Full Council Minutes 21st July 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
21st JULY 2010 at 7.15pm
at THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor S Tyrer
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor B Brown in the Chair
Councillors J Brown, P Burke, R Callender, G Calver, S Henderson,
D McLeod, A Morrison (7.30pm), L Payne and D Rutson
Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Inspector K Griggs of Harwich Police
Also present: 2 members of the press and 20 members of the public
The Mayor welcomed Inspector K Griggs and Reverend Mann.
PUBLIC QUESTIONTIME
Mrs B Holloway asked why Councillors Henderson, Rutson, Callender
and J Brown had voted against proposals for Harwich at Tendring
District Council and asked for those councillors to resign with immediate
effect.
The Mayor stated that as the councillors concerned were serving in their
last year of service, it would be impractical to call for resignations at this
time and that no councillor could be made to resign because of the way
he/she voted.
. Councillor Callender replied that he had never voted against any
proposals for Harwich.
Councillor Henderson requested that the question be put in writing as it is
relative to District Council.
Councillor J Brown stated that he is a Harwich Town Councillor;
Councillor of Parkeston and Ramsey Parish Council and a Tendring
District Councillor voted in by the majority, not by minority and
confirmed that he did not vote against the Dovercourt Swimming Pool.
Prayers were said by the Reverend P Mann
18/10 EMERGENCY ITEMS
The Mayor asked members if the following emergency items could be
included for discussion:-
(a) Hook of Holland update
(b) Report from Inspector K Griggs
(c) Jet Skis (Councillor G Calver)
(d) £85,000 from Tendring District Council (Councillor D McLeod)
(e) Letter of apology (Councillor D Rutson)
19/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A Colbourne,
L Double, B Howlett and J Wares.
20//10 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None.
21/10 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave a comprehensive report on engagements undertaken since the
last council meeting including attending nearly every event in the week of The
Harwich Festival of the Arts.
The Council agreed to a proposal from The Mayor to invite local charities and
organisations to give a speech at forthcoming meetings. Speakers will be
invited before the start of the meeting at 6.00pm. The Citizens Advice Bureau
will be invited to attend the next Council meeting on 1st September 2010.
The Mayor informed members that the goldsmith, Mr Ron Chapman, has taken
the Mayoress Chain for engraving. The Mayoral badge has also been taken for
repair as the small enamel waves had fallen off.
The Council agreed for a letter of thanks to be sent to The Harwich Festival
Committee.
22/10 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on 9th
June 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and signed as
a true record after an amendment was made to change the surname of Bradford
to Bradnum on the item ‘Public Question Time’.
23/10 20 MPH ZONE INOLD HARWICH
Further to Minute 11/10, a response was noted from Essex County Council
regarding the implementation of a 20mph zone in Old Harwich. Members
agreed to wait eight weeks before contacting the Highways Department to
allow time for the Speed Management Strategy to be published. Councillor
Callender confirmed that Harwich Town Council’s proposal was under
discussion at County Council level.
24/10 DOVERCOURT BOATING LAKE
Councillor Calver expressed his concerns that the Dovercourt Boating Lake
would not be open for this summer. RESOLVED: to write to Tendring
District Council requesting an immediate review of the decision not to open
the boating lake this summer on the basis of information given to the Mayor at
a meeting held on 5th July 2010.
Councillor J Brown stated that building at the Boating Lake should not have
been allowed to fall into disrepair as the leases, granted by Tendring District
Council, state “full repair”.
25/10 MILTONROAD CAR PARK
Further to Minute 10/10 Councillor Payne reported that at a meeting held at
Tendring District Council the matter of reinstating the 10p first hour car
parking charge at Milton Road is on hold awaiting further reports.
26/10 PROGRESS REPORT FROM INSPECTOR K GRIGGS
Inspector K Griggs gave a comprehensive progress report to members on antisocial
behaviour in Harwich and confirmed that a Dispersal Order, in force for
six months, had led to several arrests.
Harwich Town Council members were invited to attend the next
Neighbourhood Action Panel meeting at Long Meadows Community Centre
on 22nd September 2010.
Inspector Griggs answered questions from members.
The Mayor thanked Inspector Griggs for attending the meeting.
27/10 HOOK OF HOLLAND
Further to Minutes 30/09 the Clerk read the final decision of the Hearing Sub-
Committee dated 19th July 2010, Item 4.1 stated that Councillor David Rutson
issue a letter of apology to Harwich Town Council, via its Clerk, within the
next seven days.
The Council noted the letter of apology written by Councillor Rutson.
Councillor Calver asked permission for an email to be read regarding a letter
written to a local paper by a Harwich Town Councillor which stated that the
case against Councillor Rutson was politically motivated and if he was
suspended, would result in altering the balance of power at Tendring District
Council. The email was noted.
28/10 JET SKIS
Councillor Calver reported on jet skis not abiding to the guidelines set by
Tendring District Council, resulting in the situation getting worse.
RESOLVED: to seek advice from Tendring District Council as to the current
Jet Ski guidelines.
29/10 HARWICH MAGISTRATES COURT
The Hill School Sub-Committee informed members that it was felt necessary
to seek legal advice regarding the request received from King Sturge, Her
Majesty’s Court Service’s to move the boundary fence closer to the council
owned buildings at the Hill School site.
RESOLVED: the Sub-Committee seek legal advice.
30/10 £85,000 ALLOCATED S106 MONEY
Councillor McLeod informed members of £85,000 allocated S106 money was
being held at Tendring District Council, for the Harwich. It was suggested that
as money can only be spent in very specific areas, Tendring District Council
be asked to set up a joint briefing with local traders and Harwich Town
Council. RESOLVED: for The Mayor to arrange a meeting.
31/10 SALT BINS
An email received from a resident of Sweden Close, Dovercourt, concerning a
request for a larger salt bin at Norway Crescent, Dovercourt, was discussed.
RESOLVED: to ask ward councillors to look at the town in its entirety and
for the matter to be referred to the next meeting of the Environment and
Highways Committee.
32/10 MARINE PARADE DOVERCOURT – ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Inspector Griggs informed members that since the Dispersal Order came into
force on 1st July 2010, the problem has moved. The Council congratulated
Harwich Police as the Dispersal Order has achieved what the town needed.
33/10 ROSPA INSPECTION REPORT
The Council noted the recommendations contained within the ROSPA
Inspection report concerning the skate park.
34/10 HARWICH AND DISTRICT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION
A letter, received on behalf of the Harwich Pensioners Association regarding
their wish to no longer have a member of Harwich Town Council on their
committee, was noted. RESOLVED: (a) to acknowledge receipt of the letter
and (b) to write to all local organisations asking if it was their wish to have a
Harwich Town Council representative sitting on their committee.
35/10 TENDRING DISTRICT COUNCIL – LICENSING DEPARTMENT
The Council expressed concerns regarding the disruption of the annual
Children’s Carnival recently which was a result of a double booking made in
the Licensing Department at Tendring District Council. RESOLVED: to
write to the Licensing Department requesting that Harwich Town Council is
consulted on all forthcoming events in Harwich.
36/10 STANDING ORDERS
The Council agreed for the review of Standing Orders to be deferred until the
next meeting on 1st September 2010.
37/10 MINUTES OF THE ENIROMENT & HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and
Highways Meeting held on 14th June 2010 (previously circulated) be approved
by the Chairman and signed as a true record.
38/10 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General
Purposes Meeting held on 23rd June 2010 (previously circulated) be approved
by the Chairman and signed as a true record.
39/10 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted. RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed
Appendix A.
40/10 EAST ESSEX AREA FORUM
The Council noted a letter from East Essex Area Forum regarding £50,000 of
funding available for local projects.
41/10 HARWICH AND DISTRICT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION
The Council noted a letter of thanks from The Harwich and District Pensioners
Association for receipt of a grant of £1000.
42/10 ST. NICHOLAS WELCOME COMMITTEE
The Council noted a letter of thanks from St. Nicholas Welcome Committee
for receipt of a grant of £150.00.
43/10 ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
The Council noted a letter of thanks for the hospitality shown to visitors from
Ghana by The Mayor and Mayoress, Councillors, the High Steward and Mr
Ray Plummer, Archivist, on a recent tour of the Guildhall, Church Street.
The Mayor, Councillor Tyrer, expressed a wish for Harwich to be linked with
Kumasi. RESOLVED: for the item to be placed on the next agenda.
44/10 TEENTALK
The Council noted a letter of thanks and copy of the latest newsletter from
Teen Talk.
45/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday
1st September 2010 at The 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich 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 9.15pm.