Full Council Minutes 23rd November 2011
MINUTES of the Meeting of HARWICH TOWN COUNCIL held at The 1912 Centre,
Cow Lane, Harwich on Wednesday 23rd
ovember 2011 commencing at 7.15 pm
Present: Councillors C Callender, R Callender, Calver, Day, Double, Flavell, Gibbins,
I Henderson, J Henderson, King, McLeod, Thompson, Thurlow and Todd
In the Chair: Councillor B Brown
Clerk: Mrs L Ballard
Also present: 3 members of the public and 1 member of the press
The Chairman extended a warm welcome to Major George Warren who attended in place of
Rev. Mann.
Prayers were said by Major Warren.
The Chairman informed members of an emergency item to be added to the agenda under item
19 due to the timeframes given for a response.
97/11 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr O’Neill.
98/11 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None.
99/11 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None.
100/11 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mayor gave an account of some of the 31 engagements attended since the
last meeting, including the inaugural Sausage Throwing Competition, FAME’s
production of high School Musical, the Guy Carnival, HIYA AGM and a visit
from the Blackeberg Gymnasium students.
101/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
12th October 2011 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
102/11 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
• Further to Minute 80/11 Cllr Calver commented on a response from Peter
Martin, Leader of ECC in relation to the additional resources required to place
parking cones in Kingsway on Market days. RESOLVED: to write to Peter
Martin requesting an explanation now be given and ask the reason for his
previous response, copying to Bernard Jenkin MP.
• Further to Minute 84/11 Cllr Calver commented on a response from the PCT in
relation to weekend dispensary services in Harwich and Dovercourt.
RESOLVED: to write to PCT requesting they provide HTC with their
proposals for ensuring the need is met for an out of hours service, including
Sundays.
• Further to Minute 87/11 members further discussed the removal of the Flood
Siren. RESOLVED: to monitor the situation and await follow up from MP.
• Further to Minute 88/11 Cllr Flavell commented that the raised area at the
Sailing Club had been further damaged and there appeared to have been no
response from TDC to confirm their intentions for this. The Clerk confirmed
that she was expecting to receive confirmation in due course.
103/11 STANDING ORDERS
Cllr Flavell reminded members about the recent changes to the public
questions element of Council meetings due to the adoption of revised Standing
Orders. He advised of the possible other forms of raising concerns with the
Council but proposed a slight amendment to standing order 1f to allow
flexibility, which was read by the Chairman. RESOLVED: to amend standing
order 1f to read “Subject to standing order 1(e) above, a member of the public is
entitled to speak once only in respect of business of the Council and shall not speak
for more than 3 minutes. Questions to the Council can either be received by the Clerk
prior to the publication of the agenda or in person at the meeting”.
104/11 FORMER STARLINGS SITE
Cllr Gibbins referred to a complaint received by a businesswoman in
Dovercourt in relation to the condition of the former taxi premises/Queens
Hotel.
RESOLVED: to invite the Chief Executive and Leader of TDC to brief HTC
to brief on the current situation and plans for the site and to take any questions.
105/11 ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL S106 AGREEMENTS
Cllr I Henderson referred to a recent press article in relation to the loss of some
£700k of S106 monies by ECC due to not expending the money within the
agreed timeframe.
RESOLVED: to write to Chief Executive of ECC and ask if any of the money
had been designated for the Harwich area and if so, where and how much.
FURTHER RESOLVED: to ask ECC if any of the remaining £42m of S106
monies they hold are designated to the Harwich area on schools and highways
and if so where and how much.
106/11 CCTV IN HARWICH AND DOVERCOURT
Cllr Calver put forward a motion for HTC to undertake to upgrade the existing
CCTV coverage and fund the capital expenditure of the upgrade and provide
an annual grant to support the enhanced system. Cllr Double provided
information on the costs and Insp. Chris Willis and Leanne Thornton (TDC)
informed members of the expected benefits and operational implications.
RESOLVED: unanimously to proceed with the upgrade.
107/11 BT KIOSK
The Clerk gave an update on initial efforts made to obtain quotes for necessary
works to the recently acquired BT kiosk in Harwich. RESOLVED: to set up a
working party consisting of the 4 East Ward councillors to move this forward
and feedback at future meetings.
108/11 LIFEBELTS
Cllr Flavell reminded members of a previous incident in the waters off
Harwich Quay earlier on 2011 and that only 1 lifebelt was currently placed,
near to the LV18. RESOLVED: to write to TDC and request 2 further
lifebelts to be positions on Harwich Quay; 1 by the Merchant Navy war
memorial, the other further down by Trinity House.
109/11 PUBLIC CONDUCT AT COUNCIL MEETINGS/COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Cllr King referred to a recent incident involving a member of the public at a
Council meeting and asked that HTC reaffirm expectations of the public
during Council meetings. RESOLVED: to display a notice in the Guildhall
that harassment to members of Council and staff will not be tolerated and
failure to comply may prevent members and staff carrying out their duties to a
satisfactory level.
110/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Allotments Committee held on
14 November 2011 (previously circulated) be received.
111/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST GUILDHALL COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Guildhall Committee held on 7
November 2011 (previously circulated) be received.
112/11 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted.
RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed Appendix A.
113/11 BRIEF REPORTS FROM MEMBERS
• Cllr Flavell confirmed recent attendance of the Harwich Conservation Panel.
• Cllr Todd confirmed attendance at a meeting of the Merchant Navy Welfare
Board and extended thanks for the use of the Guildhall Chamber to hold the
meeting.
• Cllr Thompson confirmed attendance of a British Legion Committee meeting
during which it was expressed that they felt unrecognised by HTC. He
reported lack of membership and money.
• Cllr Brown reported on issues discussed at a recent meeting of the Petrochem
Carless Environmental Liaison Group. Cllr Brown also reported, briefly, on
issues discussed at the last meeting of the Crime Prevention Panel.
•
114/11 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED IN POST OR RAISED BY MEMBERS
• Members noted a request for use of images held in HTC archives for a book on
the 1953 Floods. RESOLVED: to provide images and ask honorary archivists
to assist where possible.
• The Chairman informed members of a period of consultation commencing in
relation to ECC’s Waste Development Document and that a response was
required in readiness for the next meeting.
• Cllr J Henderson raised concerns over the worsening condition of Pound Farm
building. RESOLVED: to write to Planning portfolio Holder to ask for his
personal intervention.
115/11 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday 4th
January 2012 at The 1912 Centre, Cow Lane, Harwich, at 7.00pm, or at the rise of
the Town Planning Committee, whichever is the later.
116/11 EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
Pursuant to Sub-section 2 of Section 1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings)
Act 1960 the meeting was closed to members of the press and public for the
transaction of the under-mentioned business.
• Permanency of Clerk following probationary period
• To hear report from Chair of F&GP committee on period of lone working
The Chairman closed this part of the meeting at 8.50pm.