New chairman elected for Fenland District Council

Wisbech councillor Nick Meekins received a special memento when he stepped down as chairman of Fenland District Council after two years in office.

Cllr Meekins, district member for Wisbech Riverside ward, was given a photobook covering his term and a past chairman’s badge when he stepped down from the role at Fenland District Council’s Annual Council meeting on Monday.

Cllr Brenda Barber, district member for Leverington and Wisbech Rural ward, was elected as the new chairman for 2025/2026. She will now act as the civic head of the council, representing Fenland at official engagements, community events and civic occasions across the district and beyond.

Cllr Sam Clark, district member for Leverington and Wisbech Rural ward, was appointed vice-chair at the meeting.

Speaking following her appointment, Cllr Barber said: “In the time since I have become a councillor for Fenland District Council, I have seen how special this place is, and the people within it are what make it so special.

“This is a well-run, efficient council whose first purpose is to serve the public. This is true of everyone, from the chief executive and leader down to all the officers, staff and elected members. I am very proud to have been chosen as the new chairman, and I will do everything I can to live up to the trust you have all placed in me.”

In his farewell address, Cllr Meekins reflected on his time as chairman and paid tribute to those who supported him throughout his term.

He said: “Firstly, I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to be chairman and represent Fenland District Council at a host of civic events. In 2023/24, I attended 54 events and in 2024/25, I attended 80.

“I hosted civic receptions at Gorefield and carol services at St Peter’s Church in Wisbech, as well as two coffee mornings in the council chamber. The first raised money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the second supported Damsons, a dementia charity based at Peckover House in Wisbech. Before both Christmases, I also visited council staff to thank them for their hard work.”

“2023 was a mixed year for me personally – my wife Sara and I helped bring parkrun to Wisbech, which now regularly attracts around 150 runners, and with the volunteers and spectators, nearly 200 people now enjoy the park on a Saturday morning.

“Many of you will know that my mother spent most of 2023 in hospital or a care home with dementia. It was tough time for the family, and she died shortly before Christmas 2023. There were also brighter moments in 2023 – in September, my daughter Emily gave birth to George, my first grandchild. In December, my other daughter Alice got engaged to Dan, and they married in Oslo last August. I even gave part of my father-of-the-bride speech in Bulgarian – a surreal experience! Alice is now expecting my second grandchild.

“I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the member mervices team for keeping my civic calendar running smoothly, and to members of the corporate management team for their guidance on full council days. Most of all, my deepest thanks go to Sara, who has accompanied me to most events and supported me through both the highs and lows of the last two years.”