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Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 25th January 2005.
PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor Cllr L Ford Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, A Barnes, R D Bradford MBE, Cllr J Bell, A Eastman, A Eastwood OBE, R W A Miller, P Sturges, P B Waters together with WPC Kerry Wilson Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and11 Parishioners
Apologies were recorded on behalf of E J Davies and P Tamplin
1. Appledore Arts
Members received a presentation from Jane Bartlett, the administrator for Appledore Arts on the benefits and continuing development of the Appledore Arts Festival. The Festival, which is held early in the season, is becoming more and more popular with many aspects of art catered for. The grant funding received from the Arts Council cannot be used for administration purposes and therefore the Festival Committee have to seek other forms of finance in order that the event can be properly organised and co-ordinated.
At the conclusion of the presentation Members considered whether they should grant aid the festival for the coming year and it was finally RESOLVED that they would make no decision until they had to hand the accounts of the Festival for the year ending 2004. It was further RESOLVED to consider this again at the Planning Meeting on 9th February by which time a copy of the unadopted accounts should be available.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2. Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 21st December 2004 were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
3. Matters of report to/from Police Beat Manager
WPC Wilson reported on the crime statistics for the past month which generally showed no change from last year.
4. Town Clerks 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 grass cutting The Town Clerk reported that he had received two quotations for grass cutting and it was RESOLVED to accept the lowest quotation from Torridge District Services in the sum of £488.00.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) Skateboard Park The Town Clerk reported that he had not yet received the draft lease/licence from the District Council for the site and was therefore unable to report on the full implications for the Town Council. Following a debate it was RESOLVED to write to the District Councils Solicitor urging him to respond quickly deploring the lack of progress in this matter.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(d) Blackies Transfer of land The Town Clerk reported that the District Council had agreed to offer the Town Council a 21 year lease at a nominal annual rent.
(e) Appledore Quay Wall The Town Clerk circulated a letter from the Environment Agency which set up a programme of consultation with regard to the proposals for finding a lasting solution to the cladding of the quay wall.
5. Notice of Motion
Members considered a Notice of Motion from Cllr Waters That the Council grants £100 to the Open Spaces Society in support of their legal costs with regard to a case in respect of fencing of commons. It was RESOLVED to make a one off grant of £100 to the Open Spaces Society on this occasion.
(Vote: 10 For, 1 abst)
6. Notice of Motion
Members considered a Notice of Motion from the Town Mayor That the Council considers supporting St Margarets C of E Junior School. It was RESOLVED to award a grant of £500 and to advise the Head teacher that Cllr Bell may be able to find a source for match funding.
Cllr Mrs Mounce declared an interest in this item and did not vote.
(Vote: Unanimous)
7. Notice of Motion
Members considered a Notice of Motion from Cllr Bell That Northam Town Council write to the Leader of the District Council, deploring the underhand manner and duplicity in seeking to overturn the overwhelming decision by their own Council to develop housing on the Seagate car park.
Following a debate it was RESOLVED to write to the Chief Executive of Torridge District Council in the following terms:
At a time when the publics attitude towards local government is at an all time low, Northam Town Council deplores the lack of openness and apparent duplicity of Torridge District Council in seeking to overturn the overwhelming decision by that Council to develop housing on the Seagate car park and demands a written explanation from the Leader of the Council.
(Vote: 7 For, 4 Abstentions)
Cllr Sturges left the meeting at this juncture.
8. Northam Burrows
Letter from Burrows Committee Members considered a letter from the Burrows Committee regarding the identification of horses and it was RESOLVED to write back to them and advise them of the current identification requirements.
(Vote: Unanimous)
9. Streetworks and related matters
(a) Letter from DCC
Members considered a letter from the County Council regarding the funds for highway maintenance etc. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council to advise them that they are disappointed that the Bay View Road scheme is delayed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Members items
Cllr Bradford MBE and Cllr Eastman raised a number of highway maintenance and access problems and it was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk would write in appropriate terms to the County Council and Torridge District Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
Cllr Eastwood OBE wanted to know what had happened to the pedestrian crossing at Northam Surgery and again it was RESOLVED to write to the County Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
10. Recycling Centre for Bideford
Members noted the current situation with regard to the recycling centre and RESOLVED to write to the district Council asking them to work closely with the County Council and to give them their full co-operation and support. It was also RESOLVED to write to the County Council asking them to ensure that the funds will continue to be available and are ring fenced.
(Vote: Unanimous)
At this juncture Cllr Eastman and Cllr Eastwood OBE left the meeting.
11. Standards Committee Vacancy
Members considered a request from the District Council to nominate a Member to sit on this Committee. It was RESOLVED to nominate Cllr Bradford MBE.
At this juncture Cllr Eastman re-joined the meeting.
12. Planning applications
2140/04 Proposed 2 Storey extension to gable end plus ground floor porch - Stone Cottage, Durrant Lane RESOLVED Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2382/04 Proposed erection of dwelling reserved matters application - 1 Kimberley Terrace, Northam RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2411/04 Proposed single storey residence on surplus area of reservoir site. Buckleigh Service Reservoir, Bay View Road RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2415/04 Proposed white UPVC conservatory onto existing patio and garden - 9 Rudyard Way, Westward Ho! RESOLVED - Concerned about the size of the proposal and support the letters of objection that seem to be justified.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2416/04 Proposed new bungalow approval of reserved matters - Land adjacent to 79 Richmond Park RESOLVED Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2417/04 Proposed sub-division of one dwelling into two including extension and alterations - 79 Richmond Park, Northam RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous) 2437/04 Proposed extension - 2 Tors View, Westward Ho! RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2457/04 Proposed New building plot for dwelling- reserved matters application - Land adjoining 31 Fordlands Crescent RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2468/04 Proposed new access to the site at Torville, Atlantic Way, Westward Ho! RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2475/04 Proposed disposal of treatment plant put new pipe from Glen Barton septic tank to inspection chamber running from Redwell septic tank and use herringbone system already in place Redwell, Durrant Lane RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2480/04 Proposed garden shed - 2 Odun Place, Appledore RESOLVED Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2482/04 Proposed Reconstruction of sub-standard single storey rear addition and minor internal alterations - Captains Cottage, 45 Market Street RESOLVED - Recommended approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2508/04 Proposed erection of a conservatory to replace existing outside toilet and utility. Atlas Cottage - 18 North Street, Northam RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2541/04 Proposed conservatory - Hunters Moon, Mount Raleigh Drive RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2571/04 Proposed Listed Building application for the installation of aluminium louvred panel set in former blocked up window recess to the rear of the building. - 4 The Quay, Appledore (The Co-op) RESOLVED - Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2584/04 Proposed Alternative access drive to approved dwelling. Mouna, Bidna Lane, Northam RESOLVED - Concerned that enforcement action should have been taken with regard to this development which was intended for agricultural use. Explanation requested from Torridge.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2585/04 Proposed construction of new dwelling on land adjacent to 72 Atlantic Way, Westward Ho! RESOLVED - Recommend approval but concerned about possible overlooking.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2597/04 Proposed Demolition of Petrock and erection of 3 no houses - Petrock, Torridge Road, Appledore RESOLVED - Recommend refusal. Three storey houses would be out of keeping with the area, over-intensified use of the site. There is no parking provision or garaging. Concerned of the effects on near neighbours and the possibility of drainage problems.
(Vote: Unanimous)
2607/04 Proposed renew rotten bay window on first floor with new pvc window - 2 The Maltings, Green Lane RESOLVED - Recommend approval subject to the appearance of the window matching the existing.
(Vote: Unanimous)
13. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Public Entertainment Licences
Waterfront Inn, [Bar and Restaurant], Westward Ho! RESOLVED No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous)
The Beaver Inn, Irsha Street, Appledore - RESOLVED No objection.
(Vote: Unanimous) |