Wivenhoe Town Council

The new Town Council website will soon be going live and when this happens the Wivenhoe Encyclopedia will be found at www.wivencyclopedia.org 

The new address for the Town Council website will be www.wivenhoe.gov.uk

It is expected to go live in the next couple of days.

 

MINUTES of the Annual Town Meeting of Wivenhoe held at the William Loveless Hall, Wivenhoe at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15th  May 2013. 

Present:            The Town Mayor (Cllr. P. Kraft) (Chairman), Cllrs: R. Needham, F. Richards, K. Hall, K. Read, B. Sinclair, A. Vaughan, A. Aldis, I. Endean and N. Tile. Borough Cllrs. S. Ford, C. Liddy and M. Cory. County Cllr. J. Young. Town Clerk, Antoinette Stinson and Admin Assistant, Angela Daisley and         55 local residents

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. N. Tile, A. Stinson and N. Lodge and Mrs. Jean Coverley.

The Town Mayor, Cllr. Penny Kraft, welcomed all to the meeting saying how nice it was to see so many people present.  She stated that it had been a privilege to represent Wivenhoe as its Mayor once again even though this had been a particularly difficult year, with the issue of the Medical Centre still unresolved and the land in question, near Millfields, coming back into the frame.  This was now being considered by Elmstead Parish Council.  

Cllr. Kraft thanked all the members of the Town Council’s staff, who were named individually, for their help and support throughout the year, in particular the Town Council’s two groundsmen who undertake all sorts of jobs from cutting grass to clearing snow to refurbishing the toilets in the William Loveless Hall; to litter-picker James who does such a sterling job, and introduced the newest member of staff, Angela Daisley as part of the Reception team. Finally Cllr. Kraft thanked her two Mayor’s Escorts for their support during the year.

During her year as Town Mayor, Cllr. Kraft spoke about the various functions and events she had attended on behalf of Wivenhoe, (104 in total) in particular standing on the balcony of Colchester Town Hall watching the Olympic torch come down Colchester High Street; the Victorian Day at the 150^th anniversary of Wivenhoe Railway Station; the Diamond Jubilee events and, most unmissable, accompanying Colchester North Essex police patrol on call-out duties, which proved an insight into the work of our local police force. 

Cllr. Kraft then wished good luck to the incoming Mayor and Deputy Mayor for their year ahead. 

1/ Mayor’s Charity Fund and Presentation of Cheques.  Cllr. Kraft thanked all those who had so generously helped to raise money for the Mayor’s Charity during her year. An amount of £4,500 had been raised at a variety of successful events ranging from the Diamond Jubilee Ball, Wivenhoe Memories, the Mayor’s Ball, a day trip Birmingham Christmas Market, courtesy of Cedrics’ coaches, a curry night and the Mayoral Variety Show – all repeat successes of traditions begun in previous years. 

Cllr. Kraft then presented the proceeds of her Mayor’s Charity to the representatives of the following organisations:          

WAGA ; Stuart Pawsey Court; Wivenhoe Scout and Guides ; The Hub: Wivenhoe Bosom Pals; Wivenhoe Ferry Trust ; Essex Air Ambulance; Age UK Lunch Club; John Stewart for Wiv Memories;Wiv Gigs; St. Mary’s Church; Congregational Church; Methodist Church; St.Monica’s Church; Wivenhoe History Group; Little Avenue Pre School; Wivenhoe Pre School ;  Wivenhoe Toddlers Group; ADP; ColneBankSchool of Dancing; Monday Club; Moving Image; Sea Cadets ; Junior Badminton; Wivenhoe Youth Football Club; Wivenhoe Junior Cricket Club; Royal British Legion; Wivenhoe Regatta; Wivenhoe Christmas Lights; Wivenhoe Community Teas Group;       Total amount distributed £4500.  

Photographs were taken of each recipient of the Mayor’s Charity Fund. 

  The Hub receiving their cheque

Cllr. Kraft formally recorded her thanks to Jean Coverley for all her work during the Mayoral Year in covering the various events and taking photographs.

Regarding the new Wivenhoe History Group, former Town Councillor and Mayor, Mr. Peter Hill, explained to the meeting this new group, whose aim was to establish an internet based database containing all manner of historic information on Wivenhoe.           

2/ Minutes. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 9 May 2012 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a true record.  

3/ Matters arising from the Minutes. There were no matters arising.

4/ Annual Report. The Town Council’s Annual Report for 2012/13, previously circulated to all residents in the April edition of the Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Chronicle, was presented by Cllr. Kraft.

RESOLVED that the Annual Report be received.

5/ Financial Statement. The Town Council’s Financial Statement for 2012/13 was received and noted. 

RESOLVED that the Financial Statement be received.

6/ Points/Resolutions raised by residents. Two formal points had been submitted both from:

Name:             Mr. and Mrs. G. Strange.

Points:  2 Issues concerning wheelchair usage  - 1. Access to the Shelter on the Quay for wheelchair users, disabled people driving electric buggies and pushchairs is frequently blocked by vehicles parking opposite the British Legion building making it impossible for people to get safely to the shelter or to be able to use the ferry. Could the Town Council find a way of keeping an access passage on to the pedestrian part of the Quay from the highway section that would be suitable for wheelchair users and prams at all times.  

2. The disabled toilet can only be accessed with the use of a RADAR key but, beyond a certain time in the early evening, a steel barrier is also closed across the door making it impossible to open the door whether the user has a RADAR key or not. Could the Council consider not using the steel barrier so that a RADAR key can be used? Unfortunately, this is the only public disabled toilet in Wivenhoe, and I cannot easily use one of the restaurant/pub toilets.

Concerning point 1, Cllr. Read responded that Essex County Council Highways were looking into putting double yellow lines along The Quay and Cllr. Julie Young confirmed that she had also been involved with this couple about the issue and that she had requested that Highways put narrow double yellow lines along the highway area of The Quay.

Concerning point 2 this would be referred to Colchester Borough Council who operate the public toilets in the High Street car park.

There were no other points and resolutions submitted.

7/ Any Other Matters. The Town Mayor, Cllr. Kraft then thanked all who had attended, and formally declared the meeting closed.

The meeting ended at 8.00pm.

 

 Beating the Bounds – A sponsored walk in aid of Essex Air Ambulance

Starts from St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe.  1000  Sunday 12^th May 2013

Why ‘Beating the Bounds’ ?

The tradition of beating the bounds was a method of ensuring that all local youngsters knew the limits of their Parish. This came from a time when no one, except the rich, could leave the Parish without permission.  The activity took place at or near Ascension Day, which follows 40 days on from Easter Day.

Traditionally, the event involved Choir Boys, The Parish Clerk and Clergymen leaving from the Church, Parish Hall or School with wands or sticks. They would then process around the Parish where, at points on the boundary, they would beat flagstones, walls or hedges with the sticks. It does appear that sometimes the youngsters were actually beaten with the sticks to reinforce the message. (We won’t be doing that ! )

This guided walk takes between 2 ½ to 3 hours. It starts at St Mary’s Church where walkers have been invited by Rector Erwin Lammens for a blessing and a short prayer for our local community. It includes a Coffee ! stop at The Horse & Groom pub. This is the halfway point and convenient for anybody who wants to walk only half the distance.

We finish at The Greyhound.  

Sponsorship £10 with Full English Breakfast at ‘The Greyhound’ on completion.   (£3 without the food.)

 Register with Bob Needham (Breakfasts must be pre-paid orders)  01206 824446  noisybeggar@btinternet.com         1 Feedhams Close, Wivenhoe, CO7 9HZ

Cheques payable to Essex Air Ambulance 9653