MenuMinutes of a meeting of Amble Town Council held on Thursday 8th November 2012 at 6.30pm in the Council Office, The Quayside, Harbour Road, Amble.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Hinson (Chairman), Arckless, Bilboe, Palin, Weir, Miss Morrison, Mrs Dargue, Rev’d Nicholson and Mrs Lewis together with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
Christine Harle from the Gazette was also in attendance.
Mrs Watson – Amble resident
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: County Councillor Watson. The apologies were accepted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
3. ACCEPTANCE OF DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: None
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: (maximum 15 minutes)
Mrs June Watson updated on the Remembrance Sunday Service preparations of the British Legion.
5. MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL
5.1: The Minutes of the meeting of Amble Town Council held Thursday 11th October 2012 were adopted on the proposal of Cllr Mrs Lewis, seconded by Cllr Arckless and agreed.
6. CLERK’S REPORT:
6.1: Updated quote requested from builder re: Radcliffe Memorial – Received
6.2: No objections to street trader application (Ice Cream) submitted to NCC
6.3: Letter sent confirming removal of objections to adverse possession claim on title number ND167835
6.4: Email to NCC requesting info on Car Park closure
6.5: Service review letters sent to contractors
6.6: Request to ACAS for visit from Senior Advisor – visit took place 26th Oct
6.7: Agreement with Neighbourhood Services for Coquet Street car park litter and dog bins to be removed while improvement works take place – bins to be stored at NCC depot temporarily.
6.8: Chairman training course attended by 4 or the 6 delegates
6.9: Damage at A1068 Amble south entrance roundabout reported to NCC
6.10: Email to Terry Garnick requesting information on Paddling Pools and Planting
6.11: PCC Notice of pole placed in noticeboard
7. AGENDA ITEMS FROM CLERK’S REPORT:
7.1: The future of planter/beds in the town – After a meeting held in February, the Council were told that NCC would provide a rolling program for the planting of perennial; however it now appears that NCC had changed the goalposts with only 2 out of 10 established areas being planted. A meeting would be arranged inviting Terry Garnick and a senior official ASAP.
8. CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS and REPORT:
The Chairman reported that he had attended the Core Issues and Options feedback workshop, Amble 2020 launch and Local Democracy Week.
9. REPORTS FROM COUNTY COUNCILLORS:
9.1 County Councillor Arckless presented his report; a copy is available on request.
9.2 County Councillor Watson was not present but had informed the Clerk that paper copies of planning applications would be made available to Parish Councils on request.
10. REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES & REPORTS OF MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS:
Cllr Weir attended meetings of NALC, the Business Club, the Youth Project, a meeting with North Street Residents, a Chairman’s Training Course.
Cllr Mrs Lewis, Mrs Dargue and Miss Morrison met with HMP Northumberland to discuss using the workshop for the provision of seats and litter bins.
11. AGENDA ITEMS:
11.1: Consideration of approval of News page 37 – It was resolved this be accepted.
11.2: Consideration of locating a floral display on the existing concrete base where the ‘boat’ seat was formerly positioned at the South Entrance to the town –It was resolved that the possibility of Partnership working with HMP Northumberland be investigated; Members were to return any ideas they had for the planter to the January meeting of the Council.
11.3: Consideration of Memorandum of Understanding with HMP Northumberland for work on Town Seats – It was resolved that this be agreed.
11.4: Consideration of approval of location of 2 new town seats – It was resolved that a bench be located on the coastal path and one towards Island View. A bench to be located in the bus shelter opposite Gloster Park would be investigated in the future.
11.5: Consideration of insufficient football pitches in the Town – It was resolved that the Town Council make representations to Northumberland County Council and Amble Development Trust to investigate improved sporting facilities predominantly football pitches and running tracks.
12. REPORT FROM THE CEMETERIES MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
12.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 25th October 2012 – It was resolved that the minutes were a correct record of proceedings and would be signed by the Chair.
13. REPORT FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE:
13.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Thursday 25th October 2012 – It was resolved that the minutes were a correct record of proceedings and would be signed by the Chair.
14. REPORT FROM THE ALLOTMENT AND PLAYGROUNDS COMMITTEE:
14.1: The Minutes of the Allotments and Playground meeting held on Saturday 13th October 2012 – Suggested actions were confirmed. It was resolved that the minutes were a correct record of proceedings and would be signed by the Chair.
15. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE:
15.1: The Minutes of the Meeting held Tuesday 4th October 2012 – It was resolved that the minutes were a correct record of proceedings and would be signed by the Chair.
16. COMMUNICATIONS:
16.1: Letter requesting link to community site be added to TC website and for inclusion on a distribution list. It was resolved a response be sent stating that a link would not be added to the TC website and all Council information was available via minutes.
16.2: Our House? House of Lords and IPPR North event – Newcastle, 22nd November – circulated to members
16.3: Representative for Amble 2020 Steering Group – It was resolved that Cllr Mrs Dargue and the Clerk for continuity represent the Council on the Steering Group.
16.4: NCC – Request for suggested sites for the relocation of recycling waste bins – a temporary suggestion of around the corner towards the Braid was suggested.
16.5: NCC – Local Democracy Campaign – The Clerk detailed the information for the benefit of the Members.
16.6: NALC – Town Council employee benchmarking – Clerk responded
17. INFORMATION ITEMS AND ITEMS FOR CIRCULATION:
17.1: News from Northumbrian Water re: Amble works – circulated.
17.2: NCC Regeneration Bulletin 29
17.3: Community Action Northumberland October 2012
17.4: Citizens Advice Bureau – Debt advice publicity material
17.5: Clerks & Councils Direct
(All items will be placed on information table for interested Members)
Information items are not to be taken away from the Meeting but photocopies can be made, if required.
18. DATE & TIME OF NEXT MEETING:
18:1 The date & time of the next Meeting will be on Thursday 13th December 2012 at approx. 6.30pm. in the Town Council Meeting Room, The Quayside, Amble
It was resolved that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public will be excluded from the Meeting during consideration of the following items on the Agenda due to sensitive nature.
Public/Private
P01 – Consideration of Bus Shelter Quotations – It was resolved that the guttering be repaired and cleaned on the Links Avenue and Church Street bus shelters, accepting the quote of the general builder.
Cllr Rev’d Nicholson offered to paint the Church Street bus shelter is masonry paint and brushes were provided; this was agreed.
A letter would be sent to the owners of the ‘old vicarage’ requesting that the Ivy be cut back that is growing from their land over the bus shelter.
The works to the roofs of the Links Avenue and Church Street bus shelters and the ground of the Acklington Road bus shelters would be deferred for consideration by the Town Council in summer of 2013.
P02 – Employee Appraisals
The Clerk reported on the appraisals of the Administrative Assistant, Groundsman and Superintendent.
It was resolved that a Photoshop course be investigated for the Administrative Assistant and details be returned to a meeting of the Finance Committee.
It was resolved that a manual handling course be arranged as a priority, in the case of a minimum number of delegates being required which was beyond the needs of the Town Council, then the course should be advertised amongst other Local Councils for potential delegates.
As the Clerks appraisal was not yet available, the Chairman was urged to complete the Clerks appraisal to be reported at the next meeting of the Town Council.
The meeting closed at 9pm