Minutes of the meeting of the Full Council, 18 July 2022 (Draft)

PRESENT

 

Members:

• Cllr Stephen Beatty
• Cllr Claire Holford
• Cllr Dan Beauchamp
• Cllr Nigel Hughes
• Cllr Giles Cattermole
• Cllr Kathryn Keats-Rohan
• Cllr Paul Gibbon
• Cllr Rosslyn Lester
• Cllr Marcus Harris (The Mayor) (Chairman)
• Cllr Christian Sinkinson
• Cllr Sue Hendrie
• Cllr Deborah Whelan
• Cllr Steve Holder

Officers:         

• Luke Whitcomb, Meetings Officer

Others:          

• 5 members of the public
• 2 members of the press

 

145/22            MEETING PROTOCOL

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised those present of the protocols that would be followed.

146/22            APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Councillors Kidley, McGregor and Newcombe, and the Town Clerk.

147/22            DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

No interests were declared.

148/22            MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman displayed a ‘thank you’ card that had been received from the Wigod Family Centre thanking the Council for its support.

149/22            MINUTES

It was proposed by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 20 June 2022 be approved as a correct record and the Chairman is authorised to sign them.

150/22            ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

The Council reviewed progress on the actions agreed at the last meeting and ‘open’ actions from previous meetings.  Most had been completed, others were in progress, and some were being addressed by committees.

151/22            PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Five members of the public attended and three spoke to items 153/22 and 154/22 below.

152/22            VARIATION OF AGENDA ORDER

It was proposed by Councillor Beauchamp, and seconded by Councillor Lester, and RESOLVED that the order of the agenda be changed to consider the matters that members of the public had indicated they wished to speak to.

153/22            COACH AND HORSES PUB, HORSE CHESTNUT TREE [moved from agenda item 10 to item 8]

The Council received and considered the inspection report by thinktrees

A member of the public spoke to this item.   An email from another member of the public was read out.

It was proposed by Councillor Hughes, and seconded by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and RESOLVED

• that a structural survey be pursued in partnership with Fullers Brewery to assess the damage to the wall and advise whether there was a solution available in which the wall can be repaired in such a way to allow for the future growth of the tree
• that the planting of further horse chestnut trees on Council-owned land be considered by the Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee

Action:            Office to place item on agenda of next meeting of Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee (25 July 2022)

154/22            ‘QUIET’ FIREWORKS [moved from agenda item 16 to item 9]

The Council considered the use of ‘low noise’ fireworks at future events on Council-owned land.  This matter had been put forward by some members of the public.

Two members of the public spoke to this item with an opposing view.

It was proposed by Councillor Beatty, and seconded by Councillor Cattermole, and RESOLVED that the status quo be maintained

Councillor Keats-Rohan abstained believing that the number of ‘salute shells’ used by the event organisers in the firework display on the Kinecroft in November should be further reduced.

155/22            COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS [moved from agenda item 8 to item 10]

No reports had been received.

156/22            ELECTIONS 2023 [moved from agenda item 9 to item 11]

This item was deferred due to the unavailability of Councillor McGregor.  The Chairman gave an undertaking that the issue would definitely be discussed at the Council’s next meeting in August.

Action:            Office to include items on agenda of the August meeting of the Full Council

157/22            RIVERBANK – LAND REGISTRY REQUEST [moved from agenda item 11 to item 12]

At Councillor Whelan’s request, the Council considered the ownership of the riverbank upstream of the Wallingford Town moorings.

Councillor Lester reported that investigations had previously been carried out in 2013.

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, and seconded by Councillor Cattermole, and RESOLVED that the Office continue to determine the ownership of the riverbank between the Thames Trail and water upstream of Wallingford Town moorings, including the use of a Land Registry Request

Action:                        Office to continue investigation

158/22            NEW MOWER [moved from agenda item 12 to item 13]

The Council consider the hire and/or purchase of new machinery for ‘low mow’ areas.

It was proposed by Councillor Holder, and seconded by Councillor Sinkinson, and RESOLVED that a mini flail mower collector be hired in the first instance and for the first cut, enabling the Parks Team to evaluate the machinery before a recommendation to purchase

159/22            CHARGES FOR EVENTS AT THE TOWN HALL [moved from agenda item 13 to item 14]

The Council considered charges for bookable events at the Town Hall.  Current charges assumed one member of staff would be in attendance.

It was proposed by Councillor Hughes, and seconded by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and RESOLVED that charges for bookable events at the Town Hall be increased by £15 per additional staff member required.

Action:            Office to update charges on website

160/22            BAND CONCERTS, CASTLE GARDENS [moved from agenda item 14 to item 15]

This matter had been delegated to the Tourism and Economic Development Committee who had subsequently progressed plans for 2022 including the booking of acoustic musicians.

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, and seconded by Councillor Hughes, and RESOLVED that the budget be increased by up to £500 for the 2022 programme

161/22            OXFORDSHIRE PLAY ASSOCIATION: RAF BENSON/WALLINGORD PLAYDAY 2022 [moved from agenda item 15 to item 16]

A report by the Oxfordshire Play Association on the RAF Benson/Wallingford PlayDay, which the Council had supported, was received.

162/22            COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Tourism and Economic Development Committee

Postponed Fireworks and Flotilla event

It was proposed by Councillor Beauchamp, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and RESOLVED that the fireworks and flotilla event will no longer be Council-run and instead be organised independently, with the Council supporting in whatever way it could at the time.

Councillor Cattermole had previously indicated that he wished to take the event forward independently under the banner of the Repair Café.

163/22            COMMITTEE MINUTES

It was proposed by Councillor Cattermole, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and RESOLVED that the following minutes, which had already been approved as correct records, be adopted:

• Planning Committee – 25 May 2022
• Planning Committee – 13 June 2022
• Tourism and Economic Development Committee – 23 May 2022

164/22            APPOINTMENTS

No appointments were made to the committees.

Action:            the two vacancies on the Finance and Planning Committees would remain as ‘carry forward’ items on the Action Log.

Councillors Hendrie and Holder left the meeting

165/22             POSTPONEMENT OF JUBILEE FIREWORKS AND FLOTILLA EVENT

Councillor Cattermole had requested that a report containing the advice of officers to Members be discussed.  This advice had informed a decision to postpone the fireworks and flotilla event that had been originally planned for the Jubilee Platinum Weekend.

He critiqued the report and some of his comments were supported by Councillor Whelan.

Councillor Lester challenged the accuracy of some of his statements.

The prevailing mood of the meeting was that this matter had already been discussed extensively and that it was time to ‘move on’.  It was also considered inappropriate and unfair of Councillor Cattermole to continue to criticise officers when the decision had been taken by a meeting of a group of Members.

The Mayor concluded the discussion by thanking again all those – councillors and officers – who had been involved in preparing for the Jubilee Platinum Celebrations.  Whilst he was as disappointed as anyone else with the postponement of this particular element, he reminded everyone that there was much about the weekend’s activities that the Council could be proud of.

166/22            FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

The following items were identified for future meetings:

 

• Wallingford to be used as a pilot for measures to mitigate heritage crime (raised by Councillor Keats-Rohan)
• The appointment of architects for the major conservation project required for the Town Hall (raised by Councillor Keats-Rohan)
• The use of microphone amplification to be used at Council meetings to assist members of the public and press hearing the comments of Members (raised by Wallingford Radio)
• Delegations (raised by Councillor Cattermole)
• Community Resilience Plan for the winter months
• Elections 2023 (August 2022 meeting) (Councillor McGregor)
• CIL spending strategy (August or September 2022 meeting) (Councillor Hughes and working party)
• Liaison with Arts and Development Officer (Councillor Beatty)
• Upgrade to electrical consumer unit in Town Hall (identified by fire risk assessment)
• Staff team building/volunteer days
• Triangle space adjacent in Kinecroft (being considered by the Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee on 25 July 2022)
• Wallingford Town signs
• Estates Portfolio Review
• Renaming and reshuffling of Committees to establish the Estates Committee
• Purchase of new mower for ‘low mow’ areas after evaluation of hired equipment

 

Councillors Hendrie and Holder re-joined the meeting

167/22            EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Gibbon, and RESOLVED that the public and press be excluded from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted

 

The meeting ended at 8.15 pm

 

Minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on

18 July 2022,

signed as a correct record                                                                 Chairman

 

 

2022-07-18 FC minutes

 

MINUTES

of a meeting of the

FULL COUNCIL

held on Monday 18 July 2022 at 7.00 pm

at Wallingford Town Hall

 

 

 

Present

 

Members:       Cllr Stephen Beatty                                        Cllr Claire Holford

Cllr Dan Beauchamp                                      Cllr Nigel Hughes

Cllr Giles Cattermole                                     Cllr Kathryn Keats-Rohan

Cllr Paul Gibbon                                             Cllr Rosslyn Lester

Cllr Marcus Harris (The Mayor) (Chairman) Cllr Christian Sinkinson

Cllr Sue Hendrie                                             Cllr Deborah Whelan

Cllr Steve Holder

 

Officers:          Luke Whitcomb, Meetings Officer

 

Others:           5 members of the public

2 members of the press

 

 

145/22            MEETING PROTOCOL

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised those present of the protocols that would be followed.

 

146/22            APOLOGIES

 

Apologies were received from Councillors Kidley, McGregor and Newcombe, and the Town Clerk.

 

147/22            DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

 

No interests were declared.

 

148/22            MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS

 

The Chairman displayed a ‘thank you’ card that had been received from the Wigod Family Centre thanking the Council for its support.

 

 

 

 

149/22            MINUTES

 

It was proposed by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Full Council held on 20 June 2022 be approved as a correct record and the Chairman is authorised to sign them.

 

150/22            ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

 

The Council reviewed progress on the actions agreed at the last meeting and ‘open’ actions from previous meetings.  Most had been completed, others were in progress, and some were being addressed by committees.

 

151/22            PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

 

Five members of the public attended and three spoke to items 153/22 and 154/22 below.

 

152/22            VARIATION OF AGENDA ORDER

 

It was proposed by Councillor Beauchamp, and seconded by Councillor Lester, and

 

RESOLVED that the order of the agenda be changed to consider the matters that members of the public had indicated they wished to speak to.

 

153/22            COACH AND HORSES PUB, HORSE CHESTNUT TREE [moved from agenda item 10 to item 8]

 

The Council received and considered the inspection report by thinktrees

 

A member of the public spoke to this item.   An email from another member of the public was read out.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Hughes, and seconded by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and

 

RESOLVED

 

• that a structural survey be pursued in partnership with Fullers Brewery to assess the damage to the wall and advise whether there was a solution available in which the wall can be repaired in such a way to allow for the future growth of the tree

 

• that the planting of further horse chestnut trees on Council-owned land be considered by the Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee

 

Action:            Office to place item on agenda of next meeting of Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee (25 July 2022)

 

154/22            ‘QUIET’ FIREWORKS [moved from agenda item 16 to item 9]

 

The Council considered the use of ‘low noise’ fireworks at future events on Council-owned land.  This matter had been put forward by some members of the public.

 

Two members of the public spoke to this item with an opposing view.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Beatty, and seconded by Councillor Cattermole, and

 

RESOLVED that the status quo be maintained

 

Councillor Keats-Rohan abstained believing that the number of ‘salute shells’ used by the event organisers in the firework display on the Kinecroft in November should be further reduced.

 

155/22            COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS [moved from agenda item 8 to item 10]

 

No reports had been received.

 

156/22            ELECTIONS 2023 [moved from agenda item 9 to item 11]

 

This item was deferred due to unavailability of Councillor McGregor.  The Chairman gave an undertaking that the issue would definitely be discussed at the Council’s next meeting in August.

 

Action:            Office to include items on agenda of the August meeting of the Full Council

 

157/22            RIVERBANK – LAND REGISTRY REQUEST [moved from agenda item 11 to item 12]

 

At Councillor Whelan’s request, the Council considered the ownership of the riverbank upstream of the Wallingford Town moorings.

 

Councillor Lester reported that investigations had previously been carried out in 2013.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, and seconded by Councillor Cattermole, and

 

RESOLVED that the Office continue to determine the ownership of the riverbank between the Thames Trail and water upstream of Wallingford Town moorings, including the use of a Land Registry Request

 

Action:                        Office to continue investigation

 

158/22            NEW MOWER [moved from agenda item 12 to item 13]

 

The Council consider the hire and/or purchase of new machinery for ‘low mow’ areas.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Holder, and seconded by Councillor Sinkinson, and

 

RESOLVED that a mini flail mower collector be hired in the first instance and for the first cut, enabling the Parks Team to evaluate the machinery before a recommendation to purchase

 

159/22            CHARGES FOR EVENTS AT THE TOWN HALL [moved from agenda item 13 to item 14]

 

The Council considered charges for bookable events at the Town Hall.  Current charges assumed one member of staff would be in attendance.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Hughes, and seconded by Councillor Keats-Rohan, and

 

RESOLVED that charges for bookable events at the Town Hall be increased by £15 per additional staff member required.

 

Action:            Office to update charges on website

 

160/22            BAND CONCERTS, CASTLE GARDENS [moved from agenda item 14 to item 15]

 

This matter had been delegated to the Tourism and Economic Development Committee who had subsequently progressed plans for 2022 including the booking of acoustic musicians.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Whelan, and seconded by Councillor Hughes, and

 

RESOLVED that the budget be increased by up to £500 for the 2022 programme

 

161/22            OXFORDSHIRE PLAY ASSOCIATION: RAF BENSON/WALLINGORD PLAYDAY 2022 [moved from agenda item 15 to item 16]

 

A report by the Oxfordshire Play Association on the RAF Benson/Wallingford PlayDay, which the Council had supported, was received.

 

162/22            COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Tourism and Economic Development Committee

 

Postponed Fireworks and Flotilla event

 

It was proposed by Councillor Beauchamp, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and

 

RESOLVED that the fireworks and flotilla event will no longer be Council-run and instead be organised independently, with the Council supporting in whatever way it could at the time.

 

Councillor Cattermole had previously indicated that he wished to take the event forward independently under the banner of the Repair Café.

 

163/22            COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

It was proposed by Councillor Cattermole, and seconded by Councillor Beatty, and

 

RESOLVED that the following minutes, which had already been approved as correct records, be adopted:

 

• Planning Committee – 25 May 2022
• Planning Committee – 13 June 2022
• Tourism and Economic Development Committee – 23 May 2022

 

164/22            APPOINTMENTS

 

No appointments were made to the committees.

Action:            the two vacancies on the Finance and Planning Committees would remain as ‘carry forward’ items on the Action Log.

 

Councillors Hendrie and Holder left the meeting

 

165/22             POSTPONEMENT OF JUBILEE FIREWORKS AND FLOTILLA EVENT

 

Councillor Cattermole had requested that a report containing the advice of officers to Members be discussed.  This advice had informed a decision to postpone the fireworks and flotilla event that had been originally planned for the Jubilee Platinum Weekend.

 

He critiqued the report and some of his comments were supported by Councillor Whelan.

 

Councillor Lester challenged the accuracy of some of his statements.

 

The prevailing mood of the meeting was that this matter had already been discussed extensively and that it was time to ‘move on’.  It was also considered inappropriate and unfair of Councillor Cattermole to continue to criticise officers when the decision had been taken by a meeting of a group of Members.

 

The Mayor concluded the discussion by thanking again all those – councillors and officers – who had been involved in preparing for the Jubilee Platinum Celebrations.  Whilst he was as disappointed as anyone else with the postponement of this particular element, he reminded everyone that there was much about the weekend’s activities that the Council could be proud of.

 

166/22            FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

 

The following items were identified for future meetings:

 

• Wallingford to be used as a pilot for measures to mitigate heritage crime (raised by Councillor Keats-Rohan)
• The appointment of architects for the major conservation project required for the Town Hall (raised by Councillor Keats-Rohan)
• The use of microphone amplification to be used at Council meetings to assist members of the public and press hearing the comments of Members (raised by Wallingford Radio)
• Delegations (raised by Councillor Cattermole)
• Community Resilience Plan for the winter months
• Elections 2023 (August 2022 meeting) (Councillor McGregor)
• CIL spending strategy (August or September 2022 meeting) (Councillor Hughes and working party)
• Liaison with Arts and Development Officer (Councillor Beatty)
• Upgrade to electrical consumer unit in Town Hall (identified by fire risk assessment)
• Staff team building/volunteer days
• Triangle space adjacent in Kinecroft (being considered by the Parks, Gardens, Allotments and Open Spaces Committee on 25 July 2022)
• Wallingford Town signs
• Estates Portfolio Review
• Renaming and reshuffling of Committees to establish the Estates Committee
• Purchase of new mower for ‘low mow’ areas after evaluation of hired equipment

 

                        Councillors Hendrie and Holder re-joined the meeting

 

167/22            EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

 

It was proposed by Councillor Lester, and seconded by Councillor Gibbon,                       and

 

RESOLVED that the public and press be excluded from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted

 

168/22            COACH AND HORSES PUB, HORSE CHESTNUT TREE

 

Councillor Holder reported on aspects that would require sensitive handling.

 

Actions:          Cllr Holder to check with solicitor to see if tree is Coach and Horses’ responsibility as it is within the tarmac;

                        Wayleaves or commercial rental agreement to be considered by Parks Committee and/or Finance Committee before coming back to Full Council

 

 

The meeting ended at 8.15 pm

 

 

 

Minutes of the meeting of the

Full Council held on

18 July 2022,

signed as a correct record                                                                 Chairman

 

 

2022-07-18 FC minutes