Minutes of the remote meeting held on Monday 4th May 2020 at 7pm using video conferencing
Present: Cllrs Andy Brewer (Chair), Bill Hancock, Nick Tolley, Chris Allen, Sue Barber, Dawn Carey, Peter Clayton, Mike Facey, Rich Gardiner-White, Phil Harvey, Sue Harvey, Andy Hodge, Janet Keen, Alan Matthews, Mike Murphy, Louise Parkin, Colette Winfield with Samantha Winter, Town Clerk.
1 member of press and 1 member of the public were in attendance
Prior to the meeting, outgoing Mayor, Cllr Brewer, gave his thanks to the Mayoress and all those who had supported his year as Town Mayor, including his Chaplain, Deputies and Mrs Pat Burge who accompanied him at key events. Cllr Brewer stated that he had met some great people in the community, as well as Councillors and dignitaries from other areas. Cllr Brewer thanked Able Cadet William Leader for being the Mayor’s Cadet & for making the Council proud at the Remembrance Ceremony last year.
The presentation of past Mayor’s badge will take place at a point in the future to be confirmed.
(All written reports are available from www.burnham-highbridge-tc.gov.uk or from the Council office).
51/20/TC To elect the Town Mayor (Chairman of the Town Council) for the year 2020/21
Cllr Mike Facey was elected to the office of Town Mayor.
Due to the restriction of the remote meeting, it was agreed that Cllr Facey will sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office in the presence of the Town Clerk prior to the next meeting of the Town Council, when he will also receive the chain of office and appoint a Mayor’s Cadet.
52/20/TC To elect the Deputy Mayor (Vice-Chairman of the Town Council) for the year 2020/21
Cllr Andy Hodge was elected Deputy Mayor
53/20/TC To elect a Second Deputy Mayor for the year 2020/21
Cllr Nick Tolley was elected second Deputy Mayor
Cllr Janet Keen joined the meeting.
54/20/TC Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Helen Groves
55/20/TC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted
None
56/20/TC Report from the police
A written report was received that stated COVID-19 had increased demand on neighbourhood policing and that the demand was being well handled. There has been an increased Police presence in the towns, with Officers dealing with local and visitor breaches of movement restrictions in addition to usual daily services.
57/20/TC Election of councillors to committees for 2020/21
It was resolved to amend the Terms of Reference to reflect the agreed Committee structure and number of councillors elected to committees for 2020/21, as follows:
Planning Committee
Cllr A Brewer (Chair), Cllr P Clayton (Vice Chair), Cllr N Tolley, Cllr L Parkin, Cllr B Hancock, Cllr R Gardiner White, Cllr H Groves, Cllr S Harvey with Cllr Facey (ex officio)
Human Resources Sub-Committee (as amended)
Cllr P Clayton (Chair), Cllr P Harvey (vice chair), Cllr M Facey, Cllr B Hancock, Cllr A Matthews, Cllr D Carey, Cllr S Harvey
Town Improvements Committee
Cllr N Tolley (Chair), Cllr Keen (Vice Chair), Cllr P Clayton, Cllr S Barber, Cllr A Hodge, Cllr C Allen, Cllr R Gardiner White, Cllr P Harvey, Cllr M Murphy and Cllr Dawn Carey with Cllr Facey (ex officio)
Princess Management Committee
Cllr L Parkin (Chair), Cllr P Clayton (Vice Chair), Cllr N Tolley, Cllr A Hodge, Cllr D Carey, Cllr P Harvey, Cllr M Murphy, Cllr C Winfield, Cllr A Brewer with Cllr Facey (ex officio)
Burial Committee
Cllr C Allen (Chair), Cllr A Brewer, Cllr S Harvey, Cllr J Keen, Cllr C Winfield with Cllr Facey (ex officio).
Two councillors from Burnham Without Parish Council may attend without voting rights.
Finance and Resources Committee
Cllr M Facey (Elected, not ex-officio) (Chair), Cllr P Clayton (Vice Chair), Cllr C Allen, Cllr B Hancock, Cllr L Parkin, Cllr N Tolley, Cllr A Matthews, Cllr H Groves, Cllr P Harvey, Cllr S Harvey, Cllr M Murphy, Cllr R Gardiner White, Cllr A Brewer
58/20/TC Town Council representation on outside bodies
It was resolved to appoint the following councillors as representatives of the Council on outside bodies.
The Chairman welcomed regular reports from councillors representing the Council on any of the active groups.
| Outside Body | Representatives |
| Highbridge Festival of Arts Committee | Cllr Keen |
| Somerset Association of Local Councils | Mayor and Town Clerk |
| Town Twinning – Fritzlar (German) | The Mayor is Patron to the Society |
| Highbridge Community Hall Management Committee | Cllrs Keen and Murphy |
| Sedgemoor Cycle Group | Cllrs Brewer and Harvey |
| BAY Centre | Cllrs Carey and Tolley |
| Friends of the Princess Group | Cllrs Clayton and Tolley |
| Sedgemoor Community Partnership (Morland Hall) | Cllrs Brewer and Gardiner-White (shared rep) |
| Sea Cadet Corps | Cllr Tolley |
| Air Training Corps | Cllr Allen |
| Army Cadet Corps | Cllr Matthews |
| Hinkley Point Community Forum | Cllr Facey |
| Project Coach | Cllr Brewer |
| Burnham & Highbridge Community Association | Cllr Harvey |
| Highbridge Youth & Community Network | Cllr Carey & Groves (shared rep) |
| 67 Bus Forum | Cllr C Allen |
| Rural Services Network | Cllr C Allen |
59/20/TC Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 2nd March 2020 and the Extraordinary meeting held on Monday 23rd March 2020 were approved as a correct record.
60/20/TC Chairman’s Announcements
Cllr Mike Facey thanked the meeting for electing him to serve as Town Mayor & Chairman. He stated that he was honoured and delighted to have been invited to take on the role and that he is under no illusions about the task ahead. Cllr Facey stated that his current focus is on taking a civic lead to help the Council look to the future at a post-coronavirus community when it can embark on a recovery plan. Cllr Facey thanked Cllr Andy Brewer for undertaking the role over the last year.
Cllr Facey alerted the meeting to the fact that he would prefer to take a less formal approach to meetings whenever appropriate, and should retain the title ‘Chairman’ for the purposes of meetings and Town Mayor only when undertaking civic functions.
61/20/TC Update from the Town Clerk on the Town Council’s response to the Coronavirus
A written report was received, with a verbal update to note that the Council had made its first £500 delivery to the Food Bank and would supply another as and when required by the Food Bank. A written report was also provided by the Deputy Clerk, updating the meeting on burial and open spaces activity.
62/20/TC Reports from County Cllrs on County Council relevant matters
Members received a written report from Cllr Clayton
63/20/TC Reports from District Cllrs on District Council relevant matters
No reports were received
64/20/TC Reports from members on Town Council relevant matters, including reports from meetings of outside bodies
Members received a written report from Cllr Allen on the 67 bus.
Motions for note/resolution
65/20/TC To note amendments to the Complaints Procedure, as approved by the Human Resources Committee
The amendments to the adopted procedure were noted.
66/20/TC To agree to the appointment of the Council’s internal auditor to review data management
A written report was received and it was resolved to appoint the Council’s auditor to undertake an independent DPO function to carry out a review of data management.
67/20/TC To adopt the proposed Bring Your Own Device Policy
It was resolved to adopt the Policy
Accounts
68/20/TC The details of expenditure during February 2020 were received and approved
69/20/TC The Town Council Accounts for the month of February 2020 were received and approved
70/20/TC It was noted those authorised to submit and approve payments remain unchanged.
71/20/TC Minutes of previous committee meetings:
It was noted that the minutes of the following committees had been circulated and received.
- Planning Committee held on Wednesday 8th April (Draft)
- Finance & Resources held on Monday 27th April (Draft)
72/20/TC Correspondence
Items of correspondence were noted as received
Dates of Next meetings
73/20 TC The meeting dates were noted.
May 2020
Wednesday 13th Planning Committee
Monday 18th Town Improvements Committee
June 2020
Thursday 4th Human Resources Committee
Monday 15th Planning Committee
Tuesday 16th Princess Management Committee
Wednesday 17th Burial Committee
Monday 22nd Next Town Council Meeting (AGAR)
The Chairman closed the meeting at 19:49hrs.