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MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town
Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 19 July 2010.
Town Mayor, Cllr. B. Sinclair (Chairman), Cllrs: C. Liddy, A. Vaughan, C.
Fox, R. Needham, D. Purdey, F. Richards, M. Iacovou and P. Kraft.
Borough Cllrs. S. Ford and A. Quarrie County
Cllr. J. Young
Peter Kay, Public Transport Representative
Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk)
Mr. Bernard Horan, Wivenhoe Old Quay Residents Association WPCSO L. Neville
Prior to the meeting members met with Borough Cllrs to discuss the
implication of Cllr. Tina Dopson’s proposals for a review of the Parish
Support Grant in the light of Government cutbacks. The Town Council had sent
a response to Cllr. Dopson and a united response from all the parishes would
be organized by the Colchester Association of Local Councils.
Before the start of Town Council meeting members expressed sadness at the
news of the passing of Cllr. Ken Rogers after a very long illness. Cllr.
Sinclair said that Ken’s concern for the community of Wivenhoe was a benefit
to all and he would be greatly missed.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. N. Lodge and Borough Cllrs.
M. Cory and J. Manning.
2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council
held on 21 June 2010 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES. None.
4. POINTS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
A letter had been received from Wivenhoe Sailing Club asking to address the
Town Council about the situation regarding the Wet Dock at Cooks’shipyard,
but this had now been deferred until after the meeting scheduled with CBC
officers and the Town Council’s solicitors on 5 August.
5. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY AND BOROUGH
COUNCILS.
a) Essex County Council: Cllr. Young reported that she had met with schools
concerning student numbers but the issue of funding could now prove
problematic; re funding for the cyclepath, this was with legal department
for land ownership and would then go into a future funding pot; the Essex
Speed Management Strategy had just been adopted and a copy was to be
expected soon; re the debate on the land at opposite Millfields School,
Elmstead want a new school and a new community hall and this would be
involved in determining the future of this piece of land. Concerning the
future of the library Cllr. Young assured members that there was no threat
of a closure.
Cllr. Richards asked Cllr. Young to find out where the bus shelter on
Rectory Hill was needed.
b) Borough Council: Cllr. Quarrie had another meeting to attend so had to
leave at this point; Cllr. Ford reported that he was still checking out
potholes and other highway issues, including vegetation overhanging
pavements. Town Clerk reported that an Officer from Highways had been
inspecting the quay with reference to rights of way and ownership.
c) Public Transport Representative. Peter Kay had sent an email report which
had been circulated to all. Cllr. Richards confirmed that a small lockable
notice board was going to be provided at the bus shelter by Cedrics Garage.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS.
6.1 Planning
a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 22 June and 13
July were received and noted.
b) Section 106 Working Party (Cooks’): Cllr. Liddy reported that a meeting
was being held on 5 August with Colchester Borough Council’s Legal
department and the Town Council’s solicitors.
c) Health Centre: Nothing further to report at the moment.
6.2 Personnel Committee. Draft notes of the meeting held on Wednesday 14
July were circulated. Information on Health and Safety would be obtained
from NALC.
6.3 Finance and Administration Committee.
a) The Minutes of a Special Finance Meeting held on 8 July 2010 were
received and
approved as a correct record.
b) Items of Note: Review of Parish Grant.
The Finance meeting was scheduled specifically to consider the financial
implications of
the withdrawal/reduction of the Parish Grant which was being proposed by
Colchester
Borough Council due to Government cutbacks. Complete withdrawal of the grant
would
reduce the Town Council’s budget by £32,454 and present an increase in the
Town
Council’s precept of 24% , viz: £11.45 per council tax payer and a reduction
of
approximately £500 in all budget codes. The Town Council’s response had been
sent to
Cllr. Tina Dopson, Communities Portfolio Holder of Colchester Borough
Council and all
Ward and County Councillors and the Colchester Association of Local
Councils. The
Borough’s consultation process on this would end in September. The
Colchester
Association of Local Councils were compiling a united response on behalf of
all parish and
town councils.
6.4 Best Value Committee.
a) Notes of meeting held on Monday 12 July were received and noted.
Items of Note: Review of Standing Orders was to be carried out; proposals
for Parish
Grant under consultation. Cllr. Iacavou reported that the meeting with the
schools was
proposed for September; re land at 41 Acres, it was noted that this was up
for sale again
and that the Town Council’s bid was still valid, Cllr. Lodge was researching
Government
lending.
7. WORKING PARTY REPORTS.
7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party:
a) Notes of the meeting held on 23 June 2010 were received.
Cllr. Kraft reported that the outside tap to facilitate the watering of the
Hall’s flower
display had been installed by the groundsmen. More information on spotlights
for the
Wyvern Room was being obtained.
7.2 Estates (General Amenities & Landscaping) Working Party.
a) Notes of the meeting held on Monday 5 July 2010 were received.
Churchyard: In response to an enquiry Cllr. Richards reported that the
maintenance of the
Churchyard became the responsibility of Wivenhoe Council in 1898 under a
Faculty. The
siting of Major Tom Burt’s bench was being considered for the Churchyard;
the Diocese
would need to be consulted first in regard to lifting one of the headstones
at the far entrance
to the churchyard; undergrowth was going to removed from the church wall.
7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party: Cllr. Sinclair reported that new dykes and
ditches were being dug on the Ferry Marshes to improve the water vole
population.
7.4. Minibus Working Group.
a) Nothing further to report other than the outstanding issue of the
cam-belt replacement which was being dealt with by the Town Council’s
reception staff.
7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party. Cllr. Sinclair reported that four
members of the Youth Club sailed on the Pioneer at the weekend’s Regatta,
including Cllrs. Vaughan and Cory. Cllr. Sinclair also reported that he
visited the Youth Centre on their introductory evening where 83 young people
were in attendance, and that the evening was a credit to the volunteers.
7.6 Members' Individual Proposals or Reports:
a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Sinclair reported on attendances at the
following: Broomgrove School Fair on 2 July; Congregational Sisterhood on 6
July, where he and the Mayoress provided afternoon entertainment; Colne High
School Sports Day on 9 July and the High Sheriff’s Garden Party at Riffhams
Hall, Danbury, also on 9 July; Monday Club at Wivenhoe Sailing Club on 12
July; Colchester Borough Council meeting on 14 July where he addressed the
Borough Council on the extra responsibilities of Cooks development; Wivenhoe
Youth Group AGM also on 14 July; Millfield School on 15 July; Wivenhoe Town
Regatta on 17 July where he entertained the Deputy of Cinque Ports; annual
Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Sunday 18 July; also on 18 July judged Hanging Basket
Competition and attended prize giving of Hanging Basket competition.
b) Community Safety and Police Matters: PCSO L. Neville reported that
youngsters had again been jumping in the river at both West Quay end and
Cooks shipyard site during the spell of recent hot weather and she would
speak to the youngsters about the dangers presented by the current; the
absence of warning notices was discussed and PCSO Neville said she would
also speak to the site manager. There were no incidences arising from the
Regatta. PCSO Neville asked if she could be put on the Town Council’s
mailing list for Town Council agendas and this was agreed.
c) NAP report: Cllr. Kraft gave a short report in that there was no news on
highway issues as they were waiting for responses from Ray Smith of ECC
Highways. More information on the implementation of the ‘considerate parking
scheme’ was being obtained from Tendring District Council.
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 no
memorials had been approved since the last meeting. Two burials had taken
place.
8.2 NALC/EALC Communications. DIS communications and July monthly
communications and newsletters from both NALC and EALC were both available
in office for members to read.
8.3 Work Management.
a) General: Town Clerk reported that grass-cutting was continuing in all
Town Council owned areas; trees had been trimmed in the cemeteries;
footpaths cut back; allotment fence work started and allotment paths made
up; Rospa reports had been received for both play areas which only contained
minor areas of maintenance to be carried out. The number of visitors to the
Council Offices for the month of June totalled 141.
Cllr. Richards wished it to be recorded that the allotment holders
considered the Town Council’s two groundsmen charming.
9. FINANCE.
9.1 Current Financial Report
a) The June spending and income Report was received and noted.
9.2 List of cheques numbered 503374 -503384 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. None.
9.5 Appeals for Financial Support. None.
10. NEW BUSINESS.
10.1 Correspondence.
a) ECC Speed Management Strategy: Cllr. Fox to look through first, after
that Cllr. Kraft.
10.2 Conferences/Seminars. None.
10.3 Notices. Members noted the following:
The Wivenhoe Town Annual Cricket Match re-arranged for Wednesday 11 August
Mayor and Mayoress’s Garden Party 25 July
10.4 Licences. None.
10.5 Highway Matters.
a) Wivenhoe Quay – Cllr. Sinclair gave a short report on the meeting held
with Highways on 29 June at 10.30am to discuss issues concerning the public
slipway.
To summarise a removable post illegally installed at the east end of The
Folly was to be removed and an amount of hardcore which had been deposited
illegally on the slipway was also being investigated.
b) West Quay: The police had asked for this area to be clarified in order to
be able to
deal with complaints. Town Clerk to find out from ECC what the clarification
of
West Quay is with regard to cyclists and also to write to Bovis and
Persimmon about the need for signage.
10.6 Press Releases.
The meeting closed at 9.20pm.
CHAIRMAN
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