September-October 2024 – Kay – The Equality Party

Here is an update on what I’ve been doing in the last two months since my previous blog.

I have spent a lot of time on Mayoral duties in the past two months. I will not detail them all here, but you can follow all my activities as Mayor on the Facebook page: Kay Wesley – Mayor of Congleton

Get in touch if you like. For Mayor related things, email mayor@congleton-tc.gov.uk

For everything else email cllrkay.wesley@congleton-tc.gov.uk or call or text 07711 459740

Or you can come to one of my surgeries – check out my councillor Facebook page to find out when the next one is.

Equal Access Congleton

This group of disabled people, chaired by Deborah Lawson, is helping us to make Congleton more accessible for all.

Following on from the Council’s agreement to embed our Action Plan in its Business Plan, I have been working with Council Officers on a Disability Welcome Scheme for local shops and businesses to help them ensure everyone can access their products and services. We will launch this after the busy Christmas period.

I spent a pleasant afternoon with the Eye Society’s Congleton Sight-impaired group and chatted to them about our equal access work and about the Congleton Neighbourhood plan.

We were delighted that the Congleton Chronicle covered our work in a full-page article. One of the things people told us in our disability survey was that they wanted to know that the Council and others did care about accessibility, so it is important to ensure our work is communicated.

Town Hall Tour and Town Treasures

As part of my Mayoral year I would like to open up our democracy and let people, especially young people, learn more about Congleton, our heritage and our Council. We invited Dane Valley Cubs to come and try this out and had a lovely 90-minute visit. After a welcome from the Town Crier, we did a ‘Congleton Quiz’ about the Charter, the Mayor, the Ale Taster and the Catchpole and also about the current Town Council and what it is for.

Then we looked at the Charter and the beautiful and priceless Mace close up, followed by a look at the entrance to the secret tunnels and a Town Hall Tour. The visit finished with a try-out of the Crier’s bell and photos ‘as the Mayor’.

It was a really fun evening and I hope many more groups – both young and old – will take us up on the invitation to take a closer look at the Town Treasures and Town Hall.

Working with the Police

We have had two ‘Design Out Crime’ days working with colleagues on the Congleton Beat Team and Cheshire Constabulary’s Design Out Crime team – one in the Town Centre and the others in the shops on Barn Road. On one of them the Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price and our new MP, Sarah Russell, also attended.

The purpose of these days is to visit the shops and talk about how to combat shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. Specifically we asks the shop owners and managers to start connecting their CCTV to the Police’s Digital Evidence Management system (NICE) so that footage can be uploaded to crime enforcement as soon as possible after an incident.

The days were very successful with almost all shops glad to have another tool to combat crime and agreeing to connect to the system. The same system recently helped catch a professional international shoplifter in Cheshire East.

I have been working with fellow member of the Police EDEI (External Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) Board to capture the questions that arose from our discussion of the Casey Review and embedding them into our process going forward. Cheshire does have a good framework for tackling discrimination, abuse and prejudice and it is our job to scrutinise this and satisfy ourselves that it is effective.

In this capacity I also visited the Cheshire Constabulary Armoury and learned about the training (including first aid to paramedic standard) and type of work undertaken by armed officers.

Locally in our Congleton Community Safety Working Group, which I chair, we have had a focus on drug dealing in the town centre, with a large cannabis farm having been closed down in the past month. We are also following up on hate crime reports and aiming to prevent further crimes of this type in the town centre.

White Ribbon

We are getting ready for White Ribbon Day 2024 on 25^th November, and I have been organising shooting for our White Ribbon film based on this year’s theme: ‘It Starts with Men’. Pricky Peach films are producing this for us and I am very excited to have a professionally-delivered movie this year, our fifth year of running the campaign.

White Ribbon is a national charity that engages men to help combat men’s violence against women and girls. Congleton has a White Ribbon working group that consists of male ambassadors who go into schools and other organisations to talk about respect, gender stereotypes and positive masculinity. I am a member of this group and do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for them. More than 500 people in Congleton have made their White Ribbon Promise.

The White Ribbon team will have a stall in the Town Centre on 23^rd November and we are organising a drop-in at Blueys in the Town Hall on 25^th, and will also be doing a White Ribbon ‘pub crawl’, among other initiatives. Look out for the white ribbons on lampposts and the flag flying from the Town Hall.

The White Ribbon team has also been invited back to Congleton High School to do a workshop with 6^th formers and to discuss how the school can get more involved.

I’m a member of the National Association of Local Councils’ White Ribbon Steering Group, which is doing its own video of councillors and Ambassadors from around the country, saying how they are ‘showing up as a male ally’.

If you want to get involved, please email info@congleton-tc.gov.uk.

Health and Wellbeing

I helped out with the ‘Know Your Numbers’ day in Congleton Town Centre. The team took the blood pressure of 173 people. 18% of those who were registered with local GPs had a raised blood pressure and have been referred for follow-up.

I met with the War Memorial Hospital development leaders to discuss transport for patients getting to the new diagnostic centre. It would be great to get a bus service to stop in the grounds. We are following up with Cheshire East and the bus companies.

I am supporting Cllr Firkin who is looking at ways to increase breast screening in Congleton. Our rates are lower than other towns, and we met with a couple of GPs to understand their perspective. More information is needed about why women don’t attend when they are booked in for screening.

Green Island Fiesta

I attended this new event on Spindle Street which was to celebrate the historic ‘Green Island’ area of Congleton. Did you know that the fairground ride the Waltzers was invented right there?

Unfortunately it was a rainy day but I did enjoy looking at the arts and crafts the children were doing and a tour of Beartown Brewery.

Neighbourhood Plan

I am delighted that we have got the Neighbourhood Plan ready for the people of Congleton to read it and give their feedback. This phase is called the Regulation 14 Consultation and everyone in town can be part of it. Once it has been approved by the inspector, this plan will go to a residents’ referendum and then it becomes part of local planning regulations.

Do you want more houses in Congleton. More schools or medical centres? Would you like to protect our heritage and green spaces? Is it important to you that all new developments are accessible and low carbon?

This is YOUR opportunity to tell us what you would like Congleton to be like in the future. The Plan is available as a document but you can also read it all on the website pages and give your comments as you go.

Please access the Neighbourhood Plan here: www.congletonneighbourhoodplan.co.uk

I spent a few hours on a stall in the Maker’s Market talking to people about the Neighbourhood Plan. There was a lot of interest in it and I hope many people will review it and comment.

Congleton Pride

Congleton Pride has been planning its next 12 months following the successful summer event. We are discussing having a ‘Cheshire Prides’ meet-up in Congleton and I will be helping plan next years’ Pride event.

We are still following up on some of the hate crimes we saw in the town this summer.

Town Hall Decarbonisation Project

I am on the Town Hall Decarbonisation Project team and have attended a couple of meetings with the experts who are surveying the Town Hall and putting together plans as part of our grant from the Salix public sector funding programme. The most recent phase is looking at solar panels, always a challenge on a listed building. But we do have options.

Domestic Abuse

I am delighted that the Congleton Domestic Abuse Peer Support Group and Clinic are re-starting in November at a new venue. If you would like to make use of the service in Congleton, please call the Cheshire East Domestic Abuse helpline on 0300 123 5101.

I attended a meeting of the Whole Housing Project that has been reshaping domestic abuse services in Cheshire East, working with Standing Together against Domestic Abuse. The project has established a hub that connects DA services with Housing services, giving survivors a one-stop-shop to help and support through a complex and difficult period in their lives.

Bromley Farm Hub

The Bromley Bloomers were awarded Level 4 – Silver – in the In Your Neighbourhood category of North West in Bloom, which was great and congratulations to them!

Cookery Classes and work skills courses have been running recently in the Hub for local people. I have volunteered a bit in the Friends’ Lunches and helped co-ordinate the groups using the facility, as well as continuing as Secretary of the Hub Committee. I’ve also been involved in recruiting new volunteers to the Hub.

The team is now planning the Christmas Party which will be in the Hub on 7^th December.

If you would like to volunteer with any of the Bromley Farm Hub Groups (gardening – the Bromley Bloomers, the Lunch Club, the Resident’s Forum, Women’s Mental Health, Stay-and-Play or Peer Support), please get in touch with bromleyfarmhub@gmail.com.

Women’s Mental Health Peer Support Group

I have been working with a psychotherapist to start up a new Mental Health Peer Support Group for women in the Hub, in response to a request from residents. I did a survey to find out the interest in the community. You can see the results below.

The peer support group will be on Monday nights and is likely to start in December. Information will be posted on social media.

New Council Website

The new website is under development and work is underway on the inventory of all the content that must be ported from the old website and/or developed as new. The old site had thousands of pages going back 6 years so it is a mammoth task. I have been involved in looking at the process and reviewing the designs of some of the pages.

Civic Awards

As I reported last time I worked on a Mayor’s Civic Awards Scheme with Council Officers and a small group of councillors have developed the scheme further. Full Council approved going ahead with this so we will be looking for nominations in early 2025. The awards categories will be:

Community Involvement Award
Young Volunteer Award
Art and Culture Award
Environment Award
Wellbeing Award
Good Neighbour Award
Unsung Hero Award

We have so many committed and hard-working people who contribute to our town, looking out for their neighbours, running craft and hobby groups, planting trees and wildflowers, leading sports teams and youth groups, supporting wellbeing, and much more. I am delighted we now have a scheme where we can recognise today’s volunteers and encourage others to step forward in the future. More information will be communicated on this in the New Year.

Supporting Local Shops and Hospitality Businesses

Council has also approved a Mayor’s Retail and Hospitality Award scheme to reward businesses who have been in our town for a certain length of time. Officers and I have designed the scheme ready for launch in 2025.

As Mayor I attended and gave a speech at the Congleton Market Quarter Phase 2 Launch. It is great to see that part of our town receiving investment and becoming a lively area for both nightlife and shopping.

Totally Locally

I had a meeting with the Totally Locally project manager and discussed the Christmas event, the Retail and Hospitality Awards, the Disability Welcome Scheme and the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme. All of these should benefit local shops and hospitality businesses and we agreed to work together on promotion. They will discuss all this with the Town Champions, including my colleague Susan of course!

Congleton Green Fayre

I attended the Green Fayre and helped out on the Trees for Congleton Stall, provided my Electric Vehicle as one of the exhibits and helped promote the fair to residents. It was a busy day and I hope lots of people got good ideas about how to lower their carbon footprint and improve biodiversity.

Town Crier

I was involved as one of the panel selecting our new Town Crier. The panel consisted of Crier of 33 years, Doug Parker, Deputy Mayor Rob Brittain, Cllr Susy Firkin (who helped appoint the Ale Taster) and Debbie Coxon, Marketing Officer. The panel was unanimous in its selection of Vicky Pulman, the first female Town Crier Congleton has ever had. Congratulations to Vicky!

Democracy and Community

I did a research interview for a PhD student who was part of a large project about women in government called ‘Twice as Good’.

Together with colleagues from other parties I spent an evening at the Rangers, answering their challenges and questions for politicians to address issues that matter to them. Their questions were brilliant and I am very hopeful for the future if these young women get into government!

I was asked onto BBC Stoke Radio to do an interview about an MP who commented that Kemi Badenoch having children made it unwise for her to be party leader, although no such comment was made about the fact that Robert Jenrick had children.

I’m helping to organise a Christmas Tea Dance for elderly people in partnership with the Senior Forum.

Other work

I continue work with residents on parking, bins left on the street, untidy verges and other street maintenance issues.

I have been corresponding about Priory Close where a developer is still trying to build on the green space although CEC has refused permission in the past.

I am setting up some charity walks for my Mayoral year and hope to publish a new map of walks at the end of it.

I attended the Congleton Sustainable Travel meeting and have agreed to bring a paper to committee requesting the joining-up of some town centre cycleways.

I volunteered at ‘Witchy Wednesday’ in the Town Hall and had a fun afternoon with pumpkins, gingerbread and crafts. Thanks to all who came!

Meeting attendance

I have attended 90% of my Council meetings and working groups in the past 2 months (27 of 30). My attendance rate for my compulsory Council meetings so far this year is 100%.

Mayoral Duties

As Mayor I have attended the following in the last 2 months:

Mayor of Leek Civic Service
Summer reading challenge at Congleton Library – I gave out the prizes
Cloud WI Group meeting
Horticultural society show – I gave out the prizes
Daneside Theatre – Now that’s what I call Armageddon, Calendar Girls and Legally Blonde
Green Island Fiesta
Park Lane Residential Home Garden Party
Book launch – ‘Justice is a Woman’ about Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy, by Susan Munro (recommended reading!)
Staffordshire Moorlands Mayor’s Charity Curry Night
Visyon Charity Dinner
Congleton Market Quarter Phase 2 Launch Event
Green Fayre
Oktobearfest at Beartown Brewery
Congleton Half Marathon – handed out the medals and prizes
Fun Day in aid of Amazing Grace Davenport
HerSpace open evening visit
Cubs Visit to Town Hall
Mayor of Knutsford Curryoke night
Sight Impaired group visit
Police Design Out Crime Days
Piano Concert in St Peters in aid of Ambulances for Ukraine
Witchy Wednesday Town Hall
Bridgemere Airmen’s Memorial visit