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Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 26th April 2005.
PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor – Cllr L Ford Members - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, A Barnes, J Bell, R D Bradford MBE, Cllr E J Davies, R W A Miller together with WPC Kerry Wilson, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and 1 Parishioner
Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllrs A Eastwood OBE, P Sturges and K A Lane.
1. Matters of report to/from Police Beat Manager
WPC Kerry Wilson reported on the crime figures for the last month and compared them with the previous year and was pleased to report an overall fall in crimes. The following matters were raised by Members for investigation:-
Cllr Miller was concerned about the Hanson lorries on their journeys to and from the Readymix concrete yard in Wood Road and in particular their speed along Churchill Way through Northam. He also advised that the Square still had problems of speeding traffic.
Cllr Mrs Mounce advised that the double decker bus, which comes up Sandymere Road towards Northam, fails to give way to allow traffic to turn right down into New Causeway and Diddywell and she wondered whether a new Give Way sign was needed at that junction.
Cllr Barnes joined the meeting at this juncture.
2. Appledore, Westward Ho! and Northam Development Brief
Ellen Vernon, supported by Vanessa Saunders, gave a presentation to the Council on a proposal to draw up a development brief for Northam, Appledore and Westward Ho! She advised that the project was strongly supported by the South West Regional Development Agency who were providing £25,000 towards the anticipated £35,000 requirement, the District Council to contribute £5,000 and Northam were being asked to fund the final £5,000. It was intended to appoint a consultant by June with the report being finalised by November and reported in December. It was RESOLVED to support the project and provide funding up to £5,000.
(Vote: Unanimous)
3. Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 29th March were approved and signed.
(Vote: Unanimous)
4. Minutes
The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held 13th April 2005 were approved as a correct record and the following item was considered as follows: -
The parishioners’ concerns with regard to Knapp House proposals were discussed and having regard to the Development Plan and advice from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in Circular 01/97 it was RESOLVED to send to the District Council a summary and background papers prepared by parishioners opposing the scheme.
(Vote: 6 For, 2 abst)
Cllr Barnes left the meeting at this juncture.
5. Town Clerk’s 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) Steps to Windmill Lane car park – The Town Clerk reported that the District Council were undertaking an assets survey and there was the possibility that Windmill Lane car park could be lost. It was therefore RESOLVED to defer providing the steps and to reconsider the matter when the results of the assets survey were known.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(c) New Councillor Westward Ho! Ward – The Town Clerk reported that Cllr Tisdale had been elected unopposed for the Westward Ho! ward.
6. Fairtrade – Notice of Motion
Members considered a Notice of Motion from Cllr Mrs Cox – “That this Council declares itself a Fairtrade Town”. It was RESOLVED to support this Notice of Motion and the Town Council thereby declares Northam be a Fairtrade Town.
(Vote: Unanimous)
7. Northam Burrows
(a) Agricultural Management of Common Land
This item was deferred to the next meeting
(b) Discharge to Goosey Pool – Members considered the Town Clerk’s report and Cllrs Miller and Bell undertook to carry out further investigations and report back to a future meeting of the Council.
(c) Members’ Items
Cllr Mrs Mounce reported that the District Council had a positive meeting with English Nature with regard to issues on the Burrows and she was hopeful that matters like brambles etc would be resolved.
Cllr Mrs Mounce reported that she was receiving a number of complaints from residents with regard to the inadequate provision of dog bins on the Appledore Road. It was RESOLVED to advise the District Council that the Town Council were willing to provide additional or larger bins as appropriate on this road subject to the costs being reasonable.
(Vote: Unanimous)
8. Streetworks and related matters
(a) Traffic calming works Sandymere Road
Members considered a letter from the Road Safety Officer, DCC. Members noted that they had previously seen the scheme but continue to be concerned about the design and position of the structure on the ground. It was RESOLVED to write again to the Road Safety Officer advising him that the Council continue to get complaints and they are concerned that there could be a serious accident and believe that the risks will increase significantly when tourists start to arrive. It was also RESOLVED to invite Mr Newcombe to a future meeting of the Council.
(Vote: Unanimous)
(b) Members’ items
Cllr Mrs Mounce advised that Morwenna Park Road was breaking up again.
Cllr Ford advised that Limers Lane requires patching and that the pavement from Richmond Park along Golf Links Road to Westward Ho! requires re-surfacing. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council on these matters.
(Vote: Unanimous)
9. Appledore Skateboard Park
Members considered the report of the Town Clerk and it was RESOLVED to sign the lease as soon as possible.
(Vote: Unanimous)
10. Bridge Hall
The Town Clerk reported that he had been unable to arrange a meeting with the Bridge Trust as they felt it was inappropriate at this time. It was RESOLVED to write to the Bridge Trust and offer to purchase the hall.
(Vote: Unanimous)
11. Snapdragons Pre-School
Cllr Mrs Mounce declared a personal interest in this item.
Members considered a letter from the Headteacher of St George’s School and reports from Members on the benefits of the Snapdragons. It was RESOLVED to award a one off grant of £200 and to request advice on how the money would be spent and also advise the group to contact the Co-op with regard to other grants available.
(Vote: Unanimous)
12. Planning applications
Cllr Davies declared an interest as a District Councillor and took no part in considering planning applications.
0289/05 Proposed Listed Building application to change roof from all glass to slate plus 2 Velux windows, alteration of downstairs cloakroom, shower, boiler room area 13 Market Street, Appledore –RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0373/05 Proposed starter home apartments. Parcel of land at Hubbastone Road, Appledore – RESOLVED - Recommend approval providing there is a satisfactory scheme to control the re-sale price. The onus for developing a satisfactory scheme, and providing evidence, being the responsibility of the developer.
(Vote: 3 For, 2 Against, 1 Abst)
0381/05 Proposed Amendments to previous approval for the erection of a garage - Audross, Adrian Close, Orchard Hill – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0500/05 Proposed Listed Building application for demolition and replacement of defective chimney, 29 Bude Street, Appledore – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0505/05 Proposed Listed Building application retrospectively for internal alterations - 29 Bude Street, Appledore – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0527/05 Proposed garden shed - The Oaks, Limers Lane – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
0577/05 Proposed 2 storey dwelling, double lay-by and footway. Diddywell Road, Northam – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: 2 For, 4 abst)
0578/05 Replacement beach hut - Hut 2, Merley Road, Westward Ho! – RESOLVED – Recommend approval.
(Vote: Unanimous)
13. Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Public Entertainment Licences
Westward Ho! Putting Green, Westward Ho! – RESOLVED – No objection. (Vote: Unanimous |