As 2022 draws to a close, Executive Mayor of Mansfield Andy Abrahams has reflected on the highs and lows of this year.
He said: “Well, it has to be said that 2022 was yet again another busy and eventful year. It didn’t get off to the best start with Omicron, the hangover from COVID, presenting challenges to our residents’ health and thwarting businesses' recovery. It is also fair to say the turbulent political situation, the war in Ukraine and double-digit inflation have not helped people's and businesses' faltering confidence, and then on top of that we have had the sad loss of our Queen Elizabeth II, she was a symbolic rock of stability in our lives.
As the effects of the variant began to wane in the spring, the council supported start-up businesses with grants allocated in the budget from the Economic Stimulus Fund. Along with the 26 grants shared out, the council also offered business support, helped fund accommodation and provided specific advice on planning and licensing.
The current administration’s philosophy to stimulate the local economy by giving local contractors and suppliers more opportunities to win work within the district has seen £12.1m (38 percent) of the council’s total spend of £32m in the 2021/2022 financial year being classed as local spend.
As well as the usual summer festivals, the authority invested £50,000 to bring the Stage 5 of the Tour of Britain cycle race back to Mansfield. The route was supported by the Warsop, Mansfield Woodhouse and Forest Town communities and boosted Mansfield’s economy by £500,000.
We’ve also had a phenomenal year for our theatre and museum, with the announcement of nearly £2m of funding from the Arts Council to deliver creative and cultural activity in the community over the next three years. The pantomime is also back after two years of COVID and is smashing box office records with over 90 percent of tickets sold.
Our journey to regenerate the district through our Towns Fund projects has been sure and steady but difficult. All six of our schemes; the Vision West Notts College Future Technology Skills Exchange on Chesterfield Road, SMART Mansfield including smart parking, the Berry Hill Destination Parks, Mansfield Woodhouse Station Gateway, Destination Mansfield events and branding and the Warsop Health Hub, have now received the sign off of their business plans by Government and are at varying degrees of planning and design.
However, construction inflation that has increased in the last year is delaying the progress of all our projects. This has resulted in a review of the project's financial viability as the district council cannot borrow to accommodate the unprecedented 40-year high inflation rate. Despite these challenges, we are confident that most of these projects will start on-site in 2023, with completion in 2024 and beyond.
We are doing everything within our power to help with the human cost of this cost of living and energy crisis. This includes freezing Mansfield district’s element of the council tax for the second year and increasing our Discretionary Hardship Fund by 50 percent. We have also been collaborating with partners as part of our cost-of-living roadshows to help residents with benefits and financial advice.
Mayor Andy added: “With our great partnership working with Mansfield CVS, Mansfield BID, the Mansfield Health Partnership, Vision West Notts College and Nottingham Trent University, to name but a few, I am confident we will continue to ‘ride the storm’ and achieve our ambition for a greener, healthier and happier Mansfield, filled with opportunities for young people. Thank you to all staff for their hard work and commitment to the residents of Mansfield District. Wishing you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Best wishes for 2023,
Mayor Andy Abrahams