Environment Minutes 20th March 2013
MINUTES of the Meeting of the ENVIRONMENT & HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
held at
The Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich
on
Wednesday, 20 March 2013 at 7.00pm
| Present: | Councillors Fowler, Todd, I Henderson, McLeod |
| In the Chair: | Councillor Flavell |
| Clerk: | Kate Mayhew |
| Also present: | Mr T Clarke, TDC. There was 1 member of the public present and no members of the press. |
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: Dr Rogers spoke to the Committee regards nectar rich and pollen friendly planting and asked if the Committee would approach TDC to get a commitment regards providing this type of planting in the H&D area and consider planting fruiting trees for all new and replacement planting. Cllr Flavell responded and advised the matter was on the Agenda for further discussion.
| E48/12 | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Cllr R Day. |
| E49/12 | DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS None |
| E50/12 | MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Environment & Highways meeting held on 17th January 2013 (previously circulated) be approved by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a true record. |
| E51/12 | MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES/CLERKS REPORT Cllr I Henderson gave his thanks to Cllr Flavell and the Temporary Asst Clerk for their hard work in organising the Flood Memorial Service, Garden Dedication and Reception and commented on how well received it was in the community. |
| E52/12 | DISCUSSION WITH MR T CLARKE, POLLUTION & WASTE MANAGER AT TDC ON RECYCLING, FLYTIPPING, WASTE COLLECTION Report attached. |
| E53/12 | TREE WARDEN REPORT No tree wardens were available to give a report. |
| E54/12 | UPDATE FROM LOCAL HIGHWAYS PANEL Cllr Callender was not present to give a report and Cllr Flavell noted his disappointment that there was no feedback on issues relating to ECC. Cllr Fowler concurred. |
| E55/12 | COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORKSHOP Cllr Flavell advised the meeting that the response had not been written yet and although there was no time limit on this but apologised for the delay. Clerk to arrange another time and date to co-ordinate the response with Cllrs Day, Flavell & Fowler. |
| E56/12 | BOLLARDS O/S 21 KINGS HEAD STREET (CAPT JONES’ HOUSE) Cllr Flavell advised that the owner of this property is requesting from ECC that bollards be placed outside this property to ensure vehicles do not hit his property which is Grade I listed and would like HTC’s support to his request. All Members were in favour of supporting this request. Cllr Flavell and Clerk to liaise and write response. |
| E57/12 | INSECT FRIENDLY PLANTING Cllr Flavell lead the discussion on this matter, Cllr McLeod felt there was a restriction on the type of planting done as some plants could grow too wild. Cllr Henderson advised that previously areas in the town had been used for trialling different plant species and not been successful. Cllr McLeod proposed that HTC request TDC use pollen friendly plants in future. Cllr Flavell also suggested that when looking at their tree planting scheme to consider fruiting trees. Clerk and Cllr Flavell to produce a response. |
| E58/12 | CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Cllr Flavell thanked the Temporary Asst Clerk for her help during her time covering. The bench on the Green next to the Harwich Buoy is likely to be in place before the first cruise ship arrives. The Norwegian Memorial Plaque will be refurbished in better weather but the stone steps will be cleaned before the end of the week. |
| E59/12 | MATTERS RECEIVED IN THE POST OR RAISED BY MEMBERS (for information only)Cllr McLeod advised the speed ramp in Low Road has been replaced but lining is not complete. General white lining in the town is very bad. Potholes have been reported, there are too many and no response from ECC. Cllr Fowler also raised the problem of potholes especially the one near Lidl roundabout.
Cllr Henderson advised that requests for Memorial benches in the area have increased and TDC are trying to get through the requests as quickly as they can. The Clerk gave her report (attached) and updated Members on recent developments. |
| E60/12 | TIME AND DATE OF NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting of the Environment & Highways Committee is to be advised. |
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20.17pm