Report 2003/4
A Year in the Life of …….. a Parish Council Chairman
In a few minutes from now, there will be a new Chairman. This time last year,
I took office for the first time. My successor will sit in a seat which he
has occupied before. I hadn’t had that distinction before and therefore
wasn’t really prepared for such a hectic and varied agenda. The year
has flown by and it is only now, at the end of my term in office, that the
goals, which I conservatively set out to achieve, are showing a modicum of
progress. I suspect, though, that my predecessors thought similarly, and it
rests with one’s successor to “continue the good work “.
You’re probably now thinking what good work? When judged by the absence of a policeman, when gangs of youths need dispersing late into the evening , or by the condition of his namesakes , who “sleep” across London Road ; or by the litter and glass strewn over the village gardens and playing fields ; or by the continuing darkness on some of Kingsmead streets, due to faulty lighting ; or by twisted Cheshire railings , or flowering bus shelters, or “Tower of Pisa – like” phone boxes, or ambiguous “ No Fishing “ signs. Then, you’re probably right to ask, but, in truth, all these matters have featured more than once in this year’s Parish Council meetings and believe it or not, progress is being made.
Cheshire Highways have begun to repair the traffic calming humps in Davenham.
We are about to sit down with the Police and agencies to implement proposals
to find solutions for Anti-social Behaviour in this and neighbouring parishes.
A contract for the maintenance of the village garden and for the removal of
litter from the playing fields has just been agreed. We should soon be getting
new road signs to replace those damaged or illegible. Sole parking for the
disabled, and improved traffic flow measures, are soon to be introduced in
Kingsmead Square. The Borough Council planners have taken due notice of the
recommendations of the Parish Council’s hardworking planning committee,
when considering applications, which might conflict with the character of the
village, particularly in its considerable involvement with the Barber’s
Garage application .
These are but a few of the things that have come before the Council in my year
as Chairman, certainly not as memorable and rewarding as listening to the Davenham
School little ones singing carols around the Christmas tree, which a good number
of you attended, or as colourful as the first tulips in the village garden,
or as exciting as the sight of the nearly completed Kingsmead School, or as
enjoyable as the ale and the atmosphere at last year’s Carnival ( roll
on Saturday, June 12th), or as dignified as the Remembrance Sunday parade ,
but nevertheless it’s all part of our lives in the Parish and the reason
why we put ourselves forward as councillors.
There has been a lot of hard work put in this last year - on the administration side, the Council’s standing orders have come into the 21st century, the Council now has a modern purchase system for a variety of contracts, accounting and budgeting are now fully computerised and presented in an understandable format, and new banking arrangements have been implemented. My thanks go especially to the Clerk and to those councillors who have had an input in this essential up-grading.
The Parish Council still has a great deal to do, in order to keep up with the more mundane problems of a village, but it is to be hoped that the Parish Council ‘s concept for the development of Laburnum Road playing fields will re-fuel any flagging enthusiasm. This is a most exciting project to which all villagers can commit and play an active part in providing first class community facilities. I believe that such a venture will bring together a huge number of people, some from the clubs, societies, schools, and churches in the parish ( who already work tirelessly for their part of the community ), some simply individuals, who just want to get involved, all nevertheless, creating a more integrated community and indeed, the very justification for undertaking it. My thanks to the Special Projects Committee, whose ideas were well received at the Public Meeting last week and to those councillors who turned up in support. I really hope that we have made progress, which for me will be sufficient alone to satisfy those original goals of 12 months ago.
Before signing off, I have a few more thank you’s, which I know that you would want to share with me. To Roy Cotterill , former Chairman and 17 year’s service as a Parish Councillor , have a happy retirement, and in recognition of that long service, for all your hard work and for this chain of office, which you presented to the Parish Council, after a difficult time, thank you (present tankard ).
Also to Jan Mashlan, who has just retired from the Council, thanks for all your hard work, particularly with the Newsletter over a number of years, and good luck with the new business venture, and to Graham Scott, the Parish Clerk, who recently completed his first full year in the job, and without whose considerable assistance I could not have managed my Chairmanship.
Thank you also to my current Vice Chairman, David Ravenscroft, who has deputised for me and supported me this year. I wish you all the best for the forthcoming year and I trust that you will be well supported by your fellow councillors.
And thank you to everyone who has supported me , quoted me , hounded me , petitioned me, or listened to me ( yawn )………………you’ve made it some Year in My Life as……Parish Council Chairman.
As a PS I’m still looking for 127 Christmas tree lights!!!
I have also another PS, before I finish. In the next couple of months, Debbie
and I will be leaving Davenham. We have sold our house and subject to various
things, we have bought a cottage in Wales. Obviously it will therefore necessary
for me to resign from the Council, but until I move, I would like to tie up
some loose ends of Council business, in which I have been recently involved
, provided that is OK with the rest of the Council. It also affords the Council
time to find my replacement.
I apologise if this maybe out of the blue, but apart from family, you are the
first to hear the news , and I didn’t want you to find out from other
than the horses mouth.
Mike Silcock
Chairman
May 2004