Milestone ahead for creation of Bexhill’s own town council

On Monday (December 14), Rother District Council’s cabinet is expected to consider whether to back proposals giving officers delegated authority to finalise and agree a Community Governance Order (CGO) – the legal document officially establishing a town council.

While this decision will require a full council vote, cabinet members are also expected to agree to appoint an interim administrator, who would be responsible for overseeing the process of setting up of the new council.

If agreed, this administrator would be appointed on a seven-month basis from January 1 until July 31 2021, before handing over to a permanent town clerk who they will help to appoint.

Among other tasks, they would be responsible for setting up the council’s initial governance structure as well as finding accommodation and overseeing its inauguration.

As well as officially establishing the town council, the CGO would transfer assets from Rother District Council to the new authority. 

These would include several allotment grounds as well as a number of valuable historical items owned by the town – including the Mayor’s chain of office. According to council papers, these are worth around £115,000 for insurance purposes.

While councillors are to vote on delegating the CGO later this month, a final version of the document is unlikely to be in place before the new year.

But, if all goes to plan, the town council  will be officially constituted on April 1 2021, with the first elections set to take place on May 10. 

It would begin formally running services the following year, with Rother to carry on providing these services in the interim.