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Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 3rd April 2006 in the Town Hall, Hungerford.
Present: M. Morgan (Mayor), D. Small, G. Bullock, R. Scorey, P. Harries, D. Liddiard, M. Wilson, M. Barletta, R. Thompson,
R. Desmeules, R. Ballard, W. Acworth and J. Hutchings (Clerk)
Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting held at 6.30pm.
Present: D. Small (Chairman), G. Bullock, R. Ballard, R. Scorey
Cllr Scorey declared an interest in the Playground Services invoice.
Cheques were signed by Cllrs Small and Bullock. Cllr Ballard audited. Cheques amounting to £15,542.53 will be presented to Council for authorization. Meeting closed at 7pm.
District Councillor’s Report – Cllr Gaines
- A338: the speed activated sign yet to be working should be in action shortly after 4th April.
- A338 Bend Signs (chevrons) there are only two signs but Cllr Acworth thinks that this is acceptable. Additional
signage expected in the new financial year.
- Re-cycling: Cllr Gaines suggested that small recycling units should be placed at Smitham Bridge.
- Cllr Gaines is raising a petition for the provision of plastic recycling along side the other recycling provisions in
the Station Road Car Park.
- D. Ingram, Sovereign Housing and Cllr Gaines will meet with the Director of Development when the Fairfields
plan is formulated.
- Cllr Gaines has reported the lights out in the Car Park as requested by Cllr Cardwell.
- The Priory: Cllr Gaines has written to WBC Gary Lugg in regard to the Tree Preservation Order.
1) Apologies for absence
Apologies were received on behalf of Cllrs Cardwell, Ticehurst and Hudson.
2) Declaration of Interest
Cllr Scorey declared an interest in the Playground Services invoice.
3) Minutes of 6th March 2006 & Minutes of Part Two Meeting 6th March 2006
06/023 Minutes of 6th March 2006 – Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Bullock. Agreed but with two abstentions.
06/024 Minutes of Part Two meeting 6th March 2006 – Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Harries. Agreed but
with two abstentions.
Both sets of minutes were signed as true and accurate records by Cllr Morgan.
4) Matters Arising
- from last meeting : none
- Flyer:’ Volunteering in the Hungerford Community’ – for information
5) Accounts for Authorization
An Ad Hoc (Remedial works to Christmas Lights 2003) invoice has been received from WBC.
There is no doubt that the work was carried out but concern at the tardiness in invoicing was
expressed.
06/025 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Liddiard that the invoice be paid. Vote: 7 in favour, 5 abstentions.
Clerk to send payment with a covering letter objecting to the time taken to submit the invoice.
06/026 Proposed: Cllr Bullock, second: Cllr Ballard, that the accounts in the sum of £15,542.53 be authorized for
payment. Agreed.
6) Town Council & Committee Meetings
Cllr Liddiard thinks that length of meetings should be limited. WBC meetings finish by 10pm.
Cllr Bullock queried the cost of extra meetings.
No resolution passed but the Clerk was asked to place important issues at the beginning of Agendas
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7) WBC Planning Strategy Preferred Options
06/027 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Thompson, that the Council adopt the E & P committee’s response
document. Agreed with 1 abstention.
Cllr Thompson suggested that a covering letter should go to WBC with the document to highlight the
main concerns.
Cllr Harries pointed out that the response is to the strategy plan and therefore the E&P response is the
correct one. He also added that meetings take so long because Councillors do not prepare for them.
06/028 Proposed: Cllr Scorey, second: Cllr Ballard, that a covering letter stating that HTC fully endorse the
response to the preferred options document. Agreed with 1 abstention.
8) Quality Parish Council Scheme
It is thought that it will take this Council about 5 years to achieve quality status.
Cllr Barletta felt that as quality status would allow WBC to devolve responsibilities to HTC
this Council could be put into a position of taking on greater responsibility that would have cost
implications.
06/029 Proposed Cllr Scorey, second: Cllr Wilson, that the full Quality Status document should be read by all
councillors afterwhich a representative of WBC should be invited to discuss and explain the scheme.
Agreed.
9) Mayor’s Report
Adventure Dolphin - the Mayor has written a letter of thanks.
Newbury Mayor’s Concert – Cllr Thompson attended on the Mayor’s behalf.
The Mayor attended the Hungerford Forum that was held at the British Legion.
10) Chairman’s’ Reports
Environment & Planning – Cllr Scorey
Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials – Cllr Bullock
Highways & Transport – Cllr Desmeules
Finance & General Purposes – Cllr Small
11) HTC Newsletter
The question of upgrading the working party to a sub-committee was deferred to the F&GP committee.
Terms of Reference will be confirmed by the F&GP committee.
The survey carried out after the first issue showed:
- 92% of those surveyed had read it
- Articles: even split in popularity but 24% liked ‘through the keyhole’.
Cllr Thompson thinks that the balance is right.
- Future newsletters should be A4 size and 70% want it in colour
- 80% have kept it for future reference
- 88% felt that 37p per copy was good value. (Cllr Thompson thinks this can be
reduced further).
- 68% wanted a quarterly issue, 4% wanted 6 months or annually, 12% did not
want it at all
- 96% of those who read the Newbury Weekly News read the Hungerford page
- 88% read articles in the Adviser.
Cllr Bullock congratulated Cllr Thompson on a successful first issue.
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Suggestions for future issues: Police report, how grants are spent, profiles of new officers,
articles centred on the Town.
Through the keyhole items: community based – Town Band, Theatre Club, Chamber of Commerce etc.
Possible competition re litter.
Copy for next issue by May 28th, for publication June 6th.
12) Risk Assessments
06/030 Proposed: Cllr Liddiard, second: Cllr Bullock, that the document as prepared by Cllr Harries should be
adopted in principle. Vote: 10 in favour with 1 abstention.
Cllr Harries was thanked for his hard work in preparing the assessments.
Meeting closed: 9.04pm.
Date of next meeting: Monday 8th May 2006
Signed…………………………………..
Mayor, 8th May 2006