Full Council Minutes 12th October 2011
MINUTES of the Meeting of HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL held at The 1912 Centre,
Cow Lane, Harwich on Wednesday 12th October 2011 commencing at 7.05 pm
Present: Councillors Calver, Day, Double, Flavell, I Henderson, J Henderson, King,
McLeod, Thurlow and Todd
In the Chair: Councillor B Brown
Clerk: Mrs L Ballard
Also present: 10 members of the public and 1 member of the press
Upon opening the meeting, the Chairman reiterated that public questions should have been
submitted in writing to the Clerk in accordance with new Standing Orders except for any
issues that have been resulted since the publication of the agenda, and in such an instance, the
Chairman will suspend Standing Orders to allow questions. Being aware that there was an
agenda item likely to give rise to public questions, the Chairman confirmed that he would
adjourn the meeting to allow the member of the public to speak.
Prayers were said by Reverend Peter Mann.
The Chairman informed of 2 emergency items to be added to the agenda due to the
timeframes given for responses; one item to be discussed after item 12 (min 87/11) and the
other at item 19 (min 95/11).
76/11 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs C Callender, R Callender,
Gibbins, O’Neill and Thompson.
77//11 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
Cllrs Calver and Flavell in relation to the Harwich Society correspondence as
members of the Executive Committee.
78/11 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave an account of some of the 29 engagements attended since the
last meeting, including several civic services outside of Harwich, the
Motorbike Ralley, Opera Gala, RAFA service, and also the opening of the
World Dementia Day events and the Lighthouse Walk in aid of St Helena
Hospice. The Mayor hoped to get support for the Charity concert to be held on
22 October 2011 at St Nicholas Church.
79/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
31st August 2011 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
80/11 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
• Members noted a letter from Paul Price at TDC regarding the attempts to
consult with HTC in relation to leisure facilities in the town. RESOLVED: to
place the item on the next agenda for Full Council and reply to Mr Price’s
letter to confirm comments will be submitted in due course.
• Further to Minute 64/11 members discussed a response from Ian Taylor, TDC
regarding requests made in relation to parking in Harwich, and his suggestion
to write to the North Essex Parking Partnership. RESOLVED: to write to
NEPP to expedite the matter.
• Further to Minute 64/11 members noted a reply from Harwich Police Station
to confirm the current establishment, which includes 1 Inspector, 5 Sergeants,
20 constables (incl. 2 Neighbourhood Constables), 6 PCSOs and 4 Service
desk/front office staff (incl. 2 part time).
• Further to Minute 65/11 a member stated that the Council need to monitor the
BT payphone to ensure no vandalism. The Clerk confirmed that the final
documentation was awaited and then progress would be made with the actions
previously agreed.
• Further to Minute 71/11 the Chairman read a response from ECC leader Peter
Martin to HTC’s request to reinstate the bollards previously used on market
days to prevent parking. RESOLVED: to write back to Peter Martin to ask
him to explain his suggestion that doing this would require additional
resources, and copy this to Bernard Jenkin MP.
81/11 JET SKIS
The Chairman gave an account of the measures taken by TDC to ensure users
of Jet Skis in Dovercourt Bay waters are abiding by the rules and acting
responsibly. RESOLVED: to propose to TDC that there is additional signage
on the beach side.
82/11 FRIDAY MARKET SUCCESS
The Chairman gave an account of the research he had undertaken to gauge the
success of the Friday market now that it’s reaching its first anniversary. His
research found that 1) there is a current waiting list for available stalls, 2)
there’s a mechanism in place for standby stall-holders in the event that existing
holders are ill, 3) The market is generating an income of £600 per week and as
such has allowed the organisers to be able to purchase more Christmas lights
for the town. It is also hoped that a survey will be sent to shop keepers to
establish the footfall and the benefits obtained.
83/11 ASSISTANT CLERK
The Clerk informed members of the successful appointment of the new
Assistant Clerk to the Council and the intended starting date is 1st November.
84/11 WEEKEND DISPENSARY SERVICE
Cllr Calver informed members of a recent offer by a Pharmacy owner to open
a pharmacy in Dovercourt which would provide late night and weekend
opening to allow prescriptions to be dispensed but had been denied permission
by the PCT. RESOLVED: to write to the PCT to ask how they intend to
provide this facility if not to take up the offer placed before them.
85/11 PUTTING GREENS
Cllr J Henderson asked for ideas for further use of the green area between the
putting green and the Skating rink, which currently accommodates the Crazy
Golf and Croquet facilities, and suggested children’s rides and craft schools,
and also to extend the Skatepark behind the swimming pool given that
members had previously received an email from a frequent skatepark user
regarding increasing the facilities. RESOLVED: to refer to a meeting of the
Finance & General Purposes Committee for investigation and discussion.
FURTHER RESOLVED: to put the issue of a zebra crossing by the leisure
facilities on the next E&H agenda.
86/11 SALT BINS
Members discussed the invitation from ECC to partake in the Winter Salt Bin
Scheme 2011 and the implications of doing so and the Council’s previous
decline to take part due to logistics and resources. It was debated as to
whether the salt bins had been removed or will return following the end of the
summer season. RESOLVED: to write to ECC and ask how many bins we
currently have in Dovercourt and where they are located. If they have been
removed, why.
87/11 FLOOD SIREN
The meeting was adjourned under standing order 33c to allow a member of the
public to speak about this item. The meeting was then reconvened for
discussion by members who raised concerns that neither Harwich Council nor
residents have been consulted prior to its removal. RESOLVED: to write to
Cllr R Callender as ECC Councillor for Harwich to ask what he has done to
keep the flood siren and also to write to Bernard Jenkin MP and ask him if he
is in support of HTC’s wish to have it returned.
88/11 RAISED BED AT SAILING CLUB
Cllr Flavell gave members some background information on the current
condition of the raised grassed area behind the Sailing Club and the request by
TDC to put HTC suggestions, of what to do with the area, in writing.
RESOLVED: to write to Pauline Richardson at TDC to suggest that picnic
benches be placed there on a concrete base, but also to include a barrier of
some description to prevent parking.
89/11 MINUTES OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Highways
Committee held on 30th June 2011 (previously circulated) be accepted.
90/11 MINUTES OF THE ALLOTMETS COMMITTEE MEETIGS
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee
held on 5th September 2011 (previously circulated) be accepted.
91/11 MINUTES OF THE GUILDHALL COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Guildhall Committee held on
19th September 2011 (previously circulated) be accepted.
92/11 MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and General Purpose
Committee held on 26th June 2011 (previously circulated) be accepted.
93/11 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed Appendix A.
94/11 BRIEF REPORTS FROM MEMBERS
• Cllr McLeod informed members of attendance at a meeting of the Essex and
South Suffolk Rail Partnership and of a future Station Pride Day and
Halloween ‘Ghost Train’ as two forthcoming events to be held.
• Cllr I Henderson reported that at a recent meeting of the Harwich Festival of
the Arts Committee, the retiring Chairman, Anna Rendell-Knights, was
thanked and the new Chairman, Diana Burrell, was already making headway
with arrangements for 2012 and hopes to make things bigger and better.
• Cllr Thurlow confirmed that with both the Harwich and District pensioners
Association and Age UK, member numbers had increased recently.
95/11 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED IN POST OR RAISED BY MEMBERS
• Members noted a letter of thanks from Teen Talk for the use of the Guildhall
to hold their HIYA meetings.
• Cllrs Calver and Flavell left the room whilst members discussed a letter from
the Harwich Society regarding concerns over plans to used the grassed area
within the site of Harwich Bus/Train Station as coach parking. Cllr I
Henderson confirmed this was only an idea and that there was no suggestion of
destroying the fountain.
• Members discussed a letter from the Boundary Commission.
• Members noted correspondence from the Hartley Park Group
• The Chairman adjourns the meeting to allow a member of the public to speak
in relation to a letter she’d written regarding the new standing order regarding
public questions. The meeting was reconvened and the Chairman read the
letter. A resolution to vary Standing Order 1f was proposed and seconded and
therefore adjourned to the next meeting of the Council.
• Members discussed a 20mph zone order from ECC at Stour Close in
Dovercourt. RESOLVED: to submit to ECC that HTC welcomes this.
96/11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday 23rd
November 2011 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 the meeting at 8.50pm.