Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 1st July 2008

 

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

Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S Collins, J Braund, A Eastman, P Hames, R J Johnson, C K Langton, R W A Miller, S R Robinson together with 2 parishioners.

Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllrs Mrs P Biggs, Mrs A J Boyle, B M Edwards, and R H Osborne

1. Minutes The minutes of the Town Council meeting held 27 th May 2008 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

2. Minutes of the Town Projects Advisory Committee

Members considered the minutes of the Town Projects Advisory Committee held 5 th June 2008 and RESOLVED to approve the recommendations therein.

(Vote: Unanimous)

3. Minutes of the Finance Advisory Committee held 10 th June 2008

Members considered the minutes of the Finance Advisory Committee held 10 th June 2008 and RESOLVED to approve the recommendations therein.

(Vote: Unanimous)

Cllr Mrs Cox reported on the latest situation with regard to the purchase of the Bridge Hall to the effect that contracts have not yet been exchanged pending clarification on the future management by Parkwood Leisure. It was agreed that the Town Clerk would contact the Solicitor with a view to completing the sale as soon as possible.

4. Minutes of the Northam Burrows Advisory Committee held 10 th June 2008

Members considered the minutes of the Northam Burrows Advisory Committee held 10 th June 2008. Members expressed concern that sheep graziers were apparently not managing their flocks in a proper manner. It was agreed that this would be fully considered at the next Burrows meeting. Mention was also made of the water trough at the Eastbourne Terrace end of the Burrows. This trough was not working and it was agreed to write to the 1716 Committee to ask them to take appropriate action. The minutes as presented were approved.

(Vote: 9 For, 1 abst)

5. Notice of Motion from Cllr Langton – “that this Council seeks to clarify the position regarding maintenance, liability and ownership of Bone Hill with a view to bringing the area under the direct ownership or leasehold of Northam Town Council.”

The Town Clerk advised that this property is owned by the District Council. Members expressed concern that the area was a bit of a mess and it was agreed to put this on the list of assets to be considered by the Business Plan Sub-Committee.

6. Town Clerk's Report

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)

7. Streetworks and related matters

(a) Bus Shelter at Golf Links Road

Members considered a letter from a parishioner complaining that the glass panel had not been replaced in the bus shelter. The Town Clerk advised that the previous Council had resolved not to replace glass panels because of the ongoing vandalism. He suggested that an alternative could be a solid panel. It was RESOLVED to place a solid panel in this bus shelter and to so advise the parishioner.

(Vote: Unanimous)

(b) Members' items

Cllr Hames raised concerns regarding the slipways to the river at South Road and Newquay Street, commonly known as the Bell slip. The Town Clerk advised that the Bell Slip was accepted by the County Council as a public right of way and they were willing to erect a sign which would request people not to park their vehicles on the slipway. With regard to the South Road slipway this was not registered as a public right of way and it would be necessary for locals and other users of the slipway to submit the appropriate evidence forms to the County Council. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council requesting a sign on the Bell Slip and also to write to the Land Registry to establish land ownership at South Road.

(Vote: Unanimous)

Cllr Hames also drew the Council's attention to the overhanging hedges from Bloody Corner to Marshford along Churchill Way. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council requesting action.

(Vote: Unanimous)

Cllr Tisdale advised that the had received three complaints about the District Council's grass cutting and it was RESOLVED to write to the District Council to ascertain if improvements could be made.

(Vote: Unanimous)

8. Letter from the Leader of the District Council

Members considered a letter from the leader of the District Council who was offering to come and talk to the Council along with the Chief Executive. Members RESOLVED to accept the invitation.

(Vote: Unanimous)

9. Communities in Action Database

Cllr Miller agreed to report back on this matter at the next meeting.

 

 

 

 

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