Town Council Minutes 13 May 2010

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

Bideford on Thursday 13 May 2010 at 6.30 pm

BIDEFORD TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall,
Bideford on Thursday 13 May 2010 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:

North Ward:
Councillor M L Bushell
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor T J Johns
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 (Town Mayor)
Councillor D M Ratcliff

South (Outer) Ward:
Councillor A T Powell

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 J Blackburn (Deputy Town Clerk)
8 x Members of the Public
2 x Members of the Press

001    PRAYERS

On the invitation of the Mayor prayers were offered by Reverend Tom Bayliss from the Lavington United Reform Church.

002    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

003    (Councillor Bone arrives at the meeting)

ELECTION OF TOWN MAYOR

Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Pester be appointed Town Mayor for the Civic Year 2010/2011.

(Vote – For: 15 ,  Against: 0,  Abstentions: 1)

004    DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE

Councillor Pester expressed his appreciation to the Council and occupied the Chair having made and signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

005    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillors Christie, S G Inch, Johns and Lacey declared a personal interest in agenda item 23. (Trustees, Bideford Bridge Trust).

Councillor Mrs Church declared a personal interest in agenda item 11. (Member, Special Projects Group).

Councillor Ms Farrington declared a personal interest in agenda items 11. (Member, Special Projects Group) and a prejudicial interest in 22.a. (Commercial Manager, Bideford AFC).

Councillor Powell declared a personal interest in agenda items 11. (Member, Delivery Group) and 23. (Trustee, Bideford Bridge Trust).

Councillor R Vanstone declared a personal interest in agenda item 20. (Customer of Employer).

006    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Comments were received from a member of the public who spoke about the article he had read in the newspaper pertaining to the sale of the Pollyfield land and his reservations concerning the tender which the District and Town Councils have proposed to accept.  He requested that the decision making process be clarified via a newspaper submission with a view to transparency.  He was however advised that this would not be forthcoming as the discussions had taken place during a confidential section of the meeting.

A second member of the public then asked why it had been necessary to hold the discussions in Part II of the meeting and was advised that this is mandatory when tenders are involved.

A councillor then asked why the police have been involved and was advised that a legal breach may have taken place.

007    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Extra-Ordinary Meeting held on 28 April 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 13,  Against: 0,  Abstentions: 3 )

008    ELECTION OF DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR

Proposed by Councillor Bone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Johns be appointed Deputy Town Mayor for the Civic Year 2010/2011.

(Vote – For: 8,  Against: 0,  Abstentions: 8)

009    MONTHLY UPDATE ON POLICING ISSUES WITHIN THE PARISH

a.    The Mayor welcomed Sergeant Simon Bassett to the meeting.

b.    Sergeant Bassett congratulated the Mayor on his election and wished him well during his time in Office.  He advised that he has passed the information from the Town Clerk regarding the breach of the Part II discussion to his Legal Department to decide if this is something they can investigate.  Sergeant Bassett then reported the following incidents and items of note for the month of April 2010:

Criminal damage to dwellings    8
Criminal damage to vehicles    3
Theft from motor vehicles    3
Theft of motor vehicle    1
Burglary from dwelling    4
Burglary (other)        8
Common Assault        4
Assaults (with injury)    12
Section 18 Assault        2
Drunk and Disorderly    7
Hate crime        0

The emphasis this month continues to be reducing anti-social behaviour and maintaining a high profile police presence to reduce crime and public disorder. Sergeant Bassett then reported that the metal detectors provided by the Town Council for use in pubs and clubs are proving useful.  They are not used routinely but are employed where intelligence is received or known offenders are recognised.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments raised concerned unwelcome activities behind Old Town toilets and a request that the PCSOs visit this area, vandalism in Honestone Street Car Park and speeding along the back lane from Eastleigh to Bideford.

e.    The Mayor then thanked Sergeant Bassett for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.


010    MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Apologies had been received from Councillor Sam Robinson as he was attending a District Council Meeting.

011    COMMUNITY HUB PROJECT

a.    The Mayor welcomed Mrs Vanessa Saunders, Special Projects Officer, Torridge District Council to the meeting.

b.    Mrs Saunders advised that she was responding on behalf of Devon County Council who are leading the project and read out a report from Councillor Barry Parsons.  The County Council have looked at the concept of agency working to see how it operates across Devon and are looking internally to see what services are required in this area. The Council will be provided with regular updates.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments raised related to whether the project would be jeopardised if the money was taken from the Community Hub Project and re-allocated to Jubilee Square.  Following discussion the general feeling of the Council was that it is still fully supportive of the project and would like regular updates.  Mrs Saunders was asked to relay this information to the County Council

e.    The Mayor then thanked Mrs Saunders for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

012    APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES, WORKING GROUPS

Proposed by Councillor Lacey, seconded and:

RESOLVED:  That councillors be appointed as follows:

a.    Allotments Committee

Town Mayor, Councillors Bone, Mrs Church, S G Inch, Lacey, and Vanstone.

b.    Market Management/Advisory Committees

Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Bushell, Mrs Church, Fulford, A T Inch and Ms Farrington.

c.    Planning Committee

Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Bushell, Christie, Mrs Davies, Ms Farrington and Fulford.

d.    Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee

Town Mayor, Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Mrs Church, Clarke, Mrs Davies,
A T Inch, Powell, Ratcliff and Vanstone.

e.    Tourism Committee

Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Bushell, Christie, Mrs Davies, Ms Farrington and Ratcliff.

f.    Documents Working Group

Town Mayor, Councillors Bone, A T Inch and Ratcliff.

g.    Newsletter Working Group

Town Mayor, Councillors Bushell, Christie, Mrs Church, Mrs Davies, Ms Farrington and Fulford.

h.    Personnel Appeals Panel

Deputy Town Mayor, Councillors Bushell, Christie and Ratcliff.

(Vote – For: 16,  Against: 0)

013    APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL INSPECTOR

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Ratcliff be appointed as Internal Finance Inspector for the financial year 2010/11.

(Vote – For: 16,  Against: 0)

014    REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Proposed by Councillor Vanstone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That councillors be appointed as follows:

Bideford & District Community
Archive Council                       Town Mayor
Deputy Town Mayor
Councillor Christie

Bideford Bridge Trust             Town Mayor
Councillor S G Inch
Councillor Johns
Councillor Lacey

Chamber of Commerce        Councillor Mrs Church

Bideford College Trust        Councillor Fulford

Bideford Twinning Association    Town Mayor
Deputy Town Mayor
Bideford Regatta Committee        Town Mayor
Councillor Fulford
Councillor S G Inch

Bideford Working Group        Councillor Ms Farrington
Councillor Powell
Councillor Vanstone

Bideford Health & Fitness Forum    Councillor Fulford

Bideford Town Band        Councillor A T Inch

Citizens Advice Bureau        Councillor Mrs Church

DALC County Committee        Councillor Bushell

DALC Larger Councils Sub-Committee    Councillor Bushell

Pollyfield Community Association    Councillor Lacey

Fairtrade Group            Councillor Bushell

Home-Start Torridge        Councillor Fulford

New Year’s Eve Committee        Councillor Clarke OBE

Parish Waste Champion        Councillor Ratcliff

Pollyfield Centre Partnership        Councillor Clarke OBE

Sure Start            Councillor Fulford

Taw/Torridge Estuary Forum        Councillor Johns

TTVS Management Committee:    Councillor Mrs Davies

Torridge Group of the CPRE:        Councillor Johns

UNESCO Biosphere Champion     Councillor Johns

(Vote – For: 16,  Against: 0)

015    CIVIC YEAR 2010/2011 MEETINGS AND FUNCTION DATES

The members noted the content of the document, which was circulated with the agenda. Proposed by Councillor Ms Farrington, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the dates of meetings and functions for the Civic Year 2010/2011 be approved.

(Vote – For: 16 ,  Against: 0)

016    ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

The members noted the verbal report of the Town Clerk.  Proposed by Councillor Bone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  To agree the continuance and payment of the Council’s annual subscriptions.

(Vote – For: 16 ,  Against: 0)

017    INSPECTION OF THE DEEDS AND TRUST INVESTMENTS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COUNCIL

The Town Clerk drew members’ attention to the deeds and documents held by the Council.

018    COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR

a.    The Mayor called upon Councillor Powell to present the Twinning Charter between Manteo and Bideford and an aerial photograph of Manteo to the Council.  Councillor Powell informed members that Mayor Daniels of Manteo would like to take part in a joint event with Bideford next year with the suggested date; possibly St George’s Day.

b.    Bideford Town Band and Torridge Male Voice Choir will be holding a concert on Saturday 15 May 2010 at the Methodist Church.  The theme is the Last Night of the Proms.

019    ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 April 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 16,  Against:  0)

020    PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 16 ,  Against: 0)

021    STAFFING, FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 16,  Against: 0)

(Having previously declared a prejudicial interest in the following item, Councillor Ms Farrington left the room before the discussion and vote).

022    NOTICES OF MOTION

a.    Councillor Powell moved the following Notice of Motion:

“That this Council sponsors at least one of the proposals listed in the “Official Tournament Invitation” from Joma so as to show support for Bideford Football Club and the benefits this tournament brings to the town of Bideford.”

Proposed by Councillor Bone, seconded and:

RESOLVED:  That items 1, 2 and 4 from the proposals listed from Joma are financially supported.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0, Abstention: 1, Out of room: 1)

(Councillor Ms Farrington returned to the meeting).

b.    Councillor Powell moved the following Notice of Motion:

“That Bideford Town Council redirects the £40k earmarked for the Community Hub Project towards the public realm works at Jubilee Square/Cooper Street.”

Councillor Powell moved the following amendment to the Notice of Motion:

“That Bideford Town Council invests £40k from the regeneration budget towards the public realm works at Jubilee Square/Cooper Street.”

Proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded and:

RESOLVED:  That the motion is referred to the Staffing, Finance and General Purposes Committee.

(Vote – For: 16,  Against: 0)

023    BRIDGE TRUST

Councillor Lacey reported that all properties belonging to the Bridge Trust are currently let. Three business start up schemes were agreed during April.  He then briefed members on the income, expenditure and grants figures.

The business of the meeting having been concluded the Mayor thanked the members for their attendance at the meeting which concluded at 8.25 pm.





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