Full Council Minutes 20th February 2008

AT A MEETING of HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
held at 1912 CENTRE, HARWICH, ESSEX
on WEDNESDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2008 at 7.05pm
PRESENT
The Mayor Councillor D McLeod in the Chair
The Deputy Mayor Councillor D Rutson
Councillors:
B Brown
J Brown
S Tyrer
L Double
A Colbourne
G Calver
P Burke
L Payne
R Callender
Clerk to the Council Mrs E Novorol
Also present were one member of the press and three members of the public.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Henderson, Gardner,
Morrison, Howlett and Wares
Prayers were said by the Reverend E Lammens
132/07 REPRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC None
133/07 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor J Brown declared an
interest in the item regarding the Parkeston Welfare Group.
134/07 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mayor gave details of
engagements undertaken since the last meeting, and mentioned the success of
the Pancake Race which took place on 2nd February 2008. The Council was
unanimous in offering Cllr B Brown thanks for his part in organising the event.
135/07 MINUTES
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on the 9th January 2008
(previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and signed as a true
record with an amendment to 115/07 to read ‘RESOLVED: that the balance of
£180 should be retained by the Crime Prevention Panel’.
136/07 HARWICH AND MANNINGTREE STANDARD An email from the
editor of the Harwich and Manningtree Standard regarding the accuracy of
items printed in the newspaper was read to the meeting.
RESOLVED: to write to the editor advising him that this Council has noted his
views which have been circulated to all members with the request that they are
mindful of his comments regarding future actions.
Further discussion took place regarding the claim by the Deputy Mayor that the
newspaper had printed inaccurate quotes in the 28th December 2007 issue.
During this heated debate, a member made a derogatory comment regarding
the Deputy Mayor. Following a comment from another member, the derogatory
remark was immediately withdrawn and an apology given for any offence
caused.It was further
RESOLVED: to write to editor and request the reporter’s evidence on which the
newspaper’s quotes were based. (Votes recorded: 8 FOR / 3 AGAINST).
137/07 FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE Councillor D
Rutson presented the minutes of the meeting held on 30th January 2008.
Reference minute F60/07 – Parkeston Welfare Park’s use of surplus funding, a
member asked if the £500 grant from this Council had been used for items
other than the original project. A discussion followed regarding the response
that had been received from the group and it was.
RESOLVED: to request the return of the £500 grant.
FURTHER RESOLVED: that the minutes, including all recommendations, be
adopted.
138/07 GUILDHALL COMMITTEE Councillor G Calver presented the
minutes of the meeting held on the 30th January 2008.
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
139/07 ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING Councillor Colbourne
presented the minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2008.
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
140/07 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS Councillor Tyrer advised the
meeting that she had attended the last meeting of the Conservation Panel. She
reported that Tendring District Council are looking to list further local buildings
and that Councillors are welcome to recommend any for this listing. The Mayor
reported that the Older People’s Forum has received funding.The Mayor read a
report from Councillor Howlett that Teen Talk has received funding from the
PCT.
RESOLVED: to write to Teen Talk and congratulate them on this achievement
and assure them of the continued support of Harwich Town Council
141/07 FINANCIAL UPDATE Payments and receipts, current balances,
financial activity against budgets and earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed.
142/07 EUROPEAN RELAY RUN The Mayor advised members that the
European Relay Run of disabled people will be starting its first run from Harwich
on 14th May 2008 and that he would welcome councillors support of the event.
143/07 CONDUCT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS Receipt of the
consultation on orders and regulations relating to the conduct of local authority
members was noted.
144/07 CRIME PREVENTION PANEL Members noted a letter from the
Crime Prevention Panel advising that an alternative initiative to ‘Rhyme Against
Crime’ will be raised again at a later date. The letter also thanked Harwich Town
Council for the £500 grant towards the ‘Gardening Competition’.
145/07 FREE USE OF THE GUILDHALL A request for free use of the
Guildhall to host the Essex Conservation Officers Forum on 17th April, 2008
was considered.
RESOLVED: to agree to the request.
146/07 EALC – CHANGES IN LEGISLATION A member advised the meeting
of notification from Essex Association that ‘The Chairman may be elected from
the councillors who have been elected: this restricts co-opted and appointed
councillors being elected as Chairman of councils’.
147/07 ESSEX AREA FORUMS Councillor Double reminded members of
the importance of the Council sending a representative to meetings of the East
Essex Area Forum.
RESOLVED: to place the item on the next agenda of the Full Council to
nominate a representative.
148/07 PARTY IN THE PARK Councillor Double advised the meeting that
Party in the Park is a biennial event and is, therefore, not scheduled for 2008.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.45pm