Full Council Minutes 10th March 2010
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
10th MARCH 2010 at 7.25pm
at THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor J Wares, in the Chair
Councillors B Brown, R Callender, G Calver, A Colbourne,
S Henderson, D McLeod, L Payne and D Rutson
Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Also present: Bernard Jenkin MP,
Dr P Watson, CEO of North East Essex PCT,
1 member of the press and 8 member’s of the public.
Mr R Colley, Vice Chairman of Harwich Connexions thanked the Council regarding the
request from Harwich Tourist Information Centre for additional grant funding of £5000
to help offset recent difficulties. Mr Colley confirmed that £11000 had been received
from Tendring District Council also a further £14000 from Essex County Council and
requested release of the £5000 grant from Harwich Town Council to retain a valuable
service for the town. It was agreed that this matter would be discussed when press and
public were excluded from the meeting.
149/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Burke, B Howlett,
M Gardner, S Tyrer, A Morrison, L Double, J Brown and Revd P Watkins.
150//09 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None.
151/09 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave details of engagements she has recently undertaken including
a visit to Electric Palace to watch a film created by local school children called
Electric Waves.
152/09 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
27th January 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
153/09 ME
’S HEALTH CLINIC AT THE FRYATT HOSPITAL, HARWICH
Further to Minute 138/09 Councillor Calver proposed that Standing Orders be
suspended after members had submitted their questions to Dr Paul Watson,
Chief Executive of the North East Essex PCT.
Dr P Watson gave an update of the current situation of providing a Men’s
health Clinic at the Fryatt Hospital, Harwich which was considered by the PCT
and declined in 2009 over two issues.
1) Duplication of services and, 2) practical management checks. Dr Watson
confirmed that male/female health checks were about to launched to
patients aged between 40 to 75 as a preventative measure.
Councillor Rutson confirmed that Dr P Zollinger-Read had attended the
Harwich Town Council meeting in January 2009 where the whole council
agreed unanimously for a men’s health clinic to be provided at the Fryatt
Hospital. Councillor Rutson stated that Professor C Booth had also had a
meeting but told there was no need for a men’s clinic in Harwich.
Councillor Calver stated his concern that Dr Watson had no information on the
outcome of previous meetings between clinicians and Professor Booth.
Dr Watson requested that both he and Council should go back to square one
and start again.
It was proposed by Councillor Calver and seconded by Councillor Payne to
suspend Standing Orders at 7.55pm
Sheena Parsons, Secretary of the Harwich Fellowship of the Sick asked when
the proposal of a Men’s Clinic was declined as the Fellowship has pledged
£25,000 towards this project.
Dr Watson stated that it was declined during 2009.
Mr Chris Strachan, President of the Fellowship of the Sick, stated that there are
issues and questions regarding duplications that should come from the PCT.
Dr Watson stated that this was the criteria and could not see what was different
with what has already been offered.
Mr Strachan stated that this was the first time he had heard plans for
male/female health checks.
Dr Watson confirmed that health checks do not cover urology problems.
Mr Strachan further stated that health checks cover some part of urology
currently provided throughout Urology Clinics but was frustrated to see the
new hospital under-used.
Dr Watson agreed that the hospital it is currently under-utilised and needs to
develop with new local services but asked, what kind of services?
Mr Bernard Jenkin stated that he supported the proposal by Professor Booth
and was surprised that after some considerable time, this was then dismissed
and suggested the possibility to offer Men’s Health Screening as a partnership
between practitioners, rather than the provider of secondary care and achieved
centrally at the hospital.
Dr Watson stated he was happy to look into Mr Jenkins proposal.
Standing Orders were resumed at 8.05pm
154/09 WASTE BINS
Further to Minute 139/09, a response from Environment Services Department
at Tendring District Council was noted. A member informed Council that the
waste bin situated outside Reynolds Newsagent in High Street, Dovercourt had
slipped down the post and was currently resting on the pavement.
RESOLVED: to write to Environment Services Department at Tendring
District Council to request the matter be investigated.
155/09 LANDSLIP BETWEEN MANNINGTREE AND HARWICH RAILWAY
Further to Minute 140/09, a response from Network Rail was noted.
156/09 EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
Further to Minute 142/09, the responses from (a) Chairman of Tendring
District Council, Councillor N Turner and, (b) Mr A Bligh of Essex County
Council were noted.
157/09 ENTRANCE ROADWAY TO UNITED SERVICES CLUB, BRITISH LEGION AND NAVIGATOR
Further to Minute 142/09, the Council RESOLVED: to chase a response from
Tendring District Council regarding the serious condition of the entrance
roadway leading to United Services Club, British Legion and Navigator.
158/09 MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010
Further to Minute 98/09, the Council considered a request for assistance to put
on a Music Festival this summer. Members were informed that the Clerk had
sought advice from all areas to assist with the request, but was advised that the
Council were unable to do so.
RESOLVED: to write to Mr Woods and advise that he seeks an organisation,
within the town, to help with his request.
159/09 WASTE BI
S – HARWICH SCHOOL, HALL LANE
The Council considered a request for extra litter bins to be provided in roads
most frequently used by pupils travelling to and from the Harwich School.
RESOLVED: to refer this matter to the Environment and Highways
Committee and for a site meeting to be arranged between an Officer from
Tendring District Council, members of the Committee and Mr D Smith.
160/09 MINUTES OF THE ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee
held on 21st January 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the
Chairman and signed as a true record.
161/09 MINUTES OF THE ENVIROMENT AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and
Highways Committee held on 2nd February 2010 (previously circulated) be
approved by the Chairman and signed as a true record. Councillor Tyrer
requested all councillors to take “before and after” photographs of any
inconsiderate parking within their wards ready for the Considerate Parking
Initiative which commences on 6th April 2010.
162/09 BRIEF REPORTS OF MEMBERS
Councillor McLeod informed members of the new appointment Rachel Fryer,
Town Centre Co-ordinator for the Tendring area, who will be responsible for
the regeneration of town centres.
163/09 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed Appendix A.
164/09 DOVERCOURT SEAFRONT
Members noted a letter received from a Dovercourt resident who was
concerned at the lack of amenities along Dovercourt Seafront. It was agreed
that a letter of thanks be sent and the comments noted.
165/09 ESSEX TOURISM AND LEISURE SHOW
The Council noted a report of the recent Tourist Exhibition manned by The
Harwich Society, on behalf of Harwich Town Council. It was agreed to send
a letter of thanks.
166/09 POTHOLES
The Council noted a letter from a local resident who expressed concerns at the
large number of potholes throughout the town. The Council agreed for a letter
to be sent explaining that Essex County Council has set up an emergency
hotline to deal this problem.
167/09 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be rescheduled and held on
Tuesday 20th April 2010 at Long Meadows Community Centre, Dovercourt at
7.00pm, or at the rise of the Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
The Chairman closed this part of the meeting at 8.40pm.