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COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

25th September 2006

PRESENT:

• Cllr J Meakin (Chairman)
• Cllrs. P. Burrows
• W Buskin
• R Farlow
• L Garner
• J Knight
• R Morgan
• R Parry
• Mrs R Partridge-Hogbin
• J Pigott
• J Seward

APOLOGIES:

Cllr Mrs Jones (unwell)

IN ATTENDANCE:

Cllr Mrs M Rogers

242/06 TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE APOLOGIES

Apologies were accepted and approved.

243/06 BEAT MANAGER’S REPORT

PC Luke Owen was welcomed back on duty.

He distributed the crime figures showing a slight downward trend, with a detection rate of 31% which was just above the national average.

PC Owen advised Members that it was hoped that new PCSOs would be ready to start training in November and commence duties in the new year.

He said they would have the same powers as Traffic Wardens. He was asked to advise any information that was available on whether PCOSs could work beyond 10.00 pm.

A number of issues were raised:

a) reference was made to a disturbance in the town centre late on a Saturday night involving young teenagers, which it was hoped would be followed up in view of the ages of the youngsters;

b) information on the result of the use of speed camera in Scalwell Lane was requested but not yet available. A request was made for the same monitoring of speeding traffic in Seafield Road/Castle Hill;

c) the attention of the police was drawn to the problem of fencing left in Scalwell Lane by the builders of the development currently under construction, which was resulting in a slowing down of traffic.

A request was made that the speed of traffic be monitored again when the fencing was removed.

PC Owen was thanked for his attendance and left the meeting.

244/06 COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ WRITTEN REPORTS

a) Cllr Mrs Rogers referred to developments on the provision of improved rail services to the south west from London, details of which were to be made available to members for their comment.

b) Cllr Mrs Rogers referred to the meeting of towns and parishes with EDDC.

She said she would pass to the Clerk her statement on that meeting for circulation to members, and advised that the £98,000 referred to in EDDC press release which was being sought from DCC had already been committed to ensure that the Visitor Centre projects proceeded.

245/06 MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 21st August 2006 were agreed and signed by the Chairman

246/06 COMMITTEE MINUTES

It was Resolved to receive and adopt the following Committee Minutes:

• Planning 14th and 21st August 2006
• Allotments 16th August 2006
• Finance and General Purposes 12th July 2006

Cllr Seward, as chairman of Allotments, advised members that although they had received the background papers to proposals on the keeping of poultry at the allotment site, the item had not appeared on the agenda and would therefore be discussed at the next Council meeting.

247/06 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

• Cllr Knight declared that he would not take part in voting on any matters relating to EDDC;
• Cllr Mrs Partridge-Hogbin declared a personal interest in agenda item 12 as a member of the Royal British Legion;
• Cllr Buskin declared a personal interest in agenda item 12 as a member of the Royal British Legion

248/06 TO PROPOSE THAT A CONTRIBUTION BE AGREED TOWARDS SEAFRONT LIGHTING PROJECT

The Clerk informed members of the current position regarding the replacement of the town’s seafront lighting, the cost of which was to be met jointly between the Town Council, EDDC and DCC, and the need for members to agree their contribution.

She advised them that they had included a figure of £5,000 in the current year’s budget in the event of any shortfall in local services.

It was unanimously Resolved that a contribution of £5,000 be made towards the replacement seafront lighting.

249/06 TO CONFIRM ORDER FROM EDDC FOR 2 MAROONS FOR 11th November

It was agreed to order 2 maroons, to be collected by the Chairman.

250/06 TO RECEIVE Cllr BURROWS’S REPORT ON MATTERS FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCIL RELEVANT TO THE TOWN COUNCIL

Cllr Burrows referred to:

a) Scrutiny Committee discussions on refurbishment of public toilets.

He said additional information on hours the facilities were open, number of times facilities had been vandalised, etc., had been requested.

He said the toilets on the West Walk were earmarked for refurbishment.

b) He said he did not think that the press release on Executive Committee discussions on the Visitor Centres had accurately reflected the view in the meeting.

He supported others’ concerns that those who attended the Town and Parish meetings should not have been asked to indicate support for financial contributions to the Visitor Centres as they had not been given the opportunity to seek a mandate on this proposal from their own members.

The Chairman asked whether he and Cllr Mrs Rogers had taken refurbishment of the Moridunum any further, as agreed at the previous Council meeting.

They had no information at present.

Cllr Burrows was asked whether he had any information on the closure of the Red Cross position on the West Walk.

Cllr Mrs Rogers said she would take this up with Mr R Speers of EDDC and report back.

251/06 TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM Cllr SEWARD:

1. a) Gateway Towns Meeting. Noted. Cllr Mrs Rogers advised that she had requested the relevant Officers at DCC to keep her fully informed of all matters relating to the Seaton Visitor Centre.
2. b) EDDC Meeting with Town and Parish Councils. Noted. Cllr Seward advised that he and the other Seaton Council representatives were disappointed at the way the meeting was conducted in relation to the Visitor Centre, and stated at the meeting that they did not have a mandate from their council to comment on EDDC priorities

252/06 TO AGREE REPRESENTATION AT ROYAL BRITISH LEGION OPEN EVENING

The Chairman advised that he and his wife would be able to attend.

253/06 TIC MANAGER’S REPORT.

Members were pleased to note Mrs Chipperfield’s positive comments and it was agreed that the Chairman should write to her thanking her for her report.

254/06 CLERK’S REPORT

The following matters were discussed:

1. a) Evolution. Cllr Seward reminded Members that the lack of progression to the next stage of the Big Lottery did not affect work on progressing the Visitor Centre;
2. b) Website. The Clerk advised that a meeting was to be held the following week;
3. c) Town Hall Management. The Chairman advised that a further communication had just been received from Mr Ian Page which would be discussed at the next Finance and General Purposes Committee. It was noted that a meeting of the Town Hall Advisory Group was to be held on 10th October and items for the agenda were requested.
4. d) P24. Cllr Knight asked to be included in a site meeting on improvements to the access from St Gregory’s churchyard.

255/06 TO CONSIDER THIS COUNCIL’S PRIORITIES FOR EDDC

As a number of councillors had not read the list of priorities, it was agreed to refer this item to the next meeting of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

256/06 TO CONSIDER RESPONSE TO DCC CONSULTATION ON HAPPY DAYS DAY CENTRE, AXMINSTER

Cllr Mrs Rogers was requested to establish the future of Marshlands and if its future was secure, it was agreed that this would be the most suitable venue for the Day Centre.

257/06 TO PROPOSE THAT A TIME AND MOTION STUDY IS CARRIED OUT AT THE TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE, ALSO THE TIC OFFICE BY AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY OR PROFESSIONAL (Cllr Buskin)

There was no Seconder for this proposal.

258/06 TO PROPOSE THAT THE ANOMALIES OF SEATON TOWN COUNCIL STANDING ORDERS BE DISCUSSED AND ALTERED ACCORDINGLY (Cllr Buskin)

Cllr Buskin was requested to produce details of any anomalies if he wished this to be placed on another agenda.

259/06 TO PROPOSE THAT A HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTION BE CARRIED OUT WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AREAS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND ALSO TIC TO INCLUDE FIRE RISK (Cllr Buskin)

The Clerk advised that she had already been in discussion with the relevant Officer at EDDC on the matter of the new Fire Safety regulations, who informed her that EDDC would be undertaking an inspection of all their properties as required, and to therefore await their report.

It was agreed that the Chairman and Clerk progress this matter and for the Chairman to contact the Health & Safety Inspectorate for advice on whether the Town Council was required to take any additional action.

260/06 TO PROPOSE THAT ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS ARE CARRIED OUT WITH ALL COUNCIL EMPLOYED STAFF (Cllr Buskin)

It was noted that this was not Council policy.

It was Resolved by 7 votes to 4 not to undertake annual assessments of staff.

261/06 CORRESPONDENCE

a) EDDC – Herberts Funfair at Seaton

Noted

b) Mr Tony Hill

Mr Hill had raised a number of issues:

1. Charmouth Market – The Clerk advised that EDDC intended to prosecute the organisers of the market because of the litter caused by their leaflets;
2. Lights on Esplanade – The Clerk advised that this was a supply problem and was being investigated by Western Power;
3. Light for West Walk Shelter – Cllr Burrows agreed to pursue when future of that area had been clarified;
4. Regeneration – It was agreed that members had done all they could to date by responding to the master plan, and nothing further could be done until a planning application was submitted;
5. FW Woolworths – Mr Hill’s comments on the poor state of this building were supported.

The Clerk was requested to respond accordingly.

c) Mr L Kinch

Mr Kinch’s letters of 15th and 22nd August were noted.

262/06 IT WAS PROPOSED THAT IN VIEW OF THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS ABOUT TO BE TRANSACTED, IT IS ADVISABLE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS BE TEMPORARILY EXCLUDED AND THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO WITHDRAW

It was so Resolved.

263/06 TO DISCUSS INTERNAL COUNCIL MATTERS (Chairman)

The Chairman reminded Members that matters discussed under Resolution 72 were confidential to those present at the meeting, and disclosure of any details of any such discussion to anyone not present at the meeting was against the Code of Conduct.

The Chairman also reminded Members that decisions made at Council meetings which were reached democratically, were binding on all members, even if some did not agree with such decisions. He said that the resolution passed at the meeting held on 17th July (minute 143/06) was acceptable to, and supported by, the staff concerned.

The Chairman reminded Members of their obligation to ensure that their Register of Interests was up to date and accurate.

The meeting closed at 9.25 pm, having commenced at 7.45 pm

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