Key Updates - Extraordinary Finance and General Purposes Committee

An extra-ordinary meeting of the Council was arranged in order to get approval for work that could be progressed in the New Year; it was not clear whether meetings early in the New Year would be possible because of increasing Covid restrictions. An extra-ordinary meeting gave the opportunity to move business along.

• A new guidance document for the administration of the Ward Allowances was approved. Each of the 16 councillors has an allowance of £600 per annum to be used on small, targeted projects that benefit their Ward, without having to seek approval of the Council/a Committee. Please contact your Ward Councillors (details on our website) if you’d like to find out more.


• Additional funds from the Civic Budget will go directly to the Mayor’s chosen Charities, in lieu of the usual fundraising activities being able to take place due to the pandemic.


• The Council usually put’s up ‘summer’ lights on the lampposts on Harbour Parade (the “galleons”), but there’s often criticism that these look like Christmas lights that we’ve failed to take down. The Council is going to try and identify something more seasonally appropriate for 2022.


• The new Town Clerk has successful passed her probationary period, and Councillors are very pleased with how well Miss Fidler has settled into the role.

This is not a summary of everything covered at this meeting, please see the official Minutes for the legal record of the meeting. The above is intended to provide a snapshot of matters that may be of particular interest to residents.

Written by:
Miss Laura Fidler,
Town Clerk & RFO