Monthly meeting of the Council - 8th February 2010, Agenda/Minutes

View Also:

Agenda (please note that reports are not attached to the electronic agendas)

Minutes

AGENDA, MONTHLY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, 8TH FEBRUARY 2010

All Members of Didcot Town Council are summoned to attend the Monthly Meeting of the Council on Monday 8th February at Didcot Civic Hall commencing at 7.30pm.

Admission of the Public and Media

Members of the Public and Media are welcome to attend in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meeting) Act 1960.

Public Participation

Public Participation will be in accordance with Standing Order No. 11.

The business to be transacted at the meeting will be:-

1. Apologies

2. Declarations of Interests – Members are reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interests on any item on this agenda in accordance with Didcot Town Council’s Code of Conduct

3. Adoption of the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 14th December 2009 (attached); including questions on the minutes as to the progress of any item.

4. Adoption and agreement of Committee reports and recommendations:

(a) Planning and Development Committee – 16th December 2009 (not attached, sent out with Planning and Development Agenda 27th January 2010)
(b) Arts and Grants Committee – 18th January 2010 (attached)
(c) Finance and General Purposes Committee – 25th January 2010 (attached)
(d) Planning and Development Committee – 27th January 2010 (attached)
(e) Environment Committee – 1st February 2010 (attached)

5. Mayor’s Announcements

6. Financial Statement

(a) To receive a report and agree cheque run payments for 15th December 2009 (attached), 16th December 2009 (attached), 12th January 2010 (attached) and 27th January 2010 (attached).
(b) To receive a report of all payments in December 2009 (attached) and January 2010 (to follow).

7. Correspondence – for information

8. Questions to the Leader concerning the business of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 16


Dominic Stapleton
Town Clerk
3rd February 2010

Back to the top

MINUTES

365. PRESENT

Councillors:

Officers:

The Council observed a minutes silence in honour of Captain Daniel Read, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment (11 EOD), Royal Logistic Corps, based at Vauxhall Barracks, who was killed whilst on active service in northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, on 11th January 2010.

366. APOLOGIES

Councillors Mrs M Davies (personal), Mr B Griffiths (personal), Mr L Elias (personal), Dr D Giaretta (personal) and Mrs S Crowther (business).

367. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Members were reminded to declare any personal or prejudicial interests on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct. Members were also reminded to review their register of members’ interests.

(a) Councillor Mrs J Murphy declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute 371, the Financial Statement, as she is a Director of Total Pest Control and they have a payment.

(b) (i) Councillor Mrs L Hood declared a personal interest in Minute 361 of the Environment Committee Minutes as she is the Chair of the Under 13s Youth Club which is based at The Vibe.
(ii) Councillor Mrs L Hood also declared a personal interest in Minute 324 of the Arts and Grants Committee Minutes and a personal and prejudicial interest in Minute 371, the Financial Statement, as she is the Chair of Didcot Arts Forum (DAF) and they have a payment.

(c) (i) Councillor Mr A Thompson declared a personal interest in Minute 324 of the Arts and Grants Committee Minutes and Minute 371, the Financial Statement, as he is the Didcot Town Council representative on DAF and they have a payment.
(ii) Councillor Mr A Thompson also declared a personal interest in Minute 361 of the Environment Committee Minutes as he is the Chair of The Vibe Management Committee.

(d) Councillor Mr P Hayward declared a personal interest in Minute 332 of the Finance and General Purposes Minutes and in Minute 371, the Financial Statement as he is a member of Didcot Town FC’s Management Committee and they have shared use of the Willowbrook Leisure Centre and lease the land it is built on to Didcot Town Council. SOLL Leisure who manages the centre, have a payment.

368. MINUTES

With reference to Minute 300, Councillor Mr D Rouane stated that to use the word ‘incorrect’ was not accurate as it made it sound negative.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14th December 2009 be approved and signed as a true and correct record.

Referring to Minute 307(a) and in response to a question it was confirmed that a letter had not yet been written to the Didcot Chamber of Commerce regarding them making a contribution to the Christmas lights.

369. ADOPTION AND RECOMMENDATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

(a) Planning and Development Committee – 16th December 2009

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

(b) Arts and Grants Committee – 18th January 2010

Councillor Mrs E Hards stated that it would be useful to members if the reason for declining grant aid was minuted and asked why the committee had declined the Didcot Ladies Afternoon Group’s (DLAG) application?

In response Councillor Mr T Harbour stated that the application was declined because it was felt that the DLAG had sufficient funds in their bank account to cover their costs.

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

(c) Finance and General Purposes Committee – 25th January 2010

Referring to Minute 334 Councillor Mrs E Hards commented that she thought that the response (attached at appendix A to the F&GP Minutes) was well argued.

In response Councillor Mr P Hayward agreed with this statement and added that the meeting with the Fire-fighters had been very productive.

Referring to Minute 338 concern was raised as to the implications that the new restaurant being built on the land adjacent to Wilkinson’s would have on the CCTV coverage of Edinburgh Drive.

For a point of information, The Leader stated that this concern had been raised with South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) and that they would look into it.

Making reference to Minute 340, Councillor Mr D Rouane stated that he thought it would be a good idea given the size and importance of the Civic Hall Project that a special report is presented at every Council meeting to keep members up to date with the progress.

In response, Councillor Mr P Hayward stated that he and the officers would endeavour to keep members as up to date as possible through the website, emails and newsletters.

RESOLVED that the report and recommendations contained therein be approved.

(d) Planning and Development Committee – 27th January 2010

Referring to Minute 350 Councillor Mrs E Hards stated that in its response to the Vale of White Horse District Council Core Strategy Additional Consultation, that the Council state that ‘it welcomes the plan not to build housing to the south west of Abingdon.’

RESOLVED that, including the above amendment, the reports and recommendations contained therein be approved.

(e) Environment Committee – 1st February 2010

Referring to Minute 357 and in response to a question about the proposed bollards outside the Health Centre in Britwell Road it was confirmed that any actions would be taken in accordance with Standing Orders.

Referring to Minute 360, Councillor Mrs E Hards stated that the committee had also recommended that this action ‘be reviewed after 12 months.’

RESOLVED that, including the above amendment, the reports and recommendations contained therein be approved.

370. MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

15/12/09

Tuesday 11am

Official opening of Ladygrove Boardwalk

Mayor

15/12/09

Tuesday
12 noon

Tree planting, Edmonds Park-North Berks League Centenary

Mayor & Escort
15/12/09
 Tuesday evening Air Cadets Presentation Mayor & Escort
1712/09

 Thursday 12.30pm Rotary Club Christmas Lunch Mayor & Escort
17/12/09


 Thursday 7.30pm John Eldridge Award Evening Mayor & Escort
20/12/09


Sunday 6pm Candlelit Carol Concert

Mayor & Escort
25/12/09


 Christmas Day Morning Visits to Didcot Hospital, The Meadows Nursing Home and Didcot Day Centre Mayor & Escort
21/1/10
 Thursday 3.30pm Didcot Day Centre, 2 Session Day Information Sharing Event Mayor
23/1/10
 Saturday 11am Rotary Collection for Haiti Earthquake, Orchard Centre Mayor & Escort
27/1/10
 Wednesday evening Chamber of Commerce Supper Mayor & Escort
29/1/10
 Friday evening VWHDC Chairman’s Civic Big Band Evening Mayor & Escort

The Mayor announced that Didcot would be hosting a Welcome Home Parade for 11 EOD on 16th April 2010, time to be confirmed. The parade was to mark 11 EOD returning from their tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The Mayor reminded members of the Civic Ball which is taking place on 19th February 2010 and the proceeds of which go to the Mayor’s charities.

Councillors Mrs L Hood and Mrs J Murphy left the meeting for the next item.

371. FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Referring to the 15th December 2010 cheque run, cheque number 2569, £228.50 for Didcot Civic Hall room hire, Councillor Mrs E Hards asked for clarification as to what this was for.

Clerk’s Note: This payment was for room hire for meetings held in November 2009 and for room hire for the Remembrance Parade reception.

With reference to the 12th January 2010 cheque run, cheque number 2583, £515.15 for Didcot Civic Hall, Councillor Mrs E Hards asked for clarification as to the sub payments with the title John Eldridge Award.

Clerk’s Note: The £116.00 under John Eldridge Award was for Civic Hall room hire and the £231.15 under the same heading was for the drinks reception.

RESOLVED that the cheque run payments for 15th December 2009 amounting to £30,153.69, 16th December 2009 amounting to £185.00, 12th January 2010 amounting to £5,335.10 and 27th January 2010 amounting to £23,894.56 be authorised and that the list of payments made between 1st December 2009 and 31st January 2010 amounting to £132,138.87 be received (for cheque payments) and authorised for all other payments.

Councillors Mrs L Hood and Mrs J Murphy returned to the meeting.

372. CORRESPONDENCE

(a) HMS Roebuck

Correspondence stating that HMS Roebuck, which has a long standing affiliation with Didcot, is to be decommissioned from service in the Royal Navy in April 2010. In addition, notice of the decommissioning ceremony and parade to take place on 15th April 2010 to which the Mayor and six guests are invited.

373. QUESTIONS TO THE LEADER

(a) Councillor Mr D Rouane asked if The Leader would invite the Cabinet Member for Didcot at SODC to address the members of the Town Council about the future of the town and it would provide an opportunity to question him about the decisions taken.

The Leader responded that he did not think inviting the Cabinet Member for Didcot would achieve anything. He went on that the Didcot Forum already exists for this purpose and that all members of the Town Council are invited to attend

(b) Councillor Mr D Rouane asked The Leader to reconsider the decision not to invite the Cabinet Member as the Didcot Forum was organised by SODC and therefore they controlled the agenda, it only met on an ad-hoc basis and he had never been invited.

The Leader confirmed that he would not reconsider but would ensure that all Didcot Town Councillors are added to the invitation list.

(c) Councillor Mr B Cooper asked if The Leader agreed that in this time of cuts, services and projects need to be considered on an individual basis? So what priorities govern policy?

The Leader responded by saying that he would provide a written response.

The Meeting commenced at 7.30pm and closed at 8.15pm

 

Mayor

Back to the top