Other functions a Town Council may be classified into …
The Management of Local Public Properties
The Town Council owns and holds the deeds of Kenilworth Castle, which is in the guardianship of English Heritage.
The Provision of Services
Services include allotments, public lighting, footpaths, bridle ways, cemeteries and crematoria, public lavatories, car and cycle parks, bus shelters, public seats and litter bins.
Under this heading the Town Council owns Odibourne Allotment Gardens and rents Spring Lane Allotments from Warwick District Council. These sites are rented to Kenilworth Allotments Tenants Association on a fully maintaining and repairing lease.
The Encouragement of Voluntary Initiative
This includes the management or oversight of charities, grant aid to voluntary effort, the giving or sponsoring of entertainments, arts and crafts and tourism and expenditure on many different things considered to benefit the Town. This section also includes subscriptions to organisations and bodies and provision to make and receive courtesy visits at home and abroad.
Since Kenilworth is an ancient town it has a great number of Charities some of which have combined to ensure greater financial ability to help deserving causes.
The Town Council also makes small grants to various voluntary organisations, including Kenilworth in Bloom and the Christmas Lights.
The Defence of Local Interests
Defence includes the statutory right to see all planning applications and make recommendations on them to the District Planning Authority. Consultation prior to the making of bye laws and the rights to represent the views of the towns people at public inquiries and to oppose private bills in parliament.
The influence of the Council is also exerted through its District and County Councillors and through membership of National Associations.
Every two weeks the Town Council Planning Committee meets to examine all planning applications for Kenilworth and considers any objections from local residents before making its recommendations to the District Planning Authority. The Town Council is also consulted by the County and District Councils on structure plans for development, transportation and future strategic planning.
The Town Council appoints representatives to serve on the Governing Bodies of all County Council schools . It also appoints representative Trustees to all Charities in the town.
Guardianship of Local Traditions and Rights
Guardianship of local traditions and rights is, of course, impossible if there is no truly local council to carry it out.
It is under this heading that the Town Council retains the Annual Meeting when the Mayor is elected for the forthcoming year. There is also a Civic Service held annually, usually at St Nicholas Parish Church. The traditional opening of Kenilworth Carnival remains with the Mayor.
Similarly under this heading the Town Council retains, maintains and secures the civic regalia and the Mayoral Chain.
Rating and Finance
The rating authority is Warwick District Council who collects rates on behalf of the County Council and Town Councils.
The Town Council rate is charged to the residents of the Town only and is usually a very small percentage of the total General Rate.
The rates levied by Kenilworth Town Council over recent years (typical band D charges) are:-
|
1993/94 |
|
£ 5.74 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1994/95 |
|
£13.37 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1995/96 |
|
£ 8.70 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1996/97 |
|
£ 8.28 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1997/98 |
|
£ 8.14 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1998/99 |
|
£ 7.99 per household (Council Tax) |
|
1999/00 |
|
£ 6.53 per household (Council Tax) |
|
2000/01 |
|
£ 6.66 per household (Council Tax) |
|
2001/02 |
|
£6.86 per household (Council Tax) |
|
2002/03 |
|
£7.11 per household (Council Tax) |
|
2003/04 |
|
£7.34 per household (Council Tax) |
| 2006/07 | £11.18 per household (Council Tax) |
Electoral Representation
The Town Council consists of 17 members elected from three Wards on a four yearly basis (the Town Council was last elected May 2007).
The Mayor is elected from within the Council for a period of 12 months only.
The Council committees meet on two monthly cycles totalling some 55 meetings a year
Public Participation
The Town Council actively encourages positive public participation in its activities and all meetings of the Council and its Committees are open to the Press and public.
Details of meetings including Agenda, are published on the notice board at the Council Offices, Southbank Road and the Warwickshire Direct - Kenilworth at Smalley Place.
A complete list of meetings for the Municipal Year is available upon request at the Council’s Offices at Southbank Road.
List of Councillors
To contact the Town Council send an email to kentc@kenilworth.org
