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Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee


Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee

held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bideford on

Thursday 17 May 2012 at 5.30 pm

PRESENT:

North Ward:

Councillor A T Inch
Councillor D Fulford
Councillor Mrs M P Fulford

South Ward:

Councillor S G Inch (Town Mayor)
Councillor P J Pester (Chairman)

East Ward:

Councillor S E L Clarke OBE 
Councillor R Vanstone
Councillor Mrs P Davies

IN ATTENDANCE:    Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)

001 ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN

Councillor Fulford was proposed by Councillor Vanstone and seconded

(Vote – For: 3, Against: 0, Abstentions: 5)

Councillor Pester was proposed by Councillor S G Inch and seconded

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0, Abstentions: 3)

RESOLVED: That Councillor Pester be appointed as Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.

002 ELECTION OF A VICE CHAIRMAN

Councillor Fulford was proposed by Councillor Pester and seconded

RESOLVED: That Councillor Fulford be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Committee for the coming year.

(Vote – For: 8, Against: 0)

003 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Mrs Brenton (North Ward- Personal)

004 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations of interest.

005 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

006 MINUTES

The minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 19 April were approved and adopted as a correct record.

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

007 CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS

•   The Chairman requested that members make themselves available to help with the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in the park on 4 June.
•   The Town Clerk asked if she should make some initial enquiries regarding bespoke training on Standing Orders and localism but was asked to defer this.

008 ACCOUNTS

The payments list was discussed.

Proposed by Councillor Vanstone, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the list of payments be approved.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

009 HART STREET

The Town Clerk presented the committee with the responses received from Councillor Robinson and The Highway Superintendent. The Highway Superintendent
has advised that an exploratory dig would be approximately £1,000.  Councillor Robinson has advised that he and the Highway Superintendent have assembled
a collective Traffic Order to take in a number of issues including Hart Street, the protection of the underlying cobbles pending a study to consider
how best to progress the enhancement of the town’s historic heritage.  Members considered this information and had the following concerns:

•   The area was dug up fairly recently and Members didn’t believe the contractor found any cobbles.
•   Members felt that this would not be a good use of tax payer’s money.
•   Concerns about disabled access and weeds coming through the cobbles.

Proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Council defers the investigation into this project as it is not the best use of rate payer’s money at this particular time.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

010 MANOR COURT

The updated actions  taken on the Manor Court Presentments for 2012 were discussed and the following supplementary actions  proposed:

Presentment 1.

Improvements to the Quay such as the cleaning of the inserts, and for better publicity given to the Heritage Inserts. 
The planting of beds already in situ and the statue of Charles Kingsley to be restored and cleaned.

The handyman will be asked to tidy up the quay area and floral beds as detailed in the presentment.  The Town Clerk will investigate the possibility
of Chapter 8 training for the handyman.

Presentment 4.

Lighting, dog and litter bins in the vicinity of Devonshire Park and Grenville Ridge.

Councillor Mrs Boyle has already done some work on this issue.  The Town Clerk will clarify the current situation.

Presentment 5.

Public footway from Londonderry Estate in a westward direction to parish boundary.

Councillor Pester reported that pavement is indicated on the plans for part of this route for the development of Moreton Park.

The Council cannot progress this presentment any further as it is beyond the remit of the Town Council and some of the land is in private ownership.

Presentment 6.

Improved access for pedestrians and cyclists from Mines Road on to Manteo Way.

It was reported that there is already a ramp and dog bin in this area, and to change the ramp as requested in the presentment would render it too steep.

Presentment 7.

Free parking

This request will be forwarded to Torridge District Council.  Councillor Mrs Davies will also raise the request at the car parking working group. 
In addition The Town Clerk will advertise £1.00 daily rate car parking at the cattle market car park and St. Mary’s School car park, and free parking
on the Pill on Saturday afternoon via the website and newsletter.  The Town Clerk was also requested to put Christmas Car Parking on the next
Staffing, Finance and General Purposes Committee agenda.

Presentment 8.

War Memorial

Councillor Clarke reported that he has been in contact with Torridge District Council and they support Bideford Town Council looking into a new scheme
for this area. It was agreed that a letter should be sent to Lord Burnett to find out the view of the Royal British Legion on moving the memorial.

Councillor A Inch queried why Manor Court presentments are discussed at the SFGP meeting rather than at Full Council. Councillor Clarke
advised that this decision was taken a few years ago as it is easier for a smaller group to discuss the presentments and also the
SFGP committee generally costs out projects before they are undertaken.

Councillor Vanstone asked that a guidance document for Jurors be drafted, so that presentments are not put before the Council which are not within its remit.

Proposed by Councillor Pester, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the Council take the required steps to action the presentments.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

011 FIRST AID PROVISION FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE

The Town Clerk presented the Committee with a quote from the Red Cross for the provision of First Aid on New Year’s Eve.  The quote is primarily for
first aiders rather than paramedics and she has been advised by South West Ambulance Service that the requirement for New Year’s Eve cover is for paramedics. 
The Town Clerk therefore recommended that South West Ambulance Service be engaged for New Year’s Eve at the level recommended by them.
Councillor Clarke requested the item be deferred so that he could investigate it further.

Proposed by Councillor Clarke, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the item is deferred to the next meeting.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

012 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT POST

The Town Clerk explained that the temporary contract for the Administrative Assistant will finish on 30 June 2012 and she would like to exercise the option
of making the current post holder permanent from 1 July 2012.

Proposed by Councillor Fulford, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the position of Administrative Assistant is made permanent from 1 July 2012 at the current remuneration level.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

013 CHUBB ROAD, EAST THE WATER, BIDEFORD

Members voiced concern that £10,000 S106 contribution is insufficient to provide and maintain a play facility for the 20 years envisaged. 
The Town Clerk advised that should they not sign the S106 agreement the Council would be in breach of contract.

Proposed by Councillor S Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED: That Bideford Town Council signs the S106 agreement albeit reluctantly for the reason stated above.

(Vote For: 5, Against: 4) (Chairman’s casting vote used to carry the motion).

014 CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS TO BE TAKEN IN PART II

Proposed by Councillor Fulford, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be discussed, it is advisable, in the public interest, that the public
be excluded for the reminder of the meeting.

(Vote For: 8, Against: 0)

(Councillor Mrs Davies left the meeting)

PART II (Closed Session)

015 COMPLAINT LETTER RECEIVED

The Committee discussed the contents of a complaint letter.

Proposed by Councillor A Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk replies to the complainant advising that the Committee considers that the matter has been fully investigated and is now closed.

(Vote For: 7, Against: 0)

016 EMPLOYMENT CLAIM UPDATE

The Town Clerk provided an update.

Proposed by Councillor A Inch, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That pv 77 is authorised.

(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 6.50 pm.

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


Signature of Chairman:  ……………………………………..  Date:  ………………………....

 


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