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Planning and Highways

All planning decisions in Southwell are the responsibility of the Planning Department at Newark & Sherwood District Council.  The Southwell Town Council Planning and Highways (P&H) Committee meets monthly and reviews every relevant application submitted to NSDC Planners. The Committee has no legal standing, but it ensures that NSDC is aware of all Southwell Town Council’s concerns, particularly regarding flood risk and compliance with the Neighbourhood Plan linked here. SOUTHWELL  NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

In Southwell, planning is complicated by the relatively large Conservation Area and a high number of Listed buildings.  Flooding is also a major consideration, particularly if the application is for a large development.

Any significant work proposed on a house requires planning permission, particularly if it is Listed, in a Conservation Area or both. Planning Officers from NSDC are the final arbiters on this. Their advice can be sought prior to plans being submitted or if there is any doubt about a project.  Contrary to what many may think, Planning Officers are there to help and advise.

Southwell Town Council’s P&H Committee has 10 members reviewing around 10-15 applications each month. The Committee is always happy to discuss ideas and plans with residents prior to lodging a full application with Newark & Sherwood District Council.

a)Maintenance and Improvement:
Notts County Council (NCC) employs Via East Midlands (Via EM) to help design, programme and carry out each financial year’s agreed work.

– As part of the annual programme planning cycle, Southwell Town Council submits scheme proposals to NCC/Via EM and briefs the County Councillor to lobby on our behalf. A copy of the latest version of the document used for this purpose – the Southwell Traffic Management Plan (STMP) 25/26 – can he found Here

– As regards day to day concerns, and to help inform our highways team of issues in Southwell please report any problems you see as you are out and about in any one of the following ways –

b)Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Southwell Area Environmental Weight Restriction (EWR) Order:–

On 4/3/14 an Order made by Notts CC came into force so as to limit HGV activity on all roads in the town, and those in a two to three miles radius of it, to vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes (7,500 kg) in weight. So anything larger –  eg very big container lorries, articulated vehicles etc – should only use these roads for a reason specified in the Order eg for delivery, if on road repair work (or work to sort gas, electricity, water problems), if needing to get between farm holdings).

– Notts CC does carry out enforcement checks from time to time, ie staff monitor highways and log possible ‘misuse’ cases. But the Council does not have resource to monitor every road all the time.

– So, there is a Notts CC system – called ‘Lorry Watch’ – whereby individuals can submit reports about possible breaches. A link which explains the details you’ll need and which leads to the (easy) reporting form is here Report the misuse of weight restricted routes by lorries | Nottinghamshire County Council

– The Town Council encourages use of this system, and is periodically updated as regards this potentially noisy, polluting and damaging problem with information/statistics obtained from Notts CC.

c) Speed Limit Enforcement:

– Besides local speed enforcement exercises undertaken by our Police Community Support Officers and the town’s Speedwatch Group, the Town Council lobbies for visits by the Police Radar Van team to help maintain adherence to the 30 mph speed limit in and around the town.

– If you would like to volunteer and help the town’s Speedwatch Group, or like more info, please contact STC Clerk, details below, who will put you in touch with an existing Group member.

Governance and Finance Committee

While the Council’s finances are managed on a day to day basis by the Town Clerk, the Governance and Finance Committee oversees the Council’s budgets. It is responsible for ensuring that all income and expenditure is properly recorded and accounted for, and for making sure that the Council complies with relevant legislation relating to its finances, employees, procurement and the Council’s assets.

The Committee has many specific duties, but primary among these is to provide guidance to the Town Council and other Committees on overall levels of income and expenditure. It is also the body which prepares the annual budget and recommends the next year’s precept (local Council Tax) for the full Council to consider and agree (or reject).

The Committee also appoints an internal auditor to assess the Council’s internal controls on a regular basis; these cover things such as ensuring payments made have been signed off by the Council, that high-value contracts (£25,000 or more) are correctly tendered and awarded, that the Council has adequate insurance and that financial risks to the Council are properly managed.

Town Environment Committee

Since August 2016, the Town Council has been responsible for several services previously undertaken by the District Council. A new Town Environment Committee was created to develop and manage these as well as our existing responsibilities. The Town Environment Committee has a wide-ranging remit, including the management, upkeep and development of Southwell’s car parks, markets, open spaces and public toilets, as well as all aspects of the management of the Courthouse and Courthouse Chambers, which are leased to a commercial company. Although not directly responsible for roads, the Highways subcommittee liaises closely with Nottinghamshire County Council to raise issues of concern regarding the condition of roads and pavements in the town.

The Town Environment Committee is responsible for the management and care of all the open spaces owned by the Town Council, as well as Minster Fields, which are leased from the County Council. The welfare of a large number of trees on the Council’s land is also safeguarded. The Committee works closely with the Town Council’s staff to ensure that litter picking and dog waste collection is properly carried out on the Town Council’s behalf by the District Council.

The Town Environment is also maintained by the Town Environment Committee, ensuring that the centre of the town looks attractive and welcoming by providing lit trees on buildings at Christmas and colourful flower hanging baskets in the summer.

Full list of Committees

2024-25 councillors list

Elected Committies 24-25

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