DRAFT
2407
Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 4th December 2006
in the Town Hall, Hungerford.
6.30pm Finance & General Purposes:
Present: D. Small, G. Bullock, R. Ballard, P. Harries, R. Hudson, R. Scorey, E. Cardwell
Cheques to the value of £14913.51 were signed by Cllrs Small and Bullock. Cllr Ballard audited.
Error on the cheque for D. Taylor – cheque cancelled. New cheque issued – no: 101346, £235.00.
7pm Public Forum
Mr Chris Scorey raised the question of grant applications on behalf of the 2010+ group. Subject to be
dealt with during the Council meeting.
7.25pm District Councillor’s Report
- A338 – ‘cat’s eyes’ should be placed between now and Christmas.
- Hungerford Newtown: Speed Reactive Signs – north bound not working, south bound
working intermittently.
- Pedestrian Crossing outside the Post Office – should be repainted before Christmas; this
a result of action by the Neighbourhood Action Group.
- Pedestrian Crossing: A4 Charnham Street – will be installed after Christmas.
- Fairview Road: John Winstanley (WBC) has suggested a slight extension to the pathway with
bollards. Two parking spaces will be lost. £3,000 left over from the ‘Safer Route to Schools’
project will finance the improvement. Work will be carried out mid-January 2007.
- Library: start date – 15th January 2007.
- Building Schools for the Future: St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury, was chosen as the recipient.
Cllr Gaines has asked if £1.5million is to be ring-fenced for schools and has been assured that it is.
- Dentist’s Planning Application: has been refused, but parking issues have been resolved. The applicant
will now reapply and this should be fast-tracked.
- Parking Survey: has been delayed by higher priorities at WBC.
- District Councillor’s Surgery: will be held this Saturday, 9th December, from 10am – 11.30am.
Cllr Scorey will attend.
- Arts Centre: A meeting to be held at the Croft Field Centre this Friday, 8th December, at 3pm.
Cllr Thompson, Cllr Gaines, Isabel Johnson (WBC Planning) to attend. The group will assess the
site for suitability for the project.
7.45pm Town Council Meeting
Present: G. Bullock (Mayor), D. Small, R. Ballard, P. Harries, R. Hudson, R. Scorey, E. Cardwell, D. Liddiard, M. Wilson,
W. Acworth, C. Ticehurst and J. Hutchings (Clerk).
1) Apologies for absence
Apologies were received on behalf of R. Thompson and R. Desmeules.
2) Declaration of Interests
Cllr Scorey declared a personal interest in matters of the 2010+ group as her father is the chairman.
3) Minutes of 6th November 2006
06/081 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Wilson. Agreed.
06/082 Part Two Minutes 6th November 2006: Proposed: Cllr Harries, second: Cllr Wilson. Agreed.
Both sets of minutes were signed as true and accurate records by Cllr Bullock.
4) Finance
06/083 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Ballard, that accounts in the sum of £14913.51 be authorized for
payment. Agreed unanimously.
06/084 Proposed: Cllr Small, second: Cllr Liddiard, that standing order 7.2 be suspended to allow discussion and
resolutions re the requirement for the 2010+ group to apply through the Council for funding from the
Big Lottery and the drawing down of £5,000 available from West Berkshire Council. Agreed unanimously.
NB The Clerk advised that these matters should not be raised as they are not agenda items.
The Clerk was over-ruled by the Council.
2408
06/085 Proposed: Cllr Harries, second: Cllr Acworth, that the Council will assist the 2010+ group in applying
for Big Lottery Funding towards a garden at the new Library and expedite proceedings in order to meet
the closing date. Agreed unanimously.
06/086 Proposed: Cllr Hudson, second: Cllr Acworth, that Hungerford Town Council applies for Parish Plan Grant
funds to be used towards Vehicle Activated Signs or other 2010+ Plan actions. Agreed unanimously.
06/087 Proposed: Cllr Hudson, second: Cllr Ticehurst, that the Town Council is to manage these funds on behalf of
the 2010+ Plan group. Agreed unanimously.
06/088 Proposed: Cllr Bullock, second: Cllr Acworth, that standing orders be re-instated. Agreed unanimously.
The Triangle Field Development report was brought forward as Cllr Harries had to leave the meeting early.
Cllr Harries gave his report on the Triangle Field Development project and then left the meeting at
8.05pm.
5) Amendment to the Burial Regulations to allow the placing of Commemorative Plaques
The Council feels that there does not need to be a special regulation to allow this.
6) Adoption of Standing Orders.
Small amendments have been made following advice from David Holling, Head of Legal Services WBC,
and the standing orders are now considered acceptable.
06/089 Proposed: Cllr Bullock, second, Cllr Liddiard, that the standing orders as presented be adopted.
Agreed unanimously.
7) Agenda 21/Global Warming
Cllr Acworth raised concerns re the future and suggested ways in which the Community and Council
might contribute to the issue of Global Warming.
Topics for consideration:
- Closer links between businesses in the Town and the John O’Gaunt School; through the school and
the Chamber of Commerce, promote visits to businesses.
- Affordable housing.
- Car sharing.
- HTC promote through its Newsletter, reduction in energy consumption.
- Support a competition – households that can prove over the year that they have reduced
energy consumption.
- Energy – look at Council energy usage in office and sports pavilion.
- Pressure on businesses to minimise waste.
- Street Lighting – look at whether it needs to be reduced or switched off after a certain time
each evening.
- Prevail upon ourselves as business people – make a common decision that shop window lights
be switched off after a certain time.
- Suggested by Cllr Cardwell – plastic bottle collection.
- Suggested by Cllr Hudson – local generation of energy; windmills, heat pumps.
Cllr Scorey asked Cllr Acworth to suggest items that the Environment and Planning committee
could deal with.
Cllr Cardwell suggested that when the new Library is completed the Council take action regarding
lighting that is at present being left on all night in the public conveniences.
06/090 Proposed: Cllr Scorey, second: Cllr Liddiard, that the Environment and Planning committee works
on elements of Cllr Acworth’s list without delay. Vote: 8 in favour with 2 abstentions. Resolution
carried.
The Mayor has taken as a project, arranging the showing of the Al Gore film on the future of the environment,
to the public and the schools. This will be arranged for the New Year.
The Clerk has been asked to place Global Warming on all committee’s agendas after the showing of the film, when awareness will be high.
2409
8) Mayor’s Report
A list of the Mayor’s Engagements was handed to all Councillors.
The Mayor took most pleasure in the switching on of the Hungerford Christmas Lights.
06/091 Proposed: Cllr Liddiard, second: Cllr Small, that a vote of thanks be given to Cllr Desmeules for his
hard work in organising the display of Christmas trees and lights.
Agreed unanimously. Cllrs Ballard, Wilson and Harries were also thanked for their help in assisting
Cllr Desmeules.
The Mayor has written to former Councillor Maurice Barletta to thank him for his contribution as
a Councillor.
9) Chairmen’s Reports
Reports were given by: Cllr Small - Finance and General Purposes
Cllr Cardwell - Recreation, Amenities and War Memorials
Cllr Hudson - Highways and Transport
Cllr Scorey - Environment and Planning
Cllr Thompson was not present to give a report on the Newsletter but the next
meeting of that sub-committee is on Tuesday 12th December 2006.
Triangle Field Development report given by Cllr Harries earlier in the meeting.
Meeting closed: 9.10pm.
Date of next meeting: Mon day 8th January 2007.
Signed:……………………………………
Mayor
8th January 2007