Message from the Town Mayor, Cllr Flo Shaughnessy

MALDON TOWN COUNCILANNUAL REPORT

March 2020

The Maldon Vintage Christmas Fayre roared into lifeon a damp and breezy November evening, as the TownMayor turned on the Christmas Lights, accompanied byfestive carols from the children s choir of the Seventh DayAdventist Church. Throughout the evening, the two stageswere rocking with performances from Maddie Cole SixtiesSensation, Senior Class Fab Live Sixties Beat Band, the BigSing, Suzie Brown and Dave Norwood. Members of theTheatretrain Stage School performed on the High Street withDJ Marky­Mark playing Northern Soul. Dark Horse Morrisdelighted us as usual with their traditional morris dancesoutside the Moot Hall.

Visitors were able to wander around the eighty stalls lining theHigh Street, sampling artisan food and drinks, and enjoying

the many crafts and gifts on display. In the Town Hall,younger people enjoyed an electronic games night.

Many of the high street shops were open, as well as a widerange of cafes, tea rooms, bars and restaurants. Members ofthe Maldon Drama Group mingled with the crowds spreadingtheir own brand of flower power and organised egg and spoonraces. The Town Mayor awarded prizes to Brights Path for thebest overall effect (large business display), and to TalkingFlowers for the best small business display. The best dressedstall prize was awarded to the Amazing Mrs Claus Workshop.

In 2020 the Fayre will be on Thursday 26th November. Localtraders and entertainers who wish to take part can log theirinterest by emailingadministration@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk.

Maldon Vintage Christmas Fayre Chairman: Cllr Michael Pearlman

Maldon Town Council is here to protect, support and enhance life for everyone in our historictown and so it was an honour to be elected Town Mayor by my fellow councillors for thecurrent municipal year. A Mayor does not work alone and I am most grateful to Terry, myConsort, and to Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress Mark and Vicky Heard for their strongsupport and must thank councillors for their diligence in fulfilling their duties. As a result ofthe May elections we have welcomed two new Town Councillors, Carlie Mayes and AndrewLay. We are pleased to have some new officers this year to support our Town Clerk, JaneColeman and I cannot mention the exceptional Town Council staff without thanking NinaMiller, the Mayor s Secretary, for her patience and good humour. The Essex Association ofLocal Councils recently presented Maldon Town Council with the Local Council Quality

Award which recognises that we achieve good practice in governance, community engagement and councilimprovement.

We have much to celebrate and enjoy in the town and the traditions and commemorations are valued by eachMayor ­ I am the 209th! The chain for the Mayor of Maldon is both a symbol of civic authority and a beautifulartefact and I was pleased to have it updated to include five new shields, each proudly bearing the name of twoof the ten most recent mayors. Most of us feel fortunate to live here and this has recently been validated by theHalifax survey which placed Maldon as the 5th best place to live in the UK! Due to the loss of the TouristInformation Centre the Town Council decided to open the Visitor Information Centre in the foyer of the Town Hall.I must thank the volunteers who have ensured that it is a great success.

My focus this year has been on voluntary groups and individuals, over 100 of whom packed the Town Hall for anAfternoon Tea so that we could celebrate all that they do for others. We are so fortunate to have these wonderfulvolunteers who are the beating heart of the town. My main chosen charity for the Mayoral year is Action for FamilyCarers who do a fantastic job providing services and support for unpaid carers of all ages in Maldon. A variety ofsuccessful fundraising events, and some generous donations, have raised several thousand pounds for them.I was fortunate to be Mayor when visitors from Cuijk, with whom we are twinned, came from the Netherlands withtheir Mayor to celebrate 50 years of our special relationship. Just one of the many functions and events whichhave threaded my year. Other memorable events include Remembrance Day, Merchant Navy Day, Cabbie Day,the Pride of Maldon Awards, the Fancy Dress Row and Gig Race, Maldon in Bloom competition, the ChristmasVintage Fayre, St Mary s Flower Festival, the Annual Town Meeting and so much more which will include theforthcoming VE Day Commemorations on 8th May.

Yes, we can be immensely proud of our Town and, having visited voluntary youth organisations and all ourschools, I am delighted to confirm that we have some wonderful citizens of the future to continueour unique Maldon traditions.

2019­2020 2020­2021

EXPENDITURE CORPORATE CORE

Administration and General Purposes 251926 265971

CULTURAL AND RELATED

Town Hall, Plume Library, Moot Hall, Herit­age Centre, Christmas Lights and Fayre

106875 111801

ENVIRONMENT

Open Spaces, Closed Churchyards,Allotments, Community Safety

61800 71700

Total Expenditure 420601 449472

Use of Reserves 5244 14355

Less Income 48778 49946

PRECEPT REQUIREMENT 366579 385170

Town HallThe Hall, Foyer and Conference Room can be hired by contacting the Town Counciloffices. Rates listed below are the preferential rates, which apply to town residentsand local voluntary and charitable organisations

Main HallMonday­Friday(8am­6pm)

24.50 per hourMinimum charge 73.50

Conference RoomMonday ­ Friday(8am ­ 12 midnight)

16.50 per hourMinimum charge 49.50

Monday­Friday(6pm ­ 12 midnight)

30.00 per hourMinimum charge 90.00

Monday ­ Friday(8am ­ 12 midnight)

18.50 per hourMinimum charge 55.50

Saturday, Sundayand Bank Holidays(day and evening)

35.00 per hourMinimum charge 105.50

Foyer (if hired separately)

8.20 per hourMinimum charge 24.50

TOWN COUNCIL STAFF

HIRE CHARGES

Useful Contacts(All phone numbers are 01621code unless shown otherwise)

MALDON DISTRICT COUNCILFor refuse and pest control, Council Tax &Planning permission

Tel: 854477

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL County Hall 0345 743 0430

Highways 0345 604 7631Trading Standards 0345 404 0506Maldon Library 0345 603 7628

POLICERoutine or general enquiries 101Emergencies only 999

Bus times ­ Traveline 0871 200 22 33Train times 0345 748 4950Citizens Advice Bureau 01621 875774National Flood Forum 01299 403055

This Annual Report provides details of the workings of the Town Council from 1st April 2019 and brief details of

plans for 2020/21. The Town Council represents the people of the town of Maldon and has a consultative role

in relation to Maldon District Council, Essex County Council and other authorities responsible for education,

police, environment and health. The Annual Report can be made available in large print. To obtain a copy in

an alternative format, please contact the Town Council offices

BUDGET CALCULATIONS

Town Clerk: Mrs Jane Coleman, Asst Proper Officer: Kathryn Cameron,Asst RFO: Michele Lakin, Planning Clerk: Mrs Caroline Hooper

Environment Committee Officer: Mrs Kate MacksheaAdministration Assistant: Mrs Nina Miller

The offices of the Town Council are located on the first floor of the Town HallMarket Hill, Maldon, CM9 4RLTelephone 01621 857373

Email: administration@maldontowncouncil.gov.ukFor up to date information please check the Town Council s website

www.maldontowncouncil.gov.uk

TOWN HALL Tel: 857373 Email:townclerk@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk

YOUR COUNCILLORS

Maldon East WardDavid OggFinch Cottage 41 Mill Road CM9 5HXTel: 07885 779299Christopher Swain4 Mermaid Way CM9 5LATel: 333338

Maldon North WardCarlie Mayes4 Brockley Cottages, UltingCM9 6QX Tel: 07979 862952Stephen Nunn138 Fambridge Road CM9 6BQTel: 857808Michael PearlmanOakwood House 2 High Street CM9 5PJTel: 07850 339639Tony Shrimpton102 Washington Road CM9 6ARTel: 929717

Maldon South WardLillian Dowling44 King St CM9 5DYMartin Harvey35 Longship Way, CM9 6UGTel: 858782Kevin Lagan137A Fambridge RoadCM9 6BJ Tel: 07788 266414Jeanette Stilts11 Masefield Road CM9 6DF

Maldon West WardAbdul Hafiz34 Tennyson Road CM9 6BETel: 07904 659177Mark Heard57 Essex Road CM9 6JH Tel: 841577Andrew Lay9 Dawn Close CM9 5LBTel: 853828Flo ShaughnessyThe Old Manse 10 Lodge Road CM9 6HWTel: 853438Peter Stilts11 Masefield Road CM9 6DFTel: 07973 559981

Committee Reports

This Committee cares for many of the places which define Maldon s character and bring Councillors into contactwith various local groups and volunteers. The Committee oversees the maintenance of open spaces within thetown, such as the three closed churchyards, Market Hill Garden, Leech Memorial Garden, Ware Pond, WyckeHill Pond, St Giles Ruins, three allotment sites and some green amenity areas on the estates.

about medieval medicine and treatments for leprosy during Heritage Weekend in September by Dr JohannesDale and Dr Antonio Sennis from University College, London. The Town Sign was also refurbished this year,and together with the planting around the foot, makes a lovely entrance to the town centre.

Improvements to the pond at Wyke Hill are planned, with increased hedging, a new seating area and improved

continue to be well used. A new bench has been installed in the High Street opposite Wantz Road, which was

Environment Committee Chairman: Cllr Jeanette Stilts

Maldon in Bloom Chairman: Mrs Jane HudsonThe Maldon in Bloom Group is a friendly bandof volunteers who enjoy community gardeningand making a difference in some of the areas wherethey live. They have been running in Maldon now for21 years. If you would like to volunteer to join theMaldon in Bloom Team please call the Town Councilon 01621­857373 or emaildeputytownclerk@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk.

Every year, the group organises a competition forresidents, youth and community groups, allotmentholders and business owners to enter their gardens,hanging baskets, plots and displays, with all entrantsbeing invited to a presentation evening attended bythe Town Mayor. In 2019 the theme was Ponds andWildlife and there was an unprecedented number of

entries from local schools, pre­schools,brownie and children s groups in Maldon.

In 2020, the theme of the competition will be the VEand VJ 75th anniversary celebrations and judging willtake place during the week of 29th June, when flowersand vegetables will all be growing well. ThePresentation Evening will take place on the evening of14th July. An Entry Form is enclosed, but entries canalso be made online through the Town Council swebsite.

Throughout the year, the group has undertaken litterpicks around the town, decorated a tree for the AllSaints Christmas Tree Festival, and Wendy Munnioncreated a beautiful display for the St Mary s FlowerFestival.

Planning Committee Chairman: Cllr David OggThe Planning Committee continues to meet every fort­night throughout the year and has considered over 245applications in the last 12 months. The committeemakes recommendations on a wide range ofapplications.

All planning applications are first submitted to MaldonDistrict Council which, by law, must consult the Townwithin a statutory time frame. The Town Council s Plan­ning Committee considers the plans and makes a rec­ommendation based on the policies approved in theLocal Plan. The final decision on each application istaken by Maldon District Council, as the Local PlanningAuthority.

Applicants are always welcome to come along to ourmeetings to explain their plans as this can give thecommittee a better understanding of the application. Wealso encourage members of the public to come along toour meetings to put forward their views on a particularapplication. These meetings are part of your right toobject to or support an application ­ if you do not air yourviews, you have lost a chance to influence the outcome.

Planning Committee meetings take place on Mondayevenings at 7.30pm; dates and copies of the agendaare posted on the notice boards outside the Town Hall,the Moot Hall and on the Town Council s web pagewww.maldontowncouncil.gov.uk

This committee oversees the finances of the Town Council as well as the standards and the quality of our public service.The committee s priority is to make sure that the precept (that part of your council tax which is allocated to Maldon TownCouncil) is invested wisely and used effectively in projects and services which offer really good value for money, are highquality, and which help to make our town a better place.

During 2019­2020 the Town Council has continued to fund the hanging basket scheme, town centre floral displays andChristmas Lights display; delivered a more extensive Christmas Fayre event; organised civic events such as Merchant NavyDay and the Remembrance Service. It has increased the promotion of the town s heritage venues through Local HistoryWeek and Heritage Weekend, and opened a new Visitor Information Centre in the Town Hall. Extensive renovations to StGiles Ruins have also been undertaken.

The committee s main purpose is scrutiny, to ensure that every penny is well spent, and everything the town council doesis open and transparent. For the year ending 31 March 2019, the Town Council s income was 425,380 and its expenditurewas 387,475. The Council carried forward a total of 114,065 in Earmarked Funds and General Reserves at the year end.These reserves will prove essential as the Town Council has set a deficit budget for 2020­21 for the seventh year running,despite seeking to increase income from the hire of the Town Hall facilities, grant funding and event sponsorship, whilst alsoreducing costs and increasing efficiency. Even so, the precept element has had tobe increased by 18,590 for 2020­21, or an increase of 3.06 for a Band D property, to cover the loss of grant support from Maldon District Council and centralGovernment.

Finance and General Purposes Committee Chairman: Cllr Mark Heard

The Town Council owns 3 major buildings in the Town centre, the Town Hall, the MootHall and the Plume building. This is a considerable financial responsibility for a localCouncil but we have harnessed the power of the voluntary sector to make good useof the two Heritage properties. The Town Council provides a support grant to theFriends of the Moot Hall to run the Moot Hall and to the Maeldune Heritage Trust tooperate the Heritage Centre in the Plume building.

The small grants scheme has been running for many years. The Town Council is keento receive applications from small, local, not­for­profit groups. In the financial year upto mid February, we awarded a total of 1700 to local organisations to support theiractivities:

Maldon Town Regatta Association 250 annual Town Regatta1207 Maldon Squadron ATC 400 new bannerBEARS 100 portable laedal suction unitMaldon Carnival Association 750 2020 CarnivalCaf at St Peter s 200 community freezer

And further in kind support through use of the Town Hall to the Maldon DramaGroup for their rehearsals.

INCOME 000Precept 366

Hire of facilities 24

Other 24

Total income 414

EXPENDITURE 000Admin 114

Grants 1

Loan repayment 112

Town Hall 59

Moot Hall 17

Plume Building 9

Environment 71

Christmas and otherevents

31

Total Expenditure 414

FORECAST FOR 2019­2020