Councillor James Hoare continues as Town Mayor

The Town Mayor, Councillor James Hoare, taking part in the tree planting at Woodside Park with Lymington Infant School earlier this year.

As a result of the Annual Meeting held on the 11th May 2022, Cllr James Hoare has been re-elected at the Town Mayor for Lymington and Pennington Town Council for a further year.

The Mayor gave a short speech of acceptance on the night.

“Thank you very much for choosing me to be your Mayor for a further year. It will be a particular privilege to represent Lymington and Pennington during the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. I know that a number of residents plan their own street parties and other celebrations. As you all know this Council together with Rotary and Lymington Community Association are holding a Picnic in the Park on Sunday June 5th. This has involved much planning led by Cllr Corbridge and our Events and Projects Manager Luan Dray. Thank you very much to them. I am sure it will be a memorable occasion with the only variable being the weather.

Looking ahead to the next 12 months, we need to build on the good work that has been done on the Neighbourhood Plan during 2021/22. It is now important to draw together the various strands of this effort to bring a draft document to public consultation, which I fervently hope will be later this year. I would like this to be a priority for this Council as it will give all our residents a voice in shaping our community and prioritising what matters to them. The final Plan will then proceed to a Referendum for approval or otherwise.

While we are all pleased that the rigors of the pandemic are largely behind us, I am very conscious of the financial pressures facing some sectors of our population. Like other Councillors here with me, I spend some time with the Lymington Larder and New Forest Food Bank. It is distressing to see the queues of those seeking assistance grow longer. We are fortunate in having the Food Bank and other organisations ready to assist, but it is important that we all keep our ears to the ground in order that we can signpost those in need to places they can obtain help. I know that you all already have this approach, but it is going to become increasingly important during the next 12 months.

The loneliness experienced by some during the pandemic, and now the stresses associated with financial hardship have caused a greater incidence of mental illness in its many different forms across our community. With this background, my charity this year will be Compass Counselling. This local organisation does excellent work in providing counselling services to those who may not be able to afford it, or are unable to access the care they need easily through the public sector. Compass Counselling is not as well-known as some of our local charities, so I hope you will all be able to learn more about their excellent work during the year.

It is a relief that we can celebrate Her Majesty’s Jubilee without the shadow of the pandemic looming over us. However, we must be on our guard in case a new variant emerges later in the year. At least this Council has a template for providing assistance to our residents and is flexible in adapting it to the circumstances presented. Let us all hope that we do not need go down this route again.

Thank you all very much for asking me to lead this Council again next year. I look forward continuing as your Mayor, and to the work that needs to be done.”