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Chairman's Report 2007-08
Chairman's Report for Great Sankey Parish Council May 2007 to May 2008 By Cllr Veronica Hudson My year as Chair of Great Sankey Parish Council has been a highly prolific and more so a most enjoyable one for me, however there are still a few challenges for the year ahead. The Parish Council has been very committed in addressing the problems of nuisance youths - a topic which is highlighted repeatedly in the successful Community Action meetings which take place in local centres across the Parish. Police and Community Support Officers are always in attendance and residents have often commented how reassured they feel in being able to personally address the officers and to highlight hotspots. Consequently from these meetings immediate action is taken to reduce or eliminate the trouble. I have attended Community action meetings as a Councillor and a concerned resident, and accompanied PCSOs out on night patrol several times at weekends to see for myself the problems that exist around the area. These patrols proved very interesting and enlightening in showing the duties they undertake on a shift and the kinds of incidents they encounter. Great Sankey Parish Council funds 4 Police Community Support Officers and these have been an asset to the Community with their permanent visible presence in and around the area. The Parish Council also bought a mountain bike to help them get to trouble spots more quickly. The Parish Council have been instrumental in getting CCTV cameras installed in targeted areas, and as a result reported crimes are decreasing. During the past year in my role as Chair I have attended many functions representing the Parish Council and these include:
For the 4th year running the Parish has not increased its precept from residents. This is exceptionally pleasing for the Parish Council, as it is down to prudent financial management, which we feel very proud of. Our local junior schools we are encouraging to participate and join together in an Art competition, and our local Community Centre users have been asked to design a Logo for the Council, all of which I am certain will produce an abundance of talent in our Parish. The second Shadow Parish Council event in October was a huge success, attended by the Mayor and her Consort, who were most impressed by the high calibre of enthusiastic students in our area. This will now be a permanent event, and maybe there are potential future Councillors in the making from our local schools, and even a future Mayor!
The Parish Council website is up and running and it is very informative to all who visit the site and view its well produced pages. We welcome feedback and comments from all who log on, to add yet more pleasing news, in December we were awarded Website of the Month!
On a sombre note Cllr Peter Ryan sadly passed away last October. He gallantly conducted his role as a Councillor and is so sadly missed by us all.
Cllrs Terry and Lorna Lewis stepped down during the year, as well as Councillors Phil Hudson, Peter Carey, Christine Bird and Tony Williams; all of whom I wish to thank personally for their valued contributions in their time on the Council.
I welcome all of the new Councillors on to the Parish Council and congratulate the ones who have been elected again for another four years.
It has been a privilege to have been Chair for the past year, and I wish to thank all my fellow Councillors for their support; together with Cheryl and Karen in the office for their administrative support to myself and all on the Council; and not forgetting all the other Parish Council staff who provide the high standards in our Community Centres for all our users.
It just leaves me to wish my successor a most enjoyable role as Chair for 2008, and after being successfully re-elected by the Constituents of Great Sankey I am very much looking forward to serving again as a Councillor on the Parish Council for the next 4 years.
Cllr Veronica Hudson
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