PUBLIC WORKS LOAN BOARD PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Bideford Town Council wish to hear your views on applying for a Public Works Loan to build a Maintenance Team Depot in Bideford
In 2016 Bideford Town Council set up a Maintenance Team to make improvements within the town and local area. The reach of the County Council had diminished over the years, and the town was in need of additional cleaning and care. Within a few years, the role of the team developed, and they took over additional responsibilities which included the maintenance of street furniture, provision of bins and dog bins within the town, grass cutting, planting the town planters and beds, and maintenance work at the Pannier Market. The team has now grown to 4 permanent staff plus one seasonal worker. They are currently without a permanent base, and it is now the intention of the Town Council to build a future proofed and flexible Depot from which the team can operate. Space is required to store items such as the town planters, and carry out repairs to items such as benches, as well as to bring on the plants for the town floral displays. A plot of land has been identified in Bideford, and an initial design drawn up. The land and property cannot be purchased without a Public Works Board loan. At the Town council meeting of 23 June 2022, Bideford Town Council voted unanimously to apply to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for a PWLB loan of £500,000 over the borrowing term of 25 years for the development of a Maintenance Team Depot.
The annual loan repayments will be approximately £30,228 based on the interest rate at the time of the meeting. The loan repayment for 22/23 will be taken from earmarked reserves. For 23/24 The Town Council intend to increase the precept by £14,894 per annum for the purposes of the loan repayment. This equates to a 2.70% increase on the precept for a band D property using the current tax base, or £2.73 a year. Savings have been made in other areas to facilitate the payment of the remaining repayments. Once the Depot is built, the Town Council will have a valuable multi-purpose asset that could also be rented out in part.
Subject to funding, the Town Council are aiming to start the build later this year.
The full business case and detailed costings can be found here:
Your opinion matters
Please let us know if you support this project and the application for a Public works Board loan by completing the following form on the link below.
The closing date for comments is Friday 29th July at 4 pm.
Your personal information will be not shared or provided to any other third party. We will only keep your data for the purpose it was collected for and only for as long as is necessary. After which it will be deleted.
Bideford Town Council's Privacy Policy may be accessed here:
*INTRODUCING THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2022-2023*
Bideford Town Council elected the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, on Thursday 12th May, for the 2022-2023 term.
A round of applause went up for Councillor Mrs Jude Gubb after she was elected as Town Mayor – the first lady Mayor for 14 years! And Councillor Mrs Gubb is the third member of her family to be elected Town Mayor, having been preceded by her brothers Tony Inch and Simon Inch respectively. She will be supported by her Consort and husband, Mr Michael Gubb.
Councillor Mrs Gubb said “I am very proud and feel privileged to be your Mayor and will look forward to representing the Town wherever I am invited. I would like to thank Councillor David Ratcliff for the work he has done during the past year, and for giving me the opportunity to deputise for him when he was unable to attend events. “
She continued, “I am excited and enthusiastic for the coming year – we have some great events of our own lined up, starting with the amazing Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and I know that the Mayor’s diary is filling up rapidly”.
Councillor Mrs Jude Gubb - Town Mayor 2022-2023
01237 475455
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Deputy Mayor for this term is Councillor Jamie McKenzie who was equally delighted to take up the post. Having been on the Town Council since 2015, he felt that he was “ready” for the role. He thanked members for voting for him and assured the Mayor that he would support her to the best of his ability. Councillor Jamie McKenzie will be supported by his Deputy Mayoress and wife, Mrs Zofia McKenzie.
Councillor Jamie McKenzie – Deputy Town Mayor
01237 478424
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
