Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 2nd March 2020 at 7pm in the Council Chamber, The Old Courthouse, Jaycroft Road, Burnham-on-Sea.
Present: Cllr Andy Brewer (Chair) with Cllrs Nick Tolley, Chris Allen, Sue Barber, Dawn Carey, Peter Clayton, Mike Facey, Rich Gardiner-White, Helen Groves, Phil Harvey, Sue Harvey, Janet Keen, Alan Matthews, Mike Murphy, Colette Winfield and Samantha Winter, Town Clerk, Sally Jones, RFO and Lorna Brewer, Admin Officer
Pastor Kelton Black, 1 member of press and 4 members of the public were in attendance
Public participation session A resident updated the meeting on the subject of the Heritage leaflets and walk, along with a potential proposal for a museum.
25/20/TC Apologies Apologies were received from Cllrs Bill Hancock, Louise Parkin and Andy Hodge
26/20/TC Declarations of Interest in items on this agenda & dispensations granted Cllr Keen on 36/20/TC as a member of the Citizens’ Advice board of Trustees
27/20/TC Approval of Minutes The minutes of the Town Council meeting held on Monday 3rd February 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
28/20/TC Action List The Action List was noted 29/20/TC Report from the Police None
30/20/TC Chairman’s Announcements Events attended included a Service at Wells Cathedral to acknowledge volunteering in Somerset, at which Burnham and Highbridge were well represented. The Poetry by Heart gave national publicity for Burnham-onSea and Highbridge. The Chairman expressed his thanks to the staff at King Alfred’s School, and residents who took part. The Mayor’s charity event, an indoor sponsored rowing competition, will be held on Saturday 18th April 10am to 4pm at the Sea Cadet Unit. Funds raised will go towards the cost of six new canoes and the associated equipment needed to bring them into service. All sponsorship and support on the day would be much appreciated.
31/20/TC Reports from County Cllrs on County Council Members received a written report from Cllr Clayton covering a number of matters including, the County Council Budget, Climate Change Fund for Towns and Parishes, Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and One Somerset – A Unitary Council for Somerset 32/20/TC Reports from District Cllrs on District Council relevant matters Members received a report from Cllr Keen the work at Alpha House as managed by Homes in Sedgemoor.
33/20/TC Reports from Town councillors on Town Council relevant matters None Motions for note/resolution
34/20/TC To approve the Asset Register for the Town Council, which now includes the Cemetery assets It was resolved to approve the Asset Register
35/20/TC To review Town Council insurance provision It was resolved to agree to remain with the Town Council’s insurance provider. Cllr keen left the room
36/20/TC To consider changing the way that the Town Council currently funds Citizen Advice Sedgemoor It was resolved to support the Citizens Advice service through the implementation of a specific budget as opposed to the grant process, with existing funds vired from the grants budget to the new budget line. Cllr Keen re-joined the meeting
37/20/TC To note that the new Town Council website has been commissioned from local firm, The Design Hive, following a competitive cost/quality quotation process, as required by our Financial Regulations. The meeting noted the commission.
38/20/TC To resolve to exclude members of the press and public during item
39/20/TC due to the confidential nature of the item relating to commercially sensitive information. It was agreed that item 39/20/TC will be heard in open session provided councillors did not discuss any commercially sensitive information.
39/20/TC To receive a confidential report & recommendations from the Relocation Working Group on the matter of the relocation of the Council offices and resolve how to proceed.
The Town Council resolved that it will enter into formal discussions with SCC on the potential purchase of the SS&L and that this discussion will be conducted by the Town Clerk, alongside the relocation working group, who will make decisions short of those that are contractually binding.
The meeting acknowledged that progression of a business case will require expenditure in line with the Town Clerk’s authority to spend. Accounts
40/20/TC The details of expenditure during January 2020 were received and approved
41/20/TC The Town Council accounts for the month of January 2020 were received and approved
42/20/TC Minutes of previous committee meetings: It was noted that the minutes of the committees had been circulated and received. 1. Planning Committee held on Monday 29th January 2020 (draft) 2. Princess Management Committee held on Monday 10th February 2020 (draft) 3. Human Resources Committee held on Thursday 13th February 2020 (draft)
43/20/TC Correspondence Items of correspondence received were noted. Dates of next scheduled meetings 44/20 TC The dates were noted. March 2020 Monday 16th Finance & Resources Committee Wednesday 18th Planning Committee Monday 23rd Town Improvements Committee April 2020 Wednesday 8th Planning Committee 10
Tuesday 14th Princess Management Committee Wednesday 22nd April Annual Towns Meeting, YMCA Highbridge Monday 27th Finance & Resources Committee (Grants) Wednesday 29th Planning Committee
45/20/TC Date of Annual Town Council meeting It was noted that the next meeting of this committee will be held on Monday 4th May 2020 at 7pm at The Old Courthouse.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 20:45hrs.