Town Councillors present: R. Bickerton, Sir G.M. Doughty, L.E. Dowson, D.T. Gladding, I.S.E. Huddlestone (Chair), M. Huddleston, D. Rae, S. E. Rae.

During Electors Questions, Mrs Penny M Simons put forward the following question:

Further to the meeting held on Thursday 20th March 2003 with Mr G Tommy and Online Architects, can an update be provided on the present situation regarding the Proposed Magistrate's Court and the Charitable Land?

Mrs Simons asked if they could put subsidiary questions. Cllr Sir Martin Doughty reflected that those who say we should stick to procedure should stick to procedure themselves.

Chair Ian Huddlestone gave the replies to previous questions - it is considered there is enough CCTV coverage; there are Conservation Area problems regarding disabled access; materials will be submitted for inspection; floodlighting at the front will be retained.

Penny asked if a vote will be taken to grant access on the charitable land. Ian was not sure if a vote had already been taken. Sir Martin said whether a vote is taken depends on how the discussion goes. Penny asked if they knew which version of the plans is to be used, F or K? Sir Martin said it would be the approved plans. Penny asked if the land at the front of the caretakers cottage was to be sold. Ian said that would be discussed tonight. Penny asked if they could be involved in the discussions. Ian replied that they could not as money matters were to be discussed. Peter Simmonds quoted from the Charities Act 1993 regarding disposition of assets. Sir Martin said that Ian would not want to lead the Council into anything illegal. Peter Simmonds described their problem in not being able to talk to the trustees, only through the Town Council. Donald Rae felt they would need to have a discussion first about who could join in. Ian said that here they could only speak as a Town Council. Martin Huddleston thought the matter could be raised in Part II to consider if public could attend. Ian said they could decide in the discussion of the Trustees whether the public can be involved. However, Sir Martin felt they should not raise hopes, as his understanding is that there cannot be public involvement in discussions of the Trustees. Cllr Roy Bickerton said his views are known, discussion should be in Part I to be public and open. Chair Ian Huddlestone declared that the matter would be discussed in the Trustees meeting. Penny said that if payment for the land at the rear would presumably be as a lump sum, would access across the charitable land be an annual payment or a lump sum (as recommended by Francesca Quint).

Previous Minutes

Regarding minute 316 (030303) Cllr Bickerton enquired why a meeting with Gerrald Tommy had been restricted and he had not been invited. Chair Ian Huddlestobe answered that it had been decided better to have just a few councillors present, one from each party. Martin Huddleston wondered if minute 316 needed amending, as the meeting was not intended to be of the whole Council. Cll Donald Rae suggested correcting the minute, and this was agreed.

Regarding the new office phone system, BT will not drop the price. The equipent is owned outright after 5 years. Cllr Sheila Rae asked if a decision is urgent and did Susan (Town Clerk) take a view about the best buy. The reply was that the Dual Communications scheme does not include the wiring or access to the third line, so the BT bid is better.

 

Planning Applications:

There were no objections to applications HPK/2003/0231, 0233, 0252, 0253, 0263.

 

More to Follow...

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At this point the public were asked to leave while the Council discussed financially sensitive matters.