Wisbech Town Council
Type
Type
History
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
Preceded byBorough of Wisbech.
Leadership
Mayor
Peter Human
Town Clerk
Terry Jordan
Structure
Seats18
Conservatives
14 / 18
Independents
4 / 18
Elections
Last election
4 May 2023
Next election
7 May 2027
Website
www.wisbechtowncouncil.gov.uk//

Wisbech Town Council is a parish council covering the town of Wisbech in England. It is the successor to the Wisbech Municipal Borough. The Council is based at 1 North Brink, Wisbech where its committee meetings and full council meetings are usually held.

From May 2023 the town's eighteen councillors are elected in ten wards (with numbers of councillors in each): Claremont (1), Clarence (1), Clarkson (2), Medworth (2), North (2), Octavia Hill (4), Peckover East (1), Peckover West (1), Staithe and Kirkgate (3) and Waterlees (1). Each year they meet to elect a Town Mayor and deputy mayor. Four staff administer and organise the council's activities.

Activities

Allotments

A number of sites around the town are available for rent.

Christmas lighting

The council organises the erection of Christmas trees and lighting along the River Nene and around the town. The lights are usually switched on in late November. The council obtained a controversial[clarification needed] Christmas tree from Peterborough; this was erected at the opposite end of the Market Place from the traditional Christmas tree, and attracted media coverage on TV news.[1]

Grants

The council makes grants available to charities and voluntary groups.

Incinerator

The council formed a working party and set aside £35,000 to oppose the proposed "mega-incinerator" to be constructed in the town.[2]

Markets

The Town Council operates a market on the Market Place seven days a week. Well-established and locally well-known stalls offer local produce, others a range of goods. There are a variety of stalls, some trading during the week, others on a regular basis on a set day. Speciality stalls provide goods and services.[3] In 2022 the Market Place was relandscaped: the existing surface was removed and a new surface laid down, at the centre of which was a representation of the town's coat of arms.[4]

Rock concert

The annual Wisbech Rock Concert organised by the council is held in Wisbech Park each summer.[5]

Mart Fair

This annual two-week fair, held in March, still occupies the Market Place and attracts large crowds, although there are no longer the menageries of animals and theatrical performances seen in the 18th and 19th centuries.[6]

Social media

Both the Mayor[7] and the council[8] use social media to promote the town and council.

Statute Fair

This annual one-week fair held in September occupies the Chapel Road car park and attracts large numbers of visitors to the town.

Wis-beach Day

Once a year Wisbech reverts to being a seaside town. The Market Place was covered in sand. Donkey rides, Punch and Judy shows and other entertainments occupy the town centre. This event has now moved to Wisbech Park and has become part of the music festival.[9]

Buildings

Castle

The Castle, a regency villa built by Joseph Medworth, is leased from Cambridgeshire County Council and run as a community resource. A business plan was drawn up and presented by Cllr Hoy.[10] It hosts educational events, community activities and private functions.[11]

Council Chamber

The council chamber is in a listed building and contains historic items connected with the town's civic heritage. An online guide to the chamber has been created.[12][13] The chamber contains a number of portraits and other paintings. One is that of the Rev Abraham Jobson DD painted in 1824 by Jacob George Strutt.[14] In March 2021 it was alleged that the chamber was being used as the location for a police surveillance camera, this was refuted by the clerk.[15]

Coat of Arms

Granted 1929. Officially described as:

These were transferred from the Borough of Wisbech to the Town Council.[17]

Councillors

The council is composed of a diverse membership. The minimum age to be a councillor was lowered from 21 to 18 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006. The Wisbech Standard reported that twenty-two year old Samantha Hoy was the youngest ever member when she was co-opted onto the council in 2009.[18] This was incorrect as Cllr Bennett had won an election to the council 30 years earlier in 1979 as a twenty-one year old.[19] Cllr W Retchless was also elected as a twenty-one year old in 1987.[20]

Elections were held for all the wards of the Town Council on 4 May 2023, the same day as elections to Fenland District Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission proposed new wards.[21]

A number of former councillors have later become parliamentary candidates and MPs. Malcolm Moss's political career started as a Wisbech Town councillor in 1979.

Key
* former mayor
f: Also FDC councillor
c: Also CCC councillor
Current Councillors (2021)[22]
(This appears to need updating.)
Name Ward Party
David Sagoo (2023-) Octavia Hill Conservative
Jamie Edwards (2023-) Medworth Conservative
Shahid Rafique (2023-) Walsoken Conservative
David Patrick (2011-2015,2019-) (f)[23] Independent
Steve Tierney (2011-)*(fc)[24] Medworth[25] Conservative
Dal Roy (2023-) Clarence Independent
Samantha Hoy (2009-)*(fc) Octavia Hill[26] Conservative
Peter Human (2015-)* Octavia Hill Conservative
Susan Wallwork (2019-)*[27](f) Octavia Hill Conservative
Sydney Imafidon (2021–)[28] Walsoken Conservative
Nick Meekins (2011-2015,2019-)*(f) Peckover East[29] Conservative.[30]
David Oliver (2003-)*[31] Clarkson Conservative
Boryana Pehlivanova (2019–) Clarkson[32] Conservative
Janet Tanfield (2023-) Peckover West Conservative
Garry Monger (1979-1983, 2023-) Waterlees Independent
Tom Read (2023-) Claremont Independent
Lucie Foice-Beard (2023-) North Conservative
Trevor Ketteringham (2019-)[33] Conservative

Freedom of the Town

The council may confer the freedom of the town on individuals or organisations, including the following:

Publications

Mayor

At its inception the newly formed Town Council resolved that the Chairman be styled Town Mayor. Mayor's role is largely ambassadorial, attending community events, opening shops and businesses and acting as a representative of the town in neighbouring areas. The Mayor also hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year raising money for chosen charities.

'It is custom and practice on this Council for the Mayor to be selected on seniority and long service, whilst being mindful to select, where possible, a member who has not served as Mayor before. It is also custom and practice for this Town Council to select a Mayor Elect prior to the Annual Meeting who will then go forward to be considered by Full Council at the Annual Meeting. At the same time as a Mayor Elect, it is also custom and practice to select a Deputy Mayor Elect, who will then also be considered and elected by Full Council at the Annual Council Meeting.'[46]

Mayor making

Each year the councillors at the Annual Council Meeting in May elect members to be the town mayor and deputy mayor. The fur trimmed robes used for mayor-making were created for local shipping magnate Richard Young five years consecutively Mayor of the Borough of Wisbech. It is now unusual to be mayor in consecutive years. The event usually takes place in the council chamber, exceptionally in 2020 this took place online.[47] In May 2021 Wisbech Castle hosted the Mayor-making for the first time.[48]

Year Mayor[49] Deputy Mayor Town Clerk
2023 Peter Human Sidney Imafidon Terry Jordan
2022 Susan Wallwork[50] Peter Human[51] Terry Jordan
2021 Andrew Lynn[52] Susan Wallwork[53] Terry Jordan
2020 Aigars Balsevics[54][55][56] Andrew Lynn[57] Terry Jordan
2019 Michael Hill[58] Aigars Balsevics[59] Terry Jordan
2018 Peter Human[60] Michael Hill Terry Jordan
2017 Steve Tierney[61] Peter Human[62] ?
2016 Garry Tibbs[63] Steve Tierney[64] ?
2015 David Hodgson[65] Garry Tibbs ?
2014 Michael Hill D Hodgson ?
2013 Samantha Hoy[66] Michael Hill[67] ?
2012 Vivian MacRae[68] Samantha Hoy ?
2011 Jonathan R Farmer[69] Vivien MacRae ?
2010 Nicholas Meekins[70] Jonathan R Farmer[71] ?
2009 Yvonne Lawrence[72] L Sims (died 2010) ?
2008 Jonathan Rodney Farmer[73] Y P Lawrence ?
2007 David Oliver[74] J R Farmer ?
2006 David Oliver E A Carlisle (did not stand for re-election). ?
2005 Carol Cox[75] D Oliver ?
2004 Henry Bruce Wegg[76] C R Cox ?
2003 Leslie Sims H B Webb ?
2002 Patrick O'Dell[77] L Sims ?
2001 Roger Green[78] P O'Dell ?
2000 Richard Barnwell DL[79] R Green ?
1999 Avis Gilliatt[80] R Barnwell ?
1998 Roger Symonds A Gilliatt ?
1997 Ann Purt[81] R Symonds ?
1996 Joan Diggle[82] A Purt ?
1995 Margaret Cave[83] J Diggle ?
1994 Barry Diggle[84] Simon King[85] (Not re-elected) ?
1993 Leslie Sims[86] B Diggle ?
1992 Thelma Jenkins[87] L Sims ?
1991 Gerald Salter[88] T D M Jenkins ?
1990 Doreen L Dickerson Gerald Salter ?
1989 Edwin C Mortimer D L Dickerson ?
1988 Michael Osborn[89] Edwin C Mortimer ?
1987 John L Barker M H Osborn ?
1986 Kathleen Brennan[90] John L Barker ?
1985 H R Dickerson (1983-)[91] Kathleen Brennan ?
1984 Leslie Sims H R Dickerson ?
1983 Beryl Petts Leslie Sims ?
1982 Malcolm Moss Beryl Petts[92] ?
1981 Elizabeth Ann Carlisle[93] Malcolm Moss ?
1980 Bernard Martin[94] Elizabeth Ann Carlisle ?
1979 Robert C Lake[95] Bernard Martin (1976-1983) ?
1978 Charles R Bowden (1973-1979)[96] Feodor P Rikovski (1975-1979)[97](not re-elected)[98] ?
1977 Alfred Harold[99] Charles Bowden RE Dixon
1976 Edward Boyd-Tuck[100] Alfred Harrold RE Dixon
1975 Beryl F Petts Edward Boyd-Tuck RE Dixon
1974 Robert C Lake Beryl F Petts[101] RE Dixon
1973 June Bond[102]

Election results

May 2023

May 2021

Octavia Hill By-Election May 2021
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Imafidon 570 50.3
Independent Peter Freeman 458 40.4
Independent Yvonne Howard 106 9.3
Majority 1,134
Turnout
Conservative hold Swing

May 2019

Clarkson (2 seats) Election May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Lynn unopposed
Conservative Ben William Prest unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Kirkgate Election (2 seats) May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Roy Patrick 242 41.8
Conservative Garry Paul Tibbs 201 34.7
Conservative Cameron Fraser 136 23.5
Majority 106 23.5
Turnout 579 22.5
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Medworth Election (2 seats) May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Hill unopposed
Conservative Steve Tierney unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Peckover Election (2 seats) May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Nick Meekins 306
Conservative David Oliver 255
Conservative Jessica Ann Oliver 214
Majority 92
Turnout 28.41
Independent gain from Conservative Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Octavia Hill (4 seats) Election May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samantha Hoy 646
Conservative Sue Wallwork 542
Conservative Peter Human 493
Conservative Philip Wing 473
Independent Peter Freeman 458
Labour Clayton Payne 184
Majority 188
Turnout 24.68
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Staithe Election (2 seats) May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Boryana Pehlivanova unopposed
Conservative David Douglas Topgood unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Waterlees Village (4 seats) Election May 2019
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Billy Rackley 467
Independent Andy Maul 439
Conservative Aigars Balsevics 395
Conservative Trevor Ketteringham 359
Conservative Jamie Edwards 351
Independent Ray Pearson 258
Labour Amy Dodd-Broad 182
Majority 188
Turnout 22.62
Conservative hold Swing
Independent hold Swing
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing

June 2018

Kirkgate By-Election June 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ben William Prest 266 52.5
Independent David Roy Patrick 204 38.7
Labour David William Silver 57 11.2
Majority 209
Turnout 527 28.94
Conservative hold Swing
Octavia Hill By-Election May 2017
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Philip David Wing 644 64.1
Labour Susan Yvonne Marshall 192 19.1
Independent Myles Keith Salamon 168 16.7
Majority 452
Turnout 1,004 25.5
Conservative hold Swing
Waterlees Village (3 seats) By-election August 2017
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Laura Kathleen Cobb 425
Conservative Andrew Lynn 394
Conservative Andrew Stuart Maul 381
Labour Amy Victoria Broad 255
Labour Kathleen Dougall 252
Labour Dean Lyndon Reeves 226
Majority
Turnout 17.24
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Conservative gain from Independent Swing
Waterlees Village By-Election December 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Eric Rackley 416 63.8
UKIP Paul Clapp 236 36.2
Majority 180 27.6
Turnout 652 16.74
Conservative gain from UKIP Swing

Previous election 2015.

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