Billericay Town Council

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BILLERICAY TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of the Billericay Town Council held in
The Coach House
on Thursday 25th January, 2007 at 7.00 p.m.

Present: Chairman: Cllr. B. Beale

Vice-Chairman : Cllr. J. Buchanan

Cllrs. P. Bowditch, R. Crew, G. Dann, J. Devlin, M. Dunn, C. Dyer, T. Gandy, E. Guest, D. Knight, M. Moore, G. Thurman, P. Went and M. Wilson.

Essex County Councillor and District Councillor A. Hedley, one member of the public and the Town Clerk.

The Chairman welcomed Cllr. Mrs. Went as the newly elected Town Councillor for the West Ward.

79. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. J. Garlick, R. Rapley, D. Spencer and T. Stansfield (message on answerphone) and Essex County Councillor K. Twitchen and District Councillor R. Moore.

80. TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES

Members received and considered the minutes of the meeting held on 7th December, 2006.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 7th December, 2006 be taken as read, approved as a correct record and signed.

-----------------------------------------------

In view of the fact that Cllr. P. Bowditch had to leave the meeting

early to make a presentation to the Billericay Society on the Town Design Statement, it was agreed that the following agenda items should be brought forward:

Committee minutes: 4(b) Environment and (d) Special Environment

Members Report : 5(a) Town Design Statement

5(b) Basildon District Council – Grant Aid

  1. COMMITTEE MINUTES

    Cllr. P. Bowditch presented the minutes of the following meetings:

    (a) Environment – 2nd January, 2007

    RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd January, 2007 be approved and adopted.

    (b) Special Environment – 23rd January, 2007

    RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd January, 2007 be approved and the letters to Basildon District Council and Healthmatic be despatched.

    (see also minute 84)

  2. MEMBERS TO REPORT
    1. Town Design Statement

      Cllr. P. Bowditch reported on the recent presentations made to local organisations by members of the Working Party and stated that they had been well received and each Group had been requested to consider their position relative to the preparation of a Town Design Statement; further presentations were to take place during February.

      It was hoped a number of the Groups would nominate representatives to serve upon the Steering Group and the Working Party should be ready to move forward by the end of March.

      RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

    2. Basildon District Council – Grant Aid

Cllr. Bowditch reported that, together with the Town Clerk, he had collected a cheque for £1,000 on Wednesday 17th January from Basildon District Council. This Grant Aid Award was to assist with the capital costs for the installation of the public conveniences.

Cllr. Bowditch also reported that whilst at the District Council Offices a visit had been made to the CCTV Control Room where it was possible to see the monitoring of six of the Billericay cameras, the images of which were very clear. At present because of the various technical problems the system had not been officially handed over to the District Council but the District Council officer reported that all problems would be rectified within a few days.

In answer to a question Cllr. Bowditch reported that arrangements would be made for Town Councillors to visit the monitoring centre once the system had been officially handed over by the contractors.

Members enquired as to the situation regarding the installation of cameras at the Railway Station and Lake Meadows Park. Cllr. Beale said that the subject of the camera at the Railway Station had been mentioned at the Parish Liaison Meeting held on 24th January but there had been no mention as to Lake Meadows. In answer to a question regarding Town Council funding in respect of the additional cameras, Cllr. Beale said that the Town Council’s commitment of £10,000 towards the three cameras would not change.

RESOLVED: that (i) the Town Clerk ascertains the current situation regarding the cameras at the Railway Station and Lake Meadows Park;

(ii) in all other respects the report be noted.

(see also minute 85)

83. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The Chairman reported on the following:

11th December - together with Cllr. J. Buchanan and Charlie Bell of the Youth Council he had judged the "Best Shop Window" competition and the winner was The Olive Branch

18th December – presentation to the owners of The Olive Branch the prize for the "Best Shop Window" - a cheque for £100 to their chosen local charity, Hamelin Trust.

18th December - Cllr. Buchanan had represented the Chairman at the Billericay School presentation evening.

Cllr. Beale said that some invitations received in the office are not always for the Chairman so if any member wished to represent the Town Council at a particular event they should notify the Clerk accordingly.

21st December – he had walked the High Street with Cllr. D. Knight, the Town Clerk and a representative of Piggotts to discuss the Christmas Lights. Concerns had been expressed about the lights and the standard of workmanship. It was noted that a further meeting was to be held with the Contractors on 5th February when the remaining instalment payment and this year’s lights would be discussed.

24th December – Parish Liaison meeting, Basildon District Council. The District Council had given assurances that the minutes of the meetings would be forwarded as soon as possible. Cllr. Beale gave a brief report on the following issues discussed:

bulletCCTV – now almost fault free, is recording and camera at the Railway Station is being pursued
bulletPCSO’s - at the moment there are thirty three Police Community Support Officers but by the Summer there should be fifty nine. The new Chief Inspector, Jan Harrison, is also very keen to place more emphasis on Neighbourhood Policing.
bulletTown and Parish Design Statements – unfortunately there was no representation from the Planning Department and District Councillor Sargent, Chair of the meeting, had read a response from the Planning Department which stated that Town and Parish Councils could not interfere in the Planning process. This response met with considerable hostility bearing in mind Government Guidance and evidence of other local authorities endorsing Parish Plans etc. Cllr. Sargent said that this matter would be followed up with the Planning Department and further communication to the Parish and Town Councils would be issued.

Discussion ensued regarding this matter and, in answer to a question, Cllr. Beale said that he felt the response should be awaited before the Town Council takes any further action. The Town Clerk had however been requested to contact the Rural Community Council of Essex as they also were meant to be liaising with the District Council.

The meeting was adjourned to enable District Councillor Hedley to speak and he said that he would also be looking into this matter.

bulletLitter Enforcement – As from July there should be six Litter Enforcement

Officers and the new officer in charge of the section hopes that a hard

line will be adopted by BDC

Cllr. Beale referred to minute 76 of the Council meeting held on 7th December, 2006 – Review of Mobile Library Services in Essex – and reported receipt of a communication from County Councillor Kay Twitchen stating that as a result of the response from the public the following is to take place:

bulletAll current stops will be reviewed, by working with local Members and Parish Councils to identify opportunities for rationalisation
bulletThe frequency of the mobile library service will be fortnightly for all public service visits
bulletNew stops will normally only be considered where the location is more than two miles distant, by reasonable road travel and public transport, from a static library.

RESOLVED: that the report of the Chairman be noted.

84. COMMITTEE MINUTES

(see also minute 81)

    1. Planning : 5th and 19th December, 2006 and 2nd and 16th January, 2007

Cllr. J. Devlin, Chairman of the Committee, presented the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings and pointed out the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the above meetings be approved and adopted.

(b) Finance & General Purposes, 11th January, 2007

Cllr. E. Guest, Chairman of the Committee, presented the minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 11th January, 2007.

Cllr. Guest also reported that a Special meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee had been held prior to commencement of this Town Council meeting when it had been agreed that the quotation received from S.J. Bewell & Sons (Printers) Ltd. in the sum of £3,740 for 13,000 copies – A5 page Town Guide be accepted.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 11th January, 2007 be approved and adopted.

 

  1. MEMBERS REPORT

    (see also minute 82)

    Neighbourhood Watch

    Cllr. T. Gandy reported on the meeting held on 13th December, 2006 and said that matters discussed included production of car number plates which shatter when being taken off vehicles; these have been produced to help reduce the spate of number plates being stolen. He also referred to the "Message in a Bottle" scheme whereby elderly people keep various important details that would be required if they should encounter an accident etc. in a bottle in the fridge. It was noted that this scheme had been in operation for a few years but it was felt an item should be included in the next edition of the Town Crier and a supply of bottles obtained for distribution from the office.

    RESOLVED: that the report be noted and Cllr. Gandy be requested to obtain further details regarding the "Message in a Bottle" and a supply of bottles be requested for distribution from the office.

  2. COURSES

Further to the meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee held on 11th January, 2007 members considered whether they wished to attend the following Essex Association of Local Council courses:

    1. How to Raise the Profile of your Parish Council

(ii) The Funding Game and how to win it.

RESOLVED: that no additional members attend the two courses.

  1. ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS

The Chairman reported that as part of continuing to be a Quality Council a paper trail has to be kept and it is essential that members not able to attend meetings should submit their apologies for absence along with a reason. Members were reminded that a summons is issued to attend Council and Committee meetings.

Reference was also made to the fact that for some meetings it is difficult to achieve a quorum and if members do not want to be on a Committee they should notify the office. In this respect it was suggested that attendance at Committee meetings could be addressed when the Standing Orders are next reviewed.

RESOLVED: that the information be noted and adhered to and attendance at Committee meetings be considered when the Standing Orders are next reviewed.

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Cllr. Bowditch left the meeting at 7.52 p.m.

88. ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

Members were informed that the Annual Town Meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday 19th April, 2007 could not be held at the Day Centre because of a prior booking so it will now be held in The Coach House commencing at 7.00 p.m.

Further to minute 71 of the meeting held on 7th December, 2006 it was also noted that Mr. C. Huggins, Ranger, Norsey Wood and Mill Meadows was available on that date to speak but Mr. T. Draper, Chamber of Commerce was unavailable. In answer to a question, Cllr. J. Buchanan reported that the meeting of the Residents’ Association at which Mr. Huggins was to speak would be held after the Annual Town Meeting.

Cllr. Beale reported that as a result of the Parish Liaison Meeting there was a possibility of two further presentations being made to members at future Council meetings.

RESOLVED: that the information be noted and the attendance of Mr. C. Huggins at the Annual Town Meeting be confirmed.

  1. PETITION TO CONFER BASILDON DISTRICT THE STATUS OF A BOROUGH

Members received and considered a letter from Basildon District Council.

Reference was made to the fact that the letter received stated that "it is anticipated that the cost would be in the region of £1,000". The view was expressed that to change all the stationery and signage would cost in excess of this amount. It was also pointed out that Basildon was unsuitable to be a Borough as its area was a District comprising the three towns of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford.

RESOLVED: unanimously that Billericay Town Council is not in favour of Basildon District Council pursuing a change of status to a Borough as it would change the identity of the three towns which form part of the District.

90. WINIFRED EMERY TRUST

Further to minute 73 of the Council meeting held on 7th December, 2006 members were informed that:

    1. information received from Basildon District Council, including financial papers, had been forwarded to Cllr. Devlin but neither the District Council nor the Charity Commission had a copy of the Trust Deed. Investigations had been undertaken to ascertain if a former Trustee had a copy of the Deed but to no avail.
    2. as pointed out at the last Town Council meeting, five Trustees need to be appointed. This matter was raised with the District Council who confirmed that this was the case but initially to enable the Charity Commission to be contacted and matters moved forward, three Trustees need to be appointed.

Cllr. Devlin reported that from the papers it was apparent that the previous occupier of the premises had moved into a home and since then in the absence of rent income the money has started to dwindle in the account.

It was felt that the way forward was for the District Council to approach the Charity Commission to wind-up the existing Trust and get a new Trust put in place.

Reference was also made to a resolution contained within the District Bulletin that stated three Trustees had been appointed, Mr. Everitt, Mr. Devlin and Mrs. H. Philpott and it was felt that the District Council should be contacted and requested to rescind the resolution. Although these individuals had shown an interest copies of the Trust Document had been requested prior to ratification.

RESOLVED: that the District Council be requested (a) to contact the Charity Commission to wind up the existing Trust and form a new Trust;

(b) to rescind the resolution that stated that Mr. Everett, Mr. Devlin and Mrs. H. Philpott had been appointed Trustees of the Winifred Emery Trust.

  1. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
  1. Essex Association of Local Councils – Executive Committee

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 16th November, 2006 be noted.

(b) Essex Heritage Trust

Members received a letter from the Essex Heritage Trust detailing the fact that the Trust was set up to donate funds to worthy public projects around Essex and during the past 16 years it had supported 289 projects.

RESOLVED: that the letter be noted and a copy be forwarded to the Secretary, St. Mary Magdalen Church who may not be aware of this source of funding for projects.

  1. QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Chairman closed the meeting for questions from the press and public.

 

Cllr. B. Beale

Chairman

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.20 p.m.

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