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Wisbech is situated on the crossroads to Lincolnshire and Norfolk
in the County of Cambridgeshire, and known traditionally as the
‘Capital of the Fens’.
Wisbech Town Council is made up of 18 (unpaid) Councillors (see
page 8) and administered by a small team of five staff, headed by
the Town Clerk for Wisbech, Erbie Murat. The Town Clerk is the Proper
Officer and the Responsible Officer for the Council with a range
of legal and financial responsibilities.
The Town Council and the Youth Council meet regularly in the Council
Chamber which is located on the first floor of the old Corn Exchange
at 1 North Brink. The building has been in use since 1835, and has
a long tradition of serving the people of Wisbech. In 1974, Local
Government re-organisation changed the Borough Council to a Town
Council with parochial powers. The Borough Council at that time
gave everything that it possessed to the newly established Fenland
District Council. The Town Council did retain the office of Mayor,
who is also the Chairman of the Council and presides over the regular
full Council meetings held in the Council Chamber.
  The
Mayor is supported at many events during the year including the
opening of both Fairs by Wisbech Youth Council.
To join the Wisbech Youth Council young people have to live, earn
or learn in Wisbech, and be between 12 and 18 years old.
They meet regularly in the Council Chamber and are fully supported
by the Wisbech Town Council at 1 North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JR,
Tel: 01945 461333
Mayor-Making in Wisbech in May each year sees the installment of
a new Mayor with advice from the Town Clerk, and a new Deputy Mayor.
In May 2010 distinguished guests included the newly elected Member
of Parliament for the area, Steven Barclay, and the new vicar of
St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Father Paul West.
The Mayor-Making with all the pomp and circumstance that Wisbech
can muster plays a very important role in bestowing the power and
responsibility of office on the new Mayor.
The remaining 17 elected Members of Wisbech Town Council vote the
Mayor and his/her Deputy into office. The Town Clerk as the Council’s
Proper Officer of the Council then administers the Declaration of
Acceptance of Office and the Oath of Allegiance.
Having signed and pledged, the Mayor takes over the Chairmanship
of the meeting. During the course of the year of office, the Mayor
plays a pivotal role in Wisbech both formally and informally.
The Mayor must ensure that meetings are fair and representative
of the Council and that Members  understand
and adhere to the law or protocols that are enshrined in the Code
of Conduct; Civic Handbook; and Standing Orders.
Wisbech Town Clerk, Erbie Murat, is the Head of Paid Service for
the Council. In this role he is also the financially Responsible
Officer, and the Council’s Proper Officer in Law. As such
he supports and advises the Mayor and the Council on statutory,
legal, financial and any other pertinent matters.
It is the Town Clerk’s responsibility to ensure that the Council
operates according to Statute; Financial Regulations; and the democratic
process, and the Deputy Clerk is the Civic Secretary.
Wisbech Town Council has a staff team of five. Three of them are
pictured here. There is also an Allotment’s Inspector, former
Mayor Ann Purt who has the impossible task of looking after nearly
70 acres of allotments on an average week of 61/2 hours. The Civic
Administration Assistant post was vacant at the time of going to
press.
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