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Pickering Town Council
Annual Report 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 |
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Overview of the council’s achievements Dear Parishioners, It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as town mayor of a town which is vibrant and lively and provides so much both for its residents and visitors. In the current economic situation, it is encouraging to see new businesses opening in the town and the council has been involved with the production of the Exclusively Pickering initiative, to help all businesses to succeed. We now know that we shall be getting a Lidl supermarket on the former coal yard site, but this will not now be open until 2012 (as yet we do not know when). The creation of a community park is to go ahead and this will be a great asset for the town. We are delighted that work is beginning on flood alleviation measures on land above the town as this should give some peace of mind to those whose properties have been flooded in the past. There was a successful continental market in the summer and the Pro Sprint event in the Market Place (which preceded the World Mountain Bike Championships in Dalby Forest) was so enjoyed that it was repeated this year. There have been some applications for unsuitable developments in the town this year and the council has opposed these vigorously, so as to maintain Pickering as a pleasant place in which to live. During my year of office, I have become increasingly aware of the number of voluntary organisations in Pickering and especially how many people give up their time to work with young people. The council has established a Youth Council with the aim of giving younger residents a say in developments which affect them directly. Local Government Elections have changed the composition of the council as four new councillors have been elected: Sue Cowan, Fred Downes, Natalie Warriner MBE and Tommy Woodward. We welcome them as we say goodbye to three councillors who chose not to stand Andrew Danby, Ken Kitching and Joan Taylor. Joan was first elected to the council in 1985 and she will be much missed (though you will still find her in Taylor’s in the Market Place!) John Stott was not successful in the election. Thank you to all four for their respective contributions to the town and the council. Below is a summary of the council’s achievements and activities during the year in terms of the objectives it set itself. Involve the Pickering community in identifying the town’s present and future needs We have worked with a number of groups and individuals in order to engage the community in identifying the town’s present and future needs. Through our communications with Pickering’s schools and youth organisations we have promoted the establishment of a Pickering Town Youth Council whose members regularly discuss community matters and have organised Pickering’s first Youth Art exhibition and other social events. We have engaged with the town’s businesses in order to promote local trade and continued to be closely involved with community groups, in order to identify and meet needs. Our website invites comments and proposals from all residents and the Annual Town Meeting gives us good feedback on what we are currently doing and suggestions for what we need to do in the future. Work with the police to secure good order in the town We have continued to work closely with the police and local residents to improve the safety and security of particular areas in the town. The town’s play areas, the castle, and the cemetery are monitored regularly. As a result of complaints by local residents about antisocial behaviour in Eastgate Square, the shelter that was provided as a place where young people could congregate has been removed. A persistent problem, often leading to antisocial behaviour, is the consumption of alcohol by the under aged. The police have recently concentrated efforts on this problem and have confiscated large quantities of alcohol from groups of youngsters in the town. The supply of alcohol is difficult to stop. It is believed that young people over the age of 18 often buy the drinks and then pass the drinks onto their younger friends and acquaintances. Residents, particularly our older residents, appreciate the security that footway lighting provides. The lighting is professionally inspected. As a result of a recent inspection, some of the old concrete columns will be replaced. Unfortunately, it can be months before a new column comes into service as we are dependent on the scheduling of the electricity company to reconnect the electricity supply. We have worked with the local Highways and Transport Authority to highlight town centre road safety issues and pinpoint areas requiring action. Pot holes have been repaired, some more than once, and Hungate has been resurfaced. Promote and develop “Pride in Pickering” There continues to be five “Pride in Pickering” groups: Business Engagement, Litter and Dirt, Youth Engagement, Open Spaces and Roads and Footpaths. The Business Engagement group has liaised with businesses in the town to produce “Exclusively Pickering”, which is intended to promote the businesses to visitors and locals alike and encourage them to spend money in the town. It can be accessed on the Town Council Website and is linked to several tourism websites. The group was also involved with the continental market and the Pro Sprint event and seeks at all times to strengthen the economy of the town. The group is currently endeavouring, with the help of the business community, to establish a Business Forum to plan and coordinate activity. The Litter and Dirt group has been trying to bring greater awareness to the unhealthy problem of dog dirt. Its members are always looking for new ways to change attitudes and make owners feel very anti-social if they don’t pick up after their dogs. Recently they have encouraged the use of stencils on the pavements at the worst spots, with a dog and a warning on them. The “Stop the Drop” initiative, and the education of the youngest in schools about the dangers of litter, continues. A local member of CPRE has composed and orchestrated a song called “The Rubbish Song”, with sheet music and a CD, which the group hopes to roll out to all the Pickering schools. As with all the other Pride in Pickering groups, they are keen to get new members who are willing to litter pick and would like to express their thanks to all those who called to offer their help, as soon as they see a litter-picking session publicised. The Youth Engagement Group has good links with all three of Pickering’s primary schools and maintains e-mail contact with the schools’ own councils, sending regular reports about Town Council meetings. Children are able to identify topics they would like councillors to discuss. Young people have also been closely involved in the planning of the proposed community park. The newly established Pickering Town Youth Council, holds regular meetings and has drawn support from local schools and local youth organisations. For the first time, this year, young people took a major role in the civic service. The Roads and Footpaths group has continued to monitor the condition of the footpaths and streets and to make sure that the Highways Authority is aware of their condition and see to their repair. Promote and develop Pickering for the benefit of both residents and businesses Councillors were involved in the planning and execution of the Pro Sprint Event in April 2010. This saw Pickering become a player on the world stage from which many businesses profited. We are delighted that the event is returning this year and are once again involved with it. The council also organised a continental market in July, which was enjoyed by local people and brought visitors to the town. Our recent project “Exclusively Pickering”, seeks to help businesses to attract more trade, both from visitors and local people. The council has continued to work with the town team and are delighted at the acquisition of more seats in the town centre and excellent new interactive maps. Work with Ryedale’s market towns and the district and county councils for the benefit of the community The district’s five town councils meet regularly to discuss common problems and lobby for improvements to services. A key issue will be how local authorities work with local communities to keep paths free of snow and ice during periods of protracted winter weather. A pilot scheme in Hovingham, where volunteers kept the footpaths clear of snow, may be the way forward, given that the authorities themselves cannot meet all the costs. This is an area – there may be others – where local government will be doing less and individuals and groups could be doing more. Valuable lessons were learned, which could be passed onto other councils and communities, who may like to try the scheme next winter. The footpath sweeper – jointly financed by the Five Towns – is now in service and is used regularly. Hopefully, it will reduce, if not end, weed proliferation where paths meet property frontages and walls. We have successfully lobbied for a community park and more allotment land and this will be provided as part of a housing development. We have expressed our concerns to the district council about dog fouling in the town. Very soon Fixed Penalty Notices will be issued to offenders and some additional dog litter bins have been installed. We continue to meet with developers to try to ensure that proposed developments meet the needs of Pickering people and bring benefits to the town. Provide training for town councillors Local council work is demanding and our councillors see the need for training. This year councillors have attended sessions on localism, action for market towns, new government plans for local councils, planning applications, play areas, working with council officers, improving the decision making process and implementing policies. Also, each councillor has identified individual training requirements which will continue to be regularly updated and addressed. Maintain Quality Status The Quality Parish and Town Council scheme is designed to provide minimum standards for parish and town councils and enable them to represent the communities they serve more effectively. The tests exceed the statutory duties of parish and town councils and represent the standards that an efficient, well run council should achieve. The Council achieved Quality status in June 2009 and continues to work to maintain it and to exceed basic requirements. Engage with and support voluntary organisations Councillors continue to be involved with many of the town’s voluntary organisations – Fair Trade, Pickering in Bloom, Walkers are Welcome, the Town Team, the Newbridge Park Group and the Memorial Hall Trust, to name but six – and through the grants budget, the council responds to requests for help with funding. The organisations that have received grants this year are: The Community Events group, Christmas Lights, the Senior Citizens Christmas and Royal Wedding parties, Stape Silver Band, Beck Isle Museum and the Youth Council Art exhibition. Information about the grant budget can be found in the summer issue of the Pickering Beacon and on the council’s website. Keep you informed about council activities and local issues We continue to endeavour to keep you fully informed about our activities. We are indebted to the “Gazette and Herald” and the “Malton and Pickering Mercury”, whose representatives attend and report on our meetings. We have published four newsletters in the “Pickering Beacon” and we continue to maintain our website so it is easier to access information – www.pickering.gov.uk Our agenda, papers and decisions are also published on the website and may be accessed at the Library and Information Centre. You are always welcome to visit the office in the Memorial Hall. We have used our three public notice boards in the town – situated in the Market Place, the southern end of Potter Hill and the western end of Eastgate – together with the notice board in the Memorial Hall, to advertise our own activities and those of local authorities and voluntary organisations. In addition we are in touch with the local schools on a regular basis, not just to inform the children about local issues, but to seek their views about how to bring about improvements to the town. Council aims for 2011-2012
Should you have any queries about any of the above, please contact the town clerk. In closing may I send my best wishes to you all and my personal thanks to those who have assisted me through this most enjoyable year. Councillor Joan Lovejoy Financial Statement Summary 1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011
Please note that the figures given above have to be finalised for presentation to the council at its next meeting. Included in Income is the sum of £5,000.00, which was released to the town council, by the district council, to cover the costs of the Pro Sprint Eliminator Event, 20 May 2011, in the town centre. Expenditure of this money will be covered by the council’s accounts for 2011-2012. The council’s accounts are subject to internal and external audit regimes. The internal auditor is appointed by the council and has to meet tests of independence and competence. The external auditor is appointed by the Audit Commission. The internal audit, on the basis of assessment of risk, carries out a selective assessment of compliance with relevant procedures and controls that are in operation during the financial year. The exercise is undertaken each autumn and, again, after the finalisation of the accounts. The council will soon submit a return to the external auditor. This includes a statement of accounts as well as a further statement that the councillors acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring that there is a sound system of internal control. Following the submission of the return, the accounts for 2010-11 will be made public in the summer. Notices alerting members of the public to their availability will be posted on each of the four council notice boards and on its website. Contact Details
To contact Mr J A Husband, town clerk, or Mrs B Fearnley, his assistant, please ring (01751) 476503, e-mail townclerk@pickering.gov.uk or call in at the office which is open Monday to Friday inclusive, 9am until 1 pm. The office is housed in the Kitching Room which is situated on the first floor of the Memorial Hall, Potter Hill, Pickering, YO18 8AA.
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