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New residents of the two towns (and older ones too) are often
confused as to how we are administered! Unlike some urban areas,
there is no “one body”. When people refer to “the
council”, it could be one of three Local Authorities –
Somerset County Council, Sedgemoor District Council, or the Burnham
and Highbridge Town (parish) Council.
However, today “partnerships” exist between councils
and government bodies like the regional  economic
development agency, or say, the Coastal Primary Care Trust, so that
the role of each authority is less clearly defined.
However a quick “rule of thumb” shows this:
Somerset County Council: Responsible
for education (primary and secondary schools), adult education,
student grants, libraries, youth service provision, highways (but
not the cleaning of footpaths), fire services, trading standards,
disposal of household waste (but not the collection of it), social
services, help for elderly people and the disabled (although grants
for disabled housing come from Sedgemoor District Council), strategic
planning.
Somerset County Council Main switchboard: 0845 345 9166
The County Hall, TAUNTON, Somerset TA1 4DY
Website: www.somerset.gov.uk
Sedgemoor District Council Housing (Council owned,
approx 4,500) managed by Homes in Sedgemoor, electoral services,
including maintenance of the electoral roll, grants to renovate
private housing, Parks and Open Spaces, Health and Wellbeing, tourism,
economic development, grant funding, environmental services (including
collecting your rubbish and green “recycling” boxes
delivered via the Somerset Waste Partnership and street cleansing),
development control (everyday planning), Beach Safety, Benefits,
Customer Services via the Sedgemoor Direct service dog wardens,
CCTV, concessionary bus fares, dumped cars, flower beds and borders,
licensing of taxis, premises, pubs and clubs; litter bins, responsibility
for the Port of Bridgwater and Harbour master services as well as
the collection of council tax for all three Authorities as well
as the Police and Fire Service and Drainage Boards.
Sedgemoor District Council. General Enquiries: 0845 408 2540
Bridgwater House, King Square, BRIDGWATER, Somerset TA6 3AR
Website: www.sedgemoor.gov.uk email: customer.services@sedgemoor.go.uk
Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Town Council
Allotments, cemeteries, planning consultation, town improvements
(for example, the Town Green at Highbridge and the watersplash feature
in Burnham), some footpath cleaning and general tidying (the council
has its own “man with a van” to do little jobs that
the county and district don’t), ceremonial and public events
(a town mayor will attend over 200 events in one year), marking
national events, grants to worthy local organisations, annual civic
awards, and lastly but certainly not least, lobbying other authorities
on behalf of residents to “spearhead” projects for the
benefit of our towns.
Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge Town Council
The Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8
1LE
Tel: 01278 788088
Website: www.burnham-highbridge.org email: townclerk@burnham-highbridge.org
The Burnham and Highbridge Electoral Division returns the following
elected members: Two County Councillors, Nine District Councillors
and Eighteen Town Councillors.
County and District Councillors receive small allowances (as recommended
by an “outside” independent panel) and travel expenses;
Town Councillors’ work is all voluntary, though the Mayor
receives an annual allowance of about £2,500 but no travel
allowance, and members receive a nominal £100 per annum to
cover telephone and stationery costs, plus the cost of attending
meetings.
Further confused? Parts of the new Rosewood Estate fall within the
parish of Burnham Without (contact the Clerk to the Parish Council
on 01278 795776), but the council tax for Burnham Without Parish
Council includes funding for the Burnham Joint Burial Committee
(a joint committee with representatives from Burnham and Highbridge
Town Council and Burnham Without Parish Council) which gives residents
of that parish the right to be buried in the three cemeteries under
the Committee’s control. For further information regarding
cemeteries, ring 01278 795111.
Your Local Member of Parliament DAVID HEATHCOAT-AMORY
– Is available to meet any of his constituents who need his
help or advice. If you need an appointment, or if you need to contact
him, ring his office on 01749 673146 or email office@davidheathcoatamory.com
Alternatively send a letter to him at: The House of Commons, Westminster,
London, SW1A 0AA or 7 Priory Road, Wells, Somerset BA5 1SR (constituency
office) www.davidheathcoatamory.co.uk
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