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MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 10TH JANUARY 2005
AT 7.45 P.M. IN THE TOWN HALL, HUNGERFORD
PRESENT: R. Ballard (Mayor), R. Gray, E. Cardwell, R. Hudson, M. Meddings, R. Scorey, D. Liddiard,
M. Wilson, W. Acworth, N. Furr, M. Morgan, R. Desmeules, D. Small, J. Hutchings (Deputy Clerk)
M. McDonnell (NWN) + 9 electors
There was no report as Cllr. D. Gaines was unable to attend.
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Minutes of 6th December 2004 amended as follows: page 2345, 2nd line: the word cheques replaced chrwurd, and the
figure of £15,000 was replaced by £150,000. Following these amendments it was proposed by Cllr. M. Morgan,
seconded Cllr. R. Gray, that the minutes of 6th December 2004 be signed as a true and accurate copy.
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1a. Apologies
Apologies were offered on behalf of Cllr. D. Gaines.
1b. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
2. Mayor’s Report
The Mayor has attended 18 events to date, including the formal opening of the new Croft Nursery School building today.
There will be an open day at the Nursery School on 5th February 2005 between 10a.m. and 3 p.m.
3. Matters Arising/For Information
An email has been received from 14-21 Time to Talk acknowledging and thanking the Council for
the recent grant of £200.
3a St. Valentine’s Ball
Ball to be held on Saturday 12th February 2005. The Corn Exchange and a band have been booked.
Cllr. R. Gray suggested that the Morley Lunch committee should be asked to provide catering.
Action: The Mayor will approach the Chairman of the Morley Lunch committee.
A sub-committee of Cllrs. Ballard, Wilson, Scorey and Gray has been formed to finalise all arrangements.
4. Finance & General Purposes
Cllr Gray proposed the adoption of the Accounts presented in the sum of £10732.51, seconded Cllr Hudson.
Agreed. The cheques were signed by Cllrs Morgan and Small and audited by Cllr Ballard.
Cllr Hudson was asked to obtain letters of instruction from the 2010+ committee in respect of
E. Fitsell and P. Dickens.
Bank mandates are required for all Councillors to become cheque signatories.
Cllrs Ballard & Gray signed the lease to the new Council Office on the 29th December 2004
Letter of thanks to be sent to Dick Lovett for the donation of furniture. Cllr Liddiard has also donated a two-draw filing cabinet and the Mayor thanked him for his generosity.
Cllr Liddiard accepted the offer of £891.00 in settlement of his Mayoral Allowance claim and generously
offered the present Mayor a reimbursement of any amount that may have affected his allowance in making
this settlement.
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Cllr Liddiard congratulated Cllr Small on a particularly well-organised F&GP meeting this evening,
prior to the main Council meeting.
4a. Confirmation of Precept Requirement
Cllr Small, Chairman of the F&GP committee, explained that there is no credit balance available to offset
the precept requirement this year and therefore the full precept figure is required.
The precept is comprised as follows:
Finance & General Purposes £101775
Recreation Amenities & War Memorials £ 50050
Highways & Transport £ 29900
Total Precept Requirement £181725
Cllr Wilson proposed, Cllr Meddings seconded, that the Council requires the amount of £181725
for the financial year 1st April 2005 – 31st March 2006. Agreed.
4b. Statement of Assurance
Cllr Small presented the Statement of Assurance for agreement by the Council, as required for the
Audit 2003/04.
Cllr Meddings proposed, Cllr Gray seconded, that the Statement of Assurance should be signed by
Cllr Ballard as Chairman of Council. Agreed by twelve Councillors. Cllr Scorey did not feel
confident in agreeing the Statement for a term for which she was not elected.
The statement was then signed by Cllr Ballard and Deputy Clerk J. Hutchings.
5. Highways & Transport
Cllr Hudson congratulated all involved in the Christmas Lights.
A Safe Routes to School map was distributed and Cllr Hudson requested comments from Councillors
within the next two days.
Cllr Scorey congratulated Cllr Hudson and the Highways & Transport committee on their achievements
over the past few months.
6. Environment & Planning
The planning applications that were discussed at this evening’s meeting were read out.
Apologies were received from Cllr Acworth, as he was unable to attend the E&P meeting owing to
his attendance at another meeting. Cllr Acworth expressed disquiet at the Dick Lovett application
no: 04/02895/ADV and proposed that the Council should ‘object to the flag poles as unnecessary
and unsightly and not in keeping with the character of the town. Cllr Small seconded the proposal.
Vote: 8 in favour of the proposal, 3 against and one abstention.
Cllr Morgan has had many complaints re the new showroom next to the Bear Hotel.
7. Recreation Amenities and War Memorial
Nothing to report.
8. BALC
Cllr Small wishes to meet informally with Irene Thompson. He distributed a copy of his letter
to her. Cllr Scorey objected to the letter being on Council headed paper but Cllr Gray felt that
the response was appropriate as all criticisms were in relation to F&GP procedures.
Cllr Gray suggested that emails should carry a disclaimer if the opinions in them are personal and
not the opinions of the Council. It was also suggested that where correspondence is deemed to be
confidential the writer should justify the confidentiality and state for how long it remains so.
9. Standing Orders
Nothing to report. Date of meeting to be arranged.
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10. Town Plan
Progressing well. The first survey has been widely distributed but so far only approximately
one hundred replies have been received. A programme has been organised for consultation with
groups and organisations.
The Economy group is using the John o’Gaunt business survey.
Cllr Hudson called for more volunteers to help the various working groups. The next Steering Group
committee meeting is tomorrow, 11th January at the Bear Hotel.
11. Freedom of Information Act
The scheme has been accepted and backdated. Cllr Gray asked that all Councillors read and understand
the scheme. This item can now be removed from the agenda.
12. Agenda 21
Nothing to report. Cllr Acworth hopes that the Town Plan will be instrumental in supporting and
affecting Agenda 21 issues.
Cllr Morgan thanked all who delivered the Town Guide.
Meeting closed 9.05 p.m.
A Part Two Meeting followed.
NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING: MONDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2005
Signed………………………………….
Mayor/Chairman – 7th February 2005