Minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on Monday 6th July at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange Complex, Hungerford.
Present: Cllrs Peter Harries, Elizabeth Cardwell, William Acworth, Anthony Buckwell, Margaret Wilson, Jenny Booth, Gwynneth Bullock, Richard Hudson, Dianne Wynell Sutherland, Denise Gaines, Shelagh Parry; District Cllr Paul Hewer
Approximately 40 members of the public were present for the planning application concerning the Catholic church, 09/00962/FULMAJ
Caroline Ness spoke for the church members: she outlined the application. The members support the planning application, saying that the church was built as a temporary structure in 1939, has therefore exceeded its life span, and a new building is badly needed. Another church member pointed out that the problem is not with the Church but with the people using their cars.
Elizabeth Mackay spoke for the residents pointing out that they had no problem with the building of a church but that there were too many houses and insufficient parking places. Church members currently park their cars on the road, across private driveways and on the footpath. The two-storey buildings will affect privacy and light to present properties. The building line brings houses right down to the pavement which would make driving in and out dangerous.
Cllr Cardwell introduced Derek Carnegie from West Berkshire Council who outlined the planning process, adding that the plan may go to Committee, in which case objectors and supporters are permitted to speak for just 5 minutes. Highways Dept are still considering their points. He pointed out that Helen Pritchard’s comments should be considered as her own and not those of the Council. All comments will be noted. The use of double yellow lines was discussed.
Cllr Cardwell thanked Derek Carnegie and the members of the public for attending, and they left at 7.25 pm.
District Councillors’ reports: Paul Hewer reported that a swine flue update is being despatched. 6 Bridge Stre et is being scaffolded ready for repair work. £20,000 is registered against the property and the owner is being prosecuted for failing to carry outworks. Pedestrian bridge over the canal: Mr Miles Roberts is hoping to have a plan before the end September, planning approval by end of December and work started in April 2010. The design will go on display in the Town Hall. Discussion took place on whether to have the architect at a special Town Council meeting or a Highways meeting. Action: Cllr Hewer to speak to the architect. Dist Cllr Hewer left at 7.43 pm.
1. Apologies for absence: David Liddiard, Rod Desmeules, Tanya Werrell
2. Declarations of interest: Cllrs Booth and Gaines re planning application 09/00962/FULMAJ
3. Minutes from meeting held on 1st June 2009: proposed by Cllr Gaines, seconded by Cllr Buckwell, 3 abstentions rest in favour. Future agendas to go out with the minutes of the previous meeting.
4. Year to date accounts (presented at every Council meeting): Income at predicted level but expenditure below. F&GP will consider any suggestions from Chairmen. Money is being held in the Defibrillator account against future purchase.
5. Finance:
(a) Authorisation of payments: Proposed by Cllr Harries, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour. June expenditure is £14,388.25, income £1222.14.
(b) Audit report (CB): Cllr Buckwell proposed a letter to External Auditor saying that we have seen and approved the external audit, seconded by Cllr Cardwell, all in favour.
(c) Approve internal auditor – Auditing Solutions: Cllr Buckwell proposed confirming the Internal Auditor for a further year, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.
(d) Adopt Financial Regulations (AB): Cllr Gaines proposed acceptance of the 5 amendments, seconded by Cllr Booth, all in favour.
(e) S.106 monies: WBC has requested refund of an amount which they sent twice to be signed at next Council meeting.
6. Review of Standing Orders: Cllr Harries suggested an amendment to 3.3.2[b]: add ‘which shall be within the statutory timescale’ between ‘… agenda is published’ and ‘together with such additional …’. Cllr Buckwell then proposed acceptance of the amendments to the Standing Orders, seconded by Cllr Booth, 10 in favour 1 abstention.
7. Planning application 090/00962/FULMAJ The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth: Cllr Booth said the Catholic Church does not agree there is a parking problem. The matter is to go before the E&P meeting on Tuesday 7th July.
8. St Lawrence’s Flower Festival – HADCAF (GB): Cllr Bullock said that she had volun-teered to do a flower arrangement and poem with Hungerford Town Council and asked for help.
9. Changes to management of British Waterways (GB): deferred to next meeting.
10. SEEDA Update: Cllr Harries asked Councillors to send comments to him on his proposal by the end of the week (he has received only 2 so far). Discussion took place on the pros and cons of the project.
11. Banners: banners are only to be put up in the town with the permission of WBC.
12. Allotment presentation (PH): Frank Clothier has signed the 1-year licence on the present Marsh Lane site, but Mark Norgate has not. The water supply comes from a private house and the owner has asked for a meeting to discuss payment of the bill for the electricity used for the pump. Cllr Acworth said that the site will need to be put back to grass. Nothing further has been heard regarding the other proposed site. The site at Fairfield is under negotiation with Sovereign, who have agreed to pay all costs. The term is likely to be 10 years. At 1 pole size there will be between 16 and 20 allotments to be offered to those from the Church. Access will be via School Lane. Cllr Harries proposed the allotments, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.
13. Mayor’s report: The mayor distributed a list of the duties she has undertaken in June. She said that Hungerford Town Council needs to be involved in Leisure Centre decisions. It is sad to report the deaths recently of Lady Cordelia Troup, Betty Munford and Jon Barrett.
14. Nominations for Queen’s Award: Cllr Cardwell outlined this award for voluntary service and asked for nominations by the end of the week.
15. Emergency Planning – Swine Flu: circulated.
16. Grundon Bin – Bulpit Lane: now has a padlock and is emptied on Fridays.
17. Committee reports
R&A – Cllr Harries: Problem with flower watering. Triangle Field Users’ meeting will be every 2 months, RBL football team is a new user. Clover has been sprayed. Community pay-back have worked at the Skatepark and Cllr Harries and Dan Clemens have done some repairs there. The skate ramp is very old now and the SoS committee is looking into a grant of £50,000 towards a new one. Community Pay-back have worked on the Avenue benches. There are two cast iron troughs – Cllr Harries asked for suggestions as to where to put them. Swimming Pool House is undergoing renovations and a digger is needed to clear the garden of rubble.
E&P – Cllr Booth: The
appeal by Angel on refusal for their air conditioning unit has been refused.
H&T – Cllr Hudson: Jon Winstanley attended recent meeting. Drainage on Church Way is being attended to. The Salisbury Road/Priory Road roundabout is being looked into. Church wall kerb is progressing. Dog bins are sorted. Cllr Desmeules is having problems with watering in the dry weather and needs help (Roger Ballard). (Cllr Desmeules arrived at 9.20 pm and reported on the hanging baskets, etc – which are looking good.)
F&GP – Cllr Buckwell: meeting next Tuesday.
Allotments – Cllr Harries/Acworth: already covered.
JoG School report – Cllr Gaines: Two notice boards presented by Rotary. Garden visit successful. Neil Spurdell has been to primary feeder schools and is to come to the next meeting in September.
Newsletter – Cllr Parry: meeting to be arranged.
LDF report – Cllr Gaines: take to E&P meeting
HEAT – Cllr Acworth: 43 people turned out for the monthly walk. Heat’s allotment site is good.
Hungerford in Bloom – Cllr Wilson: Cllrs Parry and Wilson judged the gardens and the quality was high. Prizes to be awarded by the Mayor at H&T meeting on 20th July (6.30 pm). Help is needed for the Library garden – contact Cllr Wilson. Well done to Cllr Wilson for her hard work.
18. Risk Assessments: Cllr Harries will do these before the next Council meeting.
The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.