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

Windmill Lane, Northam on Tuesday 20^th December 2005.

PRESENT:     Chairman         - Town Mayor – Cllr E J Davies

 Members        - Cllrs Mrs M M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce, A Barnes,

                           R D Bradford MBE, A Eastman, A Eastwood OBE,

                           L Ford, K Lane, R W A Miller, R M M Tisdale  

   together with 1 Parishioner

Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllr P Waters 

1.         Minutes

The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 29^th November were approved and signed.

(Vote: Unanimous)

2          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) Casual Vacancy – Appledore

The Town Clerk reported that the Returning Officer had not received a request for an election and therefore the Town Council can now make arrangements to co-opt a replacement Member.  He further advised that he had received two letters of interest from parishioners.  It was RESOLVED to put an advertisement in the local newspaper and to consider any replies, together with the two applications already received at the Council meeting on 31^st January 2006.

(Vote: Unanimous)

3.         Bridge Hall

            Members considered a letter from the Bridge Trust seeking a response as to whether an offer was to be made for the Bridge Hall.  Members RESOLVED as follows:-

            (a) To offer to purchase from the Bridge Trust, the Bridge Hall for the sum recommended by the District Valuer in his report dated 23^rd November 2005. 

            (b) To apply for loan consent.

(c) Set up a small Working Group of Councillors Davies, Barnes, Ford and Miller to meeting with the Bridge Trust as soon as possible.

(Vote: Unanimous)

4.          Northam Burrows

(a) Application to graze horse

The Town Clerk advised he had received an application from a Mr Screech, 79 Bay View Road to graze one horse.  It was RESOLVED to approve the application.

(Vote: Unanimous)

(b) Request from Open Spaces Society for funding

Members considered a letter seeking funding for the Society’s work in connection with the Commons Bill.  Members deferred consideration pending further clarification from the Society as to the Society’s stance in relation to the Bill.

(Vote: Unanimous)

5.         Streetworks and related matters

Members’ items

(a) Cllr Miller reported that vehicles were parking on the ramped pavement at the junction of North Street with the Square.  It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council seeking yellow lines and perhaps a physical obstruction to stop this practice.

            (Vote: Unanimous)

(b) Cllr Miller was concerned about the refuse collection over the Christmas holiday period and it was RESOLVED to urgently approach the District Council so that the problems in Appledore and Northam were alleviated.

(Vote: Unanimous)

6.         Further applications for grant aid

            (a) Northam St George’s School

            It was RESOLVED to award a grant of £500.

            (Vote: Unanimous)

            (b) Westward Ho! & District Residents’ Association

            Cllr Tisdale declared an interest and left the meeting for this item.

            It was RESOLVED to award a grant of £100.

            (Vote: 8 For, 2 abst)