Minutes of a meeting of the Town Council held in the Council Chamber, Windmill Lane , Northam on Tuesday 27 th June 2006
PRESENT: Chairman - Town Mayor Cllr K A Lane Members - Cllrs Mrs M Cox, Mrs S A Mounce A Barnes, E J Davies, A Eastman, L Ford, P Hames, R W A Miller, R M M Tisdale, P Waters together with and 15 Parishioners Apologies were recorded on behalf of Cllrs R D Bradford MBE and A Eastwood OBE 1. Minutes The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 30 th May 2006 were approved and signed. (Vote: 8 For, 2 Against) 2. 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) Cllr Ford joined the meeting at this juncture. 3. Notice of Motion from Cllr Lane That Northam Town Council considers having a Junior Council. A number of Members spoke in support of this idea but there was a need to know exactly how it would work. The Town Mayor advised that at this stage he was looking for support and now that he had it he would be investigating the procedures in more detail and would be visiting Bideford to see how their system operated. 4. Notice of Motion from Cllr Lane That Northam Town Council considers making awards to local people who make outstanding contributions to our community. Cllr Lane explained that his intention was to thank those people in the local community who have given valued service in all walks of life and would otherwise go unrewarded. Members were concerned about the details but generally supportive. It was understood that Lynton and Lynmouth had operated a similar scheme for a number of years and it was RESOLVED to write to them to ascertain the details of their scheme. (Vote: Unanimous) 5. Northam Burrows (a) Letter from Mrs Mary Breeds Cllrs Mrs Cox and Hames declared a personal interest in this item The Town Clerk advised that he thought discussions with Mrs Breeds would take some time and he advised that a Special Meeting of the Council be held. It was RESOLVED to agree a suitable date with Mrs Breeds, if at all possible fitting in with the programmed dates for the Planning Committee. (Vote: Unanimous) (b) Response from Burrows Committee regarding monitoring activities on Northam Burrows Members considered the response from the 1716 Committee and further information put forward by Cllr Waters. It was RESOLVED to accept the 1716 Committee as the official Advisory Committee to the Council in respect of Northam Burrows and to furnish the Committee with the details of agreements that the Town Council has entered into with the Golf Club and also any correspondence with outside bodies e.g. DEFRA, English Nature. (Vote: 10 For, 1 Abst) (c) Notice of Motion from Cllr Waters That the Council writes to all graziers to ascertain (i) how they are using their allocation and (ii) asking them to submit monthly figures of their use of the Burrows from March. Members considered the above Notice of Motion from Cllr Waters and it was so RESOLVED . (Vote: 9 For 2 Abst) (d) Fence at Burrows Gate, West Appledore Cllr Waters reported that the above fence had been further damaged by the sea and he advised that a further 60 metres (approx) of 3 poles were required to make a satisfactory job. The poles would be fixed to the existing uprights. It was RESOLVED to obtain a quotation for this work. (Vote: Unanimous) (e) Views about Management letter from English Nature Cllr Waters gave a brief outline of the issues raised by the letter and advised that he had made a number of notes on the issues raised by the English Nature document. It was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk produce a draft letter using the notes of Cllr Waters and this would be considered at the next Council meeting. (Vote: Unanimous) (f) Sewage pollution Members considered a letter that the District Council had written to South West Water in respect of sewage pollution on the Burrows which had occurred as a result of the main sewer being overloaded and the manholes discharging crude sewage. It was RESOLVED to send a letter in support of the District Council's letter to South West Water with copies to OfWAT, English Nature, Geoffrey Cox MP and the Environment Agency. (Vote: Unanimous) (g) Members' items Cllr Mrs Mounce reported that there will be a Special Burrows Committee meeting when there will be discussions about the Burn and ditches and also Bassetts Bridge . 6. Streetworks and related matters (a) Nelson Road Proposed bus shelter Members re-considered the proposal of the County Council to provide a bus shelter in Nelson Road, Westward Ho! It was RESOLVED to advise the County Council that the Town Council were now in favour of this bus shelter and were willing to accept it on completion. Vote: Unanimous) (b) Refuse collection, Irsha Street Members considered a response from the District Council with regard to refuse bags being placed on the street on days other than the collection day. Cllr Waters raised his concern that the District Council's method of dealing with the problem with the street sweeper removing the bags was sending out the wrong message and would set a precedent. It was RESOLVED to write again to the District Council expressing these concerns. (Vote: Unanimous) (c) Removing path paraphernalia Members considered a request from the Open Spaces Society for a financial contribution in support of their promotion. It was RESOLVED not to contribute on this occasion. (Vote: Unanimous) (d) Members' items Cllr Mrs Mounce was concerned that the new pavement on the corner of Orchard Hill had yet to be completed and access to the post box was difficult. It was RESOLVED to ascertain from the County Council when this work would be completed. (Vote: Unanimous) Cllr Miller reported that the previous submissions to the County Council in respect of The Square parking and Cross Street signs and pavements had not been responded to. It was RESOLVED to write again to the County Council. (Vote: Unanimous) Cllr Mrs Cox reported cars parking on the pavement at the corner of Goats Hill Road . It was RESOLVED to take the necessary action. (Vote: Unanimous) Cllr Barnes was concerned that the footpath on the two Cornborough Road housing estates, which could form a link to a permissive path down over the Tors, had not been completed. It was RESOLVED to write to the District Council seeking an explanation. (Vote: Unanimous) Cllr Lane reported that the road surface on the higher side of Heywood Road roundabout was in a very poor condition. It was RESOLVED to write to the County Council. (Vote: Unanimous) 7. Liaison Committee meeting with TDC (a) Members reported on the results of the meeting with the District Council and concern was expressed that the meeting was not open to the public. Cllr Tisdale undertook to investigate this matter with the District Council and report back. (b) There had been a discussion regarding the disposal of the Bridge Hall and concern was expressed that the new owner of the Hall would obtain planning consent seemingly in contravention of the District Council's Local Plan policies which are set to protect local amenities. It was RESOLVED to write to the District Council setting out the Town Council's concerns, particularly bearing in mind that the District Valuer's valuation for the Hall was based on planning advice received from the District Council. (Vote: Unanimous) (c) Rock pool The Town Council's contribution of £4,064, being 50% of the cost of life-guarding the rock pool for this summer had been deferred pending this meeting. Members were now satisfied with regard to the lifeguarding and it was RESOLVED to make the contribution. (Vote: Unanimous) (d) Beach cleaning The Council's agreed contribution of £5,000 towards the cost of beach cleaning for this summer had been deferred pending the outcome of the Liaison Committee meeting. There remained concern that the job was not being done properly and that the ENCAMS inspection, which would establish the status of the beach for next year, had not yet been undertaken. It was RESOLVED to defer further consideration of this item to the next Council meeting. (Vote: Unanimous) 8. Anchor Park , Appledore It was RESOLVED to defer consideration of this item to a future meeting of the Council when the full costs, including insurance would be to hand. (Vote: Unanimous)
9. Planning Agreements This item was deferred to a future meeting of the Council. 10. Renewable Energy Cllr Mrs Cox and Cllr Hames reported on this matter and it was RESOLVED (a) that for each appropriate planning application the District Council would be advised on the planning response form to the effect that the Town Council would like some element of renewable energy built into the project. (Vote: Unanimous) (b) That a letter be sent to Torrington and Holsworthy Town Councils requesting them to do likewise. (Vote: Unanimous) (c) In order to consider this matter in more detail it was RESOLVED to set up a small working party and it was RESOLVED to nominate Cllrs Cox, Barnes, Hames and Miller to serve. (Vote: Unanimous) 11. Appledore Bandstand Project Members considered an application for grant aid for the Appledore Bandstand project. It was RESOLVED to award £300. (Vote: Unanimous) 12. Homestart Torridge This item was deferred to the next meeting of the Council. 13. Victim Support Devon This item was deferred to the next meeting of the Council. 14. Request to plant an oak tree at Blackies It was RESOLVED to approve the request from CASH to plant an oak tree at Blackies in celebration of Richmond Dock's 150 th anniversary. (Vote: Unanimous) 15. Local Government White Paper This item was deferred to the next meeting of the Council. 16. Letter from Chairman of the District Council's Scrutiny Committee in respect of its Policy on car parking charges This item was deferred to the Planning Committee to be held on 12 th July |