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Minutes of the Staffing, Finance & General Purposes Committee (Grants) held in the Town Hall on Thursday 16 February 2023 at 6.30 pm
 
PRESENT:
 
North Ward:
 
Councillor D Bushby (Chairman)
Councillor P S Christie
Councillor T Johns (Substitute for Cllr Inch)
 
South Ward:
 
Councillor P Lawrence
 
East Ward:
 
Councillor Mrs J Gubb 
Councillor J McKenzie
 
West Ward:
 
Councillor Hawkins
 
IN ATTENDANCE:
 
Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk) 
Mr R D G Coombes (Deputy Town Clerk)
Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield (Town Clerk’s Assistant)
Councillor Mrs Langford
3 x Members of the public
 
Prior to the start of the meeting, The Chair introduced Mr Paul Swan, and advised that he has just accepted the position of Town Clerk with Bideford Town Council and will be starting the role in August 2023.
 
100.   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
 
Councillor Mrs Hellyer (East Ward – DCC meeting), Councillor Inch (South Ward – Illness).
 
101. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
 
Councillor Lawrence declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 8. (Up Close Theatre Trustee.)
 
Councillor Mrs Gubb declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 8. (She is a committee member of the Bideford Massed Pipes and Drums, Carnival Committee, Port of Bideford Regatta Committee and a member of the Youth Pipe Band.)  Councillor Mrs Gubb also declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 8. (Bideford Bike Show, Bideford No 1 OAPs., Bideford Bowling club, and Rotary Club, – Work involvement with the aforementioned organisations).
 
102. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
 
A Member of the public spoke about agenda item 7 – “To consider replacing the worn rope connecting the wooden posts at the Pill car park with lengths of chain.”
He said that he had been a Town Councillor when the posts and rope were first introduced by the Town Council.  They were specifically chosen to reflect the maritime connections with the town.  He conceded that as they are made of hemp, they had stretched and shrunk over the years, and now needed replacing.  He asked Members to consider replacing them with a mixed fibre robe, rather than chain, which he felt would be more in keeping with the heritage of the town.
 
103. MINUTES
 
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie and seconded by Councillor Christie, the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.  
 
(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0, abstentions:1) 
 
104. CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS
 
No items to report.
 
105. ACCOUNTS 
 
Members received the list of payments. 
 
Proposed by Councillor McKenzie, seconded by Councillor Bushby and
 
RESOLVED:  That the draft list of payments is approved.
 
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0) 
 
106. NOTICE OF MOTION 
 
To consider replacing the worn rope connecting the wooden posts at the Pill car park with lengths of chain. 
 
Councillor Bushby introduced his Notice of Motion and advised that the rope at the Pill car park needed replacing as it had rotted in places and become a trip hazard.  He suggested chain as the replacement material, as rope is expensive, and needs to be spliced to create the length required.  The chain he suggested is virtually identical to the chain found close by on the Quay and will be durable and easy to maintain.
 
Councillor Christie said that the posts and rope were first introduced by the Town Council following the Port Memorial improvements and were chosen to compliment the maritime theme of the Quay.  He advised that the lampposts along the Quay reflected ships masts, and the area was in close proximity to Rope Walk.  He felt that rope would be safer than chain from a vehicle and pedestrian point of view.
 
Councillor Christie proposed an amendment to the Motion and was seconded by Councillor Lawrence:
 
To consider replacing the worn rope connecting the wooden posts at the Pill car park with lengths of new rope.
 
Having considered the arguments raised, Councillor Bushby withdrew his original motion and advised he was happy for the amendment to become the substantive motion.
 
Proposed by Councillor Christie, seconded by Councillor Lawrence and
 
RESOLVED:  That the amended motion is supported.
 
(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0) 
 
107.  GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS 2022/23
 
Members considered each application received and made recommendations to Full Council for the award of grants from 1 April 2024, as detailed in the table below. 
 
 Grants page 1
grants page 2
Grants page 3
 

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor McKenzie and

RECOMMENDED: That the grant allocation of £59,681 as detailed in the above table with a contingency totalling £5,000, and making an overall total of £64,681 is agreed by Full Council. A further grant of £1,000 to the Atlantic Village Tourism Information Centre to be taken from the Tourism budget.

(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 7.25 pm.

SFGP accounts as at 160223

 

 

 
 

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