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Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 8th May 2006 in the Town Hall, Hungerford.

 

 

                Minutes of the F & GP meeting held at 6.30pm

                Present:  D. Small (Chairman), R. Ballard, G. Bullock, E. Cardwell, R. Scorey,, R. Hudson, and J. Hutchings (Clerk)

               

                Declarations of Interest:  D. Small personal interest in the Cricket Club

                                                            G. Bullock personal interest in St. Lawrence Church and CHAIN  

                                                            E. Cardwell personal interest in Hungerford Jnrs FC

                                                            R. Scorey personal interest in the Hungerford Theatre Group

 

                Cheques were signed by Cllrs Bullock and Small.   Auditor:  Cllr Ballard.

                NB:  Cheques in payment of grants for St. Lawrence Church and the Cricket Club were signed by Cllr Cardwell.

                The Clerk to write on behalf of the Council to Mrs Jennings to thank her for catering for the Mayor’s Reception.

 

                Meeting closed: 7.00pm

 

                Council Meeting commenced 7.25pm

 

                Present:  M. Morgan (Mayor), R. Ballard, D. Small, E. Cardwell, G. Bullock, R. Scorey, R. Hudson, P. Harries, D. Liddiard,

                                M. Wilson, R. Thompson, C. Ticehurst, M. Barletta, R. Desmeules, W. Acworth and J. Hutchings (Clerk)

 

                                2 members of the public.

                               

                Apologies from Cllr D Gaines as she is unable to attend to give her report.   Cllr J. Mole will give the report later in the

                meeting.

 

                1)             Apologies for absence

                                There were no apologies for absence

 

                2)             Declaration of Interests

                                There were no declarations of interests

 

                3)             Minutes of 3rd April 2006

06/031                   Proposed:  Cllr Bullock, second:  Cllr Liddiard.   Agreed.

                                Cllr Cardwell’s name had been omitted in the attendance list.   It was handwritten in and initialled by Cllr Morgan.

                                The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record by Cllr Morgan.

 

                                Matters Arising: 

06/032                   Proposed:  Cllr Bullock, second  Cllr Ticehurst, that Adventure Dolphin should receive the sum of £50.00 in recognition

                                of its voluntary two day litter pick around Hungerford.   Vote: 14 in favour.  1 abstention.

 

                4)             Election of Officers

06/033   i)              Mayor :  Nomination of Cllr Gwynneth Bullock              Proposed:  Cllr Liddiard      Second:  Cllr Wilson

                                                Vote by show of hands – Unanimous.   Cllr Bullock duly elected as Mayor.

 

06/034   ii)             Deputy Mayor:  Nomination:  Cllr Roger Ballard            Proposed:  Cllr Harries        Second:  Cllr Cardwell

                                                Vote by show of hands – Unanimous.    Cllr Ballard duly elected as Deputy Mayor

 

                                iii)            Chairman of Finance & General Purposes:

06/035                                   Nomination:  Cllr David Small                                            Proposed:  Cllr Harries        Second:  Cllr Thompson

06/036                                   Nomination:  Cllr Maurice Barletta                                    Proposed:  Cllr Hudson       Second:  Cllr Wilson

 

                                                Vote by show of hands:  Cllr Small                   9 in favour

                                                                                            Cllr Barletta               5 in favour             There was one abstention.

                                                Cllr Small duly elected as Chairman of Finance & General Purposes

 

               

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5)             Appointment to Committees and Outside Bodies

                                Only minor changes to committee membership.   Cllr Ticehurst has resigned from E&P and joined H&T,

                                Cllr Bullock has resigned from E&P, H&T and RAWM as she is now Mayor and, therefore, ex officio

                                member of all committees.

                                Cllr Liddiard has become a representative for Agenda 21 & West Berks AONB

                                Cllr Bullock is now link councillor for CCB

                                Cllr Harries is the representative for the Canal Users Forum

                                Cllrs Thompson, Small & Morgan have joined Cllr Ballard as representatives of Croft Field Project and

                                Youth & Community

                                Cllr Hudson is representative for Berkshire Transport

                                Cllrs Ballard, Cardwell and Thompson are representatives for the Police Consultative committee

                                Cllr Liddiard wishes to be representative for Hungerford Fire Service;  Ron Tarry to be asked if his representation is

                                for a fixed term.

 

                               

                                District Councillor’s Report

                                Commenced at 8pm and was presented by District Cllr James Mole

                                - request for two Councillors to join Cllr Mole on Sunday to identify sites for Vehicle Activated Signs

                                - in respect of the seats outside the Down Gate public house, WBC cannot condone this but officers

                                  will not do anything unless there is a formal complaint from a member of the public.   Cllr Mole has

                                  requested that the landlord does not allow hot drinks to be taken outside to the tables in the

                                  interest of safety.

 

                6)             Accounts for Authorization

06/037                   Proposed:  Cllr Liddiard, second:  Cllr Harries, that the accounts in the sum of £44,835.47 be authorized for

                                payment.   Agreed.

 

                7)             Council Office in the new Library

                                Cllr Small thought a decision should not be made until a large scale map is received to plot usage/setup

                                of the room, as he felt that there might not be enough space.

                                Other councillors thought the plan should go ahead as:

                                                i)              it will be a good ‘shop window’ for the Council

                                                ii)             the present office can only host small meeting

06/038                   Proposed Cllr Wilson, second:  Cllr Barletta, that the Council wishes to take space in the new library for

                                use as a Council Office.   Vote:  13 in favour, 1 against, 1 abstention.   The Clerk will write to Christine Owen

                                to confirm the Council’s decision.

                               

                                Cllr Thompson asked which committee would be responsible for the project.   It was decided that it was

                                the responsibility of the Finance & General Purposes committee.

 

                8)             Adoption of Standing Orders

                                A grievance procedure needs to be added to the standing orders.

06/039                   Proposed:  Cllr Scorey, second:  Cllr Harries, that the Finance & General Purposes committee develop

                                a grievance procedure to be included in the standing orders.   Agreed unanimously.

 

                                Website:  section 27 needs to be reviewed and edited.

 

                9)             Future Leisure Arrangements

06/040                   Proposed:  Cllr Bullock, second:  Cllr Harries, that a special meeting should be held with representatives

                                of West Berkshire council to discuss future leisure arrangements.   Vote: 13 in favour, 2 abstentions.

                                David Appleton and Adrian Jones to be approached.

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

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10)           Hanging Baskets

                                Cllr Desmeules presented a document for Councillors to read.   The proposed scheme involves the Council

                                and the Chamber of Commerce.   Retailers would pay for baskets to be displayed outside their premises

                                and would be responsible for watering them.

                                Cllr Desmeules asked if the Council would buy four  hanging baskets for display on the Canal Bridge and

                                (as an experiment) one around a pole.   The Chamber of Commerce will fill the baskets and, as yet, there is no

                                costing available for the watering.   In the winter the brackets for the baskets will be kept in the Christmas

                                Light store.    Scheme to be discussed by the Highways and Transport committee.

 

                11)           Outgoing Mayor’s Report

                                Cllr Morgan attended:  The Ale Tasting and was guest of honour at the Hocktide Celebrations.

                                                                         Also attended an end of term service for John Chapman (outgoing Chairman

                                                                         of West Berkshire Council) at Douai Abbey.

 

Meeting closed:  9.35pm.

 

 

 

 

Signed………………………………………

Mayor

5th June 2006