Seaton Town Council
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
27th November 2006
PRESENT:
- Cllr J Meakin (Chairman)
- Cllrs. P. Burrows
- W Buskin
- R Farlow
- L Garner
- Mrs S Jones
- J Knight
- R Morgan
- R Parry
- Mrs R Partridge-Hogbin
- J Pigott
APOLOGIES:
Cllr J Seward (out of town), Cllr Mrs Rogers
356/06APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were accepted and approved
357/06BEAT MANAGER’S REPORT
In the absence of the Beat Manager due to sickness, Sgt Sheldrake gave a verbal report, advising that crime had shown a slight decrease over the same period the previous year. He confirmed that 2 new PCSOs were currently undertaking training and would be ready to start full-time duties on 2nd January. A third PCSO would be starting in April 2007.
Sgt Sheldrake advised members that he was being moved from Seaton and was being replaced by Sgt Philips.
Issues raised related to:
- opening hours of the police station – Sgt Sheldrake advised that due to sickness it was not possible for the front desk to be fully manned, but advised members to communicate by letter when the office was closed;
- continuing problems with vehicles accessing and parking in the pedestrianised area – Sgt Sheldrake undertook to raise the matter with the station staff;
- parking of police vehicles on double yellow lines – noted;
- duty hours of PCSOs – 8am – 10 pm; role to present high visibility and communicate with all sections of community;
- taxis parking on disabled bays – Sgt Sheldrake to refer to traffic warden for enforcement;
Sgt Sheldrake was thanked for his attendance and wished well in his new appointment.
358/06COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ WRITTEN REPORTS
No reports had been circulated.
359/06MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 23rd October 2006 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.
360/06COMMITTEE MINUTES
It was Resolved to receive and adopt the following Committee Minutes:
a) Planning:-9th & 23rd October 2006
b) Finance & General Purposes:- 9th October 2006
c) Cliff Field Gardens & Seaton in Bloom:-2nd October 2006
361/06DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs Burrows and Knight declared an interest in all matters relating to EDDC.
362/06TO ELECT MEMBERS TO CLIFF FIELD GARDENS & SEATON IN BLOOM COMMITTEE
The following members were elected:
Cllrs Buskin, Farlow, Garner, Knight, Meakin, Morgan, Mrs Partridge-Hogbin
363/06TO RECEIVE CllR SEWARD’S REPORT ON NOVEMBER COUNCIL SURGERY
In the absence of Cllr Seward, the Clerk was requested to circulate the report
364/06TO PROPOSE THAT STANDING ORDER 51 BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHAIRMAN OF ALLOTMENTS COMMITTEE, IF REQUIRED, TO ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REMAINS AT 5 COUNCILLORS
It was so Resolved
365/06TO NOTE REPLY FROM MR MARK WILLIAMS CONCERNING THIS COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO EDDC TOP PRIORITIES
Noted
366/06TO CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SEATON BAPTIST CHURCH TO HOLD OPEN AIR SERVICES IN JUBILEE GARDENS AND CLIFF FIELD GARDENS
This request was unanimously supported. The Clerk was asked to request details of times of services.
367/06TO CONSIDER THE TRAFFIC ORDERS FOR ST. CLARE’S CLOSE (Cllr Burrows)
Cllr Burrows raised this matter because he said that when the Traffic Group last discussed whether or not to support double yellow lines at St Clare’s Close, a letter of support from all the residents and a letter from the police in which they stated that they had no objections, had not been available. Cllr Burrows proposed that in view of these letters, the Traffic Group should be asked to consider the proposal again.
It was Resolved by 7 votes to 1 with 3 abstentions (Cllrs Burrows, Pigott and Mrs Partridge-Hogbin) to refer the matter of double yellow lines for St. Clare’s Close to the Traffic Group for further discussion with the recommendation that double yellow lines be applied to all areas of St Clare’s Close.
368/06TO RE-AFFIRM COUNCIL OFFICE WORKING DOCUMENT (Cllr Burrows)
Cllr Burrows asked that Members re-affirm their agreed policy regarding the council office, to ensure that the staff and the working practice of the council office were respected by all councillors.
Members unanimously supported the re-affirmation of the council office working document.
369/06TO DISCUSS CODE OF CONDUCT IN RELATION TO TRAFFIC GROUP (Cllr Burrows)
Cllr Burrows referred to comments contained within a letter which implied that party politics had played a part in the decision reached on the request for double yellow lines to be adopted for St Clare’s Close.
It was proposed that this matter be discussed at the close of the meeting under Standing Order 72, requiring the press and public to be excluded from the meeting.
It was so Resolved by 5 votes to 3 and 3 abstentions
370/06TO PROPOSE THAT MEMBERS BE ADVISED OF OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS UNDERTAKEN BY MAYOR OR REPRESENTATIVE (Cllr Burrows)
It was unanimously agreed that members be advised each month of official engagements undertaken on behalf of the Council.
371/06TO RECEIVE Cllr BURROWS’S REPORT ON MATTERS FROM THE DISTRICT COUNCIL RELEVANT TO THE TOWN COUNCIL
Cllr Burrows advised the following:
a) meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 22nd November at which a presentation was made on Quality Councils, one of the benefits relating to a greater role in minor planning applications;
b) in respect of public conveniences, the committee decided that Council should look at alternative ways of providing public conveniences if they could not be financed through the budget.
372/06TO AGREE DATE FOR DECEMBER COUNCIL MEETING
It was agreed to hold the December Council meeting on 18th December, following the Planning Meeting.
373/06CORRESPONDENCE
a) Clapps Taxis – land train
The proposals for a land train between Seaton and Beer, submitted by Clapps Taxis, were unanimously supported.
b) Rotary Club – Blue Plaque Scheme
Update on the Blue Plaque Scheme was noted. Members were advised that the plaque for the Town Hall was to be installed shortly.
c) Bill Beardsell – Youth Facilities
Members were reminded that at the November Executive Board of EDDC, support was agreed for youth facilities to be made available as part of the regeneration proposals for the town. It was noted that a meeting was to be held between DCC, EDDC and the Youth Service to consider whether the current youth centre could continue until the building was redeveloped.
d) Correspondence from Short Mat Bowls Club
A number of members of the Short Mat Bowls Club had written to complain about the loss of their facilities with the pending closure of the youth centre. Members expressed the hope that this club, along with others that were losing their facilities, might be relocated at the Town Hall. The Clerk was requested to follow up discussions with Mr Ian Page on the Council’s future involvement in the running of the Town Hall.
373/06IT WAS PROPOSED THAT IN VIEW OF THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS ABOUT TO BE TRANSACTED, IT WAS ADVISABLE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS BE TEMPORARILY EXCLUDED AND INSTRUCTED TO WITHDRAW
It was so Resolved.
374/06TO CONSIDER COUNCIL CONTRACTS FOR 2007/8
Details of tenders received were distributed.
It was Resolved to award the following contracts:
Section 1
Gardencare:- £8,850
Cllrs Burrows and Meakin abstained
Section 2
EDDC:-£888.75
Cllrs Burrows and Knight abstained
Section 3
Tony Benger:-£550
Section 4
Gardencare:-£468
375/06TO CONSIDER CITIZEN OF YEAR AWARD FOR 2006/7
A nomination for this award was unanimously agreed, the presentation to be made at the AGM.
376/06TO DISCUSS CODE OF CONDUCT IN RESPECT OF TRAFFIC GROUP
The decision to refer this matter to the Traffic Group was upheld.
The meeting closed at 9.05pm
Archived Copies of Minutes
Copies of all Minutes of all the Council's meetings are held in the Council Office and copies are sent to Seaton Library once they have been signed by the chairman as a true record of proceedings at the subsequent meeting.