Full Council Minutes 9th December 2009
HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL
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
9th DECEMBER 2009 at 7.25pm
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, J Brown, G Calver, A Colbourne, L Double,
M Gardner, B Howlett, D McLeod, A Morrison from 7.40pm, L Payne
and D Rutson
Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Also present: Inspector K Griggs (Harwich Police Force), Mr Ian Taylor TDC,
1 member of the press and 7 member’s of the public.
After prayers were said, Reverend E Lammens informed the Council that he would be
moving to Wivenhoe in the early part of next year.
107/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Burke, R Callender
and S Henderson.
108/09 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillor J Brown declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 16 if
the Skating Rink was discussed. Councillor’s A Colbourne, D McLeod,
D Rutson and J Wares declared a personal interest in Item 8.
109/09 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of engagements she has recently undertaken
including attending the FAME Theatre production of “Guys and Dolls” which
was an excellent evening and also gave a special mention of the annual visit
of Saint Nicholas to Harwich. The Mayor made a presentation to Reverend
Lammens and thanked him, on behalf of the Council, for all his good work
over the last five years, wishing him good luck with his new position in
Wivenhoe.
110/09 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETINGS
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
28th October 2009 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
111/09 HARWICH MASTER PLAN
Further to Minute 94/09, a member asked the Clerk if a response had been
received from Councillor N Stock of Tendring District Council inviting him
attend a future Council Meeting to discuss the Harwich Master Plan.
As no response has been received, the Council RESOLVED: to write to
Councillor Stock inviting him to attend a meeting of Harwich Town Council.
112/09 REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC APOLOGY
Councillor Calver informed members that at a Full Council meeting of
Tendring District Council held on 1st December 2009, a public apology
should be given to the people of Harwich and Dovercourt following a “hovel”
reference made by Councillor Tanya Ferguson in her speech regarding a
motion to spend £855,000 on refurbishing Dovercourt swimming pool.
RESOLVED: to write to Councillor T Ferguson requesting an immediate
public apology.
113/09 GENERAL PRACTITIONERS’ PRESCRIPTIONS ON SUNDAYS
Further to Minute 90/09, a response received from Harmoni stated that
doctors can provide medication over the weekend when local chemists were
closed. RESOLVED: to write to Harmoni asking them to ensure that all
GPs, if called out at the weekend, should provide medication if there is no
chemist available
114/09 MEN’S HEALTH CLINIC AT THE FRYATT HOSPITAL, HARWICH
Further to Minute 91/09, the Clerk informed Council that Dr P Zollinger-
Read had resigned his position as Chief Executive of North East Essex PCT.
RESOLVED: to contact new Chief Executive and ask if he will honour the
appointment to attend the next Full Council Meeting at 7.00pm on 27th
January 2010.
115/09 DOVERCOURT LEISURE FACILITIES
Further to Minute 97/09, a letter received from Councillor S Mayzes, Cabinet
Member for Leisure at Tendring District Council was noted.
116/09 WASTE BINS
A letter received from Mr A Nepean of Tendring District Council in response
to a request for extra waste bins in the Dovercourt area was discussed.
RESOLVED: to write to Mr Nepean requesting the outcome of the survey
be reported to Harwich Town Council.
117/09 ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL – INVESTMENT INTO HIGH STREETS
Further to Minute 99/09, Councillor Double expressed his disappointment
that no response had been received from Lord Hanningfield regarding the
invitation to attend the next Full Council Meeting to explain Essex County
Councils policy on investment into High Streets.
118/09 LANDSLIP BETWEEN MANNINGTREE AND HARWICH RAILWAY STATIONS
Further to Minute 103/09, Councillor Morrison requested a further letter be
sent to Network Rail as no response had been received. RESOLVED: to
write to Network Rail regarding the disruption and inconvenience to
commuters.
119/09 POLICING IN HARWICH
Inspector K Griggs of Harwich Police gave an in-depth report on policing in
Harwich and confirmed that as from 7th December 2009 Harwich was in
receipt of 24 hour police coverage.
Inspector Griggs agreed to address the council on a quarterly basis.
A member raised concerns over three bus shelters that had been smashed in
Dovercourt and Parkeston. RESOLVED: to write to Essex County Council
requesting vandal proof material be used for bus shelters.
120/09 CONSIDERATE PARKING INITIATIVE
Mr Ian Taylor of Tendring District Council informed the Council of the
“Considerate Parking Initiative” currently used successfully in Brightlingsea.
The Council welcomed the proposal and RESOLVED: to adopt the scheme
and the item be placed on the agenda of the next Environment and Highways
Committee meeting. It was agreed that after a trial period of 6 to 12 months,
the scheme be reviewed and reported back to Council.
121/09 HOOK OF HOLLAND VISIT
Councillor J Brown raised concerns regarding a private and confidential
report that had been leaked to the local press which was handed out in Part
‘B’ (exclusion of public and press) at the last Council meeting.
Councillor Double confirmed that the report contained recorded facts and
recommendations for consideration by Harwich Town Council.
Councillor Calver stated that the report fully exonerated the late Clerk,
Elaine Novorol.
RESOLVED: to adopt the recommendation within the report and the matter
be referred to the Monitoring Office at TDC for further investigation.
122/09 450th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VISIT TO HARWICH BY QUEEN ELIZABETH I
Further to Minute 67/09, Councillor Calver requested the current working
party should be disbanded as little response has been received from outside
organisations and it appears there is no support in the town for this
celebration. Councillor Calver suggested that a working party could be set up
nearer the time, if required.
123/09 HARWICH TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Councillor Double left the room at 9.05 pm, whilst the application for £5000
extra grant funding for Harwich Tourist Information Centre, was discussed.
RESOLVED: to support the application and grant s.137 funding of £5000
on condition: a) to see a breakdown of expenditure, as normal procedure, and
b) if funding support is not received from Essex County Council and
Tendring District Council then the grant request will be withdrawn, and c)
that future funding be considered by the Finance and General Purposes
Committee.
124/09 TENDRING COAST & COUNTRYSIDE VISITOR GUIDE 2010
The Clerk informed members that the back cover of the Tendring Coast &
Countryside Visitor Guide was no longer available to place the advertisement
of Harwich Town Council. RESOLVED: to place the advertisement on the
inside page at a cost of £815.00 plus VAT.
125/09 HARWICH INTERNATIONAL PORT LIAISON COMMITTEE
The Council had been made aware of a vacancy on Harwich International
Port Liaison Committee and endorsed the recommendation of the previous
full council that Councillor Double be appointed as a representative for
Harwich Town Council.
Councillor Rutson left the meeting at 9.35pm.
126/09 MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
Councillor Tyrer presented the minutes of the meeting held on the 3rd
November 2009 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
127/09 MINUTES OF THE ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE
Councillor Colbourne presented the minutes of the meeting held on the 12th
November 2009 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes be adopted.
128/09 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Councillor Double presented the minutes of the meeting held on the 25th
November 2009 (previously circulated).
RESOLVED: that the minutes and all recommendations, be adopted.
129/09 DOVERCOURT LEISURE FACILITIES
Councillor McLeod reported the need to repair and maintain the crazy golf
equipment. RESOLVED: to request Tendring District Council to inspect the
equipment and carry out any necessary repairs.
130/09 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets
and earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed Appendix A.
131/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday 27th
January 2010 at The 1912 Centre, Harwich at 7.00pm, or at the rise of the
Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50pm.