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Friday, 10 February 2012
Next in the Diary
Planning Committee
Wed, Mar 7th, 2012, @7:00pm |
Full Council Meeting
Wed, Mar 21st, 2012, @7:00pm |
Planning Meeting
Wed, Apr 4th, 2012, @7:00pm |
Finance & Policy Meeting
Wed, Apr 11th, 2012, @7:00pm |
Full Council Meeting
Wed, Apr 18th, 2012, @7:00pm |
Visitors: 3180981
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Chairman's Annual Report 2009/10 |
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Friday, 11 June 2010 |
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Being elected as Chairman of Southwell Town Council was a great honour for me and my family. When I first considered standing for the Council becoming Chairman never crossed my mind. So I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for allowing me to represent them and the Residents of this Town which means so much to me. I would also like to thank my wife Anna and son Matthew for putting up with my disappearing acts!
I feel that, once again, this has been a busy and successful year for the your town and its’ council. I hope that we have engaged more directly with residents through community events and ‘open’ meetings. In addition to this broad aim, the Town Council has also aimed to continue working on a series of initiatives, several of which are part of the implementation of the previous Town Plan which hopefully benefited the residents to the town. And I look forward to a new Town Plan to be implemented shortly to realise future goals for the Town.
One of the main highlights of the year was the Town’s success in the Best Kept Village Competition. Best New Entrant was supplemented by Best in Over 2000 category. The feeling of pride in receiving the award for Best in Nottinghamshire will be difficult to beat. The judges complimented the Town on the high standard of its open spaces, shopping areas and the community work by residents in their gardens. I must make special mention of our Groundsmen (Steve and Paul) for their continued great work and also the office staff for their outstanding support for them and us as Councillors.
On becoming Chair I’d hoped that we might continue the good work of previous Councils not only for our residents, but our traders, shops and businesses alike and in attracting visitors. The Southwell Tourism partnership has gone from strength to strength but I’m not sure that we can improve the Lantern Walk - which filled the Library to overflowing and which has become so successful new venues are already being considered. By now there should be a new programme of events where now established events such as the family fun days, the Folk Festival and our Champions of Southwell awards will take place. The Tourism Centre is a great addition to the Town but would not be as successful without its loyal band of volunteers to whom we should all be very grateful.
Another great success from Tourism was the Beating Retreat held on the War Memorial Recreation Ground. The Band of the Royal Anglians was splendid and the entertainment excellent but it reminded us what a truly wonderful place the Park is. It should continue to be used by all residents but we all have a duty to look after it.
We have, at last, acquired lease rights to Minster Fields (the Church Street site playing fields) and negotiations continue to ensure that the area is kept open and free from any development. It is hoped that we may, in the future, be able to purchase the land but these matters take time.
The Parks and Open Spaces Committee have managed to improve – and will continue to improve - playing facilities at both War Memorial and Norwood Gardens Play Areas. Consultation with users continues at the Skatepark.
Town Council has developed initiatives with the Minster School and Nottingham Trent University (NTU), Brackenhurst. It is hoped the STC can co-ordinate some joined up thinking on Safer Routes to School initially with the Minster but Holy Trinity and Lowe’s Wong being an integral part of any discussions together with the 20’s Plenty Campaign and STAG. This includes safer crossings at all Primary Schools. NTU are developing a series of nature walks to supplement the very successful Heritage Trails which are well established around the Town. We hope that by working together that this network of trails will help stewardship and environmental issues around the NTU campus.
STC is proud of the Safer Neighbourhoods Group which is establishing closer links with organisations in the Town together with PC Tony Hayes and his sidekick PCSO.
Transport and Highways Working Group has maintained its close liaison with Officers of NCC and achieved notable success, especially along Newark Road. It continues to lobby for work on the Southwell ‘Inner Ring Road’ from Market Place, Queen Street, Ropewalk, Lower Kirklington Road (LKR), The Burgage and King Street. LKR has already had work to paths and pavements and we hope that the road will receive attention in the very near future. The Ropewalk dominates discussion and we hope that our continued work will bear fruit.
Major ongoing projects include the results from the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) which are now gathering pace. STC will continue to consult with residents to achieve a favourable outcome for the Town. From a personal point of view I believe that it has to be recognised that a solid and manageable infrastructure should be in place before the Town can be expected to consider growth on the scale suggested.
Finally, I would like to reflect on the high point of my year in the Chair. The Freedom Parade for 2nd Battalion Mercian (Worcesters and Foresters) Regiment truly demonstrated the community of Southwell at its very best. I was very proud when the Mercians accepted and invitation from STC to parade in the Town; humbled by the Thanksgiving Service in the Minster; grateful to receive a gift from the Regiment on behalf of the Town. But nothing will remain in the memory as the sight of King Street filled with Residents paying their own tribute to those young men and women that continue to give in Service. Thank you all so much for making not only this day but also my year as Chairman so memorable.
Cllr Andrew Gregory
Chairman
2009/2010
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