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Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 9 September 2021 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:

North Ward:

Councillor P S Christie
Councillor D Bushby (Chairman)

South Ward:

Councillor S Inch (Substitute for Councillor D Ratcliff from 7.00 pm onwards)

East Ward:

Councillor J Craigie (Substitute for Councillor Mrs R Craigie)
Councillor Mrs J Gubb
Councillor J McKenzie

West Ward:

Councillor Mrs K Corfe
Councillor D Ratcliff

IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)


034.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Mrs R Craigie (East Ward – personal)
Councillor P Lawrence (South Ward – personal)

Councillor S Inch noted that if Councillors cannot attend a meeting they should get a substitute. The Chairman and Committee Members agreed and asked that this be minuted.

035.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND ANY REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillor Mrs Gubb declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 14 (Husband is a seasonal Member of the Maintenance Team).

036.     PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION OF 15 MINUTES DURATION

No Members of the public were present at the meeting.

037.     MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor McKenzie and seconded, the minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0)

038.    CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS

• The Town Clerk advised that there is no longer a Bideford Branch of the Royal British Legion and asked whether the Town Council should organise the refreshments following the Remembrance Sunday Parade. It was agreed that the buffet should be organised by the Town Council.

• The Mayor advised that he and the Town Clerk had met with the supplier of an air exchange unit. The air is scrubbed within the machine and clean air is released. Members asked about the cost of the filters and who would change them. The Mayor advised that the filters could be changed in-house. Members also asked if the machine could filter out the Covid virus, and it was advised that it does. The Mayor will obtain some further information and costings and put this as an agenda item for the next SFGP meeting.

039.     ACCOUNTS

Members received the list of payments.

There was a discussion about payment number 29 – weed control, and the type of weedkiller to be used. The Maintenance Team would like to use Professional aquatic friendly roundup. This was agreed, but it was specified that although the weedkiller may be purchased, it should only be used as a last resort, with the team wearing full PPE, and only where other methods of removing the weeds are inadequate.

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McKenzie, and

RESOLVED: That the draft list of payments is approved

(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0)

040.     CHRISTMAS FREE PARKING

Members considered the parking costs for free parking in Bideford (from 10.00 am) in Bridge St., The Pill, The Manor and The Quay during the Christmas period and confirmed with the Town Clerk that the costings did not include Honestone Street.

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McKenzie, and

RESOLVED: That the provision of free parking at Christmas is agreed in as follows:

Sat 27th - Taken from free parking day allowance for Bideford
Sat 4th - TDC Small Business Day
Sun 5th - £1346.40 (Christmas light switch on)
Sat 11th - Taken from free parking day allowance for Bideford
Sat 18th - £1606.00

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

041.    POLLYFIELD PATH

Members considered the response from Advanced Pallets regarding the request to purchase/long lease the strip of land intended for a path construction.

As Advanced Pallets have advised that they wish to retain ownership of the land, some Members had concern about the liability to remove the footpath and fencing and reinstate the land should the agreement be terminated. It was felt that although this scenario is not very likely, it is a possibility.

Following discussion, it was agreed that if the lease can be drawn up without a specified time limit, albeit terminable by either party, but with a 12 month notice period, then this would be acceptable.

Members discussed which solicitor to engage and Slee Blackwell was agreed as the preferred option.

Proposed by Councillor Mckenzie, seconded by Councillor Craigie and

RESOLVED: That The Town Clerk writes to Advanced Pallets and requests that the Easement for the pathway is drawn up on an indefinite basis, terminable by either party, but with a 12 month notice period. Slee Blackwell Solicitors will be asked to draw up the lease.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0, abstentions: 1)

042.     GUILD OF MACEBEARER’S CONFERENCE 2022

Members considered the request from the Bideford Town Council Mace Bearer, to facilitate the hosting of the Guild of Macebearers’ Conference in February 2022.

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the request from the Bideford Town Council Mace Bearer, to facilitate the hosting of the Guild of Macebearers’ Conference in February 2022 is agreed.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

(Councillor Ratcliff made his apologies and left the meeting, Councillor S Inch substituted for Councillor Ratcliff).

043.     GAMES TABLES AND PICNIC BENCHES VICTORIA PARK

Members considered adopting the games tables/picnic benches planned for Victoria Park which will be provided by the Town Centre Partnership, once the relevant permissions have been obtained from Torridge District Council.

It was agreed that as the tables are very heavy and relatively vandal proof, they will only need to be covered for public liability rather than damage insurance.

The Town Clerk asked if they were fully funded, and suggested that if they are not, a sum of money could be put towards the tables from the Welcome Back Fund. This was agreed.

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Christie and

RESOLVED: That the Town Council adopts the games tables and picnic benches in Victoria Park once all the permissions are in place. The Town Clerk will check if they are fully funded and if they are not she will explore the possibility of a contribution from the Welcome Back Fund.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

044.    FORD WOODS

Members considered the fixed price quotation received for the annual boundary survey required at Ford woods.

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Craigie and

RESOLVED: That Glendale is asked to conduct the annual boundary survey.

(Vote: For: 7, Against: 0)

045.    FORD WOODS – ASH DIE BACK

Members considered the report on ash dieback within Ford woods, which recommends the production of a woodland management plan, and works within the woodland.

It was suggested that the Royal Forestry Commission may also be approached for advice.

Proposed by Councillor Craigie, seconded by Councillor Bushby and

RESOLVED: That the recommendations within the report are accepted and that a Woodland Management Plan is commenced.

(Vote: For: 7, Against: 0)

046.    NOTICE OF MOTION - COUNCILLOR P CHRISTIE

“The replacement of dead ash trees in Ford woodland.”

Councillor Christie advised that he had been researching ash die back, and in some instances the ash regenerates. He advised that the Woodland Trust were giving away free saplings, and these could replace any ash that was removed. Members discussed obtaining some whips and creating a nursery area (10m x10m was suggested), possibly within the woods or elsewhere to grow them on. Councillor Craigie advised that deer fencing would be required to protect the young whips. He offered to look for a suitable planting area. It was advised that Councillor Herron also has some saplings, and he could be asked if these could be planted within the woods as well.

The motion was amended to reflect the suggestions raised during the discussion.

Proposed by Councillor Christie seconded by Councillor Bushby and

RESOLVED: That the motion is supported with the Woodland Trust being approached for some free saplings. The Maintenance Team will be asked to plant the saplings within the woods in a nursery area which will be protected with deer fencing. Enquiries will be made with Councillor Herron about the availability of his saplings for planting within the woods.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

047.     MAINTENANCE OPERATIVES

Members received an update on the tasks undertaken by the Maintenance Operatives and noted the report.

The team were once again praised for their excellent work, particularly along Manteo Way, and in the Grange Road area prior to the Chudleigh Fort picnic day.

048.    PART II CLOSED SESSION

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Craigie and

RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed, the meeting moves into part II.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

049.    STAFFING MATTERS

There is a confidential Minute associated with this item.

050.    Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb and

RESOLVED: That the meeting returns to Standing Orders.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.30 pm.

 

Table showing the Accounts for approval at SFGP Meeting on 9 September 2021


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