Local government for Evesham is split between three tiers: Town, District and County (in increasing order of size).
Evesham Town Council
Based in Evesham
Employs 8 full-time and 5 part-time staff.
Has 24 councillors representing 5 wards.
Councillors are all unpaid. The Mayor has an allowance of £4,000 per year to cover expenses.
Councillors are elected every four years. The next election is in May 2015.
Key responsibilities of the Town Council include
- Allotments
- Cemeteries and church yards
- Tourist Information
- The Almonry Museum, Wallace House Community Centre and the upper floor of the Town Hall
- Some open spaces (most parks are run by Wychavon, see below)
- The charter market and other street markets
- Christmas lights and bonfire night
- Providing grants to local organisations and events
- Street naming (delegated from Wychavon)
The Town Council is a statutory consultee on planning applications, but does not make the final decision.
Other than the key statutory functions, the Town Council's primary aim is to promote the town and support local businesses and residents. The Town Council is a key participant in the Evesham Market Town Partnership, along with Wychavon District Council and members representing other local community groups. The Market Town Partnership is the main link between the Town Council and the various major festivals and events taking place in the town throughout the year.
Go to Evesham Town Council website
Wychavon District Council
Based in Pershore
Employs approximately 330 staff.
Has 45 councillors representing 32 wards (9 councillors and 5 wards in Evesham)
All councillors have a basic allowance of £4,200 per year. Additional allowances are paid to committee chairmen and executive board members, ranging from £1,050 (committee chair) to £12,600 (leader of the council).
Councillors are elected every four years. The next election is in May 2015.
Key responsibilities of the District Council include
- Parks and leisure facilities
- Planning applications
- Licensing
- Car parks
- Housing
- Waste collection
- Environmental Health
- Council tax collection
- Elections and the Electoral Roll
- Providing grants to local organisations and events
Go to Wychavon District Council website
Worcestershire County Council
Based in Worcester
Employs approximately 5,000 staff
Has 57 councillors covering 52 divisions (2 councillors and 2 divisions in Evesham).
All councillors have a basic allowance of £8,515. Additional allowances are paid to committee chairmen and cabinet members, ranging from £5,820 (committee chair) to £31,074 (leader of the council).
Councillors are elected every four years. The next election is in May 2017.
Key responsibilities of the County Council include
- Highways (except trunk roads), including setting speed limits, one way streets and other restrictions
- Street cleaning
- Trading Standards
- Waste disposal and recycling
- Social services, including social care, children's homes, adoption/fostering and blue badges
- Schools and Libraries (other than Academies and Free Schools)
- Registry offices
Go to Worcestershire County Council website
Other national and regional organisations with responsibilities which affect Evesham
Police
Evesham lies within the West Mercia Police region. The police are ultimately responsible to the directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner.
All three councils have regular meetings with the police at their respective levels, but none of the councils have the authority to set police priorities or give specific instructions to the police.
Fire and Rescue
Evesham lies within the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS). HWFRS is ultimately responsible to the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority (HWFRA), which consists of 24 councillors appointed by councils in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
NHS
Evesham lies within the boundaries of the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (hospitals), the NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (GPs) and the West Midlands Ambulance Service (ambulances and paramedics).
Healthcare (including ambulance and GP provisison) is entirely independent of local authorities, and your local councils have no control over it or any significant input into the decision-making
Highways Agency
The Highways Agency is responsible for the A46 (Evesham by-pass).