HUNGERFORD TOWN COUNCIL

 


The Mayor                                                                                                                 The Town Clerk

Cllr Anthony Buckwell                                                                                               Mrs Claire Barnes

30 Park Street                                                                                                                  The Library

Hungerford                                                                                                                  Church Street

Berkshire                                                                                                                          Hungerford

RG17 0EA                                                                                                           Berkshire    RG17 0JG

Tel:  01488 681933                                                                                                 Tel:  01488 686195

anthonybuckwell@aol.com                                                                      hungerfordclerk@hotmail.co.uk

 

 

Draft Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on

Thursday 17th March 2011 at 7 pm in the Corn Exchange, Hungerford

 

Prior to the meeting:

 

Barry Waddell (2011 Census co-ordinator) – He has spent the first week visiting communal properties ensuring all have the forms available for completion. 15% have been returned so far and 20% of those on line. Previously 97% were returned. He stressed the importance to obtain the statistics for age profile and future needs. The information is kept confidential for 100 years. It is a legal requirement to complete the census. No household visits will be made to chase this until after 6th April and then all involved will be wearing an ID card 

 

Jeanette Kersey (Primary School Governor) – Hungerford Primary School are running out of space. They have reached feasibility stage and have 1st stage plans. Foundation children may start school a term earlier which will put pressure on the foundation facilities. Jeanette requested support from the District Councillors for an extension onto the capital plan. Views are being collected and are available to see at the school.

 

Cllr Desmeules spoke on the Council’s plans to decorate the town for the wedding. This involves 80 flags being fixed with brackets down the High St. Hopefully alternating the flags between Union flags and Hungerford flags.

 

1.            Apologies:  received from Cllr Bullock, Cllr Thompson, Cllr Cardwell

 

2.            Welcome by the Mayor. Cllr Buckwell advised accounts available to view at the back of the hall and at Town Council office.

 

3.            The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 18th March 2010 were proposed as a true record by Cllr Crane, seconded by Cllr Hudson, all in favour, no objections. Matters arising:  none

 

4.            Presentation by Thames Valley Police.  PC Drewitt gave a summary. She has been working for Hungerford for 3 years. There are 7 on the team and they have a new inspector Dave Milsom and a new sergeant Ian Ward. They carry out a foot patrol in the town and in the rural areas in the evening. All crime is down 12%. All info on the crime figures can be found on www.police.uk. Every area has 2 priorities and Hungerford’s are hare coursing and drugs. There have only been 6 cases of drugs in the last 12 months; numbers are reducing and hare coursing is being removed as a priority. A consultation will take place in Tesco’s car park on 27th April where the intention is to identify problems in the area. They are committed to reducing speed in targeted areas.

 

Qu: Will they be checking for speeding along Priory Rd by JOG? Yes they will be addressing many different areas. 

Qu: What crime figures have risen? Domestic and harassment crime is fairly high. It is rising due an increase in the different types of communications used.

Qu: Will any consultations be after 5pm? They will run one on Wednesday and another on Saturday morning.

 

5.            Hungerford Town Plan – Chris Scorey: The original plan was launched in Jan 06 and was adopted by HTC and WBC. This year 2010+ is being refreshed. They have a strong steering group in place and the kick off meeting on 10th Feb to obtain ideas for the next 5 years was well attended. A survey will be distributed in the next 3 months to every household in Hungerford which will consist of some of the old questions to obtain changes in view, along with new ones. A household collection will be made. 37% responded last time. JOG will be involved for their views. A document will be produced tabling information which can be used to support bodies when applying for funding and can be referred to in planning maters.

 

6.            District Councillors’ Reports: David Holtby – Whereas cuts have overshadowed the year he can report improvements. A statutory 40mph has been imposed over the Common. Town & Manor are starting work on parking controls which will assist the Downgate. The 30mph speed limit at Smitham Bridge now incorporates the new affordable housing development. 

Paul Hewer: The new affordable housing attracted as many as 60 applicants (that met the criteria) for each house and over 100 for each of the flats. Those that have been successful have or will be told tomorrow. Permission has been granted for the Priory development and 2 residents are being re-housed before this can start. Once a contractor has shown interest in access via the Triangle Field then HTC will be advised. Atherton Crescent has been resurfaced. Several designs and options for the canal footbridge have been explored. Unanimous support was given for the plans and the work costing £400,000 will start in April with the moving of BT utilities. Trade should benefit.

Qu: J Kersey – Will Fairfield’s/North View Residents be moved to the Priory? They will be invited to take up residence in the new block. What will happen to the land? It will be sold on but no decisions have been made yet. The £100,000 that WBC are pledging for Community Centres might be doubled by Greenham Common Trust. The £100,000 equates to £3,000 per community.

Qu: The top end of Church Way has potholes which need fixing. This needs to be put on the programme.

Qu: Are there disabled children’s facilities during the holidays? Yes look at the website or visit the surgery on 2nd April in the Library building. 

 

7.            Reports by Chairmen

 

         i)    Highways & Transport – Cllr Richard Hudson: Thanked Cllr Desmeules for his work with the Christmas lights. He has been working closely with WBC on projects such as the speed limit on Hungerford Common, Church Way improvements, proposals for revision to parking including coach parking which is much needed, and JOG safer routes to school. He hopes to obtain a speed reactive sign on the A4 and brown signs to promote the town’s facilities. Hungerford in Bloom will take place on 16th July with categories for gardens, allotments and commercial. An action plan has been produced for the Railway Station and an investigation is underway into reducing energy consumption for Street Lighting. 4 Salt bins have been purchased and town benches are being renovated. Cllr Desmeules requested help at the Litter Pick taking place on Sunday 20th March.

         Qu: Will street parties be organised for the wedding? No but there is a party in the Croft and the RBL will be open with a large screen to view the wedding.

         Qu: Chamber of Commerce asked why the town had no brown tourist signs. They are expensive and HTC are waiting for WBC to provide quotations. It was suggested that a sign audit be put in place so when one sign is erected another is taken down.

 

         ii)   Environment & Planning – Cllr David Ravenhill: A footpath for the canal bridge has been agreed which will ease pedestrian crossing. The building of the exception site has been a successful project. Planning permission was refused for Charnham Park Hotel but permission has been given for the Priory as previously mentioned. There are opportunities within the localism bill for community planning. There is no option to build on the West or East side of Hungerford and there is pressure for a large scale development on the A338. 

 

         iii)  LDF – Cllr Denise Gaines. Diagrams showing possible development sites are displayed at the back of the hall. Regarding the Core Strategy there is a 2 week examination in November. The parts which effect Hungerford are the AONB (a land impact assessment has been demanded by the Inspector) and the SHLAA which identifies possible development sites and more specific details are awaited. Focus changes submissions are needed by 18th March 11. HTC’s submission challenges the ANOB areas and questions the Hungerford Status.  There is already gridlock to the south of Hungerford and this would be exacerbated by further development in Salisbury Road. Qu: Why have Compton and Hermitage not been included in the numbers? The next stage is DPD.

 

         iv)  Recreation, Amenities & War Memorials – Cllr Peter Harries thanked Eileen Bunt, Jane Buckle and Cllr Bullock for their work leading to the Paupers Ceremony and also Cllr Liddiard for donating the Sarsen Stones for the cemetery. St Saviours will have a noticeboard and a Wild Life Area. Allotments have been provided. Improvements to the Triangle Field area are on hold until the Priory Site is developed. The demand at the sports pavilion exceeds its capacity. Ideas for improvements include a cycle and BWX track, extra changing rooms, planting, seating and a car park extension. The Skate Park is well used and £50,000 outside funding was obtained for redevelopment. The shelter and iPod facility have been looked after. Bulpit Lane memorial garden has been replanted and the Tragedy memorial is due to be refurbished by Berkshire Gardens Trust. Bridge St Memorial area is being managed by the British Legion. Smitham Bridge Entrance and fencing has been redone which improves visibility. The maintenance staff were thanked.

 

         v)   Finance & General Purposes – Cllr Martin Crane reported that the accounts are very healthy. £3.7million has been collected in council tax with 81% of this for West Berkshire. TV Police receive £376,000, RBF&RS £195,000, HTC £185,000. Band D Council tax annual charge is £1526 of which £76.11 returns to HTC (4.98%). HTC Committee Budgets are H&T £33,000, R&A £48,000, F&GP Office costs only £83,000. This shows a 5% reduction in costs after inflation which represents good value for money. 

 

         vi)  H.E.A.T. Presentation – Tony Drewer-Trump is keen to increase awareness of Hungerford Environmental Action team. They are working on energy efficiency and promoting solar energy and need for insulation.  An allotment plot has been used to involve young children in gardening and guidance has been given. The farmers markets are held on the 4th Sunday of the month. A community garden has been developed at John O Gaunt with raised beds and willow maize. ‘Green Drinks’ are held on 1st Thursday of the month at 8pm at the Plume. All welcome.  

 

         vii) H.A.H.A. – Chris Tout manages the allotments sites for HTC. Both the Fairfields and Marsh Lane allotment sites are fully occupied with waiting lists. HAHA received a £5,000 grant for fencing and security railings and would like to thank AONB for the grant received for the bore-hole. Planings have been received to improve the safety to the entrance to Marsh Lane site. Chris thanked Geoff Greenland for all his hard work.

 

8.            Community Facilities at John O’Gaunt and Croft Field. An update by the Mayor. Since the cut backs were announced 2 steering groups have been formed. Both sites were in danger from 1st April of being non-operational. Funding was extended for 3 months and transitional funding might be provided to the end of the year. This is being led by Sue Da Costa and Brian Fisher.  

 

9.            Election [5th May 2011]: timetable; procedures; search for new councillors. HTC councillors are seeking to be re-elected. The elections will see votes for District Councillors and the AV. A plea to come forward to join the Town Council was made. By 4th April papers need to be with The Returning Officer at WBC and by 6th April the names will be published. The chance to co-opt councillors extends to 23rd June.

 

10.        Localism Bill: Cllr David Ravenhill. This is a very significant document without much detail at this stage. It will provide the opportunity for a referendum should 5% of the electorate request it providing it is within the law and is subject to approval by WBC. Neighbourhood plans could dictate the building materials and building sizes within the area. Neighbourhood development orders will enable planning permission on a general basis.

 

11.        Local Issues: e.g. Litter; Station Zone: parking. It was agreed these items were already covered.

 

12.        Questions and suggestions from the floor. Qu. The litter at the Railway station and by the Industrial Estate is a disgrace. A request was made for a skip for general rubbish in Hungerford. This will be looked at though the appropriate committee. Qu. J Kersey asked what the name of the new road will be. It will be Penny Farthing Close.  

 

13.        Closing remarks by the Mayor: The Mayor thanked everyone for coming. Also he thanked Cllr Acworth for his many hours on the allotment project.

 

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm.