|
Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 28th September 2004.
PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor – Cllr L Ford Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, A Barnes, R D Bradford MBE, E J Davies, P Sturges, Dr P Tamplin, P B Waters, together with WPC Kerry Wilson, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, 10 Parishioners and Northam Youth Group for item 2.
Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllrs J Bell, A Eastman and A Eastwood OBE.
1. Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 27th July 2004 were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2. Public Forum
Mr Hugh Brading as Trustee for the Northam Youth Group outlined the financial difficulties that they were facing. He advised that all avenues of grant aid had been explored without success and that unless the local Council supported the group it would be forced to close at the end of March 2005.
At this juncture it was agreed to consider the notice of motion from Cllr Barnes - That this Council should consider the long term funding of the Youth Clubs.
It was recognised that supporting the Northam Youth Group, possibly the Westward Ho! and Appledore clubs would result in a significant increase in the Council’s precept and it was generally accepted that before this was done it would be necessary to consult with the electorate. It was RESOLVED to consider funding the Northam Youth Group and other clubs when deciding the precept of the Northam Town Council and that a public consultation exercise be undertaken.
Cllrs Sturges and Davies recorded a personal interest in this item.
(Vote: Unanimous)
3. Matters of report to/from Community Constable
P C Kerry Wilson reported on crime in the parish in the preceding month. Generally there had been a drop compared to this time last year.
4. Town Clerk’s Report
(a) National staff pay award – The Town Clerk reported that there had been a national pay award of just under 3%, which was backdated to April 2004. It was RESOLVED to approve the payments of the new salary scales.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) 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)
(c) With regard to the expenditure on the Harvest Jug, Cllr Bradford MBE reported on the visit to Mondeville for which the jug had been purchased. The visit had been a great success, the jug was very well received. Cllr Bradford had received a pennant from the children of Mondeville and a painting of the D Day landing beach.
(d) Cllr Waters asked that the Town Clerk report at a future meeting on the level of reserve that the Town Council needed to have.
5. Northam Burrows
(a) Members items - Cllr Waters advised that there were continuing problems with motor cycles on the Burrows and he thought that notices needed to be provided at the toll huts, making it clear that motorcycling was prohibited and reminding horse riders to keep to the riding area and golfers to the golf course. It was RESOLVED to refer this to the District Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Golf Club Winter work programme - Cllr Waters reported that he thought some of this work had already been carried out but that generally he had no objections to the proposals. He thought it important that the Golf Club advised the Senior Ranger when work was being undertaken and that the Ranger should reciprocate. It was RESOLVED to raise this at the meeting with the District Council on 29th September.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Skern Fence at Appledore Gate - The Town Clerk reported that he had received three quotations for the work at the Skern fence as follows:- £285, £400, £520. It was RESOLVED to accept the lowest quotation from Mr R S Back.
Cllr Waters declared an interest and did not vote.
(Vote: Unanimous)
6. Streetworks and related matters
(a) Bus Shelter – Sandymere Road - The Town Clerk reported that the bus shelter had been damaged by a vehicle and that he had made an insurance claim, which had been accepted, but the Council had to accept the first £100 as this was the excess on the policy. An order has been placed with the manufacturer’s of the shelter to undertake the necessary repairs.
It was RESOLVED to approve the action of the Town Clerk.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Churchfields car park, Appledore – use by Fun fair - Consideration of this item was deferred to a future meeting.
(c) Blackies – Torridge Road, Appledore - The Town Clerk reported that the District Council were to consider a recommendation of one of their programme committees that Blackies plantation should be passed over to the Town Council. It was RESOLVED to advise the District Council that the transfer of this property to the Town Council would be welcomed on the understanding that any costs involved would be kept to a nominal amount.
(Vote: Unanimous)
7. Planning applications
Cllr Sturges left the meeting whilst the planning applications were being considered.
1530/04 Proposed extension- Winnards Perch, Daddon Hill, Northam – RESOLVED – Recommend approval – any trees removed to be replaced elsewhere in the garden if at all possible. (Vote: Unanimous)
1596/04 Proposed Double garage - Little Orchard Chircombe Lane – RESOLVED – Recommend approval – any trees removed to be replaced elsewhere in the garden if at all possible. (Vote: Unanimous)
1631/04 Proposed removal of planning condition and replace with standard holiday condition; 1978 approval – Atlanta Hotel Site, Golf Links Road – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1696/04 Proposed Change of use from annexe to separate dwelling – 18 Eastbourne Terrace – Westward Ho! – RESOLVED – Recommend refusal – Council concerned about this development which appears to have happened without the appropriate consents. (Vote: Unanimous)
1736/04 Proposed Dwelling to be used as owners accommodation - Watertown Garage Appledore - RESOLVED – Recommend approval but must be tied to the business. (Vote: Unanimous)
1739/04 Proposed Listed building application for alterations to front façade. - 8 Market Street Appledore – RESOLVED – Recommend refusal – loss of the front façade is not acceptable for this important listed building. (Vote: Unanimous)
1745/04 Proposed conversion of existing garage to bedroom, sunroom extension, new double garage, workshop and studio (work from home). 6 Pollywell Appledore – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1758/04 Proposed outline application for one house - Rock House, Heywood Road – RESOLVED – Recommend approval subject to DCC being satisfied with the access and any tress removed being replaced. (Vote: Unanimous)
1759/04 Proposed subdivision into 3 properties with improvements to highways. Rock House, Heywood Road – RESOLVED – Recommend approval subject to DCC being satisfied with the access and any tress removed being replaced. (Vote: Unanimous)
1773/04 Proposed reserved matters application for house and garage - Buckleigh Lodge Westward Ho! – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1745/04 Proposed conservatory and enclosure of porch.2 Rudyard Way Westward Ho! – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1800/04 Proposed erection of one Dwelling in garden - Woodthorpe Chope Road Northam – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1807/04 Proposed residential development of low cost/ affordable housing - Land rear of Greysands Long Lane Watertown – RESOLVED – Recommend approval subject to DCC being satisfied with highways. (Vote: Unanimous)
1815/04 Proposed variation to allow 12 months occupancy - 7 Lenwood Country Club – RESOLVED – Recommend approval. (Vote: Unanimous)
1818/04 Proposed regularisation of bedroom - Plot 2 Daddon Hill Northam – RESOLVED - Recommend refusal as there appears to be an overlooking problem. (Vote: Unanimous)
Cllr Sturges rejoined the meeting at this juncture.
8. Planning – letter from District Council
Members noted the letter from the Head of Development Services regarding various planning issues and it was RESOLVED to invite Mr Seaman to a future meeting of the Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
9. Notice of Motion from Cllr Barnes – That the Council investigates suitable mechanisms with the District Council to identify potential low cost housing sites.
Members considered the above Notice of Motion and having regard to the previous resolution to form a sub-committee, which Mr Seaman was being asked to be part of, it was RESOLVED to pursue this further when Mr Seaman comes to speak to the Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
10. Rocks Nose Outfall
Members considered a letter from Mr Bateman of the Environment Agency regarding the review of discharge consents. It was RESOLVED to write back to Mr Bateman requesting a time scale for the review.
(Vote: Unanimous)
11. Liaison Meeting with District Council
Members considered the minutes of the Liaison Committee and in view of the lack of progress with regard to the recycling centre RESOLVED to write to the County Council for an update of the latest situation.
(Vote: Unanimous)
12. The regeneration of Westward Ho!
Members considered a letter from the Regeneration Project Team seeking a grant of £100 towards the cost of printing. It was RESOLVED to award a grant of £100
(Vote 6 For; 2 Against)
13. Bridge Hall
The letter from the Bridge Trust was noted. It was suggested that perhaps the Bridge Hall could be used by the Youth Group and it was RESOLVED to so advise the Bridge Trust.
(Vote: Unanimous)
14. Licence application for aggregate dredging
Members considered an application which was to be made for aggregate dredging in the Severn estuary near the Welsh coast. It was RESOLVED to respond to the consultation and ask to be kept informed of the results of the environmental assessment.
(Vote: Unanimous)
15. Use of Council information on Northam Burrows by local resident
The Town Clerk reported that a local resident wished to use information in the public domain but currently held by the Town Council with regard to the history and legal standing of Northam Burrows. It was RESOLVED to make this information freely available.
(Vote: Unanimous)
16. NTL transmitting station – Bay View Road
Members considered an application for additional transmitters on the existing mast at Bay View Road. It was RESOLVED to write expressing this Council’s continued concern with regard to radiation and asking for a map showing radiation levels around the mast under a worst case scenario situation. It was also RESOLVED to draw the applicant’s attention to possible wind noise problems as the mast is situated in a very exposed position.
(Vote: Unanimous)
17. Moving Parish Projects Forward
It was RESOLVED to fund the cost of a Councillor attending this course should they wish to do so.
(Vote: Unanimous)
18. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982Public Entertainment Licences
Renewal of Licence – Durrant House Hotel [Ballroom] , Northam - RESOLVED – No objection.
Renewal of Licence – Elizabethan Club, [Ground Floor], Westward Ho! - RESOLVED – No objection
|