Temperature 13°c (55°f)
Clouds are
Few Broken
Humidity 71%
June 2009
BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL
Report of the Town Clerk to the meeting on 11 June 2009
1. PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS:
The following payments have been made since the last Meeting:-
April and May (Sec 137 payments = * )
Salary recharge - April and May £3515.48
SDC payroll service charge £192.35
Town Mayor's Allowance - Half year at Mayor Making £3337.50
BWW Mayor's invitations £55.72
Seminar Cheltenham inc travel £155.00
Avon and Somerset Constabulary - grant for asb video £2000.00 *
BT (1984) FC Corporate Sponsorship 1 of 2 + hospitality £911.25
SDC NNDR Quantock Road Cemetery £2255.25
SDC NNDR Bristol Road Cemetery £1818.75
King Square memorial - new plague (part grant funded) £2012.50
Graham Coles - Town Crier - donation to Charity £50.00
CJ Couriers (safe transportation) £57.50
BJ's Cleaning Services - window cleaning £20.00
MBS - Minutes £14.95
Bridgwater Key Services - Cadet medal engraving £12.00
Northcliffe Media - Town Guide and Museum advert £1201.75
Thomas Fattorini - Past Mayor Badge £178.70
Somerset Film - payment 75% grant from Awards for All £6989.25
Zurich Insurance premium £12533.11
Pardoes - legal fees Museum and Old Mill Transfer £3450.00
Petty Cash £100.00
SDC Telephone charges - March £23.74
SDC Franking machine charges - March £26.75
(£40911.55)
Museum Expenditure is subject of item in Sub-Committee Report item 14 *
INCOME - Credit SDC overcharge £500.00
2. MATTERS ARISING from PREVIOUS MINUTES: Brief reports on the following:
Min 103/08.l Bridgwater Challenge - Meetings of the Partnership Board were held on 12 May and 02
June 2009. The draft options appraisal report has been produced. Forum Workshop 2 was held on
20 May 2009 as a continuing part of the Community Engagement process and the full report is now
available from that. Next is further drop-in sessions on 13 June at No 11 High Street and 14 June at
the main marquee at the Water Festival at Bridgwater Docks.
Min 103/08.III Skate Park and facilities - The proposals have been considered by the SDC Grants
Panel for RLT 2 and 3 funding. This followed agreement at the Cluster Meeting to support the
application for RLT 3 funding for the main proposal at The Leggar and the applications for
the two mocro-sites subject to local consultation and other relevant factors including siting and interest of
exisiting park users. I submitted prior to the Grants Panel a reminder of the Town Council position and
support and the funding of £20K earmarked for the main facility at the Leggar.
3. PROGRESS ON MATTERS ARISING FROM BUDGET AND PRECEPT 2008/9 - BUDGET AND
FACIILITY AND SERVICE SUPPORT (Min 105/08):
I shall update members on specific items contained in the previous Minute(s) as below:
Blake Museum - The transfer and agreement were signed on the 15 May 2009. The Town Council
Sub-Committee met on the 18 May 2009 and the report is item 6 on the agenda. I would recommend
as in my previous report that a Sub-Committee is reappointed in 2009/10 to continue the work with the
volunteers and Friends of the Museum who have taken on responsibilty for day to day management and
operation and as the move is made to create a trust.
The appointment of Natalie Watson as the Curatorial Advisor has been confirmed.
Cemeteries - In connection with the transfer the only current issue is the rationalisation of the electricity
supply and accounts for asupply at Quantock Road cemetery where there is presently a dispute with
EDF. This is being resolved.
Trinity Hall - Following the decision of the SDC Executive the Town Council have been offered a long
lease (125 years) at a peppercorn. This is on the basis of continuing operation as a centre for public
hall and community purposes available for public hire. A copy of the Heads of terms offered is attached.
Further information has been supplied following concerns about root growth affecting sewers on site
which confirm the work completed to deal with the problem. A decsion will be required in the light of the
position adopted previously with regard to taking over the hall.
4. TOWN HALL ISLAND SITE (THIS PROJECT) (Min 106/08):
The report to the SDC Executive has not yet been presented and matters have not really moved forward
since the previous report as minuted. It is however becoming clear that the complete Cultural Centre
proposal and new build is unlikely to materialise at this time and works are likely to be confined to the
renovation / refurbishment of the exterior of the building, making the building wind and watertight with
works to the roof etc and, possibly, some interior works largely to the main hall and facilities. Some
unused office space may be brought back into use. It is possible the report to SDC Executive will be at
the end of this month. In the meantime the Cultural partners including the local user groups have via
the Development Trust Association advisory scheme worked on the preparation of a memorandum of
Articles and the draft of objects etc necessary to establish a Company Limited by Garantee or similar
charitable organisation which would give a future working structure. This document will be ready for
examination shortly. The Town Council's position vis-a-vis that organisation and a future role over and
above the exisitng lease of accommodation for the Mayor's Suite and Offices can then be determined.
5. NOTICE OF AUDIT 2008/9:
Given the timetable for the audit it may be necessary to authorise either the Finance Committee due to
meet before the end of the month or the Mayor and Chairman of Finance in conjuction with myself as
Responsible Financial Officer to sign off the accounts for submission to audit. Report would then be
made to the next ordinary meeting in the usual way.
6. ALLOTMENTS IN BRIDGWATER:
Members will have seen recent press reports and letters relating to the need for additional allotments
in the town in light of lack of supply. I have requested detailed information from the Bridgwater Allotment
Tenants Association in relation to take-up and vacancies on each of the ten sites and the number on
waiting list both in terms of generally and site specific requirements. It is true we regularly receive
requests for plots which are then referrred to the Association but the detailed information is required to
assess the actual need.
7. APPOINTMENTS 2009/10:
Members are invited to consider appointments for the coming year. The current list of appointments
with additions made during the year is as follows:
Finance Committee - Cllrs. Cresswell, Downes, Granter, Parker, Richards, Mrs Slocombe, Smeed and Turner.
Planning Panel - Cllrs. Downes, Monteith, Munn, Parker, Ms Raven, Smeed and Turner
Museum Sub-Committee - Cllrs Granter, Smeed and Turner
Blake & Gilbert Charity - 5 - Mrs Briscombe, Ms Pearce, Mr JRB Taylor for four years from 2008 and Cllrs Richards and Turner for four years from June 2007
Brent Marshall and Mansfield Charity - 5 - Mrs Briscombe and Cllrs. Preece and Turner for four years from November 2008, Mr WH Munn and Cllr Richards for four years from June 2007
Tamlin Charity - 4 - life term - Mayor and Deputy Mayor (by designation), Mr Adrian Moore and Cllr Richards
Towell Charity - 2 - life term - Ms Pearce and Cllr Smeed (commenced June 2006)
King James Exhibition and Scholarship Endowment Charity - 1 - Cllr Parker (from 2009 on)
Bridgwater/La Ciotat Link Society - 1 - Cllr Richards
Bridgwater/Homberg Society - 1 (President) - Cllr Granter (as Mayor)
Bridgwater/Marsa Society - 1 (President) - Cllr Granter (as Mayor)
Bridgwater/Czech/Slovak Friendship Society (UH Twin) - 1 - Cllr Loveridge
Wyndam Lecture Trust for the Parrett of Bridgwater - 1 - Cllr Cresswell
Town Centre Partnership (Christmas Committee) - 1 - (now defunct formerly Cllr Richards)
Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce and Trade - 1 - Cllr Parker
Bridgwater Heritage Regeneration Partnership - 1 - Cllr Smeed (Deputy Cllr Granter)
Bridgwater Arts Centre (Board of Directors) - 1 - BJ Gillard (previously as observer now full Board Member)
Bridgwater Challenge (Board Member) - 1 - Cllr Downes (sub Cllr Smeed)
BCI Partnership - 2 - Cllrs Downes and Turner
Somerset Cultural Forum - 1 - Cllr Parker
Cluster Group (SDC) - Cllrs Hall, Parker, Ms Raven and Turner and Town Clerk
Westover Green Community School - minor LA Governor - 1 - Mrs EH Hudson
Bridgwater Transport Strategy Review - 1 - Cllr Monteith (continuation to be checked with SCC)
Blake Museum Management Committee - 2 - Mr Briscombe and Cllr Richards (now defunct)
Internal Auditor - 1 - Mrs Geri O'Loughlin
Hinkley Point (ex-Liaison Committee) site stakeholder group - 1 - Cllr Downes
Building Schools for the Future - Stakeholders' Board - 1 - Cllr Parker
SDC Standards Committee Town & Parish member (1 of 3) - Cllr Monteith (elected by local councils)
Grievance & Disciplinary Panel - Cllrs. Cresswell, Munn, Ms Raven, Granter (Mayor) and Mrs Slocombe
Appeals Panel - Cllrs Richards (Deputy Mayor), Loveridge and Turner
8. GRANT APPLICATIONS:
Grant submissions have been received or are expected because forms have been requested in respect
of: ACTS Theatre Group, Arts Centre (Street party), Sydenham Netball Club, Bridgwater Flower Show
Society and Bridgwater Visually Impaired Bowling Club - 3 members representating England and Ward
Grant for Sydenham (Marina Juvenile Carnival Club. These are normally referred to Finance
Committee.
AGENDA ITEM 10. PUBLICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE:
For decision
1. Sedgemoor Retail Seminar 17 June 2009 6pm - 8pm Sedgemoor Auction Centre - representation
2. Conservation Day - Invitation to members to presentation of Civic Trust Film 'A Future for the Past'
in conjunction with Civic Society and Mayor of Bridgwater 29 July 2009 at the Charter Hall
3. Public Sector Duties - Equality Bill obligations, existing and proposed for 2011
For information
4. Wembdon Road Cemetery - guided walk undertaken on 26 May 2009 - thanks to Miles Peterson.
5. SDC Corporate Strategy 2009-14
6. SDC Customers and Communities Directorate Plan 2009/10
7. Eastover Park Sports Project - progress and grant award
8. Bridgwater Heritage Regeneration Partnership 28 April 2009
9. Bridgwater Walking and Cycling Map - new edition
10. BSF Update 2 and decision on site at Queenswood Farm for replacement Haygrove and Penrose
11. Splash - correspondence opposing closure and replacement and closure of eatery
12. Somerset NHS PCT Meeting - 22 April 2009
13. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival Committee - notice of proposal for additional shed at Bristol Road
14. Bridgwater Cluster Group Meeting 25 March 2009
15. Bridgwater/Marsa Twinning Association 01 April 2009
16. Bridgwater-Homberg Link Society 14 April and12 May 2009
17. Voluntary Sector Training Alliance Ltd - Spring -Summer programme
18. Insurance Seminars (LCAS) 2009
19. Cornhill replacement paving works
20. SALC papers
21. SLCC Meeting
22. Speed Indicator Devices - schedule issued
23. Civic Society Newsletter
24. SCC Highways Environmental Maintenance Information Sheet (2009)
25. Magazines, other newsletters and product information.
(Background documents to items listed in this section Agenda Item 10 are available in the Town Clerk's
Office)
Alan Hurford
Town Clerk 04 June 2009