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Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 6th November 2006 in the Town Hall, Hungerford.
6.30pm Finance & General Purposes
Present: D. Small (Chairman), G. Bullock, R. Ballard, P. Harries, R. Hudson, E. Cardwell, R. Scorey, M. Barletta and
J. Hutchings (Clerk).
Cheques in the sum of £6,000.79 were signed by Cllrs Small and Bullock. Cllr Ballard audited.
The committee authorised Cllr Scorey to place the order for mailing of the Housing Needs Survey.
7p.m. Presentation by Hugh Thomas and Mark Dickenson of Thames Water.
The Council meeting commenced at 7.40pm
Present: G. Bullock (Mayor), P. Harries, R. Ballard, D. Small, R. Hudson, R. Scorey, M. Barletta, R. Thompson, M. Wilson,
W. Acworth, R. Desmeules and J. Hutchings (Clerk)
District Cllr D. Gaines.
District Councillor’s Report
- Library – work to begin in January 2007, probably on the 7th.
- A4 Charnham Street Zebra Crossing – will be placed in the third week of December.
- Bus Shelter, Hungerford Newtown – it is a planning condition of the St Mary’s Church
planning consent that the bus shelter is replaced when the redevelopment is finished.
- Playground, Bulpit Lane – West Berkshire has placed a bid for lottery funding; the total to be distributed
across West Berkshire is £261,000. This Council should receive £55,000.
- Smitham Bridge/Marsh Lane paving. Feasibility study and costings to be carried out and then a Capital
Bid will be made. The footpath from the last house in Priory Road to the Triangle Field has not been
included as it is a planning condition of the Rugby Club’s Clubhouse planning consent.
- Arts Centre – A WBC meeting is to be arranged. Cllr Gaines is waiting to hear from David Appleton.
- Building Schools for the Future – this is a Government initiative. West Berkshire is in wave 13 out of 14.
Hungerford is in the Top 4 as is Thatcham (Kennet School) and Newbury (ST. Barts). There will be a special
executive committee meeting on the 26th of this month to decide who will get the funding. Cllr Gaines is
not hopeful for the John O’Gaunt School.
Cllr Acworth informed Cllr Gaines that there were very few cat’s eyes from Great Hidden Drive down to the gateway to Hungerford which made driving that route at night quite hazardous.
Town Council meeting commenced at 8.15pm.
Present: G. Bullock (Mayor), P. Harries, R. Ballard, D. Small, R. Hudson, R. Scorey, M. Barletta, R. Thompson,
M. Wilson, W. Acworth, R. Desmeules and J. Hutchings (Clerk).
1) Apologies for absence
Apologies were received on behalf of Cllrs Liddiard, Ticehurst and Cardwell.
2) Declaration of Interests
Cllr Small declared an interest in agenda items 5 and 6.
3) Minutes of 2nd October 2006
06/073 Proposed: Cllr Thompson, second: Cllr Wilson. Agreed unanimously. The minutes were signed
as a true and accurate record by Cllr Bullock.
4) Finance
i) Authorisation of Accounts for payment:
06/074 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Harries, that the accounts in the sum of £6,000.79 be authorized
for payment. Agreed unanimously.
5) Cricket Club Lease
The club’s Trustees have now signed the lease.
06/075 Proposed: Cllr Ballard, second: Cllr Harries, that permission be given to complete and register at
the Land Registry. Vote: 10 in favour, 1 abstention.
Thanks were given to Cllr Small for his work on this.
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6) Football Club Lease of Mast Site to Hutchison 3G UK Ltd.
06/076 Proposed: Cllr Barletta, second: Cllr Scorey, that a letter should be sent to the Town and Manor
requesting its consent and stating that the Council has no objections in principle subject to Town and
Manor approval. Vote: 10 in favour, 1 abstention.
7) Triangle Field Rugby Club Project
i) The under lease has been agreed between Cllr Small and Martin Digweed. Martin Digweed is seeking advice to verify that the under lease is sound.
Cllr Barletta had requested an amendment: an additional condition preventing the Rugby Club from
applying for future planning without the consent of the Council. This has been included.
06/077 Proposed: Cllr Ballard, second: Cllr Harries, that the under lease goes forward to West Berkshire
Council. Agreed unanimously.
ii) RFU Funding has been agreed. The project is funded up to the first stage i.e. secure building. The Club expect to start the first phase of development in January 2007.
8) Adoption of Councillors Grievance and Complaints Procedure
06/078 Proposed: Cllr Thompson, second: Cllr Wilson, that the Councillors Grievance and Complaints
Procedure be adopted. Agreed unanimously.
9) Adoption of Standing Orders
Deferred as David Holling (WBC Legal Dept) has indicated that some alterations need to be
made
10) Neighbourhood Policing Report
The first Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) meeting took place two weeks ago. The Terms of
Reference have been signed. A questionnaire is being put together for the John O’Gaunt School.
A report on anti-social behaviour will be presented at the next NAG meeting. This will contain
factual evidence only, not anecdotal; will also cover ‘how we know what we know’ and statistics.
A training day is being arranged for all NAG members.
A ‘roll-call’ was held at Lancaster Square and Kennedy Meadow. This involved knocking on doors and inviting residents to meet with the police, councillors, Sovereign Housing representatives and
WBC representatives. Approximately 50 residents took part, asking questions and raising concerns. A very useful and informative session which will be repeated at various locations in the town.
Cllr Thompson asked about the funding of an extra PCSO and was told that this had not been
discussed at the NAG meeting but that it was unlikely that such a request would come from
that group.
11) Appointment of a Trustee to the Eliza Jane Gale Charity
06/079 Proposed: Cllr Wilson, second: Cllr Ballard, that Mrs Elaine Smith be appointed as a Trustee.
Agreed unanimously. Clerk to write to the Trustees confirming the appointment. JKH
12) Co-option
Confirmed that the Council will continue with 14 councillors.
13) Request from 2010+ group for a time-slot at the Town’s Annual General Meeting
06/080 Proposed: Cllr Thompson, second: Cllr Acworth, that the 2010+ group be given the opportunity
to present a report on its activities during the course of the meeting. Details to be settled
near the date of the AGM. Agreed unanimously.
14) Remembrance Sunday
As in previous years David Holtby is organising the parade on behalf of the Royal British Legion.
The parade will line up outside the Town Hall at 10,20am and march off to Bridge Street Memorial
at 10.45am. The Mayor will lay the wreath on behalf of the Council.
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15) Mayor’s Report
The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Roger Ballard, for representing her at various events.
November promises to be very busy.
The Mayor told the Council of various changes that are coming from Government involving
devolved responsibilities. Two of which are:
i) Mayors to be elected by the public
ii) N Ireland re-rating; we will be following suit. The Mayor has already had concerns
expressed by pensioners living locally.
16) Chairmen’s Reports
Reports were given by: Cllr Small – Finance and General Purposes
Cllr Barletta - Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials
Cllr Scorey - Environment & Planning
Cllr Hudson - Highways & Transport
Cllr Thompson - HTC Newsletter
Cllr Harries - Triangle Field Development
Date of next meeting: Monday 4th December 2006
Signed:…………………………………….
Mayor
4th December 2006