At a meeting of Trowbridge Town Council held on Tuesday 21st March 2023 the Service Delegation agreement with Wiltshire Council was approved. On Tuesday 28th March 2023 the Mayor, Councillor Graham Hill, Leader, Cllr Stewart Palmen and Town Clerk Mr Lance Allan signed the agreement which will now be forwarded to Wiltshire Council for them to complete. The Service Delegation Agreement will take effect on Saturday 1st April. From this date Trowbridge Town Council will take on responsibility for looking after more things which are local. These include Stallards Recreation Ground, Seymour Recreation Ground, Biss Meadows Country Park and Paxcroft Brook Open Space as well as litter collection and street cleaning. Pictured are the Mayor, Leader, Town Clerk and Facilities Manager with members of the current Neighbourhood Services team with a range of vehicles and equipment that will be used to deliver the services, including our new electric vehicles.
On 1st April staff will also transfer from the existing Wiltshire Council Contractor to Trowbridge Town Council to expand the Neighbourhood Services Team. In the coming weeks we are set to tackle particular locations which have been criticised for lack of care in recent years including the Muti-storey car-park and we will also deliver a more responsive service, building upon the success of our management of play areas across the town in recent years. Trowbridge Town Council will also be taking over management of the upper allotments at Southwick, most of which are let to residents of the town, adding to the three sites that we already provide. From April 2024 the town council will also take over management of the Down Cemetery, joining Chippenham, Salisbury, Bradford-on-Avon and nine other towns as well as many parish councils in Wiltshire who run their own local cemeteries.
Mayor, Cllr Graham Hill said; “I am pleased that residents across Trowbridge will know that their open spaces, play areas and streets are being cared for by a local team of council staff who will be able to take ownership and deliver a flexible and responsive service to improve the town.”
Leader, Cllr Stewart Palmen said; “The town council has been taking on services for many years and this is the culmination of a lengthy negotiation. We believe we have achieved a good deal for Trowbridge that will enable us to deliver higher quality services, continue to invest in facilities and improve the environment. We are pleased to be working in partnership with Wiltshire Council, allowing them to concentrate on statutory services whilst the town council looks after those things that are local.”
