INFORMATION WANTED FOR NEW TOWN GUIDE

A NEW and updated edition of the Wellington Town Guide is to be produced by the town council this year.
It will be a high quality, glossy A5 book, incorporating a full colour editorial content that will inform existing residents, new arrivals and visitors alike, of the services and facilities that exist in the area for both residential and commercial interests.
As well as details of various local public services, shops and businesses, there will be a special section with a comprehensive list of clubs, groups and societies with contact names and numbers plus information about councils and councillors, schools and pre-schools,
A map of Wellington will appear within the guide accompanied by a street index.
Any local club who would like to be included in the guide is asked to send their details, with a brief history of their organisation, to the town clerk Tony Brown at 28 Fore Street, Wellington TA21 8AQ, fax 01823 663311 or email info@wellingtontowncouncil.co.uk.
The closing date for entries is 18th August 2007.

FUNDING FOR MEALS ON WHEELS

ELDERLY residents in Wellington are to benefit from hot meals thanks to generous funding from the town council.
Westcountry Health Education and Research Enterprise has been granted £1,136.21 from Wellington Town Council to purchase catering equipment for providing hot meals to residents of Lodge Close.
WHERE, who are based at the Northfield Centre in North Street, provide services to adults with a wide range of needs including mental/physical disabilities, long term chronic health conditions and those who have become isolated as well as providing regular meals at lunchtimes.
Chief executive Barbara Ford said the money had been used to purchase equipment such as a trolley and various insulated containers to transport cooked food to Lodge Close hall.
It also paid for scales, a mixer, and a slicer to provide larger quantities of meals. “We are very grateful for the council’s financial support,” she said.
Presenting the cheque to Mrs Ford, town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton, said: “We are delighted to award this grant to WHERE which will enable the Northfield Centre to provide more meals than previously and give a particular service to the residents of Lodge Close.
“We are extremely impressed to hear of their good work.”

Pic cap – Wellington Town Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton presents a grant of £1,136.21 to WHERE chief executive Mrs Ford.

£1,400 CHEQUE FOR ST JOHN AMBULANCE

The chairman of Wellington Town Council Dave Mitton has presented a cheque for £1,400 to Wellington St John Ambulance as a grant from the council towards the £1,800 cost of a new automatic defibrillator.

He said that St John was a behind the scenes organisation which was always there when the public needed them and provided invaluable support at a wide range of events throughout the area.

The defibrillator was an important life saving piece of equipment and the council was pleased to substantially fund its purchase.

The officers and cadets were a real credit to the town and the council was delighted to continue to support them.

Receiving the cheque divisional officer Gill Atkinson (right) thanked the town council for its continuing backing: just over a year ago the council gave £3,000 towards a new ambulance vehicle.

Also in the picture are Claire Knighton, the national deputy cadet of the year (second from left) and Charlotte Sydenham, Wellington’s leading cadet.

DELIVERING THE MESSAGE ABOUT CONSERVATION

Wellington Town Council has been delivering the message about conservation in the town by distributing more than 300 leaflets to residents.
The action was prompted following a recent decision by Taunton Deane Borough Council to re-draw the boundaries of Wellington’s conservation area.
Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton personally delivered the conservation area leaflets to more than 300 homes.
He said: “Taunton Deane was not able to distribute the information to residents.
“However, our priority at the town council is to make sure people in Wellington know what it means to live in a conservation area.
“Many people do not even appreciate they live in a conservation area.”
A conservation area is defined as ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.’
In order to assist in the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas various additional planning controls exist within them and planning permission is required for a number of alterations including dormer windows, satellite dishes, and some extensions.
Further information about this is available in Wellington library or by contacting the heritage and landscape department at Taunton Deane Borough Council on 01823 356426 or email: heritage.landscape@tauntondeane.co.uk

Pic caption – Wellington Town Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton hands out a leaflet to North Street resident Carol Longman.

£1,000 boost to scout group

The excellent work that the 1st Wellington Scout Group does in organising a wide range of activities for young people in the town and district has again been recognised by Wellington Town Council.
The council chairman Dave Mitton presented a cheque for £1,000 to the group towards the £8,500 cost of providing additional camping equipment.

He said the council was pleased to continue to support the local scouts who are celebrating their centenary this year and who have 160 members. Last year the council gave £400 to enable four local scouts to attend the 21st world scout jamboree and in 2005 made a grant of £1,000 to help the group to buy new kayaks and a safety boat.
Group leader Steve Altria replied that the group were extremely grateful for all the financial backing it had received over the years from the town council whose record in helping local organisations was second to none.

Pic caption – Wellington Town Council chairman Dave Mitton presents a cheque for £1,000 to local scouts Jennifer Altria, David Weaver and Sam Pope who will be attending the world jamboree in August.

PRESENTATION OF TOP PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION AT WELLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL

Wellington Town Council is on the way to gaining quality status with the presentation of a top award to one of its officers.
Julia Thorne, assistant to the town clerk, has achieved the Certificate in Local Council Administration, the customised qualification for parish and town council clerks.
Julia, 32, who lives in Twyford Place, Wellington, is the only holder of the qualification in the area.
The Certificate in Local Council Administration has been designed as the test for ‘qualified clerk’ criteria in the Government’s Quality Parish Status initiative and specifically tests candidates against a list of core competencies on the work of a parish clerk.
Presenting the award Somerset Association of Local Councils County Secretary Peter Lacey said: “I am delighted to present Julia with her certificate which demonstrates her proficiency in the administration of a local council.
“There are some 20 holders of the certificate in Somerset which is a component required by the council in a bid for quality status.
“The Association is supportive of staff at our parish and town councils in getting this Certificate and training events are held regularly.”
Council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton said: “I am absolutely delighted in Julia’s success of obtaining the certificate in local council administration.
“We appreciate all the hard work she has done which will benefit both the council and herself.”
The Quality Parish and Town Council scheme was launched in June 2003, following the publication of the Government's Rural White Paper, 2000. The scheme is designed to provide benchmark minimum standards for parish and town councils, and enable them to better represent the communities they serve.

Pic cap – Somerset Association of Local Councils County Secretary Peter Lacey (right) presents assistant to the town clerk Julia Thorne with her certificate also pictured is Wellington town council chairman Councillor Dave Mitton (left).