New Alresford Town Council

Meeting of Town Council

Held at the Arlebury Park

                                              7.30pm Thursday 15th  May ,2008                                   5TC

                                                                                                                                                                                      

Present:        Cllrs Gentry, Middleton,Yeldham, Read, B .Jeffs, Power, Phillips, Luckham, Cattle, Evans

In Attendance:            Cllr.  E. Jeffs,

Apologies:   Cllr. Cook, Cllr.Jackie Porter

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Election of Chair  

Nominations for Chair:-

Cllr. Gentry (Proposed Cllr. Phiilips Seconded Cllr. Read)

Cllr. Middleton (Proposed Cllr. Jeffs Seconded Cllr. Phillips)

Cllr.Yeldham (Proposed Cllr.Power Seconded Cllr. Gentry.

On the second Ballot Cllr. Yeldham was elected as Chair (6 votes to 4)

 

Chair’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office - Cllr. Yeldham signed the declaration of acceptance of office.

                                                            

Receipt of Declarations of Interest - Completed Declarations of Interest were given to the Clerk.  Cllr.Luckham to forward his form. 

               

Election of Vice-Chair

Nominations for Vice Chair:- Cllr. Jeffs (Proposed: Cllr. Luckham Seconded Cllr. Middleton)

Cllr. Gentry (Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. Read)  Cllr. Gentry was elected as Vice-Chair(6 Votes to 4)

 

Election of Finance Chairman

Resolution: To elect Cllr. Gentry as Chair of Finance. Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr.Read  (AGREED)

                                                                                                                                                          

Appointment of representatives to Outside Bodies

Resolution: For NATC Cllr./s to represent the Council’s views on each of the bodies listed below

Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr Phillips (AGREED)

Resolution: To ratify the representative/s for each of the elected outside bodies               

The New Alresford Town Trust                                                           [Cllr. Gentry, Cllr. Cattle & Cllr. Luckham]

The Chamber of Commerce                                                                                 [Cllr. Evans]

Winchester District Association of Parish and Town Councils       [Cllr. Jeffs]

Alresford Society                                                                                  [Cllr. Cattle]

The Town Partnership                                                                        [Cllr. Jeffs & Cllr. Power]

The Watercress Festival                                                                    [Cllr. Cattle & Cllr. Phillips]

Perins Trust                                                                                          [Cllr. Read]

Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

Clerk to write to the Town Trust Clerk to ascertain remaining term of office for previous Council nominated representatives (Orton and Atkins) who are no longer members of NATC.

 

Appointment of members to Committees

Resolution: To ratify the appointment of Councillors to Committees.  (AGREED)

Executive Committee        (Chair/Vice-Chair/Last Chair)

Finance Committee           (Cllrs. Gentry/Cllr. Yeldham and Committee Chairs)

Recreation Committee     (Cllrs. Cattle/ Middleton/ Power/.Read/Yeldham)                                         

Environment Committee (Cllrs.Cattle/Gentry/Jeffs/Phillips/Yeldham)                   

Planning Committee         (Cllrs.Jeffs/Luckham/Middleton/Phillips)                       

Tourism Committee          (Cllrs.Cattle/Evans/Gentry/Jeffs/Phillips)

Facilities                              (Cllrs. Middleton/Jeffs/Power/Yeldham)

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 10th April, 2008

Resolution: To approve minutes of 10th April 2008 as a true and accurate record

Proposed: Cllr.Power  Seconded Cllr. B.Jeffs (AGREED)

 

Declarations of Interest on Agenda Items - None       

District and County Councillor’s Report (attached)

Cllr. E. Jeffs gave a verbal report stating that things were in abeyance due to the election.  Cllr. Beckett  had retained leadership and Cllr. E. Jeffs was chair of Planning.  He reported the Thursday market wished to concentrate stall coverage.  This issue was delegated to the Environment Committee. 

Public Participation  (meeting adjourned)

Mr. Atherton Congratulated the Council for the way in which they had coped with the tremendous problems they had inherited.  He asked that Public Participation be moved to the end of the agenda to enable the public to speak on agenda matters.

Mr. Goodman Echoed the requested for questions to be heard at the end of the meeting

It was stated that the public questions were early on the agenda in order that public did not have to stay for the duration of the meeting.

Mr. Walker Stated that for league matches to be played the Petanque terrains would need lighting.  He felt the position of the terrain was not best located and that security fencing should be installed..

It was stated that it was the only available site and that the supply of electricity to the site would be considered by the Council at a later stage.  The Council would support the Petanque club in raising funds for electricity but the 08/09 budget would not extend to this due to current projects.      (meeting reconvened)

 

Finance 

Resolution: To approve payments  for April ,2008 (£77,639.23)

Proposed: Cllr. Power  Seconded Cllr. Gentry (AGREED)            

Resolution: To pay the Forum an annual fee of £700 for publication of monthly newsletter and all other advertising.  Proposed Cllr. Gentry Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)

Resolution: To ratify change of phone supplier from BT to Telecall

Proposed Cllr. Cattle Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED)

                 

Election  Resolution: To request  voting cards at a cost of approx.£300 to £500 for the election call for 25th June to fill the casual vacancy.  Proposed Cllr. Gentry Seconded Cllr. Phillips (AGREED)

 

Standing Orders                  

Resolution: To approve the revised Standing Orders. Proposed Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr.B. Jeffs (AGREED)

Council agreed that the Full Town Agenda should include ‘ items for next agenda.’

               

Arlebury Park  Update Report                                                                         

Parking at the Park

A discuss took place with agreement being reached that all parking throughout the town including Arlebury Park be covered by a standardised parking enforcement policy.

Upate on Arlebury Park

Council was informed that the Club ceased trading on 5/4/08.  Club Debts were £75k (excluding rent/rates/utilities).  An agreement to transfer assets and liabilities was being considered by the Directors and NATC would be unable to operate effectively until this agreement has been signed or the club goes into liquidation.  The club had been asked to secure its assets by moving them into the small bar area.  NATC stated they would be willing to hire their chairs and tables.  There remains the problem of recruiting a steward but until the upper area is fully secured by NATC the employment of bar staff would result in wages being paid without income from the business. Should NATC not be able to secure a steward no alcohol could be purchased from Greene King and this may jeopardise the write off agreement made between NATC and Greene King.  The Club’s 2006 accounts had not been lodged.  Even if the club were active and profitable the Directors would still be taken to court for not lodging 2006 accounts.  NATC are unable to help in this matter.  The situation arose when the Club’s Finance Direction refused to complete these accounts but had now agreed to do so.  The Club’s Directors are still faced with a substantial fine in respect of this matter.   It was felt that the facility could be run as other halls in and around the town and the following resolution was put to Council.

 Resolution: To agree to install bar shutters, remove carpet and redecorate the Main Arlebury Park Hall.   Proposed Cllr. Gentry Seconded Cllr. Power (AGREED)

Clerk to write to Cllr. Porter to ascertain whether the new grant to improve the sustainability of village halls could be applied to Arlebury Park renovations.

 

Grants   

Resolution:To approve grant to Citizens Advice Bureau for Alresford surgery of £500

Proposed: Cllr. Power Seconded Cllr. B. Jeffs (AGREED).  Clerk to ask CAB to track Alresford numbers.  Resolution: To approve grant to Alresford & District Children’s Xmas Tree Fund of £600

Proposed Cllr. Yeldham Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)  

 

Committee Reports

Planning Committee Chair of Planning informed the council of an enforcement problem.  There were 4 contentious applications 58, The Dean, Grange Rd (Linden Homes) Railway Cutting (Chalk Bank) and the Travellers site.   The Design Statement had been passed in April and was ready for WCC to print next month.

There were to be 100 hard copies and several disk copies.  A complete script to be posted on the website.  A car check at Bridge Road had been carry out during the rush hour period.  It was pointed out that the land either side of the Avenue was land owned by the Town Trustees and it was felt the Trustees should ensure that there was a proviso made to commercial contracts ensuring they retain the power to levy a tariff from any Commercial developer.             

Tourism Committee  The Chair of Tourism thanked Cllr. Cattle for his efforts on the Watercress Committee.

Cllr. Gentry for the Up the Pole Campaign and Cllr. Middleton and David Goodman for the Millenium Trail repairs.  Cllr. Gentry and Cllr. Phillips worked along side David Goodman and his team to repair the trail.  Cllr. Yeldham volunteered to help on 24th September.                                                                                 

Environment Committee  The Chair of Environment reported that the Committee had  lobbied and obtained the refusal by Environment Agency to discharge sewage

 

Reports from Outside Bodies                                                                                                                          

Rotary Run 15th June.  Over 100 adult entries plus over 100 entries for children meant a substantial turn out resulting in the Arlebury Park premises requiring extensive cleaning after the event.

Resolution: For NATC to bear the cost of cleaning the Arlebury Park premises as their contribution to the charity.  Proposed Cllr. gentry Seconded Cllr. Cattle (AGREED)                                                         

 

Date of Next Meeting  7.30 Thursday 12h June, 2007 at Town Offices, Upper Meeting Room, Arlebury Park

 

 

 

 

                                         The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.15pm.

 

 

 

Chairman’s Signature…………………………………….Date…………………….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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