Annual Report May 2021
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The local sports and amenities are all now opening up again – with appropriate safety restraints, please continue the efforts you have already made in keeping each other safe by following these. Wickham Parish Council The work done by the volunteers Annual Report throughout this period has been of immense May 2020-2021 service to the vulnerable and needy parishioners and they should all receive our grateful thanks - the work done has shown Serving the communities of Wickham the true local spirit and benefit of a local and Knowle community. Chairman’s overview Parish council meetings are now taking place in person rather than online, as always everyone is welcome to attend – the meeting dates and venue are flagged up on the parish website. Consultation meetings on the proposed Mill Lane sports field development are underway and again we encourage all residents or interested parties to attend these when they are held. This is a major and exciting development to enhance our sports facilities This is my first overview as parish council – potentially providing a much-needed chairman and I trust everyone is safe and centre of activity for the area. well; also that all those that need the Covid Once again, the work done by the Parish injection have received it. Clerk has been of immense value in holding My own experience is that the local things together and this year has been inoculation centres have provided a superb especially challenging so many thanks to service and deserve our thanks as do all the Nicki Oliver for her dedication. keys workers and essential staff who have Last year we faced a severe challenge in kept us going throughout this unique keeping the much-loved Water Meadows experience – hopefully by August we will be clean and safe – it is to be hoped that the back to as near normal as possible. pressure on them will be less this year. We Once again, the traditional annual events can all do our bit by taking home any had to be shelved and we were unable to rubbish we create -at least that way we meet the public at our Annual Assembly. know the mess the grounds team and volunteers clean-up is not of our own This year has seen the resignation of some making – If you want to get involved in senior and well-respected members of the keeping Wickham litter free Nicki Oliver can parish council who have given sterling arrange provision of litter picking service over many years – our thanks go to equipment. all of them for this. Kind regards and wishing you all a safe th On 15 July we will be holding a by -election return to normality to fill three vacancies – a polling card will be sent to all households and this is your Alistair Hayes Chairman Wickham Parish chance to influence who speaks on your Council behalf! i Contacting the Council The Parish of Wickham Wickham Parish is one of the largest parishes within the District of Winchester City Council with nearly 2000 households. Residents are very welcome to attend meetings and to contact Councillors and The parish extends along Titchfield Lane Clerk with issues of concern. See contact and Fontley Road to the southwest of details on the last page of the report Wickham centre; it also includes Old Knowle and Knowle Village. To the east are the parishes of Boarhunt and Soberton with Shedfield, Curdridge and Whiteley to the north and west. The Parish Council The Parish Council comprises 11 Councillors who are elected every four years. Councillors are unpaid and are governed by a mandatory code of conduct which includes obligations to act in an appropriate manner. Communication The Parish Council provides a local voice The Parish Council uses a number of for its residents, each parish ways to communicate. The council has council differs in the work it carries out. notice boards in The Square, Wickham Community Centre car park, South The majority of the work carried out by Square Knowle and Totsome Cottages. Wickham Parish Council is through its committees: Finance, General Purposes, A regular newsletter is included in the Planning, Recreation, and the Water Parish Magazine. Social media is also Meadows Millennium Green Trust. used for more immediate updates see Facebook - Wickham in Hampshire page. A Highways and Lighting representative deals with road and street lighting The council’s website holds all the issues; there are also Tree Wardens and information required by legislation as representatives for Footpaths and Rights well as keeping residents up to date with of Way, Police Liaison, Welborne Liaison its work: Group, Wickham Community www.wickhamparishcouncil.org Association, Winchester District Association of Local Councils, Wickham Nicki Oliver Parish Clerk is the first point Community Tennis Club and Wickham of contact Youth Club. Email [email protected] Tel 01329 835019 ii Council meetings The Parish Council held online meetings Parish Council Online Networks from March until May 2021 using the now ubiquitous Zoom software. It has been good to return to face to face meetings and members of the public are welcome to attend subject to any remaining Covid restrictions. We have over 7,000 people engaging Agendas and minutes of meetings are with the Wickham in Hampshire available on our website Facebook page and Wickham - a www.wickhamparishcouncil.org Hampshire Community Facebook group, together with all the Council’s financial an increase of 1000 during the last year information and over 450 followers on Twitter @WickhamPC. We also have an Instagram account to Parish Council Website showcase our villages wickham-in- hampshire which has 640 followers an increase of 275 during 2020/21 There are links to the Council’s Facebook pages and Twitter from the home page of the Council’s website. Parish Council News for 2020-21 Changes to the council During the last civic year we unfortunately received resignations from six councillors. We would like to record our thanks and appreciation for their service to the community during their The website has been redesigned to time in office. meet the latest accessiblity Angela Clear, Therese Evans and Di Frost requirements which require responsive were three of our longest serving content that can be effectively viewed councillors with a total of 53 years on a number of devices. between them. You are missed! Agendas and minutes of meetings are New councillors Mark Ashton, Lorrae available to view on the website along Hayes and Alistair Hayes are welcomed with lots of information about Wickham to the council and the three remaining and Knowle and the work of the council. vacancies will be filled by a by-election th due to be held on 15 July 2021. iii A thank you to outgoing chairman Acquisition and management of Knowle Angela Clear Village Hall, Village Green, play areas, Knowle Cemetery and Dean Copse, the installation of flower displays and additional seating. Instigation of the Citizen of the Year Awards and helping to bring new life to the Parish Assembly. Leading the support for the first music festival in Wickham in 2006 and its subsequent expansion. Winning Hampshire Village of the Year in 2007 and Southern England Village of the Year in 2008. Development of the Christmas Light Angela served as Chairman to Wickham Switch on event and supporting the Parish Council for 17 years, an Taste of Wickham Festival. inspirational and enthusiastic leader throughout. Angela combined her work Overseeing the delivery of skateparks for as chairman with that of Winchester Wickham and Knowle and the District Councillor with great effect. redevelopment and improvements to the play areas for Wickham and Knowle We are very proud that she has been including the creation of a new play area chosen to take up the role of Winchester at The Circle in 2006. Not forgetting the City Council Cabinet Member and installation of numerous benches in both Portfolio Holder for Community and communities. Wellbeing. This a prestigious appointment and very well deserved. An During Angie’s term of office Bridge honour for Wickham and Knowle. The Street Village Green was developed as a new role will rightly take up a great deal new public open space. The same year of time. two floodlit tennis courts followed by a club house were built on the recreation Angela led meetings with efficiency and ground and an all-weather pitch for fairness as Chairman of the Parish community use built at Wickham CE Council. Primary School. During Angela’s term as chairman a huge And last but not least our outgoing number of projects were carried out or chairman has overseen the planting of supported for the benefit of local over 1600 trees to create new hedges. people. Angie also served a term as Mayor of Some of the key projects include: Winchester whilst fully carrying out her Supporting two schemes of affordable role as Parish Council Chairman. housing for local people Gwynn Way and Thank you Angie for your support, Houghton Way. kindness and unstoppable dedication to Acquisition and development (and Wickham and Knowle communities over naming!) of Lysander Meadow as a nearly two decades, we know it will wetland wildflower meadow with grass continue with your new appointment. pathways for public access. You have left big footprints for our new Chairman Alistair Hayes to follow! iv The impact of Covid-19 On 29th September we were honoured The Parish Council co-ordinated a to receive a visit from the Mayor of volunteer response to ensure the most Winchester Cllr Patrick Cunningham. in need were cared for. We are very The Mayor asked to come and say thank grateful to the volunteers who shopped you to all those who are keeping the and delivered prescriptions, offered lifts community up and running during the and visits.