Bridgwater Town Council has presented its ‘Forward Plan’ for 2017-18 with an increased focus on promoting our town.
Town Council Leader Brian Smedley (Westover) said “This year we are concentrating on what’s best about Bridgwater, and that’s our location as a jumping off point for nearby tourist destinations, and we want to retain some of that footfall, which is why we’re seeing new hotels in the town. We want to promote what we’re good at -and that’s our tradition of artistic creativity, community spirit and entertainment through our Cultural Partnership and focus on opportunities for the future, which means our young people, through our Youth Forum .”
“We want the whole community with us on this, which means developing the estates where most of the people live, addressing the major transport issues that have bedeviled the town and pushing for opportunities arising from infrastructure projects such as Hinkley Point, with it’s CIM funding and the Tidal Barrier with it’s potential for revitalising our historic waterways and waterfronts. And we want to make our town centre worth coming to through a programme of enhancements ranging from the Celebration Mile to the Town Team initiatives. And finally we want to try our best to work with Sedgemoor District Council where our projects have common goals – not always historically possible, but we’ll give it a go.”
To find details of the councils structure and individual roles of each councillor click here.
To find a report on the previous year click here.
BTC’s 5 identified priorities for 2017-18 are
| Priority | Update |
| Bridgwater Town Centre, Northgate Project & Celebration Mile | Work with Sedgemoor to achieve movement on upgrade of town centre (ML)
Tourism potential for town and review of promotional materials (BS) |
| Town Development Forum. | Town Development Forum established and BTC accepted as key consultee (BS) |
| Hinkley Point + Mitigation funding for Bridgwater | Liaison with SDC regarding CIM projects (LR) |
| Waterways, Docks, Barrier & Navigation | Work with IWA, CRT, EH & SDC to achieve best navigational result for Bridgwater, focus on Docks CIM bid (KP) Tidal Barrier and future proofing (ML) |
| Bigger Bridgwater | Opening up Town Hall to community access (LR)
Better promotion of Town and Council plus extending future boundaries (BS) Expand Youth work through funding of youth initiatives and Roller Coaster (DR) Promote Town Centre through Cultural partnerships ie‘Quayside‘ festival (TH) |
Annual Town Meeting MONITOR 2017-18
| Key policy | Action | Terms of reference |
| Increase Community Representation | BS | Expanded Forum system-TDF, Transport, Youth, Culture, Twinning – add Tourism |
| Greater public access to Town Hall | LR | Bridgwater Room (Old Council Chamber), Hall facilities and access to other rooms and floors |
| Co-operation with Sedgemoor | BS | 5 working priorities agreed (below) |
| Police surgeries & beats | BS | Continue 1st agenda item policy/PCC visit June 29th |
| EDF/HPC Community Mitigation funds | LR | Target key legacy projects -Town Centre/ South Bridgwater/ Docks/Taunton rd Ponds/Bristol rd |
| Greater attention to Heritage matters | BS | Closer co-operation with Civic Society via Planning Panel |
| Reviewing Town Boundaries | BS | Report to boundaries commission upon next review opportunity |
| Waterways, Docks & Navigation | KP | Work with Inland Waterways Association on Barrier and Docks/increase navigation-river/canal |
| Cultural Partnership | TH | Co-ordinate arts,culture and heritage provision/ support town centre ‘Quayside’ Festival |
| Better Promotion of Bridgwater | BS | Review and upgrade tourism resources/work with SDC |
| Celebration Mile | ML | Ensure action at either end plus focus on town centre |
| Sustainable Towns | KP | Widen vision of renewables, transition towns, energy efficiency |
| Northgate Development | BS | Co-operate with SDC & SCC to achieve town’s aims-green space ,leisure use ,Town Centre comp |
| Affordable Housing | ML | Provision, supply and location of affordable rented accommodation & ‘Fair Landlord’ campaign |
Forward Plan
| Monthly targets | Key BTC meetings | Actions | |
| June 2017 | · Committees,Outside bodies established,Forward plan agreed +5 Priorities identified
· Town Transport Forum -20mph scheme launched Tues 4 July 4pm · Town Development Forum -Sue Mountstevens Thur 29 June 7.30pm |
BTC 15 June | BS
TH BS |
| July 2017 | · Co-operation with Sedgemoor meeting Review top 5 SDC/BTC priorities
· Review of Bridgwater Tourism & PR · Docks Gala Saturday 2 July · Quayside festival 29.7.17 |
BS
BS KP TH |
|
| August 2017 | · Celebration Mile review
· Town Hall -review of future works and costs · Tidal Barrier update · Docks and Waterways update · Northgate School -progress and safe routes update |
BTC 3 AUG | ML
LR ML KP KP |
| Sept 2017 | · Bridgwater Fair
· Cultural Forum report , Festival & Art Centre review · Youth budget review and criteria for spend-Finance ctte 13th Sept · State of the Town Centre – Walkabout |
BTC 14 Sept |
Ward members
TH DR DL |
| Oct 2017 | · Bridgwater Together Project
· Trade Mission to Priverno · ‘Born in Bridgwater Campaign’ review & Hospital visit |
BTC 26 Oct | BS
ML KP |
| Nov 2017 | · Carnival, Fireworks, Snowflakes & Shopping, Christmas tree & lights
· CIM funding review (ward priorities agreed) · Bridgwater History Day Nov 11 · Staff review + consideration of carers allowance · Premises review + accessibility audit |
DL
LR BS ML LR |
|
| Dec 2017 | · Outline Budget Core funding, Ward Grants & Precept Budget options circulated
· Affordable Housing review |
BTC 7 Dec | AH
ML |
| Jan 2018 | · Bridgwater Cup
· Budget 18-19 Finance ctte then BTC |
BTC 11 Jan
|
GG/AH
BS |
| Feb 2018 | · Civic Service | Civic Service | |
| March 2018 | · Deputy Mayor election for 2018-19 Mayor Making procedure | BTC 8 March | DR |
| April 2018 | · Twinning Conference
· Sustainable futures -eco town, renewables, innovation |
BTC 12 April | BS
KP |
| May 2018 | · Annual Town Meeting Annual report presented
· Mayor Making – |
10 May
11 May |
BS
DR (2018-19) |