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Biddulph Town Council
ANNUAL REPORT
2016 - 2017
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Mayor’s Review of the Town Council’s year 2016-2017
The role of Mayor has been a fantastic experience and I would like to thank my fellow
colleagues for allowing me to have the opportunity. I was always very conscious that it
should not be about me, but about honouring those who make a significant contribution to
our town and promote civic pride. I hope that I have achieved these objectives. The role of
Mayor has moved on from times gone by, and as such I also wanted to make it known that
the Mayor gets her hands dirty and is approachable, that politics is not and should not be
elitist. My participation in the local running events organised by the Green Tree House and
Biddulph Running club certainly illustrates that.
Over the year, I have attended around one hundred events, which has been quite a task for
my young family and they have coped admirably; I shall be forever indebted to them for that.
These events have shone a light on every corner of our community and illuminated the
jewels in our possession. Biddulph is gifted with talented and hard-working, caring people,
including our ‘Lads and Dads’ football coaches, musicians, writers and ‘bloomer’ volunteers-
they are an incredible bunch and we should be rightly proud of each and every one of them.
The people of this town are complemented by its unique history and heritage and these
factors are certainly something that I have tried to export on my travels.
My team around me have managed to help raise around £5000 for my six chosen charities.
They’ve baked cakes, donated items and provided their labour. There are far too many to
mention individually but I thank them all. I would like to sum up by saying that this Mayor is
proud of Biddulph, but it was Biddulph that made this Mayor – how fortunate I was to have
been born in this town and for all the opportunities it has given to me and all of us.
I would like to wish Chris Wood all the best for his term in office.
Councillor Jill Salt.
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The work of the Town Council
It’s been a busy year for Biddulph Town Council. Amidst the dust and changing frontage
of the Town Hall, in March 2017, we were delighted to welcome Jodie Hancock to the
team. Jodie is the part-time Events and Partnerships Officer with responsibility for
management of the Artisan Market, Christmas Lights Switch-ons and provides support to
the Biddulph Festival team. Jodie will work closely with partners to develop new ideas
that will benefit the people who live and work in Biddulph.
The Artisan Market continues to operate on the first Friday of each month. We have again
sought advice from colleagues in Cheshire East Council about alternative days when the
market can operate. We know we cannot hold a Saturday market, but we’re considering
other options to attract people into the town at the weekend. We’re very pleased that the
Friday market entices people from the surrounding areas and the number of stalls is
increasing each month. The Town Council feel that the benefit of attracting more people
into the town centre means that this project continues to be strategically very important.
The Town Council learned that the funding received from Staffordshire County Council for
lengthsman tasks- mowing, strimming, dealing with blocked drains, etc. would not
continue beyond 2016/17. The Council agreed that it was important that these tasks
continued to be completed, and allocated money for this purpose. This is currently going
through a procurement process to ensure that the individual or company that completes
these tasks has appropriate qualifications and insurances, and that the Council is getting
value for money.
Over £60,000 was allocated to groups to provide grant support. The Town Council
introduced a grant evaluation process for 2016/17 and established that:
22 of 24 respondents classed their organisation as being voluntary/ community
sector. There were no grants given to schools or businesses.
Aims differ widely, including the provision of sporting activities, activities to prevent
social isolation, enhancing areas in communities, developing skills and keeping
communities safe.
There were a range of different uses for grant funding: trips, purchasing/ fitting
new items, room hire, etc.
7858 individuals received support from grant funding; in addition to this, there
were projects such as the Festival and gardening projects that had an impact on
the wider community.
The majority of those benefitting are either young, below 15, or older, over 50.
Community activities will affect those in between, but are not targeted at them.
The Town Council was delighted to receive a grant offer for the refurbishment of the
troughs at Overton Road. In addition, restoration of the kissing gates along the A527
towards Congleton has now been completed.
In 2016/17, the Town Council was successful in gaining planning permission to develop
the land at Springfield Road. The aim was to develop allotments on this site, but
unfortunately the project became too costly. The area has now been cleared and grass
seed has been added. This is now a more manageable space and the residents can
appreciate the spectacular views across Biddulph.
The Town Council continues to manage and maintain the Burial Grounds and two
allotment sites. We’re delighted that the Burial Grounds have received compliments from
visitors about how beautiful and tidy they are. The allotment waiting list has now been
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reviewed and we continue to seek new sites that could be developed to accommodate
the need for people on this list.
Councillors are developing a three-year strategy for the town, in partnership with
Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. We have
agreed an ambitious action plan for 2017/18 and continue to identify opportunities to
attract additional resources into the town.
The Neighbourhood Plan is moving forwards with consultation events and opportunities
planned. A Neighbourhood Plan is a document that helps to influence development within
the town for the next 15 years. There are six areas that will be included in the plan:
Promoting the Local Economy (including town centre and retail)
Preserving Local Heritage, Culture and Tourism
Community and Wellbeing (including education, sport and leisure)
Housing Need and Design
Natural Environment and Green Spaces
Improving Infrastructure
If you would like to get involved, please contact us. We will continue to provide regular
updates about the development of this plan, and let you know when there are other
events.
There was continued support for the work of the residents’ and community associations,
and the Town Council is represented on many outside bodies.
The Town Council is proud to support the Biddulph in Bloom team and joined in
congratulating them for winning a Gold Award and being overall winner of the Large Town
Category in the 2016 RHS Heart of England in Bloom awards.
More information about the Town Council is available at our website: www.biddulph.co.uk
or on our Facebook page ‘Biddulph Town Council’.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT (UNAUDITED) 3,050
BIDDULPH TOWN COUNCIL
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016
31-Mar-16 INCOME
31-Mar-17
£
£
236280.00 Precept
256503.00
19905.07
Council Tax Support Grant 13982.59
6885.00 Agency services reimbursed 6437.00
0.00 Loan/capital receipts 0.00
992.53 Interest on investments 614.74
0.00 Sale of Assets 0.00
750.00 Room Lettings 675.00
31,059 Burial Ground 47834.70
687.00 Allotments
599.90
7255.26 Other
11926.80
303814.15 TOTAL
338573.73
31-Mar-16 EXPENDITURE 31-Mar-17
£
£
152020.90 General Administration 220357.48
5970.00 Lengthsman 4490.00
66411.28 S137 Payments 68623.00
0.00 Capital Spending 0.00
0.00 Loan Interest and Repayments 0.00
0.00 Running costs: 0.00
1380.47 Allotments
1537.57
24822.61 Community Hall 17479.04
0.00 Parks and open spaces 0.00
27007.19 Burial Ground 19913.11
2464.18 Street Lighting 2417.87
280076.63 TOTAL
334818.07
GENERAL FUND
589154.41
Balance at 1 April 2016 612891.93
303814.15
Total income 338573.73
280076.63
Less Total Expenditure 334818.07
612891.93
Balance at 31 Mar 17 616647.59
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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2017
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2017
2015/16 LONG TERM ASSETS 2016/17
Investments 0.00
Long term debtors 0.00
0.00
CURRENT ASSETS
700.00 Debtors (net of provision for doubtful debts) 0.00
0.00 Payments in advance 0.00
143.20 VAT recoverable 2327.18
0.00 Temporary lendings 0.00
619525.60 Cash in hand 614320.41
620368.80 TOTAL ASSETS 616647.59
CURRENT LIABILITIES
5.64 Creditors 0.00
7464.23 Receipts in Advance 0.00
7.00 Cash overdrawn 0.00
7476.87 0.00
612891.93 NET ASSETS 616647.59
REPRESENTED BY:
238493.93 General Fund 289129.59
374398.00 Reserves 327518.00
612891.93 616647.59
The above statement represents fairly the financial position of
the authority at 31 March 2017 and reflects its income and
expenditure during the year.
Signed
Chairman
Date
Signed
Responsible
Date Finance Officer
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BIDDULPH TOWN COUNCILLORS (until May 2019)
Councillor: Address: Tel: Ward:
E E BADDELEY 6 Wedgwood Lane ST8 6RR 513002 West E: [email protected] 07977 308043
G COURT 3 Marshgreen Road ST8 6QP 924264 North E: [email protected] 07770 742 102
J DAVIES 69 Woodhouse Lane ST8 7EN 514478 North E: [email protected]
D A HALL 3 Mow Lane ST8 6QH 512626 North E: [email protected]
A K HARPER 200 Congleton Road ST8 7SF 861940 North E: [email protected]
A H HART The Granary Woodhouse Lane ST8 7RJ 379431 North E: [email protected]
D HAWLEY Moor E: [email protected]
K J JACKSON 110 Church Close ST8 6NA 515295 East E: [email protected] 07886 265663
J T JONES 348 New Street Biddulph Moor ST8 7NQ 516948 Moor E: [email protected] 07747 775203
I S LAWSON 5 Stoneyfields Biddulph Moor ST8 7NB 522614 West E: [email protected] M M LOVATT 1a Cross Street ST8 6BD 253317 East E: [email protected]
O McGUINNESS 5 Crossways ST8 7DY 512049 North E: [email protected]
E A NICOSIA 14 Park Lane ST8 7AU 519828 South E:
J P REDFERN 141 Park Lane ST8 7PN 511969 South E: [email protected]
W ROGERS Hillview, 64 Well Lane ST8 6QR 519767 West E: [email protected]
S RUSHTON 22 Lawton Street ST8 6EQ 519896 East E: [email protected]
J T SALT 50 John Street ST8 6AT 379395 East E: [email protected] H M SHELDON MBE Keepers Cottage Greenway Bank ST8 7QX 514993 West E: [email protected]
G SWIFT 11 Henley Avenue ST8 6NX 514432 West E: [email protected]
J WALLEY 10 Potters End ST8 6SX 522783 East E: [email protected]
R WHILDING 16 Coppice Close ST8 6EU 513887 East E: [email protected]
C WOOD 60 Lotus Avenue ST8 6PS 511064 West E: [email protected]
