MINUTESOF A MEETING OF BOURNETOWN COUNCIL HELD ON
TUESDAY 02 March 2010 at 7.35pm, at Bourne Corn Exchange
(Minuted by Town Clerk)
Present:ChairmanT Holmes
CouncillorsMrs S CliffeMrs P MoiseyMrs J Smith D Higgs Mrs L Neal J Smith Mrs B Johnson A Prentice 7members of public & press
10/066APOLOGIES
Proposed Cllr Mrs J Smith, seconded Cllr J Smith and by majority vote
Resolved:To approve reasons of apologies for absence from Councillors
B Fines, D Fisher, Ms J Pauley, Mrs H Powell, Mrs K Roche and Mrs S Wilson
10/067TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
PREJUDICIALCllr T HolmesItem 8/Minute 10/073SKDC member
PREJUDICIALCllr J SmithItem 8/Minute 10/073SKDC member
PREJUDICIALCllr Mrs J SmithItem 8/Minute 10/073SKDC member
PREJUDICIALCllr D HiggsItem 8/Minute 10/073SKDC member
PREJUDICIALCllr Mrs L NealItem 8/Minute 10/073SKDC member
10/068MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
3 members of the public indicated a wish to speak under Item 6/2/b/Minute 10/071/2/b
10/069To adopt and sign the NOTES of THE MEETING of the Council, held on
19 January 2010 AS A TRUE RECORD
Proposed Cllr A Prentice, seconded Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and by majority vote
Resolved:To adopt the above Notes as a true record and for the Chairman to sign them as the Minutes of the above mentioned meeting
10/070TO RECEIVE THE NOTES/MINUTES OF STANDING COMMITTEES
(Notes to be approved by Committees)
a) Minutes of Highways & Planning Committee Meeting – 19 January 2010
(no recommendations weremade outside delegated powers)
b) Notes of Amenities Committee Meeting – 02 February 2010
(no recommendations were made outside delegated powers)
c) Minutes of Highways & Planning Committee Meeting – 09February 2010
(norecommendations were made outside delegated powers)
d) Notes of Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting– 16 February 2010
(6recommendationswere made outside delegated powers)
Proposed Cllr Mrs B Johnson, seconded Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and unanimously
Resolved:To receive the above Notes/Minutes (a) through to (d) en bloc
10/071TO ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY COMMITTEES
1) Minute – 1049FTo approve accounts forpayment as presented – Total value £10,162.27
Proposed Cllr Mrs J Smith, seconded Cllr A Prentice and unanimously
Resolved:To adopt the recommendation as recorded above
2) Minute – 1054FCemetery Chapel – to resolve the following
a)That Solicitors meet to draft a lease and to make council’s solicitor aware of covenant
Proposed Cllr A Prentice, seconded Cllr Mrs J Smith and unanimously
Resolved:To adopt the recommendation as recorded above
b)That BourneTown Council does not provide funds toward the cost of an Options Appraisal
The Chairman invited the resident who is also the Chairman of the Bourne Preservation Society to address the meeting. The resident felt that the council had contradicted itself over start up funding when the F&GP meeting recommended that no funding should be made available until a lease is signed. He felt this recommendation was not in line with the January Working Party meeting and not correct. The resident requested that this item be referred back to the F&GP committee and he offered to speak at that meeting. He further stated that the Preservation Society would like to see more commitment by BTC; BPS needed funding to carry out this project. All BPS funds were earmarked for the final project.
A second resident:Stated that it had been 2 years since the start of these negotiations and the project had moved through highs and lows as BTC had moved the goal posts. During the last few months some items had moved forward but different things had been said at different meetings. A Business Plan had been submitted as requested but was turned down. He stated that at the Heckington meeting Councillors were asked if BTC would consider funding towards the Options Appraisal and all present had felt this would be a way forward for this project. This matter had been raised again at the latest meeting of the Council and a recommendation made that no funding should be forthcoming. The resident urged Councillors to refer the item back or approve funding. The resident reminded the meeting that BTC had voted to demolish this building.
A further resident addressed the meeting. The feeling of the people of Bourne could be seen by the amount of people in attendance. It would appear that the way BTC had treated BPS is a disgrace. BTC continually moved the goal post. She felt It was quite clear that BTC was not going to let BPS have the chapel. She stated that she could not understand why. This council was supposed to be open and democratic and she would like to see that demonstrated.
The Chairman replied that the Public Open Forum was available for the public to speak. Every meeting of the council is open to the public; if the resident had any other matters she would like to raise she could address them at an Open Forum.
A member of the council pointed out that Councillors attending meetings on behalf of BTC do not have delegated powers and members should be reminded that BTC did consult the people of Bourne regarding the chapel and they did not want money spent on the building.One member who had attended all meetings of the working party with BPS stated that he felt that the BPS had failed to set up a trust which was needed for getting the 75% fund from the Architectural Heritage Fund towards the cost of the Options Appraisal.
Proposed Cllr J Smith, seconded Cllr Mrs B Johnson and by majority vote
Resolved:To refer this item back to the Finance & General Purposes Committee
c) That no other building is incorporated in the Options Appraisal
Proposed Cllr Mrs S Cliffe, seconded Cllr Mrs P Moisey and unanimously
Resolved:That no other building is incorporated in the Options Appraisal
3) Minute – 1056F/c To approve the Code of Practice in Handling Complaints as presented
Proposed Cllr Mrs S Cliffe, seconded Cllr D Higgs and unanimously
Resolved:To approve the Code of Practice in Handling Complaints as presented
4) Minute – 1057FTo approve Cllr Mrs S Cliffe’s nomination onto the Elsea Park Trust
Proposed Cllr Mrs J Smith, seconded Cllr A Prentice and unanimously
Resolved:To adopt the recommendation as recorded above
10/072TO APPROVE ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT
Payee / Item of Expenditure (Relevant Power to incur) / Gross AmountMonth 11 / Gross Staff Cost for Feb. 10 (LGA 1972 ss 112 & 214 & PHA 1936 s87) (LGPSR 1995) / £ 6,604.20
T Mobile / Inv 457863 Jan/Feb 10(LGA 1972 s 111) / £ 17.63
BT / Inv 2801 Telephone & Broadband Jan/Feb (LGA 1972 s 111) / £ 64.49
Welland DID Board / Inv 9183 Allotment drains (SH&AA 1908 s26) / £ 36.19
ESPO / Inv9222674 Admin & Cemetery consumables (LGA 1972 s111) / £ 31.48
Eon / Ac 011477576500 Electricity to Bungalow(LGA 1972 s111) / £ 33.21
CASH PurchaseFebruary / Postage £90 / £ 90.00
Financial Year 2010 - 2011
LALC / Inv 1448 Annual Subscription 2010/11 £1005.80 and Local Council Review £14.50 (LGA 1972 s143 & 111) / £ 1,020.30
Total of the above incl VAT / £ 7,897.50
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BourneTown Council Meeting held on 02.03.10
The above invoices have been verified and cheques sent for some of the above
Proposed Cllr Mrs S Cliffe, seconded Cllr Mrs B Johnson and unanimously
Resolved:To approve the above accounts for payment
10/073TO DISCUSS INFORMATION RE SECTION 134 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972
AND THE DISTRICT COUNCIL’S OFFER RE TOWN HALL CHARGES
Councillors D Higgs, T Holmes, Mrs L Neal, Mrs J Smith & J Smith left the meeting due to their
Prejudicial Interest declared earlier
With the Vice-Chairman in the Chair
The Clerk reported that none of the organisations contacted had responded reference a
definition of the Section of the Act. LALC had indicated that nobody was likely to respond,
especially in writing, as the Law was open to different interpretations; hence the creation and
use of test cases.
In view of the 4 remaining members of the council not meeting the requirements of a quorum
this item will be referred back to the F&GP Committee.
Councillors D Higgs, T Holmes, Mrs L Neal, Mrs J Smith & J Smith returned to the meeting
With the Chairman back in the Chair
10/074TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING EXISTING DOCUMENTS
a) BourneTown Council – Risk Management Policy(no changes had been recommended)
Proposed Cllr D Higgs, seconded Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and unanimously
Resolved:To re-adopt the above Policy without changes
b) Risk Assessment for the management of Bourne Town Council(no changes had been recommended)
Proposed Cllr Mrs B Johnson, seconded Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and unanimously
Resolved:To re-adopt the above document without changes
c) Health & Safety Risk Assessment Manual(no changes had been recommended)
Proposed Cllr A Prentice, seconded Cllr Mrs S Cliffe and unanimously
Resolved:To re-adopt the above document without changes
d) Health & Safety Policy including appropriate forms(minor amendments especially to incorporate the impact of the Driving Policy and to incorporate the council’s emergency procedures)
Proposed Cllr Mrs B Johnson, seconded Cllr Mrs J Smith and unanimously
Resolved:To adopt the amended Health & Safety Policy as presented
10/075TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT “DRIVING AT WORK” POLICY
The Clerk explained that employers have a duty to ensure that others are not put at risk by their work-related driving activities. Employees have a duty not to put their own or other people’s health and safety at risk and to co-operate with their employer. Employers owe the same duty of care under Health & Safety law to employees driving their own vehicles as they do to company owned or lease hired vehicles. If someone is killed or seriously injured as a result of work-related driving activity the council will be investigate. Prosecutions or improvement orders are likely to follow. Cases have already gone to Court under The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.
The Clerk stressed the importance of a clearly defined Policy of what is expected of members and staff. She explained that the Draft document had been based on a copy from a solicitors’ office.
Proposed Cllr J Smith, seconded Cllr Mrs B Johnson and unanimously
ResolvedTo adopt the Draft Driving Policy as presented.
10/076TO DISCUSS AN INVITATION FOR MEMBERS TO ATTEND AN INFORMAL EVENING BY THE EVERGREEN CARE TRUST ON 11.3.10 – 7.30PM – DARBY ANDJOAN HALL
The Clerk read out the details of the event.
Proposed Cllr Mrs P Moisey, seconded Cllr Mrs J Smith and unanimously
ResolvedFor catering purposes Members to inform the Clerk if they wished to attend
10/077TO DISCUSS ANY INFORMATION, WHICH THE CHAIRMAN MAY LEGALLY BRING TO THE COUNCIL’S ATTENTION
The Chairman - informed the council that the District Council had approved the budget.
Increases were as follows – 2.5% SKDC, 2.5% LCC, 3% Police and 2.5% Bourne Town Council (being the lowest in the district)
Cllr Mrs J Smith - congratulated the Town Mayor, Town Mayoress and Town Clerk for organising a very enjoyable Civic Dinner and to Eddie Lunn for entertainment. She had thoroughly enjoyed the event.
There being no further items the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.17pm
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BourneTown Council Meeting held on 02.03.10