Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber

Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Wednesday 27th January 2010

PRESENT: Chairman - Deputy Town Mayor – Cllr C K Langton

Members - Cllrs Mrs S Boyle, J Braund, A Eastman, P Hames, R J Johnson, R Miller, S Robinson, R Tisdale together with 1 parishioner and the Police for their item

Apologies were recorded on behalf of the Town Mayor, Cllr R H Osborne, Cllrs Mrs P D Biggs, Mrs S Collins, Mrs M Cox and B Edwards

1. Minutes

The minutes of the Town Council meeting held 16 th December 2009 were approved and signed.

(Vote: 8 For, 1 abst)

2. Correspondence :

Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill

It was agreed that Members would respond accordingly.

3. Minutes of the Town Projects Committee held 14 th January 2010

Cllr Miller reported on various projects and these were noted.

4. Minutes of the Special Town Council Meeting held 19 th January 2010

The minutes of the above meeting held 19 th January 2010 were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

5. Minutes of the Burrows Committee held 20 th January 2010

Cllr Miller reported on the latest situation with regard to Northam Burrows and this was noted.

At this juncture Community Constable Dave Buck, together with PCSO John McGovern joined the meeting.

They reported on the situation with regard to the traffic speed survey on Buckleigh Road and reported on crimes over the past month.

Community Constable Buck also advised that an extra PCSO was being appointed who would look after Northam, Appledore and part Westward Ho!, John McGovern would deal with the remaining parts. The new PCSO would be introduced to the Council at an early date.

6. Appointment of Town Mayor

The Town Clerk read a letter from Cllr Osborne who was tendering his resignation as Town Mayor for medical reasons. He also advised that it was essential that a new Mayor be elected for the remaining term and that whoever was elected would be Mayor until the Annual Town Council in May.

Cllr Hames proposed, seconded by Cllr Robinson, that the Deputy Mayor,

Cllr Langton be appointed Town Mayor. This was carried unanimously.

Cllr Robinson proposed, seconded by Cllr Hames, that Cllr Mrs Boyle be appointed as Deputy Mayor. This was approved.

(Vote 6 For, 2 abst)

The Town Mayor advised the Council that he would like to relinquish his role as Chairman of the Planning Committee and this would be dealt with at their next meeting. He also advised that Cllr Osborne was to continue with the British Heart Foundation Charity.

The Town Mayor also questioned whether Members would like to have a Civic Dinner as time was getting short to make the necessary arrangements. It was agreed that a Civic Dinner should be held if at all possible.

7. Notice of Motion from Cllr Hames – “To consider action regarding hedge removal near Skern Lodge and fence erection on Lookout Hill, Appledore.”

Members considered the above Notice of Motion and Cllr Hames reported that hedges had been removed at Skern Lodge and replaced by fencing with the result that the nature of the landscape had been changed and there was a loss of habitat. He also advised that footpath No 1, which runs from Staddon Road past Lookout to Torridge Road had, where it crosses the field, been constrained by a fence and again this changed the landscape and spoilt the open vista. He understood that Torridge District Council were not going to take any enforcement action as they thought the hedge was not of sufficient importance. Reference was made to an e-mail from

Shaun Curtis and it was RESOLVED to write to Skern Lodge enclosing a copy of the e-mail from Dr Curtis and requesting their comments.

(Vote: Unanimous)

8. Notice of Motion from Cllr Langton – “That this Council supports the campaign to retain the helicopter rescue service based at Chivenor.”

Members considered the above Notice of Motion and it was RESOLVED to make appropriate representations to seek the retention of the helicopter rescue service at Chivenor.

(Vote: Unanimous)

9. 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)

10. Streetworks and related matters :

(a) Street Lighting – Part night lighting policy

The Town Clerk reported on the proposals of the County Council to reduce night time lighting in certain areas. It was agreed that a large map of the area was required in order to consider this matter and it was agreed that County Cllr Eastman and the Town Clerk would seek to provide one for the next meeting.

(b) Members' items

Cllr Tisdale reported a large pothole in Morwenna Park Road and Cllr Eastman advised that it had been dealt with.

Cllr Hames reported that there were numerous potholes and that the pavement in Scott Avenue, Appledore was in a poor state of repair. He also advised that lights in Odun Road, Irsha Street and Bude Street were on during the day.

Cllr Miller left the meeting at this juncture.

Cllr Eastman for the County Council reported that road maintenance was a major problem for the County Council and that they were lobbying the Government for additional funding.