Cotgrave Town Council
Chairman's Annual Report 2009-10
 

As we come to the end of another year of Council it is time to look back on what has happened.  Unfortunately I was absent for half of it due to illness. I make no secret of the fact that I had bowl cancer and have undergone radiotherapy, chemotherapy and radical surgery. I know I  have made reference elsewhere but I cannot stress strongly enough the value of early diagnosis.  I find it astonishing that over a quarter of Cotgrave Councillors have been directly affected by cancer in one way or another.

I thank Council for their understanding while I was incapacitated and for all the messages of support and good wishes.  In particular, Councillor Woolsey who went further in supporting me and my family a lot more than just Vice Chair.

In the Conditions of Nottinghamshire survey 2009 the Cotgrave ward is the worst in Rushcliffe for All mortality cause for cancer deaths below 75 with a rate of 132.3 when the next worst ward is Bingham East with a rate of 113.3.  Some of this must be due to lifestyle and the effects of heavy industry but I am extremely concerned that Cotgrave is the worst by a long way.  Early diagnosis is the key to survival and if it was not for the diligence of my GP at the health centre then my diagnosis could have been left undetected until it was too late.

In particular I would like to place on record the resignation of Jennifer Armstrong due to ill health.  I know that her decision to resign from Council was not taken lightly but her leaving was a major setback for us.  I would like to welcome Joe Rhodes and Gail Scholes to the Council as

co-optees.

Positive Futures has been a breath of fresh air supported by Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Cricket.  In particular, Rushcliffe Borough Council has been particularly supportive and I would like to place on record the efforts being made by the Chief Executive Allen Graham.  I know that I have criticised the concept of partnerships in the past but I do believe that we do now have a true partnership with RBC.  I am always reluctant to name people because of the ones that get left behind but I must particularly mention Catherine Sowter and Katherine Marriott who have done sterling work on our behalf.  The efforts of Streetwise have also been an unqualified success as has our bin collections where our bin men received an award.

We have recently had a massive reduction in crime and particularly youth crime in Cotgrave.  Some of this must be down to the fact that our worst recidivists have been locked

Up, but the moving of the police area command to Cotgrave is starting to pay dividends. I know many thought it meant that our police station would be manned continuously but I have seen more evidence of police reacting to problems far more quickly than in the past.  Young people riding scooters on the road being a case in point.  Sadly our  Area Commander Jeff Haywood has now left and I would like to formally thank him for the work that he has done for Cotgrave.  I am sure that his efforts have paid dividends and we wish his successor the same success.

There are a number of initiatives working through at the moment that will definitely pay down the line.  In particular Candleby Lane life skills project, Positive Futures and RBC support a new project where the Welfare is going into partnership with Dayncourt School.  For too long we have recognised and identified our young people starting to go off the rails without having the resources or commitment to do anything about it.  That has now changed and we will evolve a more inclusive environment for our young people so that they will commit to enhancing Cotgrave rather than trying to destroy it.  The majority of our young people are decent and hard working and they need support and  recognition.

Once again the issue of the pit site development has raised its head and we will be discussing the merits or otherwise of the proposals. I can truly understand people’s concerns and their fears but I am, if nothing else, a realist.  Currently the government has stipulated targets for each local authority to meet.  That may change in the future but currently RBC has to find something in the region of 15,000 houses.  I do not welcome the development of the pit site with open arms but I think we should consider it with an open mind and get the best deal possible for Cotgrave.  At least when our allocation has been decided it will be far more difficult for developers to come back and ask for more. Every community will make the case that development should go elsewhere.  What we have to do is make our concerns known at every opportunity and let the planning authority make the decision.

Sadly I have to report that I have been the subject of two independent investigations by the Standards Board and was exonerated on both.  The first relating to an allegation that I misused Council’s funds by writing to RBC members and in producing a housing edition of Connections was unfortunate but nevertheless a legitimate concern which I would have hoped could have been

resolved around this table.

The second one, however continues to have repercussions and as an elected representative I accept that our constituents are entitled to have their say and I do expect and accept robust criticism from time to time.  What I will not accept however is our staff being harassed, me or other councillors being libelled and making unfounded and unacceptable criticism of our staff.  We have a duty of care as employers and as Chairman I will do everything in my power to make sure that our staff are not harshly criticised and will defend them by whatever means possible.

Talking of staff I really don’t know where to start.  Our Clerk, Mrs Ellis has continued to exceed her duties and has fought Cotgrave’s corner at every opportunity but in spite of recent surgery she remained at work when she could have gone sick.  Thank you Ann.  Gina Hudspeth is now sadly going to leave us as Assistant to the Clerk and she has done an excellent job acting totally professionally in all of her employment. I know that you will share with me in wishing her well in her future employment.  Last but not least, Jane Pick.  Jane picked up editor of Cotgrave

Connections and has shone in the role and the Christmas Lights event without being asked.  I know that Jane does a lot of work for Council in her own time and she is a credit both to herself and the Council.  Finally I would like to thank Lennie our Groundsman for his unstinting service, our Park Keepers and my fellow Councillors.  We will not get it right every time and we have fallen out in the past and no doubt will again in the future, but I do value everyone’s input and hope that our efforts do not go unrewarded in that we do make Cotgrave a better place to live.

Cotgrave Town Council Annual Report 2009-10

Cotgrave Town Council

Chairman's Report

2008-2009

Council continues to make progress – albeit very slowly, but progress nevertheless. After persistent lobbying we now have the Local Area Command of the police based in Cotgrave when previous area commanders told us quite emphatically that it could never happen. I would like to thank Jeff Haywood; Local Area Commander for his efforts on working on the relocation. Similarly, after persistent lobbying we are now in the process of getting a Puffin Crossing at Beaumonts, something else that could never happen when we started investigations.

Again the fruits of several years of negotiation has resulted in a reduction in our leisure centre contribution which in turn has resulted in a reduction in the Cotgrave element of the council tax. In particular I would like to thank the Borough Council Chief Executive, Graham Allen and the Deputy Chief Executive, Sue Griffiths and Colin Bullett for their assistance in negotiations.

Our Town Plan, headed up by councillor Pat Walsh is back on track after having been stalled because of lack of administration staff. I would place on record my thanks to Pat for his dedication and diligence in driving the plan forward. Many people cannot see the value of having the plan but its effects, although not often readily apparent, manifest themselves in many ways. I started off by mentioning the police station and the road crossing at Beaumonts. The Town Plan undoubtedly put these projects in the spotlight and without it our efforts would have probably come to nothing.

As I write this report, the Borough Council cabinet has endorsed support for the Cotgrave Master Plan.

Once again anti-social behaviour has reared its ugly head. We seem to go in cycles of peaks and troughs and unfortunately we are now in a peak. I know there are frustrations that the police and judiciary don’t seem to be able to anything about it but that is far from the truth. The amount of work that the police do to get offenders into court is incredible and without witnesses and help from the public very often persistent offenders appear to go unchecked for a long time before they feel the full force of the law. Once they get into court that is another matter. Magistrates often take on board pleas from outside agencies not to impose sanctions on our most persistent offenders and often they have to continue with their anti-social behaviour until finally someone says "enough is enough." One new young teenage recidivist has come on the horizon and now has NINE outstanding charges against him and is now waiting to go to court.

Arson seems to have become a favourite pastime amongst some of our youngsters and it may not belong before one of them is in court on a murder or attempted murder charge. Setting fire to things is NOT funny and I ask everyone in the community to be extra diligent as even the most innocuous fire can soon spread into a major incident that can jeopardise people and property not to mention the unwelcome diversion for an already over stretched fire service.

Positive Futures is a brand new initiative in Cotgrave designed to prevent young people from entering into criminal and antisocial behaviour. I know there are many who view such projects as rewarding the bad while there is nothing for the decent young people in our community but Positive Futures is a landmark project that will make a difference. One of our problems is that many of our worst offenders contaminate a large number of followers. If we can stop the ringleaders then we can significantly reduce criminality and young people who want to destroy our community. Mark Clifford, the Positive Futures co-ordinator is tasked with working with ten to nineteen year olds and already has a number of young people who have been referred. But Mark’s brief is much greater than just working with the disaffected. During his three year tenure of office in our community he will be working with various agencies to leave a lasting legacy which will benefit our young people for many years to come.

Unfortunately, some councillors have forgotten that while council may be split during debate once council has made a decision then that decision stands and council acts as a corporate body. Council may be split up to the point of a vote but after that it acts as one. Some councillors have not recognised that fact and have continued to pursue their own agenda in spite of council’s decision.

In addition I have three complaints against me which are out standing. One had already been decided by this council and yet it has been brought to the Standards Board. I can understand councillor’s frustration with some of my actions but by reporting me to the Standard’s Board not only denies me the opportunity to address council on the matter, it takes the decision away from you, and since the two councillors who have made the complaints would probably consider themselves as custodians of the public purse, they have incurred considerable expense to the council tax payers of Rushcliffe because not only is a firm of solicitors doing the investigation but they have also engaged an ex police officer as investigator.

In conclusion, I would like to welcome Gina on the council staff and would like to thank Eric as Vice Chair, the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the committees, our town Clerk Ann who in spite of a recent operation has continued work in the interest of Cotgrave and the council, along with Len Knight and all of our park keepers.

Finally I thank all councillors for their enthusiasm and look forward to a brighter future for Cotgrave.

Drew Wilkie 20 May 2009

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COTGRAVE TOWN COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT
2008-2009

www.cotgrave-tc.gov.uk - E Mail clerk@cotgrave-tc.gov.uk

There are some questions which we hope to put to our partner and anyone wishing to respond should do so by email to : gina.hudspeth@btinternet.com

Chairman’s Report
2007-2008

I am pleased to report significant progress in a number of areas in what is always seems to become another difficult year.

The input from the Borough Council, the police, the fire service and other agencies during the week of action was second to none. It is always fraught with danger to mention individuals at the risk of upsetting others but in particular I would like to thank Vickie Beaumont and her team for driving a massive agenda on our behalf.

Our new area commander, Jeff Haywood has been like a breath of fresh air with a change in policing which is much more proactive rather than reactive which has been borne out by the numbers of our worst recidivists that are now in custody and I would like to thank Jeff and his team for his work in making our community safer.

We entered a new age of partnership with the Borough Council by renegotiating our Leisure Centre contribution and the agreement but more importantly than that is that it has opened the door for a more open discussion between the two organisations and our clerk now meets regularly with Sue Griffiths from the Borough Council.

The partnership to develop our playgrounds with the Borough Council has been an unqualified success with the new toddler park, mini skate park and cricket wicket. What I found astonishing from those projects was the way in which we could interact with young people to not only take on their views but to actually let them make a positive contribution. I would also like to place on record a vote of thanks for the work undertaken by Jacki Grice in the preparation of these funding bids.

I am also extremely encouraged about the possibility of Positive Futures working in Cotgrave with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Again I must thank Rushcliffe Borough Council for putting Cotgrave forward as the first scheme in Rushcliffe and after meeting Derek Brewer and his team at Trent Bridge Cricket ground I am totally looking forward to working with them on this major and exciting initiative. As well as sport taking the form of Cricket, Football, Rugby Ice Hockey and boxing there will be an opportunity for local people and young people to take part in accredited coaching courses.

The first Town Plan has come to its end and we have now drawn a line under a significant piece of work. Cotgrave’s Plan was one of the first in the Borough and has been copied by other parishes. I must offer sincere thanks to Katie Wilson who stepped in at the eleventh hour to finish off the plan after we had two false starts with two different officers. This new session of council does need to consider firstly how to take the existing plan forward but also to look at whether and how we develop Town Plan II. There is certainly much merit in the concept which is evidenced by the "partner’s event" earlier in the year organised by Katie Wilson and Carola Jones from the Rural Community Action Network. I would also like to place on record not inconsiderable work undertaken by Pat Walsh who has often driven the plan often with sparse support from other councillors including myself.

The two recent planning applications in Hollygate Lane and the former pit site, along with an application for a traveller to site two mobile homes at Stragglethorpe have sent shockwaves through certain sections of the community. All three of these applications will fall or stand on their own merits. What I have said quite publicly is that I hope that everyone will be given an opportunity to discuss the implications of these applications in a calm and constructive manner which unfortunately up to date has not happened. I would not be in public life if I did not realise that people have the right to criticise and have their own opinions. What I do object to is people who make disparaging personal remarks, often anonymously on the council’s own message board and anyone doing so should hang their head in shame. In particular those who ask the question "How do I sleep" or make the comment that "I do not care about Cotgrave." In fact I care deeply about Cotgrave and its people. I believe they deserve better and will fight tooth and nail to try and make sure that happens. I spend virtually every waking hour thinking about Cotgrave and whether you agree or otherwise I will not have my integrity impugned by throw away remarks.

I too have reservations about the developments but I also have reservations if they do not happen. I am still convinced that it is far better for all concerned to be at the heart of the process and not to simply ignore it in the hope that it will go away only to have a situation imposed on us after a planning inquiry. My reason for support also comes from concerns voiced by all residents who want better health centre, better shops, better housing, better police service, better transport infrastructure, a youth provision and better education which will all come from the planning gain that comes with the development. The alternative leaves Cotgrave as a mediocre settlement in Rushcliffe that does deserve better. The regeneration fund proposed as part of the section 106 planning gain settlement of circa £1million pounds has been criticised as being a bribe by the developers. It has in fact been offered by the people disposing of the land for development because they want to put something back into the community. NOT the developers.

In conclusion I would like to thank the Clerk, Mrs. Ellis and the assistant to the clerk, Jacki Grice who have both worked extremely hard on your behalf along with Lennie Knight and our park keepers.

I would also like to thank the Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees and all of the councillors who attend regular meetings and undertake a considerable amount of work in addition.

In closing I would like to quote the Town Plan Mission statement:

Those sentiments are as relevant now as they were when they were written.

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