FARNHAM mayor Carole Cockburn has told residents that during her year in office the council has built the framework by which they will visibly improve services in the town. At the annual Farnham town electors meeting, Mrs Cockburn praised the work done by the new cohort of councillors, which, as a result she believes, will enhance the quality of life for the people who live, work and visit the town. Mrs Cockburn said: "We have pledged to make a visible difference in the town. Of course we haven't got everything right, but we are trying. We have to test things out. If they don't work then we scrap them and try something else. "We have reorganised our staff and moved them out of the offices to work on improving what we do in our community. We have given council staff more responsibility to allow them to respond to projects quickly and effectively. And we have reorganised the council meetings to allow councillors to work more closely with staff on the real issues and projects in our community." Mrs Cockburn talked about the council's plans for tourism and economic development over the next three years, which includes Continental street markets in Castle Street, an autumn food festival in Downing Street and a programme of street entertainment. The current mayor also explained the council's controversial policies on cemetery fees. Mrs Cockburn said: "The council has decided that the residents of Farnham, where possible, should no longer subsidise the cost of maintaining cemeteries, but instead these should be paid for by those who choose to use the service." She set out the council's plans over the next three years, which include reviewing how cemeteries are used, a programme of repair beginning with the restoration of the grade two listed building in West Street cemetery, tree planting, and development of 'gardens of reflection' within cemeteries. In the community, the council has set up a newsletter, which is sent out six times a year to keep residents informed of what the council is doing, as well as a website, which was recently runner up for a tourism and excellence award. Mrs Cockburn also told residents that the mayor's coffee mornings had been a real success with the community, with members of the public bringing their issues of concern for councillors to follow up on their behalf. Farnham in Bloom, which FTC took control of, will be entering the South and South east in Bloom competition in July and if successful could go on to take part in the national Britain in Bloom competition. Funding has been made available to replace the roof of the Wrecclesham Community Centre, which was donated to the village by Herald proprietor Sir Ray Tindle and plans for the bandstand in Gostrey Meadow have been submitted to Waverley Borough Council paving he way for the historic attraction to be opened in 2008, nearly 100 years after the meadow was acquired for the towsn. A short question-and-answer session took place after the council's presentation. One resident asked if Farnham could return to being a proper market town again by holding weekly markets, but councillors felt that having the monthly market was as much as the town could accommodate, but hoped that the street attractions being planned for Saturdays would be as much of a draw as having a weekly market. Another resident asked if holding council meetings across the area had improved public attendance. Mrs Cockburn explained that the council believed this initiative had not been as successful as it would have liked and it would now have to think of other ways in which to improve public participation at council meetings. The mayor closed the meeting by saying: "We have a wonderful picture in our minds about where we want to go and what we want to achieve. We need to up the profile of the town council for the benefit of the town."