Organisation:      Newton Abbot Town Council 

Grade:                    SCP 18 – 23

Salary:                      £29,269 – £32,076 per annum

Hours:                      37 hours per week; mostly Monday to Friday with some weekend/Bank Holiday and evening work required for events and to meet service demands.

Term:                        Permanent (following a successful 6-month probationary period).

Location:                 Newton Abbot Town Council, Newton’s Place, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 1JQ.

• Closing date: 5pm, Wednesday 28^th February 2024
• Interviews to be held week commencing 11^th March 2024

Newton Abbot Town Council is seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Facilities Maintenance Team Leader to lead its maintenance team and oversee the management, and maintenance of the council’s property portfolio.

The Facilities Maintenance Team Leader role is a new post and will play a key role in delivering a high standard of service to both visitors and residents.

 The post holder will be working within the parish boundaries of Newton Abbot and its localities, providing an enhanced and responsive level of service, resulting in improvement to the environment within Newton Abbot and any other areas as directed by the line manager.

The position requires ‘hands-on’ operational experience combined with a flexible approach to meet the ongoing seasonal demands. The ability to be self-motivated and work unsupervised while leading a small team is a key requirement of the role. The successful applicant will have the physical ability to lift, carry and perform other physical tasks daily. The Facilities Maintenance Supervisor will be expected to lead the team to deliver high standards of work and ensure safe and efficient working practices are adhered to, and to ensure the security, maintenance, and management of the Town Council’s assets.

Requirements:

•  Proven experience in facilities maintenance, with a minimum of a year in a supervisory or leadership role.
•  Excellent leadership and team management abilities, with a track record of fostering a positive work environment.
• Excellent working knowledge of the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with team members, management, and external partners.
• Willingness to work flexible hours and respond to emergencies as needed.

The successful candidate will enjoy a supportive team environment where your leadership skills are valued and recognised and the chance to play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of our facilities and enhancing the council’s success, in addition to 25 days annual leave, and the option to join the local government pension scheme.

For more information and an application pack, please visit our website https://www.newtonabbot-tc.gov.uk/vacancies/

For an informal chat about the position please contact either Linda McGuirk or Samantha Scott via      01626 201120 or via email  [email protected]

Please note – no CVs accepted. Only formal applications will be considered.

Speeds of more than 99mph have been recorded in a Newton Abbot street where the limit is 30mph.

The shocking figures were detected in St Marychurch Road, captured on portable equipment, provided by Newton Abbot Town Council with a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner, after residents expressed concerns about road safety.

It has prompted hope of new permanent speed cameras meaning those who break the rules there could face hefty fines or driving bans.

The VASS – vehicle activated speed signs – were set up in St Marychurch Road between June 1 – July 3 when more than 20,000 vehicles exceeded 35mph and 119 drivers topping 60mph.

Between December 8 – January 2, more than 22,000 drivers ignored the 30mph limit with speeds of 89.05, 89.37 and 99.24mph being detected.

During a Speedwatch session in Ashburton Road on Sunday February 4, Speed Detection Officer Dave Burrows of Devon and Cornwall Police slammed the behaviour.

‘It’s disgraceful, it’s unforgivable,’ he said.

‘That sort of speed, 100mph, you covering nearly 150ft of road surface per second.

‘I’ve spent the last 30 years dealing with serious and fatal road accidents, I’m an experienced collision investigator, and at that speed the occupants of a car or anyone else wouldn’t stand a chance.’

The man responsible for much of Newton Abbot’s Speedwatch activity is former Mayor, Cllr Mike Joyce.

He and his volunteers have spent several years supporting the police.

‘Ninety-nine miles an hour in a 30 zone, that is frightening,’ he said.

‘It scares me to death, to think someone could be doing that speed.

‘But the results of all the statistics we’ve sent to the police is that county highways have said they’re going to recommend installing a static camera there.

‘There’d be no need for this if people abided by the speed limits, they’re there for a reason.

‘I still don’t understand why people don’t get that.

‘But it’s good news that our efforts are being rewarded and the problem taken seriously.

‘We look forward to more success stories elsewhere in town such as Ashburton Road and Torquay Road where residents have also expressed concerns.’

The below image shows Dave Burrows with volunteers Cllr Mike Joyce, Cllr Laura Wood and Deputy Town Clerk Sam Scott.

AS Newton Abbot Museum re-opens for the 2024 season, visitors are being offered the chance to make return trips a ‘Pastport’ to success.

In what’s thought to be the first scheme of its kind in the country, staff have created their own version of the more commonplace passport required for overseas travel.

With the Newton Abbot Museum Pastport, people have each visit marked with an official sticker and once ten trips have been made, a history-themed prize can be claimed.

Visitors are also being encouraged to draw their own passport-style ‘photos’ together with images of their favourite exhibit.

‘More people are visiting the museum than ever before with a good number coming several times a year,’ said Curator India Jolly.

‘We thought it would be good to offer them something extra, a bit of fun that also encourages looking closely at everything on display.

‘The prize for recording ten visits in a year will be items such as history-themed drawing kits, no throwaway toys that just end up as plastic waste.

‘I’m sure the Pastport will be popular with children but have equally no doubt it will also appeal to people of all ages.

‘There’s no reason visiting a museum shouldn’t be fun as well as informative and, of course, entry is completely free as are the Pastports and prizes.

The Pastport scheme is being launched on Monday February 12 to coincide with the first half term of the year.

New exhibits for 2024 include two local wedding dresses, one from 1954 and the other from 1970.

Recently donated cartoons drawn by the 20th century leather and wool magnate Charles Vicary have also gone on display.

They depict scenes from Newton Abbot Hospital in the 1930s and had been presented to Miss Eleanor Higham at the close of her working life there.

The museum shop now stocks unique Newton Abbot mementos such as bookmarks, town trail guides, fridge magnets and stickers of official town mascot, Newton.

‘Pocket money gifts are always popular and we’re delighted to offer a little bit of Newton Abbot for people to take away or send to friends and families,’ said India.

Museum details are available at www.museum-newtonabbot.org.uk.

Image below shows India Jolly with one of the new Pastports in the museum.

BAND D households in Newton Abbot are being asked to contribute an extra 61p per week to help the Town Council keep on top of tasks such as street cleaning, running the Museum and staging events including the hugely popular Christmas festivities.

The weekly rise for Band A, B and C properties will belower at40p, 47p and 54prespectively.

The decision was taken in January as part of the authority’s legal requirement to set its share of the Council Tax bill for 2024/2025.

Among the duties undertaken by Newton Abbot Town Council are maintenance of various footpaths and public seats plus the care of Town Quay, Victoria Gardens, Golden Lion Square, Vicary’s Mill Leat and Queen Street War Memorial.

Looking after the historic St Leonard’s Tower is another responsibility as is the funding of the Museum and Newton’s Place community rooms.

The Town Council pays for floral displays and looks after bus shelters, provides allotments, awards shop improvement grants and employs Town Development Manager Sally Henley.

Each year it gives grants to grass roots organisations and arranges the annual events programme, including the Christmas festivities and classic car shows.

None of the Town Councillors receives a salary.

The new rates for 2024/2025 will take the Town Council’s total charge for a Band D property from £150.26 to £181.88, up 21 per cent.

Mayor Cllr David Corney-Walker said: ‘Any increase in our share of the precept is regrettable but the Town Council needs, as a minimum, to maintain services.

‘Residents expect a clean and tidy town and we are determined to keep providing an attractive programme of free family events throughout the year.

‘Today, 61p doesn’t even buy half a cup of coffee but it’s amazing what Newton Abbot Town Council can do with that weekly investment, particularly when our district and county councils are having to cut services in response to falling revenue from central government.

‘And it would give a false impression to focus on the percentage increase.

‘What’s more, if we shy away from taking responsible decisions now we’d be failing our community and storing up problems for the future.

‘That’s not going to happen under our watch.’

 The below photo shows NATC Facilities Maintenance Officer Tony Little tackling weeds at Town Quay.

VOTERS in Newton Abbot’s Bushell Ward have been reminded not to miss out on the chance to elect a new member of the Town Council on February 8.

The seat includes Broadlands, Abbotsbury, Knowles Hill, Sandford Orleigh, Jetty Marsh and much of the town centre south of Newton Abbot College through to East Street.

Those eligible to vote include residents and business owners on the Electoral Register.

The seat is one of 18 on the Town Council and became available less than a year after the May 2023 local elections after sitting member Simon Walker stepped down for personal reasons.

Candidates hoping to fill the vacancy have until January 12 to submit their nominations.

Polling stations will be at the Salvation Army Community Hall, Newton Abbot Children’s Centre and Abbotsbury Church.

Although polling cards will not be issued, photographic ID will be required by those wishing to take part in the ballot.

Town Clerk Phil Rowe is hopeful the turnout will be better than that experienced elsewhere in the district where in one recent election only 14 per cent of the electorate cast their vote.

‘There are plenty of topics in our town that have given residents and businesses cause to express very strong opinions of late and although the Town Council has limited powers, only by serving as a member do you get a seat at the table where the meaningful discussions take place,’ he said.

‘Keyboard warriors might get plenty of likes on social media but that counts for nothing in the formal business of local government.

‘The UK system of democracy might not suit everyone but it’s the only one we have, make it work for you by taking part and being part of the election on February 8.’

The deadline for applications to vote by post is 5pm on Wednesday January 24

Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate (photo ID) or to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday January 31.

Polling will take place 7am – 10pm Thursday February 8.

For further information contact Teignbridge District Council Electoral Services on 01626 215104 or email [email protected]. or see https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/election-of-one-town-councillor-for-newton-abbot-bushell-ward-1/

VOTERS in Newton Abbot have been urged not to miss an opportunity to take part in a forthcoming ballot for a vacant seat on the Town Council.

The Bushell Ward position has become available just six months after the May local elections as sitting member Simon Walker has stepped down for personal reasons.

Eligible candidates can submit their nominations between January 5 – 12 ahead of the vote on February 8.

Polling stations will be set up at the Salvation Army Community Hall, Newton Abbot Children’s Centre and Abbotsbury Church, although polling cards will not be issued.

Town Clerk Phil Rowe has urged the public to take the opportunity to elect a member they believe will best serve their interests.

‘A recent parish election elsewhere in the district resulted in just 14 per cent of the electorate turning up, that’s a disappointingly low figure,’ he said.

‘While I’m not saying the successful candidate isn’t up to the role, it is a fact that only a small proportion of those eligible to vote bothered to do so.

‘Effectively, a staggering 86 per cent of residents let a very few people speak on their behalf, can that be right?

‘There are plenty of topics in our town that have given residents and businesses cause to express very strong opinions of late and although the Town Council has limited powers, only by serving as a member do you get a seat at the table where the meaningful discussions take place.

‘Keyboard warriors might get plenty of likes on social media but that counts for nothing in the formal business of local government.

‘What I’m saying, is that if people in the town want their concerns to be voiced faithfully in the chamber, then they need to look at who’s standing for election and cast their vote for the individual they think will most faithfully represent them.

‘The UK system of democracy might not suit everyone but it’s the only one we have, make it work for you by taking part and being part of the election on February 8.’

Further information is available at www.newtonabbot-tc.gov.uk. or https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/election-of-one-town-councillor-for-newton-abbot-bushell-ward-1/