The responsibilities of the council's standing committees are as follows:
Highways & Planning - As its name implies, this deals with planning applications and meets twice within the council's six weekly cycle to help shape decisions by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC). The committee processes over 200 planning applications a year. Bourne Town Council has a right of involvement in the development of Bourne, Cawthorpe, Dyke and Twenty in terms of Town & Country Planning. As the elected body of the community, the council is consulted over longer-term development plans as well as individual planning applications and SKDC who makes the final decision takes the views of the committee into consideration.
The committee also deals with road and footpath matters together with referrals on questions of public health.
Amenities - Is the committee mostly responsible for the operation and maintenance of council owned amenities e.g. the town cemetery on South Road, the council's allotments at South Fen Road and the town centre Christmas lights displays as well as the Bourne in Bloom project, which has begun in 2006.
The committee has delegated powers to make decisions within its budget provision and it makes recommendations to the council on costs and charges.
Finance & General Purposes - This committee deals with anything not dealt with in the Planning and Amenities committees, including matters of administration, staffing, grants, donations and the implementation of any partnership agreements with other organisations e.g. South Street toilets and part-time community cleaning with South Kesteven District Council or additional workforce during the summer months for cemetery, provided by the Stamford & Bourne Learning Disability Services.
This committee compiles the draft budget for the forthcoming year and the Bourne portion of the Council Tax for adoption by Bourne Town Council.
Human Resources (HR) Committee - This committee was formed in May 2014 and plays a vital role with Bourne Town Council also being an employer.
You will find the Terms of Reference for this committee attached to this page.
All four committees make use of working parties (advisory groups) which make recommendations on particular issues. Some working parties are long term groups and others are formed for a short term project. Working parties may include members of the public.
The enforcement of various Acts such as the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, The Data Protection Act 1998 and The Freedom of Information Act 2000 are all putting an extra financial and administrative demand on public service providers and the committees endeavour to comply with the above and other acts when making recommendations to the Full Council.
Terms of Reference for Committees
These documents are being reviewed on a regular basis and if necessary amendments proposed and adopted:
https://bourne.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/10/hr-committee-terms-of-reference