Labour controlled Bridgwater Town Council is adapted to new ways of working in the light of the coronavirus emergency. Already the 8 strong Executive are meeting regularly online and being kept up to date about developments by Town Clerk David Mears who has been voted through Emergency Powers to ensure the day to day running of the authority. Town Council Leader Brian Smedley (Labour, Westover) says “Although the Town Clerk now has powers that Bridgwater hasn’t seen since Cromwell, we nevertheless managed to insert a clause whereby he has to consult with the portfolio holders! The regular meetings that we have on ‘Zoom’ are the place where we can share our concerns and bring up to the minute information about developments in the community during this crisis. In fact it’s a good way of doing things and cuts out on travel and therefore unnecessary pollution and paperwork and so could even be a way to go in future”
The Labour run council operates through an 8-person Policy and Finance executive comprised of the portfolio holders. All Labour councilors they include the following.
Cllr Brian Smedley (Westover)- Finance & Town Development + Communications
Cllr Kathy Pearce (Westover) -Community & Environment
Cllr Mick Lerry (Victoria) -Business, Cemeteries, staff
Cllr Tony Heyward (Eastover) -Mayor + civic matters and culture
Cllr Leigh Redman (Hamp) Properties + Nuclear issues
Cllr Glen Burrows (Eastover) Transport
Cllr Julie Cordiner (Victoria) Youth
Cllr Li Gibson (Westover) Climate Emergency
Cllr Smedley adds “All public council meetings have been cancelled, grants frozen and projects put on ice until we know that the emergency is over. We have upgraded our website to include regular press and public information pieces about Covid19 and we are working closely with District and County colleagues in the various Local Authority responses. In particular we are supporting the grass roots ‘Coronavirus Community Help Bridgwater group which has been set up by Bridgwater people and has been helping hundred of local people with shopping visits during these days of self isolation. Our councilors are also heavily involved in this project along with neighbourhood groups and are available online and by phone to respond to public issues.”
To contact Labour councilors email somersetlabour@gmail.com
To find your town councillor click here
To follow Bridgwater Town Council web links click here.
To find the Coronavirus Community Help Bridgwater click here.
Bridgwater – Always one step ahead. Onwards!