Minsocouncil020407
Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on the 2nd April 2007 in the Town Hall Hungerford at 6 30 pm starting with the Cheque Signing Sub committee
Present :- Chair Bullock and Clrs Cardwell & Ballard ; Liddiard & Locum Clerk and in attendance Clr Scorey. The Clerk was assured that the Meeting was quorate and business proceeded. Members noted and agreed the Recommendation of the Recreation & Amenities Committee that committed expenditure be carried forward as the Locum Clerk may not have marshalled all of the cheques to be paid. It was agreed that three Councillors could sign such cheques after verifying the invoices with sums being carried forward to cover that expenditure.
It was noted that the WBC Toilets Cheque was still being held. Further it was agreed that the sum of £28.000 - twenty eight thousand pounds - be transferred from the treasury account to the Business account on the 10th April 2007 to cover out goings. Once the check list had been amended it would be circulated to all Members .
Present for the Council Meeting :- The Town Mayor Clr Mrs Bullock Chairman and Clrs Wilson; Thompson ; Ballard ; Scorey ; Acworth ; Cardwell ; Ticehurst ; Liddiard ;
[ please note that Agenda Number correspond to Minutes Numbers]
7pm - 7.15 pm Public Forum [ 07/023]- Mr Dodds raised two points A & B . A concerned lights being left on and Clr Ballard said he would look into this. Point B concerned dog fouling. Discussion also centred on chewing gum mess. It was agreed that a minority of owners of the dogs were allowing dog fouling and not taking the dog droppings home. Cllr Thompson said he would make dog fouling an item in OPEN DOOR the Towns’ news letter. The Town Council Meeting Commenced at 7.15 pm .
07/24 District Councillors Report - Apologies and Declarations of Interest. It was noted that the Cllr Denise Gains was not able to attend due to work commitments. Apologies were received and accepted from Clrs Small, Hudson & Harries
07/25 Finance and General Purpose Committee - Approval of Cheques. Members approved the Report verbal Report from the Mayor on the 6.30 pm Meeting , this day, to sign cheques. The Locum was asked to identify the Agreement between the Town and West Berkshire Council in respect of the Leisure Centre. It was Proposed by Clr Liddiard and Seconded by Clr Wilson and unanimously carried that the Report of the Finance and General Purposed Committee at 6.30 pm today be confirmed
07/27 To Approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 5th March 2007 in the Town Hall and to sign the previously circulated Minutes.
It was Proposed by Clr Liddiard and Seconded by Clr Wilson and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on the 5th March 2007 be signed as true and accurate record subject to a line being drawn through the Clerks note at Minute 07/019 and further the Town Mayor clarify the matter of providing income information with the Locum Clerk albeit not a big amount [ Clerks note - the Clerk being ill at present].
07/28 Matters Arising - The Locum clerk was asked to clarify why he has placed this item on the Agenda. He responded that he would advise Members later.
07/29 Statutory Business The Locum clerk was asked to clarify why he has placed this item on the Agenda. He responded that he would advise Members
07/30 Mayors Report - The Town Mayor covered a number of advisory points in her presentation and tabled a list of her March engagements. She proposed a vote of thanks to the Locum and for the speedy return of the Mrs Hurtchings. The was Seconded by Clr Liddiard and was carried unanimously. She highlighted the success of the Town Meeting and noted the various speakers. In respect of the Police representative it was felt that the public ought to have been more probing about crime figures. As a result of a brief discussion on the work of the Police the Clerk was asked to seek up to date Crime figures for the area. Clr Ticehurst raised the point about securing better publicity for the Town Meeting in future.
It was felt that the Youth Council ought to be specifically invited to contribute to the Town Meeting. Members raised concern about damage in and around the Railway Station.
The Locum was asked to write to West Berkshire Council to ask them if their experimental chewing gum removal machine could be used in Hungerford.
The Mayor advised Members that they had been invited to the Ale Tasting event on the 16 th April and the Clerk was asked to write and thank the organisers for that invitation.
Members felt that more funds should be applied to litter collection and indicate to the public that cost of the publics actions in not taking litter home and this be reflected in the precept for next years. [Agenda item precept Meeting].
The Mayor highlighted the time and date of her Reception at which point Members warmly thanked the Mayor for her time and effort to the Town and the working of this Council
07/31 Report of the Locum Clerk - Recording attendance and Declarations - The Clerk advised Members that a dedicated book was available for recording attendance and Declarations
07/32 Lease of Offices - Members confirmed their intention to release the Crowns Mews Offices and noted that six months notice was required . Following a brief discussion it was Proposed by the Mayor and Seconded by Clr Liddiard and carried with one abstention that the matter be delegated to the General Purposes and Finance Committee: with Members acknowledging that building work could be delayed.
07/33 Annual Meeting - Members notes that the Annual meeting had taken placed on the 22 nd April 2007 with a signed attendance of forty nine voters. It was also noted that further to Minute 07/20 the Meeting agreed to formed an action Group on Global warming issues and a lead would be taken by Clr Acworth.
07/34 Report of Committee Chairman
Finance and General Purposes Committee - Chair gave apologies
Recreation and Amenities - the Chair highlighted the need to deal with the cess pit once access could be gained and the need to completed seeding for major events which had not bee achieved yet and that a letter of thanks was going to Town and Manor for their work in repairing the fence. The Chair advised that a problem with securing the gate was being investigated and the Ventures [Scouts] were going to undertake mapping of the Cemetery
Planning and Environment - the Chair advised that a Code of Conduct had been used by her Committee and it was agreed that this should be an Agenda item for the next Meeting. It was noted that she would E Mail a copy to Members. She also mentioned the need for feed back for sites in relation to the Housing Needs Survey and the fact that it could not be made public until West Berkshire Council [WBC] had been given a copy. The Chair advised that she would be attending the WBC Planning Meeting in respect of High Close Farm. She also mention about links with Lambourne and their environmental group .
Following a discussion on the way this Council will deal with Environmental issues in the future it was decided that this ought to be an Agenda item for the May Meeting when Committee structures would be decided in line with a previous request from the Planning and Environment Committee.
The Inglewood Development was mentioned and the HGV route was outlined.
Highway and Transport - Chair gave apologies
07/34 ……………..
HTC New Letter - Clr Thompson explained that copy was also needed to highlight the Towns News. It was noted that the Leisure Centre was subject of a Tender process and it was asked how long the Town would have to contribute to the Centre. It was also note d that the WBC would give a presentation at the June Council Meeting. The Clerk was asked to identify the documentation which determined the agreement
07/35 Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Town Council dated 20 th March 2007 . it was Proposed by Clr Liddiard and Seconded by Clr Ballad that Minutes of this Meeting be approved. The Meeting approve the temporary appointment of M J Haxeltine as Locum Clerk on a majority vote.
The Meeting closed at 2055 hrs and Members were reminded that the next meeting would be on the 8th May 2007………………………..
signed ………………………………