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Minutes of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 13 December 2018 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:


North Ward:

Councillor D Bushby (Town Mayor)
Councillor P S Christie (Deputy Town Mayor)
Councillor T J Johns
Councillor D A D McGeough
Councillor P J Pester

South Ward:

Councillor D G Brenton
Councillor J Day
Councillor A T Inch
Councillor S G Inch
Councillor R I Wootton

South (Outer)

Councillor D Howell

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs J Gubb
Councillor M C Langmead
Councillor J A McKenzie

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)
Mr R D Coombes (Deputy Town Clerk)
Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield (Town Clerk’s Assistant)
Councillor L Hellyer (DCC)
Mr M Pearce (Bideford Bay, Chamber of Commerce)
2 x Members of the Public

119.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillors Mrs P Davies (East Ward – illness) and Mrs R Craigie (East Ward – illness).

120.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillor Christie declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 19. (Member, Bideford Bridge Trust.).

121.     PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

There was no public participation.

122.    MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 November 2018 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

123.   ACCOUNTS

To approve the payments listed.

It was proposed by Councillor S G Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the List of Payments is approved.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

124.    DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL (COUNCILLOR) REPORT

a.        Members had received the report from Councillor Hellyer that included:

• Following an inspection, the repairs to the piers and under the arches of the Bideford Longbridge were declared to be in good condition. Some areas of the bridge parapets will need to be repointed.
• The Torridge Bridge expansion joints replacement has been completed.
• Yellow lines are now in place, including on the Hill in Barnstaple Street going up from Wooda surgery, on Pitt Lane and outside East-the-Water School.
• The Landslip is near completion – delayed by discovery of a well shaft!
• There are plans to improve the Heywood Roundabout.

b.        The Chairman welcomed Councillor Hellyer to the Meeting and invited her to respond to the Members.

• Dropped pavements (without splays and narrow entrances). Concern raised over apparent inconsistency of rulings with no definitive statement from the local Highway Officer. Issues have found neighbours in dispute (with each other).
o Belief that there has been a change to rulings.
• Double yellow lines. There was appreciation that lines had been introduced, however, it was clear that people are ignoring them by the School. In the interest of (child) safety the County Councillor was asked to address the issue (perhaps a number could be fined by way of sending out a positive message).
• Further parking concerns included parking outside designated areas on Barnstaple Street on the way out of Bideford.
o Traffic Management at County Hall will be addressing the issue.
• Further appreciation was given with regard to the Councillor’s prompt intervention to an issue in Silver Street. The drains are blocked, again, opposite the Scouts’ Hall.
o Do use the website or ring the call centre (0345 155 1015).

c.       The Chairman thanked Councillor Hellyer for her contribution.

125.   CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTATION

a.       The Chairman welcomed Mr Pearce to the Meeting and invited him to give his presentation on behalf of the Bideford Bay, Chamber of Commerce.

b.       Mr Pearce thanked the Mayor while greeting the Council Members.

He spoke of having attended a Bideford Business Event at the Bideford College where four new recruits took their members to sixty six; he conceded that there was a need to increase the Membership to establish a bigger mandate.

The Chamber funded a campaign to encourage local shopping; sixty three per cent of money spent stays local.

He had raised concerns over the Charity Shops not having to pay Business Rates with the Head of Paid Services at TDC. He was advised that their “new goods sales” are restricted to five per cent.

The Chamber have paid £3,500.00 to Merry Harriers Garden Centre, Woolsery in a joint venture with the Council for flower baskets in Mill Street.

He confirmed that he was resigning from the Executive (of the Chamber).

He referred to a recent (monthly) meeting where:

• The Head of Paid Services, TDC had presented the Local Plan.
• CCTV effectiveness is innately limited although a new rolling programme is in the offing.
• Free Wi-Fi in Jubilee Square has been implicated for the anti-social behaviour (although when switched off at night those users move to Morrisons).
o SS Freshspring too had suffered from anti-social activity.
o He noted the importance of reporting incidents to the Police.
• Recycling is up by ten per cent – there is much more to be achieved.
• Concerns over a multi-national coffee house chain moving into a prime Bideford location subsequently saw the President of the Chamber resign his position.

He spoke of there being a desire to see the (re)development of the Town Centre with opportunities to open up new trading opportunities.

He reiterated that Bideford needs positive people (to join the Chamber); all are welcome to the AGM in May 2019.

The Bideford Christmas Lights are fantastic!

c.    The Chairman invited the Council Members to raise questions / observations:

• The relocation of the Pannier Market to the Town Centre was not a new idea.
• There is a lack of provision and opportunity for multi-occupancy accommodation to engage fully in recycling not least the storage of the associated paraphernalia.
o The Planning Committee do insist on recycling provision.
• Confirmation from the Planning Department, TDC that an agent has been working on behalf of Costa Coffee with an application to develop the former National Westminster Bank building.

The Chairman advised that there is Government Money available for the redevelopment of Hight Streets; £25 million can be drawn upon where a Town has a plan. He accepted that nothing will happen quickly, if at all.

d.      The Chairman then thanked Mr Pearce for his contribution.

126.  COMMUNICATION BROUGHT FORWARD ON THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR

The Mayor advised that Mr Joyce has been the Manager of Bideford Football Club for twenty years; there was a suggestion by Councillor McGeough that his achievement should be recognised with a presentation of the Town Shield.

Following discussion, it was agreed that the suggestion be placed as an agenda item on the next Staffing, Finance and General Purposes Committee Meeting.

127.  STAFFING FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

072.  “To provide a grant of £1,500.00 to the Pollyfield Centre in order to sponsor the Commemorative Battles Over … Event held on 11 November 2018.”

Members reinforced their demand for receipted expenditure.

Councillor McKenzie’s proposal not to pay was not seconded.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 November 2018 were approved and adopted.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

128.   PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the Meetings held on 21 November and 12 December 2018 were approved and adopted.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

129.   MARKET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2018 were approved and adopted.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

 130.   TOURISM COMMITTEE

Councillor McGeough stated that he was not on the Tourism Committee, even though he received agendas and was incorrectly listed as a Committee Member.

a.        To receive the notes from the inquorate meeting held on 6 November 2018.

b.        To consider and resolve upon giving delegated powers to the Mayor, Chairman and Committee Clerk to progress the Decorative Bed planting project within the guidelines and budget previously agreed.

It was proposed by Councillor Howell, seconded and

c.         RESOLVED: That delegated powers are given to the Mayor, Chairman and Committee Clerk to progress the Decorative Bed planting project within the guidelines and budget previously agreed.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

131.    NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN STEERING GROUP

The Minutes from the 12 December 2018 Meeting will be presented at the Town Council Meeting to be held on 24 January 2019.

Councillor Brenton stated that Neighbourhood Planning Policy can impact upon the ratio of coffee and charity shops but can not influence the number of houses to be built.

132.   NOTICE OF MOTION

Submission by Councillor Bushby.

“The Provision of hanging baskets along Allhalland Street and in front of the Pannier Market to include the hanging brackets and a full irrigation system as part of the regeneration of Bideford Town Centre.”

Councillor Bushby indicated that it would be a continuation of the Mill Street scheme which will roll out in springtime, aided by the surplus money from the resurfacing works.

Councillor Howell seconded the Motion.

The Chairman stated that a basket took a litre of water a day – a minimal cost; the Co-op Food and Mr Blight had volunteered free water.

Councillor S G Inch advised that timing of the watering was important with regards to people and sunlight.

The Chairman replied that the baskets will be fed and watered by the contractor later in the day (he ventured an irrigation system).

The £4,100.00 would not include the contribution from the Chamber (Mill Street only).

Councillor McGeough in support of the Motion suggested that North Ward TDC Councillors might like to help with the water costs.
It was proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the Motion is supported.

(Vote – For: 14, Against: 0)

133.      TOWN CENTRE PARTNERSHIP

Noted.

134.      DALC

Councillor Brenton made reference to NALC, confidentiality and Town Councils websites.

135.      TAW AND TORRIDGE ESTUARY FORUM MEETING

There was no report.

136.      TORRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL – UPDATE

Councillor S G Inch advised that new car parking ticket machines will be introduced that offer the “pay by card” facility, minimum of three pounds transactions, in the Bridgeland, Pill and Quay car parks; they will still take cash.

137.      BRIDGE TRUST

Councillor Christie briefed Members on the income, expenditure, charitable donations and grants figures.

The Chairman asked that the Trustees be advised that the Council is grateful for the work of the Trust.

 

The business of the meeting having been concluded the Mayor thanked the members for their attendance at the meeting which concluded at 7.35 pm.


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