Full Council Minutes 16th September 2009

HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
Assistant Clerk: Susan Anderson
Guildhall, Church Street, Harwich CO12 3DS
Telephone: 01255 507211 email: harwichtown_co@btconnect.com
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD ON
16th September 2009 at 7.00pm
at THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor J Wares, in the Chair
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor S Tyrer
Councillors B Brown, R Callender, M Gardner, D McLeod,
L Payne, L Double, G Calver, A Colbourne
Assistant Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Also present: 2 guest speakers, 1 member of the press and 22 members of the
public.
Prayers were said by the Reverend E Lammens and a one minute silence in
memory of the Clerk to the Council, Mrs Elaine
ovorol was observed and
tributes were made by councillors.
63/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Brown,
P Burke, S Henderson, B Howlett, A Morrison and D Rutson.
64/09 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillor L Payne declared a personal interest in 71/09, as he lives at
Fronks Road, Dovercourt.
65/09 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of engagements she has recently undertaken and
requested that the press and public be excluded at the end of the meeting
because of the likelihood that confidential information could be
disclosed.
66/09 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETINGS
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held
on 5th August 2009 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman
and signed as a true record.
67/09 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VISIT TO HARWICH BY QUEEN ELIZABETH I
Reference minute 42/09, Councillor G Calver advised that there couldn’t
be anything to report until at least the next meeting.

68/09 REPLICA OF THE MAYFLOWER
Further to minute 45/09 (a), the Council were advised that Mr Tom Daly
would be attending the next meeting of the Full Council to speak about
the proposal to construct a replica of the Mayflower.
69/09
EW COMMUNITY CENTRE – FEASIBILITY STUDY
Further to Minute 45/09 (b), the Council were advised that as no
feasibility study had been received from Ingleton Wood, that this item be
deferred to the next meeting.
70/09 HARWICH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: CONSTITUENCY NEWSLETTER
Reference Minute 46/09, in response to a reply from Douglas Carswell
MP, regarding distribution of his constituency newsletter the Committee
RESOLVED: to write to The Speaker of the House, Mr Bercow
expressing concerns that constituency newsletters were not being
delivered to residents of Harwich.
71/09 COLLAPSED DRAIN MAIN ROAD/MANOR ROAD, DOVERCOURT, DIVERTED TRAFFIC ROUTES
Councillor L Payne expressed his concern with traffic diversions
authorised by The Highways Agency, whilst repair work is carried out
on the collapsed drain. RESOLVED: to write to the Highways Agency
requesting a meeting, with councillors, to discuss better ways of
diverting the traffic.
72/09 MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT & HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
Councillor S Tyrer present the minutes of the meeting held on 8th
September 2009 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
73/09 PROJECTS IN HARWICH AND DOVERCOURT PROPOSED BY THE PREVIOUS TENDRING DISTRICT COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION
Councillor Calver introduced Councillors Mayzes, the Portfolio Holder
for Leisure, together with the previous holder, Councillor Oxley to
discuss leisure facilities in Harwich.
Councillor Mayzes reported on future plans for Harwich and Dovercourt
and confirmed that a new air conditioning ventilation unit will be
installed at the Dovercourt Swimming Pool next year but expenditure on
the Dovercourt Sports Hall and alandall other improvements locally
would not materialise, as the current Administration at Tendring District
Council were not prepared to borrow money.
Councillor Oxley gave a presentation on plans previously proposed for
Harwich and Dovercourt and handed reports to all councillors present
and confirmed that, according to the Audit Commission, there is a
£1.8Million reserve, Tendring District Council has just under £4Million
and a £1Million under-spend and could possibly find another
£1.5Million funding, making a possible £6Million available to spend.
Councillor Mayzes confirmed that because of neglect of council
facilities it was agreed to set reserves at £4,000,000 and initiate a ten
year maintenance programme.
The Chairman gave her thanks to both councillors.
74/09 GENERAL PRACTITIONERS’ PRESCRIPTIONS ON SUNDAYS
Members noted a letter received from Dr P Zollinger-Read, Chief
Executive of the North East Essex PCT. Councillor Calver expressed
his concern at the inability of Harwich residents to obtain prescription
medicines between 6.00pm on a Saturday and 9.00am on a Monday.
RESOLVED: to write to Harmoni requesting (a) that all information in
the letter is correct? (b) to confirm where GP’s covering Harwich, are
based? and, (c) location of medicines.
armo
75/09 MEN’S HEALTH CLINIC AT THE FRYATT HOSPITAL, HARWICH
Councillor Calver reported that councillors had met with representatives
of the PCT who stated that this clinic would not be put in place. He
further advised that after discussions it was established that Professor
Booth had not been allowed to discuss this proposal with the PCT’s
Clinicians. Councillors felt that this was wrong and the PCT agreed to
arrange such a meeting. As no report had been received from the PCT, it
was agreed that the matter be deferred until that meeting has taken place.
76/09 THE LICENCING ACT 2003 – 09/00611/PREMGR
Further to Minute 59/09, the Acting Clerk clarified that the Sunday
Trading Laws applied to selling/supplying alcohol at Iceland, High
Street, Dovercourt.
77/09 REPORTS OF UNPROVOKED ATTACKS IN HARWICH AND DOVERCOURT
The Mayor read a letter received from the Chairman of the Community
Representatives Party, Mr David Smith requesting that a public meeting
be called to discuss the current anti-social behaviour in the town. The
Mayor confirmed that she alone could not call a public meeting therefore
the item was placed on the agenda for consideration by the full council.
RESOLVED: to write to Mr Smith advising him to approach the Police
direct and the local Crime Prevention Panel.
78/09 RESTORATION OF BANDSTAND IN CLIFF PARK
A letter from Essex County Council, requesting £1000 towards the cost
of restoration work of the bandstand in Cliff Park, Dovercourt was
noted. RESOLVED: to refer this item to the Finance & General
Purposes Committee.
79/09 STREET CLEANSING
The Committee agreed that the Chairman of Environment & Highways
Committee, Councillor S Tyrer, would present comments, on behalf of
the Full Council, to Mr S Sparrow, Tendring District Council regarding
the street cleansing in Harwich.
80/09 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS
Councillor L Payne, representative of Harwich Master Plan, advised that
he had attended an extraordinary meeting called by TDC where a
decision was taken to scrap the planned parking at Gas House Creek
which was to be an essential facility for tourism in Harwich.
Councillor D McLeod asked for the Master Plan to be included in the
next Full Council agenda.
Councillor B Brown thanked the Archivists and councillors who helped
at the Guildhall with the recent Heritage Exhibition.
81/09 ACCOUNTS
None.
82/09 SEA FESTIVAL REPRESENTATIVE
A letter received from Dovercourt Rotary Club with a request for a
member of the council is nominated to assist with disabled facilities,
when preparing for next year’s Sea Festival. RESOLVED: that
Councillor P Burke be nominated as Harwich Town Council’s
representative on the arwichSea Festival Committee
83/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday
28th October 2009 at The 1912 Centre, Harwich at 7.00pm, or at the rise
of the Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
84/09 EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
Pursuant to Section 1 of Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act
1960, the meeting is closed to the press and public for the transaction of
the under mentioned business:
Part ‘B’ by Chairman of Finance & General Purposes Committee,
Councillor L Double, update on continuity of Town Council Duties.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.20pm

PART ‘B’

85/09 CONTINUITY OF TOWN COUNCIL DUTES
Councillors were advised that Mr Ron Laurie was being employed, on a
temporary and part-time basis, to assist with accounts work during the period of
staff shortage at the Guildhall. RESOLVED: to retain his services until
staffing is at the required level.
86/09 APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CLERK TO THE COUNCIL
RESOLVED: to recommend that the Assistant Clerk to the Council be
appointed Acting Clerk to the Council on the same terms and conditions applied
to the former Acting Clerk appointment with a salary at point 35 in a range 35-
39 on the NALC scales.
The Committee agreed that the Chairmen of Planning, Allotments, Finance and
General Purposes, Guildhall, Environment and Highways Committees and The
Mayor be in attendance when interviews for the position of Clerk to the Council
take place.
87/09 OFFICE CLOSURE
The committee agreed that as a mark of respect, the office would be closed on
Friday 18th September 2009. RESOLVED: that a floral wreath be sent to the
Independent Funeral Directors, Oakley Road, Dovercourt from Councillors and
Staff of Harwich Town Council
28
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.30pm.