Guildhall Minutes 18th July 2011
MINUTES of the Meeting of the GUILDHALL COMMITTEE held at The Guildhall, Church
Street, Harwich on Wednesday 18th July 2011 commencing at 7pm
Present: Councillors Flavell, J Henderson, King and O’Neill
In the Chair: Councillor Calver
Clerk: Mrs L Ballard
Also present: Councillor Brown
There were no questions
G001/11 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIR
Nominations were received for the election of a Vice-Chair for the committee and it was RESOLVED to elect Cllr J Henderson for the Municipal year 2011/12.
G002/11 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies received from Cllr R Callender and J Thurlow
G003/11 DECLARATION OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS
None
G004/11 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Guildhall meeting held on 18th November 2010 (previously circulated) be approved by the Committee and signed by the Chairman as a true record.
G005/11 GUILDHALL CHARGES
Members discussed the current rates charged for hire of the Guildhall and compared
these with the charges of other local organisations. RESOLVED: to freeze the charges for this municipal year. It was FURTHER RESOLVED: to publicise the Guildhall’s availability through word of mouth.
G006/11 COUNCILLOR BROOCHES/BADGES AND PLAQUES
Members discussed the requirement to replenish stocks in conjunction with quotes obtained from badge makers Thomas Fattorini Ltd. The Chairman informed members that these are funded from the general fund and not the Guildhall budget.
RESOLVED: not to replenish the plaques or lapel badges at this time. It was FURTHER RESOLVED: to replenish the twin circle brooches but for the Clerk, in consultation with the Vice-Chair of the Guildhall Committee and the Chair of the Finance & General Purposes Committee, to obtain alternative quotes/designs with the view to making an order for 10 brooches.
G007/11 BADGES FOR PAST MAYORS
Members discussed the creation of a badge for past mayors. The general consensus was that this wasn’t necessary given that their photograph in full robes and regalia is hung in the Guildhall and their name entered onto the Mayor’s board, also in the Guildhall. With 5 votes in favour and 1 abstained, it was RESOLVED: not to proceed with creating a badge.
G008/11 MAYORESS’ CHAIN
The Chairman informed members that the discs on the Mayoress’ chain are engraved with the names of former mayoresses and that the last available disc has just been engraved. Members discussed the options for the future in conjunction with estimates received from goldsmith Mr RG Chapman, and suggested other options for recognition including a Mayoresses board.
RESOLVED: to defer the item to the next meeting of the Guildhall Committee in order to investigate 2 other options – 1) replacing 2 existing discs with 2 blank discs, and 2) adding 2 further discs to the existing chain.
G009/11 REGALIA PHOTOGRAPHS
Members noted that photographs of the Council regalia had been requested not only for insurance purposes but in order to confirm design/detail should new pieces be required. The Clerk confirmed that the photos are awaited.
G010/11 COUNCILLOR ROBES
The Chairman informed members that there are not sufficient councillor robes should all members attend a civic occasion and members discussed the need to replenish stocks in conjunction with quotes obtained from Marshall’s. it was also confirmed that it was previously agreed that any new or refurbished robes would be finished with fake fur.
RESOLVED: to purchase 1 robe, in line with the shortest robe the Council currently has, using £682 as a maximum cost but attempt to obtain further, more competitive, quotes.
G011/11 GUILDHALL FEASIBIITY STUDY
Members discussed, in detail, the Feasibility Study, as carried out by Ingleton Wood in relation to disabled access at the Guildhall, which included the benefits of providing disabled access, the possible implications of not, and concerns regarding affordability. Alternatives such as wireless conferencing were mentioned. With 5 votes for and 1 against, it was RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: to accept the feasibility study as a basis on which to move forward to achieve disabled access for the Guildhall on the understanding that satisfactory funding can be obtained.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9pm