ANNUAL
NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2011
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
As this Council comes to the end of this term of office it is with great pleasure that I can inform residents, on behalf of Hemsworth Town Council, that the Community Centre and the Football Facility will be fully open as from 01 April 2011.
Most Councillors at Hemsworth, Fitzwilliam and Kinsley have worked long and hard to successfully achieve the development of these two extremely high standard facilities.
Present and past Councillors should be proud of what both these amenities bring to this township at a time when many other local authorities, at all levels of government, have cut some of their major service provision in order to comply with Central Government restraint. This Council has moved forward and provided our residents with additional services.
Hemsworth Town Council continues to support local groups and organisations and has agreed in principle to provide a grant of £10,000 to the Kinsley and Fitzwilliam Community Resource Centre to help with the provision of a new catering kitchen. Any local groups who wish to apply for a grant from this Council should request a Revenue Grant Application pack from administration office staff at the Community Centre.
Each Chairman of Hemsworth Town Council is provided with an allowance and it is once again my intension to ensure that local groups within the township benefit from my allowance before my term of office ceases.
During my years as a Councillor this Council has campaigned hard to improve our allotment service and provide allotments which are family-friendly and thanks for his consistent hard work on this issue is given to the current Chairman of Leisure and Recreation, Councillor Upson. The Council has now reached a point whereby almost one hundred percent of our allotments are now taken. This Council has cleared derelict sites and removed asbestos leaving cleared areas suitable to be let as allotment gardens.
The Council has set a prudent but realistic budget for 2011/12 and I am pleased to report that whilst the precept remains at £482,000 there will be a decrease on all band payments due to the change in Council Tax Base figures. Band D tax payers will pay £121.69 a year towards the parish precept, a reduction of £1.26.
Before closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you have any comments on any of the services that this Council runs or any other matters of concern with regard to Hemsworth, Fitzwilliam or Kinsley, please contact your Town Council, either through your local Councillors or the staff at the Community Centre administration office. I would now like to thank all Town Councillors and Town Council staff for their continued support during my term as Chair of Hemsworth Town Council.
Councillor Graham West
Chairman of Hemsworth Town Council
SERVICES
Hemsworth Water Park & Playworld
Hemsworth Water Park continues to be a local attraction for members of our township. During the 2010 season Councillors agreed that extended opening times for Playworld would be implemented and this is to continue during the 2011 season.
The park is to have additional attractions on the lake for this coming season. These include two canoes and two paddle boards all of which will be available for hire on the large lake.
As from 01 April 2011 there are to be some changes to charges made for some of the attractions at Hemsworth Water Park. The hire of all marine craft will be reduced from £1.50 to £1.00 and the entrance charge to Playworld will be increased to £2.50. The price of a fishing day ticket is also to be increased.
Residents are reminded that for a charge of £2.00 per household a permit for free entry into Playworld, free car parking and reduced price fishing can be obtained from the administration office.
The Council is currently looking to update the information signage within the park and should this be agreed the signage will provide a variety of information including details of the varied wildlife which can be seen at times within the park.
New Community Centre
As from 01 April 2011 your Community Centre will be fully operational. Many organisations have made provisional enquiries into the facilities available within the centre and it is now the intension of the Council to promote these facilities to their full potential.
If you run a local group, are a member of a local group or are interested in hiring the activity room, offices, the function room or would like to register your interest to come and look round and see for yourself the range of rooms and facilities that are available for hire in the centre please contact Amanda Moulton the Community Development Manager using the contact details on the final page of this newsletter.
The Community Centre is to be open 08:00 to 21:00 seven days per week subject to bookings and the administration office will be open 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.
Sandygate Football Facility
As from 01 April 2011 the opening times for the Sandygate Football Facility will be Monday to Friday 16:00 to 21:30, Saturday 09:00 to 21:30, Sundays and Bank Holidays 09:00 to 20:00.
This venue will be hosting small sided football leagues on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 19:00 to 21:00. For further details on these leagues contact Amanda Moulton on the details shown on the final page of this newsletter.
Interest has already been shown by local junior football clubs in booking the 3G astro turf for their 2011/2012 winter training and also enquiries have been received from local clubs who are considering holding their summer football tournaments at the Sandygate Football Facility.
The Windsurfer
Hemsworth Town Council continues to discuss the provision of a cafe and soft play area at the Windsurfer and has organised a Sub Committee to discuss the development further and to refer suggestions and recommendations back to the Leisure and Recreation Committee. The Council remains committed to opening this facility and to providing quality services that compliment the family services already available at Hemsworth Water Park.
Allotments
The Town Council has continued with the improvements programme on allotment sites by providing additional taps and clearing derelict plots on some sites. The provision of portable toilets on all our allotment sites is to continue for the next twelve months. In addition to this the Council has agreed to hold two meetings per year (one in March and one in September) with allotment representatives from each of the Council’s allotment sites and they will be invited to attend and discuss issues raised by allotment holders.
Changing Rooms, Cemetery Lane
The Changing Rooms on Cemetery Lane continues to be used by Hemsworth United Football Club.
Garden Scheme
This Council continues with their commitment to provide assistance to elderly and infirm residents within Hemsworth, Fitzwilliam and Kinsley who require help maintaining their home gardens. This service provides each resident, subject to resources, with two cuts per year to include hedges and grass.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Bonfire & Fireworks Display
Last year’s event once again proved popular with our residents. The fireworks display was excellent and the comments from visitors during the display confirmed the appreciation of the people who attended. The Town Council will continue to provide this service in 2011 with the event taking place on Saturday 05 November 2011. Residents are reminded that no charge is made to attend this event and that free car parking is available.
Brass Band Concert
Hemsworth Town Council holds two brass band concerts each year – one in April and one in October. These concerts will now be held in our new Community Centre in Hemsworth but will be run on the same basis with free entry, free transport, free refreshments and free raffle. This year’s first concert will be held on Thursday 28 April 2011 with music from Knottingley Silver Band.
Christmas Lights Switch On
The Christmas Lights Switch On held each year in Hemsworth is a popular local event. Hemsworth Town Council works with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council to provide a Christmas themed market and other attractions. At last year’s event Cody Chadwick switched on the Christmas lights as an additional prize for winning our competition to name the new miniature railway engine in Playworld.
Other Services
Additional information on Celebratory Presentations for residents who are celebrating their eightieth, ninetieth, ninety-plus birthday or Golden or Diamond Wedding anniversaries, and the Christmas Presentations made to schools and local children’s groups are available by contacting the staff at the Community Centre.
Seaside Event
Following on from the success of the Seaside Event held at Hemsworth Water Park on Friday 27 August 2010 the Council will be organising a similar event this year. Support for the 2010 event was kindly provided by a grant from the Community Chest and the Council would like to thank this organisation for their support.
GRANTS
The Council allocates an amount of money to make donations to local organisations (Section 137). Over the past year grants have been given to:
Alpha Boxing Club – Equipment
Hemsworth Miners Welfare Junior Football Club – Tournament in Wales
St Helen’s Church – Disabled Access
Boar Cottage – Donation towards the running costs
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - Remembrance Day Refreshments and Bugler
Hemsworth and District Community Initiative - Christmas Lunch
Local organisations who would like to apply for a grant should request a Revenue Grant Application pack from the Community Centre. Please note that legislation prevents grants being given to individuals.
SECTION 137 EXPENDITURE LIMIT FOR 2011/2012
The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed that the appropriate sum for the purposes of section 137(4) (a) of the Local Government Act 1972 (“the 1972 Act”) for parish and town councils in England for 2011/ 2012 is £6.44 per head on the electoral roll in any one year for the benefit of people in its area on activities or projects not specifically authorised by other powers.
This is the amount that results from increasing the amount for 2010/ 2011 (£6.15) by the percentage increase in the Retail Prices Index between September 2009 and September 2010 (that is, 4.6%) in accordance with Schedule 12B to the 1972 Act.
Hemsworth Town Council has allocated £10,200 to the Section 137 budget for 2011/2012.
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS
The Town Council continues to work with a number of groups. These include:
· Assisting the Royal British Legion with a grant application for the Remembrance Day celebrations.
· Support by providing a community allotment plot rent-free for BTCV on the West End allotment site. This project continues to be a success and goes from strength to strength.
· Hemsworth Arts and Community College year 10 and 11 pupils will once again be offered work experience at Hemsworth Water Park.
BUDGET SUMMARY & CAPITAL PROJECTS
COST CENTRE / BUDGET 2010/11 / BUDGET 2011/12
£ / £
Allotments / 32,496 / 32,248
Bonfire / 21,233 / 20,682
Changing Rooms / 2,897 / 3,808
Civic & General / 67,138 / 77,318
Administration / 74,122 / 71,627
Garden Scheme / 18,528 / 23,368
Garages / 0 / -150
Grounds Maintenance Unit / Allocated / Allocated
Loans & Financing / 33,653 / 19,373
Offices / 15,506 / 12,600
Section 137 / 10,000 / 10,200
Sports Complex / 16,098 / 0
Water Park / 120,456 / 117,883
Windsurfer / 30,000 / 30,000
Capital Projects (inc. Loan repayment)
Hemsworth Town Council Community Centre
Sandygate Football Facilities / 33,500
93,859
13,287 / 0
133,588
36,655
SUB TOTAL / 582,773 / 589,200
Use of Balances / 67,273 / 107,200
Use of Capital Receipts / 33,500 / 0
PRECEPT / 482,000 / 482,000
CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE 2010/2011
The Town Council sold its old offices (19, Market Street) in November 2008 and with the deduction of legal and estate agent fees the sum received was £83,793 in 2008/09. This capital receipt can only be used towards the discharge of any debt of the Council’s or for any lawful capital purpose or it may be paid into a capital fund. Detailed below is a breakdown of monies spent to date.
Capital Receipts £83,793
Approved spend 2009/10
Allotment Fencing – West End £15,400
Adizone project - contribution £10,000
Balance c/fwd to 2010/11 £58,393
Approved spend 2010/11
Windsurfer – Consultants fees (part payment) £8,108
Removal of Asbestos (Allotments) £8,800
Windsurfer – Roof repairs £7,936
New equipment – Hemsworth Water Park £7,460
Balance at February 2011 £26,089
CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE 2011/2012
The balance of £26,089 which was not spent in 2010/11 has been carried forward to 2011/12. This money will fund the following projects:
Windsurfer – Consultants fees (remaining) £500
Allotment Project (Club Terrace) £18,000
Sinking fund – synthetic pitch £5,500
The Town Council will receive an amount of money (Capital Receipt) estimated at £368,000 (£500,000 less estimated claw back of £62,000 and estimated stamp duty costs of £70,000) following the completion of the sale of the Sports Complex and the provision of the Turnkey agreement to provide new Sandygate Football Facilities and a Community Centre.