MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 16 January 2012. Present: The Town Mayor, Cllr. R. Needham(Chairman),Cllrs: A. Aldis, J. Campbell, I. Endean, K. Hall, P. Kraft, N. Lodge, K. Read, F. Richards, B. Sinclair, A. Stinson, N. Tile and A. Vaughan, Borough Cllrs. S. Ford, J. Manning, A. Quarrie and M. Cory,County Cllr.J. Young, Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk) , Jason Cobb, Peter Kay, Public Transport Representative. Prior to commencement of business safety announcements were given.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. None.
2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on 19 December 2011 and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 4 January 2012 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 New Year and reported that following the traffic accident involving a child at Millfields School she had met with parents and was pushing Essex County Council to visit the site in regard to this issue; ECC Libraries were conducting a new pilot across the county involving library staff visiting those residents who fail to return borrowed books on time; the closure of the Quayside Café was also a disappointment as many residents had been making good use of this facility, especially when using the riverside walk; LEA were working through changes in schools provision in Essex; Cllr. Lodge asked about the cycle path from Colchester Road to the University and Cllr. Young commented that there was £11m of unspent S106 money, to which Cllr. Young had put forward a shopping list for, one of which was the cycle path. The matter was now with the Highway Panel and Cllr. Young would keep any eye on it to see how it develops. Concerning the Philip Road Centre Cllr. Young said that there was not any immediate danger of it closing.
b) Borough Council: Cllr. Cory also wished everyone a Happy New Year and reported that he would be attending the Broadfields Residents Association meeting on 25 January at the Flag PH at 7.30pm. He also reported that a planning application for Rosetta Close had been called in as the application unduly affected surrounding residents. There was some graffiti on the Mede Way play area, which would be looked at. An elderly lady had suffered a fall on uneven pavements and Cllr. Cory was dealing with this. Concerning the LDF Tendring Local Plan it appeared that Tendring had got further with this than at first thought and that it was not intended to take forward the proposals indicated earlier on.
Cllr. Ford reported that the planning application for 58 Queens Road would be going before Committee next week. Concerning the Wivenhoe Fair Trade Sign Cllr. Ford had been advised by Highways that additional signage was not allowed to be bolted onto signs already in situ. Tree roots along Ernest and Stanley Road had also been a matter which Cllr. Ford along with Cllr. Stinson were dealing with. A large Cherry tree had already been taken down and would be replaced by a smaller variety of tree although the offending roots of the original tree still protruded from the pavement, causing a problem to pedestrians, Cllr. Ford would look into this. Cllr. Ford was also very concerned about the accident at Millfields School; resulting from the CDOA it was hoped that a dog bin could be put by the Wivenhoe Business Centre. Cllr. Sinclair mentioned that tree roots were also a problem along the pavements in Manor Road.
Cllr. Read raised the matter of S106 forms which had been emailed to Cllr. Ford, to which a response was still awaited by Bob Penny at CBC. Cllr. Ford would look into this. Cllr. Kraft reported that following the CDOA the old litter bins which had been replaced were being held in store at the Council yard.
Cllr. Manning reported that Myland Parish Council were going through a Boundary Review; the planning application for the Knowledge Gateway had been deferred on inadequate disabled parking grounds and progress was trying to be made to further the application.
Cllr. Read said that concern had already been expressed for the environmental impact of sewage from an extra 400 houses at this development but Cllr. Manning responded that this had already been brought up and was part of the reason for deferment.
Cllr. Quarrie reported that she had chased Bernard Jenkin MP on matters concerning the Persimmon site and had been assured by his office that letters had been put in the post. Cllr. Quarrie would let the Town Council know as soon as she received a copy of the letters. Cllr. Quarrie also reported that she had attended a meeting at Fingringhoe re the Ballast Quay Waste proposals.
c) Public Transport Representative. A written report had been received from Peter Kay which was circulated. Cllr. Needham thanked Peter Kay for attending the meeting.
6. COMMITTEE REPORTS.
6.1 Planning. a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 3 January were received and noted.
b) Cooks’ shipyard Wet dock: Cllr. Sinclair reported that the working group had met last Wednesday to look at the Fisherman’s Store. The group would now produce a snagging list which would be brought up with Taylor Wimpey. It was noticed that a resident had started mooring a canoe on the dockside. Cllr. Sinclair feels that this should be allowed to continue until the Dinghy Park is functional. The owner of the canoe can then be asked to relocate the canoe within the Dinghy Park. Cllr. Read had been appointed Chair of the working group.
Concerning the development Cllr. Lodge said that it was important that all members familiarized themselves with the development to fully understand the issues under consideration.
c) Health Centre: Cllr. Lodge said that there was nothing to report.
6.2 Personnel Committee. Cllr. Read reported that a meeting would be arranged shortly.
6.3 Finance and Administration Committee. a) The next meeting of the Finance andAdministration Committee would be held on 26 January 2012 in the Town Clerk’s office, due to the Council Chamber being in use.
6.4 Best Value Committee. a) Notes of the meeting held on Wednesday 4 January 2012 were received.
7. WORKING PARTY REPORTS.
7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party: a) Date of the next meeting Wednesday 29 February 2012.
b) Wyvern Room: Town Clerk reported that the cost of the work required to redecorate the Wyvern room, following a party was being calculated in order to be deducted from the hirer’s damage deposit.
7.2 Estates Working Party. a) Date of the next meeting would be 30 January 2012 at 7.30pm.
b) Cooks’ Wet Dock: Noted that a walk around the site with the Town Council’s groundsmen to assess maintenance requirements for the Wet Dock site had been held.
7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party. Cllr. Sinclair reported that coppicing was being carried out by the railway line, in accordance with the usual practice.
7.4. Minibus Working Group.
Cllr. Read reported that a meeting had been scheduled earlier in the day, but unfortunately was not quorate. Another meeting had been arranged for Thursday 8 March at 12 noon in the Council Chamber. The sign for the garage door would be replaced. Drivers also needed to collate their instructions on the familiarization sessions in order for a checklist to be prepared by the office. Cllr. Read also reported that in addition to the very generous donation from the Wivenhoe Quay Quilters received in November, a further donation had been received from the Wivenhoe Over 60’s Club in recognition of the vital service the bus gives to the Over 60’s Club. The Town Clerk would send a letter of thanks to the Chairman of the Over 60’s Club. A letter of thanks had already been sent to the Quay Quilters by Cllr. Needham.
7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party. Cllr. Richards would be arranging a meeting shortly.
7.6 Community Opportunities Group. Notes of the meeting held on12 January 2012 were circulated. Cllr. Needham summarized the attendance of Annemarie Naylor, Head of Assets at a London based charity who spoke about redundant unused public buildings which could be acquired by the community. In particular the group would find out if community ownership of the Philip Road centre might be viable. Cllr. Needham also spoke about the purchase of 81/83 High Street which needed progressing but was being held up by a boundary issue. Cllr. Needham would contact the Town Council’s solicitors the next day to progress matter.Concerning S106 matters the COG were concerned that some issues were not progressing and the correct procedures, i.e. tracking and logging needed further research. Cllr. Read said that he was attending the meeting of BRA and it was hoped that the residents would indicate what sort of facilities they wanted to see at Broadfields.Cllr. Lodge advised that for each S106 funding application a business plan and costings would be needed for each request.
7.7 Diamond Jubilee Working Group.
a) Notes of the meeting held on11 January 2012 were received. Cllr. Needham summarized events to date on the KGV field and also reported on the concept of the Community Jigsaw, which had been well received by the Working Group.
Concerning the Diamond Jubilee Garden funding a visit had been made by a representative of Cory Environmental who considered the application very favourable. A decision would be taken by Cory on 17 January 2012.
b) Funding: Cllr. Lodge, Chair of Finance, questioned as to where the funding was to come from within the Town Council’s budget and Cllr. Needham responded that items needing funding at present were the provision of portaloos. The Town Clerk had secured funding of £200 from Celebrate Your Fete. Cllr. Needham hoped that the Town Council’s contingency fund would be able to provide the initial outlay, which it was hoped would be replaced after the event.
c) The next meeting would be held on 1 February 2012 at 7.30pm.
7.8 Members’ Individual Proposals or Reports:
a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Needham reported on attendances at Carols on the Quay on 20 December and the Wivenhoe Society Post Christmas Dance on Saturday 7 January 2012.
b) Community Safety and Police Matters: Cllr. Endean reported that the next meeting would be held on Thursday 26 January 2012 at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber.
c) NAP report: Nothing to report.
d) Colne Estuary: Cllr. Sinclair reported that he had attended a meeting at Fingringhoe where the main topic discussed was the waste processing plant consultation. Cllr. Tile reported that the legislation on infill was very complex and there could be a possibility of a plant to crush asphalt which would cause a threat to Wivenhoe from noise and dust. Cllr. Tile would respond appropriately with the Town Council’s concerns.
Cllr. Manning said that the Borough Council had already submitted their response and he would obtain a copy for the Town Council.
8. TOWN CLERK’S REPORT.
8.1 Burial Grants and approval of memorials. The Town Clerk reported that no Burial Grants had been issued and no memorials had been approved since the last meeting. One burial of ashes had taken place, although this week three interments had been booked.
8.2 NALC/EALC Communications. December/January 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 since the refurbishment of the Wyvern Room, damage had been caused by a private party and the room has had to be redecorated again; Christmas lights had been taken down; the Holm Oak in front of the William Loveless Hall had been pollarded and a damaged tree in the New Cemetery removed. Several trees and branches had been cleared by the groundsmen on the KGV field, following high winds. Several other trees had also been reported as having wind damage, but following inspection by the Town Council’s groundsmen these trees had been identified as being in Clifton Terrace, not on the KGV field. The number of visitors to the Council Offices for the month of December totalled 120.
9. FINANCE.
9.1 Current Financial Report. a) The December spending and income Report was received and noted.
9.2 List of cheques numbered 503666 -503674 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.
a) Philip Road Centre: Members received the letter from Michael Padmore concerning the future of the Wivenhoe Centre. Agreed that Cllr. Needham respond to Mr. Padmore encompassing the presentation given to the COG.
b) Orienteering Event: The request received from Essex Stragglers to hold an event on 11 November 2012 using a segment of Wivenhoe Woods was AGREED. It was noted that permission had already been given from CBC and the University of Essex.
10.2 Conferences/Seminars.
Cllr. Needham reported that a letter from EALC had been received thanking the Town Council for their hospitality at the training day on 10 December 2011.
10.3 Notices. Cllr. Needham reported that there was to be a quiz at St. Mary’s Church on 4 February if the Town Council wished to enter a team.
Wivenhoe Mayor’s Charity Events
Friday 24 February – Mayoral Variety Show, William Loveless Hall
Saturday 3 March – Mayor’s Ball, William Loveless Hall.
Saturday 21 April, Dennis Stratton of Iron Maiden, William Loveless Hall
10.4 Licences. Nothing to report.
10.5 Highway Matters.
a) Co-op Lorries: Cllr. Tile would speak to the Co-op again about the lorries using Ernest, Manor and Stanley Roads.
b) New Pedestrian Crossing at The Avenue: Members noted that this pedestrian crossing had now been completed and it was AGREED that a letter of thanks be sent to Highways.
10.6 Press Releases.
A press release on the Pedestrian Crossing – ‘the community of Wivenhoe working together for the safety of Wivenhoe’ would be prepared.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm.
CHAIRMAN
