Eye Town Mayor
Welcome to Eye Town Council, the current Mayor of the Town of Eye in Suffolk is Councillor Johnnie Walker. The Civic Mayor carries out ceremonial duties and chairs meetings but has no vote on any matters.
COUNCILS
Unlike other types of local authorities, a local council has very few statutory functions or duties. A local council has the discretion to exercise a range of statutory powers related to the provision or support of certain services or facilities which benefit its area, and/or the residents that live there.
​
WHAT IS A LOCAL COUNCIL?
A local council is a type of local authority with specific statutory functions and powers. Unlike other types of local authorities, there are relatively few statutory functions imposed on a local council. The few statutory functions are important and relate to, for example, the holding of meetings, the management of its finances and the preparation of annual accounts.
A local council employs staff, owns and manages premises, enters in contracts, and provides services.
Like other types of local authorities, a local council has obligations in the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.
​
HOW DO LOCAL COUNCILS OPERATE?
Most decisions about what a local council does will be taken at meetings by councillors. Some of the work of a local council is delegated to a smaller group of councillors (i.e. a committee or sub- committee) or staff.
Although the public has a right to attend meetings of a council and its committees, it is the councillors who collectively make decisions about council business and what services or facilities it provides.
But how does a council know which services to deliver or what activities to support? Usually the activities of a local council or the services and facilities that it provides are driven by the demands of the residents who live in the council’s area.
If it does not already know, a local council may identify the needs of its local residents by listening and consultation. It will be up to the council to decide the priorities for action.
​
HOW ARE THEY FUNDED?
The local council must carefully budget for the expenditure it will incur in the next financial year.
A local council may generate income from money from rents from premises that it leases or licences for use by others, or from the services or facilities it provides (e.g. sports facilities, off street car parks). It may also receive grants for certain projects.
The main source of income for a local council derives from the precept levied on the residents in its area. The precept is incorporated into a local resident’s council tax bill.
​
WHERE DO YOU FIND THEM?
Local councils can be found or established anywhere, including areas as diverse as densely populated urban developments, market towns or sparse rural areas.
​
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Unlike other types of local authorities, local councils are not tasked with statutory responsibilities relating to the provision of housing or social care, education or waste collection. Local councils are in the fortunate position of having statutory powers which they have discretion to exercise.
Many local councils choose to get involved in a broad range of projects and activities, the purpose of which is to make the local area a better place to live. Although local councils are not formally obliged to provide many public services, Government is encouraging local councils to deliver more services and play a greater part in supporting their communities.
​
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Eye Committee Chair people
To represent the council at formal and informal meetings and ensure that discussions are carried out in accordance with the council's constitution and procedural rules. To make sure that meetings are run effectively and inclusively, in line with any agreed agenda, to deal with the business at hand.
Contact a chair person of Eye Town Council
Councillor Mike Smith Mike.smith@eyesuffolk.org 07860473518
​
Councillor Bruce Salter bruce.salter@eyesuffolk.org 07946379318
​
Councillor Angela Rangecroft angela.rangecroft@eyesuffolk.org
07946616470
​
Councillor Tunie Brandon tunie.brandon@eyesuffolk.org
Eye Town Councillors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
A councillor’s primary role is to represent their ward or division and the people who live in it. Councillors provide a bridge between the community and the council. As well as being an advocate for local residents and signposting them to the right people at the council, you will need to keep them informed about the issues that affect them.
In order to understand and represent local views and priorities, you need to build strong relationships and encourage local people to make their views known and engage with you and the council. Good communication and engagement are central to being an effective councillor.
As a local councillor, your residents will expect you to:
-
respond to their queries and investigate their concerns (casework)
-
communicate council decisions that affect them
-
know your patch and be aware of any problems
-
know and work with representatives of local organisations, interest groups and businesses
-
represent their views at council meetings
-
lead local campaigns on their behalf.
The constitution and meetings
As a new councillor you will receive a copy of your council’s constitution, which sets out how the council conducts its business, including:
-
who is responsible for making decisions and how decisions are made
-
procedural matters (set out in the ‘standing orders’)
-
the role of officers
-
standards and ethical governance.
It is important to familiarise yourself with these parts of the constitution, in particular the standing orders. These specify the terms of reference of the council’s various member structures, the rules on declarations of interest, the timings and order of business at council meetings and the rules of debate.
Equality and community cohesion
At the heart of the Equality Act is the Public Sector Equality Duty, which aims to tackle discrimination and inequality by embedding equality considerations in the day-to-day work of all public bodies. Public bodies must have due regard to the need to:
-
eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, and victimisation
-
advance equality of opportunity between different groups
-
foster good relations between different groups.
Councils must publish:
-
one or more equality objectives every four years
-
information to demonstrate compliance with the equality duty each year
-
information on their employees and others affected by their policies and practices.
Councillors are expected to understand the impact of cutting budgets and to mitigate potential negative outcomes, especially the cumulative impact on specific groups of people. Getting this right will ensure fairness and equality of opportunity for local people.
Code of conduct for councillors
As a councillor you will be required to adhere to your council’s agreed code of conduct for councillors. Each council adopts its own code, but it must be based on the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s seven principles of public life, publicly known as the ‘Nolan principles’. The principles apply to anyone who works as a public office holder. This includes all those elected or appointed to public office, nationally or locally, and everyone working in the civil service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies and in the health, education and social care sectors. All public office holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to everyone in other sectors delivering public services.
Contact Eye Town Council
Eye Town Clerk or attend a council meeting in person Connect with Eye Town Council