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Chairman's Annual Report 2001/2002

NEW MILLS TOWN COUNCIL

It has been a very busy and successful year.

The Town Council has managed all the “normal” business of the Town Hall and the Town dealing with many hundreds of enquires from local residents, either dealing with the issues itself or redirecting the enquirer to other agencies.

It has continued to manage 24 Recreational areas.

It has continued to work with and support, to various degrees, such Town activities as:

The Festival.
The Carnival.
The Bonfire.
The One World Festival.
The Towns Twinning with Alsfeld.

It has continued to accommodate such agencies as:

The Borough Councils Housing Clinic.
The Citizens Advice Bureau.
The Hope Valley Rail Partnership.
The Registrar of Births, Marriages and Death.
The County Councils Library Service.

In order to ensure that these services are available, at a local venue, to residents.

It has been involved in many other areas of need and interest to local residents including:

Tarmacing an area in Newtown Rec and providing Basket Ball hoops
Holding a reception for The Millers to celebrate there winning The Derbyshire Cup, an event we look forward to repeating again this year.
Working with Birch Vale Cricket Club to resolve a problem with asbestos.
Working with New Mills Junior Football club in revamping the changing rooms at Newtown Rec.
Working with local residents in the redesign and provision of new play equipment at Whitle Rd. play area.
Working with local residents and specialist consultants to progress the Ollersett Avenue Recreation area project.
Working with the Borough Council to facilitate the Magistrates Court enquiry being held and administered in the Town Hall, for the convenience of local residents and to ensure as large an attendance as possible.
The Council has also continued to work towards the renovation of Torr Vale Mill and whilst it is extremely disappointed with the results so far and the lack of co-operation from the owners it remains determined in its efforts.

In addition to all these activities the Council has taken on many new ventures some of which are completed others ongoing. Examples of these are:

Responding to the concerns of local residents and taking the lead in the Derby Rd. negotiations, which had been ongoing for six years, and managing, after only six days, to negotiate the use of the fields by local children.
Working with the New Mills Volunteer Centre to ensure its long-term growth and development, and continuing success by purchasing a suitable property that it could then lease from the Council for at least 25 years.
Working with other agencies to add Goytside Meadows to the Towns stock of protected natural areas.
Installing a new computer system in the Town Hall to provide a more efficient administration of the Town Councils affairs.
Introducing a new Health and Sickness procedure for the Councils staff.
Developing an ongoing working relationship with the Borough Council in a wide range of areas such as Personnel and Heath and Safety.
Working with the Conservation Partnership to redevelop, after 25 years, the Rock St. houses.
Working with the new HERS Partnership to secure the first of, hopefully, three years funding to renovate and or renew the Town Hall windows.
Working with local organisations to, not only ensure the continuation of the Remembrance Day parade but to develop it to include more of the organisations in the town.
Succeeding, after many years of debate, to get the 8.20 am train to Manchester reinstated.
Instigating and managing the claims for rights of way and a Town Green at the “The Picker”

So overall a very busy and successful year but one which obviously could not have happened without the dedication and commitment of many people throughout the town and on behalf of the Council I would wish to thank them for the hard work that they all contribute to make our town a good and interesting place to live in.

I personally have been very grateful to the many people in the town who have helped and supported me in my year as Chair of the Council and I thank them all for that help and support.
I would wish to thank the Labour group who between them have provided me with much needed advice and guidance regarding the affairs of the council in previous years and Councillor Barnes who has on many occasions rang me at home in the evening to discuss issues and offer me his support and encouragement.

I would wish however to express special thanks to my Vice Chair, Councillor Ian Huddlestone, who has been incredibly supportive and has spent many, many hours working with me in the reviewing of current procedures and in the discussions with the Borough I hope that many of our joint ventures will prove beneficial to the Town in the years to come.

I have been very proud to have had the honour of being the Chair of Council and Mayor of the Town of New Mills and have carried out many duties throughout the year in both these roles, always I hope with the dignity and respect that such positions demand.

Last year Councillor Brindley donated a gavel and stand to the Council to mark his year in office it is my intention to replace the tree in the Town Hall car park that wasblown down in last years storm to mark mine.

Finally none of this could have happened without the dedication and commitment shown by the Town Council staff and I would want to thank them all for the work that they do for the town.

I would wish however to especially acknowledge the day to day support that I have received from Susan, Jane and Judith, who although retired never failed to respond when we needed her, and Peter always ready and willingto help whatever the problem, it has been a pleasure working with them.

Cllr Lance Dowson.