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Welcome to Gillingham Town Council
Welcome to the Gillingham Town Council website. This site contains agendas and draft minutes for all committee and Full Council meetings from May 2007 within "Documents & Archive". Membership details for the four committees and the various working parties are listed within the "The Council" section. Ward representation and contact details for council members can be found in the “Who We Are” section
The Policy section includes the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations for Gillingham Town Council together with a number of other policy documents. A Model Publication Scheme listing all of the information available under the Freedom of Information Act and how it can be obtained, is also included in this section.
The site is updated on a regular basis with news and information on local issues and also includes links to a number of local organisations.
MAYOR OF GILLINGHAM 2011-12
Councillor David Milsted has been elected as Mayor of Gillingham for the forthcoming civic year. Councillor Milsted received the chain of office at a ceremony held on Monday 9th May 2011. The Mayoress of Gillingham for 2011/2012 is Mrs Annie Milsted.
Gillingham’s new Deputy Mayor is Cllr Stephen Joyce and his Consort is Mrs Sue Toogood.
The Mayor's Cadet is Jessica Carpenter and the Deputy Cadet is Adam Crosse.
Access Mayor's Report for his year in office by downloading on the link below:
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DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
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Gillingham will be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with The Jubilee Party at The Rec on Sunday June 3rd.
Basing our celebrations on the Big Lunch idea the party will start at midday, at the Recreation Ground in Hardings Lane, and carry on into the evening. This will be a real community event so come along and join in the fun or just chill out on your picnic blanket.
Gather round the Jubilee Stage to listen to live local bands or dance on our al fresco disco floor!
The Diamond Stage will host Light Entertainment for adults and children alike. Here local children will have a chance to show off their talent, anything from would-be stand-up comedians to ventriloquists with the odd singer thrown in. So if you or a group of friends want to tread the boards and wow the crowds then contact us so we can book you a time slot.
The Wacky Races Enclosure speaks for itself. Here everyone can really show off their track and field skills and get the chance to win a medal with the 50m egg and spoon dash (or smash), pair up for the three legged wobble and squabble, or get a team together for the water bucket relay.
Grab some grub at Catering Corner where there will be a hog roast, barbeque and tea tent or bring your own picnic, relax on your rug and enjoy the party.
As we are celebrating Her Majesty’s 60th year on the throne we invite you dress in your favourite decade, from Churchill to Cameron. Or come as your favourite personality; will it be Bill Haley, the Beatles, Boy George or Beyoncé? There will be prizes for the best junior, adult, and group.
We are still in the planning stage for the event and would welcome any help and support from the local community be it individuals, groups and societies or local businesses offering sponsorship of events and prizes.
There are limited spaces for craft stalls and charity stalls, if you are interested please contact Belinda Ridout on 01747 825161
If you would like to get involved or would like to take part in the Children’s Talent Show please contact Eileen Booton on 07930503666 or Linda Phillips on 01747 835891.
Keep looking out for more updates on The Jubilee Party at The Rec.
Link: www.jubileepartyattherec.co.uk
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North Dorset Draft Housing Strategy 2012-2015
The Council’s Housing Strategy 2012 – 2015 is now available for consultation and we are keen to incorporate the views of all of our partners and stakeholders in the final document which will be published in April 2012. We are particularly interested in your comments on the proposed strategic priorities which are set out on page 13 and are as follows:
* Increasing the number of homes available to buy and rent, including affordable housing;
* Protecting the vulnerable and disadvantaged by tackling homelessness and supporting people to stay in their own homes;
* Making sure that homes are of high quality and sustainable.
Do you agree that these should be the Council’s priorities for housing over the next three years?
Do you agree that by taking effective action in these areas we will have a positive impact on the issues set out underneath each of these priorities?
Are there other actions the Council should be taking on housing issues in the District?
Please let us have your comments on the document by Friday 16 March 2012. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss any aspect of the draft Strategy or require hard copies or a different format please contact Derek Hardy at North Dorset District Council on 01258 484041, DHardy@north-dorset.gov.uk
The Housing Strategy is here: http://consultationtracker.dorsetforyou.com/00,consultation,10405,330,00.htm
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Draft North Dorset Economic Development Strategy 2012 – 2015
The Council prepared the current ED Strategy in 2009 and it was adopted in March 2010. A considerable amount of political and economic change has taken place since then and we feel that it therefore requires revision. Many of our partner agencies, such as the South West Regional Development Agency and Business Link, have been abolished and new organisations, such as the Dorset Local enterprise Partnership (LEP) have been established to take on some of the functions.
Resources and funding have been reduced and the role of the public sector is now
more that of enabling, facilitating and endeavouring to create an environment in
which businesses can thrive.
The Council will be supporting the LEP on economic development issues of county
wide strategic significance e.g. Broadband, inward investment, promotion of
Dorset, etc. At a local level NDDC needs to know which activities are a
priority for North Dorset so that it can concentrate its resources and those of
its partners most effectively.
Key issues include:
· The future of town centres
· Unemployment and the transition from training/education into local
employment
· Skills and training – apprenticeships, work experience
· Employment land and provision of workspace
· Retaining services and facilities in the villages and rural areas
The Draft Economic Development Strategy 2012 -2015 is out for consultation until
30 March 2012, and will then be redrafted to reflect the responses and focus its
action plan on the areas of greatest importance. This revised document will be
presented to Cabinet for Adoption April. It will also contribute to the
development of the Core Strategy.
The Draft Strategy, the Action Plan, a covering letter and a questionnaire can
be found on: http://consultationtracker.dorsetforyou.com/North%20Dorset%20Draft%20Economic%20Development%20Strategy%202012-15
Paper or emailed copies are available on request.
Questionnaires are to be returned to Sue Watson at SWatson@north-dorset.gov.uk<mailto:SWatson@north-dorset.gov.uk>
by 30 March.
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GILLINGHAM DIRECT
Gillingham Direct goes live!
The talking is all done. The systems have been built and tested. The office has been created and kitted out. The staff are being trained. So it’s all systems go for a public launch on 23 November 2011.
The Leader of Dorset County Council, Cllr Angus Campbell; The Leader of North Dorset District Council, Cllr Peter Webb; and the Mayor of Gillingham, Cllr David Milsted have all been invited to cut the ribbon at Gillingham Direct at the formal launch.
What will Gillingham Direct offer?
It’s one place in Gillingham where anyone can visit to find out about local council services. Everything from Council Tax to car parks and from allotments to youth clubs
When is it open?
From 9.00-13.00 Monday to Thursday
What’s the phone number?
01747 823588, the same as the current Gillingham Town Council telephone number.
What’s the email?
gtc@gillinghamdorset-tc.gov.uk
Where is Gillingham Direct?
It’s in the Gillingham Town Council building next door to the Police Station. It’s also conveniently close to two of Gillingham’s schools for those on the school run.
Who works there?
To start with Gillingham Town Council staff and the County Registrar but there will also be North Dorset District Council staff, at certain times to be advertised in the future, providing housing advice, benefits and council tax advice.
How do they know all the answers to DCC and NDDC questions?
They have access to the dorsetforyou website and have been trained to use the customer relationship computer systems at Dorset Direct in Dorchester and at the District Council to field questions about council services in North Dorset. Anyone working at Gillingham Direct will have access to information about: waste, concessionary travel,rights of way, highways, blue badges and a host of other subjects contained in dorsetforyou.com.
Are there any new jobs at Gillingham Direct?
There are no new posts at Gillingham Direct because it is an extension of our existing council service operations. We are relocating some of our resources to Gillingham Direct rather than creating new jobs.
How will it benefit local people?
Anyone living in and around Gillingham now only has to go to one place, Gillingham Direct, to find information about County, District or Town Council services. People will no longer have to travel to Blandford or Dorchester for specialist advice, such as housing, so it should save both time and money for them.
Could it mean redundancies?
No, there are no planned redundancies because we are redeploying our services not reducing them.
Will it save money for the councils?
It has already saved money and will help all the
councils to operate more efficiently so there will be long term financial benefits.
Will it save office space?
Yes. By sharing space we have been able to reduce the cost of DCC offices in Gillingham because the County Registrar has been able to move into the Town Council building.
Has it been expensive to set up?
It hasn’t cost a lot of money but a small group of employees from all three councils has put in a lot of time planning and creating Gillingham Direct to ensure that it works well from the outset.
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CHARITY CAR WASH
SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011 RAISED £500.00.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS EVENT.
This amount will be shared between 'The Firefighters Charity' and the 'Gillingham War Memorial Restoration Appeal'.
Mayor's Charity Auction
Saturday 15th October 2011
RAISED £2,070.50
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS EVENT.