About Your Council
About Your Council
Civility & Respect
3rd January 2023
Civility and Respect should be at the heart of public life and good governance is fundamental to ensuring an effective and well-functioning democracy at all levels. At the Full Council meeting on 9th December 2022, the Town Council resolved to sign up to the Civility and Respect Pledge, a collaboration project supported by Society of Local Clerks & Councils (SLCC), National Association of Local Councils (NALC), One Voice Wales (OVW) & County Associations.
Signed pledge and the Bullying & Harassment Statement below.
The Town Council has 16 Councillors, who are elected to represent one of three wards in the town; North, South & West and East Ward. The North are represented by seven councillors, South & West has six councillors, with East Ward having three. Councillors are elected to serve a period of four years.
The election was held on 6th May 2021. To view these results please visit Wiltshire Council website.
For more information regarding the electoral process please click on the following link to go to our Policies page where you can download a copy.
Corporate aims and objectives
The Council aims is to promote Royal Wootton Bassett as an independent and vibrant community.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council’s commitment to residents is to be a forward thinking organisation and provide effective leadership for the town.
The Town Council offers:
- Quality services, founded on community involvement and responsive to the town’s needs;
- Support its staff and value them in delivery of services to residents;
- Through effective leadership and quality of service provision, the Town Council will promote a sustainable and balanced future for the town.
The 16 elected members are responsible to ensure the Town Council’s business is carried out in line with statutory requirements. These Councillors represent residents’ interest at the various committees, sub-committees and working groups, where decisions are made to provide and improve the Town and it’s facilities. Each May, the Council hold an Annual Meeting (Mayor Making) where a Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected.
At Full Council is where all 16 Councillors meet to make decisons on such matters as; setting the precept, making, amending or revoking Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and Internal Control, Matters of Principle or Policy and any proposed new undertakings.
The Amenities Committee looks after seven play areas, Jubilee Lake Nature Reserve, Jacqui Woolford Memorial Park, Down View Cemetery, CCTV, open spaces under its ownership and the Public Conveniences at Borough Fields Shopping Centre and Jubilee Lake and recently Church Street Allotments.
The Revenue & Resources Committee is responsible for making financial decisions and dealing with staffing matters, along with management of its investments such as Merchant House. It also oversees Town Events, for example Christmas Lights & Shopping Evening held ever year around November / December time. It interacts with the community by giving grants to support local organisations.
The Planning Committee meets when it is deemed necessary to discuss the Town Council’s response as a consultee to planning applications submitted to Wiltshire Council.
The Town Council are also Trustees to Wootton Bassett Town Hall & Trust Charity, which meets twice a year; July and February to discuss matters on the Town Hall building and Charter Market held every Wednesday.
As from 29th January 2021 the Town Council become trustees of Wootton Bassett Memorial Hall and surrounding land, including the car park. Meetings are being held when essential decisions on its management are needed to be made.
Every April the council hold an Annual Town Meeting which members of the public are welcome to attend and find out what has been happening throughout the year.
Supporting the Councillors are 16 members of staff [10 Full-time, 6 Part-time] led by the Town Clerk and Acting Responsible Financial Officer, to ensure that the Council as a whole conducts its business properly and provides independent, objective and professional advice and support.
Council Meeting Dates
What We Do
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council provide a wide range of services and looks after many of the town’s facilities including;
- Allotments – Church Street
- Award Grants
- Banner Space at Marlowe Way
- 32 Bus Shelters
- Bulletin
- CCTV
- Charity Stalls
- Christmas Lights & Shopping Evening
- Civic Awards
- Community Nature Reserve
- Community Resilience Plan
- Downs View Cemetery
- Jackie Woolford Memorial Park
- Jubilee Lake Nature Reserve
- Flagpole
- Hanging Baskets & Sponsored Flowerbeds
- High Street Furniture
- Manor House
- Mayor’s Diary & Events
- Memorabilia
- Memorial Benches & Trees
- Merchant House
- New General Waste/Dog/Grit Bins
- Planning Consultee
- 7 Play Areas/Parks
- Public Conveniences at Boroughfields & Jubilee Lake
- Remembrance Services
- Repatriation Archives
- Resilience Plan
- Safe Places
- Showfield Ground
- Snow Gritting
- Sparrow Lane Pocket Park
- Stoneover Lane tree site
- Replacement Poppy site
- Tourist Information Point
- Town Guide
- 7 Town Notice Boards
- Town Council Office – 117 High Street
- Town Crier Competition
- Trustee of Wootton Bassett Memorial Hall
- Trustee of Wootton Bassett Town Hall Trust & Charity
- War Memorial
- Website & Social Media
- Wednesday Charter Market
- Youth Provision
The Town Council also support a number of community groups and initiatives such as:
- Wootton Bassett Carnival Committee
- Royal Wootton Bassett Community Together
- Royal Wootton Bassett Demential Friends
- Royal Wootton Bassett Neighbourhood Plan