Chairmans report HTC 30.04.24
Good evening ladies and gentlemen welcome to HTC annual town meeting. Just a few housekeeping issues, if the fire alarm sounds it is not a drill please exit using either the entrance you came in by or the fire door past the coffee bar and assemble on the grass at the far end away from the building.
2023/24 has been a busy and productive year for the TC. November is always the busiest month in our calendar starting with Remembrance Sunday. This event was extremely well supported by many groups in the village and route was lined by even more people than the previous year. It is so rewarding to see how much the residents support the building of the war memorial and all it means to them. We are hoping to be planting poppies that the local children have grown in school. The seeds and compost were donated, and we are hoping that these will add an extra element to our war memorial.
A little later in November we had our annual pantomime which was a sell out and we are very proud of being able to give our local youngsters a taste of theatre without it costing their parents a small fortune, especially in these times of increasing costs. The next day was our annual Christmas lights switch on which had many more stalls than ever before and our local schoolchildren provided us with some wonderful singing and of course were involved in designing the poster and the winners were given vouchers from the TC and allowed to switch on the lights with our local heroes from the police, fire and ambulance services as well as a teacher. The children dressed up as the hero they were walking on the stage with and had a really good time. My thanks to The Grange and St Benedict’s for the support they gave to us with the costumes they were brilliant. I could not close this section without thanking all the people who took part in one way or another, councillors, Youth group and leaders and teachers from our local school. My thanks to you all we could not do it without you. Again, a good example of the strong Handforth Community.
Just a few weeks ago we had a remembrance service for Jamie Webb on the 10th anniversary of his death. Again, the town turned out in huge numbers along with members of his regiment and commanding officer and veterans. The council paid for a plaque to be installed near the memorial with information about Jamie and this was written by his brother Luke. A short service was conducted by Rev Burmester. Several moving tributes were made by his commanding officer and the regiment padre. Mrs Webb and Luke then unveiled the plaque. The regiment even brought their mascot along a very well-behaved ram! The council then put on some light refreshments for anyone who wished to come back to the Youth Centre, and it was very interesting to chat to the guys from his regiment. Mrs Webb and Luke were delighted at the turn out and we believe this was a fitting way to honour a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
The council also produced and published a map which you will see in several locations around the town and at Handforth Dean. It has produced much interest and made people aware of things that they had not known about. The Council were also successful in securing match funding for the installation of two new defibrillators and cabinets which have been installed at the Youth Centre and Go Local, a third will soon be installed at the Waggon & Horses dependent upon their electrical installation schedule. Alongside this a new defibrillator map for Handforth has been produced and is currently available on the HTC website.
We still have some S106 money left over for the wood on Hall Road, and this will be used as designated in the S106 agreement to provide bird and bat boxes and some planting. We will in the next few weeks also be fitting the second historical trail lectern at the entrance on coppice way.
We have given out grants to various local groups to the tune of £4,788.00 As below:
Handforth Library – £350.00
Time Out Group – £250.00
The Grange School (SEND) – £2,188.00
HMES – £1,000.00
1st Handforth Scouts £1,000.00
Other non-grant support from HTC:
The Grange School (Breakfast Club) – £760.00
Ongoing support for scarecrow festival.
Gave out £4450.00 in King’s Coronation Awards
Ongoing support for Hope Central
£500.00 donation to MAG Bus
We hope that these local groups will continue to apply to the council for funding and each case will be decided on merit.
Last year the council voted to explore the possibility of taking over the youth centre. We firmly believe that this is the right move for our residents as this is the last available centre for our local groups to go. It is highly likely given Cheshire Easts cash strapped situation that the land would be sold off and this would mean we would not only lose the centre but potentially the scouts huts on the same land. However, the council continues to do due diligence on this matter, and we await a surveyor’s report that will be presented to the TC at the next meeting. The centre has been poorly managed by CEC over many years, and we can clearly see that there are many ways we can trim down the outgoings and increase the incomings. However, all that said the council will always protect the best interest of the residents and will continue to do all due diligence required on this matter.
To other matters planned for the future which include all the things I mentioned earlier remembrance Sunday, pantomime, lights switch on and in June we have the D Day celebrations. Whilst the council is assisting with this, the lead in organising the event has been taken on by the NAFFI Break veterans’ group. There will be a collection of military vehicles, a dance band and lots of activities for the children, so please do come along.
Lastly, I must thank our clerk Ashley who works tirelessly organising everything from finances to flags, Paul our handyman who works all around the town doing whatever jobs we deem necessary and all the councillors who give up their time free of charge not only to help at events but in council meetings making important decisions for our community. My thanks to each and every one of you for your efforts this year. I hope 2024/2025 will be just as productive as this past year.