Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on Monday, 2nd June 2008 in the Town Hall Hungerford.
Present: Cllrs Harries, Acworth, Buckwell, Booth, Gaines,
Nesbitt, Wilson, Liddiard, Cardwell, Thompson, Hudson, Pope
and Bullock, and District Councillors
Jeff (The Adviser) and Claire (The Newbury Weekly News)
6.30 pm Finance & General Purposes
6.45 pm Presentation of cheque to the Army Benevolent Fund
The press were present to record the handing over of a cheque for £1,000 to Capt Faye Ponikowski who received it on behalf of the Army Benevolent Fund. The money was raised at a recent Curry Evening hosted by Jo and David Liddiard with the food prepared by HTC staff and councillors.
Open Forum
Residents from Eddington were present to voice their concerns over the possible development of the allotment site at Eddington, highlighting the impact on wildlife (the site is close to an SSSI), inadequate infrastructure, and that allotments are becoming increasingly sought-after. Cllr Harries thanked Mr Stockwell for his interest, pointing out that this site was one of several which were merely being identified at this stage as Local Exception Sites, and that any site deemed viable would be subject to the full consultation process. He clarified the misconception surrounding Local Exception Sites (where housing would be available for local people) and West Berkshire Councils Local Development Framework which is a government initiative. He suggested the residents form themselves into a group and select a spokesperson to keep in contact with the Town Council.
Residents from Shalbourne Close were present, when their concerns were also expressed.
All the residents were encouraged to attend the LDF meeting in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday 4th June 2008.
District Councillor's Report
Cllr Hewer said that the work on Pegasus Bridge, Freemans Marsh, is postponed because of the fishing season. He thanked Hungerford Town Council for the grant for the Royal British Legion which will go towards the heating system. Sovereign Housing will keep the Town Council informed of future development of any areas of West Berkshire. Cllr Harries added that people were telephoning the Council having heard a rumour that their houses are under threat.
Re policing in Hungerford, Cllr Holby suggested that a seachange was needed, and that perhaps the re-employment of retired police officers should be considered. The new weekly recycling services are set to begin in Hungerford with plastic bottles being collected from 27th June and green waste on 11th July. Regarding LDF, Cllr Holby applauded work being done by the Town Council and stressed that Hungerford needs to grow, but sensibly if it is to attract necessary investment in the infrastructure. He felt that the line between the Rural Service Centre and Leading Rural Service Centre has been wrongly-drawn and that Pangbourne, Burghfield Common and Mortimer should be on a par with Hungerford and Theale. The next surgery in Hungerford is on 7th June and the District Councillors would welcome Town Council participation.
1. Apologies for absence
Cllr Desmeules.
2. Declarations of interest
None.
3. Minutes from meeting held on 7th May 2008
The minutes were agreed as correct. Proposed by Cllr Cardwell, seconded by Cllr Hudson, 2 abstentions, all in favour.
4. Finance
Authorisation of May payments
Cllr Bullock reported that the cheques had been signed and proposed the cheque run, seconded by Cllr Cardwell, all in favour.
5. LDF elect committee
Cllr Booth explained that at the last Environment & Planning Committee meeting it was agreed to split the planning work into two with the main E&P committee handling the general planning issues and a new committee to deal with the Local Development Framework, which will report to the Town Council. It will have the power to co-opt non-Town Council members, and its terms of reference will be as written by the LDF sub-committee after it is formed and put before Council.
The new LDF Committee will report to the Environment & Planning Committee, they will be given a mandate to deal with LDF issues and its members will comprise members of the E&P committee and include Cllrs Hudson, Gaines and Thompson, with other members co-opted as necessary. Cllr Booth proposed Cllr Gaines as chairman, seconded by Cllr Buckland, all in favour.
Cllr Thompson proposed that a special meeting of the Town Council be held on 10th June to discuss LDF and the response to West Berkshire Council; seconded by Cllr Harries, all in favour.
6. Home of ADP: Cllr Gaines has been in touch with Great Western regarding a sign showing a name of a company on, and is awaiting more information.
10. Allotments: The Town Council has recently received several requests from residents for allotments and, with the Rural Exception Sites issue, we have been receiving even more. HEAT and Suz McKillop have produced a useful document on allotments. The Council is required by Statute to provide allotments in the town and an Allotments Committee is to be formed, which will be a sub-committee of the Recreation & Amenities committee, with the ability to co-opt non-Council members. Cllr Wilson proposed Cllr Harries as Chairman, seconded by Cllr Cardwell, all in favour.
(Cllrs Wilson and Liddiard left the meeting at 8.15 pm.)
7. Defibrillator: Neil Marney of the Rapid Response team has identified a need for defibrillators to be placed in specific parts Hungerford, and is raising money for them: the Council has given them a grant for part of the cost, so with their money and our grant they can purchase two at a cost of around £1,000 each. If the Council purchased them they could reclaim the VAT, but they be the responsibility of the Council. Cllr Acworth proposed that Neil Marney be invited to the next Town Council meeting to explain the needs and training required; Cllr Bullock seconded, all in favour.
8. Proposal to install dog bins/sites/quote: Cllr Thompson reported that WBC had been given all the figures and facts, and today he has been told that the company doing this has withdrawn from the process. Cllr Thompson is to write to Environmental Health to express our displeasure, and the item is to be deferred to the next meeting. Cllr Cardwell suggested that the two District Councillors might take this up on our behalf.
9. Proposal to confirm committee membership: Councillors will review the committee membership drafts and report any changes to the clerk.
11. Year end accounts proposed (financial timetable published): Cllr Bullock circulated the annual returns and this item will be discussed at the special meeting on 10th June (see item 5).
12. Proposed year-to-date accounts to be presented at every Council meeting: proposed by Cllr Harries, seconded by Cllr Cardwell, all in favour.
13. Confirm that all minutes go on website: this is being done, but there is some catching-up to do.
14. Emergency planning group: all Councils have been asked to form an Emergency Planning Group to respond to threats of any sort within the community. Those who agreed to attend the group meeting were Cllrs Bullock, Booth, Gaines, Cardwell and Acworth.
15. Adoption of Standing Orders: These were circulated and Cllr Harries proposed their adoption by the Council; seconded by Cllr Cardwell, all in favour. To be reviewed annually.
16. Mayor's report: Newbury, Thatcham and Marlborough have a mayor-making ceremony and the idea of Hungerford doing the same was discussed. Cllr Harries also said that former mayors in other regions are also given a badge on leaving and, although Hungerford has had mayors since 1974, they receive nothing.
17. Committee reports:
R&A Cllr Caldwell
· Two very successful football tournaments have been held and the building is being repaired and
repainted.
· Skatepark thanks were extended to Cllr Nesbitt who represented the Council at the recent, well-organised,
Save our Skatepark event when graffiti, professionally aided, was added to the ends of the skatepark.
· Vandalism: bottles have been found at St Saviours and there has been some fly-tipping.
· St Saviours project: extremely pleased with the contractor; the gates have been put back.
· Old Rec at Bulpit: goal posts replaced.
· The gardens at Bulpit Lane would benefit from planting of perennials (if anyone has some to spare) and bulbs
Will be purchased in the autumn.
E&P Cllr Booth
· A note was added to the Bear Hotel planning application that care should be taken in the selection of materials.
· TPOs will not normally be on the agenda although Cllr Booth pointed out that a large beech tree under threat
had been given a preservation order.
· Exception sites: articles in Chain Mail and Open Door.
· LDF had an informal meeting to discuss way forward. Brian Lyttle could not attend but came following week.
H&T Cllr Hudson
· Hungerford Bridge a committee is to look at this.
· Licensing very difficult to have the licensed vans moved.
· Hungerford in Bloom posters are around the town and Cllr Wilson has received more participants this year.
· Coach parking A4 lay-by and Charnham Park on going.
F&GP Cllr Bullock
Nothing further to add.
Triangle Field Cllr Harries
Two tournaments this year went well, and the club house is having work done. The access has been widened and Cllr Liddiard has offered to provide a chain across the entrance. The Opening is to take place August/September, and the Council will be invited.
Newsletter Cllr Thompson
OD 9 is on the streets. There are still some distribution problems but they are being addressed.
2010 report Cllr Hudson
Action plan is still being updated every few months. Seeda funding might be appropriate for the coach park. The library gardens are being vandalised Christine Owen is having a taller fence erected.
The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.
Amendments
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Signature
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Chairman of Full Council
Date
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