Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held on Wednesday 26 th January 2011 at the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Windmill Lane Northam commencing at 7.00 pm

 

Present: Cllrs Langton (Chairman), Mrs Biggs, Mrs Boyle, Mrs Collins,

Mrs Whittaker, Hames, Johnson, Miller, Osborne, Tisdale

 

In Attendance: Mrs Jane Mills, Town Clerk

Members of the press and public

 

1101/38 Prayers

The Vicar was unable to attend.

 

1101/39 Chairman's announcements

The Chairman spoke about the recently purchased Burrough Farm and how the allotments had been established. The Council is working on fencing, planting saplings etc to improve the area. A recent complaint has been received about the muddy state of the area but this is clearly due to the bad weather. However on the night of the 23 rd January vandals uprooted approximately 40 saplings and destroyed a number of them. The Mayor expressed his extreme disappointment and asked if Council Members were happy for a £200 reward to be offered leading to the identification and prosecution of the offenders. Council Members were in full agreement with this.

 

The Chairman went on to announce that information had been received from Devon County Council with regard to Community Emergency Planning. It was suggested that a small working party be set up to take this forward and their appointment be placed on the next full Council agenda.

 

A letter has recently been received from Torridge District Council with regard to wind powered traction activities at Westward Ho! beach. This will be put on the next Town Projects agenda for discussion.

 

A letter has been received from the Devon Association of Local Councils with regard to the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. It was suggested that this should also be considered at the next Town Projects Meeting.

 

A calendar of events has been received from the Twinning Association. The Clerk was asked to circulate details to Members.

 

The Chairman mentioned that he had been invited to a number of events which he hoped he would be able to attend on behalf of the Council.

 

1101/40 The Chairman suggested that items 12, 13 and 8 be brought forward at the meeting.

 

1101/41 Presentation of Poppy Appeal Awards

The Mayor introduced the Chairman of the North Devon Royal British Legion who spoke briefly about the importance of the British Legion. £70 million has been raised and this year in Devon £935,000 was raised which was a significant increase on last year's amount. The organiser for Northam then spoke and explained that when he first started as the organiser collections in Northam and Westward Ho! amounted to under £2,000. However, this year the total was well over £5,000. Awards were then presented as follows:-

A 5 year certificate to Mrs Mary Blake, a 15 year brooch to Linda Williams, a 15 year badge to Doug Curtis, 20 year badges to Mrs Joan Barry and Mrs Thelma Clarke and a 25 year badge to Mrs Judith McNeill. The North Devon Chairman of the British Legion closed the presentation by saying that he thanked the volunteers very much as the British Legion was utterly dependant on them and he wished to offer them a huge thank you.

 

1101/42 To receive a Police Report

The Police gave a brief update on crime figures which were considerably reduced from last year. The Let's Talk leaflet is available. The Police property fund has been able to donate £1,000 to the Youth Club for work on their property. The Police are extending their work of holding surgeries within the mobile libraries and will be found in future in the area adjacent to Link House at Westward Ho! With regard to the Family Fest weekend at Westward Ho! they will be providing a number of Fun Day events. The Chairman thanked the Police for

their attendance.

 

1101/43 To receive a presentation from Councillor Roger Johnson and Laura Holt

Cllr Roger Johnson and Laura Holt from North Devon + gave a presentation on

North Devon .Com (report attached).

1101/44 Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllrs Eastman, Edwards and Robinson

 

1101/45 Declarations of interest

Members were reminded that all interests must be declared prior to the item being discussed.

 

1101/46 To agree the Agenda as published

It was resolved to agree the Agenda as published after bringing forward items 12, 13 and 8.

 

1101/47 To confirm and sign the minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on 8 th and 15 th December 2010 as a correct record

It was resolved to confirm and sign the minutes of the Full Council Meetings held on 8 th and 15 th December 2010 as a correct record.

 

1101/48 To receive and adopt the reports of minutes and resolutions contained therein from Committees and Sub-Committees

•  Planning Committee – December 15 th 2010, January 12 th 2011

•  Town Projects – 18 th January 2011

•  Finance Committee – December 13 th 2011

It was resolved to receive and adopt the reports of minutes and resolutions contained therein from the above Committees and Sub-Committees.

 

1101/49 To receive questions and/or deputations or petitions from parishioners. All

deputations or petitions to be referred without discussion to the clerk for action, or to the next council meeting for discussion as appropriate. Any question requiring an answer at the meeting to be submitted at least five working days before the meeting to the Town Council office.

 

No questions were received.

 

1101/50 To consider issues relating to public participation and the role of a Councillor who is not a member of a particular committee

 

Councillors noted the information and it was suggested that the number of Members on the Planning Committee might be increased.

 

1101/51 Public Participation

Members of the public are permitted to make representations, answer questions and give evidence in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. Each member of the public is entitled to speak once only in respect of business itemised on the agenda and shall not speak for more than 3 minutes. The period of time which is designated for public participation in accordance with standing orders shall not exceed 15 minutes.

 

Members of the public were present but there was no request for public participation.

 

1101/52 Appledore Skatepark

Members considered a letter from Torridge District Council regarding renewal of lease and resolved to go ahead with the renewal.

 

1101/53 Westleigh Junction

Members considered an e-mail from Bideford Town Clerk regarding a combined meeting and would be happy to send representatives.

 

1101/54 To consider a programme of events to raise awareness of forthcoming local elections on 5 th May 2011

It was resolved by 7 votes to 2, with 1 abstention to go ahead.

 

1101/55 To receive and consider reports from the Town Clerk

•  Monthly Financial Report and list of payments and a monthly bank reconciliation

It was unanimously resolved to accept the monthly financial report, list of payments and monthly bank reconciliation.

 

•  Purchase of The Law of Allotments Book

It was resolved that the Town Clerk should purchase a copy of the Law of Allotments Book

 

1101/56 Notice of Motion received from Cllr Tisdale – That Northam Town Council requests that Torridge District Council allocate one of the free parking days allocated to Westward Ho! to be Sunday July 3 rd to coincide with the third and final day of the Westward Ho! Family Fest.

Members considered the above Notice of Motion and it was resolved to ask Torridge District Council to allocate one of the free parking days on Sunday 3 rd July.

1101/57 Items 19 and 20 - Request from Appledore Pilot Gig Club and Appledore & Instow Regatta Committee were considered together and it was resolved to submit a request to Torridge that 2 further days of free parking be granted on 7 th and 21 st August 2011 for these two most important events in the calendar.

 

1101/58 Correspondence

•  Letter from John Farmer, National Chairman the Royal British Legion regarding Great Poppy Weekend – 10 th – 12 th June 2011 in celebration of the Royal British Legion's 90 th Birthday

•  Letter from James Jarroudi,Torridge District Council regarding Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge

•  Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm – Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping report – response from RWE npower renewables

•  Safer North Devon Newsletter (held in office)

•  DCC Emergency Management Newsletter December 2010 (held in office)

•  The Big Sheep – Parish Magazine and Parish Ambassadors

•  Letter from TDC Electoral Services Officer regarding Parish/Town Elections – 5 May 2011

•  DALC Newsletter Jan/Feb 2011 (held in office)

 

It was resolved to note the correspondence and the Clerk was requested to email DALC newsletters to all Members.

 

1101/60 To consider Street Matters

It was resolved to note the Notice from SW Highways of Road closure for footway works, Avon Lane from its junction with Golf Links Road to its junction with Atlantic Way – Tuesday 26 th April 2011 – 5 th May 2011. It was reported that the Torridge Road sign opposite Skern Lodge is badly faded. The Clerk was asked to contact Torridge.

 

Problems with gritting were reported. This is already being considered by the Town Projects Committee and it was resolved to go ahead with Dog Control Orders in relation to the Football area at Burrough Farm.

 

1101/61 Reports from District Members

Cllr Tisdale reported on the regeneration of Westward Ho!

Cllr Johnson reported that he had been involved with the budget. It was hoped that there would be not much change for the forthcoming year. Consideration is being given to the use of the fish docks with possible “Start-up” business opportunities. He went on to speak about the new fort in Victoria Park which is available for wheel chair users and he also spoke about support for youth in the area and how he had helped “Seize the Moment” to apply for a grant to the Prince's Trust. Sadly they just missed out but had been advised that they can re-apply in April. There was a request for the Clerk to write to Torridge and ask them to arrange a Liaison meeting for some time in February.

1101/62 Report from County Councillor

Cllr Mrs Boyle spoke briefly about the Devon Sea Fisheries which will finish in February after 140 years and will become the IFCA

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.40 pm

 

 

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