MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF EPPING TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, EPPING HALL, ST JOHN’S ROAD, EPPING, 

ON TUESDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER  2007  AT 8.15PM

 

PRESENT       Councillors: N. Hines (Town Mayor), B.D. Murphy (Deputy Town Mayor); J. Lewis, Miss O.D. Dunseath, R. Macrae, J.A. Smith, K. Avey; Miss M. Starling; H Pegrum and Mrs M-L Whitbread.

 

OFFICER          Bob Whittome (Town Clerk)

 

Two members of the public were present.

 

179.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Mrs J. Hedges.  Cllr Miss Maxine Starling gave apologies and stated that she would have to leave the meeting at 9.15pm.

 

180.     DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

 

Cllr. Smith declared a personal interest in the grant application from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

181.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

Members agreed to take as read the minutes of the meeting on 28th August 2007 and AGREED to approve the signing of the minutes by the Mayor as a correct record.  

 

182      COMMUNICATIONS

 

The Clerk advised Members of a letter from Essex County Council stating that kerb build-outs in the market place will be progressed in spite of requests by Council to review the building works in the market area in the interests of protecting the Market operation and creating a better market place.  Members expressed concern about the decision for the works to go forward and the Clerk advised Members that the matter would appear on the earliest agenda possible for a full discussion by Members.

 

The Clerk also advised Members of the receipt of notes of gratitude in respect of the Town Show and the Council’s Yearbook.

 

183.     MAYOR & DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR’S DUTIES

 

Members agreed to NOTE the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor’s duties.

 

184.     MEMBERS REPORTS

 

Cllr K. Avey reported attendance at the Town Show.

 

Cllr J.A. Smith reported attendance at Mrs Tappenden’s Long Service Presentation; a meeting of the Theydon Trust; a meeting of the Royal British Legion; the Town Show and the Sensory Garden Opening Ceremony at Ashlar House.

 

Cllr. H. Pegrum had nothing to report.

 

Cllr Miss O.D. Dunseath reported attendance at the ETOPWA Ploughman’s Lunch and advised that the Christmas dinners had now been arranged.  Miss Dunseath also reported attendance at a meeting of Epping Society.

 

Cllr R Macrae reported attendance at the Town Show and also at a recent Rotary meeting.

 

Cllr J. Lewis had nothing to report.

 

Cllr. Mrs. M-L Whitbread reported progress on the Churchill plaque arrangements but stated that these had been delayed by holiday events and her move.

 

185.     COUNCILLORS QUESTIONS

 

Cllr Murphy requested the Clerk to advise whether Members were free to write articles for Talk About Epping.  The Clerk advised Members that, as had been stated on several occasions, the Clerk would welcome articles for Talk About Epping of a reasonable length (e.g. no more than 200 words) preferably accompanied by photographs, if possible.  The Clerk reminded Members that there was a need to exercise some editorial control to try to ensure that items were as accurate as possible and were also not breaching any regulation.

 

The Mayor requested information in regard to the cemetery chapel works.  The clerk advised Members that necessary works to doors were currently being undertaken but that further works may also be necessary to deal with some safety issues.

 

186.     PLANNING & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

           

Council NOTED the minutes of the Planning & General Purposes Committees held on 11th September and 28th August 2007. 

 

187.     STONARDS HILL CAR PARK – LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 19.

 

Council considered the current arrangements for locking the main Stonards Hill Car Park which had been key to preventing excessive commuter parking during the course of the summer months following the recent parking changes in Epping.

 

Council RESOLVED to continue with the current arrangements for closure of the Stonards Hill Car Park gates throughout the entire year and approved supplementary estimate of £1,900 to pay for this arrangement.

 

188.     GRANTS –

 

a) Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 142.

 

Council considered the grant application from the Citizens Advice Bureau and APPROVED a grant of £600

 

b) Epping Tennis Club.

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.

 

Council considered the grant application from the Epping Tennis Club and APPROVED a grant of £600

 

c) Epping Art Society.

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.

 

The Chairman of the Art Society was present in the Chamber and on the Chairman’s motion it was AGREED that Mrs McPherson should address Council in relation to the grant application.  Council considered the grant application and the comments made by Mrs McPherson and RESOLVED to give  a grant of £400 to the Epping Art Society.

 

189.     ST JOHN’S CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 111.

 

Council considered the ongoing  assistance to the Christmas Tree Festival and the problems of the organisers in providing sufficient tables for the event.

 

Council RESOLVED to provide similar assistance to St John’s Church Christmas Tree Festival as in previous years by making a direct payment towards the advertising costs of £400, and also by providing 6 market stalls, tables and transport assistance.  Council also RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Clerk in consultation with the Key Member for Finance, to hire on behalf of the church further tables to the value of £150, if in his opinion these are needed for the success of the event.  Council also directed the Clerk to request the organisers of the festival to consider how they could give better recognition of the Council’s assistance within the event.

 

190.     FINANCIAL REPORT 17TH SEPTEMBER 2007

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003, Sections 4 & 5.

 

Council considered the Financial Report 17th September 2007 and RESOLVED that the report should be NOTED and no action was appropriate on this occasion.

 

191      TOWN SHOW REVIEW

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.

 

The Clerk advised Members of the detailed outcome of the show and Members of Council directed the Clerk to ensure due recognition was given to staff and others involved in the organisation of the show.  Following a brief discussion, Council RESOLVED to appoint a working party comprising Cllr Macrae, as chairman, Cllr Pegrum and Cllr Miss Starling to investigate the outcomes of the show and to bring forward recommendations to Council regarding the ongoing future for the management of future events which are practical and costed.

 

192.     PURCHASE OF LAND AT SWAINES GREEN - UPDATE

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 111.

 

The Clerk advised Council that no movement had happened on this issue and therefore Members RESOLVED to defer further consideration of this item until the next monthly meeting of Council.

 

193.     PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 111.

 

Council NOTED the information regarding bus timetables and the London/Liverpool Street closure over Christmas 2007.

 

194.     ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003 as amended by the Accounts & Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006, Sections 4 & 5.

 

Council RESOLVED to approve payment of the accounts as set out in the cheque list on page 114 of the Minute Book 2007/2008

 

195.     EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS & PUBLIC

 

Council RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded, the Council believing that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be discussed..

 

196.     AT HOME WORKING PARTY REPORT.

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.

 

Council considered the draft invitation list for the Mayor’s At Home which had been referred to Council by the working party.

 

Council RESOLVED to approve the list presented by the working party.  Council also directed the Clerk to bring forward a further list of those local community groups, which are missed out from the current approved list, and to bring such a list forward to a further meeting of Council.