This means that councillors must withdraw from meetings when matters in which they have a 'prejudicial' interest are discussed. Their withdrawal is recorded in the minutes of that meeting. Click here to view the Code of Conduct.