I’ve been mayor since May and it has been an interesting year.

Our entry in Anglia in Bloom just missed gold by three points, qualifying for silver gilt. The Farmers’ Market was nominated for the fourth consecutive year to go into the finals in February.

The Council is represented at the Farmers’ Market trialling ‘surgeries’, at which Councillors answer questions about services - people seem to find this a pleasing opportunity.

I am delighted to report that road surfaces and cycle tracks have been much improved. New street lights have been installed with heritage lights to follow soon. Most of the lights on the old bridge remain out of commission and we are working to get them fully fixed. Temporary floodlights will be erected soon at each end.

Tesco Express and Marks and Spencer opened opposite one another at the end of Needingworth Road and near to the planned site for Morrisons.

We await developments at the Octagon which many would like to be a community, not commercial venue.

Tourism has been enhanced by promoting St Ives town centre as The Old Riverport and this year the town has been teeming and the shops have been busy. The November-December Snowman Festival developed by the Retail Group has undoubtedly helped.

One of our attractions, the Norris Museum, was awarded its initial grant – to produce an expansion plan - and we’ll know whether it will gain the full award in mid-2015.

So I’m very much looking forward to 2015 when our new website hub arranged by the Town Team will go live.

I wish you all a glorious New Year.