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MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 19 January 2009.
Present: The Town Mayor, Cllr. F. Richards (Chairman), Cllrs: D. Purdey, C. Liddy, P. Kraft, C. Fox, N. Lodge, A. Vaughan, B. Sinclair and K. Rogers (arrived late) Borough Cllrs. M. Cory and S. Ford. Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk) 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. M. Iacovou, County Cllr. J. Young, Borough Cllrs. J. Manning and A. Quarrie and Peter Kay. 2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 15 December 2008 be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to Item 7.5 to read: Members also noted that a member of the Youth Council had been elected to the Essex County Council’s Young Essex Assembly. 3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. 10.5 c) Ladder at West Quay: Cllr. Sinclair reported that he was still in discussion with CBC and Persimmon Homes about the safety ladder alongside West Quay which had still not been replaced. It had been accepted that the safety ladder was already there when development commenced and that removal of it had created a safety hazard. Cllr. Sinclair would keep members informed of developments. 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 had sent in a written report, main items of note VAS sign for Rectory Road and the best location for it. Members agreed that the best place would be after the official speed limit sign on the right hand side. The Neighbourhood Action Panel continues to be concerned about Vine Parade parking and this has been raised again with County Officers. Apart from these issues the Football club has been the other matter Cllr. Young has been working on. b) Borough Council: Cllr. Cory reported on the Wivenhoe Town Football Club; Railway Bridge, which was scheduled for repair by ECC Highways later this year and issues concerning High Street car parking. Concerning the railway bridge members expressed concern at the possible losing of the bus route to lower Wivenhoe due to the difficulty any large vehicles would have in turning there. Cllr. Ford also reported on the Wivenhoe Town Football Cub; uneven pavements in Park Road which should be repaired within the next 18 months; car parking in The Avenue, which was causing concern; pavement ramp opposite Bowes Road, which proved too expensive now to rectify; Sustainable Communities Act, he had been in touch with Chelmsford Borough Council, who had adopted it. He offered to look through the Act to see how best to go forward. c) Public Transport Representative: A written report from Peter Kay was circulated to members and noted. 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS. 6.1 Planning a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 6 January were received and noted. Cllr. Liddy reported that 3 applications had been dealt with. Agreed to extend the activities of the Planning Committee for future meetings to consider environmental issues such as the Sustainable Communities Act. Concerning the Town Plan group Cllr. Purdey said that they were trying to get an independent group formed to source funding opportunities. The suggestion of resurrecting the Community Association was being investigated. A meeting was being held the following evening with Sarah Sapsford re RCCE’s ‘Making It Happen’ scheme. b) Section 106 Working Party (Cook’s): Cllr. Sinclair said that he was attending a meeting with the Taylor Wimpey site manager about the wet dock and would represent the Town Council. Cllr. Lodge asked if Cllr. Sinclair could press for the re-opening of the footpath. c) Health Centre: Cllr. Lodge reported that the public consultations on the new Health Centre proposals had now been held and were well attended. 6.2 Personnel, Finance and Administration Committee. a) The date of the next Personnel meeting would be on 5 February. Members noted this. 6.3 Best Value Committee a) Draft notes of meeting held on Monday 12 January were received and noted. Items of Note: Web-site: To note that the Town Council was working towards compliance with the DDA re the format of the Town Council’s web-site. Some new software would be purchased which should improve the site. 7. WORKING PARTY REPORTS. 7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party: a) Date of the next meeting 29 January 2009. Five estimates had been received for replacement windows. Agreed to accept the quote which was of the best value. The Working Party to consider these further and report back to the next Best Value meeting. Cllr. Kraft reported that she had obtained new estimates on a floor overlay which could prove a better solution to the replacement of the hall floor. Both Cllr. Kraft and Cllr. Lodge would visit a hall where this had been carried out and report back. Agreed in principle to both replacement of windows and improvements to the main hall floor. Town Clerk would check that the Hall was not included within the Wivenhoe Conservation Area. Estimates had also been received for replacement of the Wyvern Room carpet and these would also be considered at a later date. 7.2 Estates (General Amenities & Landscaping) Working Party. a) Notes of the Meeting held on 5 January were received and noted. 7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party: Cllr. Sinclair reported that more sycamore clearing was being carried out. The issue of the Ferry Marsh sluice had been raised again by a resident and Cllr. Sinclair had responded that it was being closely monitored. 7.4. Minibus Working Group. Cllr. Sinclair reported on a donation from the Wivenhoe Over 60’s Club towards the running costs of the mini-bus. This was noted with thanks and a letter would be sent to the Chairman expressing the Town Council’s appreciation. The next meeting of the Group would be held in February or March. 7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party. Cllr. Purdey had nothing specific to report other than that the group were working on training and also researching a storage unit. Members also noted that a member of the Youth Council had been elected to the Essex County Council’s Young Essex Assembly. 7.6 Members' Individual Proposals or Reports: a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Richards reported on the following attendances: December 19 – Over 60’s Christmas Lunch; December 21 – Carols on the Quay; December 26 (Boxing Day) – watched the Morris Dancers outside the Black Buoy; December 31st – New Year’s Eve dance at the William Loveless Hall; January 12 – presented cheque on behalf of Morris Dancers to EACH (East Anglian Childrens Hospices). b) Community Safety and Police Matters: Cllr. Rogers reported that there had been quite a few crimes, mainly theft from vehicles. Other issues of report were lorries parking on corners, speeding, security coding, which had been carried out at the recent Farmers’ Market and proved popular. A bid for funding from NAP for CCTV in the Council yard was discussed and it was Agreed that the Town Council apply in writing to NAP as soon as possible and also consult with other users of the yard if they would be willing to contribute. An ECC Speed Management Strategy Consultation was imminent and would be circulated as soon as received. 8. TOWN CLERK'S REPORT. 8.1 Burial Grants and approval of memorials. The Town Clerk reported that two Burial Grants had been issued and one memorial had been approved since the last meeting. Two interments had taken place and two interments of ashes. 8.2 NALC/EALC Communications. The Town Clerk reported on the December monthly communications and newsletters from both NALC and EALC which were 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 Christmas Lights had been taken down and work started on the fence around the dog exercise area. The hedge around the dog exercise area had been cut back on one side but to cut the other side would thin the hedge out too much. The number of visitors to the Council Offices for the month of December totalled 137. b) NALC Re-accreditation: The Town Clerk reported that the Town Council had been re-accredited with Quality Council status. 9. FINANCE. 9.1 Current Financial Report a) The December spending and income Report was received and noted. b) Preliminary Budget Meeting: Members received and Agreed the Notes of the Pre-budget meeting held on Tuesday 16 December. c) Budget 2009/2010: Following the pre-budget meeting held on 16 December 2008 to approve final precept figures, of which the Parish Grant of £32,454 and the divisor figure 2811.1 produced a final precept figure of £51.93 per band D property, against £50.07 last year, reflecting an increase of 3.72%. Members AGREED that the budget figures be adopted. RESOLVED therefore that the Town Council precept on the Colchester Borough Council for the sum of £145,980 to meet its estimated expenditure for the financial year 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. Calculation of indicative Council Tax on the above divided by the equivalent number of Band D properties in Wivenhoe, now 2811.1 equalled a levy of £51.93 per Council Tax payer, representing an increase of 3.72% on last year’s figures and £1.86 per household. 9.2 List of cheques numbered 503001 -503023 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. a) William Loveless Hall improvements – the formal notice from the William Loveless Hall Working Party for replacement windows and refurbishment of main hall floor, approx total expenditure of £26,000 was Agreed. A CIF grant of £7500 had already been secured towards the hall floor. Three estimates for the floor had been obtained and additional quotes were being obtained. 9.5 Appeals for Financial Support. a) Wivenhoe Town Football Club: Appeal for sponsorship of a game. Members considered this and Agreed to sponsor either a game or an advertisement board. Cllr. Richards would obtain further details about an advertisement board. 10. NEW BUSINESS. 10.1 Correspondence. a) ECC – Minerals and Waste Development Framework, Further Issues and Options Paper – Consultation period 15 January to 12 March 2009. Cllr. Fox would look through this to see if there was anything affecting Wivenhoe. b) Communities and Local Government – Consultation to 12 March 2009. Members noted that NALC would be responding to the Consultation in due course, in the meantime Cllr. Iacovou to look through the document. c) FOI: RESOLVED that the Information Commissioner’s Office new model publication scheme be Approved and adopted. This replaced the existing scheme, which expired on 31 December 2008. 10.2 Conferences/Seminars. Noted the following: East Essex Area Forum – Tuesday 27 January at Weston Homes Community Stadium 2.00pm. Cllr. Sinclair also reported that the notice of the inaugural meeting of the Essex Shoreline Coastal protection seminar arrived too late for a response. The Brightlingsea Harbourmaster would be attending and would report back to Cllr. Sinclair if there was anything significant. 10.3 Notices. Members noted the following: 1940’s Valentine Dance, William Loveless Hall – Tickets £10/£15 proceeds to Royal British Legion (Wivenhoe Branch) Mayor’s Charity Ball, 7 March in the William Loveless Hall. 10.4 Licences. None received. 10.5 Highway Matters. None. The meeting closed at 9.15p Chairman
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