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MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 21 December 2009. Present: The Town Mayor, Cllr. N. Lodge (Chairman), Cllrs: C. Liddy, A. Vaughan, R. Needham, F. Richards, M. Iacovou, D. Purdey, B. Sinclair and P. Kraft. Borough Cllrs. J. Manning, M. Cory and S. Ford County Cllr. J. Young Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk) Mr. R. Mallet, member of the public Press 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. K. Rogers and C. Fox and Borough Cllr. A. Quarrie. 2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 16 November 2009 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. None. 4. POINTS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. None. 5. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY AND BOROUGH COUNCILS. a) Essex County Council: Cllr. Young reported that the tree for in front of the library would be planted soon; the LTP3 consultation had started and she had requested a copy be sent to the Town Council; Highways had carried out consultation re the crossing at Rectory Road, but it had not met the minimum requirement; the VAS sign was to be installed soon on Rectory Hill. Concerning gritting of roads Cllr. Young advised that the ECC’s policy decision was to grit main roads and not pavements or estate roads. The Town Council asked Cllr. Young if a supply of salt could be left in the Council Yard for emergency use. Members also asked all the Ward Cllrs to press for more salt bins in Wivenhoe. b) Borough Council: Cllr. Cory reported that the permanent goals at Henrietta Close should be ready for installation in the New Year. Vine Drive parking was an issue he was working on, a parallel line had been painted in but drivers still parked in the same way as they had before. Members pointed out that NAP were working on a solution, but more discussion was needed. Cllr. Manning reported that he had also been dealing with road gritting issues; Cllr. Ford reported that he had also been dealing with road gritting issues and commented that the road gritting lorry had actually slid into a ditch; he had escorted the Deputy Mayor of Colchester to Canvey Island for the official opening of the restoration of the grave of a deep sea fisherman, organized by the Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen; the cabinet decision re access road to Philip Morant School had been reversed; re parking issues Richard Walker would be sending a draft report to the Town Council in the new year. c) Public Transport Representative. No report. 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS. 6.1 Planning a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 17 November and 8 December were received and noted. Cllr. Liddy updated members on the plans for the Phase 3 of Cooks Shipyard, which would be going before the next Planning meeting on 5 January 2010. Concerning the LDF it was Agreed that the Planning Committee meet with Karen Syrett soon or one of her associates. b) Section 106 Working Party (Cooks’): Cllr. Liddy reported that the Town Council’s insurers required a Health and Safety Risk Assessment on the Wet Dock, this was in the process of being dealt with. c) Health Centre: Cllr. Lodge reported that negotiations continue. 6.2 Personnel Committee. Cllr. Kraft reported on the meeting held of the Personnel Committee held on 2 December and consequently the Best Value meeting of 14 December where it was Agreed that issues concerning Staff Training, Christmas Bonuses and Pension Provision be recommended for approval. Cllr. Kraft PROPOSED the following: a) To PROPOSE that the recommendations of the Personnel Committee to admit four members of staff into the Essex County Council Local Government Pension Scheme be approved. The proposal was SECONDED by Cllr. Richards with one member voting against the proposal. RESOLVED that Mrs. A. Stinson, Miss N. Edwards, Mr.A. Hearn and Mr. J. Young, employees of Wivenhoe Town Council, be admitted as pensionable employees into the Essex County Council Local Government Pension Scheme and that the formal notice be displayed for 28 days on the Town Council’s notice boards. The recommendations of Best Value concerning Staff Training and Christmas bonuses were also AGREED. 6.3 Finance and Administration Committee. a) Notes of Pre-budget meeting held on 23 November and 16 December 2009 were received. b) Cllr. Purdey reported on the draft Estimates of Income and Expenditure which had been produced reflecting a 2.89% increase. Current levels of service will be maintained with the pension obligation being met with provision made for professional fees and staff training. Cllr. Purdey thanked the Town Clerk and Mr. Len Horner for their work on the budget. 6.4 Best Value Committee a) Draft notes of meeting held on Monday 14 December were received and noted. Items of Note: Shoreline Management Plan, Sea Defence Work – a public information evening had been arranged by the Environment Agency for 14 May between 4.00pm and 7.00pm in the William Loveless Hall. Wivenhoe in Bloom – a new initiative to improve Wivenhoe’s floral arrangements, Cllr. Richards had agreed to Chair this for the moment. Wivenhoe in Bloom: AGREED to an extra allocation of £100 in the landscaping budget for Wivenhoe in Bloom. Youth Club – Agreed to their request for the Town Council to act as guarantor for the BT line. Waste Consultation – Cllrs. Vaughan and Iacovou to draft a response to this consultation. Boundary Review - Cllr. Kraft reported that a response was awaited from Sarah Cheek, of Colchester Borough Council. 7. WORKING PARTY REPORTS. 7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party: a) Extension: The request for an extension until 1.00am for after show party for the Wivenhoe Pantomime Group on Saturday 23 January 2010 was AGREED. b) Noted that the date of next meeting would be on Wednesday 27 January 2010, 7.30pm in Council Chamber. 7.2 Estates (General Amenities & Landscaping) Working Party. a) Notes of the Meeting held on 7 December were circulated. Cllr. Richards reported that a meeting had been held with James English and a Waste and Recycling Day was being held in the William Loveless Hall in April 2010. 7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party: Cllr. Sinclair reported that a work day was being held in January 2010 and he would circulate the date when known. 7.4. Minibus Working Group. a) Cllr. Sinclair reported that arrangements were in hand for a new cam-belt to be fitted. 7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party. Cllr. Purdey reported that the Youth Club had now been running for a year and held their 1st birthday disco and party. A letter of congratulations was to be sent to the Youth Club from the Town Council. 7.6 Members' Individual Proposals or Reports: a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Lodge reported on attendances at the Wivenhoe Sailing club Dinner and Dance on 21 November; Town and Gown dinner on 27 November; Wivenhoe Youth Centre 1st Birthday on 1 December and also W.I. Christmas party on 1st December; St. Mary’s December Market and Switch on of Wivenhoe Christmas Lights on 3 December; Brightlingsea Open Evening and Hospice Church Service on 4 December; Christmas Tree Festival at Wivenhoe Congregational Church on 5 December; Monday Club on 7 December; Town Council staff meal on 9 December; Angie Diggins Christmas Show at Clacton Town Hall on 12 December; Brightlingsea Community Centre Christmas Show on 14 December; Monday Club Christmas Dinner on 15 December; Over 60’s Christmas Lunch on 18 December and Christmas reception for Town, Borough and County Cllrs. on 21 December. b) Community Safety and Police Matters: Cllr. Sinclair reported that there had been a visit from the Essex Marine Police PCSO regarding recent thefts from boats. c) Consultation: The Draft Essex School Organisation Plan 2009-2014 Cllr. Iavocou would draft a response to be sent in. Members noted that the consultation had been received too late for the deadline, which was 21 December, 2009. d) Fair Trade Town application. Cllr. Iacovou reported that the Town Council’s application had been submitted that day. 8. TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. 8.1 Burial Grants and approval of memorials. The Town Clerk reported that one Burial Grant had been issued and one memorial had been approved since the last meeting. One burial had taken place. 8.2 NALC/EALC Communications. DIS communications and December monthly communications and newsletters from both NALC and EALC were both available in office for members to read. 8.3 Tenancy Allocations/Changes from Colchester Borough Council. None. 8.4 Work Management. a) General: The Town Clerk reported that maintenance jobs on the William Loveless Hall had been carried out. Holly and greenery had been cut for St. Mary’s Church. Christmas lights had been put up outside the William Loveless Hall, the Council Offices and the crib had been re-roofed with straw and put outside the office in its usual place. Maintenance work had been carried out on the KGV field. The number of visitors to the Council Offices for the month of November totalled 186. 9. FINANCE. 9.1 Current Financial Report a) The December spending and income Report was received and noted. b) Notes of meetings held on 23 November and 16 December 2009 were received, noted that a new budget code headed ‘Pension Reserve’ be created within the 2010/11 budget. c) External Audit 2008/09. Noted receipt of Completion Statement and report of External Auditor. Town Clerk advised that there were no matters of report causing concern other than that a review of the Town Council’s formal risk assessment needed updating, a formal asset register to be in place for 2010 and the Town Council’s Fidelity Insurance guarantee was slightly below the Audit Commission’s guidelines and needed increasing. The Town Clerk to deal with these matters. 9.2 List of cheques numbered 503229 -503262 drawn since the last Town Council Meeting was approved and signed. 9.3 List of Payments made from the Imprest Account since the last Town Council Meeting was approved. 9.4 Motions Under Standing Orders Recommending Expenditure. 9.5 Appeals for Financial Support. 10. NEW BUSINESS. 10.1 Correspondence. a) Wivenhoe Cinema Club: Cllr. Lodge reported that he had received a communication from the Wivenhoe Cinema Club asking if they could attend a meeting to talk to the Town Council. Agreed that they be invited to attend the next Best Value meeting. 10.2 Conferences/Seminars. EALC courses Councillor Training Day sessions – January 27, March 10th, Dunmow, £54 How to Raise the Profile of your Parish Council – 4 February, Dunmow £32 Roles and Responsibilities 11 February 2010 Dunmow, £34 Member requested further details of the Councillor Training day sessions. 10.3 Notices. Members noted the following: Mayor’s Charity Events New Year’s Eve Dance William Loveless Hall, Thursday 31 December, 8.30pm £15 10.4 Licences. None. 10.5 Highway Matters. a) ECC Temporary Prohibition of Traffic Order (Alma Street) Members noted receipt of notification of temporary closure of Alma Street from a point 25 metres north of East Street proceeding north for 50 metres for 5 days from 18 January to facilitate excavation works for new gas connection. b) Highway Authority - 20mph zone final design Members noted the response of the Town Council Planning Committee’s to the final design from ECC Highways indicating the location of the gateway signs re the 20mph zone. Members were happy with the proposals but wished to be informed of the precise location for each sign in due course. There were 2 original signs which the Safety Audit had recommended to be retained and Members were in agreement with this also. 10.6 Press Releases. The meeting closed at 8.35pm. CHAIRMAN At the close of the meeting an invitation was extended to all join the Mayor and Mayoress at their home for festive refreshments. |