Town Council Minutes 10 June 2010

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

Bideford on Thursday 10 June 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)

South (Outer) Ward:
Councillor A T Powell

East Ward:
Councillor Mrs C B Church
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)
2 x County Councillors

038    PRAYERS

On the invitation of the Mayor prayers were offered by Reverend Steve Hunt, Chaplain at Kingsley School.

039    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor D M Ratcliff (South Ward – Work Commitments).

040    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillors P S Christie, T J Johns, B Lacey and S G Inch declared a personal interest in agenda item 16. (Trustees, Bideford Bridge Trust).
041    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

042    MINUTES

a.    The Minutes of the Extra-Ordinary Meeting held on 19 May 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

b.    The Minutes of the Meeting (Mayor Introduction Ceremony) held on 8 June 2010 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 10,  Against: 0, Abstentions: 4)

043    MONTHLY UPDATE ON POLICING ISSUES WITHIN THE PARISH

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

b.    Sergeant Bassett reported the following incidents and items of note for the month of May 2010:

Criminal damage to dwellings    6
Criminal damage to vehicles    10
Theft from motor vehicles    3
Theft of motor vehicle    0
Burglary from dwelling    6
Burglary (other)    8
Common Assault    11
Assaults (with injury)    13
Section 18 Assault    4
Drunk and Disorderly    5
Hate crime    0

Sergeant Bassett reported that a lot of work has been done with regards Old Town Cemetery and hopefully the situation there has improved.  He also advised that the traffic department has been tasked with the vehicles which are speeding through Eastleigh.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments raised concerned the “Policing in your Neighbourhood” leaflet, whether the recent incidents at Ayres Close were connected and whether the 28 assaults reported by Sergeant Bassett were related, and how many were following the consumption of alcohol? He was also asked if any Licensees have been issued with fixed penalty notices recently, how often are the police present in the office at Pollyfield and whether there are any other such offices currently being manned?  Further questions and comments concerned whether the demographic origins of the offenders in Bideford had been identified and if persistent offenders can be banned from the area, a report of some unruly residents at Moreton Park and comments regarding the opening hours of Bideford Police station.  Councillor A T Inch then explained how the yellow card scheme worked for North Devon public houses.

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

044    MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLOR

a.    The Mayor welcomed Councillor Mrs Alison Boyle to the meeting.

b    Councillor Mrs Boyle congratulated the Mayor on his appointment to Office.  She advised the dates of several meetings connected with highway issues and reported that a travel plan has been put in place from Bideford College to Westcroft Junior School.  She has spoken to Highways about the parking concerns at Union Close and informed members about the forthcoming care provision at Clearwater House for a small number of children with emotional and social difficulties.  She then explained the adjustment to the catchment areas for Pynes Infants and Westcroft Junior Schools and the reasons behind these changes.  Councillor Mrs Boyle finished by saying that she has asked Morgan Ashcroft to keep her up to date regarding the impact of their work at the new college on traffic and the local area.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions raised concerned the location of Clearwater House, clarification of the changes to the admissions policy for local schools, and the request for a pedestrian crossing outside ASDA.

e.    Councillor Sam Robinson advised that Councillor Mrs Boyle had covered all areas in her report.

f.    Questions raised concerned the lack of a recycling collection service in Mill Street and other nearby streets, traffic issues at the corner of St. Peter’s Church and the suggestion of a 20 mph speed limit to make the area safer, traffic calming on Silver Street, and the possibility of extending the 20 mph system to the top of East-the-Water.

045    COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR

a.    The Mayor gave a précis of the events he had attended during the last month.

b.    The Town Clerk reported that Mr Mike Davy has retired as Mace Bearer after 16 years service.  A vote of thanks to Mr Davy was recorded for his loyal service to the Council.

046    ANNUAL RETURN

The Annual Return for the year ended 31 March 2010 and associated documents were received and approved.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)
 
047    MARKET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

048    PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

049    STAFFING, FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2010 were received.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

050    GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY

Proposed by Councillor A T Inch, seconded

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Ms Farrington represent the Council at Torridge District Council Green Infrastructure Strategy Event on 28 June 2010.

(Vote – For: 14,  Against: 0)

051    PARISH LENGTHSMAN

Members received the dates of the visit by the Parish Lengthsman in 2010.

052    BRIDGE TRUST

Councillor Lacey reported that the last Bridge Trust meeting had been quite short.  He advised that the Trustees are considering offering a field to the Council for allotments and the Town Clerk reported that the Council has registered its interest.  He then advised that the Bridge Trust has discussed demolishing the toilets at Old Town and has received some quotes for this work.  They are considering asking the District Council to share the demolition costs.  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 7.20 pm.





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

Sergeant Bassett reported that a lot of work has been done with regards Old Town Cemetery and hopefully the situation there has improved.  He also advised that the traffic department has been tasked with the vehicles which are speeding through Eastleigh.