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’d like to discuss your priorities for Congleton. 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 people with disabilities, chaired by Deborah Lawson, is helping us to make Congleton more accessible for all. I have met a number of interesting new members for the group in the last two months
The most recent meeting we had focused on public attitudes to disability and ideas for celebrating our differences and building understanding in our community.
To support this we are delighted that the Congleton Chronicle has agreed to work with us to publish regular features about disability in a ‘Disability Corner’.
We are now ready to launch our shops’ Disability Welcome Scheme and will be going into shops to discuss it very soon.
I attended the Your Futures event for young people, specifically with disabilities and special needs in Cheshire East, at Congleton Leisure Centre. It was a very inspiring job fair, with a good many local employers explaining their inclusive practices and job opportunities, and lots of talented young people with plenty of ideas about their future career.
White Ribbon
Congleton Town Council is White Ribbon Accredited, which means we strive to eradicate men’s violence against women and girls and all gender-based violence in Congleton.
We submitted a report to the Council’s Community Committee about the White Ribbon Day campaign in November-December 2024. The team also completed another tour of local pubs – this time in Mossley, in February.
If you want to get involved in the White Ribbon campaign, please email info@congleton-tc.gov.uk.
Combatting Crime
I chair the Community Safety Working Group of the Town Council, and we work closely with the local Beat Team, the Cheshire East Antisocial Behaviour team, the Fire Service and the CCTV service, to help prevent and combat crime.
We are looking at ways to address problems in the town centre, including hate crime, cars going through the pedestrian area, and antisocial behaviour. The group has discussed a potential code of conduct for the town centre, and will bring proposals on this to the Community Committee.
I attended the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Town and Parish Council meeting in Holmes Chapel. The PCC intends to hold these regularly and it was very useful and informative, as well as an opportunity to explain Congleton’s concerns and priorities to the PCC. I also had a 1-1 meeting with the PCC about my own role both in Congleton and on the recent Cheshire Police EDEI Board.
Cheshire East Council had a debate in its Environment and Communities Committee about whether to cut CCTV services. I went to speak at this debate, in my capacity as Chair of the Working Group, and gave evidence about the importance of CCTV in solving and preventing crime. My Town Council colleague Robert Douglas also spoke at the meeting. Our contributions were cited as the Committee chose not to reduce the CCTV services after all.
Neighbourhood Plan
I was delighted that more than 500 people gave input to the Neighbourhood Plan as part of Regulation 14 (the first public consultation). Many of them did so on behalf of groups, and there were some really thoughtful and helpful suggestions.
We met with Cheshire East’s Officers responsible for Neighbourhood Plans and were delighted that, on the whole, they thought ours was a very good plan.
We are now building their suggestions and those of the public into the Plan before it goes to the Examiner. We hope to get to the Referendum on the plan by the end of 2025. I wanted very much to move this forward during my mayoral year, and I’m delighted we have managed to get Regulation 14 complete and the support of CEC Officers.
Many thanks to everyone who gave input to the Neighbourhood Plan!
You can access the Neighbourhood Plan here: www.congletonneighbourhoodplan.co.uk
Bromley Farm Hub
I am secretary of the Bromley Farm Hub Group, that now oversees numerous activities in and around the Wellbeing Hub in Parnell Square. It has been going for a couple of years and now offers the following:
- Friends Group – Tuesday lunches, board games and company
- Residents’ Forum – housing and environment improvements
- Peer support group – monthly
- ‘In Bloom’ group – the Bromley Bloomers
- Stay and Play parent and toddler group
- Cookery classes on a budget
- Domestic abuse peer support group monthly (myCWA)
- Pure Insight Parent and Toddler Group (for care-leaver parents)
- SMART Recovery and Change-Grow-Live
- Work skills courses – Macclesfield College
- The Lodge Outreach Education Programme
- Christmas party and Community Picnic
- NEW for 2025: Women’s Mental Health peer support every 2 weeks – SheTalk
As secretary I pulled together the Annual Report and set up the Annual General Meeting for 17th February, with notice sent out in advance and the public welcome to attend (which some did). The Committee was selected and the financial report presented, together with a report from the Independent Examiner of the accounts.
If you would like to volunteer with any of the Bromley Farm Hub Groups (gardening – the Bromley Bloomers, the Lunch Club, the Residents’ Forum, Women’s Mental Health, Stay-and-Play or Peer Support), please get in touch with bromleyfarmhub@gmail.com.
Pride in Leadership Event
February is Pride History Month and I worked with Congleton Pride and Body Positive to organise a special event in Congleton Town Hall.
The evening included delegates from nine Cheshire towns and began with an exhibition from Pride groups, showing their activities both on their annual Pride days and throughout the year.
The Mayors of several towns came as well as the Lord Mayor of Chester and Congleton MP Sarah Russell, while the Chester MP Samantha Dixon sent a video message of support.
The delegates participated in a workshop facilitated by Body Positive of Cheshire and North Wales, a charity that champions the rights of, and provides services to, people who identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans+.
With civic leaders joining their respective Pride teams for the workshop, the groups were posed questions such as the role of civic leadership in inclusion and the role of Pride organisations in community support and cohesion. The groups identified barriers and opportunities, and explored new ways of working together. The ongoing exhibition and networking during the break allowed delegates to share best practices and cross-fertilise ideas.
The evening was a great success, with civic leaders from towns without their own Pride leaving determined to set something up, and lots of learning and inspiration from one town to another. The group resolved to make it an annual event, and Chester volunteered to host it next year.
Ruby’s Winter Walk
I worked with Ruby’s to organise a fun and inclusive Winter Walk at Astbury Mere Country Park in February. The event was to encourage everyone to get out, enjoy the fresh air during the half-term holiday and support the vital work of Ruby’s with SEND children and their families.
The team recruited volunteers who helped organise the event, and we had the generous support of Astbury Mere Trust.
We walked in the sunshine around the beautiful mere, and enjoyed sensory stations along the way. Children could carry round a ‘sticky stick’ to collect leaves, stamp on gravel to see what noise it made, make a birds’ nest, guess interesting smells, blow giant bubbles, feelinteresting textures, whirl brightly-coloured ribbons and play with balls, hula hoops and other outdoor toys.
Inside the Visitor Centre there were a number of craft activities, including decorating butterflies and making your own ‘mayoral chain’ to wear. I made a very nice one for my dog, Riley!
We were very lucky to have such glorious weather, and I enjoyed meeting everyone and joining in the activities.
Business Planning
We completed our Town Council Financial Planning for the year. Our precept is going up 11 per cent, and I was one of the Councillors who supported reducing our reserves so that it didn’t go up to 15 per cent. It is very difficult because we have additional costs, like the new employer’s NI and the need to pay for elections, a cost previously borne by Cheshire East Council.
Town Hall Tours
I have conducted three more Town Hall Tours and looks at the Town Treasures. 1st Mossley Cubs and Scouts, 1st Congleton Brownies and the new Pastor of Cross Street Church have all visited. The children enjoyed ringing the Town Crier’s bell and learning about Congleton’s history and its Town Council today.
Town Hall Decarbonisation Project
I am on the Town Hall Decarbonisation Project team and have attended 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 proposals include solar panels and an air source heat pump and team has taken advice from the Conservation Officer and now submitted a planning application.
Tree Planting
I have been out of action for some time due to a broken foot, but I was very happy to spend a sunny Saturday helping to plant 100 metres of hedgerow at Hall Farm in Swettenham. Trees for Congleton has nearly achieved our objective of 30,000 new trees, one for every resident of the town!
Sustainable Transport
I helped the Congleton Sustainable Travel group with an application for a public right of way beside Congleton Library. Like many people I didn’t realise the ramp/path up to the Library is not a protected right of way, but in our opinion it should be!
I followed up with CEC officers on the a paper we presented to the Town Council Community Committee about ‘joining-up’ cycleways and paths in Congleton, but I’m still waiting for an answer.
Mental Health Support for Women
After a considerable level of interest in starting a Women’s Mental Health peer support group at the Bromley Farm Hub, we have now started this and the amazing Laura Jackson is facilitating it every other Monday evening. Thank you Laura!
Ther are still spaces so if you would like to attend please text Laura on 07473 737475.
Domestic Abuse
I attended the Cheshire East Domestic and Sexual Abuse Partnership Board meeting and we discussed the new DA strategy, with a new leader of the service from CEC. I asked a lot of questions about the service going forward. There is work underway to establish future services with both in-house and partner support, and I expect news about this in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, myCWA has been fund-raising to maintain its services, and still provides a peer support group in Congleton on a monthly basis, together with some 1-1 support, both at Bromley Farm Wellbeing Hub. You can access this service by calling 01270 250390.
Park Lane Roadworks
I met with business owners at Hightown, including the shops and pubs, to discuss the signage for the roadworks that have closed Park Lane. They had a problem because it implied that Biddulph Road was also closed which is not the case. The signage was putting off both customers and delivery drivers for their businesses.
Working with Cheshire East Highways and the road closure operatives, I got new signage put up both in Congleton and in Biddulph, saying that Hightown Shops and Businesses and Congleton Station are open as usual.
Other Activities and Case Work
I have been helping some vulnerable residents access essential services and am still supporting one resident access support from Environmental Health due to noise and light nuisance.
I did a radio interview on Churnet radio about Ruby’s and our Winter Walk. I was also on BBC Northwest Politics show on TV, because I’m the leader of the new Equality Party.
I attended a meeting of Elizabeth’s Group and sent out an email to supporters inviting them to an event for International Women’s Day on 8th March. It is an Afternoon Tea and Talk by Barbara Andrew entitled ‘Suffragists and Suffragettes – how British women got the vote’ – get tickets here.
I continue to support the project to deliver a new website and this month met with Officers to look at the Content Plan. The project is moving forward as expected.
I had a look around the old ‘Argos’ building and the empty units around the market, with the agent for the new owner, discussing what sort of businesses might occupy these spaces and offering the Town Council’s support.
I attended the Volunteer Evening for this year’s Food & Drink Festival, which is now being managed by CTC.
As a result of the closure of the Old Saw Mill I have been meeting with various stakeholders to ensure that the volunteers have new roles, some of the groups have a new home, and that the future of the OSM organisation is supported. I’m glad that Volunteer Action Congleton is now based at the Town Hall, and I helped design the Congleton Partnership Volunteer Evening in March.
Meeting Attendance
I have attended 96% of my Council meetings and working groups in the past 2 months (25 of 26).
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, mostly with my husband and consort Mike, and often with our cadet, Barney:
- Congleton Pantomime
- Crown Bank Dental Official Opening
- Wassail Fundraiser, Wild Spirit Woods
- Holocaust Memorial Service
- 1st Mossley Cubs, Town Hall Tour
- Cross Street Church – meeting with the new Pastor at Town Hall
- Town Hall Tour – 1st Congleton Brownies
- Food & Drink Volunteer Evening
- Congleton Players – Macbeth
- Pecks Launch at the Lion & Swan
- Mayor of Crewe’s Civic Service
- Pride in Leadership Event
- Ruby’s Winter Walk (Town Mayor’s Fundraiser)
- Cross Street Church – welcome service for new Pastor
- Biddulph Mayor’s Fundraiser at Biddulph TH
- Your Futures SEND job fair at Congleton Leisure Centre
I have been writing this blog about my Council work for 5 years and, since 2023, so has my Equality Party colleague, Susan. You can see Susan’s posts here.
See my previous posts here:
The Equality Party 