Committee structure
These are the current Town Council committees and working groups:
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
This committee has been delegated by Council to:
- Monitor the budget and agree the allocation of any surplus/deficit at the close of accounts
- Agree a revised budget when the half-year figures are known
- Develop the draft budget and precept for consideration by Council
- Receive consultation documents and decide on the response mechanism
- Deal with urgent items that cannot wait until the next appropriate meeting
- Deal with all matters relating to the Newhaven Cemetery
The members of the Management Committee are:
Chair (Leader of the Council): Councillor Judith Ost
Members
The Mayor: Councillor Carla Butler
Lead Member Children and Young People: Councillor Ann Giles
Lead Member Community Services: Councillor Angela Simmons
Lead Member Partnership: Councillor Julie Carr
Lead Member Promotion: Councillor Graham Amy
Lead Member Planning: Councillor Steve Saunders
PLANNING APPLICATIONS COMMITTEE:
This committee meets approximately every three weeks to look at planning applications received by the District or County Council and make comments on them on behalf of the town.
The members of the Planning Applications Committee are:
Chair (Lead Member Planning): Councillor Steve Saunders
Vice Chair: Councillor Charlie Carr
Members: Councillor John Adams, Councillor Graham Amy, Councillor Ann Giles
Councillor Maurice Langham, Councillor Rod Main, Councillor Pat Ost, Councillor Angela Simmons
GRANT AID COMMITTEE:
This committee meets once a year in November and has delegated powers to allocate the small grants budget to local groups and organisations.
The members of the Grant Aid Committee are:
Chair: (Lead Member for Promotion) Councillor Graham Amy
Members: Councillor John Adams, Councillor Carla Butler, Councillor Charlie Carr, Councillor Julie Carr, Councillor Darren Grover
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE:
This committee meets at least once a year to determine staff remuneration for the following year. It has been delegated by Council to address and resolve personnel issues, including contracts of employment, pay scales, recruitment, training, redundancy, grievances and disciplinary matters.
The members of the Personnel Committee are:
Chair: Councillor Judith Ost
Members: Councillor Rod Main, Councillor Carla Butler, Councillor Julie Carr, Councillor Emma Clothier, Councillor Darren Grover, Councillor Pat Ost
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
This committee meets at least once a year to consider issues raised by internal and external auditors. It has been delegated by Council to instruct on changes to working practices.
The members of the Audit Committee are:
Chair: Councillor Pat Ost
Members: Councillor John Adams, Councillor Ann Giles, Councillor David Rogers
TASK AND FINISH COMMITTEES:
Council may from time to time decide to appoint a Task and Finish Committee which will discharge certain business and hold office until the task is complete.
This will be subject to re-appointment at the Annual Meeting.
Current Task and Finish Committees are:
ASSET MANAGEMENT TASK AND FINISH COMMITTEE:
This Task and Finish Committee has been appointed to provide guidance to Council on land availability in Newhaven which could be used for the enhancement of recreational play spaces and equipment.
Members: Councillor Ann Giles, Councillor Judith Ost, Councillor David Rogers, Councillor Angela Simmons
LEWES ROAD RECREATION GROUND TASK & FINISH COMMITTEE:
This Task and Finish Committee has been appointed to progress the drainage investigation activity and to identify a way forward which will increase and improve the facilities available on the recreation ground. Any expenditure has to be agreed by Council.
Members: Councillor Graham Amy, Councillor Julie Carr, Councillor Judith Ost, Councillor Pat Ost, Councillor Angela Simmons
Some committees, such as the Planning Applications Committee, meet very regularly – others only meet as required. Please see the meetings schedule for details. All meetings of Town Council committees are open to the public. Sometimes it may be necessary to consider particular items in confidential session. Where this arises, these items will be considered at the end of the agenda.
WORKING AND ADVISORY GROUPS
There are also various working groups set up to talk informally about various issues. These groups do not have decision making powers, but work behind the scenes to come up with ideas which are then taken to the full Council for a decision, or to progress decisions that have already been made by the Council. Current working groups are:
MANAGEMENT TEAM:
This group is comprised of the Mayor, Leader and Lead Members. It meets with the Clerk to prioritise work and manage the flow of work through the system. It generally meets once per cycle to deal with day-to-day management issues and finalise items for the agenda of the next meeting of the full council.
TOWNSCAPE ADVISORY GROUP:
The remit of this group is to develop programmes to improve the street scene and bring these to the attention of Council and to consider specific tasks as requested by Council.
Members: Councillor John Adams, Councillor Charlie Carr, Councillor Angela Simmons
WEST BEACH WORKING GROUP:
The remit of this group is to advise the Council on the process of applying for Village Green status for the West Beach, Newhaven.
Members: Councillor Graham Amy, Councillor Carla Butler, Ann Giles, Councillor Maurice Langham, Councillor Judith Ost, Councillor David Rogers, Councillor Angela Simmons
FITNESS AND SCULPTURE TRAIL WORKING GROUP:
The remit of this group is to advise the Council on progress with the trail and to put forward proposals for the design, positioning and budgeting for pieces of sculpture, street furniture.
Members: Councillor John Adams, Councillor Graham Amy, Councillor Julie Carr, Councillor Angela Simmons
NEWHAVEN PLAY STRATEGY WORKING GROUP:
The remit of this group is to assess the current provision for play spaces/equipment and advise Council on the outcome.
Members: Councillor Ann Giles, Councillor Darren Grover, Councillor Judith Ost
together with Pam Perry of NIPPERS and Kate Davies of the Meridian Mature Citizens Forum.
TOURISM & CULTURE ACTION WORKING GROUP:
The remit of this group is to consider various tourism and culture issues arising from the NSN Tourism & Culture group meetings.
Members: Councillor Graham Amy, Councillor Carla Butler, Councillor Angela Simmons
The committee structure and membership of committees and working groups will be amended at the Annual Meeting each year and may be amended at any time by a resolution of the Council.
The Town Council also has two tree wardens whose job it is to keep an eye on the town’s trees:
TREE WARDENS:
West of the river Councillor Graham Amy
East of the river Councillor Angela Simmons
