Minutes of the Full Council held on Monday 5th October 2009 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange Complex, Hungerford.

Present: Cllrs Elizabeth Cardwell, Jenny Booth, Peter Harries, William Acworth, Anthony Buckwell, David Liddiard, Margaret Wilson, Gwynneth Bullock, Richard Hudson, Dianne Wynell- Sutherland, Denise Gaines, Shelagh Parry; District Cllr Paul Hewer. Also present were two members of the public, and candidates for the councillor positions Mr David Ravenhill and Mr Martin Crane.

Joanne Godfrey was accompanied by colleagues Christina and Rebecca and presented an overview of the work undertaken by the Thames Valley Community Pay-Back team. Copies of the presentation were given to all present.

Peter Moorcroft and Jem Nichols (who offered apologies from Neil Spurdell) of John O’Gaunt College were present with Ken Miles of WBC who commissioned the architect Tom Partridge of the Bush Consultancy. A letter from Mr Spurdell to parents was circulated and presentation boards were displayed showing the proposed new performing arts and 6th form rooms. A planning application is likely to be submitted in spring 2010. A public presentation is taking place on Wednesday. The boards will be on display in HTC's office afterwards.

Public forum: Mr Roger Thompson thanked the ward councillors and the mayor for helping to achieve a significant reduction in the cost of hiring the leisure centre for the Hungerford Theatre Group. Cllr Cardwell will take the matter to the next Leisure Centre meeting.

District Councillor’s Report: Cllr Hewer offered Cllr Holtby’s apologies. There are no plans by WBC to increase the parking charges across the district. No free parking over Christmas is planned at this time but Cllr Hewer will lobby for it. No more speed reactive signs are planned for Hungerford – to be reviewed next April. Re Church Way, EA is to make a report. Signage for the Common is in hand.

1. Apologies for absence: Dist Cllr Holtby (Manchester) and Cllr Wilson (ill)

2. Declarations of interest: none

3. Minutes from meeting held on 7th September 2009: proposed by Cllr Bullock, seconded by Cllr Parry , 2 abstentions and rest in favour.

4. Year to date accounts (presented at every Council meeting)

Expenditure for September = £15,465.57 (excl VAT), Income = £10,669.33.

5. Finance:

(a) Authorisation of payments: proposed by Cllr Harries, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.

(b) S.106 monies: Money has been received to go towards the Skatepark and paving at Triangle Field

(c) Completion of annual audit: nothing significant to report.

(d) Diamond Jubilee 2012 – saving: After discussion, it was agreed that this item goes on next F&GP agenda.

(e) Bank mandate: Proposed by Cllr Bullock, seconded by Cllr Acworth all in favour.

6. Co-option/Election: The mayor explained that both candidates were present – Mr David Ravenhill and Mr Martin Crane – and that they have both attended recent meetings, and their CVs had been circulated to all council members. She therefore proposed they be co-opted to Hungerford Town Council. Seconded by Cllr Liddiard, all in favour. They both took their places at the meeting, and Cllr Crane said he hoped they would bring some new enthusiasm to the Council.

Dist Cllr Hewer left the meeting at 8.25 pm.

7. Environmental issues, HEAT and the 10:10 campaign: Cllr Hudson suggested that Hungerford Town Council join this Campaign. It was agreed to put the item on the E&P committee agendas. Cllr Parry suggested the item go into the next Open Door.

8. Allotments: A public meeting is to be held on Tuesday evening, when the current situation will be explained. Cllr Harries said that the Council would continue to look for new sites.

9. Changes to management of British Waterways (GB): Cllr Bullock outlined the future organisation of British Waterways which runs the canal network (EA runs the river network). A new Regeneration Directorate is being established and will be at the heart of a new initiative which will be not unlike the National Trust in format. If charitable status is achieved the stakeholders could be the local authorities, users and other environmental interests. It is not yet out to public consultation but influential bodies are being consulted.

Work is planned on: Hungerford church swing bridge – replacement swing bridge and work to abutments and approach walls (mid-December to end January 2010); Hungerford marina – clay dam to break into marina, bank protection and bed profiling, coffer dam to await marina (January 2010 to end February 2010).

10. Mayor’s report: The mayor circulated a note of her functions and visits for September, mentioning in particular the retirement of scout leader Danny Scroggins.

11. Service Award Badges: Cllrs Buckwell and Gaines are continue to search for funding sources. Cllr Liddiard to liaise with RFO on supply. Cllr Cardwell proposed that Council should move forward with the RFO’s figures, seconded by Cllr Gaines, all in favour.

12. Committee reports (no more than 5 minutes per report)