The ‘back room team’ of the Town Council

Ron Spurs Stella Catt Teresa Whitford

Introducing the back-room team

Alongside your elected town council there is a dynamic team behind the scenes that work together to make sure that everything in the town runs smoothly. We thought we’d bring the back-room team centre stage and introduce them to you.

Ron Spurs

Town Clerk – Joined October 2015 Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Day to day role: The clerk is not a politician, he or she is not elected, their role is to make sure that the council operates legally and that councillors comply with the relevant guidance and regulations when representing the council. Some parishes which are towns like Carterton, employ a full time qualified professional clerk and staff to manage the council and its responsibilities. The role of clerk goes back certainly to Norman times when the lord of the manor had a right-hand man (not woman in those days), who recorded the business of running the settlement. As time evolved and the Parish Council system came into being an individual was appointed to make sure that the parish operated in accordance with the law. Now the parish responsibilities include fairly mundane matters; grass contracts, bins, seating, flowers and maintenance of property owned by the council. The council is also currently delivering several key projects, for example tree planting in the town centre, Alvescot Road recreation ground pavilion, provision of a bus service, and provision of financial support for youth services and Thames Valley Police. If you want to discuss any local issues feel free to call in at the Town Hall or email me directly, I will be happy to help:

rspurs@carterton-tc.gov.uk

Stella Catt

Admin Officer – Joined August 2006 Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 2pm

Day to day role: I prepare the agenda and minutes for council meetings and put together the list of planning applications for the planning committee to consider each month. I am involved with organising events, particularly the Remembrance Sunday parade and wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial and the Christmas Lights Street Fair. I maintain the burial records for Black Bourton Cemetery, including allocating grave spaces and ashes plots, liaising with funeral directors, stonemasons and family members, legally transferring grave ownership and processing applications for memorials and inscriptions. I also manage bookings for Alvescot Road recreation ground, cover reception when needed and look after the town’s archives (with our Archivist, Roger Battley). If you would like to email me directly regarding any of the above areas, I will be happy to help:

scatt@carterton-tc.gov.uk

Teresa Whitford

Admin Officer – Joined July 2012 Hours: Mon – Fri, 11.30am-5pm

Day to day role: I endeavour to solve any issues that members of the public have raised with the council and particularly enjoy the customer service aspects of my job. I have specific responsibilities for the town’s recreation areas (parks, playgrounds and open spaces) ensuring they are inspected and maintained regularly. I manage the grounds maintenance contracts which include grass cutting, litter,

Alex Fleming Katie Zasada

general maintenance, hedges, footpaths, flowers, shrubberies and our tree maintenance programme. I am passionate about the environment and am constantly looking at ways to help nature in our town. If you would like to email me directly regarding any of the above areas, I will be happy to help:

twhitford@carterton-tc.gov.uk

Alex Fleming

Town Warden – Joined January 2016

Day to day role: As Town Warden my duties are varied and involved in keeping our town a pleasant place to live in. These include keeping road signs clean, litter picking, weeding and mowing some verges. I tidy unkempt areas around the town and refill the dog-waste bag dispensers. I look after the notice boards ensuring they are tidy and up-to-date. Generally, carry out any duties that the Town Clerk requires of me. Another part of my job is looking after our Cemetery at Black Bourton. This includes the collection and removal of dead flowers and broken items from the graves. I also weed and keep the graves and surrounding areas as neat and tidy as possible. I am the public face of the Town Council and am often approached by members of the public with enquiries or concerns which I pass on to the relevant colleague to deal with. I also assist at various functions including Mace Bearer at the annual Civic Service.

Katie Zasada

Admin Officer – Joined March 2018 Hours: Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm

Day to day role: I am based in reception so am the first point-of-call for all general enquiries by phone or face-to-face with the public. If I cannot assist directly, I will do my utmost to find contact details of the person who can. I manage the Mayor’s diary and assist in organising his annual events. I am responsible for managing the Town Hall hire bookings and also liaise with the Thursday market traders regarding new stall enquiries. I manage all the Town Council’s social media accounts updating them regularly with news articles, upcoming events and council business such as agendas and minutes of meetings. Along with my colleagues, I am involved in our annual town events such as Christmas Lights Street Fair and Lantern Parade as well as Remembrance Sunday. If you would like to email me directly regarding any of the above areas, I will be happy to help:

kzasada@carterton-tc.gov.uk

...in brief

Hedges and Vegetation

One of the most common complaints we receive at the Town Hall is about hedges or vegetation encroaching onto or across pavements. It makes it especially difficult for people pushing prams or walking with a young child and for residents that use wheelchairs/mobility scooters. In some instances, pedestrians need to step into the road to get around the obstacle. In some cases, overgrown hedges and plants also cover information sign-posts or road names. We would ask you to please take five minutes today to check your boundaries and ensure there is nothing that may hinder anyone using the footpaths around your property. Thank you.

Waste bins

For information on what can go in each of your bins, or to order additional recycling boxes or food caddies, please visit: www.westoxon. gov.uk/bins-and-recycling/what-toput-in-your-bin/

Cleansing services on MOD land

The town hall staff are always happy to hear from residents regarding any complaints they have in relation to cleansing services around the town and will endeavour to rectify these problems as soon as possible. However it has become increasingly noticeable that a high percentage of cleansing issues are being generated from MOD owned land which we have no jurisdiction over. Both Carterton Town Council and West Oxfordshire District Council receive regular complaints regarding overflowing dog bins and litter on the green land in Northwood Crescent. The MOD’s contractor Amey Defence Services are responsible for organising regular litter and dog waste collections in this area so we are kindly requesting that you contact them directly if you need to make a complaint. You can do this via their website www.ameydefenceservices. co.uk or by emailing customercare@ ameydefenceservices.co.uk