Introduction
The Council aims to support and develop the prosperity of Dartmouth and its community in
providing a leadership role for the Town. To do this it intends to work closely with independent
charities, commercial interests and other elected members, and with organisers of the many
important events hosted in Dartmouth.
There are sixteen councillors, covering the Wards of Clifton and Townstal led by the Mayor, each Councillor works in a voluntary capacity – attending meetings, working with local partner organisations, and representing the Town in discussions with District and County Councils and other bodies. Councillors give freely of their time and are always willing to listen to the views of residents, visitors and the business community about improvements and changes.
Priorities for the Council
In May 2019, a new Council was elected and a number of new Councillors took up their role. All Councillors recognise the concerns and anxieties of many people in Dartmouth – supporting the economy through these difficult times, building a community, and managing the environment.
Alongside the process of developing and publicising priorities, your Council is constantly reviewing its procedures and the ways of working to ensure that they are efficient, effective, and are capable of supporting the practical implementation of its work. Key reference documents arising, including the Standing Orders, the Financial Regulations and a new Strategic Plan will be available on the Council Website.
Links with other Organisations in Dartmouth
There are several important charitable and independent organisations and small groups of individuals based in Dartmouth, all which have a vital role to play in supporting the Town now and into the future.
All these organisations, whether formally constituted or not, are run independently, and the Council has no formal powers of influence or control in their affairs. Several are registered charities, in which case they will have their own Boards of Trustees and Charitable Objects with which they have a legal obligation to comply. Some are limited companies each of which have their own Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The Council is very keen to develop closer links with local organisations to build a long-term vision for Dartmouth, to support local organisations in their work, and to help ensure that expertise and resources are used efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the town.
The Council supports local organisations in many ways – through nominating Councillors to sit on committees, attending meetings, helping to raise the profile of issues with other decision makers, or agreeing to contribute funding or other types of support to joint activities.
Staffing and Personnel Matters
The Council employs a team of 14 staff. The Clerk reports directly to the Mayor of Dartmouth and is responsible for ensuring the proper conduct of Council business, taking forward decisions taken by the Council and its committees into actions, and managing the other staff employed by the Council. Staff also undertake work for other Councillors where their support is needed to take forward Council business. The Mayor meets with the Clerk several times a week to discuss progress and to identify priority actions as needed.
The work of the Council includes supervision of the Market Square on market days, the running of the Guildhall and overseeing the other Council properties. Staff also deal with varied enquiries from the public – in person, by email and by letter. Some of these enquiries can be complex and time-consuming. Staff aim to answer queries within 7-10 working days, but there will be times when the workload of staff is too high for this target to be met.
The Council takes its employment responsibilities seriously. The Staffing Committee ensures that as an employer, the Council is legally compliant and has appropriate policies and procedures in place to recruit, develop, and assess the performance of its employees. The Staffing Committee also makes recommendations on staff pay to the full Council, seeking to ensure parity with other Councils of similar size and with responsibilities. As with all employers, data about individual staff is confidential to the Council.
Council Assets
All properties and assets in the Council’s portfolio of ownership and responsibility are dealt with through the Council Assets Committee.
Our portfolio consists of:
- The Guildhall
- The Butterwalk (and all associated residential and commercial lettings)
- The Old Market (a car park and all associated commercial lettings)
- Ivy Lane building
- Coronation Park (a block of toilets and associated commercial lettings)
- Royal Avenue Gardens (a block of toilets and associated commercial lettings)
- The Castle Estate (a large woodland, a block of toilets and a car park)
- Longcross Cemetery and allotments
- The Orchard
Council Procedures
Members of the public occasionally ask why business is conducted in a particular way, or why certain committees are in existence. To respond to these points, there are three important source documents which currently underpin the work of the Council. The first is the Local Government Act (1972), the second is the Standing Orders which govern the work of the Council and the conduct of meetings, the third is the Financial Regulations which cover how contracts are awarded. The second and third of these are available to members of the public in paper form.
Agendas and approved minutes for both full Council meetings and sub-committees are placed on our Website.
Policies and Procedures (including Standing Orders and Financial Regulations)
The Council and all 16 Cllrs operate within it’s:
- Standing Orders,
- Financial Regulations,
- Scheme of Delegation & Committee Terms of Reference
- Code of Conduct
The Standing Orders of the Council cover a number of important matters, including the procedures adopted during Council meetings, the selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Council committees and sub-committees, how Council decisions are made, and public access to both meetings and key documents. Minutes are taken of all formal meetings and subcommittees.
At each meeting of the Council, previous minutes are presented, checked for accuracy, and approved by the full Council. Some of our Standing Orders are legally required and others are agreed in order to support the practical working of the Council. Our Standing
Orders are checked and verified by the Devon Association of Local Councils.
The Financial Regulations of the Council cover how contracts are awarded and what paperwork and procedures need to be in place to comply with the Regulations. These regulations are reviewed regularly by the Finance Committee and any proposed changes are brought to the full Council for approval.
The Council’s budget for the period which runs from 1 April for 12 months is discussed and agreed in the previous Autumn. Councillors are mindful of the need for economy and efficiency in implementing plans and priorities. Sometimes this means taking difficult decisions (for example, restricting opening hours of the Guildhall over the Christmas period in response to low demand in previous years) and limiting the financial support and help it is able to give to other organisations or Town initiatives.
Where appropriate, increasing amounts of work are undertaken by email, and all Councillors bear the use of home computing, stationery, email and telephone costs themselves. This helps keep the costs of running Council business down. The exception is the Mayor, who in common with other Town Mayors, receives a personal allowance, as a contribution to expenses. These expenses may include simple hospitality for visitors, official travel, and the costs of attending civic events.
The Scheme of Delegation & Committee Terms of Reference, sets out the way decisions can be made within the Council, some decisions can be delegated to the Town Clerk, whereas other decisions are delegated to certain committees.
Some decisions cannot be delegated, but have to be made by Council ie: setting of the budget and precept, approval of the A.G.A.R. and adoption of the Code of Conduct.
The Council has adopted a new Code of Conduct in line with that adopted by South Hams District Council. The Code requires Councillors to abide by key principles at all times. These principles govern personal behaviour and respect for others (which covers issues of equality and bullying), confidentiality, and the disclosure of personal and professional interests. If any member of the public has any concerns about the conduct of a Councillor under this Code, then they should discuss their concerns directly with the Mayor.
Each Councillor completes a Register of Interests (as required under the new Code). The Register requires Councillors to declare membership of relevant bodies, their employment, any payments made towards Council expenses (and by whom), any interests in contracts with the Council (whether direct or indirect), local landholdings, and any beneficial interests/securities in companies or societies active in the Dartmouth area. The Register is regularly updated, and completion of the Register is rigorously enforced. They are all available to view here [link coming soon].
The documents are available to view on our policies & procedures page
Code of Conduct and Register of Interests
The Council has adopted a new Code of Conduct in line with that adopted by South Hams District Council. The Code requires Councillors to abide by key principles at all times. These principles govern personal behaviour and respect for others (which covers issues of equality and bullying), confidentiality, and the disclosure of personal and professional interests. If any member of the public has any concerns about the conduct of a Councillor under this Code, then they should discuss their concerns directly with the Mayor.
Each Councillor completes a Register of Interests (as required under the new Code). The Register requires Councillors to declare membership of relevant bodies, their employment, any payments made towards Council expenses (and by whom), any interests in contracts with the Council (whether direct or indirect), local landholdings, and any beneficial interests/securities in companies or societies active in the Dartmouth area. The Register is regularly updated, and completion of the Register is rigorously enforced. They are all available to view online through the South Hams District Council website.
Communication
One important route to communicating information efficiently and effectively is through the Council website. The website is updated regularly and is a valuable source of information for all. However, the Council recognises that some people in Dartmouth do not have computers or would prefer information in written form. Until it is clear that this position has changed, information will continue to be published in electronic and paper formats.
Comments, concerns or complaints about Council Matters
The Mayor and Councillors take genuine comments and concerns raised by the public very seriously, and in almost all cases questions are raised politely and courteously. The Council does not respond to any questions or comments raised which are of a personal nature, which are anonymous or which are abusive or offensive to Councillors or staff.
The best way to discuss any ideas for Dartmouth, or to raise issue of concern is to speak to one of your Ward Councillors or to the Mayor. Details of Ward Councillors are here on the Council website.
Should a member of the public wish to contact the Mayor on any issue, then please telephone or write to the Council Offices, details of which are given here on this website. In addition, there is a slot of 15 minutes at each full Council meeting when any member of the public may ask a question of the Mayor.