Full Council Minutes 17th December 2008
HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
Clerk: Elaine Novorol
Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich CO12 3DS
Telephone: 01255 507211
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD ON
17th DECEMBER 2008 at 7.00pm
at the 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor D Rutson, in the Chair
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor J Brown
Councillors: B Brown, L Double, G Calver, D McLeod,
A Colbourne, A Morrison, S Henderson, J Wares, S Tyrer
and L Payne (until 7.30pm)
The Clerk to the Council, Mrs E Novorol
Also present: 1 member of the press and 4 members of the public.
Prayers were said by the Reverend E Lammens
106/08 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Callender,
Burke, Gardner and Howlett
107/08 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillor Double declared a personal interest in the item regarding
INtend – Tendring Regeneration Ltd.
108/08 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of engagements he has recently undertaken.
109/08 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council
held on 5th November 2008 (previously circulated) be approved by the
Chairman and signed as a true record except to amend 88/08 to read ‘to
allow Councillor Henderson the opportunity to substantiate his
allegations’.
110/08 INCORRECT NAMING OF BUS STOPS
Further to minute 87/08 and the incorrect labelling of bus stops on
Fronks Road, Dovercourt, the meeting was advised that Essex County
Council have responded that the errors are to be rectified.
111/08 THE BILLY PUBLIC HOUSE, HARWICH
Further to minute 89/08, members noted confirmation from Tendring
District Council that the required works at The Billy Public House,
Harwich have been carried out.
112/08 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, HIGH STREET, DOVERCOURT
Further to minute 96/08, the Christmas lights, Dovercourt High Street,
Councillor Wares referred to a press report stating ‘some councillors
have said the lights are a waste of money’, and asked which councillors
had complained. Councillor Tyrer distributed copies of a letter
regarding festive lights at Upper Dovercourt and alleged comments
made by Councillor McLeod. Councillor Tyrer advised members that
she believed the author of the letter was Councillor Donn a member of
Ramsey and Parkeston Parish Council.
RESOLVED: to write to Councillor Donn, with a copy of the letter,
asking if he accepts authorship and requesting his views. FURTHER
RESOLVED: to write to Dovercourt Traders, with a copy of the letter,
asking if they have previous knowledge of it and requesting their
views.
Councillor McLeod advised the meeting that the total cost of the
festive lights was £3516 + VAT and that the surplus funding would be
returned to Harwich Town Council.
Councillor L Payne left the meeting at 7.30pm
RESOLVED: that Councillor McLeod, together with the Chairman of
the Finance and General Purposes Committee and East Central Ward
councillors meet with Dovercourt Traders to discuss festive lighting
and that a working party is set up to deal with the matter for next year.
FURTHER RESOLVED: to agenda the item early in 2009.
113/08 MACE PARK, DOVERCOURT
Councillor Calver advised members that confirmation had been
received that funding of £100,000 is now in place for the proposed
development of Mace Park, Dovercourt and that Harwich Town
Council should be pleased with the role it had played in securing this
new facility. RESOLVED: to assure Tendring District Council that it
has the full support of Harwich Town Council for this development
and to thank Councillor Pierre Oxley and the all the officers involved
for their hard work in bringing the scheme to fruition.
114/08 MINUTES OF THE GUILDHALL COMMITTEE
Councillor B Brown presented the minutes of the meeting held on 26th
November 2008 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
115/08 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Councillor Wares presented the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd
December 2008 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes and all recommendations be adopted.
116/08 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
RESOLVED: to adopt, on 1st January 2009, the new publication
scheme produced by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
117/08 HARWICH MASTERPLAN
Councillor Rutson raised his concerns regarding reports to Harwich
Town Council from Councillor Payne, the representative on the
Harwich Masterplan’s working party.
RESOLVED: to defer the matter to the next meeting of this council.
118/08 I
tend – Tendring Regeneration Ltd.
RESOLVED: to request that Councillor David Lines visit Harwich
Town Council to provide more information on INtend.
119/08 MAYFLOWER SCHOOL SITE, DOVERCOURT
Councillor Rutson requested funding of £500 from Harwich Town
Council towards a feasibility study regarding possible development at
the Mayflower School Site, Dovercourt.
RESOLVED: to defer the item to the next meeting of this council.
120/08 FREE USE OF THE GUILDHALL
RESOLVED: to allow NACRO free use of the Guildhall on 13th May
and 25th November 2009.
121/08 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS
None were given.
122/08 FINANCIAL UPDATE AND RECORD OF PAYMENTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against
budgets and earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed in Appendix ‘A’.
123/08 EXTERNAL AUDIT
The Annual Return of the External Audit for the year ended 31st March
2008, which has been signed off by the external auditor, was noted.
124/08 INTERNAL AUDIT
The Internal Audit dated 18th November 2008 was noted.
125/08 STUDENTS FROM BLACKEBERG GYMNASIUM SWEDEN
Members noted a letter from Ann Evander thanking the Mayor and the
Guildhall staff for receiving the visiting students from Blackeberg
Gymnasium, Sweden.
126/08 ELECTRIC PALACE – FESTIVAL OF SILENT FILM
Councillors welcomed information regarding the Festival of Silent
Film to be held from May 7th – 10th, 2009 and considered a request for
free use of the Guildhall to host receptions during this period.
RESOLVED: to allow free use of the Guildhall 7th – 10th May 2009.
128/08 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on 28th
January, 2009 at the 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich at 7.00pm or at
the rise of the Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.35pm.