MINUTES: TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 21st June 2021 at 7pm The Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road, Burnham-on-Sea
Present: Cllrs Mike Facey (Chair), Andy Brewer, Bill Hancock, Nick Tolley, Chris Allen, Sue Barber, Dawn Carey, Peter Clayton, Julie Flurry, Phil Harvey, Sue Harvey, Andy Hodge, Janet Keen, Alan Matthews, Louise Parkin
with Sam Winter, Town Clerk, and Sally Jones, Responsible Financial Officer, in attendance.
One member of the public and one member of the media were present.
Public Participation
There were no speakers.
78/21/TC Apologies
Apologies were given on behalf of Cllr Winfield.
Cllrs Murphy and Groves were absent
79/21/TC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
There were no declarations made.
80/21/TC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council Meeting held on Monday 10th May 2021 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.
81/21/TC Action List
The Action List was noted
82/21/TC Report from the Police
A Police representative was unable to attend the meeting and submitted a written report that explained the decision for the “Police station at Burnham-on-Sea to return to a 24/7 operational base is an exciting development for local policing and will provide much needed support for the beat team who manage local issues as well as improving response times. We want to provide the best service possible. The increase in staff at the building has meant the need for on street parking as the site is not big enough for both staff and operational vehicles. Staff have been advised to park legally and safely in the roads and to consider the local community”. Any reports of illegal parking will be addressed.
83/21/TC Chairman’s announcements & Mayoral activities
The Mayor reported that he had attended the seafront on Saturday 19th June to welcome the riders completing the Chase the Sun cycle ride and hoped that the town council will work with others to make an event of the Burnham finale in future years.
The meeting heard that all are invited to join the Mayor and his deputies as they raise the flag to celebrate Armed Forces Day from 11:30am on 26th June. The occasion will take place at the Burnham flagpole at Old Station Approach where the town band will play upbeat tunes and there will be a poem reading. This year’s event will be an upbeat show of support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community. The meeting was reminded of the decision that there will be no parade. (please note min ref: 76/20/TIMP).
It was confirmed that the Mayor’s charity for the year is In Charley’s Memory and that the matter of identifying a Mayor’s Cadet has not been finalised.
84/21/TC Reports from county cllrs on county council matters
A written report was received from county Cllr Clayton on Somerset County Council work, which included information on the pandemic roadmap and Somerset’s success with high number of completed vaccinations. It was reported that Somerset County Council is allocating an additional £10m to embed public health across all areas of council services, with a further £500,000 to be made available for town and parish councils to help them reconnect with their communities by safely reopening facilities like halls, rooms and other sites with good prevention control measures in place.
85/21/TC Reports from district cllrs on district council matters
Members heard from district Cllr P Harvey that Sedgemoor District Council has submitted a bid to the Community Renewal Fund for revenue funding to be used to prepare work for future events in Highbridge, along with a c.£20m bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for works in identified Sedgemoor towns including Highbridge. Cllr Harvey reminded the meeting that parish and town councils are not invited to apply to the funds, which are reserved for principal council application.
District Cllr Keen reported that she had asked Sedgemoor District Council whether it will use the Levelling Up Fund to support the high number of unemployed people within the Highbridge community to re-skill so that they can better compete on the labour market.
86/21/TC Reports from town councillor representatives appointed to outside bodies
Members heard from Cllr Keen that the Highbridge Community Hall is now open and welcoming back community groups. Cllr Keen stated that a town councillor will attend the AGM of the Highbridge Festival of Arts, which had been postponed.
Motions for note/resolution
87/21/TC To note that the quarterly sign off of the accounts including year-end has now taken place
The meeting noted the item.
88/21/TC To approve the Annual Governance Statement (s. 1 of the Annual Return 2020/21)
The chairman read aloud and took a vote on approval of each of the 8 assertions. It was unanimously resolved to approve the Annual Governance Statement, which was duly signed by the chairman and the town clerk.
89/21/TC To approve the Annual Accounting Statement for the year ending 31st March 2021 (s.2 of the Annual Return 2020/21)
It was unanimously resolved to approve the Annual Accounting Statement, which was duly signed by the chairman and Responsible Financial Officer.
90/21/TC To note the summary report from the Internal Auditor and to note that no observations or actions were recorded after the most recent internal audit
The summary report was noted.
91/21/TC To note the period for the exercise of public rights commences on 28/06/2021 and ends on 06/08/2021 and that the Notice is to be published on the councils website from 28/06/2021
The dates of the period for the exercise of public rights were noted.
92/21/TC To note the general reserve report
The report on the general reserve was noted.
93/21/TC To review and approve the usage of the earmarked reserves
The meeting reviewed and unanimously approved the usage of earmarked reserves.
94/21/TC To receive a report on the performance of CCTV in Burnham & Highbridge and consider the terms of payment.
The meeting received the report and unanimously resolved that all future financial contributions/agreements should be secured through written terms, such as by way of contract or service level agreement.
The meeting noted that the CCTV system is being actively upgraded and therefore resolved to pay the invoice due in respect of the town council’s contribution. The town clerk will write to SDC to express the town council’s dissatisfaction with the poor performance of the CCTV.
Financial Reports
95/21/TC To receive and approve the details of expenditure for April 2021
The details of expenditure for April 2021, were received and unanimously approved.
96/21/TC To approve the Town Council accounts for the month of April 2021
The town council accounts for the month of April 2021, were received and unanimously approved.
97/21/TC Minutes of previous committee meetings:
The published minutes of previously held committees were received:
| 22nd March 2021 | Town Improvements Committee |
| 21st April 2021 | Planning Committee |
| 12th May 2021 | Planning Committee |
98/21/TC Correspondence
The list of items of correspondence was received.
99/21/TC Date of Next meetings
The dates of future meetings were noted as listed
It was noted that the next town council meeting will be held on Monday 2nd August 2021 at 7pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 19:47.