Who We Are
Belper Town Council came into existence on the 1 April 1974 as a result of the Local Government Act 1972 and its reorganisation of Local Government. Under the act the Belper Urban District Council was abolished and its powers and functions transferred to the newly created Amber Valley Borough Council and Belper Town Council.
The Council has an office at St Johns Chapel, The Butts, Belper, which is open to the public Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm. The Council also manages the Heritage Centre which is also in the Chapel.
The 16 members of the Town Council are currently elected to serve for a term of four years. The current Council was elected on 4 May 2023 so the next election will fall in 2027. The Full Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month, (except August), at 7.00pm in St John’s Chapel, Belper. Members of the public are invited to attend Council meetings, and can speak if they wish. View Public Speaking guidance.
Notices of meetings are placed in the Council Noticeboards outside the Chapel, on King Street, Belper and in Milford.
What We Do
The Council maintains the Memorial Gardens on King Street, the Market Place, the Coppice and Gibfield Lane car parks, the Public Toilets on Strutt Street and the Triangle at Milford. The Council looks after the War Memorials in Belper and Milford. It organises the Summer floral displays and Christmas trees and decorations in Belper and Milford and it co-ordinates the Town’s entry into the annual East Midlands in Bloom competition. The Council also organises the two annual Food Festivals, the Remembrance Day Parade, the Christmas light switch on and the Christmas Carol Service. The Town Council works closely with Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council to improve the Town and by maintaining some footpaths and grit bins around the Town.
Full Council
Full Council meetings take place at 7pm on the second Tuesday of every month at St Johns Chapel, The Butts, Belper.
Members of the public are welcome to attend and listen or address the Council in the Public Speaking section of the Meeting.
The Full Council is responsible for:
- Approving the Council’s monthly payments
- Approving recommendations on Planning Applications comments
- Considering and commenting on consultations from Amber Valley Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council
- Considering Derbyshire Association of Local Councils Circulars
- Approving the Council’s annual budget
- Approving the Council’s fees and charges
- Setting the Council’s precept
- Approving the Annual Return
- Approving all Council expenditure that is not delegated to the Council’s Committees or Officers
- Considering general correspondence sent to the Council
- Considering reports from the Councillors appointed to outside bodies
Annual General Meeting
Annually, usually in May, The Council holds its Annual General Meeting. At this meeting the Council appoints the Mayor and deputy Mayor for the year, appoints Members to its committees, sets its meeting dates for the coming year and reviews and approves its main policies including its Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.
The Annual Parish Meeting
The Annual Parish meeting is held in May.
The Annual Parish Meeting is not a council meeting and is different to the Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council which is held after the Annual Parish Meeting. It is a meeting of the Parish or Town electors. Electors can contribute to the agenda and in practice these meetings often celebrate local activities and debate current issues in the community. The Mayor of the Town Council, any two Councillors or any six electors can call the Annual Parish or Town Meeting. The Mayor of the Town Council, if present, will chair the meeting.
