Minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on Monday 1st December 2008 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange Complex, Hungerford.

Present:  Cllrs Peter Harries, Elizabeth Cardwell, William Acworth, Anthony Buckwell, David Liddiard, Margaret Wilson, Jenny Booth, Gwynneth Bullock, Richard Hudson, Denise Gaines, Shelagh Parry, District Councillor David Holtby, NWN reporter Clare Hardy and Ben Blake from the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Blake was present to talk to the Council about the Victorian Extravaganza.  He explained that, after making cuts in expenditure (fireworks and horse & cart), £162.50 was required to break even and he asked the Council if they were able to make a donation.  He left the meeting at 7.15 pm.

District Councillor’ report

Pegasus Bridge:  The bridge has now been built, at a cost to WBC of £14,000 and was officially opened on 27th November 2008.

6 Bridge Street:  A notice has been issued under S.215 of the Town & Country Planning Act requiring the owner to put right certain faults, otherwise the owner must appear before magistrates.

Speed limits:  The review was held on 28th November – Upper Eddington speed limit reduced to 30mph; Charnham Park 30mph sign to be moved to take in the housing estate;  Hungerford Common does not fit into the Government guidelines so a special, unique, category must be created (as in the New Forest).

DC Holtby thanked Cllr Hudson for the concise list of issues which need to be resolved and the two will go through it together.  In particular Cllr Holtby mentioned the pedestrian bridge where the feasibility study will be available in February; and improvements to the railway station.  He thanks everyone for their kind words during his wife’s recent illness.

1. Apologies for absence:  Dianne Pope (ill), Tanya Werrell (work commitment), Matthew Nesbitt (work commitment), Rod Desmeules (abroad), Paul Hewer.

2. Declarations of interest:  none

3. Minutes from meeting held on 3rd November 2008:  With the addition of the words, ‘and Vice Chairman’ added to second line of item 7, the minutes were proposed by Cllr Bullock, seconded by Cllr Liddiard, 1 abstention, the rest in favour and signed as a true record.

4. Finance. Authorisation of payments plus request to raise petty cash from £50 to £75:  Cllr Bullock proposed the authorisation of payments, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.  Raising the petty cash to £75 was proposed by Cllr Bullock, seconded by Cllr Harries, all in favour.

5. Year to date accounts (presented at every Council meeting):  Regarding Mr Blake’s appeal for financial help with the Victorian Extravaganza, the Council agreed that it was right to donate towards the event, and discussion took place on the amount.  The proposal to give the £162.50 plus a further £300 (which is the projected profit from sale of Christmas cards) was made by Cllr Buckwell, seconded by Cllr Gaines but the vote fell.  A second proposal to donate £300 was made by Cllr Acworth, seconded by Cllr Bullock, 6 in favour and 4 against – vote carried.

6. 2010 Account balances:  It was reported that money transferred to 2010 has now been reconciled.

7. Committee Budgets 2009-2010:  The F&GP committee will set all the budgets at the F&GP meeting on 6th January.  Cllr Bullock stressed that all councillors should look at each committee budget and discuss required amounts with chairmen.

8. Co-option for Local Development Framework (LDF):  Cllr Harries said that, in order for the Council to be able to represent the town, it would be advantageous for the Council to be able to call on people experienced in planning matters.  He has spoken with Chris Scorey who has a lot of experience in this field.  After full discussion, Cllr Booth proposed that the Environment & Planning Committee expand the existing LDF sub-committee to include additional people to have an advisory capacity in all issues concerning the LDF and that terms of reference for the committee are setup;  the committee shall submit terms of reference to the next Council meeting.  The proposal was seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.

9. Letters and emails through Clerk:  Cllr Harries reminded all councillors that official letters and emails should go through the Clerk or RFO.

10. Sustainable Communities Act:  Cllr Acworth outlined the Government’s emphasis that it wants government to come from upwards from the ‘ground’.  He said that the Council should make best use of the opportunity.  Action:  Cllr Harries to send letter congratulating WBC. 

11. Storage area change of use:  The change of use application will be made after the building work is complete and the storage room operational.

12. Triangle Field Repairs – report on project (EC):  In Cllr Cardwell’s absence, Cllr Harries reported on progress – the project is moving along and is expected to be operational by the end of January.

13. Allotments update:  Progress is being made on the current proposed site, and further smaller sites around town are under consideration. An update will be provided at the next E&P meeting.

14. Library garden:  The garden is to be looked after by 2010 Committee and Cllr Gaines said that they are compiling a rota of people to do the work at regular intervals.  There is to be an opening ceremony in early spring 2009.  An outdoor tap is needed.

15. Election for Councillor for Croft Nursery:  Cllr Nesbitt has resigned from this position because their meeting dates coincided with HTC's.  After discussing the situation, councillors were asked to put ideas to the clerk, who is to find out more about the position.

16. Christmas cards – reprint:  a reprint for another 1,000 cards has been ordered.

17. Mayor's report:  Attended the Christmas Lights switch-on in Newbury – which was good.  Attended Hungerford’s lights, ‘conducted’ on by Sir Roger Norrington – which was spectacular.

18. Committee reports

         R&A – Cllr Cardwell:  absent

         E&P – Cllr Booth:  E&P budget is agreed and submitted.  The poorly-housed family at Coldharbour Road which Cllr Booth has been dealing with has now been offered more suitable accommodation.  Congratulations to Jenny Booth for pursuing this matter. Cllr Harries reported on the presentation to the E&P meeting by Phil Just of Sovereign Housing, who are looking to redevelop the Priory and Platt Court and re-house their residents in more suitable and up-to-date accommodation.  Fairfields will then be enhanced, and a large area at the rear of the properties could be turned over to allotments.

         H&T – Cllr Hudson:  Rod Desmeules and his helpers are to be thanked, and it is reported that the Christmas switch-on is the ‘best ever’.  A draft H&T budget has been prepared.

         F&GP – Cllr Bullock:  Cllr Bullock outlined some future expenditure, and added that the  recent election will cost over £4,000.  All budgets will be set at the F&GP meeting on Tuesday 6th January, and she urged everyone to attend.   On 31st January the precept is requested from WBC. 

         Newsletter – Cllr Nesbitt:  In the absence of Cllr Nesbitt, Cllr Harries reported that the next issue of Open Door will be published at the end of the week.

         LDF/2010 report – Cllr Gaines:  Cllr Gaines reported that Brian Lyttle is to have available the housing allocation numbers in January.  Minutes of the 2010 meeting held on 20th November will be sent out when ratified.  Cllr Gaines expressed 2010’s concern that the letter from Cllrs Harries and Holtby to WBC may provide room for them to manoeuvre, and Cllr Harries replied that the letter was sent at WBC request, and the Council needed to be pro-active and work with WBC on the LDF. 

         HEAT – Cllr Acworth : There is to be a led walk on the morning of the first Sunday in each month - the next being Sunday 4th January, probably starting from A4 Hire at Eddington, on to the Tally Ho for “elevensies” and back to Eddington via Gt Hidden. A series of three coppicing workshops is to be held at Little Hidden Farm on the second Saturdays of January, February and March.  Participants to these courses will make a £20 donation to FARM-Africa.   The coppicing is part of a programme to provide special butterfly habitat and to promote the development of rural skills locally.  The concept of the “Cultural Olympiad” is being discussed nationally to encourage people to consider how best to build culture into our preparations for the 2012 Olympics at local level.  This may be through community theatre, music, art projects or whatever finds greatest support at local level. Nick Sweeting is coordinating this initiative through WBC and it will run for the four years up until the games themselves.

Allotments – Cllr Harries/Acworth:  Progressing – see item 13.

The meeting closed at 9.10 pm.