Wivenhoe Town Council

MINUTES of the Meeting of Wivenhoe Town Council held in the Council Chamber on Monday 20 February 2012.

Present:  The Town Mayor, Cllr. R. Needham(Chairman), Cllrs:  A. Aldis, I. Endean, K. Hall, P. Kraft, N. Lodge, K. Read, F. Richards, A. Stinson, N. Tile and A. Vaughan. Borough Cllr. J. Manning. Mrs. A. Stinson (Town Clerk) Jason Cobb, Martin Newell and Jerry Davies of Radio Wivenhoe and  Two members of the public. 

Prior to commencement of business safety announcements were given.

1.  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.  Apologies were received from Cllrs. J. Campbell, B. Sinclair, County Cllr. J. Young and Borough Cllrs. M. Cory, S. Ford and A. Quarrie.

2. MINUTES. RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Council held on16 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. 

a) Radio Wivenhoe

A presentation on Radio Wivenhoe was given by Martin Newell and JerryDavies, which was received favourably by the Town Council.  Created nine months ago from studios in the Wivenhoe Business Centre it had now grown thanks to its 35 volunteers.  Next year it was hoped the enterprise could obtain a FM community licence.  At present it only broadcasts for 16 hours a day and can be listened to via the internet. Featured programmes to date are Wake Up to Wivenhoe, classical shows, 80’s music and spoken word.  A small advertising campaign had started and the Town Council agreed to assist by placing posters on the notice boards and on the Wivenhoe web site.  The Town Council also agreed to provide a Statement of Support for the venture. Cllr. Needham thanked Mr. Newell and Mr. Davies for attending.

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

a) Essex County Council:  Cllr. Young had sent a written report detailing that she had contacted ECC officers re the cycle path from the Fire Station to the University. There was change in that costs had reduced from £600k to between £165k and £245k depending on whether a Toucan crossing is installed or not outside the Flag Pub. Cllr. Young declared a preference to have the Toucan crossing as the need for this will increase when the new health centre is built.  Cllr. Young also met with Andrew Nightingale re Quayside café and whether funding for this path can be offset against the new car park. This is being discussed by CBC Planning officers. Borough planners will not allow change of use to student accommodation until there are some alternative community facilities available and Cllr. Young had tried to get the Institute to take the café on as a training ground for students but to no avail. Finally, Cllr. Young reported that she had met Highways officers, Police and residents re the accident at Alresford Road to see if proposals can be drawn up for a solution to this dangerous crossing spot. 

b) Borough Council:  Cllr. Manning reported that the University boundary covers 85% of Wivenhoe Cross ward, this meant that 85% of any S106 money should be contributed to Wivenhoe Cross ward and not channelled into Greenstead St. Andrews Ward.  Both he and Cllr. Cory would aim to ensure that Wivenhoe Cross ward does not lose out.

Cllr. Vaughan raised the issue that the University had not tackled any public transport issues in their application for the new multi-storey car park. Cllr. Vaughan would prepare a letter to Cllr. Young on the issue.

Cllr. Manning also reported that the planning application for Rosetta Close had been allowed with conditions, although it was a split vote; the Boundary Review at Myland Parish Council had gone through; the two applications for the University had been called in and a survey of local residents in the Cross area had been carried out.

Cllr. Lodge commented on the fact that although the Borough Council had managed to maintain a zero precept, the withdrawal of CBC’s parish grant to all Town and Parish Councils had resulted in the Town and Parishes having to raise their own precepts.  Cllr. Manning said he could not comment on this although he sympathized with the Town and Parish Councils over this. 

c) Public Transport Representative.  The written report received from Peter Kay was received and noted.  Thanks were expressed to Peter Kay for his report.  

Cllr. Read commented on rumours about Wivenhoe Station becoming an unmanned station. This will be closely monitored.

6.  COMMITTEE REPORTS.

6.1 Planning

a) Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on24 January 2012 were received and noted.  The application for the St. John Ambulance Hall had been called in. Cllr. Vaughan gave a report on the meeting held on14 February 2012 where the two University applications were discussed.

b) Cooks’ shipyard Wet dock:  Cllr. Read reported that a snagging list had been formed and was ongoing.  A site meeting had been held on 25 January 2012. 

c) Health Centre:  Cllr. Lodge was pleased to report that after 15 years the PCT had at last announced that progress is finally in place for a new Health Centre for Wivenhoe.

d) Resignation of Planning Committee member:  Noted the resignation of Cllr. Endean from the Planning Committee.  Cllr. Hall Agreed to take Cllr. Endean’s place on the Planning Committee. 

6.2 Personnel Committee.  Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2012 were received and noted.

6.3 Finance and Administration Committee.  

a) Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012 were received and noted.  

b) The recommendation of a loan of £2,000 from the contingency budget to enable the Diamond Jubilee Working Group to progress was AGREED.  After the festival the amount would be reimbursed.

6.4 Best Value Committee.

a) Notes of  the meeting held onMonday 6 February 2012 were received.

Items of Note: AGREED to loan an amount of £2,000 from the contingency budget to the Diamond Jubilee Working Group, which was to be reimbursed followed the event. 

7.  WORKING PARTY REPORTS. 7.1 William Loveless Hall Working Party:  a) Date of the next meeting Wednesday 29 February 2012. 

b) Gents’ toilet: Cllr. Kraft reported that the Town Clerk had been successful in obtaining a grant from the Borough Council’s Community Buildings fund for refurbishment of the gents’ toilet in the William Loveless Hall.

c) Wivenhoe Forum:  Members were concerned to read  comments on the Wivenhoe Forum concerning the current system of damage deposit for the William Loveless Hall. Cllr. Kraft said that this would an item for discussion at the next Working Party meeting.

7.2 Estates Working Party.  a)  Notes of the meeting held on30 January 2012 were received.  

b) The next meeting would be held on 27 February to which David Darlington and Celia O’Donnell of WAGA would be attending to receive a small presentation and thanks from the Town Council in recognition of their work and dedication to Wivenhoe’s allotments. 

7.3 Wivenhoe Wood Working Party.  Nothing to report.

7.4. Minibus Working Group.  The date of the next meeting would be on 8 March 2012 at 12noon. 

7.5 Youth Facilities Working Party. 

Cllr. Richards reported that the Hub were in the process of submitting a grant for a basketball court.  Cllr. Lodge said that the Town Council needed to be kept informed of progress as they might be able to offer assistance.  

7.6 Community Opportunities Group.  Notes of the meeting held on 15 February 2012 were circulated. Cllr Needham reported that the Town Council was almost ready to exchange contracts on 81/83 High Street.   Work on preparing the properties was well under way.

Concerning S106 matters the COG might need to review the wish list.  Following the May elections the S106 Agreement between Ward Cllrs would need to be re-enlivened.

7.7 Diamond Jubilee Working Group.

a) Notes of the meeting held on1 February 2012 were received.  Cllr. Needham summarized events to date on the KGV field and also reported on the Health and Safety issue of bunting raised by Essex County Council. 

7.8 Members’ Individual Proposals or Reports:

a) Mayoral Activities: Cllr. Needham reported on attendances at Wivenhoe Pantomime Group’s production of Robin Hood at the William Loveless Hal on 20 January; Wivenhoe Sailing Club Burns’ dinner on 21 January; re-launch of Broadfields Residents Association on 25 January; Wivenhoe Cubs Group judging the Cooking Competition on 31 January; Colchester Castle Park, planting of Oak tree by Mayor of Colchester to mark the 60^th anniversary of the Queen’s accession on 6 February and the Alresford Civic Service on 19 February.

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)  Standing Orders:  Cllr. Needham advised that the Annual Review of  Standing Orders and Financial Regulations will normally take place at the next Annual General Meeting and that the Finance Committee need to consider this at their next meeting.

e) WDSFT: Cllr. Lodge reported that he had attending a meeting of the Trust recently which was very positive. 

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 four memorials had been approved since the last meeting.  Three burials had taken place.   

8.2 NALC/EALC Communications.  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 snow clearance and gritting had been carried out by the groundsmen in certain parts of the town and that this had been much appreciated by residents, especially those inValley Road.  A start had been made on clearing the garden of 81/83 High Street.  Assistance had been given to the Pantomime in moving the flats and furniture from the Hall. The number of visitors to the Council Offices for the month of January totalled 192. 

 Members also expressed thanks to the groundsmen not only for their work on snow clearance but also on the redecoration of81/83 High Street. 

9.  FINANCE. 9.1  Current Financial Report

a) The January 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) CBC – Consultation on street services :  This had been circulated by email. Cllr. Richards would be contacting Betty Watson, CBC Street Warden. 

10.2 Conferences/Seminars.  

Cllr. Lodge reported on a Planning Roadshow he had attended recently. As part of the new  Localism Act the Community Action Plan now replaces the Town Plan and the Town Council need to consider updating their Town Plan as this would be beneficial for the future in obtaining grants.  AGREED that it be placed on the monitoring sheet of the Best Value Committee.

10.3 Notices.  Cllr. Needham reported on the following:

Wivenhoe Mayor’s Charity Events

Friday 24 February – Mayoral Variety Show, William Loveless Hall

Saturday 3 March – Mayor’s Ball, William Loveless Hall. Tickets sold out. 

10.4 Licences.    Nothing to report.

10.5 Highway Matters.    

a) Verge at Ernest Road: Cllr. Tile reported that the verges by the Co-op were being worn away by vehicles parking on them.  This would be raised with Highways and Cllr. Tile would also speak to the manager of the  Co-op about this. 

10.6 Press Releases.  

Press releases on the Police Houses; Diamond Jubilee Events; new Health Centre and the Mayor’s Variety Show have been issued. 

The meeting closed at 9.10pm.

CHAIRMAN