Annual report of the Town Council’s Chairman Councillor Tony Muldoon to the 24 April 2013AnnualWhitehillTown meeting
I have been immensely proud as Chairman of Whitehill Town Council this year and am pleased to see the results of the time and effort of both Councillors and officers working proactively on behalf of the Town. We also recognise the important part that the many and varied community groups contribute to the vitality of the Town
Town Development
The Town Council in the summer of 2012 had the support of ATLAS which is an organisation that helps councils with large developments. This resulted in the Council improving its approach to the development which has led to an action plan and the planning of projects. In addition the Town Council has been consulted ona variety of proposals. The following are the activities.
- The desire to own and manage the 200 hectares of green infrastructure and a business case is being prepared which will be presented to the landowners
- The investigation of the possibility of a ‘public sector hub’ in the new development with services form the 3 levels of local government, the emergency service and the voluntary sector
- The production of a Town Design Statement that is part of the suite of documents for the planning of the town
- The procurement of bus shelters with funding from Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council and the award of contract.
- Consulted on the Economic Development & Employment Strategy; the draft master plan; transport and traffic proposals and Hampshire Minerals & Waste Plan
- Financially managing green quick win projects on behalf of the former Environment Policy Advisory Group
- Has visited Bicester and talked to Members of Bicester Town Council to see what can b learnt from them
Governance
- Cllr A Tree was co-opted as a new Cllr
- A Leader & Deputy Leader post was created
- The Town Development Committee was formed to consider all aspects of the Town’s development
Finance
- Minor Grants were awarded to Vitalise, Community First, Whitehill Bordon Town Partnership, Bordon Youth Umbrella Group, Victim Support, Age Concern, Relate, Homestart, British Army and Whitehill Village Hall
- Major Grants were awarded to the Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre, Whitehill & Bordon Community Association, Citizen Advice Bureaux, Whitehill Bordon Town Partnership and Whitehill Village Hall.
- A precept of £348,313 was set
Planning
- 90 planning applications were received in the year that the Council commented on.
Council Services
- A contract with OCS commenced on 1 April 2013 that included the services of grass cutting, litter picking on Council land and play ground inspections.
- A service level agreement was developed between the Council and the Deadwater Valley Trust to manage the 38 hectare site of the Local Nature Reserve.
Events- The Town Council hosted/arranged these events which I attended
- Diamond Jubilee weekend - 2nd’ and 4th June 2012. I planted the Jubilee Oak at JubileePark on 2 June together with several other fellow Councillors. In the afternoon Chris and I called in at the Bothy to watch the local cricket match.
- Armed Forces Week and Flag raising Ceremony– 25th June 2012
- Mayors Civic Service at the Sacred HeartChurch– 28th October 2012. This was attended by several neighbouring Mayors. My thanks to Father Eddie for such an enjoyable service and his kind words and for Pauline Cridland for organizing and arranging all the food and drinks
- Festive Tea for Neighbouring Councils – 12 December 2012. Christine and I hosted the annual Christmas Tea with several local Mayors attending and we had carols around the tree with the choir from the Phoenix.
- Chairman’s Charity Event– 6th April 2013. This took place at Frensham Pond Hotel which was in aid of Diabetes and we had a Diabetes awareness talk by Davis Bailey from Diabetes UK who gives his time offering help and information. Thanks to Cllr Andy Tree’s support as Deputy Mayor in arranging this event with Pauline Cridland. We raised funds through an auction and a raffle. As well as members of the community other Majors form local areas attended.
Civic Events
- On Saturday 3 June Christine and I attended the soap box derby in Bordon and after went down to the Jubilee Park to the fete with Col David Ansell and we presented the prizes to the winners of the derby
- On Saturday 4 June Christine and I attended the festivities at Whitehill Village Hall and I lit the beacon
- On Saturday 5 June Christine and I attended the Queens Diamond Jubilee Parade at Prince Philip Barracks to watch the medal presentations by General Sharman and later the march past in the High Street.
- On Tuesday 5 June following a lunch with Col Ansell at the Officers Mess we attended the Golf presentations at Blackmoor Golf Club
- On Saturday 30 June Christine and I opened the Arts Festival at the Phoenix Centre with Rob Alleston with his team
- Saturday 18 August Christine and I attended the Deadwater Valley Trust Barbecue and garden party in Bill and Chris Wain’s lovely garden which was one of the few summer days and made it a particularly enjoyable event
- Sunday 11 November – Christine and I attended the Bordon Garrison Remembrance Service at Prince Philip Barracks and after I laid a wreath at the Garrison Ceremony
- Sunday 11 November – Cllr Adam Carew deputised for me at the Royal British Legion Memorial Service at Town War Memorial
- Sunday 25 November - Christine and I attended the Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasons and Families thanksgiving service at Winchester Cathedral which was attended by many other local Mayors
- Saturday 1 December - I formally opened the Christmas festivities in the Event Space
- Sunday 2 December - Christine and I attended the Hampshire Constabulary Band Carl Concert at St Andrews Garrison Church at Aldershot together with other neighbouring Mayors which we have attended several times and is a really enjoyable evening
- Cllr Andy Tree deputised for me at the Headley Park Hotel on 16th January Reception with Mrs Skaisgiryte Liauskiene, Lithuanian Ambassador and at Alton with their Town Mayor Cllr Sue Hodder on 17th March at their Civic Service at All Saints Church, Alton