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Earley Town Council |
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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 26 July 2006 which commenced at 7.45 pm. PresentMayor – Councillor D Chopping Councillors J Armstrong, A Bradley, C Edmunds, M Firmager, T Holton, Mrs F Rolls, C Rowden, S Scarrott, A Spratling (from 8.05 pm), Mrs E Spratling, K Ward and G Woods. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Ahmed (due to illness), Miss T Bauckham (due to family commitments), T Chambers, M Deegan (due to holiday), N Jorgensen (due to holiday), Mrs P Jorgensen (due to holiday), Mrs J Lissaman, (due to holiday), T Lowe (due to work commitments), Mrs F Lumbar (due to ill health), Mrs C Swindells (due to holiday), D Swindells (due to holiday) and M Thomas.
35. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Earley Town Council held on the 21st June 2006 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Mayor. 36. MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS 36.1. Berkshire County Blind Society The Mayor announced that he had received an invitation to the Annual General Meeting of the Berkshire County Blind Society but, regrettably, he would be unable to attend, due to work commitments, as it was during the day.
The Mayor advised that he had received a communication from Lady Elizabeth Godsall seeking nominations for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, an Award which had originally been set up to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The Award was made to groups of volunteers who had been operating for a minimum of three years. It was unanimously agreed that a local organisation of the Mayor’s choice, the name of which was communicated to Members. should be nominated for the Award. Councillors were asked to let the Town Clerk have any details about the organisation which could be added to the citation. 37. TOWN COUNCIL COMMITTEES 37.1 Planning Committee The Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 13th June were presented by the Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor A Bradley. With regard to agenda item 24, a Member present drew attention to overhanging bushes in the area around Tiptree Close, Chalfont Close and between Hillside School and the Children’s Play Area. The Town Clerk agreed to take this matter up with the District Council. On the proposition of Councillor A Bradley, seconded by Councillor J Armstrong, it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the 13th June 2006 (Minutes 18-30) be approved. 37.2 Amenities & Leisure Committee In the absence of the Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman the Minutes of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held on 28th June 2006 were presented by the Mayor, Councillor D Chopping. Attention was drawn to the recommendation at Minute 19.1. in respect of urgent repairs required to the skate park surface at Sol Joel Park. On the proposition of Councillor D Chopping, seconded by Councillor M Firmager, it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Amenities & Leisure Committee held on the 28th June (Minutes 15-27) be approved and the recommendation at Minute 19.1 be adopted. 37.3 Policy & Resources Committee In the absence of the Committee Chairman, the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on the 12 July were presented by the Committee Vice-Chairman, Councillor M Firmager. Item 19 of those Minutes recorded the discussions which had taken place in respect of communications received from Maiden Erlegh School indicating its intention to restrict access to the school to try to reduce the level of vandalism which was currently being experienced. A Member present expressed concern at anything which may prevent access to the public to the school grounds on a route which had been used by local residents for many years. Additionally, whilst it was understood that Maiden Erlegh Drive was in the ownership of the District Council’s Education Department, clarification was sought on the status of the road between the two school sites where it was intimated that this may still be adopted highway. The Town Clerk was requested to check the situation out with the District Council. On the proposition of Councillor M Firmager, seconded by Councillor C Edmunds, it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee held on the 12th July (Minutes 14-24) be approved. 38. REPRESENTATIVES TO OTHER BODIES 38.1 Reports of Representatives 38.1.1 Home Start AGM Councillor Mrs E Spratling reported on her attendance at the Home Start AGM on the 10th July, at which the tenth anniversary of the organisation was celebrated. The Chairman had been pleased to announce that a Service Level Agreement had now been drawn up with the District Council so that future funding for the organisation was now more certain. 38.1.2. Just Around the Corner Councillor K Ward reported on his attendance at the Annual General Meeting of Just Around the Corner. He said that he had been impressed by the keenness of the organisation to try to move into Earley and it was felt that it was likely that they would be applying for some grant assistance from the Town Council. 38.1.3. Fun Day Councillor K Ward said that he had only just recently received an initial report on the Fun Day and that in the region of £3,800 had been raised which was slightly down on last year. A full report would be made to a future meeting. 38.1.4. Wokingham District Sports Council Councillors noted details of a recent meeting of Wokingham District Sports Council contained in the report submitted by Councillor T Holton which had been circulated with the agenda for their consideration. 39. DRAFT TOWN PLAN Councillors were reminded that Minute 24 had resolved that the Draft Town Plan, incorporating comments from residents received up to 30th June, should be made available at the next meeting of the Town Council, with the recommendation that the various sections be considered by the Town Council's Committees, including the Youth & Community Sub-Committee. On the proposition of Councillor C Edmunds, seconded by Councillor T Holton, it was RESOLVED that the Introduction section and the General section be looked at by the Policy & Resources Committee, that the section on Planning and Residential Development and the section on Bus Shelters/Street Furniture and Street Cleansing be looked at by the Planning Committee, that the section on Highways and Traffic be looked at jointly by the Planning and Policy & Resources Committee, that the sections on Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve, Mays Lane Cemetery, Meadow Park, Community Facilities and the Allotments be looked at by the Amenities & Leisure Committee, that the section on Sol Joel Park be looked at by the Amenities & Leisure Committee and the Sol Joel Park Sub-Committee, that the section on Playclubs be looked at by the Amenities & Leisure Committee and the Youth & Community Sub-Committee. Councillors were reminded that a motion was tabled on the agenda of the meeting held on 21st June 2006 from the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group. Councillors were further reminded that, under Standing Order No. 72, the motion stood adjourned without discussion to this meeting of the Council. The proposition which was detailed in full on the agenda was intended to effect the change of Standing Orders to create a new Town Council Executive Committee. The motion was formally seconded by Councillor A Spratling and a vote was taken. The motion was lost by majority. 41. FINANCIAL MATTERS BALANCE SHEET & SUPPORTING INFORMATION A copy of the Town Council’s Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2006 had been circulated for Councillors’ consideration. Councillors were advised that, in view of recent changes to the Accounts and Audit Regulations, the Town Council now fell below the threshold requiring its Accounts to be prepared to include the value of fixed assets and infrastructure including depreciation and capital charges, as had been the practice over the last few years. A Member present queried the use of the word deficit in Consolidated Revenue Account. The Town Clerk explained that this was as a result of the decision of the Council to allocate £55,000 to a Capital Reserve from the previous years under spends and that the General Fund Balance indicated the Town Council’s current financial position. The Town Clerk was requested to seek advice from the Town Council’s appointed Accountant to see whether an alternative word could be used in this instance. RESOLVED that Earley Town Council’s Statement of Accounts and supporting documentation for the year ended March 2006, as appended to these Minutes, be approved. 42. ORDERS FOR PAYMENT A Member present questioned the cost of the photocopier rental, and whether this facility could be provided more cheaply if the Town Council was to buy a copier of its own. It was RESOLVED that the various accounts as set out in the list attached to these Minutes (Vouchers 143 – 176) be paid in the sums as stated, and details of the Imprest (Vouchers 054-075) be noted. 43. PUBLICATIONS It was noted that the following had been received and were held in the Council Offices.
44. PRESS RELEASES No press releases were requested. 45. TERMINATION OF MEETING The meeting was declared closed by the Mayor at 8.48 pm. |