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MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 11^TH APRIL 2005  

IN THE TOWN HALL, HUNGERFORD

Present:  D. Small, M. Meddings, M. Wilson, M. Morgan, R. Scorey, E. Cardwell, J. Hutchings (Clerk)

                                 R. Desmeules arrived 7.58 p.m.

                There was no District Councillors report.

05/011   Proposed Cllr Meddings, seconded Cllr Morgan – that Cllr Small be elected as Chairman for this meeting due

                to the absence of the Mayor, Cllr Ballard.   Agreed.

                1)             Minutes of 7^th March 2005

05/012                   Proposed: Cllr Wilson, seconded Cllr Scorey. Agreed.   The minutes were signed by Cllr. Small.

                1a)           Apologies for absence

Apologies were received on behalf of:

R. Ballard.   W. Acworth.   D. Liddiard – on holiday.   R. Hudson – returning from Australia today.

                                R. Desmeules – who will be late as he is flying in from Geneva.

                                District Councillors D. Gaines and J. Mole – both of whom have WBC meetings to attend.

                                Cllr Gaines sent to Cllr Ballard her best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

                2)             Declaration of Interests

There were no declarations of interests.

                3)             Matters Arising/for information

Cllrs Wilson and Cardwell attended the Constable’s Parade.

                                Cllrs Scorey and Morgan apologised for not being able to attend the Constable’s Parade.

                                It was suggested that Constable Sunday/Parade should be on the agenda each March.

                                Letter from Hungerford Town Band expressing shock and concern at the Mayor’s motor accident

                                and sending good wishes to Roger and his family.

                                Cllr and Mrs Meddings to represent the Mayor at the Band’s Annual Concert on Saturday 16^th April.

                                Cllr Small and the Clerk to draft a letter reflecting the Council’s thoughts re the Mayor’s accident.

                4)             Co-option

Cllr Meddings expressed the opinion that in view of the possibly long absence of the Mayor effectively

                                reducing the number of Councillors to ten it is a matter of urgency that the Council now co-opts to fill

                                the five vacant seats.

05/013                   It was proposed by Cllr Meddings, seconded Cllr Morgan – that the co-option process should proceed

                                without delay.   Agreed.

05/014                   Proposed Cllr Meddings, seconded Cllr Small – that applicants who were unsuccessful in the last

                                election for Councillors should be invited to apply for co-option and that the vacancies will also

                                be advertised on the website and on the TC notice board and in the Library.                                                          JKH

                5a)           Authorisation of Accounts for Payment

05/015                   Proposed D. Small, seconded M. Meddings that the accounts in the sum of £5447.72 should be

                                authorised for payment.   Agreed.

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5b)          Authorisation of Grants

                                It was resolved that the Council in accordance with its powers under sections 137 and 145 of the

                                Local Government Act 1972 and section 79 of the Charities Act 1993, should incur the following

                                expenditure which, in the opinion of the Council, is in the interests of the area or its inhabitants and

05/016                   will benefit them in a manner commensurate with the expenditure:

                                The following grant applications totalling £11800

                                Alzheimer’s Society                                             1000.00

                                CRUSE                                                                     500.00

                                Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre                     400.00

                                Hungerford Blind Club                                          400.00

                                Tuesday Club                                                       1000.00

                                Morley Lunches                                                     250.00

                                Croft Hall                                                               1000.00

                                Relate                                                                       300.00

                                1^st Hungerford Scouts                                           500.00

                                Hungerford Roundtable                                        500.00

                                CHAIN                                                                   1000.00

                                Hungerford Rugby Club                                       900.00

                                Hungerford Junior FC                                           650.00

                                Wickham Wanderers                                             400.00

                                Hungerford Cricket Club                                       500.00

                                HADCAF                                                              1500.00

                                St. Lawrence Church                                             500.00

                                Hungerford Community Theatre Group             500.00

                                Proposed: Cllr Meddings, seconded Cllr Cardwell.   Agreed.

                5c)           Funding of Taxi Rank

The Highways and Transport committee recommended to the Council that it should contribute towards

                                the funding of the taxi rank with a contribution of £1250.

                                Council asked that WBC should explain why the taxi rank cannot go under the bridge opposite

                                the present disabled parking, instead of placing it in the disabled parking bay and moving the

                                disabled parking across the road.     Clerk to inquire.                                                                                    JKH

05/017                   Cllr Scorey proposed, Cllr Wilson seconded – that the matter be referred back to the H & T

                                committee.   Agreed.

                6)             Clerk’s Observation Report

05/018                   Cllr Meddings proposed, Cllr Small seconded – that the report should be passed to the Finance and General                 Purposes committee to discuss and make recommendations at its meeting on Monday 25^th April 2005.

                                Agreed.

Signed……………………………………

Chairman, 9^th May 2005

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PART TWO

Cllr Meddings requested that the Clerk distribute the draft contract to all Councillors.   He asked that any comments are

sent to him by 19^th April 2005 so that a final draft can be discussed by the F&GP committee at its meeting on Monday JKH

25^th April 2005.   This will comply with the 13 week period in which the Clerk must be given a Contract of Employment.

Signed…………………………

Chairman, 9^th May 2005