Full Council Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of Earley Town Council held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley, Berkshire on Wednesday 19 April 2006 which commenced at 7.45 pm.

Chairman – Councillor D Chopping

Councillors J Armstrong, M Ahmed, A Bradley, T Chambers, C Edmunds, M Firmager, T Holton, N Jorgensen, Mrs P Jorgensen (from 8.10 pm.) Mrs J Lissaman, T Lowe, Mrs F M Rolls, C Rowden, S Scarrott, Mrs E Spratling, Mrs C Swindells, D Swindells and K Ward.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Ahmed (due to illness), Miss T Bauckham (due to family commitments), M Deegan (due to work commitments), Mrs F Lumbar (due to illness), A Spratling (due to illness) and M Thomas (due to work commitments).

85.       MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

            The Minutes of the meeting of Earley Town Council held on the 15 February 2006 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman

86.       CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATIONS

86.1.     Mrs V Robinson

The Chairman read out a letter from Council staff member, Mrs Valerie Robinson, expressing thanks to the Town Council and to the Chairman for their assistance and kindness following her bereavement.

86.2.     Earley Day Centre

The Chairman reported that on the 11th April he had unveiled a plaque at the Earley Day Centre which indicated the Town Council’s sponsorship of the Day Centre Garden.

86.3.     Bye-Election

Councillors were advised that, following the resignation of Councillor M Goodyear, there was currently a vacancy on the Maiden Erlegh Town Ward which would be filled at a Bye-Election to be held on the 4th May.

86.4.     Town Meeting – 10th May

            The Chairman advised Councillors that the Town Plan would be launched at the Town Electors Meeting on the 10th May.  The Town Clerk explained the process which had been followed to compile the Town Plan, and confirmed that it would be presented to Councillors once any further comments from residents had been incorporated.

86.5.     Letter of Thanks

            The Chairman read out a letter from a resident of Beech Lane thanking the Town Council for the work which it was undertaking in the Town and, particularly the recent appointment of the litter picker and the Police Community Support Officer.

87.       TOWN COUNCIL COMMITTEES

87.1      Planning Committee

In the absence of the Committee Chairman, the Minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on the 7th February 2006 and the 7th March 2006 were presented by the Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor A Bradley.  With regard to item 138, Councillors Mrs F Rolls and S Scarrott both expressed an interest in being involved in any future meetings with the District Council to try to resolve the litter problems around the District Centre.

On the proposition of Councillor A Bradley, seconded by Councillor N Jorgensen, it was

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on the 7th February 2006 (Minutes 132-145) and 7th March 2006 (Minutes 146-156) be approved.

87.2      Amenities & Leisure Committee

The Minutes of the Amenities & Leisure Committee meeting held on the 22nd March were presented by the Committee Chairman, Councillor N Jorgensen.

On the proposition of Councillor N Jorgensen, seconded by Councillor M Firmager, it was

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held on 22nd March 2006 (Minutes 81-93) be approved.

87.3      Policy & Resources Committee

In the absence of the Committee Chairman, the Minutes of the Policy & Resources Committee held on the 5th April, 2006 were presented by the Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor M Firmager.

On the proposition of Councillor M Firmager, seconded by Councillor N Jorgensen, it was

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 5th April 2006 (Minutes 75 - 86) be approved.

88.       COUNCILLOR AUTHORISATION OF ABSENCE

88.1      Approval of Reason for Failure to Attend Council Meetings

Councillors were advised that under the Local Government Act 1972, Section 85, if a Member failed throughout six consecutive months to attend any meetings of the Council or its Committees or Sub-Committees of which they were a Member or of a Joint Committee, Joint Board or other body to which any of the Council's powers have been transferred or delegated, they ceased automatically to be a member of the Council. This was unless the Member had a "statutory excuse" or the failure was due to a reason approved by the Council or the Member had attended as a representative of the Council at a meeting of any Body.

88.2      Councillor Mrs F Lumbar

On the proposition of Councillor D Swindells, seconded by Councillor C Edmunds, it was

UNAMIOUSLY RESOLVED that the absence of Councillor Mrs F Lumbar from any meetings of the Town Council, both in the past and for the foreseeable future, be approved by the Council due to prolonged illness.

Councillor D Swindells advised the meeting that Councillor Mrs Lumbar had been delighted with the flowers which had been sent on behalf of the Town Council.

89.       REPRESENTATION ON OUTSIDE BODIES

89.1.     Wokingham Job Support Centre

            Councillors noted details of a report from Councillor M Firmager concerning his attendance at a meeting of the Wokingham Job Support Centre on the 10th April.

90.       SERVICE TO EARLEY AWARDS

90.1.     Recipients of 2006 Awards

Councillor were advised that the Service to Earley Awards Panel, had met prior to this meeting of the Town Council and had proposed two recipients of the Award in 2006.  It was

RESOLVED that Roy Baxter and Rex Codling should be the recipients of the Service to Earley Awards in 2006.

90.2.     Honorary Citizenship of the Town of Earley

            Councillors were advised that the Service to Earley Awards Panel had also discussed the possibility of introducing a new category of Award – Honorary Citizenship of the Town of Earley.  It was felt that this Award should be given to individuals who had made a significant contribution to the Town but, either because they had moved away, or for some other reason, were not eligible to be considered for a Service to Earley Award.  It was

            RESOLVED that the Service to Earley Award Panel be asked to draw up the criteria for qualification for an Honorary Citizenship of the Town of Earley Award and that the Award be introduced from 2007.

91.       COMMUNITY POLICING AWARDS

            Councillors were advised that Thames Valley Police had written to the Town Council concerning the competition that takes place each year for their Community Policing Awards.  A letter from the Public Relations Officer at Thames Valley Police had been appended to the agenda for Councillors’ consideration, together with a copy of the nomination form.

            The Town Clerk was requested to clarify which of the categories would include the Police’s Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator.

            On the proposition of Councillor C Edmunds, seconded by Councillor K Ward, it was

RESOLVED that PC Sandra Revell should be nominated to receive a Community Policing Award.

92.       TOWN FORUM

Councillors were advised that an approach had been received from CResCent concerning the resurrection of the Earley Forum, to which the Council had been asked to send a representative. 

The Town Clerk was requested to obtain the Terms of Reference for the Forum and to suggest that a more appropriate name should be considered.  It was

RESOLVED that this matter be considered again at the meeting of the Council on the 10th May.

93.       WOKINGHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT

Councillors were advised that the Town Clerk had attended a one-day Community Conference for Wokingham District, organised by the Local Strategic Partnership, and held on Wednesday, 29th March.

The Conference looked at the structure of the Local Strategic Partnership and the way in which the Local Area Agreement, as reported at Minute 76, was to be moved forward. Members were asked to particularly note that a key theme of the Local Area Agreement for Wokingham District was the neighbourhood delivery of services.

Councillors were further advised that a later session included the State of the District debate. Issues which were being addressed surrounded the areas of crime, housing affordability and the natural environment.

With regard to the State of the District debate, the Town Clerk confirmed that he had not received any further supporting documentation since the 29th March but would make enquiries of the District Council to ascertain whether any further information was available.

With regard to the neighbourhood delivery of services, following a question from a Member, the Town Clerk said that he would have hoped delivery of such services would be through the Town and Parish Councils.

Councillors were advised that a substantial amount of paperwork had been produced in support of the Conference and, on the proposition of Councillor K Ward, seconded by Councillor Mrs P Jorgensen, it was

RESOLVED that this information should be referred to a meeting of the Youth & Community Sub-Committee to identify the key proposals and, where necessary, refer any items to other Committees of the Council for consideration and comment.

94.       ORDERS FOR PAYMENT

RESOLVED that the various accounts as set out in the list attached to these Minute (Vouchers 645 - 667) and Imprest (Vouchers 246 – 266) be noted.

95.       PUBLICATIONS

It was noted that the following had been received and were held in the Council Offices:-

96.       PRESS RELEASES

No press releases were requested.

97.       TERMINATION OF MEETING

            The meeting was declared closed by the Chairman at 9.00 pm.