The Town Council is repeatedly challenged on (and asked to help with) issues and services/amenities that we do not have the legal powers or resources to change. But Councillors have listened to the public (via email, social media, and council surgeries) and have decided to step up and fill gaps in service & amenity provision within the town that residents have asked the Council to deliver, where possible. Below is a public statement that outlines their plans.
The proposed investment in the town is a massive endeavour for this small local authority, but we earnestly believe that everyone in Axminster wants to live in the nicest, cleanest, friendliest, vibrant and most welcoming town in Devon, and so the Council intend to rise to that challenge on your behalf over the coming months and years and deliver the changes YOU have asked it to provide, for the mutual benefit of everyone who lives in, works in and visits our fantastic town.
Further statements and reports will be issued in the coming weeks as the projects gain momentum. If you'd like to know more, why not attend the next meeting of the Full Town Council on Monday 2nd November at The Guildhall - meeting starts at 7 pm. All are welcome to attend
The Statement Reads:
STEPPING UP FOR AXMINSTER – INVESTING IN OUR TOWN AND OUR COMMUNITY
Following a series of meetings of the Full Town Council over the last few months, we are pleased to publicly share more about an important programme of work being developed by Axminster Town Council.
As a Council, we have been looking at how we can do more for our town and, importantly, how we can build the capacity to actually deliver those needs and projects. The stark reality facing all Councillors is that our community has needs and aspirations that cannot always be met by existing organisations or by waiting for somebody else to act.
So, where we can step up, we want to step up.
After much discussion and consideration, the Council has resolved to develop four new paid roles which we believe will make a significant difference to how we deliver for Axminster, for you – the residents of the town.
Town Centre Development & Community Engagement Officer
A dedicated role focused on working with residents, community groups, businesses, schools, charities and other organisations to develop and deliver projects for Axminster.
This person would help turn ideas into action, coordinate community projects, develop partnerships, identify funding opportunities and make sure residents have a strong voice in what happens in our town. That officer would also support major initiatives such as our plan to promote, develop and restore youth provision, in conjunction with;
ProjectYOUTH initiative – Lead Youth & Community Officer (supported by a youth worker)
Perhaps one of the most exciting developments is our proposal to begin building a new youth provision for Axminster.
ProjectYOUTH will initially start as an outreach programme, getting out into the community, engaging with young people and listening to what they want and need. The aim is to build relationships with young people, schools, community organisations, charities and other partners, while creating activities, opportunities, skills development and positive experiences. The medium to long-term ambition is to establish a regular youth provision in Axminster, built around what young people tell us they actually want.
Grounds & Maintenance Team Supervisor
A practical role focused on enhancing and maintaining the places that matter most to our community. Recognising that our grounds team of 2 currently has limited capacity, we will seek to appoint a supervisor who will significantly increase our ability to care for Axminster Town Council-owned buildings, green spaces and public assets. With additional practical skills and experience, the role will help us undertake work we currently lack the expertise to deliver in-house, improve the efficiency of maintenance activities, and support an even wider programme of improvements across the town that we know residents want to see. Ultimately, this new appointment will help us to ensure Axminster remains an attractive, welcoming and well-cared-for place to live, work and visit.
Where responsibility sits with another authority, we will continue to work with them and raise issues. But where the Town Council can act ourselves, we want to have the people in place to do it now, but also be ready to take on extra responsibilities as changes in local government make hyper-local services even more critical and vital to those who live here.
Your Town Councillors recognised an important point:
If we don't step up and take action, nobody else is going to do it for us.
These four roles are about giving the Town Council the capacity to move from simply identifying problems to actually delivering solutions for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
These proposals are designed to deliver:
- Better and more targeted community engagement.
- Cleaner and tidier public spaces across the town.
- More activities and opportunities for younger people.
- Stronger partnerships across Axminster with other community organisations.
- Additional place-making and community events in the town.
- Greater capacity to respond to resident’s queries and concerns in a prompt and efficient manner.
- Better access to, and use of, external funding and grant opportunities.
And ultimately, making Axminster an even better place to live, work and visit.
This is about investing in people to deliver for people.
Ultimately, we know that we cannot solve every problem, and we cannot take on every responsibility that sits with other authorities. But where there is an identifiable gap, where we can make a tangible difference and where our community needs us to act, Axminster Town Council wants to be ready to step up. This is about building a Town Council that doesn't just talk about what Axminster needs but has the capacity to deliver it.
Let's keep stepping up for Axminster.