The Council civic year starts in May and on the 10th May 2010, at the Annual meeting, Councillor Joyce Stockton was elected Mayor. She had an exciting year. She visited Reaseheath College on a number of occasions at awards and open days, including an event in June attended by Her Majesty the Queen. Councillor Stockton was invited to several Festivals and community events including the Nantwich Transport Festival, the Nantwich Show, Wulvern Family Fun Day, the Food Festival and the 200th birthday of the Oddfellows Association.

The Mayor also saw several excellent productions by our local amateur dramatic society, the Players, as well as outstanding shows from the Acton Amateur Operatic Society. On the 8th November, she was invited to the Homecoming Parade of the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment and of course, attended remembrance services for the fallen in World Wars and more recent conflicts. Councillor Stockton raised £1000 for Help for Heroes and £440 for Stapeley Animal Rescue Centre during her year of office. Sadly, at the end of her Mayoral year in May 2011, Councillor Stockton’s dear husband, Eddie, passed away after a short illness. It was a sad loss and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

It has been a significant year for the Town Council and for local organisations and societies. Community (revenue) grants were made in May 2010 to the following groups:- Nantwich in Bloom £3800, Samaritans (South Cheshire) £400, Holly Holy Day £1500, Nantwich Museum Trust £9600, Family Fun Day £9000, Nantwich Players £1500, Nantwich Words and Music Festival £1000, Nantwich First Responders £1477, Nantwich & District Band £1200. Later in the year, smaller grants were made to sponsor a fishing competition for young people organised by the police; to a local Guide and Brownie group to buy camping equipment; for the Food and Drink Festival in Nantwich; towards the purchase of the Hurleston Brooch for the Museum and grants to Greenspaces South Cheshire for planting on the riverside and to the Flower Festival and Nantwich Transport Festival.

The Council organised and paid for a St George’s day celebration in April 2010 and contributed to street entertainment in the Square throughout the year. In addition, the Town Council made contributions to Christmas decorations of over £7000 at the end of 2010 and gave £14000 from revenue to Cheshire Police to keep the front desk in Nantwich police station staffed and open for the public.

The Council also made some payments from capital, to keep Nantwich safe and attractive. In February 2011 it contributed £5000 to enable CCTV controls to be kept in Nantwich police station. Because the CCTV monitoring headquarters has been moved to Macclesfield by Cheshire East Council it was proposed that Nantwich pictures could no longer be viewed from Nantwich police station. The Council stepped in and paid for special equipment so officers could continue to view and control cameras locally.

Also in 2010/11, the Council established a capital grant scheme and the following organisations were awarded grants in February 2011:- Nantwich Citizens Advice Bureau (new computer system), Malbank School (assistance to fitness centre), Nantwich Free Runners (free running park at the Barony), Nantwich Players (drama and community arts venue), Nantwich Tennis Club (purchase of land or flood lights), Nantwich Choral Society (staging for performances in St Mary’s Church), Trustees of Church House (lift for disabled people – loan), Nantwich Civic Society (interpretation boards / signs by the river), Barony Park Bowling Club (pavilion).

NANTWICH TOWN COUNCIL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2010/2011

Income & Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2011

2010/11                                                             £

Operating Income
Administration - Staff costs                         0
Administration - General                           100
Brookfield Hall                                    14,139
Events                                                 857
Council Income (including precept)      196,632

Total Income                                   211,728

Running Costs
Staff costs                                       59,071
Administration - General                      14,063
Subscriptions                                      1,253
Grants                                             33,877
Contributions                                    18,167
Brookfield Hall                                     9,937
Environmental Expenditure                    3,571
Civic & Elections Expenditure                 2,144
Events                                            10,328
Special Capital Projects                      60,431

Total Expenditure                               212,842

General Fund Analysis
Opening balance                               42,575
Plus: Income for year                       211,728
                                                   254,302
Less: Expenditure for year                212,842
                                                    41,461
Transfers To / From Reserves             13,888

Closing Balance                                   27,573

Balance Sheet at 31 March 2011

2010/11                                                           £

Current Assets
VAT Refunds                                     1,984
Prepayments and Accrued Income         1,694
Current account - RBS                       53,990
Direct Reserve Account RBS              250,377
Yorkshire Bank Time Deposit              250,000
Bank of Scotland Time Deposit           250,000
Lloyds TSB Time Deposit                   200,000
Petty Cash                                          150

Total Assets                                    1,008,195

Current Liabilities
Creditors                                          7,536
Accruals                                           1,925
Receipts in advance                              280
                                                                   9,741

Total Assets less Current Liabilities 998,454

Represented By
General Revenue Fund                       25,572
Repairs and Renewals Reserve              2,964
Holding Reserve                                17,451
Capital Receipts Reserve                   850,377
Revenue Reserve                             100,000
                                                                998,454
(Subject to audit).

The aim of the Council is to encourage local groups in the town, to foster voluntary activity and help make the town look and feel more attractive. Apart from awarding grants and loans, individual councillors are themselves members of local groups and organisations, such as Nantwich in Bloom, the Museum Trust or the Civic Society. They play an active part in such organisations. Nantwich is very lucky to have many volunteers willing to give up their time to further the community life of the town and town councillors applaud their contributions and their efforts. One example of this was a survey undertaken by the Civic Society to highlight the poor state of repair of the town centre. This was followed by a ‘clean-up’ or ‘spring clean’ involving volunteers.

The next big challenge will be whether the Council can justify taking on buildings and services from Cheshire East Council. At the moment, Cheshire East runs the Civic Hall, Market, the Gables, public toilets, children’s play areas, green spaces and some allotments. The bigger council is prepared to transfer all or some of these facilities to the Town Council, which will take over their management and maintenance if Councillors decided to accept them.