Present: Chairman: Cllr. T. Stansfield

Vice-Chairman: Cllr. R. Rapley

Councillors B. Beale, P. Bowditch, J. Buchanan, R. Crew, G. Dann, C. Dyer, T. Gandy, J. Garlick, E. Guest, D. Knight, M. Moore, D. Spencer, G. Thurman and M . Wilson.

District Councillor P. Turner, Essex County Council and District Councillor A. Hedley, Mr. T. Draper Billericay Chamber of Commerce, 2 members of the public and 1 member of the press and the Town Clerk.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. J. Devlin and M. Dunn. Cllr. D. Spencer had advised that she would have to leave the meeting after approximately one hour.

Cllr. Stansfield welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that he had no official duties to report on since the last meeting of the Town Council. He also said that he would be standing down as Chairman of the Town Council and would not be seeking re-election.

Cllr. J. Buchanan was proposed by Cllr. M. Wilson and seconded by Cllr. D. Spencer. Cllr. B. Beale was proposed by Cllr. G. Thurman and seconded by Cllr. R. Crew.

As the result of a signed ballot it was

RESOLVED: that Cllr. B. Beale be elected Chairman of the Town Council for the ensuing municipal year 2006-2007.

The retiring Chairman presented Cllr. Beale with the Badge of Office.

Cllr. Beale made the Statutory Declaration of acceptance of Office.

IN THE CHAIR COUNCILLOR B. BEALE

RESOLVED: that pursuant to Section 15(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, and further to minute 964 of the Town Council meeting held on 8^th December, 2005, the Chairman’s allowance for 2006/07 had been set at £400.00.

Cllr. J. Buchanan was proposed by Cllr. D. Spencer and seconded by Cllr. T. Stansfield and Cllr. D. Knight was proposed by Cllr. M. Moore and seconded by Cllr. E. Guest.

As a result of a signed ballot it was

RESOLVED: that Cllr. J. Buchanan be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Town Council for the municipal year 2006-2007.

Further to minute 506 of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 6^th April, 2006, Mr. T. Draper, Chairman of the newly formed Chamber of Commerce was welcomed to the meeting. Mr. Draper gave a brief talk on the aims and objectives of the Chamber and papers were circulated detailing the issues the Chamber would be considering, together with minutes of previous meetings.

Mr. Draper said that he had been one of the founder members of the Group which was non-political and non-profit making and was looking forward to working with all organisations within the town for the benefit of the town and commerce. He said the Chamber had been set up for two months and sixty businesses within the town had either joined or expressed an interest in joining. He gave a brief outline of the following issues they would be looking at: Parking, Business Rates, Fun Night, Crime & Security, Cleanliness, Promoting the businesses within Billericay, Business Directory (Town Guide) and Town Discount Scheme.

The view was expressed that a number of the issues raised by Mr. Draper were also being looked into by the Town Council and joint working and exchange of information could be beneficial. Reference was made to the Business Directory (Town Guide) and Mr. Draper said that the Chamber did not intend to be in competition with the Town Council and it was agreed that the two should consult with regard to the production of the individual Guides.

In answer to a question, Mr. Draper said that the Chamber was already approaching businesses in Radford Way where there is in existence a Billericay Industrial Group who they would be working with. Once they have solved some of the issues on their agenda they intend to advertise further afield and encourage people to visit Billericay.

The Chairman thanked Mr. Draper for attending the meeting and said that the Town Council would look forward to working with the Chamber of Commerce.

Members had previously been circulated with a matrix on which they had indicated their preferences for membership of the various Committees, Working Parties and Project Groups. It was noted that one or two members had not submitted their preferences prior to the agenda being compiled.

RESOLVED: that (a) members be appointed to the various Committees, Working Parties and Project Groups as set out in Appendix A to these minutes;

(b) in view of the fact that only one member had expressed an interest in serving on the "Coat of Arms" Project Group this Project Group should not be proceeded with.

Nominations for members to represent the Town Council on various outside bodies were submitted.

With regard to the Billericay Chamber of Commerce a number of members had indicated that they would like to represent the Town Council at these meetings and it was noted from the circulated paper that attendance would be at the invitation of the Chamber.

RESOLVED: that (a) members be appointed to the outside bodies as detailed in Appendix B attached to these minutes;

(b) the item regarding representation on the Chamber of Commerce be deferred until the next Council meeting.

Members were informed that cheques were signed by the Town Clerk and two further signatories and it was

RESOLVED: that, in accordance with the signing instructions, Councillors B. Beale, P. Bowditch, J. Buchanan, M. Wilson and T. Stansfield are authorised to sign on the Town Council’s behalf any agreement or documents necessary for the provision of banking services involving the giving of instructions by the Town Council to the bank or the giving of information by the bank to the Town Council by electronic or similar means.

RESOLVED: that the following remain authorised keyholders:

Cllr Trevor Stansfield

Cllr. Daphne Spencer

Mrs. Helen Philpott

Mrs. Madeline Gapes

Mr. Martin Rawlingson, Cleaning Contractor

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 13^th April, 2006

be taken as read, approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members received and considered the minutes of the Annual Town meeting held on 4^th May, 2006. Reference was made to the fact that at the meeting there had been mention of all Chairmen of Committees and Working Parties etc. except the Chairman of the Finance & General Purposes Committee.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Annual Town meeting held on 4^th May, 2006 be taken as read, approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

In the absence of Cllr. Devlin, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Cllr. Buchanan presented the minutes of the Planning Committee meetings held on 11^th and 25^th April and 9^th May, 2006. Cllr. Buchanan reported on the number of applications considered at each meeting and said that there had been thirty members of the public in attendance at the meeting held on 9^th May, the majority of whom were there in respect of application 06/00461/FULL – 18 Western Road – Change of use to taxi office; the other application of interest was 06/00508/FULL – Land Rear of 21 Station Road – Erection of 3 bedroom bungalow.

With regard to the latter, Cllr. Guest reported that there had recently been a demonstration of forty protestors against the application.

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

(b) Finance & General Purposes Committee : 18^th May, 2006

Cllr. Bowditch presented the minutes of the Finance & General Purposes

Committee meeting held on 18^th May and drew Members’ attention to the

recommendations.

The Chairman informed members that, as a result of enquiries being made with officers of the District Council, the following information had been received regarding the installation of CCTV:

"The contract has been let and the background work is going on at present. The cameras and materials are all on order, the lamp columns have been tested and one has got to be replaced. The contractors should be on site within the next three weeks. Investigations are also being undertaken regarding an additional camera at Lake Meadows and because of the situation of the park any camera installed may have to be "hard wired" instead of digital. Further information regarding this and costs should be known within two weeks.

As a result of discussions BDC have had with the Police, the camera originally intended for outside the former "Quilters" may now be located in the vicinity of the Railway Station."

Cllr. Wilson reported that enquiries were being made to ascertain if the lamp column to be replaced was one that was used for the hanging baskets which should be going up at the beginning of June.

Councillor Buchanan made reference to the fact that the minute stated "that buses no longer go down Tye Common Road" and he said that the No. 256 uses this road on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Cllr. T. Gandy enquired if a response had been received from the Essex County Council regarding funding for Bus Shelters. The Town Clerk reported that a letter had arrived today from the Essex County Council and there was funding available for bus shelters but she did not know if this would extend to the installation of seating within the shelters but the matter would be pursued.

RESOLVED: that (a) recommendation 516(a) be amended to read "that, if a bus service uses Tye Common Road the quotation for provision of a perch bar seat in the sum of £395 plus delivery be accepted and the money vired"; recommendation 516(b) be deleted;

(c) in all other respects the minutes of the Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18^th May, 2006 be approved and adopted.

(a) Litter Working Party : 22^nd May

Cllr. Garlick presented the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd May, 2006 and referred to the successful competition that had recently taken place and showed members copies of the winning posters containing the winning logo which had now been distributed throughout the town. He then invited all members to take part in the "Big Litter Pick" which was to take place on 15^th July.

Discussion ensued regarding the proposal to employ Basildon District Council Enforcement Officers and Litter Pickers and in answer to a question Cllr. Garlick said that Litter Pickers currently operate in Billericay but this proposal would be enhancing the present system and an additional presence might deter people from dropping litter. It was reported that the total cost for employing Enforcement Officers and Litter Pickers as detailed in the recommendation would be £100 for the month of June.

Reference was made to the fact that, if fines were imposed by the Enforcement Officers, the Town Council should receive some of the money. Cllr. Garlick stated that, in accordance with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, the income generated goes to the local authority with the authorised Enforcement Officers.

It was recommended that Basildon District Council should be asked to recompense the Town Council, by making a donation etc, if they obtain income from fines issued as a result of the Town Council paying for an Enforcement Officer to patrol Billericay High Street.

RESOLVED: that (a) Basildon District Council be asked to consider making a donation to the Town Council if they receive income from fines issued whilst the Enforcement Officer is patrolling in Billericay on behalf of the Town Council;

(b) in all other respects the notes of the Litter Working Party meeting held on 22^nd May, 2006 be approved and adopted.

(b) Billericay in Bloom: 3^rd May

Cllr. Wilson presented the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd May, 2006 and detailed the up-to-date situation with regard to publicity for this year’s competition.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting be received and noted.

Members received and considered the draft Terms of Reference for the Environment Committee.

In answer to a question from Cllr. Dyer, it was pointed out that the Planning Committee deals with Highway matters.

Discussion ensued regarding the Terms of Reference during which reference was made to the Billericay Youth Town Council minutes, which are submitted to the Finance & General Purposes Committee, and matters relating to the Skatepark which it was proposed should be considered by the Environment Committee. It was felt that all Youth Council matters should be referred through one channel. Reference was made to minute 978 – Town Council meeting 19^th January, 2006 and it was

RESOLVED: that (a) the subject of the Youth Town Council minutes being submitted to the Finance & General Purposes Committee be considered after a sixth month period from 19^th January 2006;

(b) the proposed Terms of Reference for the Environment Committee be adopted and amended at a later stage if necessary.

Members were informed that notification had been received from the auditors, Lubbock Fine, that the annual return and accompanying information had to be submitted to them by 7^th July, 2006. In view of this members were requested to receive and consider the annual return and end of year statements. It was noted that the Internal Auditor would not be visiting the office until 9^th June; accordingly Section 4 of the return could not be completed until that date.

RESOLVED: that the Accounts and Annual Return including the Statement of Assurance, for the financial year 1^st April, 2005 – 31^st March, 2006 be approved and signed by the Chairman of the Council and Town Clerk/RFO for submission to the external auditor, Lubbock Fine;

Members received and considered a letter from the Manager, Building Control Services, Basildon District Council regarding representation at a meeting which is to be held on 14^th June, 2006 at the Towngate Theatre complex, Basildon.

RESOLVED: that the letter be noted.

Members were reminded that in previous years the Town Council had invited the Billericay Society to organise the Town Walk; last year this event took place on 11^th September, 2006 and consideration was given as to whether the Billericay Society should be approached again this year.

RESOLVED: that the Billericay Society be invited to organise a Town Walk.

Cllr. T. Gandy reported on this free publication which was available from Basildon District Council and he suggested that it should be advertised within the next edition of the Town Crier.

RESOLVED: that the report of Cllr. T. Gandy be noted but no further action be taken regarding the advertising of the publication.

Further to minute 510(e)(i) of the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting held on 18^th May, 2006, members were informed that notification had been received of the above one-day course to be held at Foakes Hall, Dunmow on 14^th June, 2006 at a cost of £50 per delegate. Topics to be covered would include: relevant legislation, regulations and guidance, rights and responsibilities of employer and employee, person specifications, job descriptions, contract of employment, health & safety, good practice.

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

RESOLVED: that, in accordance with s.1 of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, in view of the confidential nature of the business to be discussed, in the opinion of the Council, it is advisable in the public interest that the public and press be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.

Members received and considered a letter from a member of the public in which he wished to "will" his property to the community of Billericay via the Town Council.

RESOLVED: that the member of the public be thanked and informed that the Town Council is interested in principle and prepared to work with him and his Solicitors whenever he is prepared to do so.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.03 p.m.

Top of Page