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Minutes April 2007
BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2007 AT 7.30PM
IN THE CHAIRMAN'S SUITE, TOWN HALL, BRIDGWATER
PRESENT: Cllr PGH Parker (Mayor of Bridgwater - in the Chair) Cllrs MD Cresswell, BJ Gillard, JG Granter, DP Loveridge, JR Munn, WH Munn, Ms KE Pearce, DL Preece, KF Richards, Mrs GJ Slocombe, P Smeed and J Turner (JP)
Apologies: Cllrs Monteith, Moore and Needs
81/06 MINUTES:
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of Bridgwater Town Council held on 1 March 2007 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
82/06 MATTERS ARISING:
1. Cllr J Turner JP (Min 66/06) - thanked all members for the good wishes he had received following his recent operation.
2. ReCreation Centre (Min 70/06) - the Mayor confirmed that Children in Need funding had been obtained amounting to £93,000 over three years from 1 May 2007. Donations, including the Town Council's, had enabled the Centre to continue in the interim.
3. Blake 350 (Min 71/06.i) - the Awards for All application had been submitted. The launch had been successful. Tickets for the Royal Marine Band Concert would be available at the Sea Service.
RESOLVED: That to ensure the success of the programme, a proportion of the council's contribution be transferred accompanying a letter to Susan Hillier complimenting her enthusiasm.
4. Grants - Unitarian Chapel & Choral Society (Min71/06.iii) - grant acknowledgements received.
5. Town Centre Management (Min 71/06.v) - it was agreed to contribute the £2000 for 2006/2007 and with this to seek increased activity and an early rejuvenation of the Town Centre Partnership.
6. Bridgwater Parish Cluster Group Meeting (Min 73/06.3) - a brief report was made on the Cluster meeting and the issues addressed elsewhere in these minutes.
83/06 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING THURSDAY 12 APRIL 2007:
Members received a brief report on the Annual Town Meeting and the principal item, the subject of the presentation and discussion "Building Schools for the Future". Papers had been circulated to those members not present and a similar presentation made to the first meeting of the Stakeholder Group, attended by the Mayor as the Council's current representative.
84/06 PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS:
RESOLVED:
1.That the payments made since the last meeting recorded in the Town Clerk's Report dated 12/04/07 be approved and confirmed;
2. that following the Mayor Making 2007, all mayoral robes be cleaned and bagged for future use.
85/06: THORNCOMBE HOUSE PARKWAY (MIN 69/06):
Available ward members and the Town Clerk had met with the Portfolio holder to discuss the issues raised about Thorncombe House. A series of short-term issues and proposals for the medium to longer-term were under consideration, with a request for views from the Town Council. An assurance of continued consultation had been received.
RESOLVED:
1. That the Town Council await the outcome of the security report and consider a way forward with details of the options put to the new council;
2. that consultations should include the local stakeholders, including school heads, nursery, rollacoaster and local people;
3. that if new build is to be considered, an alternative should be provided for the current users before this is developed.
86/06 LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP:
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk approach the Chief Executive of SDC requesting a seat for the Town of Bridgwater represented by the Town Council in its own right on the LSP.
87/06 TOWN HALL AND ISLAND SITE (MIN 74/06):
Members took note of the decision reached by the SDC Executive, based on the various options and the report prepared in-house. Members complimented the report, welcomed the promise of full consultation and hoped that this cultural lead option would now move forward to the marketing exercise without further delay. There was a likelihood that a working group would be formed and, where necessary, member representation would be considered by the new council. Disquiet was voiced that there appeared to be no finance allocated for renovations to the frontage and members requested that the action proposed at the last meeting, then deferred pending consideration of the report, about the need to address the state of the building should be represented in a letter to the Chief Executive.
RESOLVED: Accordingly.
88/06 BRIDGWATER TOWN COUNCIL ACCOMMODATION TOWN HALL:
The Town Clerk reported on the terms based on those originally discussed, and approved in principle, which had now been offered for an initial two-year period. This included, and took into account, the provision of a new access to the Town Clerk's office, as presently located in the Town Hall, so as to make the Town Council's present accommodation self-contained.
RESOLVED: That the terms and conditions as reported be approved and signing of the lease authorised.
89/06 UNITARY STATUS FOR SOMERSET:
Confirmation had now been received that the Business Case put forward by SCC had been accepted by government and would go forward to stage two, which involved stakeholder and public consultation from April to June. Invitations had been received to various meetings to discuss the proposals, and similar invitations from SDC on behalf of 'Team Somerset' - basically the proposals by the district councils who were collectively opposing the bit for unitary status and supporting improvements in two-tier working. The Town Clerk and Cllr Smeed reported on their attendance at the Team Somerset Meeting and the action that was being proposed. This included a county-wide referendum to gauge public opinion and the County Council had been invited to join with this. It was noted that the stakeholders identified by government were largely national and regionally based bodies. Members accepted the importance of the Council's views being submitted, as it was yet not clear how the Town Council's role and responsibilities would be affected and operate under a Somerset-wide Unitary council. Little, if any, specific information had been forthcoming to-date, other than an indication that the SDC Cluster Groups may form a basis for consultation, etc. Thirteen areas across the Country were involved in the second round.
RESOLVED: That members be invited to glean as much information as possible for future discussion and if appropriate invite further representation from both County and District Councils to address the Town Councl.
(Cllrs Ms Pearce and Mrs Slocombe declared an interest as employees of the County Council and took no part in the vote).
90/06 SCC LOCAL AREA WORKING PANEL FOR SEDGEMOOR AREA:
Members re-examined their support for the four priorities, which had been discussed at the previous meeting and endorsed by the Bridgwater Cluster, in particular support for measures to tackle crime and resources for visible policing. Members also felt there was a vital role for the scrutiny committees of local authorities in this area of activity.
RESOLVED: That Safer Communities - Crime In The Community be put forward by the Town Council as the priority issue, followed by the three priorities emerging from the LAWP and ReCreation Centre be put forward as a priority scheme for support.
91/06 LA CIOTAT LINK SOCIETY 50TH ANNIVERSARY:
The Clerk confirmed that a copy of the application submitted to the European Union, together with details of the full programme for the visit to England by the french adult party had been received. A grant from SCC was also being sought. The programme, which involved the Town Council for specific functions, would be reviewed with the Mayor. Members re-considered their decision, in light of the information now available. Members considered it was essential that the celebration of the anniversary was given due worth.
RESOLVED:
1. That the Town Council act as guarantor and contribute/provide civic engagements for the La Ciotat visit;
2. that up to £6000 be sanctioned, inclusive of the guarantee and the £1500 allocation in the estimates, to be authorised by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Mayor;
3. that Town Council expectation is that further attempts to achieve further funding from other sources to promote the 50th anniversary will be made.
92/06 NOTICE OF AUDIT:
The Town Clerk reported that Messrs Moore Stephens had been re-appointed as auditors and the audit date for 2006/2007 was 30 June 2007. Additional audit compliance requirements arising from the increased income by precept in 2006/2007 would be taken into account through the internal audit.
93/06 MAYORAL ITEMS:
1. Town Council photograph - a photographer would take a picture of the Council at the conclusion of the meeting;
2. Town Councillors - the Mayor thanked the Town Council for the privilege of the office he held and for their contribution individually and collectively throughout his term of Mayoralty.
94/06 PUBLICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE:
The Town Clerk reported on correspondence and papers received and those included in the report.
RESOLVED: That the items be noted and actioned as appropriate, together with the additions below:-
1. Eastover and St John Street - further meeting of traders held on 26 March 2007 and proposal for CCTV location in St John Street being put forward for funding;
2. Clean Sweep Initiative (SDC) - Bridgwater town centre and follow up to town centre walk-about;
3. Somerset Primary Care Trust - meetings 21 March 2007 and 18 April 2007 - including review of programme for Bridgwater Community Hospital;
4. SLAC - invitation to join at fee including NALC contribution of £1924 - request from branch Chairman to be referred to new council;
5. Zurich Insurance - renewal of policy YLL-122005-0443 in sum of £1450.40 Insurance tax - payment authorised;
6. SCC library opening hours - options to be circulated to all members for comment;
7. Model Code of Conduct - new code to be adopted to be put to next meeting;
8. Bridgwater Cricket Club Sports Sponsorship - Saturday 30 June 2007;
9. Community Ward Grant Scheme - suspended pending election;
95/06 MEETING ADVICE:
The next meeting of the Town Council to be held on Tuesday 08 May 2007 at 7.30pm in order to prepare the new ouncil and confirm arrangements for Mayor Making on 11 May 2007.
96/06 EXEMPT ITEM - EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC:
RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the business recorded in Minute 97/06 on the grounds that this will involve the disclosure of exempt information, as defined in Section 101 Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972 as amended.
97/06 BRISTOL ROAD ALLOTMENTS AND ADJOINING LAND:
The Town Clerk reported that the transfer of the allotment land was progressing to finalisation.
In the meantime, he reported on an interest from a third party, expressed with the object of development of parcels of adjacent land. The Town Clerk explained the relationship of the various interests and the nature of the draft promotion agreement, which had been put forward by Strategic Land Partnerships. Having regard to the implications and ensure that Town Council objectives, including the retention of a large proportion of recreational space were met, the Town Clerk sought authority to take such legal, valuation and financial advice as may be necessary to protect the council's interests.
RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk be authorised to obtain such advice as is necessary to protect the council's position and to report to a future meeting.
The meeting finished at 9.40pm
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Signed
Chairman