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Principles met

  • New models of meeting priority needs

    In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.

Biddulph Town Council runs the Town Hall, and our mission since August 2020 (when this was transferred from the District Council) has been to fill the building with organisations that enhance the lives of our residents. Our mantra has been ‘Biddulph residents should feel comfortable coming into the Town Hall to ask us anything’. In April 2022 there were 321 people making enquiries at the reception desk; in April 2024, this had risen to 603. We handled 6728 queries in 2024-25. It’s important to note that we do not provide statutory services, but being a conduit to help residents navigate a three-council system has proved to be vital.

Like many town and parish councils, we were close enough to our residents to understand the real hardships they faced when the cost-of-living crisis hit in 2022. In partnership with a wide range of voluntary and community sector organisations, we founded ‘Biddulph Works Together’. The aim of this collective was to provide free food and warm spaces every day of the week throughout the colder months. The Town Council provided funds, which enabled groups to deliver the sessions that the community needed. We paid for food hygiene training, a new fridge, slow cookers and lots of food. We are very proud of the opportunities that are available to Biddulph residents, delivered predominantly by volunteers. We are even more proud of the relationships and networks that have been created since this project began.

 

Biddulph Local People’s Group providing free refreshments at the Christmas Lights switch-on, funded by Biddulph Town Council.

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