Wivenhoe Town Council

Acquisition of the site of the former Police Station by Wivenhoe Town Council is drawing to a close.

In an extraordinary move the Town Council has secured the site, which is of crucial and strategic importance to the town owing to its central location and the fact that it adjoins the William Loveless Hall, already owned by the Town Council.   The  potential to combine with existing facilities and create a lasting and useful  asset for the people of Wivenhoe is enormous.

This is a wonderful opportunity to secure a bright future for the site. An opportunity to do something that will benefit the people of Wivenhoe and meet their expectations. In the immediate term, the properties will enable the Council to provide much needed family housing in the town.

MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 19 December 2011.

Present:     The Town Mayor, Cllr. R,Needham(Chairman), Cllrs:  A. Aldis, I. Endean, K. Hall, P. Kraft, N. Lodge, F. Richards, B. Sinclair, A. Stinson, N. Tile and A. Vaughan, Borough Cllrs. S. Ford and J. Manning, County Cllr.J. Young, Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk), Jason Cobb, Press: Will Lodge, Member of the public: Harriett Young. 

Prior to commencement of business safety announcements were given.

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. J. Campbell, K. Read, Borough Cllr. A. Quarrie and M. Cory.  Members expressed their condolences to Cllr. Read and his wife Hayley on hearing about the sudden loss of her father.

2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on21 November 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES.   None.

4.  POINTS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.  None.

5. REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY AND BOROUGH     COUNCILS.

a) Essex County Council: Cllr. Young wished everyone at the Town Council a Happy Christmas and  reported on the Safer Colchester Project, which would last for 3 months in this area and was a result of the Community Day of Action;  one issue raised was problematic parking at Millfields School, which had already caused one child to be injured in a traffic incident;  concerning the 20mph zone, Tracy Chapman was now portfolio holder at County Council and it was hoped that approval would eventually be given; the bus shelter at Rectory Road had been installed, which was good news;  procedures for the closure of Martin’s Farm landfill site was going ahead, despite objections;  concern was raised for the future of the Philip Road Centre now that the students under the Student Support Scheme were being relocated, it was hoped that the site would not be relinquished and Cllr. Young had suggested user groups liaise with each other to ensure the future of the Centre.

Concerning the waste processing plant consultation the quarry at Fingringhoe had not been selected as a possible site, but this could all change if any of the other sites chosen proved unsuitable, Cllr. Young would maintain a watch on progress. Cllr. Tile was formulating the Town Council’s response to the consultation, which included disruption to the quiet enjoyment of the river and noise pollution.

Cllr. Lodge said that the Town Council also needed to monitor the situation re the Philip Road Centre and would maintain contact with Jill Lockbowen and Ken Smith of the  Myland Student Support.  The actual building came under the remit of Essex County Council Property Services department.

b) Borough Council:  Cllr. Ford reported that the planning application for 58 Queens Road had been called in and also reported on the CDOA which took place on Thursday 24 November. In total 6.5 tonnes of rubbish had been removed, 3 new litter bins put in, 10 areas of graffiti removed, parking, speeding, dog fouling, overhanging trees and bushes and litter were other concerns dealt with.  Cllr. Stinson mentioned that the tree roots protruding from the pavements in Stanley Road had still not been dealt with.  Cllr. Ford would follow this up.

Cllr. Manning wished all a Happy Christmas and reported that the work on Clingoe Hill to the Knowledge Gateway junction had now opened; the Uof E planning application for student accommodation for 420 flats had been called in on environmental issues and lack of parking.

Cllr. Quarrie had sent a written report advising that she had received a response from Bernard Jenkin MP stating that he had written to Anglian Water, the developers and Colchester Borough Council to progress this matter and also to look into a short term parking solution for the residents.  

Cllr. Quarrie had also sent a copy of a letter she had received from Highways to the Rose and Crown PH advising that tables and chairs which were causing an obstruction to road users on the highway would have to be removed. 

c) Public Transport Representative.  A written report had been received from Peter Kay which was circulated. A review of 61/62 timetable will be carried out in the New Year and the 74 and 76 weekday timetables are to be altered from January 8.  A notice on Christmas Services will be put up in the bus shelters.

6.  COMMITTEE REPORTS.

6.1 Planning:  a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 6 December was received and noted.  

b) Cooks’ shipyard Wet dock:  Cllr. Sinclair reported that the working group were meeting on Wednesday 21 December to progress matters further on the mooring agreements

c) Section 106 (Cooks’) Working Party:  Cllr. Sinclair reported that Taylor Wimpey had started work on the dinghy park.

d) Health Centre:  Cllr. Lodge said that this was still ongoing.

6.2 Personnel Committee.  a) Minutes of the meeting held on 30 November were received and noted. A Cllr Training Day had been held on Saturday 10 December which was very productive.

6.3 Finance and Administration Committee.  a) Minutes of meeting held on 14 December 2011 were received and noted.

b) Budget Recommendations:  Cllr. Lodge briefed members on the work which the Town Clerk and Mr.Len Horner  had carried out to produce a budget reflecting the purchase of 81/83 High Streetand the reduction in the Rate Support Grant from Colchester Borough Council.   

The recommendations of the Finance Committee were AGREED in principle and the Virements APPROVED from this year’s budget to complete the purchase of 81/83 High Street.

Members expressed their thanks to Mr. Horner and the Town Clerk for all their work in preparing this budget.

6.4 Best Value Committee.  a) Notes of  the meeting held on Monday 5 December 2011 were received.

Recommendations: Jubilee Garden – an amount of £3,000 had been bequested to the Town Council some years ago for a rose garden.  Agreed that this amount be set aside for a rose garden area within the Jubilee Garden.

7.  WORKING PARTY REPORTS.

7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party:  a) Notes of the meeting held on Wednesday 7 December 2011 were received.

Cllr. Kraft reported that the new décor of the newly refurbished Wyvern Room had been spoilt by a party held on Sunday 18 December and that the cost of redecoration would be deducted from the damage deposit paid by the hirer.

7.2 Estates Working Party.  a) Notes of the meeting held on 28 November 2011 at 7.30pm were received.

b) Cooks’ Wet Dock: Cllr. Richards said that a walk around the site would need to be arranged with the Town Council’s groundsmen in order for them to assess maintenance requirements for the Wet Dock site. 

7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party.  Nothing to report.

7.4. Minibus Working Group.   A meeting would be scheduled shortly. 

7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party.  Cllr. Richards would be contacting The Hub to talk to them about the future of the Philip Road Centre. 

7.6 Community Opportunities Group.  Cllr. Needham reported that the acquisition of 81/83 High Street was proceeding, although the question of the rear boundary was causing a delay at the moment.

Regarding S106 monies the Group was concentrating on identifying projects in order to harness some of the S106 funds.  It was Agreed that the Philip Road Centre be added to the COG’s list. 

7.7 Diamond Jubilee Working Group.  a) Notes of the meeting held on 17 November 2011 were received.  Cllr. Needham summarized events to date on the KGV field. 

Concerning the Diamond Jubilee Garden funding application a presentation would be given at the next Best Value meeting.  To date the concept of the application had been well received by Cory Environmental.

b) The next meeting would be held on 11 January 2012 at 7.30pm. 

7.8 Members’ Individual Proposals or Reports:

a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Needham reported on attendances as follows: Thursday 24 November – Community Day of Action, briefing session; Friday 25 November – Town and Gown dinner at the Nottage Institute; Saturday 26 November at 10.00am – Methodist Church Christmas Fayre; at 11.00am – Arrival of St. Nicholas at Wivenhoe Quay and distribute sweets to the children of Wivenhoe’ 1230pm- St. Monica’s Church Christmas Fayre; Thursday 1 December – Christmas late night shopping and switch on of Christmas Lights; Saturday 3^rd December – Congregational Church Christmas Tree Festival; Monday 5 December – Brightlingsea Cinque Port Deputy Choosing; Tuesday 6 December – W.I. Christmas Party; Wednesday 7 December – Anglia Ruskin University: Design Studies; Friday 9 December – Colne C S & College: Cinderella Pantomime; Saturday 10 December – WTC Councillor training session; Wednesday 14 December – staff Christmas lunch; Thursday 15 December – AgeUK Luncheon Club; Thursday 15 December – Elmstead Parish Council Liaison meeting; Friday 16 December – Over 60’s Christmas Lunch; Friday 16 December – Congregational Church: Lessons and Carols. Total 17 attendances.

b) Community Safety and Police Matters:  Cllr. Endean reported that he and Cllr. Lodge had attended the meeting on 24 November.  Matters discussed were lack of policing; increase in thefts from cars and an increase in metal theft, especially catalytic converters from vehicles.  The Chairman of the Group would like to attend a Town Council meeting at some stage and this was welcomed.

c)  NAP report: A full report of the CDOA was circulated to all members.

d) CALC: Cllr. Needham reported that he would be attending the meeting of the Rate Support Group at Rowan House on Wednesday 21 December.  Both Tiptree and West Mersea Town Councils had been contacted about the loss of the Grant and concurred with the Town Council that the loss of the Rate Support Grant would in effect cause a much higher precept figure for next year and the year after. 

8.  TOWN CLERK’S REPORT.

8.1 Burial Grants and approval of memorials. The Town Clerk reported that one Burial Grant had been issued and no memorials had been approved since the last meeting.  One burial of ashes and two interments had taken place.    

 8.2 NALC/EALC Communications.  December DIS communications and Making the Links communications and newsletters from both NALC and EALC were both available in office for members to read.  Electronic versions had been emailed to members where available.

8.3 Work Management.  a) General: The Town Clerk reported that holly and greenery had been cut for St. Mary’s Church.  Christmas lights had been put up outside the William Loveless Hall and the Council Offices and the crib had been put out in front of the offices.  The refurbishment of the Wyvern Room at the William Loveless Hall had been completed.  The number of visitors to the Council Offices for the month of November totalled 231.  

 9.  FINANCE.

9.1  Current Financial Report. a) The November spending and income Report was received and noted. 

b) 2012/13 Budget:  Draft Estimates of Income and Expenditure had been produced reflecting increases generated by the reduction in the Parish Grant.

AGREED in principle therefore that, based on a total expenditure of £257,058 the precept for 2012/13 would be £172,860 which produced a rate of £60.77 compared with last year’s figure of £55.27, reflecting an increase of 9.95%. and £5.50 per Band D Council tax payer.

c) Virements: The  following Virements from Reserves in regard to acquisition of 81/83 High Street were AGREED:   Contingency - £6150; Structural Reserve - £8000;  Community Opportunity Group – £1000;  Cemetery Reserve -£4500;  WL Hall Reserve - £4500;  Outdoor Equipment Reserve  – £1750;         Community Arts Centre  - £1700.

9.2 List of cheques numbered 503627 -503652 drawn since the last Town Council Meeting was approved and signed.  

9.3 List of Payments made from the Imprest Account since the last Town Council Meeting was approved.

9.4    Motions Under Standing Orders Recommending Expenditure.  None.

9.5 Appeals for Financial Support.  None.

10.  NEW BUSINESS.

10.1 Correspondence.   There was none.

10.2 Conferences/Seminars.  None. 

10.3 Notices.   Nothing to report.

10.4 Licences.    Nothing to report.

10.5 Highway Matters.  

a) Co-op Lorries: Cllr. Tile reported that he had spoken to the manager at the Co-op who advised that the incident of the lorry traveling down Manor Road was a one-off incident and that it should not happen again.   Members thanked him for looking into this.

b) The Avenue Bus Stop:  Town Clerk to raise with Highways the issue of the depression in front of the bus stop near the Doctor’s Surgery which formed a large puddle during wet weather, consequently causing passengers to be sprayed with water by passing cars.

10.6 Press Releases. 

The meeting closed at 8.22pm.

                                                                                            CHAIRMAN

At the close of the meeting an invitation was extended to all join the Mayor and Mayoress at their home for festive refreshments.