Full Council Minutes 5th November 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
5th
NOVEMBER 2008 at 7.15pm
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,
A Colbourne, B Howlett, D McLeod, P Burke
and L Payne (until 7.55pm)
The Clerk to the Council, Mrs E Novorol
Also present: 1 member of the press and 4 members of the public.
A member of the public, in detailing his concerns, requested support from
Harwich Town Councillors regarding his views on the Harwich Masterplan.
Several councillors spoke on the matter and it was agreed that it would be placed
on the agenda of a future meeting of this council and that a further presentation,
to this Council, on the Harwich Masterplan would be sought.
Prayers were said by the Reverend E Lammens
81/08 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Callender,
Wares, Gardner, Tyrer, Henderson and Morrison .
82/08 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillor Double declared a personal interest in the item regarding
Decorative Illuminations at Harwich Quay.
83/08 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of engagements he has recently undertaken.
84/08 MI
UTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council
held on 25th September 2008 (previously circulated) be approved by
the Chairman and signed as a true record.
85/08 HARWICH AND DOVERCOURT BAY BEACH HUT ASSOCIATION
Further to minute 66/08, a letter from Tendring District Council
advising that boards at Lower Marine Parade car park have been
changed to read “All Day” charge £5.00 was noted.
86/08 THE DECORATIVE ILLUMINATIONS, QUAYSIDE, HARWICH
Further to minute 74/08, the meeting was advised that costs of the
illuminations will be forwarded from the District Council in due
course.
RESOLVED: to refer the matter to the Finance and General Purposes
Committee.
87/08 INCORRECT SIGNS AT BUS STOPS, FRONKS ROAD, DOVERCOURT
Further to minute 67/08, the Clerk advised that, to date, there had been
no response from the bus company regarding incorrect signing of bus
stops at Fronks Road, Dovercourt. RESOLVED: to again write to the
bus company and request that urgent attention is given to this matter.
88/08 THE FRYATT HOSPITAL, DOVERCOURT
The Clerk advised that subject to the Local Government Act 1972 and
supporting case law, a council cannot lawfully decide any matter not
specified on the agenda. The Chairman agreed to take the item and
members considered Councillor Henderson’s comments in the local
newspaper that the hospital is to be sold with services going out the
private sector.
RESOLVED: to invite Dr Zollinger-Reade, Chief Executive of the
Primary Care Trust, to attend a special meeting of this Council and
provide an update on the situation regarding the Fryatt Hospital and to
allow Councillor Henderson the opportunity to substantiate his
allegations.
89/08 THE BILLY PUBLIC HOUSE, HARWICH
Members noted that the hearing regarding the required lobby not
having been built will be held at 10.00am on 25th November.
90/08 MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
The Mayor presented the minutes of the meeting held on 21st October
2008 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
91/08 MINUTES OF THE ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE
Cllr A Colbourne presented the minutes of the meeting held on 27th
October 2008 (previously circulated). RESOLVED: that the minutes
be adopted.
92/08 GUILDHALL PREMISES AND FUTURE USE
RESOLVED: to form a working party, consisting of the Mayor, the
Deputy Mayor and the Chairman of each committee, to consider the
future use of the Guildhall.
93/08 HARWICH QUAY FIREWORKS DISPLAY
Members considered a request for grant funding towards the New
Year’s Eve firework display on Harwich Quay.
RESOLVED: s.137 grant funding of £250.00
94/08 THE MAKING AND ENFORCEMENT OF BY-LAWS
The meeting was advised of the invitation from Communities and
Local Government to make comments by 20th November on the
consultation paper ‘The Making and Enforcement of Byelaws’.
95/08 FREE USE OF THE GUILDHALL
RESOLVED: to allow the Mayoress free use of the Guildhall to hold a
fundraising event.
96/08 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, DOVERCOURT HIGH STREET
Councillor McLeod gave a progress report on the Christmas Lights and
advised members of options available regarding fittings required by
Health and Safety legislation. RESOLVED: to endorse the action of
installing three cross-over displays due to the prohibitive costs of
providing all six this year. A member emphasised the need to ensure
that the public are aware of the reasons for having only 3 cross-overs
this year and of the amount of work which has been put in by
Councillor McLeod in achieving this.
97/08 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS
Councillor B Brown gave details of his attendance of the North East
Essex Patient Commissioning Forum and the meeting of the Carless
Environmental Liaison Group.
Councillor Howlett announced that he will be standing down as
representative on Teen Talk. The matter will be placed on the agenda
of the next Council meeting for a new representative to be elected.
Councillor J Brown, referring to the Conservation Panel, reported that
his previous remarks regarding the 10p concessionary parking rate at
the Milton Road car park had been incorrect and apologised for his
error advising that, in future, he would not give his reports until he was
in receipt of minutes of the meeting.
98/08 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’.
99/08 HARWICH CONNEXIONS TRANSPORT CO-OPERATIVE
Members noted thanks, on behalf of Essex Air Ambulance, from
Harwich Connexions to the Mayor and Mayoress for their attendance at
the Motorcycle Rally on 7th September which raised in excess of
£30,000 for the charity.
100/08 TENDRING DISTRICT COUNCIL, STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
The meeting noted that Tendring District Council’s Statement of
Accounts for 2007/2008 is now available on its website.
101/08 AL FRESCO, 32 KINGSWAY, DOVERCOURT
Ref. The Licensing Act 2003 and application 08/00906/PREMVA,
variation of Premises Licence, members requested further information.
Details will be obtained and available for inspection at the Guildhall.
102/08 ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH – COMMUNITY FLOWER FESTIVAL
Members noted the thanks for taking part in the Flower Festival which
raised almost £1000 for the Church restoration.
103/08 TENDRING DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COUNCILS
Members were advised that there does not appear to be a representative
from Harwich Town Council on the TDALC. RESOLVED: to add
this appointment to those decided at each Annual Meeting of the
Council.
104/08 COMMUNITIES IN CONTROL, CODES OF CONDUCT
Members noted the consultation paper published by Communities and
Local Government regarding Codes of Conduct for local authority
members and employees and the invitation to make comments by 24th
December 2008.
105/08 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held at 7.15pm on
17th December 2008 at the 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.00pm.