Town Council Minutes 11 March 2010

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Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall,

Bideford on Thursday 11 March 2010 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:    North Ward:
Councillor M L Bushell
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor Ms E L Farrington
Councillor D C Fulford

South Ward:    Councillor C Bone
Councillor A T Inch
Councillor S G Inch
Councillor P J Pester
Councillor D M Ratcliff

South (Outer) Ward:    Councillor A T Powell (Town Mayor)

East Ward:    Councillor Mrs C B Church
Councillor S E L Clarke OBE
Councillor Mrs P Davies
Councillor R W Vanstone

IN ATTENDANCE:    Mr G B McLauchlan (Town Clerk)
Mrs H Blackburn (Deputy Town Clerk)
6 x Members of the Public
1 x Member of the Press
181    PRAYERS

The Mayor advised that as no Chaplain was available that councillors have a short period of quiet reflection.

182    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors T J Johns (North Ward – Personal) and B Lacey (East Ward – Illness).

183    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillors P S Christie, S G Inch, and A T Powell declared a personal interest in agenda item 16. (Trustees, Bideford Bridge Trust).

184    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Comments were received from a member of the public who talked about problems within the town, what has been achieved recently in Bideford and how he endeavours to report to the Council the issues that are important to the townspeople.

(Councillor Bone arrived at the meeting).

A second member of the public commented on the good work carried out by the Town Council.

The Mayor then spoke about Steven Cloak’s assault and his utter condemnation of the crime.  He passed on his heartfelt support to the family and wished him a safe recovery.  He urged those organising a peaceful march in order to reclaim the streets of Bideford, to march not just for Steven but for the whole country.  He said that although there are some areas of concern locally, Bideford is not a dangerous town.

185   MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 February 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

186    MONTHLY UPDATE ON POLICING ISSUES WITHIN THE PARISH

a.    The Mayor welcomed PC Perry Hodgson to the meeting.

b.    PC Hodgson provided an overview of the figures for the month of February 2010.

Criminal damage to dwellings    5
Criminal damage to vehicles    11
Theft from motor vehicles    8
Theft of motor vehicle    1
Burglary from dwelling    6
Burglary (other)    11
Common Assault    10
Assaults (with injury)    9
Serious Assaults    4
Hate crime    0

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions raised concerned young people’s fear of violence in the town, rumours that Bideford Police Station may be re-located to Roundswell, comments concerning the plan for a Police Officer to work from Torridge District Council offices, the vandalisation of a coach at Bank End, and the request for a breakdown of crime figures showing what percentage of the perpetrators are local.

e.    The Mayor then thanked PC Hodgson for attending the meeting and updating     members accordingly.
187    MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLOR

a.    The Mayor welcomed Councillors Ms Boyle and Robinson to the meeting.

b    Councillor Ms Boyle started by outlining the history of the traffic problems along Clovelly Road and the steps that have been taken to rectify the situation.  The works will be monitored to make sure that the current solution is working.  She then outlined the parking difficulties in Union Close and noted that a site visit with Highways has been requested to look at the possibility of residents’ parking.  A site visit will also be arranged for Geneva Place to investigate if traffic movement and access can be improved.  Bideford College has taken steps to improve their litter problems and the situation has improved slightly.  She ended by noting that she has been working on a number of individual residents’ issues.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

The first councillor to comment thanked Councillor Ms Boyle for the progress that had been made along Clovelly Road but suggested that there are further improvements which could be made and mentioned that he would like to see all the islands removed and the double yellow lines marked.  Further questions raised concerned the anomalies with the signage on Torridge Hill and a request for a zebra crossing outside ASDA.

d    Councillor Robinson reported back on questions raised last month and read out the correspondence he had received in connection with the enquiries and the actions he has taken as follows:

•    He has been in contact with Mr Sorrenson regarding the ASDA 106 fund for the works to Clovelly Road and can confirm that there are no further funds available for any other projects.

•    He is waiting for further news on the bus shelter at Manteo Way.

•    He has requested that he be notified of the Lengthsman’s visit well in advance.

•    He made members aware of possible policy changes to A Boards on footpaths.

•    He noted that he will be looking for Town Council guidance for signage to the Pollyfield Centre.

•    He talked about the changes at Northam Road and a section of the road between Littleham and Handy Cross which needs some repair.

•    He finished by talking about the lack of community facilities at Londonderry Farm and the need for a footpath to Abbotsham.

e.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

f.    Questions raised concerned the funds available for repairing potholes, A Boards, the Lengthman’s visit, traffic calming at Silver Street, and whether there is a budget in place to repair vehicles damaged by potholes?

g.    The Mayor then thanked the Councillors Ms Boyle and Robinson for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

188    COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR

The Mayor/Town Clerk advised that:

•    The Deputy Mayor will chair the Council meeting in April as he will be in North Carolina looking for evidence of links with Grenville – evidence which could help with the regeneration of Bideford.

•    There are 2 or 3 persistent offenders who are not giving their apologies for meetings they cannot attend or finding substitutes.

•    The gate at Ford House Woodland (which was originally donated free of charge) was changed when it became clear that it was unsuitable for wheelchair/pushchair access.

•    Manor Court is on Saturday 20 March 2010 and councillors need to be robed and ready by 10.20 am.

•    The Town Clerk has received a letter from the National Secular Society concerning a potential judicial review.  This is not just a local issue – they have a national campaign on their website.  

•    The Mayor’s Charity Concert “Vaguely Celtic” has been arranged for 31 March 2010 at 7.30pm at the Kingsley School theatre.  The proceeds will be split between the Mayor’s Charity and the Youth Pipe Band who are planning a trip to New York.  Tickets are £5.00.

189    TOURISM COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2010 were approved and the decisions duly ratified.

(Vote – For: 14 ,  Against: 0)

190    PLANNING COMMITTEE

a.    The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

b.    The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14 ,  Against: 0)

191    MARKET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

192  STAFFING, FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

193    COMMUNITY HUB PROJECT

Members were requested to consider the Council taking on the role of Lead Partner in the delivery of the project following the visit to Ivybridge.  Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That a decision be deferred and that the Joint Delivery Team and Councillor Parsons be invited to attend a meeting of the Council to explain what is involved with the community hub project and the passage of information to those councillors who are not on the Working Group.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

194    TWINNING WITH MANTEO

The Mayor provided an update and invited members to consider having the Charter drawn up for signature by both Mayors and taken to Manteo.  It was suggested that, if possible, there should be a link-up so both parties could participate.  Proposed by Councillor Bone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That a twinning charter is drawn up and taken to Manteo for signature by both Mayors.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

195    STREET NAMING

Members were advised that there had been a mistake with the location regarding the naming of the industrial estate road and needed rectifying.  Proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the name “Caddsdown Industrial Estate Road” be suggested as a new street name for the main access road accessing the industrial estate from Clovelly Road.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0, Out of room: 1)


196    HONORARY TITLES AND OFFICERS OF DIGNITY

Members note the content of the NALC Legal Topic Note 12 for future consideration.
(Councillor A T Inch left the meeting).


197    ANNUAL PARISH (TOWN) MEETING

Members were advised that there was a conflict of dates and that the Annual Parish (Town) Meeting would now be held at the Pollyfield Centre at 6.30 pm on 26 May 2010.

198    BRIDGE TRUST ACTIVITIES

Councillor Christie reported that it had been quite a long meeting where the trustees had gone through the annual accounts.  He reported one grant of particular interest whereby the Bridge Trust had given £16,000.00 to Appledore Primary school to cover the school roof with photovoltaic cells.  They had raised the rest of the funding themselves.

199    CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS (CLOSED SESSION)

Proposed by Councillor Vanstone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed, it is advisable in the public interest that the public be excluded for the duration of the discussion and they were instructed to withdraw.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)


200    CLOSED SESSION

EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEM

There was a discussion regarding the rock fall at Ford House and the tenders received.  
Proposed by Councillor Ms Farrington, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That a quarrying expert be engaged to explore the option of cutting shelves into the rock face.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)

The business of the meeting having been concluded the Mayor thanked the members for their attendance at the meeting which concluded at 8.30 pm.



Signature of Deputy Town Mayor: ……………………………    Date: ………………...............