ANNUAL TOWN MEETING -27th APRIL 2009 (Unapproved Minutes)

The ANNUAL TOWN MEETING was held on Monday 27 April 2009 in the Budworth Hall Ballroom, High Street, Ongar at 8pm. All were welcome. 

This was your chance to hear what your Town Council  achieved during 2008/09 and to meet your local Councillors.  

 

The previous Annual Town Meeting was held on Monday 28th April 2007 at 8.00pm in the Budworth Hall Ballroom, High Street, Ongar.

 

Local organisations were present from 7pm to 8pm to promote their services.  Light refreshments wiere avaiable.  

 

   MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT

THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING OF THE

ONGAR TOWN COUNCIL

HELD AT THE BUDWORTH HALL, HIGH STREET, ONGAR AT 7PM

ON MONDAY 27TH APRIL 2009

 

PRESENT:  

                         

Councillors:              K.Tait (Chairman)

                                  P. Gode         S. Jackman MBE        B. Judd             N. Main

                                  D. Roberts     D. Solomons           T. Williams             K. Wright 

 

County Councillor:  G. McEwen

 

Officers:                   M. Squire – Clerk       

                                 J. Cook –    Deputy Clerk

                                M.Hatch. –  Clerk’s Assistant 

                                               

Organisations that provided table displays: 

Essex Police (Ongar Neighbourhood Policing Team), Ongar & District Twinning Association, Royal British Legion, Ongar Town Council, Ongar Youth Club. Ongar Millennium History Society, Ongar Tree Wardens, Ongar Allotments & Gardening Society, Ongar Town Forum, Ongar Wildlife Society, Ongar & Villages Voluntary Care, Theatre Resource, Ongar Photographic Club, Budworth Hall Community Association.

 

Also present 46 members of the public.

 

7.00pm   Informal period for local organisations who promoted their activities.

Light refreshments were provided by Ongar Town Council.

 

7.30 pm   Discussion on the Council’s consultation on the possible future use of

                 the Lorry Park at the Borough.

The draft consultation document was on display for local residents to view. The residents will shortly be asked to give their views and suggestions for the possible use of the site. The Chairman provided a resume of the history of the lorry park in the Borough and its current status. Concern was raised from a member of the public that the site should not be used as an unregulated car/lorry park, which uncontrolled could be a danger to the public and should therefore remain under the control of the County Council. Also expressed was that the southern part of Ongar needed additional focus. The Chairman was happy to answer any questions on the lorry park. However the public appeared to be content to await the outcome of the public consultation which would take place shortly.

 

Before the start of the formal agenda a cheque for £1000 was presented by Ongar Town Council to Theodora Paynia as representative of the Ongar Youth Group to purchase additional computer software to assist with the youth club’s magazine.

 

8.pm                            Main Agenda

 

1. Minutes of the previous meeting

The Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 28 April 2008 were agreed.

 

2. Ongar Town Council Annual Report

 

Councillor Keith Tait, Chairman of the Council.

Mark Squire was introduced as the new Town Clerk and the Council staff were thanked for all their hard work during the last year, particularly the efforts of Judith Cook and Marie Hatch during the interim period without a Clerk in place.

 

The move to the new premises in Bansons Way was described. ‘Bansons’ is to be used by the local community and the rooms can be booked by commercial and voluntary groups alike (the rents being tiered accordingly).

 

The newer co-opted Councillors, Marian Vanovitch, David Solomons and Jeff Haywood were introduced.

 

A brief resume of the events of the past year was provided:-

·         working with the local youth and the wish to set up a Youth Forum

·        parking related issues with Epping Forest District Council

·        meeting with Essex County Council on the future of local bus routes including the need  to retain the no 46 bus and requirement for an adequate bus service to stop at the proposed new Health Centre at the site of the Ongar War Memorial Hospital

·        the campaign for a new pedestrian crossing at the north end of Ongar.

·        the strategic support by the council to Theatre Resource at Great Stony.

 

3. Reports by the Chairmen of the Council’s Committees:

After the reports were given, Councillors answered questions from the floor. Some salient extracts are highlighted below. Copies of the reports are available on request.

 

Chairman of Community Affairs Committee                           Cllr Sheila Jackman MBE

·        a new seventeen seater minibus will be available for Community use by June 2009.

·        the old minibus will be sold by means of sealed bids and the money raised ring fenced to start a fund to enable the purchase of a new vehicle in the future.

·        successful partnership with the local police and the ongoing Neighbourhood Action Panel.

·        the hosting of a buffet reception at Great Stony on Good Friday as part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the twinning with Cerizay

·        Prior to the reception the Mayor of Cerizay and the Town Council formally opened the new Town Council office in Bansons Way.

·        the Council was asked to consider a dial and ride service. This would need the co-operation and partnership of neighbouring councils.

 

Chairman of Environment Committee                                      Cllr Blane Judd

·        continued progress made at the Cripsey Brook Nature Reserve

·        preliminary work to improve the fenced area between St Peters Avenue and the Fyfield Road.

·        the Council was asked to consider to move the pillar-box to the opposite side of the road (the Manor Square side) to enable better public access.

·        Mr MacDonald spoke about the work of the tree wardens and Councillor Judd asked the wardens to join future Environment meetings.

 

Chairman of Open Spaces Committee                                     Cllr Terry Williams

·        The Council is looking to put up fencing (subject to planning permission) to solve problems of balls entering neighbours gardens at the Shelley Pocket park.

·        The Boodle grave has now been successfully dismantled and rebuilt with the aid of a generous donation from the Boodle Club.

·        Steve Adcock is stepping down as Open Spaces Supervisor and was thanked for his good work on behalf of the Council

·        Members of the public suggested various options for the future of the cemetery chapel adjacent to Love Lane. The Council was asked to consider to selling the chapel ‘lock stock and barrel to buyers in America. To open the chapel as a small museum to attract tourists was another suggestion.

 

Chairman of Staffing Committee                                                            Cllr Diana Roberts

·        The importance of the new staffing committee was explained and the subsequent  recruitment of the caretaker, David Sweeting and the new  Clerk, Mark Squire.

 

Councillor Surtees had previously given his apologies for absence and the Clerk read out the pre-prepared reports.

 

Chairman of Planning Committee                                                         Cllr Brian Surtees

·        thanks were expressed for the care which fellow councillors had provided in the planning process and good attendance at planning meetings.

·        the council has moved to displaying plans and details of planning applications electronically.

·        thanks were given to Marie Hatch (clerk in attendance at Planning Meetings) for the commitment shown in making the planning process work so effectively

 

Chairman of Policy Overview and Finance Committee (POF)                    Cllr Brian Surtees

·        the establishment of the staffing Committee has allowed POF to focus on ensuring financial probity and moving into the new premises at Bansons Lane.

·        thanks were given to Ron Laurie the temporary Responsible Financial Officer for his understanding of the Council’s computerised finance package and clarity of the budget position.

·        the precept was set a little lower than it was in 2008/09.

·        a member’s allowance scheme was finalised allowing elected Councillors to claim a sum of £300 annually should they so wish.

·         

Chairman of Public Relations Committee                   Cllr Alison Wingfield- Halm

Councillor Winfield - Halm had previously apologised for her absence. The Chairman provided appropriate commentary.

·        The Council has invited other neighbouring councils to a meeting to provide unified support to the Citizens Advice Bureau, which is facing financial difficulties. The Council will also offer ‘Bansons’ to CAB as a meeting place free of charge.

 

4. Announcements

Councillor McEwen expressed his thanks on behalf of the people of Ongar to the Chairman Keith Tait for his chairmanship which is always conducted with good nature and humour.

 

5. Open Forum

Questions were invited from members of the public relating to the town of Ongar and which the Town Council has some control or can influence.

 

·        The uneven footpath at the bottom of Bansons Lane is not the responsibility of the council, although the Council has pressured all parties connected with the pathway to solve the problem.

·        Litter ‘hotspots ‘ were identified and the council will liase with EFDC contractors to eleviate these problems.

·        Jan Smith, the Secretary of The Twinning Committee wanted a councillor to sit on the Twinning Committee and criticised the council for its commitment to the twinning event. The Chair did not believe that a councillor sitting on the committee would add any additional value. The Council has always been committed to the twinning event as evidenced this year by the hosting of the reception on Good Friday

 

The meeting ended at 9.35pm

 

 

 

 

For details of these and other meetings - or a copy of the agenda and minutes, please contact the Council Office.