Town Council Minutes 8 April 2010

---

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

Bideford on Thursday 8 April 2010 at 6.30 pm

BIDEFORD TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall,
Bideford on Thursday 8 April 2010 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:    
North Ward:
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor Ms E L Farrington
Councillor D C Fulford
Councillor T J Johns

South Ward:    
Councillor C Bone
Councillor A T Inch
Councillor S G Inch
Councillor P J Pester (Deputy Town Mayor)
Councillor D M Ratcliff

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

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

201    PRAYERS

On the invitation of the Deputy Mayor prayers were offered by the Reverend Alan Glover.

202    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors A T Powell (South (Outer) Ward – Personal) and Councillor M L Bushell (work commitments).

203    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillors P S Christie, T J Johns, and S G Inch declared a personal interest in agenda item 19. (Trustees, Bideford Bridge Trust).

Councillors Mrs C B Church and A T Inch declared a personal interest in agenda item 8. (Members, Citizens Advice Bureau).

Councillor B Lacey declared a personal interest in agenda items 15. (Ward Member, Torridge District Council) and 16. (Member, Bideford Bridge Trust).

Councillor Mrs P Davies declared a personal interest in agenda item 15. (Chairman, Pollyfield Association).

204    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Comments were received from a member of the public who spoke on the serious problem of noise pollution within Highfield Road emanating from a private dwelling.  Although the noise had improved, disappointment had been expressed that the Environmental Health team did not provide a twenty four hour service.  A PCSO had been helpful and further credit was passed to the police on the improved “Firework situation”.

A second member of the public was stirred by a recent article in the Gazette regarding dog fouling fines.  Further comments related to pot holes in the roads, the redundant band stand in Victoria Park and fears regarding the fate of the Sports Ground.  The main thrust centred on improving Bideford, fighting the inertia; he indicated that he would write to the publishers of a book on English Towns.

The Deputy Mayor thanked the participants for their contributions indicating that he welcomed publicity of the Town.

205    MINUTES

Councillor A T Inch stated that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2010 should be amended to reflect his return to the meeting at Minute 200.  The Minutes were then approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0, Abstention: 1)

206    MONTHLY UPDATE ON POLICING ISSUES WITHIN THE PARISH

a.    The Deputy Mayor welcomed Sgt Simon Bassett to the meeting.

b.    Sgt Bassett provided an overview of the figures for the month of March 2010.

Criminal damage to dwellings    4
Criminal damage to vehicles    22
Theft from motor vehicles    4
Theft of motor vehicle    1
Burglary from dwelling    3
Burglary (other)    12
Common Assault    9
Assaults (with injury)    16
Serious Assaults    1
Hate crime    0

c.    He broke the figures down further e.g. assaults with injury: five took place on the street, of those three in the evening where the suspect was not known and alcohol was evident, eleven were domestic and occurred in doors.  His message was of reassurance, that Bideford is not a dangerous Town and that the perceived aggression is not wholly supported by statistics on reported cases.  Further, neither he nor Inspector Kenneally was aware of any plans to close Bideford Police Station.

d.    Emphasis this month is to work with other partners and agencies to instill public confidence so they are aware of the work being done by everyone to ensure that there is less crime, anti-social behaviour and public disorder.  

e.    The Mayor then invited members members to submit questions.

f.      Questions  and comments raised concerned the break down of police figures, that the public should be encouraged to report all crimes, the incidence of alcohol associated crimes, the number of on the spot fines administered and conviction rates.  Others related to the methods of reporting crime, CCTV usage and the frequency of ID fraud amongst young people.  Sergeant Bassett was further asked to give greater clarity to future monthly crime figures, indicating conviction rates and also provide feedback on the Knife Detector initiative.

g.    The Deputy Mayor then thanked Sgt Bassett Sergeant PCA/PS ConnarBassettfor attending the meeting and updating     members accordingly.

(Councillors Bone and Clarke left the meeting.)

207    MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLOR

a.    The Mayor welcomed Councillor Ms Boyle the meeting.

b    Councillor Ms Boyle read a report provided by Councillor Robinson that included details on the missing panels of the bus shelters on The Quay.  The Highways Department had advised him that they have not been able to progress the repairs as they are not deemed safety defects but hope to order panels in the new financial year. Repairs have already exceeded £8k over the last three years.  Providing the Town Council supports an ongoing maintenance programme the County Council will provide for a shelter at Tarka Point.

Councillor Ms Boyle stated that she had supported, with her Locality Funding; TVS, Harbour, Bideford Street Pastors, Bideford 500 and the Store Project.

She then spoke on a number of areas that interest her as a County Councillor, speaking at length on the impact of the Core Strategy on the provision of housing but with little regard to the infrastructure and job creation in the area.

c.    The Deputy Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions  and comments raised concerned the frustration and danger of the traffic problems in Geneva Place, the need for traffic calming measures in Silver Street and the lack of commitment by developers in honouring their planning agreements.  The lack of infrastructure at Londonderry was cited as an example where 600 houses had no shops or community hall and East-the-Water having new buildings built with provision for one and a half shops.  A similar example at Abbotsham was referred to as well as the thirty five flats being developed at the top of Bridge Street with no recourse to private parking.

d.    The Deputy Mayor then thanked Councillor Ms Boyle Sergeant PCA/PS ConnarBassettfor attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

208     TORRIDGE, MID DEVON & BUDE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

a.    The Deputy Mayor welcomed Mr Stephen Davis to the meeting.

b.    Mr Davis expressed his keen disappointment that the Torridge, Mid Devon and Bude Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) had been unsuccessful in securing grant funding from the Council.  He spoke at length on the breakdown of their funding including their project work, emoluments and their reserves (three months operating costs, as set by their Trustees/Board Members and Auditors).  Grants account for twenty five to thirty per cent of their income but this was not spent on remuneration but solely volunteers.  Of the twenty paid staff only four were full time.

He described at length the Bideford work and the money that this generated.  He stressed that while many of the people represented were vulnerable cases, the CAB did not represent a dependency culture.

c.    The Deputy Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    The Town Clerk used the opportunity to advise Council that the local grant system gave support to organisations that supported themselves but that the present grant procedure would be reviewed.

e.    The Deputy Mayor then thanked Mr Davis for his Presentation.

209    BIDEFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

a.    The Deputy Mayor welcomed Mr David Howell, President of the Bideford Chamber     of Commerce, to the meeting.

b.    Mr Howell advised that while the National outlook was gloomy the same was also true locally.  There was a lack of optimism and confidence felt by traders for the future.  Easter had been desultory and this had followed a very slow winter.  Car parks were indicators that people were not visiting the Town.

This, though, was not true of all.  There had been some expansion of operations and internet trading was taking the lead.  However, the General Election and the football World Cup were expected to have a damaging impact on tourism and spending.

A recent visit to Ilfracombe had revealed how the Town had enjoyed and benefited from the support of their District Council.  He felt that there should be a Civic lead in promoting Bideford.  On a positive note he finished by saying that the Bideford Chamber of Commerce are setting up Business Support programmes, Bideford 500 encourages visitors and that there are plans from the Bideford Regeneration Initiative in the offing.  Finally he advised that his term of office was at an end and that he felt one of the privileges of his tenure was to invited to address the Town Council

c.    The Deputy Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments raised included the lack of focus on economic progress in the area which would lead to job creation, the setting up of local (business) seminars but a positive note was sounded from the Bideford Working Group and Bridge Trust activities.

e.        The Deputy Mayor then thanked Mr Howell for attending the meeting and updating     members accordingly.

210    COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPUTY MAYOR

The Town Clerk advised that:

•    The new Town Council Web site was “up and running.”  The signing of the Twinning Charter will be shown live via the Outerbanks TV station at 7.00 pm on Sunday 11 April 2010 and can be viewed on the Council’s new website.

•    The new market stalls will be put up on Monday 19 April 2010 at mid day; volunteers to help assemble them would be most welcome.

211    TOURISM COMMITTEE

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

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)

212    PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)

213    MARKET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 April 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)

214    NOTICE OF MOTION – PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

The members noted the report which is attached and forms part of these Minutes.

215    POLLYFIELD DEVELOPMENT – AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The members noted the report which is attached and forms part of these Minutes.  Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded and
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred until the next meeting and that Councillor Hicks and the Property Manager be invited to attend to explain the proposals in more detail to members.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0)

216    BRIDGE TRUST ACTIVITIES

Councillor Christie advised

•    That a provision of £100k had been allocated to the improvement of Jubilee Square (representing forty per cent of the cost).

•    The Bridge Trust own a piece of land outside the Borough Cemetery which the Council could develop as an additional allotment site should they consider applying to the Trust.

•    The Trust has pledged £50k to the new Band Room and will provide grants to those students of the Open University.

The business of the meeting having been concluded the Deputy Mayor thanked the members for their attendance at the meeting which concluded at 8.53 pm.





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