The Council

Town and Parish Councils were established over 100 years ago as the first tier of Local Government providing local services and facilities paid for and controlled by local people.Town and Parish Councils are widely acknowledged to be closer to their electorate than any other level of Local Government.

Fordbridge Town Council was established in 1970 by Warwickshire County Council and its services and facilities are an essential part of the day to day life of Fordbridge.

Fordbridge Town Council is elected by the people of Fordbridge and exists primarily for the benefit of the people of Fordbridge.The majority of its members either live or have lived in Fordbridge.The Council is only allowed to provide services and facilities which will benefit the people of Fordbridge.It also acts as a voice on behalf of the local community by campaigning to obtain better services and facilities from other authorities.Elections are held every four years and all of the current members were elected in May 2003.

The decisions which affect the people of Fordbridge are made at its meetings.These meetings are open to the public,although the public can be excluded for consideration of specific confidential matters.A period of time (usually 15 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to make comments or ask questions.

The Council has two committees which consider issues within each of its areas of responsibility.The Finance and General Purposes Committee considers the Council's budget and spending decisions,management of the Council's assets and staff and the Council's administration and policy.The Environment,Health and Recreation Committee considers the community issues affecting the parish of Fordbridge and the Council's environment and recreation services.The Town Council meetings approve the decisions taken by the Committees and makes any decisions required by law.Town Council meetings also make any urgent or important decisions and those which affect the Council as a whole.

The Council's most prestigious asset is the Fordbridge Centre situated in Nineacres Drive.This modern community centre is partly subsidised by the Town Council to make it affordable for local groups.The Centre is used as a base for a number of local organisations and is available for hire by local people.

The Council also provides the following services:-

• Free milk to infant school children at the three primary schools in Fordbridge.
• Free Paper towels for three schools in Fordbridge.
• Grants to local voluntary groups
• A free Fun Day for the local community each summer.
• A garden competition to promote pride in Fordbridge.
• Financial support to the Fordbridge Club for Young People (formerly Chapelhouse Boys' Club) to provide a facility for young people in Fordbridge.
• A programme of tree planting to improve the environment and as a visual amenity for local people.
• An annual Chairman's Charity Event to raise funds for a local charity.
• Sponsor up to eight local children to visit an Outdoor Education Centre on the Welsh border, as winners of the Fordbridge Prize.