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Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 3^rd July 2006 in the Town Hall, Hungerford.

Finance & General Purposes meeting commenced at 6.30pm

Present: S. Small (Chairman), G. Bullock, R. Ballard, P. Harries, R. Hudson, E. Cardwell and J. Hutchings (Clerk)

Cheques to the value of £13284.36 were signed by Cllrs Small and Bullock.    Accounts were audited by Cllr Ballard.

Meeting closed at 7pm.

There being no members of the public present for the Open Forum the Council meeting commenced at 7.05pm.

Present:  G. Bullock (Mayor), D. Small, R. Hudson, E. Cardwell, C. Ticehurst, P. Harries, D. Liddiard, M. Wilson,

                W. Acworth, R. Ballard and J. Hutchings (Clerk)

District Councillor’s Report

-               As yet, no accident statistics for Church Street

-               Planning has been granted for the new Library and work will commence soon but, as yet, there is no official

                start date.

-               Cllr Gaines met with the Head of Art and Creative Activity re the proposed wall in the Library.   It was suggested

                that a competition might be held in this regard.

-               Cllr Cardwell suggested that the £5,000 (to be match funded by Southern Arts) proposed for the art in the Library

                should be used to provide extra books and the artwork should be provided by the schools.

-               Cllr Gaines has spoken to Rachel Craggs re alcohol–free zones signage, it is imminent.

-               As yet, no progress with CCTV.

-               Cllr Cardwell asked about the proposed pavement extension at Marsh Lane.   Cllr Gaines has this on the

                list for capital budget funding. 

-               Cllr Gaines thinks that WBC will not allot capital funds for playgrounds because of the additional lottery

                funding now available (Playgrounds for All).

-               Cllr Cardwell asked if it was necessary to present a petition asking for a rubbish bin to be sited in Fairview

                Road.   Cllr Gaines will look into this.

-               Cllr Gaines congratulated the Council on the most recent edition of the Newsletter.

AGENDA

1.             Apologies for absence

Apologies were received on behalf of Cllr Scorey and Cllr Desmeules – delayed at work

                                The Mayor, Cllr Bullock, announced that Cllr Mansil Morgan had tendered his resignation

                                today.

                2.             Declaration of Interests

Cllr Small declared an interest in agenda 5) Cricket Club Lease

                                Cllr Cardwell declared an interest in agenda 7) Hungerford Primary School

                3.             Minutes of 5^th June 2006

06/045                   Proposed :  Cllr Harries, second:  Cllr Liddiard.  Agreed unanimously.

Resolution moved without Notice

06/046                   Proposed:  Cllr Hudson, second:  Cllr Acworth, that this Council lifts the restrictions placed on

                                the annual grant to the Hungerford and Camburn Educational Foundation and gives full discretion

                                to the Trustees of the Hungerford and Camburn Education Foundation to distribute the grant as

                                they see fit.   Agreed unanimously.                                                                                                  JKH

                4.             Finance

i)              accounts for authorization:

06/047                   Proposed:  Cllr Small, second:  Cllr Harries, that the June accounts in the sum of £13,284.26

                                be authorized for payment.   Agreed unanimously.

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ii)             Cricket Club Fees: 

06/048                   Proposed:  Cllr Thompson, second:  Cllr Harries, that the discussion of and decision on the Cricket

                                Club’s request for help with legal fees in regard to its new lease be deferred until the September

                                Council meeting.   Agreed unanimously.

                5.             Cricket Club Lease

Amendment:  In the Second Part – Obligations of the Council, reference to walls has been removed

                                and now reads:

                                                1.             To keep all boundary fences in good repair.

06/049                   Proposed:  Cllr Ticehurst, second:  Cllr Wilson, that the Mayor, Cllr Bullock and the Clerk, Mrs

                                J Hutchings be authorized to sign the new Cricket Club Lease on behalf of the Town Council.

                                Agreed unanimously.

06/050                   Proposed: Cllr Liddiard, second:  Cllr Cardwell, that Hungerford Town Council agrees the new

                                Cricket Club Lease and is now prepared to sign it.   Agreed unanimously.                               DS/GB/JKH

                6.             West Berkshire Partnership

Report by Cllr Bullock.

                                Salient points:

                                - This is a GOSE funded initiative for WBDC, under the umbrella of the Local Area Agreement and

                                  Local Strategic Partnership

                                - A partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations.

                                - WBDC given £895,000 to ‘kick-start’ its work.

                                - Certain priorities will attract extra funding if targets are achieved

                                - Any Parish/Town Council with a completed Parish /Town Plan can apply for a community grant

                                  of £5000 twice in any year.

                                - Hungerford is not considered a deprived area but Greenham and Calcot are.

Cllr Bullock’s full report will be distributed to Councillors.

                                Cllr Bullock requested that each committee should identify a project to apply for funding.

                7.             Hungerford Primary School

Cllr Wilson has resigned as Council representative from the Board of Governors

Cllr Bullock read out information supplied by Cllr Cardwell to the effect that the Council

                                may nominate someone to replace Cllr Wilson, but the Governors have the final say in the

                                matter as there is no obligation to have a Town Councillor as a Governor.

                                Cllr Bullock asked for nominations.

06/051                   Proposed:  Cllr Liddiard, second:  Cllr Wilson, that Cllr Ballard should be nominated.  Agreed unanimously.

                                Cllr Ballard will be happy to serve if elected.

                                Cllr Wilson was thanked for her time as representative on the Board of Governors.

                8.             Mayor’s Report

The Mayor has attended the following:

                                28^th May 2006        Opened the Farmer’s Market

                                13^th June 2006        Greenham Trust Community Awards

                                15^th June 2006        West Berkshire Partnership Meeting

                                18^th June 2006        Celebration of Queen’s 80^th Birthday – St Nicholas Church, Newbury

                                28^th June 2006        High Sheriff’s Reception

                                28^th June 2006        Deputy Mayor attended Arts Award

                                The Mayor will attend as many HADCAF events as possible during July.

                                The Mayor welcomed Jessica, the new addition to Cllr Barletta’s family.

                                Cllr Bullock alerted the Council to the plan to convert Inglewood in Kintbury into 97 units

                                of accommodation.   Because of congestion in Kintbury the selected route for lorries is

Hungerford High Street, Park Street, over the Common to the Inkpen Gate, along to

                                Templeton and then to Inglewood.

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                                Cllr Gaines will investigate and email the Clerk with any information she acquires.

                                The plan had been discussed previously at the Downlands Area Forum.

                                Inspector Edwards, TVP, has requested a meeting with the Council to discuss Neighbourhood

                                Policing.   Cllr Thompson explained the reasoning behind the initiative.

                                There were no objections to Inkpen and Combe being adjoined to Hungerford for policing

                                purposes.

                                Of the two dates suggested by Inspector Edwards Wednesday 13^th July 2006 was agreed.

The Clerk to find a venue.                                                                                                                                  JKH

                9.             Committee Chairman’s Reports

The F&GP committee will meet on the 10^th July 2006 and so, at present,

                                there was nothing to report.

                                -   Cllr Cardwell gave the report on behalf of the Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials

                                    committee

                                -   Cllr Hudson reported on behalf of the Highways and Transport committee

                                -   Cllr Harries reported on behalf of the Environment & Planning committee

                                -   Cllr Thompson reported on behalf of the Newsletter sub-committee.   Cllr Bullock thanked

                                    Cllr Thompson and his committee for an excellent publication.

                                -   Cllr Harries reported on behalf of the Triangle Field Development committee.

Part One meeting closed at 8.45pm.

Date of next meeting:  Monday 4^th September 2006

Signed…………………………………

Mayor

4^th September 2006