Wisbech Town Council
Annual Report
2008-2009
Councillor Jonathan R Farmer TD 
Mayor of Wisbech
The year 2008-2009 has seen a number of changes and developments both for Wisbech Town Council and the town of Wisbech itself.
Following the town councils designation as a Quality Council the council has restructured its meetings in order to accommodate greater public participation; better liaison with Fenland District Council; and a more pro-active outward looking approach to issues that concern the people of Wisbech. Meetings of the Town Council have become more frequent and have involved more outside speakers briefing the Council than ever before. There has also been the formation of the Wisbech Youth Council, which offers a strong and vibrant youth voice to the development of Wisbech.
The civic year has seen the Mayor and Mayoress participating in or attending over three hundred events including the opening of a range of shops and businesses; coffee mornings; civic services; visits to homes for the elderly; civic receptions; art exhibitions; dramatic performances; carol services; award ceremonies; summer fetes; the Rose Fair; brass band concerts; pancake races; funerals of former Mayors; official openings of fairs; flower festivals; Christmas dinners; civic dinners; civic balls; annual general meetings of charities; visits by foreign students; national heritage weekend; carnivals; visits to schools; open days; tree plantings; the Wisbech Christmas lights switch on; the Richard Young celebrations; opening the Wisbech Christmas market; fashion shows; visits to RAF stations; choral recitals; town tours; musical evenings; 100 year birthday parties; charity events; visits by students celebrating Easter; the Wisbech Horse Fair; the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army; the annual cricket match between Wisbech Cricket Club and the MCC; and the annual Rising of the Court in Wisbech.
These events have involved travel to places far and wide including, Boston, Bourne, Cambridge, Cromer, Downham Market, Fakenham, Godmanchester, Grantham, Hunstanton, Huntingdon, Kettering, Kings Lynn, Luton, March, Market Deeping, Northampton, Oundle, Peterborough, Sandy, Spalding, Stamford, Norwich, St Neots, St Ives, Walsoken, Watton, and Whittlesey, and we have welcomed the opportunities to promote Wisbech Capital of the Fens.
Many events have taken place within Wisbech itself. In all events we have been most appreciative of the welcome given to us and would like to again thank all organisations, especially those whose hard work and commitment benefits the community of Wisbech.
It was with pleasure that I was able to recognise many of these organisations in the distribution of the money raised for the Mayors Charities in the presence of the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.
Within Wisbech the last twelve months has seen the opening of the Boat House, improvements in the port, the opening of a brand new state of the art residential home for the elderly, a new cinema, a new Lidl supermarket, extension and improvement of a variety of school facilities, works to update the library, works to extend Octavia Hill Birthplace House, and improvements to the Rosmini Centre, the commencement of flood defence improvements by the environment agency, and attaining a Gold award in Anglia in Bloom.
All these developments have been most welcome and have been supported by Wisbech Town Council where possible.
Finally, at the last meeting of Wisbech Town Council in closed session the Council discussed the appointment of a new Freeman of the Town of Wisbech. I am happy to announce that the Council unanimously approved the name of Jody Cundy and he has very kindly accepted this honour. Jody is a five times paralympic gold medallist who was born in Wisbech and started his swimming career at the bottom of the pool in the Hudson leisure centre. He retains close links with the town and was our guest of honour at the Wisbech Christmas lights switch-on. He will be formally enrolled as a Freeman at a future date and a reception will be hosted by the Mayor.
Councillor David Oliver
Leader of Wisbech Town Council
I would like to thank my fellow councillors and staff for all their support throughout this year. This year Wisbech Town Council has sought to improve its service to the electorate. We decided to hold full council meetings monthly to improve business and I feel this has by and large worked well. This Council has been able to respond quicker and more efficiently and has been better informed because of this.
I would like to outline some more of our achievements during this year.
Our website has been revamped and is updated regularly with the minutes of all full council meetings, Planning and Allotment Committee meetings, the Civic Amenities working party and also Wisbech Youth Council meetings. All agendas are posted on the site, and information about meetings, procedures and events is also available. Please use the site which can be found at www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk
Wisbech Town Council continues to distribute over £10,000 In general grants to organisations such as the Wisbech & Fenland Museum, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Angles Theatre, plus many more. Contributions are also made to CCTV, and support given to Wisard by giving them space within the office to continue their work on regenerating Wisbech and surrounding areas.
We are continuing to administer approximately 70 acres of allotments and continue to make improvements. If anyone would like to start growing their own produce why not see the Deputy Clerk after this meeting.
The council has commissioned a new Town guide which we hope will be around 48 pages in size and will be a lot more informative about Wisbech and its attractions, services and facilities.
We are also proposing to provide two events for the people of Wisbech in early August 2009: the first being for the young people of Wisbech with young bands headlined by The Brink, a fun fair and many other attractions; the second being a multi-cultural event for everybody with dancing, food and other types of entertainment.
As Ive already said, we as a Council have been working hard on improvements within the council to become more efficient and responsive and part of this is down to the staff we have working for this council.
Finally, two other achievements by this council:
The creation of the Wisbech Youth Council for Young people aged between 13 and 18 who Live, Earn or Learn in Wisbech. Since its first meeting in September 2008 it has gone from strength to strength. They have had meetings with other organisations and recently with our local MP Malcolm Moss. They will also be heavily involved in the two events proposed for August. Also, this council has worked up the final draft for consultation of the Wisbech Town Plan which will be launched this evening.
I speak for myself but also believe my fellow councillors are as committed to our electorate and will strive to continue to improve Wisbech to the best of our abilities.
Town Clerks Report
I have been The Clerk to Wisbech Town Council now for 18 months, and I can honestly say it has been diverse and interesting, testing the skills and experience I have gained during my 20 years in local government and my experiences in the voluntary and the private sectors. I am especially pleased with our partnership working with officers of Fenland District Council, and Cambridgeshire County Council.
This is an ideal opportunity for me to thank my small staff team for their hard work and support. They have risen to all the challenges that have been set for them. In the words of the Mayor the other evening, our Beadle, Alister Hopkins, is Probably the best Beadle in the Country; my deputy, Susanah Farmer, I would say, is the best deputy I could ask for; and Ann Purt, within a short 5 hours a week, does a phenomenal job as Allotments Inspector.
Most importantly, however, I must thank elected members. We have the benefit of 18 elected members, most of whom have given the staff team a tremendous vote of confidence, and have devoted a great deal of time, effort and the benefit of their experience to working with us to take this Council forward to a very satisfactory conclusion at the end of the financial year.
As well as a range of pro-active and positive improvements to the way this Council operates, and to its involvement in so many aspects of Wisbech life, we have been able to put the Council on an even footing financially, adding substantially to severely depleted reserves, and increasing spending on CCTV; building repairs and improvements; and supporting local community organisations and events through grants and other support.
FINAL ACCOUNTS 2008/2009 as at 31 March 2009
|
|
2008/09 Budget |
Year end expenditure |
% spent against budget |
BUDGET for 2009/2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditure |
£ |
£ |
% |
£ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VAT |
3,000.00 |
4,565.14 |
152.17 |
3,000.00 |
|
Salaries |
39,745.00 |
40,771.94 |
102.58 |
47,000.00 |
|
Tax & National Insurance |
13,718.00 |
13,516.56 |
98.53 |
16,000.00 |
|
Pensions |
6,040.00 |
6,321.68 |
104.66 |
6,000.00 |
|
Mayor & Civic |
7,270.00 |
7,238.83 |
99.57 |
6,000.00 |
|
Grants - non 137 inc. Museum/St John |
8,475.00 |
8,425.00 |
99.41 |
9,500.00 |
|
Sect. 137 Grants |
1,600.00 |
1,600.00 |
100.00 |
2,000.00 |
|
Allotments |
1,500.00 |
4,663.33 |
310.89 |
1,500.00 |
|
Christmas |
12,000.00 |
13,676.32 |
113.97 |
9,000.00 |
|
CCTV |
19,000.00 |
19,000.00 |
100.00 |
25,000.00 |
|
Elections |
- |
- |
|
3,000.00 |
|
Administration |
2,075.90 |
2,122.08 |
102.22 |
2,000.00 |
|
Buildings inc. floor & windows |
2,500.00 |
2,490.11 |
99.60 |
8,000.00 |
|
Equipment & Furniture |
4,800.00 |
4,709.49 |
98.11 |
3,500.00 |
|
Training & Development |
1,500.00 |
1,808.16 |
120.54 |
2,500.00 |
|
Business Rates |
4,700.00 |
4,735.50 |
100.76 |
5,000.00 |
|
Utilities |
2,500.00 |
2,686.74 |
107.47 |
2,500.00 |
|
Insurances |
7,500.00 |
- |
- |
7,500.00 |
|
DDA - Hearing Loop/Stairlift |
2,500.00 |
2,990.70 |
119.63 |
1,000.00 |
|
DUTY - Legal, Audit & advice |
1,300.00 |
1,334.50 |
102.65 |
1,800.00 |
|
Security & Alarms |
1,200.00 |
1,258.72 |
104.89 |
1,200.00 |
|
Petty Cash |
700.00 |
712.59 |
101.80 |
700.00 |
|
Joint projects - inc minor highways & match funding of grant applications |
- |
|
|
10,000.00 |
|
Special Projects - Music in the Park, |
4,000.00 |
4,715.43 |
117.89 |
6,000.00 |
|
Youth Council (part of joint projects) |
|
301.25 |
|
|
|
Creditors/Banking |
|
|
|
|
|
Floating Reserve |
4,800.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL SPEND |
152,423.90 |
149,644.07 |
98.18 |
179,700.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Precept Receipts |
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation to General Reserves |
10,000.00 |
10,000.00 |
100.00 |
plus Receipts above precept |
|
Totals |
162,423.90 |
159,644.07 |
98.29 |
179,700.00 |
NOTES:
A further £25,000 has been budgeted for CCTV giving a total expenditure over 3 years of £59,500. There is a new budget head for jointly funded works of £10,000 to avoid using reserves. More grant needs, meant increasing provision to £11,500. There is an increased budget for building works to £8,000 to avoid using reserves. Staff hours have increased requiring an additional budget of £10,000 for salaries and Tax/NI. Increased costs of music has required Special projects to be increased to £6,000
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