Newsletter May 2010

Chairman's Report

At the recent Town Council annual dinner, one of our guests, Hambleton District Councillor David Goodwin, forecast that it would not be long before some survey or other placed Easingwold in the top three places that people would want to live in this country. It would be good to think that this was not mere hyperbole and certainly, his views are well-supported by the local housing market!

We have much for which to be thankful in this town which, though large enough to support all mainstream services, yet remains small enough to foster a real sense of identity that, in turn, generates a genuine community spirit. I have previously written of the Council's desire to work in partnership with residents, other councils, voluntary organisations and statutory bodies with a view to both preserving all that is best and further enhancing what is good. Some of that partnership working will find an echo in what follows.

My report this year is relatively brief because most of its content has already been publicised through our regular Newsletter. In that connection, may I congratulate the publishers of the Easingwold Advertiser and Weekly News on the way that they have transformed a rather dull, black & white, single folded sheet into an informative, full-colour newspaper that is eagerly awaited each week by the locals. Whilst we may not always agree with the editorial comment, the " 'Tiser" is a great asset to the town.

As I write, everyone is awaiting the outcome of an impending general election and this seems a good time to remind the 200+ people who crammed into the Galtres Centre on 1st September 2008 that next year is your chance to stand as a candidate for the Town Council. Because of the lack of candidates at the last election in 2007, we are currently operating with eight councillors. It will be an agenda item for the Annual Meeting of the Council on 18th May 2010 to decide whether to submit an application to HDC to revert back to eleven in May 2011. This means that those of you who would like to be a contributor to future changes will have every opportunity to be elected. Anyone who is considering this may find it helpful to sit in on some of our regular meetings.

The Market Place Improvement Scheme which led to the September 2008 meeting will soon be re-introduced as NYCC's Service Centre Transportation Strategy (SCTS) and we are grateful to our resident retired Chief Constable, David Kenworthy, for agreeing to chair a working party that has sought to find a consensus of common ground in order to inform the latest proposals before they are published. We look forward to the further improvements that the final version will bring to the town after you have had your say in the public consultation.

We also look forward to such regular events as: the Easingwold in Bloom awards; the Lions' Summer Fair with marching bands; the Scouts' Galtres Fun Run; the Scouts' bonfire; community carol singing with the Town Band and the Lions' Father Christmas; and (for some!) the half-term visit of the fairground. Still to come, as previously reported are the local centenary celebrations of the First Easingwold (Forest of Galtres) Scout Group and we continue to support the band concerts in the Memorial Park.

The Memorial Park refurbishment is one of the success stories of the past year. After a long campaign that started in its Diamond Jubilee year (2005) the senior end of the play area has been totally upgraded and it is hoped to follow this up by a fundamental review of the toddler end as soon as funds (or sponsors!) permit. We also look back with pride on the efforts of various other organisations in the town to improve our facilities. It is always invidious to single out one person or organisation but mention must be repeated of the excellent work done by the Galtres Management Committee and their coup in having HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, to officially open their £1.1M sports and entertainment complex. The whole town enjoyed her visit - and the warm sunshine that accompanied it.

Several matters are ongoing. Management of the Market Place requires continuous surveillance of the cobbles which, although an attractive feature, can be dangerous when they become loose. The Council also has to safeguard its ownership rights that are held on your behalf and this can result in unforeseen legal fees. We have a duty to ensure that there is adequate provision for interments and negotiations to extend the church graveyard are continuing. The litigious nature of modern society is costing you thousands of pounds for tree surgery and the maintenance costs that follow the ubiquitous "risk assessments" for these and other hazards. And, of course, we are still looking for new premises following the aborted plan for a "one-stop shop".

I end with another plea for partnership working. For every volunteer who is prepared to staff the Tourist Information Point (TIP) office or help their snow-bound neighbour, it seems that there is someone who takes delight in causing damage or behaving in other anti-social ways. Please report to the police those who vandalise property, spray offensive graffiti, allow their dogs to foul the public open spaces or footways, drop cigarette ends in alleyways, or dump their rubbish in the hedgerows rather than travel to the tip. We are proud of our town and it would be good to live up to Councillor Goodwin's view of our reputation.

I cannot close without paying tribute to the unstinting support that I have received from my fellow councillors who have all worked very hard during the past year. I would also like to record my appreciation of the strenuous efforts made by the five members of the Clerk's Office who have looked after us so well. I look forward to serving you for another year until the election in 2011.

W B Taylor, Chairman