Mayors Report to Town Council – May 2010
It is some time since an annual report such as this was done and although it lengthens the meeting somewhat it is surely right to report to the community on the activity of the council and to councillors on the activity as mayor on your behalf.
On a corporate note I believe the main achievements of the Town Council this year have been physical ones.
Principally – we, with the assistance of our professional advisors and with the guidance of Richard Kirkby of LCC Community Design Team, started the work on the redevelopment of the Old Station. Redundant from its original purpose since the Beeching cuts the Old Station had been home to a number of organisations and those with longer memories and more intimate knowledge of the history could elaborate on who they were. However it was obvious that something needed to be done. Here was a building in the heart of the community, in desperate need of use, with which would come maintenance and increased social and economic benefit.
The scheme nears completion now and whilst it would have been personally very rewarding to have taken possession from the contractor on my watch it is not to be. I’m delighted that another early champion of the project and an advocate of proactive local government will be in office to carry out the formalities sometime shortly and I know, Jim that you are as proud as I am of this significant achievement. Close on half a million pounds has come to Longridge for this project – about eight times our annual precept – which I reckon is pretty good leverage in anyone’s book!
The new Old Station will be a focus for business, the local community and visitors alike and a number of the actions identified in the new Economic Strategy for Longridge will be delivered as a result of LSEC having a suitable base from which to operate. The Town Council will lead on many of the actions in the new economic strategy which will be ratified, all being well, at the RVBC Planning Committee in July.
In order to make way for the redevelopment the Town Council had to cede occupation and the Clerk relocated to a pokey, cold and inaccessible office at Stonebridge. It was an occupation of necessity but it was cheap and available and Shona survived despite a break in and the coldest winter for ages!
We managed to secure funding, by working with RVBC which needed additional space, to create an office in the foyer of the civic and Shona, in significant contrast to the Stonebridge office now occupies a spacious, warm and perhaps most significantly, accessible office in the heart of civic life here.
The council has supported a significant number of causes financially over the year. We stood by Field Day Committee when the evening’s trouble after their extremely successful day threatened future events with uber contol and I’d like to think we helped ensure an appropriate level of action was taken. We wish Field Day well for this and future years and I can’t help thinking that maybe the Town Council should be parading too?
We parade well in Longridge and our band ensures that we do so in fine style. Civic Sunday and Remembrance Sunday make me swell with pride and I’m not ashamed to admit that leading the civic party on both occasions made me well up!! The snow lying all around ensured that carols by the crib this year was very memorable – the soprano cornet’s snowball hit on the mayor ensured that the evening was not without fun too!!
On a personal note I have been proud to be mayor and represent the Town Council on numerous occasions this year. I was counting until my new blackberry somehow deleted my past appointments but I had got to 55 engagements by New Years Day and I’ve not been idle since then either. I don’t propose to run through them all but I would mention:
· 2 one hundredth birthdays at Pleasington Court
· 2 shop openings – a sign of vibrancy in our market despite the national scene.
· The poppy appeal and Remembrancetide
· Supporting the High School Taste company which is now through to the Lancs finals of the Young Enterprise Competition.
I haven’t asked Jim to deputise for me often this year but the big one I did ask for help on was the judging of the Fancy Dress for the Boxing Day Pram Race. And the reason was that Katherine, my mother and I took part which precluded me from judging obviously. I single out this event for special mention because it illustrates all that is positive about the Longridge Community. We English in particular have a remarkable capacity for self deprecation and negativity (and the ability to self mock is of course important) but we have spirit and generosity in spades in Longridge and I was overwhelmed that day, not just by having to drink both mine and much of my mother’s beer in 13 pubs, but also the wonderful atmosphere. The collective effort was massive and a significant amount was raised for charity as well as hard core Christmas hangovers being chased away by activity too.
I supported Ribble Valley Crossroads and OJs Care as my two main charities this year. In addition I promised Cllr Stuart Carefoot a donation for managing to stay wake whilst riding a motorbike for 24 hours last summer on Civic Sunday week end. I have not yet divvied up the money because there is still some to collect and account for but it would be remiss of me to mention fundraising and not mention Pam Cliff and Margaret Brown for running market coffee mornings on my behalf. With their teams this dynamic duo epitomise Longridge endeavour and I’m grateful – thank you. Thanks also to Jackie Eccles for her coffee morning support too.
This leads me nicely onto 2 other characters without whom The Longridge Partnership, LSEC and Town Council, amongst others, would have been weaker in the last few years. Even prior to their announcement they were to leave Longridge for self imposed exile in Freckleton I had sought permission from fellow councillors to recognise Val and Derek’s their contribution to public life in Longridge at this meeting. Both were entitled to mayoral office prior to me but felt unable to take up office. However neither has ducked any other responsibility and in fact both have more often than not stepped upto the plate to shoulder a burden. I am honoured to ask you two to step up to receive a mark of the Council’s thanks for everything you have done for our community.
Hilda joins Val and Derek on the list of retirees from council. Hilda’s long residence in Longridge has been marked by community service and much has already been said about that. Hilda recently joined her new husband Tony in Yorkshire and I know both Yorkshire and Tony are doing well in the circumstances.
So three vacancies arise on council. Three opportunities for service to the community; Three opportunities to have your say every fortnight; three opportunities to influence change. We don’t do party politics on this council and if the new marriage in Westminster wanted to take lessons in joint working we would be a good model. Look out for the notices about how to apply for council and we look forward to recruiting to fulfil our number.
And finally – more thanks….. to the usual but nonetheless guilty as charged suspects. To the community of Longridge; To my fellow councillors in Longridge; to a mentor or two from superior councils – you know who you are; to the number one clerk in Lancashire and of course to my long suffering wife Katherine – thanks.
May we Sow for Posterity.
