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Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 5th September 2005 in the Town Hall, Hungerford
Present: M. Morgan (Chairman), R. Ballard, R. Desmeules, M. Barletta, M. Wilson, D. Liddiard, E. Cardwell, G. Bullock,
R. Scorey, P. Harries, C. Ticehurst, R. Hudson, M. Meddings, and W. Acworth.
Reporters from the Newbury Weekly News and the Adviser. 22 electors.
1) Minutes of the 4th July 2005
05/043 Proposed: Cllr Bullock, seconded: Cllr Harries, that the minutes are signed as a true and accurate record
subject to the following amendment: That Standing Orders were mentioned under the Mayor’s report.
Agreed. The minutes were signed by Cllr Morgan.
1a) Apologies for absence
Apologies were received on behalf of Cllr Small.
2) Declarations of Interests
Cllr Meddings declared a personal interest in agenda item 4) as his stepson has invoiced for work carried
out in August.
Cllr Bullock declared a personal interest in agenda item 4a) as she is a member of the PCC
Cllr Scorey declared a personal interest in agenda item 8) as her father is the chairman of the 2010+ group
District Councillor’s Report
Cllr Gaines reported that: the new parking fee machines had been relocated to the positions of the old machines,
having been installed in the wrong locations initially. The new machines are solar powered and have been
financed by West Berkshire Council.
- The cardboard recycling unit that has been placed in the Station Road Car Park is one of only three in the district
and is proving very popular.
- On Wednesday 7th September there is a Road Show dedicated to giving help and information to home carers.
- Hedge cutting at Smitham Bridge – WBC is responsible for some of the hedges in this area.
- Green Issues – the district councillors have had a meeting with a housing development company. Discussions will
take place with the 2010+ group, councillors and other interested groups after which formal proposals will be made.
- Councillor Barletta will accompany Cllr Gaines for the District Councillor’s Surgery.
- Under-age drinking – Cllr Gaines will go out on patrol with the police and report back.
- Cllr Gaines has spoken to Streetcare about the branches that need removing from Station Road.
- Parent Parking Permits were to be sent out ten days before the start of term. Cllr Gaines will verify that this
was done.
- On the issue of including the land to the rear of the library in plans for the extension Cllr Gaines expressed the
opinion that this may be prohibited by the increase in costs.
- Cllr Gaines agreed that the continuation of the pavement from Smitham Bridge around into Marsh Lane as far as
the service gates to the playground is a good idea, as this would allow another entrance into the area.
- As yet there is no news in regard to linking the IT centre to the John O’Gaunt school. Progress should be made
once the new school term commences.
3) Adjudication Panel Hearing 1st and 2nd September 2005
Cllr Morgan declared an interest and left the room.
The Clerk explained the procedure to be followed in accordance with advice from Andy Day of West
Berkshire Council’s legal department, i.e. that Cllr Morgan should not be present, that a chairman had
to be elected for this agenda item and that only the Adjudication Panel‘s decision should be discussed.
If the discussion veered towards personal matters in regard to Cllr Morgan, then the meeting had to
become a part two.
05/044 Election of Chairman: Nominated: Cllr Ballard, seconded by Cllr Hudson.
Nominated: Cllr Meddings – no seconder, so discounted
It was unanimously agreed that Cllr Ballard should chair this part of the meeting.
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The Clerk distributed copies of the Adjudication Panel’s decision notice and 10 minutes were allowed for
the reading of.
7 councillors attended the adjudication hearing.
Cllr Hudson stated that the council had been placed in a difficult position over the whole issue.
Cllr Desmeules believes that a different impression of the hearing is gained if one had attended
than is given by the decision report. He believes that the panel were in sympathy with Cllr Morgan
and that the code is not used correctly throughout the country. A conclusion had been arrived at and
the Council should now move on.
Cllr Ticehurst pointed out the Cllr Morgan had been found guilty on all charges of improperly
conferring an advantage. The Tribunal panel were to be complemented on their ‘judgement of Solomon’.
A more detailed document will be published and will appear on the Adjudication Panel’s website
within 15 days.
Cllr Cardwell queried whether all councillors should have withdrawn in regard to discussing the
former clerk’s planning application.
Cllr Liddiard thought that the final three sentences of the report are particularly damning to the Council.
Cllr Desmeules felt that councillors were missing the point. The chairman of the panel had raised
the question of whether Cllr Morgan had realised that he was breaking the code. The panel had been
impressed by Cllr Morgan’s actions i.e. arranging code of conduct training, re-writing of standing order,
and had therefore decided on a lenient punishment. Cllr Desmeules pleaded that the council should not
add more stress and aggravation to an already difficult situation.
Cllr Barletta pointed that the opening address at the hearing emphasised the seriousness of the
situation. The panel had considered suspension but had decided on a lesser action in view of the
difficulties that Hungerford Town Council had experienced.
Cllr Harries stated that he thought he was serving the people of Hungerford and therefore was duty
bound to be open to the public. He thought that the Council had suffered over the last two or three
years from in-fighting and that he could not agree that these issues were minor.
Cllr Ballard thought that the Council is in a very vulnerable position.
05/045 Cllr Barletta put forward the motion “Hungerford Town Council has confidence in the Mayor”
this was seconded by Cllr Desmeules.
Cllr Barletta stated that he had canvassed his neighbours and friends and that the response had been that
Cllr Morgan should resign, both as Mayor and as a Councillor.
Cllr Meddings stated that he thought the meeting was getting close to moving into a part two.
Cllr Ticehurst felt that all discussion must be a part one.
Cllr Meddings pointed out that a motion had been put forward and should be voted upon.
The vote was taken. 3 Councillors voted yes they did have confidence in the Mayor
8 Councillors voted no they did not have confidence in the Mayor
There were no abstentions.
Cllr Meddings left the meeting at 8.35pm
Cllr Cardwell wished to make it clear that she had support Cllr Morgan as Mayor provided that
the Adjudication hearing went in his favour.
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05/046 Proposed: Cllr Harries, seconded Cllr Ballard, that the Council ‘do not sanction Cllr Morgan anymore
than the vote of no confidence’.
Vote 8 in favour, 1 vote against and 1 abstention.
Cllr Cardwell felt that Cllr Morgan should have apologised to the Council.
4) Accounts for authorization
Cllr Liddiard questioned whether the Mayor’s allowance should be paid as the Mayor had not
provided an invoice. It was agreed that the allowance should be paid.
05/047 Proposed: Cllr Harries, seconded: Cllr Ballard, that the accounts in the sum of £8451.66 are
authorised for payment. Agreed.
4a) Adoption of new Burial Fees and Schedule
05/048 Proposed: Cllr Cardwell. seconded: Cllr Wilson, that the new scale of burial fees be adopted.
Agreed.
4b) Request for Funding – Theatre Club
Standing orders were suspended to allow a representative of the Theatre Club to speak.
The group needs a building of their own. This would help reduce their costs and overheads.
The group would need to raise more money by grants. Whilst the Council has great admiration
for the group and their splendid work, it is unable to offer assistance as the group has already
received a grant for 2005, in addition the sum required is beyond the Council’s resources in
this financial year.
Cllr Morgan returned to the meeting and resumed the chair.
5) Standing Orders and Financial Standing Orders.
05/049 Proposed: Cllr Liddiard, seconded: Cllr Scorey, that the new Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
be accepted in principle, subject to verification and agreement of the legal department of West
Berkshire Council. Full ratification to take place in October 2005.
Cllr Ballard withdrew at 9.02pm
Cllr Harries thanked Cllrs Meddings and Morgan and the clerk for their work in drawing up
the revised standing orders.
Cllr Ballard returned 9.05pm
6) Code of Conduct Training
It was agreed that the Code of Conduct training should take place on Monday 24th October 2005.
7) BALC
The clerk will answer the two letters received from BALC. No Councillor admitted to contacting
BALC and mis-informing it of the clerk’s actions in regard to that organisation.
05/050 Proposed: Cllr Hudson, seconded: Cllr Liddiard, that the clerk should seek legal advice from BALC
on behalf of the Council. Agreed. However the clerk will continue to seek advice on her own
behalf from where ever she chooses.
8) 2010+ Draft Plan
There have been intensive discussions with local groups and organizations. Any late comments can
probably still be accommodated.
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Cllr Ticehurst suggested that a discussion between the planning committee and other interested parties
would bring recommendations to the Council.
Cllr Bullock has made detailed comments on the draft plan and submitted them.
It was agreed that Standing Orders should be suspended to allow Mr Chris Scorey, chairman of the
2010+ group to speak.
Mr Scorey assured the Council that the 2010+ group had carried out research into housing issues;
the steering group is meeting with the planning committee on the 26th September 2005.
Cllrs Liddiard and Ballard withdrew at 9.26pm
Late comments on the draft plan must be in by 10th September 2005.
Cllr Hudson stated that various strategies and plans are being produced as a result of all the research
carried out. The launch date for the plan has yet to be announced.
9) Matters Arising
1) The local development draft plan is being distributed to individual councillors; Cllr Ticehurst
will read it and then pass it on to another councillor.
Cllr Acworth withdrew 9.23pm.
2) District Parish Conference, 25th October 2005: Cllrs Bullock, Harries and the clerk to attend.
3) WBC - Community Safety Awareness Raising – for information only (already distributed)
4) WBC Right of Way Improvement Plan – for information only (already distributed)
5) Copy of a letter from a Prospect Road resident to WBC complaining of the poor road surface;
clerk to supply a copy of the letter to Cllr Gaines.
The clerk distributed copies of the booklet ‘Police Community Support Officers – Guiding Principles’
for Councillors consideration. To be discussed at a later date.
Cllr Scorey withdrew 9.39pm.
Meeting closed: 9.40pm.
Signed……………………………….
Mansil Morgan
Mayor, 3rd October 2005