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Annual Town Meeting

WEDNESDAY 30TH MAY 2018

Whiston Town Hall (Old Colliery Road)

Commencing 7.30pm

Representatives have been invited from various departments of Knowsley Borough Council, Merseyside

Police and Knowsley Housing Trust

All electors who live in Whiston can attend the meeting and speak on any matters concerning the Township of Whiston.

Updates will also be given on subjects raised at previous Town Council Public Meetings.

Whiston Town Council Whiston Town Hall Old Colliery Road

Whiston Merseyside L35 3QX

Town Council Members earmark a budget for the

refurbishement of Mellors Pond Fishing Lake, Windy Arbor

Road, Whiston.

Whiston Town Council

Annual Report 2018

Serving the

Community of

Whiston

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Whiston Town Mayor 2017 –2018

Councillor Sandra Gaffney

I was honoured to be endorsed as the Town Mayor of Whiston for the

year 2016/2017, and then again for 2017/2018.

I have been supported throughout the year by my Consort, Councillor

Pauline Kelly.

We have had the pleasure of attending many community events

throughout the year. We have witnessed at first hand all the hard work

and dedication delivered by all the volunteers within our community.

As a Town Council we work in partnership with many local groups and

organisations ensuring that we can offer the very best for residents of

all ages by providing affordable, easily accessible facilities.

Why not call in to one of our three Centres to view the wide range of

activities that you may wish to become involved in ? Once again, on

behalf of my Consort and Myself, may I thank you for your continued

support.

Councillor Sandra Gaffney

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ROPERS BRIDGE, WHISTON.

This single span, arched masonry bridge, spans the former Liverpool and

Manchester Railway Line. It is aligned SW to NE at an angle to the rail track.

It supports a dual line carriageway, and a pedestrian footpath to the west

side, and to the approaches, to the east side only. Low parapet walls of

large sandstone blocks, with banded rustication adorn the external faces.

The bridge is one of the earliest bridges of the railway age, designed and

built by George Stephenson in c.1829, crossing what is widely regarded as

the earliest locomotive passenger line in the world. Despite some minor

stonework replacement, the bridge is well preserved and in good condition

with no evidence of widening.

Architectural interest is enhanced by the angled design and the

incorporation of rusticated stonework. The bridge has strong group value

with the nearby Skew Bridge, Rainhill and Railway Bridge, Huyton with

Roby, both listed at Grade II. Together the bridges form an important,

contemporary, and similarly designed group of angled bridges designed by

George Stephenson as significant representative elements of the Liverpool

& Manchester Railway Line, and the early development of the British railway

network.

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WHISTON JUNIORS FOOTBALL

CLUB, WINDY ARBOR ROAD,

WHISTON.

Whiston Juniors Football Club offers football for children of all ages, boys

and girls. Each week friendly and league matches are played. During the

winter months the club uses the multi-use games area for training it’s Mem-

bers.

The Management Committee at the club is continuing to raise funds, which

will go towards improving the facilities for the young people.

If you would like to be involved, why not just go along on a Saturday morn-

ing and join in ?

Volunteers are always welcome:

For further information please contact Frank Garton:07969525883

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Facing the Challenge

Due to a large reduction to the annual grant that the Town Council re-

ceives from the Borough Council, this past financial year has been an

extremely challenging one for the Town Council.

Town Council Members have had to take some difficult decisions

about how the budget could be managed without cuts to our hard

working staff, or a reduction in our services to you, the residents of

Whiston. I am happy to inform you that as a result of these decisions,

and our past financial prudence, we are in a position to continue to

provide the services that you deserve.

The coming months should see the start of development on the Hals-

nead Garden Village site, with planning permission submitted for ap-

proximately 200 homes.

Knowsley Borough Council is planning to sell off 10% of its parks and

green spaces in order to fund an independent trust which will take

over their future management. I am pleased to reveal that none of

Whiston’s parks or green spaces have to date been earmarked for

sale.

A Community Governance Review is currently underway. Knowsley

Borough Council is proposing to reduce the current four wards of

Whiston down to two, which would also see a reduction in Town

Council Membership from fourteen to twelve. These Members give

their time on a voluntary basis and do not receive an allowance. I

would urge all our residents to get involved with this review, either by

calling in at the One Stop Shop, or by going online at

www.knowsley.gov.uk/(consultation section).

On a personal note, may I take this opportunity to thank all my staff for

their hard work and their willingness to go the extra mile to ensure the

best possible service to the residents of Whiston.

Sandra Mayers

Town Clerk

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Whiston Town Council would like to know who you think is a suitable

candidate to receive the next Citizen of Whiston Award. The award is

given as part of the Christmas celebration, so nominations must be

received by the 1st November 2018. You can visit our website at

www.whiston-tc.gov.uk and download a nomination form, or call into

the Town Council Office at; Whiston Town Hall, Old Colliery Road,

Whiston.

All nominations are confidential; any candidate put forward must have

contributed their time for the benefit of the residents of Whiston on a

voluntary basis.

If you require any assistance please do not hesitate to contact;

Sandra Mayers at the Town Council Office on 0151 430 7200.

Citizen of the year 2018

Ashton’s Charity is a charitable organisation set up to help those in need within

the Whiston area.

A Committee of five Trustees meet to consider applications for assistance on an

individual basis.

Please contact Sandra Mayers, Town Clerk.

All information received is completely confidential.

You, as a resident of Whiston may apply for financial assistance towards health,

education, or general support.

If you think you or anyone else could benefit from this charity, please apply in

writing to;

Town Clerk,

Whiston Town Hall, Old Colliery Road, Whiston. Merseyside. L35 3QX.

ASHTON’S CHARITY

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Supporting our Community Groups

Whiston Town Council support local groups with both administrative

and financial assistance.

Each year Members consider applications for financial assistance

and the undermentioned groups have benefited during 2017/2018.

George Howard Centre-Christmas Lunch £150.00

Robert Foulkes Centre –Christmas Lunch £150.00

Pensioners Club– Day trip £150.00

Whiston Taekwando—Equipment £150.00

Whiston Bingo—cost for travel £250.00

Memory Lane—room hire £180.00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Refurbishment of Fishing Lake, Mellors Pond, Windy Arbor Road,

Whiston. Calling all keen fishermen, if you would like to become in-

volved in the clean-up and maintenance of this fabulous fishing lake

please contact Sandra Mayers-Town Clerk 0151-430-7200.

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Meetings attended Whiston Delph Ward

Councillor M Delaney 29 Cherrytree Close 430 6591 12 of 12

** Councillor G Flatley 10 Beech Meadows 07557849406 4 of 12

Councillor G Gaffney 16 Castlewell 426 3871 12 of 12

Whiston Tushingham Ward

Councillor J Gaffney 8 Brook Street 431 1610 12 of 12

Councillor M Kayes 5 Time Park 493 1151 8 of 12

Councillor P Kelly 34 Bishop Drive 426 7788 12 of 12

Whiston Whitestone Ward

**Councillor T Byron 41 Willis Lane 208 3281 11 of 12

Councillor A Caton 17 Halton Hey 430 9176 6 of 12

Councillor F Caton 17 Halton Hey 430 9176 7 of 12

Councillor R Davis 24 Windy Arbor Close 292 0430 8 of 12

**Councillor A Newman 20 Martock 292 4884 5 of 12

**)*Councillor D Williams 25 Halsnead Avenue 07779974032 4 of 12

Whiston Royal Oak

Councillor R Gaffney 103 Haslemere 426 4883 12 of 12

Councillor S Gaffney 10 Braemar Close 430 9194 12 of 12

Residents of Whiston have been served by 14 Councillors since they were elected

for a four year term in May 2015. These Councillors give their time freely on a

voluntary basis.

You will see detailed below the Councillors for each ward and also the number of

Town Council Meetings they have attended from January to December 2017

(inclusive).

See below

(*) Extended leave of absence

(**) As well as serving as your local Councillors some of our Members also serve as

Borough Councillors.

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Whiston Town Council Finances

2017—2018

The Town Council’s accounts are prepared each year by the Town Clerk. These

accounts are then audited by appointed internal and external auditors.

A summary of the

unaudited accounts for

2017/2018 have been

produced for residents

information.

Residents can obtain a

copy of these accounts

and inspect audited

accounts from previous

years at:-

Whiston Town Council

Town Council Office

Whiston Town Hall

Old Colliery Road

Whiston

Calculation of Income 2017/2018

B/fwd 2016/2017 £ 296,255.04

Precept £ 244,576.27

Insurance Com/Claim/Refunds £ 1,166.00

Whiston Town Hall £ 35,434.94

George Howard Centre £ 26,746.33

Robert Foulkes Centre £ 6,820.75

MUGA/Open Space £ 4,080.00

Interest £ 2,290.64

V.A.T. Repayment £ 10,565.21

F.I.T./Solar Panels £ 1,424.70

£ 629,359.88

Calculation of Expenditure 2017/2018

Administration £ 21,749.86

Whiston Town Hall £ 27,479.92

George Howard Centre £ 23,791.52

Robert Foulkes Centre £ 7,930.71

Muga/Open Space £ 19,685.76

Publicity £ 217.00

Repairs/maintenance £ 7,765.00

S137 Payment £ 450.00

Salaries/Wages £ 199,579.77

V.A.T. Input £ 9,642.23

C/fwd to 2018/2019 £ 311,068.11

£ 629,359.88

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Whiston Town Hall, Old Colliery Road, Whiston.

This is the Town Council’s

largest building and is home to

the Town Council Offices.

The building is regularly in use

by local groups and residents for

various activities and meetings.

The Council Chamber is

available for hire at a rate of £15

per hour, and holds upto 22

people; refreshments are also

provided for meetings at a

competitive rate of £1.25 per head.

At weekends you will often find the facility being used as a function

room for someone’s special occasion, or group event.

Robert Foulkes Centre, Brook Street, Whiston.

This is the smallest of the Council’s facilities, and is used by local

groups on a weekly basis. The Facing Life and Pain group meet each

week on a Monday and Thursday 9.30-12 noon. There is also a

dance class and a new group called Memory Lane, who meet on a

Tuesday 1.pm-4.30pm.

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George Howard Centre, Lickers Lane, Whiston.

The George Howard Centre, although not as big as the Town Hall, is

a hub of activity. This facility is used in the main by Evolve Mersey-

side. Week nights see the facilities being used by local groups and

classes, with occasional weekend children’s parties.

Foxshaw Close, Play Area

This facility has play equipment suitable for young children, and

benefits from a natural play area. This is managed by the Town

Council.

Below: Whiston Town Hall, Gar-

den area, open to the public.