Full Council Minutes 13th October 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
13th OCTOBER 2010 at 7.00pm
at
THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Deputy Mayor, Councillor B Brown in the Chair
Councillors J Brown, P Burke, R Callender, G Calver, A Colbourne,
L Double, M Gardner, S Henderson, D McLeod, A Morrison, L Payne,
D Rutson, J Wares
Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Also present: Reverend Peter Mann, 11 members of the public and 1 member of the press.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mrs B Holbrook asked for assistance regarding the parking in Wellington
Road and surrounding areas, by the Wind Farm employees. Mrs Holbrook
has spoken with Tendring District Council and the police and suggested the
Mercedes area at Bathside be used to help alleviate the parking problem.
Councillor Payne confirmed that he had spoken briefly with the Portfolio
Holder at Tendring District Council, who is responsible for car parking,
about the problem to discuss ways to ease the problem. Mrs Holbrook
suggested that perhaps Harwich International Port should use a mini bus to
help minimalise the parking problems.
Mr M Stanford stated that because vehicles are parking illegally in
Wellington Road, enforcement was needed.
Trisha Heaton stated that residents should write to the company who are
overall in charge, requesting buses to be laid on for workers. Councillor
McLeod offered to contact the relevant companies regarding this problem.
Councillor J Brown agreed to contact the Port Liaison Committee
regarding the situation.
The Council were informed of a press release regarding the new Managing
Director of I
Tend, Mr Matthew Hill. The Council fully agreed that
Harwich International Port and I
Tend be informed of the current parking
problems in Harwich and to request their assistance with this matter.
Mr D Flavell asked if there had been any response regarding the request for
a 20 mph zone in certain parts of old Harwich. Councillor Payne confirmed
that as no response had been received, the Clerk to write to the Highway
Officer.
Mr D Flavell asked that now the LV18 will be positioned at Harwich Quay,
where is the additional parking to be? Councillor Callender confirmed that

Trinity House needed some of the land at Gas House Creek and that tenders
were out for lease as a working quay but most of the parking at Harwich
Quay is to be left in place along with disabled parking spaces.
Prayers were said by Reverend Peter Mann.
63/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Howlett and Tyrer.
64//10 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Councillors Double declared a personal and prejudicial interest in F20/10.
Councillor Payne declared a personal interest in 10/10 as Chairman of
Governors at Harwich Community Primary School.
65/10 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Deputy Mayor gave a comprehensive report on engagements undertaken by
the Mayor since the last council meeting.
66/10 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
1st September 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
67/10 MILTON ROAD CAR PARK
Further to Minute 52/10, a response received from Tendring District Council
regarding changes to the car parking charge at Milton Road car park was noted.
68/10 £85,000 ALLOCATED S106 MONEY
Further to Minute 30/10, Councillor Calver asked the Clerk what decision was
taken regarding the s106 allocated money for Harwich. It was confirmed that
the Mayor was to arrange a meeting with local traders, Tendring District Council
and Harwich Town Council to discuss the matter. Councillor Calver proposed a
request for information from the Mayor as to whether a meeting has been
arranged, as it is vital for this to happen as soon as possible.
The Council RESOLVED: to invite Matthew Hill of INTend to the next
meeting to give details of his proposals and development of Harwich.
69/10 HARWICH QUAYSIDE DESIGN
A response received from The Essex Design Initiative of Essex County Council
was noted. Councillor Payne suggested that as Councillor Callender has seen
the design requested sight of proposals. RESOLVED: to write to Essex County
Council requesting the sight of final plans and designs, to enable Harwich Town
Council to make comments or hold a special meeting, before works commence.

70/10 REGISTRY OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
Councillor Payne informed members of the need for a local office to register
births, deaths and marriages as it was only possible to register in Colchester or
Clacton. RESOLVED: to write to Essex County Council requesting a local
office be available twice a week, for a Registrar and for Councillor Callender to
ask the Chief Executive of Essex County Council, if the property in Dovercourt
High Street could be used to continue this service.
71/10 ELECTRIC PALACE CINEMA – CENTENARY YEAR
Councillor Payne informed members of the need to change the existing projector
at the Electric Palace to digital one, as all films will be presented this way in
2012/2013. The cost of a digital projector is £65,000. The Council
RESOLVED: to grant a one off precept payment of £20,000 towards the
purchase of a digital projector which will be subject to £45,000 match funding
before the monies was paid.
72/10 GHANA – UK SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIPS
The Council unanimously supported the proposals submitted by The Mayor and
RESOLVED: (a) that The Mayor write to each of the Mayors of Ghana’s linked
schools in order to start a dialogue between our Town leaders, and
(b) that if a positive response is received, a small working part be set up to look
at ways in which further the bonds can be made between our areas.
73/10 ENVIROMENT AGENCY – MAJOR REFURBISHMENT OF FLOOD GATES
The Council noted a request from the Environment Agency to support and hold a
meeting on 18th November 2010, regarding major refurbishment of the flood
gates between Bathside and Angel Esplanade. RESOLVED: for the Clerk to
book the 1912 Centre on 18th November 2010 and, if not available, to seek an
alternative venue.
74/10 ADDITIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
The Clerk asked the Council to hold an additional Council Meeting after the
Planning Committee meeting on 15th December 2010 as Tendring District
Council has requested the precept figures by 31st December 2010, a week earlier
than previous years. Councillor Double informed members that an additional
Council meeting was unnecessary as Tendring District Council do not finalise
budget until 8th February 2011. RESOLVED: that budget figures will be
approved at the Full Council meeting on 5th January 2011.
75/10 HARWICH MAYFLOWER PROJECT
The Council was informed that the trustees of the Harwich Mayflower Project
have requested permission to professionally scan the Harwich Charter for
inclusion onto their new website. Members fully supported the idea and
unanimously agreed that the original charter should not be removed from The
Guildhall. Members RESOLVED: for Councillor Callender to contact the
Essex Records Office who, in turn, will advise the Clerk of the procedure used to
preserve and scan the charter.

76/10 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
Councillor Double expressed concerns regarding the large grants awarded to
Teen Talk of £10,000 and £6,000 conditional grant funding awarded to the Ark
Family Resource Centre as both grants appeared to be for similar topics. The
Council voted on Minute F18/10 and F21/10, it was agreed that the funding be
awarded.
Councillor Double questioned whether the meeting was quorate. The Clerk
confirmed that she had consulted the Legal Department who advised that the
meeting was indeed quorate.
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General
Purposes Committee held on 8th September 2010 (previously circulated) be
approved by the Chairman and signed as a true record.
77/10 MINUTES OF THE GUILDHALL COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Guildhall Committee held
on 22nd September 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman
and signed as a true record.
78/10 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted. RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed
Appendix A.
It was FURTHER RESOLVED: to approve Appendix Page 9 of the Financial
Regulations.
79/10 BRIEF REPORT OF MEMBERS
Councillor B Brown reported on his recent attendance at the Merchant Navy
Memorial Service, RAFA Remembrance at St Michaels, Civic Service at
Stowmarket and attendance at a Patient Commission Forum at Harwich
Hospital, report at next meeting.
Councillor Calver requested that any outstanding projects should be placed on
the agenda to be finalised.
80/10 ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL -WASTE DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENT
Notification from Essex County Council regarding the consultation period from
7th October to 2nd December 2010 for the Waste Development Document, was
noted.
81/10 MERCHANT NAVY
It was agreed that a thank you letter, received from W H Brown in recognition of
the support received from Harwich Town Council for Merchant Navy Day, be
placed on the Harwich Town Council website.
82/10 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS FOR DOVERCOURT HIGH STREET
Councillor B Brown read a proposal from The Mayor requesting all ward
councillors to work together to obtain the necessary permission to string the
Christmas lights across Dovercourt High Street. RESOLVED: for Councillor
Callender to approach Essex County Council to obtain the necessary permission.

83/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday
24th November 2010 at The 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich at 7.00pm, or at
the rise of the Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
84/10 EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED: that 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.
To receive and update of Magistrates Court report.