STOWMARKET TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of STOWMARKET TOWN COUNCIL held in the John Milton Room, Milton House, Milton Road South on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2017 at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillor D J Muller, Town Mayor
Councillors: Ms L Baxter, Deputy Town Mayor
G Betts-Davies
G M Brewster
J W C Curle
N G K Gowrley
G M Green
B Humphreys MBE
Mrs L M Mayes
Mx M G S N Row
K E Scarff
In attendance: Mr D G Blackburn (Town Clerk)
Present: Mrs A Brewster, Wife of Councillor G M Brewster
Mrs H Gowrley, Wife of Councillor N G K Gowrley
Mr F Hillyer, Stowmarket resident
Mrs T Humphreys, Wife of Councillor B Humphreys MBE
Mrs S E Leedham, Civic Officer
Mr M J Marriott, Operations & Estates Manager
Ms M L Marshall, Deputy Town Clerk
Mrs L Muller, Town Mayor’s Consort
Mrs H Rampley, Stowmarket resident
Mr N J Rozier, Stowmarket resident
Mr J Webb, Stowmarket resident
Mrs Webb, Stowmarket resident
TOWN MAYOR’S OPENING COMMENTS
Councillor B Humphreys MBE, Stowmarket Town Mayor for the municipal year 2016/2017, spoke of his year in office and paid tribute to the people in the local community who worked tirelessly to make the town a better place to live, work and spend their leisure time. The Town Mayor and his wife, Mrs Tracy Humphreys, had attended over 160 engagements raising over
£5,000 for the Mayoral charities. The Town Mayor expressed his sincere appreciation to his wife and to the Members and Officers of the Council for their help and support. He also expressed a wish that his successor would have an enjoyable and successful year in office.
Commencement of formal business of the Annual meeting.
1. ELECTION OF TOWN MAYOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2017/2018
RESOLVED: That Councillor D J Muller be elected Town Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/2018.
The Meeting was adjourned for the changing of the robes. The new Town Mayor, Councillor D J Muller then took the Chair.
2. TOWN MAYOR’S DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE
The Town Mayor, Councillor D J Muller, made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office, having been invested with the Chain of Office by the retiring Town Mayor.
The Town Mayor said that he was honoured by his appointment to the position of Town Mayor, stating that he was very much looking forward to the year ahead.
The Town Mayor presented his consort, Mrs Lois Muller, with the Town Mayor’s Consort’s Chain of Office.
There was a vote of thanks for the retiring Mayor, Councillor B Humphreys, which was agreed unanimously.
3. ELECTION OF DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL YEAR 2017/2018
RESOLVED: That Councillor Ms L Baxter be appointed Deputy Town Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/2018.
4. DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR’S DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Councillor Mrs L Baxter made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office, having been invested with the Chain of Office by the Town Mayor.
The Town Mayor presented The Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Mrs L Baxter, with the Deputy Town Mayor’s Chain of Office.
The Deputy Mayor thanked the Town Council for placing their faith in her by appointing her to the role and looked forward to supporting the Town Mayor and his consort.
5. APOLOGIES OF ABSENCE
Apologies of absence were received from Councillors Ms S L Britton, P Ekpenyong, D J MacPherson, B J Salmon and Mrs H Salmon.
6. RECEIPT OF THE REGISTER OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS.
Members of the Town Council were reminded of the requirement to provide, to the Town Clerk, with an updated registration of their interests each time they had a change in their personal circumstances which was declarable.
7. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY OR NON PECUNIARY INTERESTS
There were none.
8. DISPENSATIONS IN RESPECT OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
There were none.
9. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Town Council held on 15th March, 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.
10. QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDERS
There were none.
11. MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
RESOLVED:
a. That the minutes of the Business Improvement Committee meeting held on 19th April, 2017 be received;
b. That the Town Clerk be authorised to terminate the lease between Stowmarket Town Council and MENTA in respect of the Community Café at the Recreation Ground; and
c. That the Town Clerk be authorised to enter into a new lease agreement with Inroads CIC (Achieving Aspirations) in respect of the Community Café at the Recreation Ground (which may extend beyond the three years within the Town Clerk’s current delegation).
12. HEADTEACHER OF STOWMARKET HIGH SCHOOL
Mr Dave Lee-Allan, Headteacher of Stowmarket High School, gave a presentation to the meeting.
Mr Lee-Allan had been in post for a period of two years and had inherited a school which had some difficulties regarding its performance and place within the local community. Mr Lee-Allan spoke of the challenges that the school faced and improvements that had been implemented with improved examination results, increased liaison with local primary schools, stronger business links and the prospect of a new school building by September, 2019. He referred to the lack of a gymnasium within the proposals for the new school as it was outside the scope of the funding provided, and he commented upon the need for a constructive dialogue with the District Council and local stakeholders about a joined up approach with regard to the provision of sports and leisure facilities within the town.
Mr Lee-Allan spoke of the way that the Town Council could support the High School including the promotion of the school and its achievements and making politicians aware of the challenges which the school faced.
The Town Mayor thanked Mr Lee-Allan for his presentation on behalf of Members of the Town Council.
13. DECISION-MAKING ARRANGEMENTS, APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES FOR 2017/2018, TERMS OF REFERENCE OF COMMITTEES AND SCHEME OF DELEGATION
The Town Clerk submitted a report (C/01/1718, copy on report file) regarding the Town Council’s decision-making arrangements for 2017/2018.
RESOLVED:
a. That the report be received and noted;
b. That the decision-making framework be approved;
c. That the Committees of the Council be appointed in accordance with the principles of the political balance rules under the Local Government and Housing Act 1988; and
d. That appointments be made as follows:
Operations & Strategy Committee:
Councillors N G K Gowrley (Chair), B Humphreys MBE (Vice-chair), Mrs L Baxter, J W C Curle, G M Brewster, Ms S L Britton, P Ekpenyong, D J MacPherson, Mrs L M Mayes, K E Scarff.
Planning & Development Committee:
Councillors: Mrs L M Mayes (Chair), G M Green (Vice-chair), G Betts-Davies, G M Brewster, J W C Curle, B Humphreys MBE, D J Muller, Mx M G S N Row, B J Salmon, Mrs H Salmon.
Audit & Governance Committee:
Councillors: G M Brewster (Chair), D J MacPherson (Vice-chair), J W C Curle, P Ekpenyong, D J Muller, Mx MG N S Row.
Business Improvement Committee:
Councillors B Humphreys MBE (Chair), P Ekpenyong (Vice-chair), G Betts-Davies, N G K Gowrley, B J Salmon and Mrs H Salmon.
Personnel Committee:
Councillors: B J Salmon (Chair), B Humphreys MBE (Vice-chair), Mrs L Baxter, D J MacPherson, D J Muller and K E Scarff.
Projects Committee:
Councillors: N G K Gowrley (Chair), B J Salmon (Vice-chair), G Betts-Davies, Mx M G N S Row, H Salmon and K E Scarff.
Financial Strategy Group:
Councillors: N G K Gowrley (Chair), Mx M G N S Row and D J MacPherson.
Grants Panel:
Councillors: K E Scarff (Chair), G M Brewster and Mx M G N S Row.
Place Shaping Board:
Councillors: Councillors Mrs L M Mayes (Chair), G M Brewster, N G K Gowrley and B J Salmon.
Organisation Review Panel:
Councillors: B J Salmon, N G K Gowrley and B Humphreys MBE.
e. That the updated terms of reference and scheme of delegation, as contained within the report, be approved and adopted.
14. CORPORATE PLAN
The Town Clerk reported upon changes made to the Corporate Plan to make it more concise and avoid some areas of duplication and/or over-elaboration in respect of some of the objectives.
RESOLVED: That the updated version of the Corporate Plan 2017-22 be approved and adopted.
15. CALENDAR OF MEETINGS 2017/18 AND 2018/19
RESOLVED: That the calendar of meetings for 2017/18 and 2018/19 be approved.
16. APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES 2017/18
The Town Council was invited to make appointments to outside bodies for 2017/2018, or otherwise, to make nominations where the appointments had to be confirmed by the appropriate body in accordance with their articles and/or constitutional arrangements.
RESOLVED: That representatives be appointed (or nominated) to outside bodies as follows:
Organisation Name / Council RepresentativeStowmarket Allotment Association / Councillor G M Brewster
Councillor N G K Gowrley
Stowmarket Carnival Committee / None at this time.
Cedars Park Residents Association / Councillor G Green
Councillor B J Salmon
Councillor D Muller
Stowmarket & District Chamber of Commerce / Councillor Mrs L M Mayes
Mid Suffolk Citizens Advice Management Committee / Councillor J W C Curle
Councillor D Muller
John Peel Centre for Creative Arts / Councillor G Betts-Davies
Museum of East Anglian Life / Councillor Mrs L Baxter
Museum of East Anglian Life Friends’ Committee / Councillor B Humphreys MBE
The Pickerel Project / Councillor B Humphreys MBE
Councillor B J Salmon
Councillor K E Scarff
Stowmarket Relief Trust / Councillor Mrs L M Mayes
Councillor K E Scarff
Stowmarket & District Road Safety Committee / Councillor G Green
Councillor K E Scarff
1331 (Stowmarket) Squadron Air Training Corps / Councillor G Green
Councillor D Muller
Suffolk Association of Local Councils / Councillor Mrs L M Mayes
Stowmarket Town Twinning Association / Town Mayor – Councillor D J Muller
Councillor P Ekpenyong
Councillor K E Scarff
Wattisham Flying Station / Councillor B Humphreys MBE
17. UPGRADE OF HARD SURFACES AT MILTON HOUSE
The Operations & Estates Manager submitted a report (C/04/1718, copy on report file) regarding the upgrading of the hard surfaces at Milton House and a proposal to extend the project to incorporate the driveway of the new cemetery which was in a poor condition.
RESOLVED:
a. That a retrospective Capital authorisation be approved in respect of resurfacing works and the extension of the front car park at Milton House; and
b. That the implementation of Phase 2 of the project in respect of the new cemetery driveway be approved and a Capital Authorisation be submitted to a future meeting.
18. ITEMS OF REPORT AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE
The Deputy Town Mayor reported that she had attended the ‘Fabric, Fields and French Knots’ exhibition at the Museum of East Anglian Life which she described as being a wonderful exhibition and encouraged all Members to attend.
Councillor G M Green urged that a letter be sent by the Town Mayor to the Stowmarket Football Club recognising their recent promotion to a higher division
The meeting closed at 8.14pm
CHAIRMAN
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