Town Council Minutes 13 January 2011

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

Bideford on Thursday 13 January 2011 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 (Town Mayor)

South Outer:

Councillor A T Powell

East Ward:

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)
Mr  R D Coombes (Assistant to the Town Clerk)
Councillor S Robinson (Devon County Council)
Councillor P Pennington (Torridge District Council)
Inspector T Holmes (Bideford Police Station)
18 x Members of the Public
1 x Member of the Press

156    PRAYERS

On the invitation of the Mayor the Chamber was invited to partake in two minutes quiet contemplation.

157    APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors Mrs C B Church (East Ward – Work), T J Johns (North Ward – Work) and
D M Ratcliff (South Ward – Illness).

158    DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillors Christie, S G Inch, Lacey and Pester declared a personal interest in agenda item 14. (Trustees, Bideford Bridge Trust).

Councillor Clarke declared a personal interest in agenda item 9. (Advisor to Bideford and District Sea Cadets).

159    PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Two members of the public contributed to the Meeting.  One raised the question of snow and ice clearance from the pavement area along The Quay and asked where the responsibility lay. The second reported that road signs continued to be obscured by bushes and trees.  He raised concerns over the dangerous junction/exit from Solomon Drive into Devonshire Park and observed that while the lights had been switched on at the Olympic Stadium, they remain switched off in Bideford.

160    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 December 2010 were then approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 13, Against: 0)

161    MONTHLY UPDATE ON POLICING ISSUES WITHIN THE PARISH

a.    The Mayor welcomed Inspector Holmes to the meeting.

b.    Inspector Holmes reported the following incidents and items of note for the period 9 December 2010 to 8 January 2011:

The period since the last meeting has been busy with 84 crimes reported to police in the Bideford area across all crime types, in addition to this officers from the town have dealt with 536 incidents which vary in nature from silent 999 calls to reports of wounding and other serious assaults.  These figures show a reduction in crime on last year of 8.4% and the detection rate continues to be one of the highest in the Force at 35.8%.  If we include a category call offence brought to justice which are minor matters dealt with outside the criminal justice system we have detected 46.5% which is a good amount.

The festive period brought a slight rise in disorder in the town but in comparison to recent years the figures show a reduction in both demand and crimes reported. Extra patrols were mounted in the town centre to ensure both late night shoppers and early evening drinkers could enjoy the town centre with as little problem as possible. The cold weather and the recession may have resulted in fewer people using the pubs and clubs.

A number of drugs warrants across the area undertaken by the neighbourhood policing team have resulted in a number of seizures of varying quantities of both class A and B drugs with one incident of producing (growing) cannabis being detected.

Of the 84 crimes the following are numbers in crime types:

Assaults – 17
Public order offences – 5
Drunk and Disorderly – 8
Criminal damage – 7
Theft of M/V – 0
Theft from M/V – 4
Damage to M/V – 11
Arson – 2
Drink driving – 3
Burglary Dwelling – 3
Disqualified driving – 1

There will shortly be a new beat manager in the town centre, PC John Wright who is a very experienced officer, he has worked in the town for many years on CID and had applied for the role.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions raised included the impending closure of the enquiry desk at the Bideford Police Station, the implications thereof, the numbers of underage drinkers treated on New Year’s Eve, the follow up action and the serviceability of vital police equipment.

e.    The Mayor then thanked Inspector Holmes for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

(Councillor Christie left the meeting)

162    MONTHLY REPORT FROM THE LOCAL COUNTY COUNCILLOR

a.    The Mayor welcomed Councillor Sam Robinson to the meeting.

b.    Councillor Robinson thanked the Mayor, greeted the Chamber and updated members on the following issues:

•    Westleigh Junction including the timing of the decision process.
•    Bideford College update on fees.
•    Pannier Market Regeneration.
•    Snow precautions.
•    Deterioration of road surfaces
•    Street lighting

He further invited councillors to pass on their ward members’ concerns regarding the state of the roads in their area in order that he can compile and present a full report to the Council.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments raised included the paucity of salt bins, their replenishment, who should have access to them and the potential support for community self help schemes.  There was incredulity expressed at the debilitating effect of the weather on the more rural communities and the response from the authorities.  A demand was made for a strategic overview to realize better value for money.

e.    The Mayor then thanked Councillor Robinson for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

f.    The Town Clerk advised that he had contacted Councillors Hart and Hughes from Devon County Council inviting them to attend a meeting with members of both Bideford and Northam Town Councils in order to consider and best represent their concerns regarding the Westleigh Junction.  He also read out the content of en e-mail response from Councillor Cann on the subject.  He further advised that the Torridge Bridge is able to withstand static traffic and that it has a general inspection every two years and a principal inspection every six years, the last one having taken place in October 2009.

163    BIDEFORD COLLEGE

a.    The Mayor welcomed students and their teachers from Bideford College to the meeting.

b.    Six students gave details on their expedition to the Amazon Rainforest in Peru.   Members were advised that Operation Wallacea is a series of biological and conservation management research programmes that operate in remote locations across the world.  These expeditions are designed with specific wildlife conservation aims in mind; from identifying areas needing protection, through to implementing and assessing conservation management programmes.  They spoke on their experiences of traversing walks and rivers, the early starts and purposefully slow going given the heat and humidity.  The Loreto Reserve compared in size to Wales, however, concern was expressed at the evidence of large scale deforestation, the effect it was having on the indigenous population’s sustainable lifestyle and how it also broke with their spiritual beliefs.  During their two weeks accommodated on a ship the students also received lectures, collected and logged data and met and interacted with the largely friendly native Cocama Indians.  They were also able to see and work with a huge range of birds, animals and fish.

    In summing up their experience they judged that it had enhanced their life skills and developed them as people.  They further thanked the Council for their grant of £1,000.00 which helped enable the project to take place.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Comments raised included the effect the experience had on them, the influence on their future study paths, their moral approach when engaging with the natives and whether they had witnessed the cutting down of trees.
 
e.    The Mayor then thanked members of Bideford College for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

164    BIDEFORD & DISTRICT SEA CADETS

a.    The Mayor invited representatives from the Bideford and District Sea Cadets to address the Council.

b.     Mr van Kuffeler thanked the Mayor for the opportunity to address the Council and introduced Mr Mark Tinsley to speak on their behalf.  Mr Tinsley spoke at length on the invitation to the Council to match fund £250,000.00 to fabricate a purpose built building on the present site of the Sea Cadets’ accommodation in Victoria Park.  He spoke on the make up of the Sea Cadet Charity, the ethos and its importance in preparing young people for their respective futures.  The Bideford Sea Cadets, he advised numbered 35 with 12 members of staff; the numbers being restricted by the size of the current building.  He stressed that the building would be available to the wider community, the Sea Cadets only requiring it for two nights a week.  They would be responsible for running costs, the maintenance and insurances.  Should the Council take on the project a councillor would be invited to join the Cadet Management Committee.

c.    The Mayor then invited members to submit questions.

d.    Questions and comments included the length of the present lease, exploration of further funding streams, the Council’s commitment to the community at large and the prudence of committing to and the servicing of a substantial public works loan using taxpayers’ money.  Could other buildings/area be explored?  Further debate centred on how best to forward the Council’s response, while the Town Clerk cautioned that the Council must have something tangible on which to base it decision making.  He also agreed to liaise with Mr Tinsley prior to arranging the ideal forum to resolve upon the issue.

e.    The Mayor then thanked the representatives of the Sea Cadets for attending the meeting and updating members accordingly.

165    COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR

The Town Clerk advised that he had sent an e-mail to all councillors requesting nominations for Manor Court Jurors and re-iterated the criteria required to sit on the Manor Court as a juror.  Any further nominations were required by 17 January 2011.

(Councillor Clarke left the room)

166    MARKET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2011 were received and adopted.

(Vote – For: 11,  Against:  0)

167    PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 January 2011 were received and adopted.

(Vote – For: 11,  Against:  0)

(Councillor Clarke returned to the room)

168    STAFFING, FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2010 were received and adopted.

(Vote – For: 12,  Against:  0)

169    BRIDGE TRUST

Councillor Lacey advised that Mr William Isaac had been elected as the new Chairman and that Councillor Christie had produced some DVDs of note.  He further 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 8.45 pm.




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

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BIDEFORD TOWN COUNCIL

 

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: ………………...............

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