Minutes of a Meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 30th September 2008.

PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor – Cllr R M M Tisdale

Members - Cllrs Mrs P Biggs, Mrs A J Boyle, Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S Collins, J Braund, A Eastman, B M Edwards, P Hames, R J Johnson, C K Langton, R W A Miller, R H Osborne together with 3 parishioners.

Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllr S R Robinson

1. 15 Minute period for public contributions

Mrs Avery from Appledore Residents' Association advised the Members that maintenance of the Blackies Plantation was not being undertaken, the grass was being cut but other areas left unattended. The Town Clerk advised that the proposed lease between the District Council and the Town Council had never been entered into and the property was still the responsibility of the District Council. It was RESOLVED to contact the District Council with a view to resolving the problem.

(Vote: Unanimous)

2. Minutes

The minutes of the Town Council meeting held 29th July 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

3. Minutes of the Town Projects Advisory Committee held 19th August 2008

Cllr Miller, as Chairman of the Committee, presented the various recommendations and advised as follows: -

In respect of festive lighting he was hopeful that lights on walls in the village centres could be provided. This would require the necessary brackets and he asked his fellow Councillors to approach the various business owners to seek their consent. He anticipated that there would be three Christmas trees, which would hopefully have solar powered lights but this was subject to a trial which he was currently undertaking.

With regard to street cleaning Cllr Miller wished to propose that the allowance for a street cleaner, previously considered at 2.5 hours per week, should be increased to 5 to 6 hours. Members were concerned that the street cleaning in Northam was not up to required standard with many areas being neglected and it was RESOLVED to increase the commitment for street cleaning in the village from 2.5 hours per week to 6 hours per week.

(Vote: Unanimous)

It was further RESOLVED to accept the remaining recommendations of the Committee as presented.

(Vote: Unanimous)

4. Minutes of the Finance Advisory Committee held 19th August 2008

Cllr Edwards, as Chairman of the Committee, presented the recommendations and advised as follows: -

With regard to Northam Burrows passes he advised that the Committee were recommending an increase from £10 to £12.

Cllr Miller asked for a recorded vote and it was so RESOLVED .

(Vote: Unanimous)

On being put to the meeting it was RESOLVED to increase the cost of a pass from £10 to £12 for 2009.

(Vote: 11 For, 2 against)

Those for were: Cllrs Biggs, Boyle, Braund, Collins, Cox, Eastman, Edwards, Hames, Langton, Osborne and Tisdale.

Those against were: Cllrs Miller and Johnson

The Chairman of the Committee further advised that the income from Burrows passes would be spent on the Burrows.

With regard to the contribution towards coastal protection works Members were advised that the Club had received consent from Natural England and had received quotations for the work, the lowest of which was £7,700. In view of this Members reviewed their previous stance and it was RESOLVED to advise the Golf Club that the Council would forego next year's payment in respect of topping of the fairways up to £2,500, this to be an unconditional offer.

(Cllr Miller declared a Predjudicial Interest in the above item being a member of the Golf Club and left the meeting whist this matter was debated)

(Vote: 8 For, 3 against, 2 abst)

It was further RESOLVED to accept the remaining recommendations of the Finance Committee as presented.

Cllr Miller left the meeting at this juncture.

5. Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 20th August 2008

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 20th August 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

6. Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 27th August 2008

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 27th August 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

7. Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 27th August 2008

The minutes of the Special Meeting of the Town Council held 27th August 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

8. Notice of Motion from Cllr Mrs Cox – “That the Council considers the proposed settlement areas for Northam Parish.”

Cllr Mrs Cox advised that this was not now so urgent. However, the proposal for the additional housing in the Torridge area could be met by substantial numbers going to Holsworthy and Bideford with some to the rural areas. She was also anxious to reinforce the planning documents to ensure that the rural gap between Northam and Appledore was maintained and she asked for her fellow District Councillors to support this at the forthcoming meeting.

9. Notice of Motion from Cllr Mrs Cox – “That the Council considers wildlife corridors.”

Cllr Mrs Cox advised on the necessity of providing areas for wildlife and she was hopeful that areas of churchyards, public parks, roadside verges and areas of people's gardens could be allowed to go wild.

10. Notice of Motion from Cllr Langton – “ That this Council considers adopting a form of identification which would enable Members to be identified as representatives of Northam Town Council when undertaking official or representative duties. These could be in the form of ties, scarves or lapel badges.”

Members considered the Notice of Motion which was generally supported and it was agreed that Members should have a choice of the appropriate form of identification. It was RESOLVED to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

(Vote: Unanimous)

11. Town Clerk's Report

(a) Monthly Financial Report – The Town Clerk presented the monthly financial report that included payments for this month and it was RESOLVED to accept.

(Vote: Unanimous)

(b) Quotations for Notice Board

The Town Clerk advised he had obtained a quotation for a replacement notice board at Northam Library. Members thought that other carpenters would be able to provide a more competitive quote and they undertook to approach them. It was also agreed for Robeda to be asked for a price.

12. Streetworks and related matters

Members' items

(i) Cllr Johnson advised that more litter bins were required at Westward Ho! and this was something the licensing authority could require businesses to provide.

(ii) Cllr Mrs Boyle was concerned about the amount of litter that gathers along Churchill Way near Marshford and the junction with Staddon Road.

(iii) Cllr Mrs Collins was concerned that the grass on Heywood Road roundabout was not picked up after mowing.

(iv) Cllr Eastman expressed concern about the amount of dog mess and asked for a letter to be sent to the Enforcement Officer at Torridge District Council requesting early morning patrols.

He was also concerned that a number of dropped kerb crossings provided in Appledore for wheelchair users were inaccessible due to parked cars. He asked for a letter to be sent to Devon County Council.

(v) Cllr Mrs Biggs was concerned about the plastic sheeting wrapped around a lamp post at Heywood Road roundabout.

(vi) Cllr Hames advised that the litter along Churchill Way was an ongoing problem which needed a regular clear up. He also advised that the highway forms to claim South Road slipway as a public right of way have been circulated and he hoped people would return them. With regard to the Bell Slip the signs were now up.

With regard to the rubbish dumped on the South Road slipway he had reported the matter to the Environmental Officer at Torridge District Council.

(vii) Cllr Osborne was concerned about the Happy Birthday messages that were displayed on the Heywood Road roundabout. These were a distraction to motorists and unlawful. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council requesting appropriate action to ensure that these signs were promptly removed.

(Vote: 10 for, 2 against, 1 abst)

(viii) Cllr Edwards reported that the toilet direction sign on Appledore Quay needed to be re-aligned. He was also concerned about the condition of the trees and plant pots on the quay and it was agreed to write to Torridge to see what could be done.

He praised South West Highways for the excellent and speedy works at One End Street and also advised that he had previously met with a County Council representative with regard to dropped kerbs as referred to by Cllr Eastman and that some had been lined but that others would be dealt with at a future date.

13. Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West 2006 to 2026

Cllr Hames reported that his final comments on the Strategy had been e-mailed to all Members. Cllr Mrs Collins also advised that she had e-mailed Members with aspects of the Strategy that she proposed be addressed in the response. It was agreed that Councillors Collins and Hames would finalise the report for the next planning meeting on 15th October, prior to that they were to send the draft to the District Council in order that they had the Town Council's comments in time for their meeting.

14. WRVS

Members considered a letter from WRVS who were looking for a grant. It was RESOLVED to refer this to the Finance Advisory Committee for consideration with authority to act.

(Vote: Unanimous)

15. On Street Recycling

Members considered a letter from the District Council who were seeking to put recycling banks in Westward Ho! It was RESOLVED to agree the siting as Westward Ho! car park and also to request that the possibility of recycling cardboard be investigated.

(Vote: Unanimous)

 

 

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