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THE
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![]() Wareham Town Hall ... ![]() River Frome at dawn
Mayor's Book open at the page for 1703 |
Wareham
Town Council was formed after local government re-organisation in 1974 when
Purbeck District Council took over many of the powers of the former Borough
of Wareham. The Town Council has 16 Councillors who represent all parts
of the town. In April 2006 there were 4685 registered electors. Elections
are held every four years with the next election scheduled for May 2011.
All Town Council meetings are held in the Town Hall in East Street on Tuesday
evenings at 7.00 pm. The public are very welcome to attend and may speak
on any topic of public interest relating to the Town at the discretion of
the Mayor. Wareham has a long tradition of Town Mayors stretching back to 1336 and every name to date is recorded on panels in the Council Chamber. The Mayor is elected annually in May by the Town Council at a special 'Mayor Making' meeting. A book is kept to record Mayors' names since 1703, witnessed by Councillors, and forms part of the Town Council's civic regalia. The proceedings in the Council Chamber feature the Sergeant at Mace bearing the splendid Town Mace given to Wareham in the reign of James 1st. Two Constables from Wareham's historic Court Leet in dark suits and bowler hats also bear their own symbols of authority, a pair of two-metre wooden staves dating from 1778. It is thought that very few councils can trace their Mayors back as far as 1336 - although the Wareham names were almost lost for ever. Prior to 1703, a Clerk named Nathaniel Child absconded to London with most of the Town's records, including the book recording past Mayors' names. Child then attempted to blackmail the town for a large sum of money, effectively saying "pay up or the records will be destroyed". Payment was refused, the records promptly disappeared and the name boards were made up later (from local records which still existed before they were destroyed in the Great Fire of Wareham in 1762) as the only record available of those times. Responsibilities The activities and responsibilities of the Town Council are many and most of its work is overseen by various Committees appointed by the Council. The powers and duties of these Committees are set out below: Standing Committees (members of the public are welcome to attend and also ask questions): Amenities Committee Management of the Wareham Recreation Ground in Worgret Road containing cricket/football pitches and a play area, three other play areas in North Wareham, open spaces, allotment matters, rights of way, Howard's Lane car park, land and property management, public seats, war memorial, street lighting, arts and entertainment, litter/environmental issues, shelters, signs and matters arising from Wareham Burials Joint Committee. Planning and Transport Committee Consideration of all planning applications within the Town area. Consideration of transport matters including liaison with Dorset County Council on highway and traffic regulation orders, parking and traffic calming, local and strategic plans, all other highway matters. Policy, Resources and Finance Committee Deals with matters concerning policy, resources and general financial decisions, including the annual budget setting process, borrowing and investments, financial regulations, land and property (leases, rents, disposal etc.), legal proceedings, public relations, tourism, standing orders, crime prevention, bye laws. Determines applications for donations (grants) from local groups and organisations, and generally advises the Town Council on policy matters. Considers all other matters not within the purview of another committee.
Other Committees
(not open to the public):
Museum Committee Looks after all things connected with the Town Museum: acquisitions, exhibitions, projects, policy, finance, volunteer support. Wareham in Bloom Committee Deals with all aspects of Wareham in Bloom including annual fundraising and sponsorship, allocation of floral display contracts, community involvement, environmental tidiness of the town, the local Wareham In Bloom competition and the annual entry for South East in Bloom. Human Resources Panel Responsibility for all staff matters including recruitment, training and implementation of certain internal procedures. |
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| ANNUAL REPORT | ||||||||||
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| TOWN GUIDE | ||||||||||
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Council Initiatives Wareham Town Council has supported a number of initiatives in the town. CCTV in the town centre has been installed and there are further plans to extend it to the Northport area and the Worgret Road roundabout. Financial grants are given to the Wareham Carnival, the Christmas Lights Committee for festive lighting in the dark days of winter and to the Father Christmas Committee to support the annual Father Christmas Parade. Other donations include a number of worthy causes and organisations in the town including Wareham Hospital and the Citizens Advice Bureau. The Council also supports the Wareham Twinning Association in its efforts to maintain links with our twin towns of Hemsbach in Germany and Conches-En-Ouches in France. In 2006, Wareham celebrates the 20th anniversary of the twinning with Hemsbach. Links are maintained with other community organisations such as the Wareham and District Development Trust and the Wareham Town Trust. A major initiative was launched in 2006 in partnership with these two organisations and Dorset Community Action to consult local residents on what they wish to see for Council-owned open space at Hauses Field in north Wareham, which will form the basis for future plans to improve this site for all age groups. The Town Council works in partnership with Purbeck District Council and Dorset County Council on many matters affecting the town, there are Council representatives on a range of outside bodies and there are regular meetings with the Wareham Chamber of Trade. In 2006, the Council supported a highly successful move of the Saturday Street Market to the Quay. This now forms an important part of the Saturday scene, attracting visitors from far and wide who also spend time at other shops in the town. Also in 2006, the Town Council co-ordinated and supported a new 'Wareham Guggenmusik Festival' with marching 'Gugge' bands from Bournemouth, Germany and Switzerland converging on the Quay, together with Wareham Town Band, culminating in a grand fireworks display. Guggenmusik translates as 'Happy Music', the festival was the first event of its kind in the United Kingdom and was great family entertainment! We hope to see Guggenmusik continue as a major annual event for Wareham's residents and visitors. Bookings The Town Council takes bookings for the Recreation Ground (cricket and football pitches), the use of the Corn Exchange situated in the Town Hall for jumble sales, farmers markets, meetings etc., and for use of the Council Chamber for weddings and civil partnerships. Those who wish to book are requested to telephone 01929 553006 and speak to the administrative staff. Allotments The Town Council ensures that allotment sites are provided for local residents in the town, at Northmoor and Bestwall. Contact the Council offices for details of the allotments secretary at your preferred site. In 2006, the Town Council approved a new 'Best Kept Allotment Competition' for its hard working gardeners and the presentations of trophies will take place annually in October. Wareham Community Plan In 2005, Wareham Town Council adopted the Wareham Community Plan as the cornerstone of its future policies and is working to implement all aspects of what local residents said they wanted for their town after extensive consultation. With the help of community organisations and volunteers the Council is committed to all of its goals, including a priority goal of affordable housing for local people. A major initiative on local housing need is planned for the Spring of 2008 in a 'Housing Action Day' at the Corn Exchange, together with Purbeck District Council housing officers and professional housing and marketing experts. Copies of the Community Plan have been delivered to every household and may also be viewed at the Town Council offices on request. If you want to get involved as a community volunteer, please let us know and we will pass on your details. Wareham Town Council: "Working for Wareham" Tel. 01929 553006 (General Enquiries) Town Clerk: 01929 550771 |
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| ANNUAL REPORT | ||||||||||
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year Wareham Town Council publishes a report, which outlines the achievements
of the Town Council and its Committees over the past twelve months. It also
includes a summary of the annual accounts for the preceding financial year.
The annual report, which may be viewed by clicking on the link on the right, is presented by the Mayor to the Annual Town Meeting, which is held for the members of the parish of Wareham annually in April. The public are welcome to attend this meeting and electors of Wareham may ask questions which may be referred to a Council meeting thereafter. |
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| WAREHAM TOWN GUIDE | ||||||||||
| Wareham
Town Guide Available free from the Tourist Information Office in South Street opposite the library. Or: Download here in PDF format. |
Wareham
Town Guide requires Adobe Reader installed on your computer. Download free here. |
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COUNCIL
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![]() Play Area Recreation Ground
Football on the Recreation Ground |
The
Town Hall, East Street.
The Recreation Ground, Worgret Road. Howard's Lane Car Park, Wareham. Carey Hall play Area, Northmoor. Hauses Field and play area, Northmoor. Play area, Northport.
BMX action at Hauses Field |
![]() Cricket on the Recreation Ground |
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| MAYORS | ||||||||||
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1336 R. SCHIPMAN |
1779
J. LAWRENCE
1780 J. CARD 1781 W. CLAVILL 1782 J. DAMPIER 1783 J. GOODWIN 1784 R. HARRIS 1785 H. GILES 1786 J. LAWRENCE 1787 J. CARD 1788 W. CLAVILL 1789 W. COLE 1790 J. DAMPIER 1791 S. WHITE 1792 J. LAWRENCE 1793 J. CARD 1794 R. SWAYNE 1795 J. DAMPIER 1796 R. SWAYNE 1797 S. WHITE 1798 J. LAWRENCE 1799 J. WILLS 1800 J. CARD 1801 R. SWAYNE 1802 J.DAMPIER 1803 S. WHITE 1804 J. LAWRENCE 1805 J. WILLS (Died) 1805 J. CARD 1806 R. ROBINSON 1807 S. WHITE 1808 REV. G. H. HYDE 1809 J. CARD 1810 J. LAWRENCE 1810 R. ROBINSON 1811 E. DEAN 1812 H. HAMMOND 1813 S. WHITE 1814 REV. G. H. HYDE 1755 C. HILL 1756 J. FLORENCE 1757 J.LAWRENCE 1758 W. FILLITER 1759 C. HILL 1760 J. FLORENCE 1761 J.LAWRENCE 1762 W. FILLITER 1763 C. HILL 1764 R.GOODWIN 1765 R. HARRIS 1766 J.LAWRENCE 1767 J. FLORENCE 1768 C. HILL 1769 W. FILLITER 1770 R. HARRIS 1771 J.LAWRENCE 1772 W. CLAVILL 1773 J. FLORENCE 1774 J. DAMPIER 1775 J. SLADE 1776 J. GOODWIN 1815 J. CARD 1816 J. COLE 1817 T. PINK 1818 E. DEAN 1819 J. HANWELL 1820 H. HAMMOND 1821 S. WHITE 1822 J.STAINES 1823 REV. G. H. HYDE 1824 H. EVERINGHAM 1825 T. PINK 1826 E. DEAN 1827 J. HANWELL 1828 J. S. COPE 1829 H. HAMMOND 1830 S. WHITE 1831 H. EVERINGHAM 1832 T. PINK 1833E. DEAN 1834 J. HANWELL 1835 C. BASKETT 1836 J. S. COPE 1837 W. MORTIMER 1838 W. DUGDALE 1839 S. BENNETT 1840 E. CARD |
1843
W. MORTIMER
1844 J. A. TASKER 1845 S. BENNETT 1846 J. T. LEGGET 1847 E. EVERINGHAM 1848 S. BASKETT 1849 J. PANTON 1850 C. FILLITER 1851 S. BENNETT 1852 C. FILLITER 1853 W. H. HALL 1854 T. PHIPPARD 1855 C. FILLITER 1856 J. PANTON 1857 J. HEATHERLAND 1858 S. BENNETT 1859 T. PHIPPARD 1860 A. MINTY 1861 J. PANTON 1862 C. WILLCOX 1863 F. FILLITER 1864 S. BENNETT 1865 F. FILLITER 1866 S. BENNETT 1867 C. WILLCOX 1868 T. RANDALL 1869 W. DANIEL 1870 S. BENNETT 1871 C. WILLCOX 1872 J. A. PANTON 1873 T.RANDALL 1874 T. L. SKEWES 1875 W. DANIEL 1876 W. T. BOREHAM 1877 S. W. BENNETT 1878 T. L. SKEWES 1879 S. BENNETT 1880 F. MARSHALLSAY 1881 W. DANIEL 1882 C.SELBY 1884 S. W. BENNETT 1885 S. W. BENNETT 1886 F. FILLITER 1887 W. DANIEL 1888 F. FILLITER 1889 F. FILLITER 1890 W. P. COLLIHOLE 1891 J. S. DREW 1892 W. CROCKER 1893 F. FILLITER 1894 J.A. DREW 1895 H.CHAMBERS 1896 S. W. BENNETT 1897 J. A. DREW 1898 J. A. DREW 1899 W. CROCKER 1900 W. CROCKER 1901 W. P. COLLIHOLE 1902 S. W. BENNETT 1903 F. O. BELL 1904 G. E. PAUL 1905 G. E. PAUL 1906 G. DICKER 1907 G. DICKER 1908 E. R. SMITH 1909 E. R. SMITH 1910 J. H. BRADLEY 1911 J. H. BRADLEY 1912 J. H. BRADLEY 1913 J. H. BRADLEY 1914 E. S. CLARK 1915 E. S. CLARK 1916 E. S. CLARK 1917 E. S. CLARK 1918 E. S. CLARK 1919 A. E. BUSSEY 1920 J. H. BRADLEY 1921 J. H. BRADLEY 1922 F. V. SYMES 1923 F. V. SYMES 1841 H. EVERINGHAM 1842 C. BASKETT 1843 W. DUGDALE 1924
REV. F. GORAM
1925 REV. F. GORAM 1926
REV. F. GORAM
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1927
S. B. BYE
1930 R. H. HOLLAND1928 S. B. BYE 1929 S. B. BYE 1931 R. H. HOLLAND 1932 REV. F. GORAM 1933 REV. F. GORAM 1934 J. H. BRADLEY 1935 J. H. BRADLEY 1936 J. H. BRADLEY 1937 A. T. MOSS 1938 A. T. MOSS 1940 A. T. MOSS 1941 A. T. MOSS 1942 J. T. NORMAN 1943 J. T. NORMAN 1944 J. T. NORMAN 1945 H. KIRKPATRICK 1946 H. KIRKPATRICK 1947 A. KNOWLMAN 1948 A. KNOWLMAN 1949 H. KIRKPATRICK 1950 H. KIRKPATRICK 1951 E. B. BROWN 1952 E. B. BROWN 1953 E. B. BROWN 1954 H. BROUGHTON 1955 H. BROUGHTON 1956 MRS E, RAY 1957 MRS E, RAY 1958 MRS E, RAY 1959 A. T. MOSS 1960 A. T. MOSS 1961 MRS J. SANSOM 1962 MRS J. SANSOM 1963 R. DIXON 1964 J. BAGGS 1965 J. BAGGS 1966 H. BROUGHTON 1967 C. HODGE 1968 J. SPILLER 1969 J. SPILLER 1970 L. SILK 1971 E. MOLE 1972 R. ANDERSON 1973 S. LEE 1974 S. LEE 1975 C. R. PATTERSON 1976 W. BROUGHTON 1977 C. R. PATTERSON 1978 C. R. PATTERSON 1979 C. R. PATTERSON 1980 M. PASCALL 1981 M. PASCALL 1982 W. BROUGHTON 1983 W. BROUGHTON 1984 A. T. W. SUTTON 1985 A. T. W. SUTTON 1986 A. T. W. SUTTON 1987 A. T. W. SUTTON 1988 K. CRITCHLEY 1989 A. B. L. REID 1990 D. A. BUDD 1991 D. A. BUDD 1992 R. ANDERSON J.P. 1993 R. ANDERSON J.P. 1994 R. ANDERSON J.P. 1995 E. L. OSMOND 1996 E. L. OSMOND 1997 C. R. PATTERSON 1998 R. E. HUSKINSON 1999 R. E. HUSKINSON 2000 REV. K. C. BIRD 2001 D. R. CLEATON 2002 C. R. PATTERSON 2003 K. GREEN 2004 A. SELBY 2005 D. BAGGS 2006 L. P. BURNS 2007 S. ELMES 2008 M. G. RUSSELL 2009 A. TIGHE 2010 E. OSMOND |
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| TOWN CLERKS | ||||||||||
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1703
Robert LODER
(named in the Charter) 1712 R KAINES 1719 George FILLITER 1740 Thomas TOPP 1743 William FILLITER |
1750
Walter NICHOLS 1765 T BARTLETT 1789 T BARTLETT Jr. 1823 O BARTLETT 1886 F FILLITER 1916 A LAWS |
1920
E S CLARK 1921 J W MILLER 1936 H KIRK 1966 F R SHUTTE 1974 P D RANDALL 1989 M C TYRER J.P. |
2000
Michael PRESTON 2002 Jane EAMES 2004 Pamela PAPANI 2005 Rod CURTIS |
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CONTACT
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Contact
can be made by:
Telephone: 01929 553006 Fax: 01929 553521 E-mail: mailto:clerk@wareham-tc.gov.uk The office is open to the public: 10 am till 1 pm Monday to Friday. Town Clerk 9am till 5pm. |
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