DRAFT Staffing Finance & General Purposes Committee Minutes 21 March 2024
Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Town Hall on Thursday 21 March 2024 at 6.30 pm
PRESENT:
North Ward:
South Ward:
Councillor S Inch (Chairman)
Councillor P J Lawrence
East Ward:
Councillor J McKenzie
Councillor Mrs L Hellyer
West Ward:
Councillor C Hawkins
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr P Swan (Town Clerk)
94. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Councillor D Bushby (North Ward, personal)
Councillor R Clarke (West Ward, personal)
Councillor J Gubb (East Ward, personal)
95. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND ANY REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
None.
96. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION OF 15 MINUTES DURATION
No Members of the public were present at the meeting.
97. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
The chair put forward the proposal that the clerk investigates commissioning two portraits of the Town Cryer to commemorate the 40 year anniversary in the post. One for personal presentment and one for the Mayor’s Parlour.
98. ACCOUNTS
a) Members received the list of payments.
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Lawrence and
RESOLVED: That the draft list of payments is approved.
(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)
b) Members received the request from the Maintenance Team Supervisor to employ the Seasonal Worker between May 2024 and November 2024.
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie , seconded by Councillor L Hellyer and
RESOLVED: To employ the Seasonal Worker between May 2024 and November 2024.
(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)
99. ALLOWANCES
Members received the report recommendations on Councillors Allowances.
Proposed by Councillor Inch, seconded by Councillor Mc Kenzie and
RESOLVED: To accept the recommended increases.
(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)
100. MANOR COURT PRESENTMENTS
Members considered the stated Manor Court Presentments:
1. For this Council to install 2 benches – one in the Pollyfield Park, below the Football Pitch slope, overlooking Bideford West. There is a great view from there. The second one to be installed in the Alverdiscott Park area facing the arena.
2. For this Council to write to Torridge District Council to request the Charles Kingsley Statue is cleaned. It is a lovely monument which is looking sadly very dirty.
3. For this Council to liaise with relevant stakeholders to leverage the newly granted Heritage Harbour status to maximise the advantage for the town – to work together to produce an information panel and a brown sign.
4. For this Council, as owner of the Ancient Woodland, to install display boards at both entrances to Ford Woods, showcasing the history of the old Zoo that used to be near it and acknowledging the Ancient Woodland status. The boards to include way marks giving information on trail locations/accessibility/distance.
5. For this Council to write to Torridge District Council to assess the Secrets of Bideford in the Quay Wall with a view to adding QR codes which would bring their awareness to visitors and those new to the area.
6. For this council to gain permission from Devon County Council to install a bench on the wide paved verges at the top of the High Street
7. For this Council to liaise with the Discover Bideford Team at Torridge District Council to encourage market organisers to bring some stalls more centrally into the Town.
8. For the Devon County Councillor for the area to take forward the reinstating of the “old lamp top” outside the Joiners Arms to match the other lamps in the Market Place area.
9. For this Council to set up an annual clearance programme outside of the nesting season, to ensure that the boundary between Tricks Allotments and Backaborough Lane is clear and that the shrubbery is cut back hard.
Members received the report proposed presentment.
Councillor L Hellyer questioned why we were still allowing presentments which Bideford Town Council had no influence over and if residents had issues with items under the remit of Torridge District Council or Devon County Council then they should be steered towards the relevant representative Councillor and not go through Town Council.
Proposed by Councillor Lawrence, seconded by Councillor L Hellyer and
RESOLVED: To accept the presentments.
(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)
101. FORD ROCK
Members considered whether to agree to the match funding with TDC for match funding of £2,500 from the 2024/25 project budget.
Proposed by Councillor Lawrence, seconded by Councillor L Hellyer and
RESOLVED: That the match funding be approved.
(Vote For: 4, Against: 1)
102. STANDING ORDERS
Members received the NALC Model Standing Orders, with amendments and corrected Market Committee Structure.
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Hawkins and
RESOLVED: To recommend to full Town Council to adopt the updated Standing Orders with amendments.
(Vote For: 5, Against: 0)
103. MAINTENANCE OPERATIVES
Members received an update on the tasks undertaken by the Maintenance Operatives.
Members passed on thanks to the team for their continued hard work.
The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 6:54 pm.
