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Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 27th April 2004
PRESENT: Chairman- Deputy Town Mayor – Cllr L Ford Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, J A Bell, R D Bradford MBE, E J Davies, A Eastman, P Sturges, P Waters, T Williams together with Inspector Pepper, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and 5 Parishioners
Apologies were recorded on behalf of The Town Mayor, Cllr A Barnes and Dr P Tamplin
1. Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 30th March 2004 were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2. Matters arising
(a) Min 2 – Sewerage at Westward Ho!
Members noted a letter from South West Water advising that the Rocks Nose outfall was not subject to the 3 times per bathing season criteria.
(b) Min 5(c) – Over grazing appraisal of Northam Burrows
Cllr Bell reported that the Taw Torridge Estuary Forum had received a presentation from English Nature on the SSSI’s. Northam Burrows had a very poor score on their assessment criteria and the point had been made to English Nature that this was not as a result of over grazing but human impact.
(c) Min 6(b)
Cllr Sturges reported that the Asset Management Group on the District Council, which also now comprised Councillors, would be looking afresh at the proposal for flats on the Westward Ho! main car park.
(d) Min 8 – Community Renewable Energy Projects
Cllr Mrs Cox asked those Members who had not done so if they would complete the Energy Form she had previously circulated.
3. Appledore Skateboard facilities
Mrs Ewington advised the Members on the history surrounding the provision of the skateboard facilities at the Churchfields car park site. The aim had always been to provide a modest facility for younger children. The site was a safe meeting place for young people and had all the necessary facilities. They had good co-operation with the District Council and they were under the impression that it was a partnership whereby the local committee would fund raise and access grants and the District Council would encompass it within their general budget for the maintenance of play areas. Problems had arisen when the District Council had required the committee to take a lease of the site and take legal responsibility and this is something that none of the committee members were willing to do. It was seen as essential that the facility should remain and she was urging the Town Council to work with the District Council to achieve it.
Cllr Sturges advised that Torridge Council had now established a district-wide policy with regard to the provision and maintenance of skateboard facilities. It was RESOLVED to write to the District Council to ascertain their intention with regard to the Appledore facility, obtain a copy of the new policy and to report back to a future meeting of the Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
4. Annual Parish Meeting
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held 14th April 2004 were approved as a correct record and the following items were RESOLVED as follows:-
(a) The concern of the Appledore Residents Association with regard to jet skis launching from Churchfields car park was supported and a letter is to be sent to Torridge District Council’s Chief Executive.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Concern about sand yachts on Westward Ho! beach was expressed by Mrs Tucker and it was agreed to write to the District Council advising that they need to operate in an area which is properly cordoned off.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) The concern of Mrs Slade with regard to the litter etc on the beach was supported and it was agreed to write to the District Council requesting action.
(Vote: Unanimous)
5. Matters of report to/from Community Constable
Inspector Pepper reported on the yearly figures for the area for which he is responsible, which includes Bideford and the rural area as far as Hartland. There had been a total of 2044 reported crimes and his team had achieved a 39% detection rate. There had been 89 domestic burglaries, 203 vehicle crimes and 557 violence crimes with a detection rate of 16%, 11% and 64% respectively. He then reported on the annual plan for the next twelve months and the main targets for Northern Devon were to tackle anti-social behaviour, reduce the fear of crime, reduce violent crime and reduce vehicle crime.
In response to questions from Members, Inspector Pepper advised that his planned cover for weekends was a Sergeant and 4 Officers but he had difficulties in achieving this due to secondments to other duties e.g. serious crime and the Gulf War.
6. 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 cleaning of Appledore and Northam War Memorials
The Town Clerk reported on quotes he had received and advised that the lowest for Appledore had been submitted by Ralph Gist and Son from Torrington at a cost of £585.00 and that Ralph Gist had been the only quote received for the Northam Memorial at a cost of £775.00. It was RESOLVED to accept these quotations.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Date of Annual Town Council Meeting
The Town Clerk reported that the Mayor was unable to attend on 26th May. It was RESOLVED to bring the meeting forward one day to Tuesday 25th.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(d) Broadband Connection
The Town Clerk reported that he thought it advisable that the Town Council had a Broadband connection. This would allow for work on the Web page without interfering with the ‘phone line and would speed up and make the Town Council more available via the Internet. A Tiscali connection could be achieved for approximately £16.00 per month. It was RESOLVED to proceed and arrange for Broadband connection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(e) Cleaning of Bus Shelters
The Town Clerk reported that the Town Council were now responsible for four shelters and that he had received complaints about the cleanliness of the one situated in Sandymere Road. It was RESOLVED to obtain quotations for the cleaning of the shelters four times per year.
(Vote: Unanimous)
7. Northam Burrows
(a) Letter from TDC
A letter from the District Council regarding the land at Appledore Gate was noted.
(b) Members items
Cllrs Davies and Waters reported on the recycling centre where the fence was on the ground and the reinstatement appeared to be a failure. It was RESOLVED to write to Devon County Council to ascertain what was planned. (Vote: Unanimous)
Cllr Bell was concerned about the piles of plastic bags containing dog faeces that were left on the ground around the bin because this was not emptied enough. It was RESOLVED to write to the District Council again seeking action.
(Vote: Unanimous)
8. Streetworks and related matters
(a) Irsha Street, Appledore
Members considered a letter from Devon County Council regarding the problems of large vehicles in Irsha Street. Local Councillors advised that many large vehicles use Irsha Street and the one that had been reported was not an isolated incident. It was RESOLVED to ask Devon County Council to provide appropriate advisory warning signs at the entrance to the street.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Members items
Cllr Waters reported that the sign requested for the lane at the back of Greysand Crescent had not been provided and it was RESOLVED to write to Torridge District Council for the attention of Helen Vernon.
(Vote: Unanimous)
Councillor Sturges and Councillor Williams left the room during the debate on planning applications.
9. Planning applications
0619/04 Proposed residential detached house including associated parking, turning, drainage and modification to the existing vehicular access. Side garden, 12 Kimberley Terrace, Northam – RESOLVED - Recommend approval and would like to see the corner of Diddywell Road/Highbury Hill improved for visibility.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0626/04 Proposed change of use of fisherman’s store to dwelling - 7 Darracotts Court, Appledore – RESOLVED - This is a very small building and a site visit is essential to fully appreciate what is intended.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0641/04 Proposed conservatory - 4 Lenwood Park, Northam – RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0651/04 Certificate of Lawfulness for annexe to be used as a separate unit of accommodation The Annexe, 72A Atlantic Way – was noted.
10. Letter from A J and G Mounce
Members noted a letter from A J and G Mounce regarding 14 acres of land at Watertown.
11. Liaison Meeting with Torridge District Council
Members considered suggested agenda items and subject to the deletion of item 7, The future of Richmond Dock, it was RESOLVED to write to the District Council and ask for a liaison meeting as soon as possible.
(Vote: Unanimous)
12. Application for Grant from Helen Mason
Members considered a letter from Helen Mason regarding her trip to Uganda in July 2005. It was RESOLVED to support Miss Mason with a grant of £100.
(Vote: Unanimous)
13. Responses to Northam Town Council regarding consideration of planning applications
It was RESOLVED to send a copy of the responses to the District Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
14. North Devon Mini Register
It was reported that subsequent to the letter being received, meetings had taken place with the Northam Burrows Ranger and it had been agreed that the minis would assemble at 7 am at Sandymere and leave via Sandymere Road and immediately left into Appledore. It was RESOLVED to advise the Mini Register that the Town Council were happy with this arrangement.
(Vote: Unanimous)
15. Transfer of Justices’ Licences
(a) Transfer of Licence – Orchard Hill Hotel, Orchard Hill – RESOLVED – No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Transfer of Licence – The GoldenLion, Cross Street, Northam - RESOLVED – No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
16. Matters brought forward at Chairman’s discretion
(a) Cllr Mrs Mounce reported on the Community Thanksgiving service at Holy Trinity Church, Westward Ho! at 11am Sunday 6th June followed by an open air bring and share picnic lunch at the Rectory Gardens at Northam. The Appledore Band would be in attendance. She hoped all Members would attend. She also advised that on June 20th at 6 pm there would be a service at Sty Mary’s Appledore to celebrate 25 years service of the Reverend John Ewington. |