Present
Councillors D Stothard (Chair), R Butler, K Chewings, M Chewings, D Eldridge, S Ellis, B Handbury, L Healy,
C Jeffreys, N Monday, M Myles, C Patterson, I Shaw and A Simpson.
Apologies Received
No Apologies were given.
Absent
Councillor H Brumpton
Attendance
Julie Stephenson (Town Clerk), Jane Pick (Admin Manager) – Cotgrave Town Council and Carolyn Perry (Rushcliffe Community Voluntary Service).
The meeting was held virtually, via Zoom, and commenced at 7pm.
Apologies
1623 No apologies were given.
Chairman’s Welcome and Annual Report
1624 The Chair, welcomed everyone to the Annual Town Meeting and read out his annual report which is produced as follows:-
Chairman’s Annual Report 2020-2021
I only recently became Chair of Cotgrave Town Council after being Vice Chair and with our previous Chairman, Steve Gardner standing down for personal reasons, and I would like to start by thanking Steve for all his hard work over the years towards the Town and Council. I’d also like to thank Councillor D Wilkie for the many years of service he has given to Cotgrave Town Council, after taking the difficult decision to resign from his seat due to illness, I wish him well and hopefully see him return at some point.
It has been a strange year to be able to report on, with the gripping global pandemic grinding the world to an almost stop. It has been tough on all of us and there have been many losses and sacrifices made. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for standing together and strong, a massive shout out to all key workers for all their efforts to keep the country going and to the NHS for the amazing work looking after people which at times felt like the darkest of hours. But we look to be on the up and life returning to some form new normality.
Sadly, we didn’t get to hold a Cotgrave Festival last year and unfortunately again, there will not be one held again this year due to the time need to arrange it, but we are looking to hold the annual Bonfire display and Christmas event at the hub. Plans are well under way also for our Christmas lunch for the pensioners of our town.
The Hub is nearing completion on the final phase and a new row of units with Heron Foods already in contract. Charging points for cars have also been installed, looking to a cleaner future. We are soon as a Council moving the office to the Business Hub, where we will be in a more central point and easier access.
Council have recently purchased the telephone box on the junction of Ringleas and West Furlong, where we will so be installing a defibrillator unit and a plan to add more to other areas of the town. We are also currently working on replacing the tired play equipment at Grassmere park.
Council have supported several groups this year by the giving of some great grants, such as The Community Kitchen & Garden, Revitalise Respite Holidays, Vale First Responders and Cotgrave Young People Group.
I would like to thank all the councillors for their hard work and for continuing through this period, many people may not be aware that we are all volunteers and do not receive payment for our services.
My final thanks go to the Town Clerk, Julie Stephenson and the Administration Manager, Jane Pick for their hard work during the last year, also to the ground staff and park keepers for their hard work in keeping Cotgrave and its facilities clean, tidy and open.
Presentation by Rushcliffe Community Volunteer Service
1625
Carolyn Perry from the Rushcliffe Community Volunteer Service thanked Council for the invitation to the meeting and gave a brief overview of what the RCVC do, and in particularly their activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
1626
The presentation was given via a PowerPoint presentation
1627
RCVS provide volunteering infrastructure across Rushcliffe and Broxtowe to enable older and vulnerable people retain their independence. The services include voluntary transport in Gedling and Rushcliffe, telephone befriending in South Nottinghamshire and Handy Housekeepers.
1628
RCVS led on a community response to Covid -19 during 2020/2021. They worked with Cotgrave Town Council, Cotgrave Advice Centre, Churches, Cotgrave Super Kitchen, Trent Bridge Community Trust, and residents to establish a Community Response in Cotgrave.
1629
With the support of funding from Cotgrave Town Council, the services that were provided included shopping, prescription collection and telephone welfare checks. During this period over 500 people registered to receive support and over 150 people volunteered to help deliver the services being provided.
1630
The Chair thanked Carolyn for her presentation and to the staff of RCVS and all the volunteers for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Items raised by the Electorate.
1631 No members of the electorate were present at the meeting and none had forwarded any questions.
The Annual Town Meeting ended at 19.42pm
Chair: …………………………………. Signed as a True Record (Date) : …………………………….