Chairman’s Report on the Year 2020 – 2021

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Here is the report delivered by Emma Bannister, Chairman of Kingsmead Parish Council at the Annual Assembly held on Monday 17 May 2021:

Review of the Year April 2020-Mar 2021

What a year! Whilst there will hopefully, never be a year like 2020 again, we have a lot to reflect on and be grateful for.
As a community, Kingsmead Parish really came out in force with people providing practical support through the ‘Kingsmead Together’ group, contributing to PPE, keeping us fit, and keeping us busy in the case of Caleb’s charity bookshop. Families walked the Parish like never before.
As a Parish Council, we adapted to Zoom-life very quickly to keep Council business going. We managed socially distanced wildflower sowing, the results of which were so enjoyed by the general public, our wildflower projects have scaled up for 2021. After delaying twice, we managed to get our poppy installation in during November, much to the delight of those who walked and drove by the Kingsmead War Memorial. Thank you to all the young people who also left their painted stones to add to this display. Again, this has inspired us for 2021. We have updated Campbell Close park this year with a grant from Veolia which is very much appreciated. Park users selected the equipment via a social media vote, enabling us to deliver exactly what they asked for. We will now move onto the Burwardsley Park refit using a similarly consultative process.
Our largest piece of work in 2020, was the new Parish Maintenance Contract. The tendering process was rigorous and ended with the contract award to CountryWide. We thank Lawtons who had looked after Kingsmead previously, even pre-Parish Council. Our next step is our Woodlands contract in 2021.
I would personally like to thank all Councillors and our Locum Clerk Lara, for their ongoing support during the year – you make this work possible. I would also like to thank all other Parish volunteers who have joined us when able – you make this work enjoyable. Developing relationships with Transition Northwich and Kingsmead Primary School are front of mind, and thoroughly appreciated.
Please all keep safe and well as we continue through 2021.

Emma Bannister
Chairman of Kingsmead Parish Council