Harwich Town Council

01255 507211

9.30am – 1pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Full Council Minutes 5th January 2011

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
5th JANUARY 2011 at 7.05pm
at
THE 1912 CENTRE, COW LANE, HARWICH
Present: The Mayor, Councillor S Tyrer in the Chair
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor B Brown
Councillors P Burke, G Calver, A Colbourne, L Double,
S Henderson, B Howlett (from 7.20pm), D McLeod, L Payne and D Rutson
Clerk to the Council, Mrs S Anderson
Also present: Reverend Peter Mann, Inspector C Willis, Mr C Strachan (from 7.10pm),
15 members of the public and 1 member of the press.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mr Flavell informed members that he had asked Tendring District Council
if the Harwich Master Plan was still in force. He further explained that an
email response had been received from Councillors Stock and Halliday,
Tendring District Council, stating the Master Plan was a “white elephant”
that had failed. Mr Flavell then asked the view of the council.
Councillor Double explained that the Master Plan is a document that gives
consent for a set of circumstances to take place in the future; it does not
mean that it will not happen and designs sometimes are changed along the
way.
Councillor Payne confirmed that the Harwich Quayside design would not
be going ahead without the Master Plan.
The Mayor confirmed that Harwich Town Council were fully supportive of
the Master Plan.
Councillor Calver suggested that it is easy to state that it has failed but
there has been no provision of evidence to support the case
The Mayor suggested inviting Councillor Stock to the next Harwich Town
Council meeting on 16th February 2011 and agreed that the item is placed
on the next agenda, once permission has been obtained to release a copy of
the email.
The Mayor welcomed Inspector C Willis to the meeting.
Prayers were said by Reverend Peter Mann.
116/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Brown, R Callender,
M Gardner, A Morrison and J Wares.
117//10 DECLARATIONS OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None.
118/10 MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMETS
The Mayor gave a report of all her engagements carried out since the last
council meeting. On Christmas day, the Mayor and Mayoress dedicated the
whole day visiting the Fryatt Hospital, local elderly peoples homes in Harwich
and also obtained permission to visit Ramsey Manor formerly Michaelstowe
Hall.
119/10 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Town Council held on
24th November 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
120/10 HARWICH POLICE
Inspector Chris Willis gave members an overview of the current situation of the
local police force. The Inspector assured members that there will be no cuts to
the force locally now, nor in the foreseeable future. The Inspector agreed that
Members if changes came about, he would contact the council accordingly.
Inspector Willis agreed to regularly attend meetings of Harwich Town Council
and for him to be added to the Full Council agenda list.
The Mayor thanked him for attending the meeting.
121/10 CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL – BUS PASSES
The Mayor informed members that after writing to Essex County Council
regarding changes to the times of concessionary travel and meeting with the
Chairman of Essex County Council, the 9.00am start time will remain for a year
at least.
Councillor McLeod reported that 12000 responses had been received regarding
the changes and he was also actively supporting the retention of the 9.00am start.
122/10 FLOOD WARNING SIRENS
Further to Minute 89/10, members discussed the response received from Essex
County Council regarding the decommissioning of the flood warning sirens at
Harwich. Members expressed considerable concern regarding this matter; it was
agreed for the Mayor to write to Essex County Council and Mr B Jenkin (MP),
on behalf of Harwich Town Council stressing salient points made by councillors.
It was further agreed to include this on the next agenda with a view of Harwich
Town Council paying to maintain this facility for local residents.
The Mayor agreed to take this matter as an emergency item.
123/10 HARWICH QUAYSIDE DESIGN
Further to Minute 91/10, members agreed that the matter had been discussed
earlier with Beverly Gould and Helen Code of Essex County Council who had
briefed the council regarding the Harwich Quayside design.
124/10 WELLINGTON ROAD, HARWICH – PARKING CONGESTION
Further to Minute 95/10, the Council discussed a response received from
Mr Ian Taylor, Tendring District Council. RESOLVED: that Mr Ian Taylor is
invited to the next meeting of Harwich Town Council to discuss the matter.
125/10 HOOK OF HOLLAND EXCHANGE VISIT
It was agreed that this item be deferred to the next agenda.
126/10 HARWICH SCHOOL – FUTURE MEETING
The Council agreed the importance of holding a future council meeting at the
Harwich School. The Mayor reported that as soon as she has received a
response, the item will be placed on the agenda.
Councillor Howlett provided members with another option of inviting the
children to attend a council meeting with an extended “questions and answer”
session. Councillor Howlett told members that, in response to an email received
today regarding the British Youth Council, he had seen the presentation which
was very good and positive.
127/10 RESTORATION OF BANDSTAND IN CLIFF PARK
The Council discussed a request from Essex County Council for grant funding of
£4000 towards the restoration of the bandstand in Cliff Park. RESOLVED:
that Harwich Town Council will grant £4,000 towards to restoration of the
bandstand as long as the rest of the funding of £43,600 approximately, was in
place.
128/10 MINERALS DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENT
The Council noted consultation dates 9th December 2010 to 17 February 2011 on
the Minerals Development Document from Essex County Council.
129/10 ESSEX LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN
Members considered the Essex Local Transport Plan and the importance of the
implications to Harwich. RESOLVED: for the Clerk to extract relevant
information from their website.
130/10 MACE PARK, DOVERCOURT
The Mayor informed members that the disabled access through Mace Park was
not in place. The Council RESOLVED: to write to Councillor S Mayzes,
Leisure Portfolio Holder at Tendring District Council, to request the installation
of a disabled access through Mace Park.
The Mayor agreed to take a special item regarding arrangements with Tendring
District Council to open the toilets situated beside The Pier, Harwich Quay on
New Years Eve. The Council agreed that the item is placed on the next agenda.
131/10 SUFFOLK COASTAL DISTRICT COUNCIL
Members noted the Revised Core Strategy Document received from Suffolk
Coastal District Council.
132/10 MINUTES OF THE GUILDHALL COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Guildhall Committee held
on 18th November 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman
and signed as a true record.
133/10 MINUTES OF THE ENVIROMENT AND HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Guildhall Committee held
on 1st December 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Chairman and
signed as a true record.
134/10 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting of the Special Council Meeting
held on 15th December 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the
Chairman and signed as a true record.
135/10 ACCOUNTS
Payments and receipts, current balances, financial activity against budgets and
earmarked funds were noted. RESOLVED: to authorise payments as listed
Appendix A.
136/10 BRIEF REPORT OF MEMBERS
None received.
137/10 LETTERS OF THANKS
Members noted letters of thanks received from;
(a) The Swedish Group
(b) Ark Family Resource Centre
(c) Arrival of St Nicholas (Welcome Committee)
138/10 REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
The Council welcomed the news that a new Registration Office has been
installed at the Fryatt Hospital which is due to open early in January 2011.
139/10 RESIGNATION OF CLERK
The Council acknowledged the resignation of Mrs Susan Anderson, Clerk to the
Council dated Monday 13th December 2010, confirmed leaving date14th January 2011.
A Working Party has been formed, consisting of The Mayor Councillor S Tyrer, the
Deputy Mayor Councillor B Brown and Chair of Finance Councillor J Wares, to make
preparations to appoint a new clerk.
140/10 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Harwich Town Council will be held on Wednesday
16th February 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 8.40pm.

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