Full Council Minutes 13th May 2009

HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
Clerk: Elaine Novorol
Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich CO12 3DS
Telephone: 01255 507211 email: harwichtown_co@btconnect.com
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD ON
13th MAY 2009 at 7.00pm
at THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor D Rutson, in the Chair at the
commencement of the meeting
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor J Brown
Councillors: B Brown, L Double, G Calver, A Colbourne,
D McLeod, S Henderson, J Wares, S Tyrer, B Howlett,
L Payne, P Burke and M Gardner
The Clerk to the Council, Mrs E Novorol
The Assistant Clerk to the Council Mrs S Anderson
Also present: 1 member of the press and 3 members of the public
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME:
Mr K Silburn raised his concerns regarding the location of the proposed marina. He
asked if there will be facilities for boat building and repairing. Mr Silburn also asked
if there could be a museum displaying information regarding Harwich’s naval history
in World War I.
Councillor Payne responded that the Harwich Masterplan incorporates cranes and
facilities for boat repairing and maintenance.
Councillor Double reported that The Harwich Society present the history of naval
presence in Harwich at the Umbrella Lighthouse, although space is limited there.
Prayers were said by the Reverend E Lammens
01/09 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
The Mayor called for nominations for Chairman for the forthcoming
year. Councillor Gardner moved and Councillor Tyrer seconded that
Councillor Wares be elected as Chairman of Harwich Town Council
for the forthcoming year.
The Mayor then called for any further nominations and there being
none, it was RESOLVED that Councillor Wares be elected as
Chairman.
Councillor Wares signed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and
took the chair for the remainder of the meeting.
02/09 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
Councillor Wares called for nominations for Vice-Chairman for the
forthcoming year. Councillor Wares moved and Councillor Gardner
seconded that Councillor Tyrer be elected as Vice-Chairman of
Harwich Town Council for the forthcoming year.
Councillor Wares then called for any further nominations and there
being none, it was RESOLVED that Councillor Tyrer be elected as
Vice-Chairman. Councillor Tyrer signed her Declaration of Acceptance
of Office.
03/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Callender and
A Morrison
04/09 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None
05/09 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of his recent engagements including a talk he
had given to local students and their request for a council meeting to be
held at The Harwich School. Members offered support of the idea and
it was RESOLVED to place the item on the agenda of the next
meeting of Harwich Town Council.
The Mayor advised that a total of £5100 had been raised by the
Mayoress’ Appeal which was presented to her chosen charities at a
reception held on May 11th.
06/09 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council
held on 21st April 2009 (previously circulated) be approved by the
Chairman and signed as a true record.
07/09 OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME 2009/10
Further to minute 168/08, members noted that the item requested by
Harwich Town Council, ‘the effectiveness of the enforcement process
within Planning’, will be included in the items to be considered by the
Overview and Scrutiny Service Development and Delivery Committee.
08/09 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER, COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR
Councillor Double moved and Councillor McLeod seconded that the
appointment of Officer, Committees and Representatives for the
ensuing year, as recommended by the council at an informal meeting
on 1st April 2009, but with Councillor Gardner as representative to the
Museums in Essex Committee, be approved.
RESOLVED: to approve the appointments as listed in Appendix A.
09/09 MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
Councillor Double moved and Councillor Gardner seconded that the
meetings of the Council, in accordance with Standing Orders 1 – 3, be
approved.
RESOLVED: to agree council meetings as listed in Appendix B.
10/09 SUBSCRIPTIONS TO BE PAID ANUALLY
RESOLVED: to agree Annual Subscriptions as listed in Appendix C.
11/09 HOOK OF HOLLAND EXCHANGE VISIT
Councillor Rutson referred to the recent visit of Harwich Town
councillors to the Hook of Holland and the proposed donation from
Holland to be used to promote tourism.
RESOLVED: that a working party consisting of The Mayor, The
Deputy Mayor, The Chairman of the Finance and General Purposes
Committee and Councillors Rutson, Colbourne, McLeod and B Brown,
is set up to organise co-operation with the Hook of Holland council.
12/09 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS
Councillor B Brown thanked all members and staff for their messages
of condolence at the recent loss of his grand-daughter, Sophie.
13/09 FINANCIAL UPDATE AND RECORD OF PAYMENTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against
budgets and earmarked funds were noted.
Councillor Double queried the payment of £137.75 to Councillor
Rutson for refreshments during the Hook of Holland visit. The Clerk to
the Council advised that when she discovered that the meal had been
complimentary, she had requested that the money be returned.
Councillor Rutson advised that an error had been made and that the full
amount had been repaid to the Council.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed in Appendix D.
14/09 LICENSING ACT 2003
Members noted application 09/00323/PREMVA – Tasty Takeaway,
159 High Street, Harwich – to extend late night refreshments on a
Friday and Saturday till 02.30hours, closing at 02.40hours, also to
serve late night refreshments on 5th November till 03.00 hours.
Councillors raised concerns that success of this application may set a
precedent and that others would want the same conditions.
RESOLVED: to draw Tendring District Council’s attention to the
general agreement regarding all opening times of similar
establishments and to deal with this application in the usual way.
15/09 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be Mayormaking on
Thursday 21st May 2009 at The 1912 Centre, Harwich at 11.00am. The
next ordinary meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held at The

1912 Centre, Harwich on 24th June 2009 at 7.00pm, or at the rise of the
Town Planning Committee Meeting, whichever is the later.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.44pm.