Minutes of the Annual Town Council Meeting held on Monday 10th May 2021 at 7pm at The King Alfred School, Burnham Road, Highbridge
Present: Cllrs Mike Facey (Chair), Andy Brewer, Bill Hancock, Nick Tolley, Chris Allen, Sue Barber, Dawn Carey, Peter Clayton, Helen Groves, Phil Harvey, Sue Harvey, Andy Hodge, Janet Keen, Alan Matthews, Louise Parkin, Colette Winfield, Julie Flurry with Sam Winter, Town Clerk and Lorna Williams, Deputy Clerk in attendance.
Six members of the public and one member of the media were present.
Public Participation
There were no speakers.
40/21/TC To elect the Town Mayor (Chairman of the Town Council) for the year 2021/22
Cllr Mike Facey was elected to the office of Town Mayor and Chairman.
41/21/TC To receive the declaration of acceptance of office signed by the Mayor (Chairman of Council)
The meeting received the signed declaration of acceptance of office.
42/21/TC To elect the Deputy Mayor (Vice-Chairman of the Town Council) for the year 2021/22
Cllr Andy Hodge was elected Deputy Chairman
43/21/TC To receive the declaration of acceptance of office signed by the councillor elected through bye-election on 6th May 2021
The meeting received the signed declaration of acceptance of office from Cllr Julie Flurry.
44/21/TC To elect a second Deputy Mayor for the year 2021/22
Cllr Tolley was elected second Deputy Mayor
45/21/TC To present past Mayor’s badge & appoint a Mayor’s Cadet.
The past Mayor’s badge was presented to Cllr Andy Brewer in recognition of his service as chairman and mayor during 2019/20.
46/21/TC Apologies
Apologies were given on behalf of Cllr Murphy
47/21/TC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
There were no declarations made.
48/21/TC Report from the Police
There was no report.
49/21/TC To approve the committee structure, as the table below, and elect councillors to committees for 2021/22
It was proposed, seconded and resolved to elect the following councillors to committees for 2020/21:
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Cllr Andy Brewer, (Chairman) Cllrs Peter Clayton (Vice-Chairman), Julie Flurry, Sue Harvey, Bill Hancock, Louise Parkin, Nick Tolley with Mike Facey (ex officio) (Cllr Groves removed herself from the committee)
TOWN IMPROVEMENTS
Cllr A Hodge (Chairman), Cllr J Keen (Vice Chair), Cllr P Clayton, Cllr S Barber, Cllr Dawn Carey, Cllr C Allen, Cllr P Harvey, Cllr N Tolley, Cllr M Murphy, Cllr M Facey (Ex-officio).
FINANCE & RESOURCES.
Cllr M Facey,(Chairman) Cllrs P Clayton (Vice Chair), C Allen, B Hancock, P Harvey, S Harvey, M Murphy, L Parkin, A Hodge, A Brewer A Matthews.
PRINCESS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Cllr L Parkin (Chairman), Cllr P Clayton (Vice Chair), Cllr N Tolley, Cllr A
Brewer, Cllr J Flurry, Cllr D Carey, Cllr P Harvey, Cllr M Murphy, Cllr C Winfield, Cllr M Facey (Ex-officio).
BURIAL COMMITTEE
Cllr Chris Allen (Chairman), Cllr A Brewer, Cllr Sue Harvey, Cllr J Keen,
Cllr Colette Winfield and Cllrs A Gordon and S Lester from Burnham Without Parish Council (without voting rights)
50/21/TC To consider and agree the Terms of Reference and Scheme of Delegation
The meeting approved minor amendments to exclude press and public from the grievance and appeals panels, which it was agreed should be convened without public notice.
Membership of the Local Government Reorganisation working group was agreed as: Cllrs Murphy, Clayton, P Harvey, Flurry, Groves, Facey, Allen.
A motion was proposed by Cllr P Harvey to create a Human Resources Committee with public notice and access rights. Discussion centred around the conflict between increased transparency against confidentiality of staffing matters. The motion was seconded by Cllr S Harvey but defeated on vote (the terms of reference, including public access rights to meetings of the HR sub-committee will be considered by the parent committee (Finances & Resources)).
51/21/TC To receive and approve the council’s Financial Regulations
The Financial Regulations were approved and re-adopted without amendment.
52/21/TC To receive and approve the council’s Standing Orders
The Standing Orders were approved and re-adopted without amendment.
53/21/TC To receive and approve the members’ Code of Conduct
The meeting approved and readopted the Code with minor amendments to clarify that members with a pecuniary interest should leave the meeting.
54/21/TC To note the asset register, as approved 1st March 2020 min ref:29/21/TC
The meeting noted the existing approval of the asset register.
55/21/TC To receive and approve the council’s Publication Scheme
The meeting approved and re-adopted the standard document without amendment.
56/21/TC To note the data audit has been updated and data disposal is undertaken in line with the approved schedule for document destruction & retention
The meeting noted the item.
57/21/TC To note the subscriptions made to other bodies, 2021:
The following subscription payments were noted:
| a. | Community Council Membership £40 |
| b. | Visit Somerset £900 per year |
| c. | ICCM £95 |
| d. | SALC £2037.61 |
| e. | AAT £99 |
| f. | ICO £35 |
| g. | Somerset Playing Fields Assoc. £15 |
| i. | Rural Services Network membership £150 |
58/21/TC To consider the Town Council representation on outside bodies:
| Outside Body | Representatives |
| Highbridge Festival of Arts Committee | Cllrs Keen & Winfield |
| Somerset Association of Local Councils | Mayor & town clerk |
| Town Twinning – Fritzlar (German) | The Mayor is Patron to the Society |
| Highbridge Community Hall Management Committee | Cllrs Keen & Murphy |
| Sedgemoor Cycle Group | Cllrs Brewer & Harvey |
| BAY Centre | Cllrs Carey & Tolley |
| Friends of the Princess Group | Cllr Parkin (with the BDO) |
| Sedgemoor Community Partnership (Morland Hall) | Cllrs Brewer & Carey |
| Sea Cadet Corps | Cllr Tolley |
| Air Training Corps | Cllr Allen |
| Hinkley Point Community Forum | Volunteer to be sought as matters arise |
| Burnham Chamber of Trade | Volunteer sought on invitation |
| Burnham & Highbridge Abbeyfield Society | Cllr Facey |
| 67 bus forum | Cllr Allen (with the RFO) |
| Rural Services Network | Cllr Allen |
| Coastal Cluster Group | Cllr Clayton (with the Town Clerk) |
| Seed Arts Panel | Cllr Carey (with BDO) |
| BiARS Management Committee | Cllr Carey or Cllr Barber* |
| Burnham & Highbridge Community Assoc. | Cllr Harvey |
| Army Cadets | Cllr Matthews |
*It was agreed that both volunteers would be put forward for Biars for consideration.
59/21/TC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on 1st March 2021 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
60/21/TC Action List
The Action List was noted as completed
61/21/TC Chairman’s announcements
The Chairman thanked the meeting for his re-election and stated he is looking forward to further hard work and engagement. He thanked Burnham-On-Sea.com for support in safely attending and reporting on mayoral engagements over the last year.
62/21/TC Reports from county cllrs on county council matters
Somerset County Cllr Clayton notified the meeting that SCC had recently held its annual meeting, on which he will provide a future written report
63/21/TC Reports from district cllrs on district council matters
Members received a written report from Cllr Keen & Cllr P Harvey reminded the meeting of the upcoming district council referendum on LGR
64/21/TC Reports from town councillor representatives appointed to outside bodies
Members received a report from Cllr Hodge regarding his attendance at a meeting of the chamber of trade where matters discussed included Chistmas lights switch-on 2021, high street Covid planning, and the Love Burnham initiative whereby it is planned that retailers will sell promotional merchandise. Cllr Hodge encouraged everyone to support the campaign to promote Burnham.
Cllr Groves addressed the meeting to recognise the hard work that had gone into setting up the Coronavirus Support Group and to report on her work with dog wardens with the aim of creating an enclosed dog park. Cllr Groves explained that matters within her personal life has prevented her from attending meeting over the last year.
Motions for note/resolution
65/21/TC To receive a recommendation from the Town Improvements Committee (min ref:16/21/TIMP) that the council enters into partnership agreement with Seed and offers a financial contribution of £1500 towards activities (with acknowledgment that the contribution might increase or decrease to reflect any future agreement).
It was proposed, seconded and resolved to enter into the agreement with the approved contribution, and to note that the intention is to bring opportunities to Highbridge.
66/21/TC To review the Pension providers’ strategy statement and offer suggestions for inclusion
No suggestions were made.
67/21/TC To note the letter sent to the internal auditor confirming the dates of Exercise of Public Rights for the financial year 2020-2021
The meeting noted the contents of the letter.
68/21/TC To receive a request from Cllr Dawn Carey that she is authorised to pursue the development of a youth council, with support provided by the town clerk in drawing up matters of establishment and governance for approval by the town council.
The meeting heard that Cllr Carey was in liaison with those experienced in working with youth councils and was due to attend training on the topic. The meeting approved that Cllr Carey and the town clerk should proceed.
69/21/TC To receive an update on the tasks completed or underway in relation to the council’s corporate plan.
The meeting received the report.
70/21/TC To review the arrangements with other local authorities and contributions made to expenditure incurred:
The meeting received the detail of arrangements without comment.
| Authority | Annual contribution £ | Matter | Agreement detail |
| Sedgemoor District Council | £38,055 £5256.19 | Public toilets Crosses Penn toilets | 50% contribution towards cleaning of BOS public toilets and 100% contribution towards Highbridge public toilets. Discretionary service since Jan 2013, no SLA. 50% contribution towards opening Crosses Penn toilets all year round. Discretionary service agreed 2021, SLA for approval by F&R. |
| Sedgemoor District Council | £24,000 | Dog waste bins | This was an estimated cost for emptying all of the dog waste bins in Burnham and Highbridge, frequency does depend on location. All are at least twice per week with some emptied daily. Service agreed Jan 2013, no SLA |
| Sedgemoor District Council | £15,000 | CCTV | To cover costs of cctv. Discretionary service since Jan 2013, no SLA For review due to faults notified April 2021 |
| Sedgemoor District Council | £6,000 | Extra street cleaning | Contribution to the salary of Burnham town centre street cleaning operative, who provides street cleaning on evenings and on weekends. Current working hours Friday to Tuesday 10.30 – 6.30pm. Discretionary since November 2010 service, no SLA |
Financial Reports
71/21/TC To receive and approve the details of expenditure for February and March 2021
The details of expenditure, were received and approved.
72/21/TC To approve the Town Council accounts for the month of March 2021
The town council accounts, were received and approved. It was noted that the end of year adjustments were yet to be finalised.
73/21/TC To note that those authorised to submit and approve payments will remain unchanged for 21/22 (Cllrs Allen, Clayton, P Harvey, Carey, Matthews & Keen)
The meeting noted the list of authorised councillors.
74/21/TC To receive a recommendation from the Finance & Resources Committee that the payment made in error by Sedgemoor District Council to apply small business relief to the town council should be repaid as: £10,000 repaid out of the 20/21 accounts and £4678.67 repaid from the general reserve (min ref: 27/21/F&R)
It was proposed, seconded and resolved that repayment is approved.
75/21/TC Minutes of previous committee meetings:
It was noted that the minutes of the following committees had been circulated and received.
Tuesday 9th February Princess Management Committee
Monday 8th March Finance & Resources Committee
Wednesday 31st March Planning Committee
76/21/TC Correspondence
The list of items of correspondence was received.
77/21/TC Date of Next meetings
The dates were noted as listed
It was noted that the next town council meeting will be held on Monday 21st June 2021 at 7pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20.08