Essential Guide

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Newbury Town Council
Newbury Town Council was created in April 1997 and
in May of that year the people of the town elected
twenty-four Councillors. The old Borough Council had
been replaced by Newbury District Council in 1974 and,
between 1974 and 1997, Charter Trustees looked after
the interests of the town. The establishment of a Town
Council was widely welcomed as a way of giving the
people of Newbury a clear voice in local affairs.
Council Meetings
Meetings of the full Town Council are held once
every eight weeks on Mondays, normally starting
at 7.30pm. These are the main meetings of the
Council, presided over by the Mayor. Minutes of
the committees are received and adopted. Other
business can include presentations from local
bodies.
There are four committees of the Council:
Policy and Resources Committee
Planning and Highways Committee
Community Services Committee
Arts and Leisure Committee
All Town Council meetings are held in the Council
Chamber in the Town Hall, Market Place, Newbury.
Members of the public are very welcome to attend
all meetings. There are seats specially reserved for
you. Every effort is made to ensure that members
of the public can understand the meetings and feel
at ease.
The Council Notice Board
Just outside the main door of the Town Hall, there
is a notice board. This gives prior details of each
meeting of the Council.
Civic Events
Every year there are at least three civic events at
which the Town Councillors dress in their traditional
robes and hats. These events are:
•Remembrance Sunday which is, of course, in
November. This includes a service at the war
memorial in Bartholomew Street followed by a
service in St Nicolas Church.
•The Christmas Civic Service in December is
normally held in St Nicolas Church and includes a
full traditional Carol Service with readings.
•The Mayor-Making ceremony, usually held in the
Corn Exchange, Newbury in May, followed by a
civic service.
In addition to the above events there are some other
civic events each year.
Beating of the Bounds
This traditional event takes place normally in June.
Led by the Mayor, councillors and residents walk
along the perimeter of Newbury Town. As this
perimeter is very long, the event is usually split over
two Sunday afternoons. The Beating of the Bounds
is a most enjoyable Town Council event held to
mark special years. e.g. The 400th anniversary of
the town’s Charter and the Millennium year.
Having your say
You can ask a question(s) at Newbury Town Council
meetings. You need to notify the Chief Executive in
advance by faxing your question to 01635 40484,
e-mail your question to: .
uk or by taking it to the Town Hall before 2pm on
the day of the meeting. You will then be given an
opportunity to ask your question(s) at the beginning
of the meeting.
At meetings of the Planning and Highways
Committee, there is a point in the meeting when
residents affected by an application have the
opportunity to speak for a brief period.
Surgery on the Town Hall Steps
Every Saturday between 10am and 12noon, two
Newbury Town Councillors position themselves at
the steps of the Town Hall to listen to residents’
concerns and answer questions.
Contacting the Town Council
The council offices are the Town Hall, Market Place,
Newbury. The main entrance is now in Mansion
House Street. The offices are normally open during
the following hours:
Monday- Thursday 0900 - 1700 hrs
Friday 0900 - 1630 hrs
The phone number is 01635 35486. The fax
number is 01635 40484 and the e-mail address is
.
Community listings essential guide 5